Retirement Answers

Avoid These 5 Retirement Mistakes Before It’s Too Late

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 12 May 2026 06:15:00 -0500

You've spent decades saving for retirement, but are you about to make the same mistakes thousands of retirees only spot when it's too late? In this episode, I walk through the five biggest regrets I see in my work as a retirement planner, and exactly what you can do right now to avoid them.

Tune into this episode to find out:

(01:14) Regret #1 – Claiming Social Security too early costs you

(01:44) Early claiming locks in a permanent 30% benefit cut

(02:49) How claiming early closes your Roth conversion window

(04:12) Regret #2 – Playing it too safe with your investments

(06:43) Using the bucket system to balance safety and growth

(08:37) Regret #3 – Not spending enough early on

(11:06) Regret #4 – Putting off tax planning until it's too late

(12:14) How RMDs, Social Security taxes, and IRMAA blindside you

(13:46) Regret #5 – Juggling too many accounts and strategies

(14:30) Why simplicity leads to clarity and lasting retirement confidence

👉 Work With Us: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

✅ Get your Important Numbers 2026 PDF here: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/2026-important-numbers

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com

Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

Why Your 401(k) Isn’t Enough - The Ideal Retirement Mix

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Wed, 06 May 2026 06:30:00 -0500

You're saving for retirement, but are you saving too much into the wrong accounts? Most retirees don't realize this common issue until it's too late.

In this episode, I explain why having all of your retirement savings in pre-tax accounts is major risk and how you can begin to fix things.

👉 Work With Us: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

✅ Get your Important Numbers 2026 PDF here: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/2026-important-numbers

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

01:00 Early Retirement Access Trap

02:31 Risk One: Future Taxes

04:03 Risk Two: RMD Time Bomb

06:50 Risk Three: Income Control

09:37 Risk Four: Psychological Barriers

11:51 Risk Five: Lack of Flexibility

12:51 Tax Diversification

16:28 How To Fix The Problem

19:12 Conclusion

The Mental Trap That's Sabotaging Your Retirement

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 06:00:00 -0500

Have you ever wondered if chasing “more” could actually make retirement harder instead of better? In this episode of Retirement Answers, Jacob is sharing how “more is not better, better is better” applies to retirement...

More money can create fear, over-optimizing can steal joy, more stuff adds complexity and decision fatigue, and more time without purpose can lead to dissatisfaction. Tune in to rethink what “enough” means for you and focus on using your money, lifestyle, and time in a better way that supports a meaningful retirement.

👉 Work With Us: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

✅ Get your Important Numbers 2026 PDF here: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/2026-important-numbers

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

00:00 Welcome
00:56 More Is Not Better
01:37 Defining Enough
02:27 Money Can Add Fear
05:43 Stop Over Optimizing
08:40 More Stuff Adds Complexity
10:34 Time Needs Purpose
12:43 Final Takeaways

Avoid These 8 Retirement Mistakes (They Look Harmless… But Aren’t)

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 07:12:54 -0500

Some of the biggest retirement mistakes don’t show up until it’s too late to fix them. Today, I’m breaking down 8 costly mistakes I see over and over again and how to avoid them before they impact your income, taxes, and long-term freedom. A few small adjustments here can make a massive difference later.

👉 Work With Us: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

✅ Get your Important Numbers 2026 PDF here: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/2026-important-numbers

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

5 Reasons NOT To Claim Social Security Early

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Sat, 21 Mar 2026 06:45:00 -0500

Not sure when to take Social Security? Well, in today's episode, I am sharing 5 reasons you shouldn't take your benefits early and the hidden risks of doing so.

👉 Work With Us: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

✅ Get your Important Numbers 2026 PDF here: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/2026-important-numbers

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

These Are The Most Important Years of Retirement

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 06:45:00 -0500

If you don't get things right during this important window of time, your retirement likely won't be what you hoped... This 10 year period of time will determine the trajectory of your entire retirement. Prepare correctly and you will enjoy a fulfilling life without worry. Little preparation and poor execution and you will be wishing you could get a do over... Only problem is, you get one shot at retiring right the first time.

👉 Work With Us: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

✅ Get your Important Numbers 2026 PDF here: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/2026-important-numbers

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

00:00 Intro

01:40 Last 5 Years of Work

11:44 First 5 Years of Retirement

14:16 Book a Call

The Roth IRA 5-Year Rule Explained (Ultimate Guide)

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 06:30:00 -0600

Confused by the Roth IRA 5-year rule? Did you know there are two different 5-year rules? Well, it can get quite confusing, so this episode is meant to be your complete guide for everything around the Roth 5-year rules.

👉 Work With Us: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

✅ Get your Important Numbers 2026 PDF here: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/2026-important-numbers

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

Most Retirement Plans Look Good on Paper, But FAIL in Reality

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 07:34:54 -0600

Are you sure your retirement plan is optimized for the right things? In this episode, I discuss what the true mark of a successful retirement plan is and why most people's plans will fail, just not in the way they expected.

👉 Work With Us: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

✅ Get your Important Numbers 2026 PDF here: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/2026-important-numbers

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

7 MAJOR Benefits of a Brokerage Account in Retirement

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 06:30:00 -0600

Is the brokerage account the secret to a fun and tax-efficient retirement? It might be a requirement, but it definitely helps. In fact, the brokerage account is my favorite account type and in this episode, I share 7 benefits that anyone can use to their advantage in retirement.

👉 See If You're a Fit: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

✅ Get your Important Numbers 2026 PDF here: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/2026-important-numbers

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

00:00 Welcome

00:47 How 401(k)s, Traditional IRAs, and Roth IRAs Are Taxed

03:06 What a Taxable Brokerage Account Is (and How It’s Taxed)

04:16 Flexibility

05:50 The “Bridge Account”

07:10 Tax-Gain Harvesting

11:39 Tax-Loss Harvesting

13:30 Asset Location

15:54 Liquidity

16:58 Estate Planning

19:04 How to Start Using a Brokerage Account in Your Plan

20:20 Wrap-Up

4 Reasons You Should Take Social Security at 62

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 06:30:00 -0600

Are you still trying to decide when to take Social Security? Well, in this episode, I am deviating from my normal stance to share 4 reasons you might want to take your benefits ASAP rather than delay. And be sure to listen to the end, because I share why using a traditional break even analysis in your decision making process is not a good idea.

👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

✅ Get your Important Numbers 2026 PDF here: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/2026-important-numbers

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

00:00 Introduction

01:31 Reason 1

03:07 Reason 2

04:19 Reason 3

06:10 Reason 4

07:51 The Flaws of Break Even Analysis

12:28 Conclusion

Don't Retire Yet - Try This Instead

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 06:30:00 -0600

Are you anxious about an abrupt transition to retirement? In this episode of Retirement Answers, I share the concept of phased retirement, where you can gradually reduce work hours or stress levels instead of stopping work entirely. I explain the financial and emotional benefits, offering practical advice for a smoother, more comfortable path to retirement.

👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

✅ Get your Important Numbers 2026 PDF here: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/2026-important-numbers

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

00:00 Introduction

00:48 The Anxiety of Full Retirement

01:25 Phased Retirement: A New Approach

02:37 Changes in Retirement Landscape

04:04 Practical Steps for Phased Retirement

05:17 Employer Negotiations and Alternatives

07:53 Consulting and Part-Time Work Options

11:45 Financial and Health Benefits

15:39 Finding Purpose in Retirement

17:19 Conclusion

The Big HSA Mistake Retirees Don’t Know They Are Making

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Thu, 08 Jan 2026 07:00:00 -0600

Have you ever wondered if your HSA contributions could cause unexpected issues as you approach retirement? In this episode, I highlight potential risks and mistakes that individuals near or in retirement might encounter with their HSAs.

