Advertise on podcast: Retirement Education Hour

Retirement decisions are interconnected, and making them one at a time can lead to unintended consequences. When to claim Social Security, whether and when to convert funds to a Roth IRA, which accounts to withdraw from, and how to manage required minimum distributions (RMDs) can all affect your lifetime tax bill, Medicare premiums, and retirement income. In this episode, Kirk and Michael explain how these decisions influence one another over time, including the impact on investment returns, charitable giving, healthcare costs, and a surviving spouse. They explore why comprehensive retirement planning requires looking beyond individual strategies to understand how each decision affects the bigger picture. Retirement Education Foundation is a Fiscally Sponsored Program of United Charitable, a registered 501(c)(3) public charity. This information is for educational purposes only and is not to be considered tax, legal or investment advice. Kirk Cassidy and Michael Masserant are professional financial advisors in the private sector. Both serve as a financial instructor for the Retirement Education Foundation on a volunteer basis. Retirement Education Foundation does not offer financial services.

When should you retire? And how do you know you have enough to do it? In this episode, Kirk Cassidy and Michael Masserant break down the math behind determining when you can afford to retire and have the lifestyle you want. They challenge conventional retirement rules like the 4% rule and explain why retirement planning shouldn't rely on one-size-fits-all assumptions. You'll learn how to think about what you want to spend in retirement, how much you could potentially have if you retire now versus a few years from now, how to approach income and investments once you retire, and what to look for when choosing the right team. The goal is to replace fear and generic rules of thumb with a clearer understanding of what's actually possible for your retirement. Retirement Education Foundation is a Fiscally Sponsored Program of United Charitable, a registered 501(c)(3) public charity. This information is for educational purposes only and is not to be considered tax, legal or investment advice. Kirk Cassidy and Michael Masserant are professional financial advisors in the private sector. Both serve as a financial instructor for the Retirement Education Foundation on a volunteer basis. Retirement Education Foundation does not offer financial services.

Should you take the pension or the lump sum? Kirk and Michael explain why this decision cannot be reduced to a simple rule of thumb. The right answer comes down to the math, including taxes, timing, income needs, investment risk, and how long the money may need to last. They walk through the key factors to consider and explain why a pension election that makes sense for one person may not make sense for another. If you're facing a pension decision, this episode offers a practical look at the math behind one of retirement's biggest financial choices.Want to take a deeper look at the math behind retirement decisions? Register for an 8-hour advanced retirement education course at https://retirementplanningedu.org/courses. Retirement Education Foundation is a Fiscally Sponsored Program of United Charitable, a registered 501(c)(3) public charity. This information is for educational purposes only and is not to be considered tax, legal or investment advice. Retirement Education Foundation does not offer financial services. Kirk Cassidy and Michael Masserant are professional financial advisors in the private sector. They serve as financial instructors for the Retirement Education Foundation on a volunteer basis.

What questions do people ask most often about retirement? In this episode of Retirement Education Hour, Kirk Cassidy and Michael Masserant tackle questions they regularly hear from listeners and students, including when you can afford to retire, how much you can afford to spend, and how your investments fit into the bigger picture of your retirement plan. The conversation focuses on a common theme: asking better questions can lead to better retirement decisions. To dive deeper, register for an 8-hour advanced retirement education course at ⁠⁠https://retirementplanningedu.org/courses⁠⁠. Retirement Education Foundation is a Fiscally Sponsored Program of United Charitable, a registered 501(c)(3) public charity. This information is for educational purposes only and is not to be considered tax, legal or investment advice. Retirement Education Foundation does not offer financial services. Kirk Cassidy and Michael Masserant are professional financial advisors in the private sector. They serve as financial instructors for the Retirement Education Foundation on a volunteer basis

