The Retire Happy Podcast

5 Simple Retirement Questions (That Are Hard To Answer)

Some of retirement planning’s most important questions seem so simple at first. They can be asked in just 4-5 words and give the impression the answers are a simple “yes” or “no”. But it’s tricky because many of these questions can become overwhelming to answer. Let’s cover some of the important retirement questions that are harder to answer than you might think.

Your Summer Vacation & Retirement

If you’re heading out on a road trip this summer, there’s a long checklist of items that you want to be sure you haven’t forgotten. And in retirement planning, some of those exact same items need to be addressed. Let’s look at some of the items that should appear on both your road trip checklist and your retirement planning checklist… We'll also answer a listener question about retiring early.

When DIY Works (And When It Doesn’t)

In many areas of our culture, the do-it-yourself mentality is really popular. There’s even a DIY Network where you can watch shows about home renovation, landscaping, or interior design…and how to do those things without professional help. Let’s talk about what the DIY mentality looks like in retirement planning.

The 5 Most Common “Pain Points” In Your Financial Life - Part 2

Continuing our conversation about pain points. Those pain points are different for each person, but everyone has something that bothers them. We'll talk about three additional pain points and how John helps people find solutions to these problems.

The 5 Most Common “Pain Points” In Your Financial Life - Part 1

When it comes to financial planning, everybody has some kind of pain point. Those pain points are different for each person, but everyone has something that bothers them. We'll talk about the five most common pain points and how John helps people deal with these issues. Plus, Hector wants to know if he should contribute to a Roth IRA or a traditional one as he saves for retirement. And we'll get to know John a little better by asking him who he would nominate for sainthood if he had the power.

50 Shades Of Financial Gray Area

Not everything in financial planning is black and white. In fact, most things aren’t black and white—there’s usually a lot of gray area. Let’s identify some of the issues that usually require a nuanced discussion… We'll also debut a new segment on the show called "Getting To Know You". Each episode we'll ask John a non-financial question to get to know his personality a little better. This week we'll find out about his favorite concert experience.

Episode #4: The Biggest Economic Threat

A recent survey of Americans showed that more than half the respondents think the contentious political climate is the biggest threat to the US economy. Does John agree with that sentiment? Find out on today's episode and we'll also answer Phil's question about wanting to get his wife more involved with the planning process. How hard should you push to make sure your spouse is connected to the details of your financial plan?

Episode #3: Market Crashes And Your Risk Tolerance

It seems like every time the market takes a dip there are prognosticators on each side of the debate shouting about whether this is finally the market crash we've all been waiting for. How do you know who's right? John will cover that debate in detail on today's show and we'll also take a look at a popular financial buzzword - risk tolerance. We'll talk about what it means and how it's important for you to have an accurate grasp on what level of risk is appropriate for your situation.

Episode #2: How America's Lack Of Fiscal Responsibility Impacts You

On this episode, John tackles some tough questions raised by former U.S. Comptroller General David Walker about how the country's fiscal spending will effect you in the years to come. And later, we'll hear a few stories about clients that have come to John with overly complicated investment plans, and why those plans were not perhaps in their best interest.

Episode #1: The Challenge Of Living A Long Time

Ever heard of the term longevity risk? It's becoming much more common as people live longer in retirement. Make sure that your retirement plan is set up to last as long as you need it. On this episode, John covers all the challenges of living a long time and how you can overcome them.