Specifically around scenarios such as switching into an HSA plan mid-year, transitioning out of an HSA plan mid-year, and moving from an HSA plan to Medicare.

👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

✅ Get your Important Numbers 2026 PDF here: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/2026-important-numbers

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

00:00 Intro

00:35 Understanding HSA Contributions and Limits

04:50 Scenario 1: Switching to an HSA Plan Mid-Year

07:42 Scenario 2: Switching Out of an HSA Plan Mid-Year

12:59 Scenario 3: Transitioning from HSA to Medicare

18:27 Key Takeaways and Final Thoughts

New 2026 Tax Brackets, Standard Deductions & More!

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Thu, 01 Jan 2026 07:00:00 -0600

Can you believe it's 2026 already?? Ready or not here we go! In this episode, I'm sharing the updated tax brackets, standard deductions, capital gains brackets, IRMAA brackets, provisional income brackets, and more.

👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

✅ Get your Important Numbers 2026 PDF here: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/2026-important-numbers

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

00:00 Introduction

01:23 Federal Income Tax Brackets for 2026

02:10 Standard Deductions and Additional Deductions

04:42 Long-Term Capital Gains Brackets

06:37 Retirement Contribution Limits

08:09 Roth IRA and Traditional IRA Rules

13:07 Medicare Premiums and IRMAA Surcharges

16:20 Social Security Taxation

19:16 Final Thoughts

MAJOR Changes To 401k Catch-Up Contributions in 2026

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 30 Dec 2025 07:00:00 -0600

If you're 50+ and making catching catch-up contributions to your employer 401k plan, this episode is for you. In 2026, you might have to change how you save to your employer plan if you earn to much money. In this episode, I share what you need to know about these new rules and how you can save with intention.

👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

✅ Get your Important Numbers 2026 PDF here: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/2026-important-numbers

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

00:00 Intro

00:43 Updated Contribution Limits for 2026

01:25 Special Catch-Up Contributions for Ages 60-63

02:16 IRA Contribution Limits for 2026

03:13 New Rules for High Earners

05:22 Nuances and Exceptions

11:03 Strategizing Your Contributions

15:51 Conclusion & Final Thoughts

4 Retirement Fears to STOP Believing After You Reach 50

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 07:00:00 -0600

Have you ever wondered why so many people dream of early retirement but never actually do it? In this episode, I dive into the most common fears that hold people back from their dream retirement.

👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

✅ Get your Important Numbers 2026 PDF here: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/2026-important-numbers

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

00:00 Introduction

01:48 Fear #1

04:55 Fear #2

10:33 Fear #3

15:00 Fear #4

18:56 What's Next?

Don't Retire Early Without Understanding THIS Tax Strategy First

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 07:00:00 -0600

What if you could retire earlier than expected, access your savings without penalties, get health insurance subsidies, and pay no taxes for the first few years? Would you believe that's possible?

In this episode of Retirement Answers, I explain how it can be done using a case study of a client named Joe where I break down the strategies and financial maneuvers used to help him retire at 55.

👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

✅ Get your Important Numbers 2026 PDF here: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/2026-important-numbers

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

00:00 Welcome

00:51 Special Announcement: 2026 Important Numbers Data Sheet

01:36 Meet Joe: A Real-Life Case Study

04:12 The Rule of 55: Accessing Retirement Funds Early

07:04 Tax Strategies for Early Retirement

08:04 Health Insurance and ACA Subsidies

16:25 Combining Strategies for a Tax-Free Retirement

18:42 Conclusion

5 Misleading Retirement Beliefs That Can Sabotage Your Future

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Sat, 13 Dec 2025 06:00:00 -0600

Have you ever wondered if certain beliefs about retirement could actually jeopardize your future instead of securing it? In this episode of the Retirement Answers Podcast, Jacob Duke, a certified financial planner, delves into common assumptions that may seem harmless but can quietly derail your retirement plans. Tune in to learn how to identify and overcome these misconceptions for a secure and fulfilling retirement journey.

👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

✅ Get your Important Numbers 2025 PDF here: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/2025-important-numbers

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

00:00 Introduction

01:33 Belief #1: The Magic Number Myth

02:59 Belief #2: Spending Less in Retirement

05:45 Belief #3: Skipping the Financial Plan

10:12 Belief #4: Playing It Too Safe

14:12 Belief #5: Retirement Equals Happiness

15:31 Conclusion

5 Questions You MUST Answer If Retiring Before 65

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Fri, 28 Nov 2025 07:00:00 -0600

Get the FREE Checklist Here: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/pre-65-retirement-checklist

👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

✅ Get your Important Numbers 2025 PDF here: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/2025-important-numbers

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

This Is The Roth Conversion SWEET SPOT

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 25 Nov 2025 07:00:00 -0600

What ingredients make for the most optimal Roth conversions? In this episode, I explain what the Roth conversion sweet spot is and why this period of time is the best time to do conversions.

📋 Get Your FREE Checklist here: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/roth-conversion-sweet-spot-checklist

👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

✅ Get your Important Numbers 2025 PDF here: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/2025-important-numbers

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

Every Retiree Needs To Hear This... (What I've Learned After Helping 100 Clients Retire)

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 07:00:00 -0600

You ever have something not be what expected it to be? Well, as a retirement planner who is helped over 100 clients, I have learned an important lesson that I think anyone who is preparing for retirement needs to understand.

👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

✅ Get your Important Numbers 2025 PDF here: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/2025-important-numbers

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

The Roth Conversion MISTAKE Every Retiree Should Avoid

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Wed, 05 Nov 2025 07:13:41 -0600

Roth conversions might help you save on taxes in retirement, but that doesn't mean you only need Roth IRAs... In this episode, I share why it's actually tax-efficient to have money in a Traditional IRA.

👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

✅ Get your Important Numbers 2025 PDF here: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/2025-important-numbers

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

The 2026 Social Security COLA + Who It Applies To

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 28 Oct 2025 06:30:00 -0500

The 2026 Social Security COLA has been announced! I will share what it is, who it applies to, how it's calculated, and why your Social Security claiming strategy impacts your future COLAs.

👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

✅ Get your Important Numbers 2025 PDF here: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/2025-important-numbers

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

Social Security REGRETS: The Top 5 Mistakes Retirees Make

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Sat, 25 Oct 2025 06:00:00 -0500

Are you sure you are taking Social Security at the right time? Well, in this episode, I share 5 common mistakes retirees make when claiming Social Security and what you should look out for.

👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

✅ Get your Important Numbers 2025 PDF here: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/2025-important-numbers

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

Why Retirees with $1M Actually End Up With TOO MUCH

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Wed, 15 Oct 2025 07:00:00 -0500

Are you making the same mistake many other retirees make? If so, you could end up missing out on a lot right now, and have more money that you ever need later in life. In this episode, I talk about the underspending epidemic among retirees and what causes it.

👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

✅ Get your Important Numbers 2025 PDF here: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/2025-important-numbers

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

Are You Optimizing Social Security For The WRONG Thing?

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Thu, 09 Oct 2025 07:16:07 -0500

Is a break even analysis or trying to get the maximum lifetime benefits from Social Security the wrong way to optimize your benefits? In this episode I share an different idea with you about your Social Security claiming strategy.

👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

✅ Get your Important Numbers 2025 PDF here: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/2025-important-numbers

Other episodes mentioned: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1lGNMCcz8U7wyWSdNS0kNA?si=8fcecfdd482445cd

Submit your question to have it answered on the podcast: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/questions

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

Roth Conversions Just Got More Complicated (OBBBA Update)

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Mon, 29 Sep 2025 06:00:00 -0500

The OBBBA was passed back in July 2025, but now Roth conversions are more confusing for retirees. The new senior deductions might be helpful for some, but for those who were planning to do Roth conversions could have some tough decisions to make.

👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

✅ Get your Important Numbers 2025 PDF here: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/2025-important-numbers

Other episodes mentioned: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1lGNMCcz8U7wyWSdNS0kNA?si=8fcecfdd482445cd

Submit your question to have it answered on the podcast: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/questions

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

Can Capital Gains Push Me Into a Higher Tax Bracket?

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Wed, 17 Sep 2025 06:00:00 -0500

The interaction between capital gains and normal income is often misunderstood, so in this episode, I share how capital gains affect your other income and how "income stacking" works.

I also share some unintentional drawbacks of capital gains that you have to watch out for.

👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

✅ Get your Important Numbers 2025 PDF here: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/2025-important-numbers

Other episodes mentioned: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1lGNMCcz8U7wyWSdNS0kNA?si=8fcecfdd482445cd

Submit your question to have it answered on the podcast: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/questions

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

Retiring Early? Use the Rule of 55 To Unlock Retirement Freedom

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 02 Sep 2025 08:05:22 -0500

Trying to retire before 60? Creating income for yourself can be tough and can cause penalties if you aren't careful... That's where the Rule of 55 can be helpful and allow you to take money from your employer retirement plan without early distribution penalties, if you satisfy all of the rules.

In this episode, I share what the Rule of 55 is, why it matters, the rules you need to know, and some alternatives.

👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

✅ Get your Important Numbers 2025 PDF here: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/2025-important-numbers

Submit your question to have it answered on the podcast: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/questions

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

Are You Over-Saving For Retirement? Here's How You Could Be Sabotaging Yourself

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 07:00:00 -0500

Is it possible to "over-save" for retirement? I'd argue it is possible and most people don't realize what it's costing them. So, in this episode, I'm sharing how over-saving happens, why it's such a problem, and what you can do to avoid this risk.

👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

✅ If you want the Important Numbers 2025 PDF, send me an email!

Submit your question to have it answered on the podcast: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/questions

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

How To Create Tax-Free Income In Retirement WITHOUT A Roth IRA

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 19 Aug 2025 07:00:00 -0500

Do you really need a Roth IRA in retirement? Personally, I don't think so if you create a good income plan, so in today's episode, I share how a couple with $1.2m can generate tax-free income in retirement without any money in Roth IRAs.

These 5 Tax Mistakes Will Waste Your Retirement Savings

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Sat, 16 Aug 2025 14:19:17 -0500

Tax planning might be the most consequential part of your retirement plan... If you plan well, you could save yourself hundreds of thousands of dollars over your lifetime. If you don't plan at all, you could give up a huge amount of your hard earned savings.

In this episode, I share 5 of the most common tax planning mistakes that I see as a retirement planner.

👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

Social Security Tax Video: https://youtu.be/fvrpISbRVak?si=g1qdLsCw-H9LMmYz

✅ If you want the Important Numbers 2025 PDF, send me an email!

Submit your question to have it answered on the podcast: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/questions

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

Retirement Tax Planning: What It Is (Actually) + Why It Matters

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Mon, 28 Jul 2025 07:26:00 -0500

Tax planning in retirement is about so much more than Roth conversions... In this episode, I share the components of a real tax plan and why it is crucial to understand this as you build your retirement plan.

👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

✅ If you want the Important Numbers 2025 PDF, send me an email!

Submit your question to have it answered on the podcast: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/questions

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

The Widow's Tax Trap: What Is It & How To Avoid It

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 07:00:00 -0500

There is a tax trap waiting on retired couples, but most don't know about it until it's too late. In this episode, I share what the Widow's Tax Trap is and how you can avoid this big retirement risk.

👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

✅ If you want the Important Numbers 2025 PDF, send me an email!

Submit your question to have it answered on the podcast: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/questions

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

8 Important (But Little-Known) Rules To Know Before You Retire

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Sat, 05 Jul 2025 07:00:00 -0500

There are so many little details and rules to know about as you head into retirement and today I'm sharing 8 rules that I think everyone should know about before entering retirement.

👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

✅ If you want the Important Numbers 2025 PDF, send me an email!

Submit your question to have it answered on the podcast: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/questions

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

5 Things to STOP Doing Before You Retire (And What To Do Instead)

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Fri, 27 Jun 2025 12:12:39 -0500

Getting close to retirement? Here are 5 things you should stop doing before you get started.

👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

✅ If you want the Important Numbers 2025 PDF, send me an email!

Submit your question to have it answered on the podcast: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/questions

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

18 Signs You Are Better Prepared for Retirement Than Most People

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 17 Jun 2025 07:03:49 -0500

Wondering if you are behind on your retirement plan? You are probably more prepared than you think and these 18 signs are good indicators!

👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

✅ If you want the Important Numbers 2025 PDF, send me an email!

Submit your question to have it answered on the podcast: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/questions

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

Retire NOW If You Answer YES to These 5 Questions

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 07:00:19 -0500

Knowing the best time to retire is tough to figure out because of all the details involved, but if you can answer 'YES' to these 5 questions, it might be time to start thinking about it!

👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

✅ If you want the Important Numbers 2025 PDF, send me an email!

Submit your question to have it answered on the podcast: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/questions

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

Why This Account Changes Everything in Retirement

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 03 Jun 2025 07:00:00 -0500

There is an account that can give you ultimate flexibility and help you reduce taxes in retirement... and no, it's not a Roth IRA. It gives you the flexibility you've dreamed of when it comes to retirement income planning and tax planning.

👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

✅ If you want the Important Numbers 2025 PDF, send me an email!

Submit your question to have it answered on the podcast: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/questions

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

Why Converting Everything to Roth is a MISTAKE

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Wed, 28 May 2025 07:00:00 -0500

Are you making this mistake with your Roth conversions? In this episode, I explain why having some money in your Traditional IRA could save you thousands in taxes.

Video on Social Security Taxation: https://youtu.be/fvrpISbRVak?si=-tF8oULLC7t7GmD7

👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

✅ If you want the Important Numbers 2025 PDF, send me an email!

Submit your question to have it answered on the podcast: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/questions

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

What Most Retirees Don't Know About Social Security Survivor Benefits

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 20 May 2025 10:44:21 -0500

Social Security survivor benefits are really confusing, but in this episode I break down everything you need to know about survivor benefits to help you make more informed decisions.

👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

✅ If you want the Important Numbers 2025 PDF, send me an email!

Submit your question to have it answered on the podcast: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/questions

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

Social Security Spousal Benefits - Avoid These Common Mistakes

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 13 May 2025 07:00:00 -0500

Most retirees assume they are entitled to 50% of their spouse's Social Security, but that is not true... In this episode, I outline the rules for Social Security spousal benefits, how it works, and why your decision to take Social Security impacts your spousal benefits.

👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

✅ If you want the Important Numbers 2025 PDF, send me an email!