Is your retirement plan designed for the next 30 years, or is it based on assumptions that may already be outdated? In this episode of the Retirement Education Hour, Kirk Cassidy and Michael Masserant explore one of the most overlooked aspects of retirement planning: adapting your strategy as life changes. They discuss how tax law changes, Social Security decisions, healthcare costs, market volatility, and even cognitive changes can affect retirement over time, and why a comprehensive retirement plan should evolve right alongside them. You'll also hear why updating your retirement plan isn't about chasing investment returns, it's about making informed decisions as new opportunities and challenges emerge. Whether you're approaching retirement or already retired, this conversation offers practical insights into creating a retirement income strategy that's built to adjust as your life does. To dive deeper, register for an 8-hour advanced retirement education course at ⁠https://refedu.org/courses⁠. Retirement Education Foundation is a Fiscally Sponsored Program of United Charitable, a registered 501(c)(3) public charity. This information is for educational purposes only and is not to be considered tax, legal or investment advice. Retirement Education Foundation does not offer financial services. Kirk Cassidy and Michael Masserant are professional financial advisors in the private sector. They serve as financial instructors for the Retirement Education Foundation on a volunteer basis.

Retirement is one of the most heavily marketed industries in America. Dinner seminars, television shows, books, podcasts, free retirement plans, and social media all compete for your attention. The real challenge isn't avoiding the marketing, it's learning how to evaluate what's behind it. In this episode, Kirk Cassidy and Michael Masserant discuss why retirement savers are such a heavily targeted audience, the questions every consumer should ask before trusting an advisor, and the difference between marketing a retirement plan and delivering truly comprehensive planning. You'll also hear why financial education can be one of the most valuable tools for making informed retirement decisions and avoiding common industry pitfalls. Retirement Education Foundation is a Fiscally Sponsored Program of United Charitable, a registered 501(c)(3) public charity. This information is for educational purposes only and is not to be considered tax, legal or investment advice. Retirement Education Foundation does not offer financial services. Kirk Cassidy and Michael Masserant are professional financial advisors in the private sector. They serve as financial instructors for the Retirement Education Foundation on a volunteer basis.

Save 10%, withdraw 4%, replace 80% of your income. Retirement advice is full of rules of thumb, but are they right for you? In this episode, Kirk and Michael examine several of the most common retirement guidelines and discuss where they may be helpful, where they may fall short, and why retirement decisions are rarely one-size-fits-all. Retirement Education Foundation is a Fiscally Sponsored Program of United Charitable, a registered 501(c)(3) public charity. This information is for educational purposes only and is not to be considered tax, legal or investment advice. Kirk Cassidy and Michael Masserant are professional financial advisors in the private sector. They serve as financial instructors for the Retirement Education Foundation on a volunteer basis. Retirement Education Foundation does not offer financial services.

Retirement risks are not always what people expect. This episode explores why some of the biggest retirement challenges stem less from markets and more from planning, spending behavior, and financial decision-making. Kirk and Michael discuss retirement income, underspending, fear-driven choices, and why understanding how money should function in retirement can help retirees make more informed decisions. Retirement Education Foundation is a Fiscally Sponsored Program of United Charitable, a registered 501(c)(3) public charity. This information is for educational purposes only and is not to be considered tax, legal or investment advice. Kirk Cassidy and Michael Masserant are professional financial advisors in the private sector. They serve as financial instructors for the Retirement Education Foundation on a volunteer basis. Retirement Education Foundation does not offer financial services.

Many investors think retirement success is mainly about average return. In retirement, the timing of returns can matter just as much. In this episode, Kirk and Michael break down how losses early in retirement can have a greater impact than losses later on, why withdrawals can magnify that problem, and how income planning and asset allocation can work together to help manage this risk. Retirement Education Foundation is a Fiscally Sponsored Program of United Charitable, a registered 501(c)(3) public charity. This information is for educational purposes only and is not to be considered tax, legal or investment advice. Kirk Cassidy and Paul Meter are professional financial advisors in the private sector. Both serve as a financial instructor for the Retirement Education Foundation on a volunteer basis. Retirement Education Foundation does not offer financial services.