Submit your question to have it answered on the podcast: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/questions

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

What You Can Do To Avoid The IRA Pro-Rata Rule

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Fri, 09 May 2025 15:29:57 -0500

Do you have after-tax money in your Traditional IRA? Well, when it comes time to make distributions or do Roth conversions, you could unknowingly pay more in tax that you otherwise have to if you aren't aware of the IRA Pro-Rata rule or how you can fix this issue before it becomes a problem.

In this week's Friday Q&A, I answer James' question on this specific topic.

👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

✅ If you want the Important Numbers 2025 PDF, send me an email!

Submit your question to have it answered on the podcast: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/questions

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

What The Top 1% of Retirees Do Differently From Everyone Else

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 06 May 2025 07:00:00 -0500

The top retirees approach retirement completely different from everyone else. They have an abundance mindset and live with intentionally, and that's what I discuss in today's episode.

👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

✅ If you want the Important Numbers 2025 PDF, send me an email!

Submit your question to have it answered on the podcast: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/questions

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

Why Your Roth Conversion Could Trigger Unexpected Tax Penalties

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Fri, 02 May 2025 10:23:15 -0500

Roth conversions are a powerful tax planning opportunity for retirees, but the devil is in the details. Missing a couple small things could end up costing you.

In this Friday Q&A, we answer the following questions:

How are dividends taxed in different account types?
If I do a Roth conversion, do I need to make estimated tax payments or can I just pay when I file my taxes?

👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

✅ If you want the Important Numbers 2025 PDF, send me an email!

Submit your question to have it answered on the podcast: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/questions

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

10 Retirement Hacks That Will Save You Money

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 09:55:55 -0500

There are a few simple ways to save money in retirement and keep more of your hard earned money in your pocket. In this episode, I share 10 hacks that will help you save money and reduce taxes in retirement.

👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

✅ If you want the Important Numbers 2025 PDF, send me an email!

Submit your question to have it answered on the podcast: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/questions

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

Recession-Proof Your Portfolio By Doing THIS

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Fri, 25 Apr 2025 07:00:00 -0500

What if the market tanks right after you retire? It's important to be prepared and have a plan in place for the 'what-ifs' that could happen. In this weeks Friday Q&A, I answer Carolina's question and share how I like to build portfolios that are recession-proof.

👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

✅ If you want the Important Numbers 2025 PDF, send me an email!

Submit your question to have it answered on the podcast: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/questions

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

Why You Should STOP Doing Roth Conversions

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 07:58:22 -0500

Roth conversions might be causing you to pay more in taxes compared to simply not doing any Roth conversions. In this episode, I explain how RMDs and your future tax rate could be much lower than the tax rate you would pay today on any Roth conversions you do.

Roth is great, but it isn't always better.

👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

✅ If you want the Important Numbers 2025 PDF, send me an email!

Submit your question to have it answered on the podcast: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/questions

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

Planning for Travel Expenses in Retirement? Ask Yourself These Questions

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 12:54:25 -0500

Trying to figure out how to plan for travel expenses in retirement? That's the question that I address on this week's Friday Q&A.

I share a few things to consider as you plan how much you are going to spend on travel in retirement.

👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

✅ If you want the Important Numbers 2025 PDF, send me an email!

Submit your question to have it answered on the podcast: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/questions

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

This is the BEST Way To Do Roth Conversions

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 07:38:55 -0500

What if you could do a Roth conversion completely tax-free? Would you even believe me if I said this was possible?

In this episode, I share how you can use a charitable gifting strategy in tandem with your Roth conversions to eliminate the taxes on the conversion. It's like magic, but it's not... It's just strategy!

👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

✅ If you want the Important Numbers 2025 PDF, send me an email!

Submit your question to have it answered on the podcast: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/questions

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

How To Plan For Long-Term Care in Retirement

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Fri, 11 Apr 2025 08:38:24 -0500

Long-term care planning is difficult to figure out. There is no "right" way to do it because some prefer to self insure while others prefer to purchase insurance. In this Friday Q&A, I address Theresa's question about long-term care planning and how I think about it.

👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

✅ If you want the Important Numbers 2025 PDF, send me an email!

Submit your question to have it answered on the podcast: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/questions

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

Stock Market Crash? Take Advantage of These 3 Opportunities

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 08 Apr 2025 07:00:00 -0500

The stock market might be taking a hit, but that doesn't mean there aren't opportunities out there. In fact, it's times like these the top 1% make the smartest moves.

In this episode, I share 3 opportunities that you can take advantage of during market crashes.

👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

✅ If you want the Important Numbers 2025 PDF, send me an email!

Submit your question to have it answered on the podcast: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/questions

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

How To Invest AFTER You Retire

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 01 Apr 2025 07:00:00 -0500

You've been investing throughout your entire career and trying to grow your portfolio so you are ready for retirement. But what happens to your investments when get to retirement? Should you make a bunch of changes? Should you be more conservative?

Join me as I discuss how to approach investing during retirement and a few different things you need to consider.

👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

✅ If you want the Important Numbers 2025 PDF, send me an email!

Submit your question to have it answered on the podcast: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/questions

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

DO THIS To Spend Confidently in Retirement

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 07:00:00 -0500

The fear and unknowns of retirement make it hard for most retirees to spend confidently. In fact, I think spending with confidence in retirement might be the hardest thing to do.

Will you run out of money? Are you spending too much? What if the market crashes and you never recover?

All of the "what ifs" lead to under spending in the prime retirement years and dying with more money than you started retirement with. So, in this episode, I share tips on how you can overcome your worries about spending too much in retirement.

👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

✅ If you want the Important Numbers 2025 PDF, send me an email!

Submit your question to have it answered on the podcast: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/questions

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

Sequence of Returns Risk: Should You Retire During a Recession?

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 07:00:00 -0500

What happens if the market goes down dramatically right when I retire? That's a big question on most retirees & pre-retirees minds, so in this episode, I walk through how you can combat this risk and what you should do to be prepared.

👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

✅ If you want the Important Numbers 2025 PDF, send me an email!

Submit your question to have it answered on the podcast: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/questions

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

Roth IRA 5-Year Rules & A Little Known Fact You Should Know About

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Wed, 12 Mar 2025 07:00:00 -0500

In this episode, I share the two Roth IRA 5-year rules that you should know about. Additionally, I provide a HUGE tip that will help you out when doing Roth conversions in retirement. (Most people don't know this)

👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

✅ If you want the Important Numbers 2025 PDF, send me an email!

Submit your question to have it answered on the podcast: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/questions

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

6 Financial Goals to Reach By Age 60

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 04 Mar 2025 07:00:00 -0600

If you can have these 6 things figured out by the time you are 60, your retirement will be that much more successful and enjoyable.

👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

✅ If you want the Important Numbers 2025 PDF, send me an email!

Submit your question to have it answered on the podcast: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/questions

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

How To Avoid The RMD Tax Trap

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 25 Feb 2025 07:00:00 -0600

If you aren't paying attention, a huge tax bomb could arise later in retirement. This tax bomb comes in the form of RMDs... But finding ways to minimize your RMDs will help lower your lifetime tax bill.

Most people only look at RMDs at surface level, but these forced distributions impact other items such as Social Security taxation and IRMAA, to name a couple.

👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

✅ If you want the Important Numbers 2025 PDF, send me an email!

Submit your question to have it answered on the podcast: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/questions

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

Every Retirement Plan Has This MAJOR Problem

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Wed, 19 Feb 2025 07:00:00 -0600

As you approach retirement, you likely want to have everything planned out perfectly...

When you are going to start taking Social Security?
When to do Roth conversions?
How to use tax-gain harvesting?
What your portfolio allocation should be?
And so on

The good news is you aren't alone in your desire to have it all figured out before you jump in retirement, but here's the bad news... You're plan will be wrong... I know, probably not what you want to hear, but it's the truth.

In today's episode, I discuss this idea of your retirement plan being incorrect and how you should think about your plan instead.

👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

✅ If you want the Important Numbers 2025 PDF, send me an email!

Submit your question to have it answered on the podcast: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/questions

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

5 Hidden Costs That Catch Retirees Off Guard

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 07:00:00 -0600

Do you ever wonder what you might be missing as you plan for retirement? There's so much to think about and plan for that certain things can easily slip through the cracks. In this episode, I share 5 hidden costs that catch retirees off-guard based on what my clients have told me.

👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

✅ If you want the Important Numbers 2025 PDF, send me an email!

Submit your question to have it answered on the podcast: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/questions

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

The Complete Guide to Backdoor Roth IRA Contributions (And Common Mistakes to Avoid)

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 04 Feb 2025 07:00:00 -0600

The Backdoor Roth might be the greatest tax loophole for high income individuals… But 99% of people have no idea how to do it correctly. So, in this episode, I’m going to tell you exactly how to do a backdoor Roth contribution without messing it up.

👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

✅ If you want the Important Numbers 2025 PDF, send me an email!

Submit your question to have it answered on the podcast: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/questions

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

6 Common Tax Mistakes Most Retirees Make (And How to Avoid Them)

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 28 Jan 2025 08:17:10 -0600

Taxes could very easily be your largest expense in retirement. So, having a strategic tax plan might prove to be the most important thing you can do. In this episode, I share 6 common tax mistakes retirees make around withdrawals, Roth conversions, capital gains, & Social Security.

👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

✅ If you want the Important Numbers 2025 PDF, send me an email!

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

Create Up To $126k of TAX-FREE Income in 2025 Using Tax-Gain Harvesting

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 07:00:00 -0600

Wait... You're telling me I can sell $126k of gains in my brokerage account and pay no tax on those gains? Yes! (And the best part is... it's legal) Join me as I share how tax-gain harvesting works so you can learn how to implement this tax savings strategy yourself.

👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

✅ If you want the Important Numbers 2025 PDF, send me an email!

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

Every Good Retirement Plan Includes These 6 Things

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 07:00:00 -0600

How do you know if your retirement plan is good or not? And what are the different things you need to include in your plan? That's what I discuss in this episode because I share 6 things that every good retirement plan includes.

👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

✅ If you want the Important Numbers 2025 PDF, send me an email!

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

If You Want to Retire in 2025, Do These 5 Things First

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 07 Jan 2025 07:29:57 -0600

As you prepare for you upcoming retirement, there a few thing you can do to give you the best chance at the retirement of your dreams. In this episode, I share 5 things (plus a bonus tip) that you should BEFORE you retire to help you make the most of your new adventure and rest at night knowing your money is taken care of. Enjoy!

👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

✅ If you want the Important Numbers 2025 PDF, send me an email!

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

8 Common Mistakes That Could Ruin Your Retirement

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 24 Dec 2024 07:00:00 -0600

There are plenty of mistakes that can be made when planning for retirement, so I want to warn you about 8 common mistakes that I see.

We will talk about the importance of knowing your true spending number, understanding the impact of inflation on retirement spending, balancing investment strategies, planning for taxes, timing Social Security, evaluating the need for Roth conversions, preparing for long-term care, and creating a comprehensive estate plan.

Other episodes mentioned:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/747cbYYpwgEJIG9l302tZO?si=EM7eryjCTXKSREkJkWqBTA

👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

✅ If you want the Important Numbers 2025 PDF, send me an email!

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

The TRUTH About Social Security Taxation: How It Actually Works

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 17 Dec 2024 07:06:07 -0600

👉 Book a call with me 👉 https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started
__________________________________

✅ If you want the Important Numbers 2025 PDF, send me an email!

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Social Security taxation is confusing for most... "Am I being taxed on my Social Security benefits?" "WHY am paying tax on my Social Security?" "How is Social Security tax calculate?" These are the common questions retirees have and I answer them in this episode.

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

Pension vs Lump Sum - Friday Q&A

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Fri, 06 Dec 2024 11:15:00 -0600

In this episode of the Friday Q&A, Jacob discusses a listener's dilemma of choosing between taking a lump sum or opting for a monthly pension in retirement. With a detailed inquiry involving health concerns, survivor benefits, and financial flexibility, the discussion delves into various factors such as fixed income, monthly expenses, Social Security benefits, and personal circumstances like employment status and legacy planning.

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Book a free consultation to get started today 👉 https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

4 Reasons to Retire ASAP

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 03 Dec 2024 07:15:00 -0600

Still trying to figure out when you are going to retire? Do you have a specific age in mind? It can be hard to decide and then actually go through with it because of the unknown and the "what-ifs" of retirement.

But the biggest "what-if" in my opinion isn't what could go wrong in retirement... The biggest "what-if" is getting to the end of your life wishing you would have retired sooner so you could enjoy more time with your family or go on your dream vacation while you had the health.

In this episode, I share 4 reasons why you should think about retiring TODAY.

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Book a free consultation to get started today 👉 https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

Friday Q&A: Why Am I So Anxious About Retirement?

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Fri, 29 Nov 2024 07:35:00 -0600

In this Friday Q&A, we tackle a common question from a soon-to-be retiree who is anxious about taking the leap into retirement despite strong financial standing. Discover the psychological challenges and mindset shifts necessary for a smooth transition into retirement.

Need help planning for retirement? 👉 Get started today: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

---------------------------

Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

🔔 Subscribe to the channel and press the bell icon so you never miss a video!

DISCLAIMER: This video is not meant to be taken a tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

00:00 Introduction
00:12 Today's Question
00:30 Financial Overview
01:24 Psychological Aspects of Retirement
02:34 Advice for a Smooth Transition
05:25 Encouragement

5 Strategies To Lower Your Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs)

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 26 Nov 2024 07:37:59 -0600

When you turn 73 or 75, you will be required to begin taking money from your tax-deferred IRAs, 401ks, 403bs, etc. This is through what is called Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs).

While RMDs aren't the worst thing ever, they can create some tax issues in the future if you don't plan accordingly. In this epsiode, I share 5 ways you can lower your RMDs to minimize their negative tax impact in the future.

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Book a free consultation to get started today 👉 https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

Friday Q&A: Should We Pay Off Our House?

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Fri, 22 Nov 2024 07:45:53 -0600

In the first episode of the Friday Q&A series,I address a viewer's question about whether to pay off their house before retirement. The husband is close to retirement and considers using his ESOP to pay off their recently purchased home. I discuss the pros and cons of this decision, including tax implications and the importance of maintaining liquidity.The episode offers valuable insights for anyone contemplating similar financial moves in the context of retirement planning.

Should I Pay Off My Mortgage Before Retirement?

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 08:30:00 -0600

One of the biggest factors in your ability to retire is whether or not you have debt. If you have no debt, retirement becomes that much easier. BUT does that mean you should pay off your mortgage before retirement at all costs? That's what I discuss in this episode.