Most investors think asset allocation means choosing a percentage of stocks and bonds based on retirement dates. In retirement, the timing of your money matters far more. This episode explains how sequence of returns risk, income timing, and portfolio structure influence retirement outcomes. Retirement Education Foundation is a Fiscally Sponsored Program of United Charitable, a registered 501(c)(3) public charity. This information is for educational purposes only and is not to be considered tax, legal or investment advice. Kirk Cassidy and Paul Meter are professional financial advisors in the private sector. Both serve as a financial instructor for the Retirement Education Foundation on a volunteer basis. Retirement Education Foundation does not offer financial services.

Roth conversions are widely discussed but often misunderstood. In this episode, we begin by defining how Roth accounts and conversions work, then examine why conversions have gained attention in recent years. We explore how required minimum distributions, survivor tax changes, and Medicare premiums influence the long-term impact of a conversion. This conversation is designed to help listeners understand when a Roth conversion may support a coordinated lifetime tax plan and when it may not. Retirement Education Foundation is a Fiscally Sponsored Program of United Charitable, a registered 501(c)(3) public charity. This information is for educational purposes only and is not to be considered tax, legal or investment advice. Kirk Cassidy and Paul Metler are professional financial advisors in the private sector. They serves as a financial instructor for the Retirement Education Foundation on a volunteer basis. Retirement Education Foundation does not offer financial services.

Many people delay retirement not because they lack money, but because what they call a plan does not give them confidence to stop working. In this episode, Kirk and Paul explain why you do not need to know everything to retire, while also identifying the key questions a real retirement plan must answer. By understanding the difference between having information and having a plan, listeners can begin replacing uncertainty with clarity and move closer to retirement with confidence. Retirement Education Foundation is a Fiscally Sponsored Program of United Charitable, a registered 501(c)(3) public charity. This information is for educational purposes only and is not to be considered tax, legal or investment advice. Kirk and Paul are financial advisors. Retirement Education Foundation does not offer financial services. Retirement Education Foundation does not offer financial services.

Many retirees are surprised to learn their taxes can increase after leaving the workforce. In this episode, we discuss how RMDs, Social Security taxation, and Medicare premiums affect retirement income, and why the years after retirement present important planning considerations. Educational insight to help you better understand tax exposure in retirement. - Retirement Education Foundation is a Fiscally Sponsored Program of United Charitable, a registered 501(c)(3) public charity. This information is for educational purposes only and is not to be considered tax, legal or investment advice. Kirk Cassidy and Paul Metler are financial advisors. Both serve as financial instructors for Retirement Education Foundation in a volunteer capacity. Retirement Education Foundation does not offer financial services.

Anxiety can quietly undermine retirement decisions. In this episode, Kirk Cassidy and Dr. Paul Metler examine how analysis paralysis and loss aversion influence spending, investing, and retirement timing, and how understanding these behaviors can support more confident financial decision-making. Retirement Education Foundation is a Fiscally Sponsored Program of United Charitable, a registered 501(c)(3) public charity. This information is for educational purposes only and is not to be considered tax, legal or investment advice. Kirk Cassidy and Paul Metler are financial advisors in the private sector. Both serve as volunteers for the Retirement Education Foundation. Retirement Education Foundation does not offer financial services.

Without a clear plan, many retirees end up passing away with about the same amount of money they had when they retired, or even more. Why? Because they have been living off pensions and Social Security, only withdrawing interest and growth as required by RMDs. In this episode, Kirk and Paul explain why that often was not the original intention. They explore how two key issues, a lack of a structured withdrawal strategy and anxiety about outliving your money, often lead to this unexpected outcome. Retirement Education Foundation is a Fiscally Sponsored Program of United Charitable, a registered 501(c)(3) public charity. This information is for educational purposes only and is not to be considered tax, legal or investment advice. Kirk Cassidy and Paul Metler are financial advisors. Retirement Education Foundation does not offer financial services.