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Book a free consultation to get started today 👉 https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

Is NOW A Good Time To Buy Stocks?

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 07:00:00 -0500

"The market is at all-time highs! We are due for a recession! I'm going to wait for the next pullback..."

These the statements we all tell ourselves, but we shouldn't follow our own hunches and opinions. This week, I am talking through a framework that you can use to help answer the question, "Is now a good time to buy stocks?"

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Book a free consultation to get started today 👉 https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

Ask This Question BEFORE You Retire

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 07:00:00 -0500

Most people only think about the money side of retirement. Do I have enough? When should I start Social Security? Which account should I pull money from first?

These are all important questions, but the personal and emotional side of retirement often gets overlooked because the financial questions are top of mind.

I encourage you to ask yourself, "What are you retiring to?" You know what you are retiring from, but having a game plan for what you are going to do in retirement is crucial so you don't end up lonely, sad, and hating what is supposed to be a wonderful period of life.

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Book a free consultation to get started today 👉 https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

Here's When You Should Do Roth Conversions

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 01 Oct 2024 07:00:00 -0500

Trying to figure out when you should do Roth conversions? In this episode, I share the optimal times to do Roth conversions so that you get the most out of this important tax minimization strategy.

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Book a free consultation to get started today 👉 https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

How Much Cash Should I Hold in Retirement?

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 07:00:00 -0500

How aggressive or conservative you should invest your money in retirement is a constant question in retirees' minds. How much risk should I take? Should I just use a standard 60/40 portfolio? How much cash should I have on hand?

In this episode, I address this common question and provide a framework you can use to determine how much cash you should have in retirement based on YOUR unique situation.

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Book a free consultation to get started today 👉 https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

Stop Avoiding IRMAA!

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 08:45:16 -0500

IRMAA stands for Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amount. In short, it is a surcharge that can be added to your Medicare Part B & D premiums IF you earn to much money.

I talk about IRMAA here on the podcast and with my clients because it is something we have to pay attention to so that it doesn't catch us off guard, but I feel like many view IRMAA as something you MUST avoid.

In this episode, I share a brief overview of IRMAA and tell you why you shouldn't avoid IRMAA at all costs. In fact, going over the IRMAA income limits intentionally, could lead to thousands of dollars of savings.

Shoot me an email if you don't already have a copy of the 2024 Cheat Sheet.

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Book a free consultation to get started today 👉 https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

6 Reasons to Spend Your Roth IRA in Retirement

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 27 Aug 2024 07:00:00 -0500

Having a Roth IRA in retirement can be very powerful. It allows you to make tax-free distributions for retirement income and gives you flexibility around your tax brackets...

But I've noticed one thing. I/we as financial planners often suggest taking from your Roth IRA last for income in retirement so it has more time to compound tax-free. While this is often a good idea mathematically, I have been asking myself this question:

"Everyone is told to save to a Roth IRA so they have tax-free income in retirement, but when they get to retirement they are told not to spend from their Roth IRA. What's the point of having a Roth IRA if you aren't going to use it??"

In today's episode, I talk through this question and share 6 reasons you would spend your Roth IRA earlier in retirement. Enjoy!

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Book a free consultation to get started today 👉 https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

Navigating Market Volatility in Retirement

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 13 Aug 2024 08:36:28 -0500

It's not secret that sudden market declines can cause fear and anxiety in investors' minds. Recently, we've seen some volatility enter the markets and you might be wondering if you should make any changes to your portfolio.

In this episode, I provide a framework and steps you can follow to navigate the emotions and uncertainties market volatility throw at us.

If you'd like an example of the Retirement Income Buckets, shoot me and email and I will send it right over!

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Book a free consultation to get started today 👉 https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

Watch Out for These 5 Investing Mistakes!

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 30 Jul 2024 08:51:21 -0500

Book a free consultation to get started today 👉 https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

I've seen a common theme in almost every portfolio review I have done lately for prospective clients... I share that investing mistake and 4 others with you in this weeks episode!

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Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This video is not meant to be taken a tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

Tax-Savvy Retirement: Asset Location Explained

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Thu, 18 Jul 2024 07:00:00 -0500

Book a free consultation to get started today 👉 https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

Tax planning is a huge part of building a successful retirement plan. You often hear about Roth conversions or tax-loss harvesting, but there is a simple way that EVERYONE can reduce there taxes each year... ASSET LOCATION.

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Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This video is not meant to be taken a tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

5 Ways to Reduce Your RMDs (& SAVE BIG)

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 02 Jul 2024 09:41:40 -0500

Book a free consultation to get started today 👉 https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

Required Minimum Distributions (RMD) aren't the worst thing in the world, but they could force you to pay taxes you don't want to pay. In this episode, I share 5 ways to reduce your RMDs and take back control of your tax bill in retirement.

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Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

🔔 Subscribe to the channel and press the bell icon so you never miss a video!

DISCLAIMER: This video is not meant to be taken a tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

Where Should I Pull Funds From First in Retirement?

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 25 Jun 2024 07:33:37 -0500

Book a free consultation to get started today 👉 https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

Not sure where to pull income from first in retirement? It can be a overwhelming to figure this out because of the impact your distributions have on other items in retirement such as Social Security taxes, RMDs, Medicare Premiums, and more.

This week on the podcast I share some ideas around how to decide where to pull income from first in retirement.

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Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

🔔 Subscribe to the channel and press the bell icon so you never miss a video!

DISCLAIMER: This video is not meant to be taken a tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

7 Reasons NOT To Do Roth Conversions

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 11 Jun 2024 08:49:25 -0500

Today, I'm sharing 7 reasons you shouldn't do Roth conversions... I hear about far too many people who are trying to do Roth conversions, but they shouldn't be doing any at all. Yes, Roth conversions are a power tax planning strategy for retirees, but it's not the best strategy for everyone.

Creating a comprehensive plan that is unique to your situation is key. Don't just do Roth conversions because it's what everyone is talking about!

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Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

🔔 Subscribe to the channel and press the bell icon so you never miss a video!

DISCLAIMER: This podcast is not meant to be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

How Much Money Do You ACTUALLY Need To Retire?

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 14:01:53 -0500

Need a custom retirement plan? 👉 Get started today: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

Wondering if you have enough money saved up to retire comfortably in 2024? In this video, I provide a framework you can use to evaluate how much you need to live a worry-free retirement.

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Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

🔔 Subscribe to the channel and press the bell icon so you never miss a video!

DISCLAIMER: This video is not meant to be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

Will My Social Security Be Taxed?

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 28 May 2024 08:19:55 -0500

One of the biggest questions around Social Security is, "Will I pay income taxes on my Social Security benefits?"

I answer this very question, walk through an example, and share some tips on how you can lower your Social Security taxes in the future.

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Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

👉 Do you have your custom retirement strategy? If not, get started today: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

🔔 Subscribe to the channel and press the bell icon so you never miss a video!

DISCLAIMER: This video is not meant to be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

Is Social Security Going to Run Out?!

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 21 May 2024 07:30:00 -0500

In recent years, there has been a growing concern around Social Security going insolvent.

There are some truths to these concerns, but there are also many misunderstandings. The biggest misunderstanding is that Social Security will be going away entirely.

The confusing part is that the Social Security trust fund could be running out in the future, but Social Security is a pay-as-you-go system. This just means that the dollars received every year in taxes are paid out every year in benefits.

So, as long as taxes are being received, something will be paid out. How much will be paid out though? That's the question that is on everyone's mind.

In this episode, I break down:
- The details of the latest Trustee Report that was published on May 6th, 2024.
- The problem at hand
- Ideas for how the system can be sured up
- What the trustees suggest and the magnitude of this needing to be fixed
- How you should react as a retiree or pre-retiree.

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Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

👉 Do you have your custom retirement strategy? If not, get started today: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

🔔 Subscribe to the channel and press the bell icon so you never miss a video!

DISCLAIMER: This video is not meant to be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

3 Estate Planning Must-Haves

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 14 May 2024 07:30:00 -0500

Estate planning is often a forgotten part of a financial plan, but there are a few steps you can take to start building your estate plan.

It doesn't have to complicated, so I am sharing 3 must-haves to include in your estate plan. There are more elements to think about including in your estate plan, but these should get you started.

———————————————————————————

Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

👉 Do you have your custom retirement strategy? If not, get started today.

🔔 Subscribe so you never miss an episode!

DISCLAIMER: This video is not meant to be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

Inherited IRA Rules EXPLAINED (10-Year Rule)

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 07 May 2024 07:00:00 -0500

So you inherited an IRA... But now what? Do you have to take all of the money out immediately? Over your lifetime? Within 10 years?

The SECURE Act was instituted in 2020, but we are still trying to understand what the rules actually are for IRA inheritors.

Prior to the SECURE Act, you could stretch the Required Minimum Distributions (RMD) over your lifetime. This gave you the benefit of spreading out your tax liability over many years.

The SECURE Act took this "stretch" provision away for many beneficiaries and left it available to others. Also, the "10-year rule" was created. This new ruling forces certain beneficiaries to distribute the entire balance of the IRA by the end of the 10th year following death.

This video is meant to serve as a guide for you in determining how to properly follow the SECURE Act rules for Inherited IRAs.

The biggest questions you have to ask yourself are:
- What type of beneficiary am I?
- What account type have I inherited? (Tax-deferred or Roth)
- Did the decedent pass away before or after their Required Beginning Date (RBD)?

Answering these questions will help you determine how to distribute your the funds in your Inherited IRA correctly.

Want help with your retirement plan?👇🏼

☎️ Book a call with me: https://calendly.com/jacobduke/intro
✉️ Email me: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: www.rivertreewealth.com

#retirement #howmuchtoretire #retirementplanning #rothira #rothconversion #investing #401k #socialsecurityretirement #socialsecurity #secureact #SECUREAct2.0

Retirement Planning Do's & Don'ts

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 07:00:00 -0500

There are lots of opinions and ideas around how to properly plan for and live out a successful retirement.

Today, I'mis sharing 8 do's & don'ts of retirement planning that I often run into when talking with prospective clients.

Topics covered:
- How to invest in retirement
- How you can trust your plan
- Why you should be proactive instead of reactive
- Understanding Social Security
- Talking to others who have already retired

A big part of having a successful retirement is knowing what pitfalls to look out for. Hopefully, this helps you on your retirement journey.

Want help with your retirement plan?👇🏼

☎️ Book a call with me: https://calendly.com/jacobduke/intro
✉️ Email me: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: www.rivertreewealth.com

#retirement #howmuchtoretire #retirementplanning #rothira #rothconversion #investing #401k #socialsecurity

How Do Presidents Impact the Stock Market?

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 06:00:00 -0500

It's an election year! We will be choosing the next President of the United States later this Fall and times like this often raise a lot of questions in investors' minds.

"Will the stock market go down is this person is elected?"
"Should I get out entirely to avoid any turbulence?"
"Which political party has the best track record when it comes to stock market returns?"
"If that person get's elected, things with definitely go south."

But here's the hard part... We all have preferences and political biases. Separating our personal convictions from our investment decisions is the hardest part for most investors. Because of the need to confirm our biases, we make decisions that are detrimental to your investment success.

Hopefully this episode shows you that the President has far less impact on the stock market that you may think and that big decisions based on Presidential elections can prove to be very harmful.

Remember: We are investing in for-profit companies that provide goods and services you and I need, not a President. We are betting on those companies to find a way to sell those goods and services regardless of the current political or regulatory environment we find ourselves.

If you found this episode helpful, subscribe so you don't miss any future episodes.

Also, I'd greatly appreciate it if you gave a rating and review. It helps other people just like you find the podcast and benefit from discussions on these topics as well.

Want help with your retirement plan?👇🏼
☎️ Book a call with me
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My YouTube Channel

Resources:
How Stocks Have Behaved in an Election Month
The Market & US Presidential Elections
Interactive Visuals

#retirement #howmuchtoretire #retirementplanning #rothira #rothconversion #investing #401k #socialsecurity

Avoid These 8 Retirement Mistakes

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 16 Apr 2024 07:00:00 -0500

As a retirement planner, I get to see the good and the bad of every retirement plan. All the good decisions and the mistakes that come up.

In an effort to help you avoid some common mistakes I see, I put together a list of 8 mistakes to avoid. These are mistakes around investing, income planning, withdrawal strategies, and mindset mistakes.

I hope this helps you know what to look out for and encourages you if you are already aware of these potential mistakes.

If you enjoy the podcast, I'd love it if you could give a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. It's the best way you can say 'Thank You'!

Want help with your retirement plan?👇🏼
☎️ Book a call with me
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#retirement #howmuchtoretire #retirementplanning #rothira #rothconversion #investing #401k #socialsecurity

BIG NEWS & My Retirement Planning System

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 07:00:00 -0500

I have some big news to share with you... I have launched my own wealth management firm, Rivertree Wealth! I'm excited to continue serving my clients and begin working with new clients in the future.

To learn more about Rivertree and how we can help you, please visit www.rivertreewealth.com.

Also, I wanted to share our system, the Rivertree System, with to give you more insight to how we approach retirement planning. Hopefully these insights give you an idea of how the different planning topics (taxes, investments, income, estate, etc) fit together.

If you enjoy the podcast, I'd love it if you could give a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. It's the best way you can say 'Thank You'!

Want help with your retirement plan?👇🏼
☎️ Book a call with me
✉️ Email me: jacob@rivertreewealth.com

My YouTube Channel

#retirement #howmuchtoretire #retirementplanning #rothira #rothconversion #investing #401k #socialsecurity

How Do Financial Advisors Get Paid?

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 26 Mar 2024 07:00:00 -0500

Alright... Let's talk about financial advisor fees.

Understanding how a financial advisor gets paid can be hard because there are numerous ways an advisor can receive compensation.

In this episode of Retirement Answers, Jacob breaks down the main things you need to know about advisory fees in an objective, unbiased way.

Topics covered:
- Commissions vs Fees
- Fee Only vs Fee Based vs Commission Based
- Conflicts of interest

If you enjoy the podcast, I'd love it if you could give a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. It's the best way you can say 'Thank You'!

Want help with your retirement plan?👇🏼
☎️ Book a call with me
✉️ Email me: jacob@rivertreewealth.com

My YouTube Channel

#retirement #howmuchtoretire #retirementplanning #rothira #rothconversion #investing #401k #socialsecurity

5 Benefits of a Roth IRA in Retirement

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 19 Mar 2024 07:00:00 -0500

Roth IRAs are powerful retirement accounts. You get to pay your tax now, let your investments grow tax-sheltered, and take from the account in retirement TAX-FREE! (The tax-free part depends on whether or not you meet the age 59.5 and 5 year requirements)

Having a Roth IRA in retirement will help you lower your tax bill in your retirement years and be a huge benefit when it comes to Social Security taxation or IRMAA (Medicare premium surcharges).

In this episode of Retirement Answers, I share 5 benefits of having a well-funded Roth IRA in retirement and how you can maximize the potential of your Roth IRA.

If you enjoy the podcast, I'd love it if you could give a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. It's the best way you can say 'Thank You'!

Want help with your retirement plan?👇🏼
☎️ Book a call with me
✉️ Email me: jacob@rivertreewealth.com

My YouTube Channel

#retirement #howmuchtoretire #retirementplanning #rothira #rothconversion #investing #401k #socialsecurity

How to Plan for Retirement Gap Years

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 12 Mar 2024 07:00:00 -0500

Maybe you have heard of retirement "gap years" or maybe it's a new concept to you, but how to plan for your retirement gap years is a common question for retirees.

The value of these years is that they are likely going to be the lowest tax years for the rest of your life. This means you could have an opportunity to take advantage of those lower tax rates and lower your lifetime tax bill.

In this episode of Retirement Answers, we cover:

What these gap years are
Discuss how you can use them to your advantage
Walk through a real life example of this in action
My big takeaway

The most important thing you can do is evaluate your situation to see what opportunities you can take advantage of during this crucial time in retirement because you won't get those opportunities back in the future.

If you enjoy the podcast, I'd love it if you could give a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. It's the best way you can say 'Thank You'!

Want help with your retirement plan?👇🏼
☎️ Book a call with me
✉️ Email me: jacob@rivertreewealth.com

My YouTube Channel

#retirement #howmuchtoretire #retirementplanning #rothira #rothconversion #investing #401k #socialsecurity

How Much Income Will I Need in Retirement?

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 05 Mar 2024 07:00:00 -0600

Trying to figure out how much income you will need in retirement can be challenging to figure out...

There are rules of thumb such as 80% of your current, pre-retirement income or just take 4% of your savings each year for income.

But the hard part about rules of thumb is that they are not unique to your or your needs. Some need far less than their pre-retirement income and others need the same amount.

In this episode, I walk through how you can determine how much income you will need in retirement and some important considerations to think about. Enjoy!

If you enjoy the podcast, I'd love it if you could give a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. It's the best way you can say 'Thank You'!

Want help with your retirement plan?👇🏼
☎️ Book a call with me
✉️ Email me: jacob@rivertreewealth.com

My YouTube Channel

#retirement #howmuchtoretire #retirementplanning #rothira #rothconversion #investing #401k #socialsecurity

The Secret Ingredient to a Successful Retirement

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 07:00:00 -0600

Discover the missing ingredient to a successful retirement in this episode of Retirement Answers with Jacob Duke. Learn why this ingredient is crucial to your retirement plan and how it can impact your decision-making process.

Jacob discusses the pitfalls of trying to be exactly right and the importance of being less wrong tomorrow. He also explores the benefits of building flexibility into your plan, including tax diversification, delaying Social Security, and having wiggle room in your distribution rate.

(00:00) - Intro
(01:06) - Listener Review
(02:01) - Secret Ingredient: Part 1
(09:17) - Secret Ingredient: Part 2
(15:07) - Big Takeaways
(18:26) - Outro

If you enjoy the podcast, I'd love it if you could give a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. It's the best way you can say 'Thank You'!

Want help with your retirement plan?👇🏼
☎️ Book a call with me
✉️ Email me: jacob@rivertreewealth.com

My YouTube Channel

#retirement #howmuchtoretire #retirementplanning #rothira #rothconversion #investing #401k #socialsecurity

Should I Take Social Security & Invest It?

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 20 Feb 2024 07:00:00 -0600

In this episode of Retirement Answers, Jacob answers the common question, "should I take social security early and invest it?"

Jacob talks through the following:
- Benefits and risks of this strategy
- An example
- Big takeaway

00:00 Intro
00:40 Listener Review
01:10 Benefits and Risks
12:02 Example
14:32 The Importance of Considering Your Unique Plan
15:10 Big Takeaway
18:12 Final Thoughts

If you enjoy the podcast, I'd love it if you could give a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. It's the best way you can say 'Thank You'!

Want help with your retirement plan?👇🏼
☎️ Book a call with me
✉️ Email me: jacob@rivertreewealth.com

My YouTube Channel

#retirement #howmuchtoretire #retirementplanning #rothira #rothconversion #investing #401k #socialsecurity

Should I Prioritize Roth Conversions or Health Insurance Subsidies?

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 07:00:00 -0600

In this episode, Jacob discusses the decision many retirees have to make: prioritizing health insurance subsidies or Roth conversions? He highlights considerations such as the person's tax-deferred balance, age, and whether they are charitably inclined.

Jacob explains how the Affordable Care Act can lower premiums for those under a certain income level, and spells out the potential tax savings involved in Roth conversions. He also puts forth the possibility of combining both strategies, depending on specific circumstances.

If you enjoy the podcast, I'd love it if you could give a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. It's the best way you can say 'Thank You'!

Want help with your retirement plan?👇🏼
☎️ Book a call with me
✉️ Email me: jacob@rivertreewealth.com

My YouTube Channel
Submit your question here: jacob@retirementanswers.net

#retirement #howmuchtoretire #retirementplanning #rothira #rothconversion #investing #401k #socialsecurity

When is the Best Time to Retire?

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 06 Feb 2024 07:00:00 -0600

"When should I retire?" can be one of the hardest questions to answer. There isn't a perfect answer nor a one-size-fits-all. There are plenty of rules of thumb you could go by, but taking an individualized approach to this decision based on your circumstances might be the most important part.

In this episode, I share 6 thoughts or ideas to consider when trying to determine the best time to retire. Once you can answer to these 6 ideas with confidence, you could be ready to retire.

If you enjoy the podcast, I'd love it if you could give a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. It's the best way you can say 'Thank You'!

Want help with your retirement plan?👇🏼
☎️ Book a call with me
✉️ Email me: jacob@rivertreewealth.com

My YouTube Channel
Submit your question here: jacob@retirementanswers.net

#retirement #howmuchtoretire #retirementplanning #rothira #rothconversion #investing #401k #socialsecurity

5 Common Retirement Regrets (& How To Avoid Them)

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 30 Jan 2024 07:00:00 -0600

Have you ever heard someone say they weren't enjoying their retirement? Or maybe they were bored or felt lost?

Unfortunately, I hear retirees say this more often than I would like. Because of this, I wanted to share some common regrets I hear from those who are in retirement so that you can avoid those regrets yourself.

If you enjoy the podcast, I'd love it if you could give a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. It's the best way you can say 'Thank You'!

Want help with your retirement plan?👇🏼
☎️ Book a call with me
✉️ Email me: jacob@rivertreewealth.com

My YouTube Channel
Submit your question here: jacob@retirementanswers.net

#retirement #howmuchtoretire #retirementplanning #rothira #rothconversion #investing #401k #socialsecurity

Social Security Survivor Benefits: A Complete Guide

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 23 Jan 2024 07:00:00 -0600

Social Security can get confusing very quickly. You have FRAs & PIAs, and Spousal benefits, Survivor benefits, Disability, and your own benefits.
And the crazy part is that each of these "types" of Social Security benefits have different rules and nuances.

In this episode, I am sharing everything you need to know about Survivor Benefits. We will answer the following questions:

Who gets a survivor benefit?
When can I get a survivor benefit?
Do I get my own benefits and the survivor benefit on top of that?
How much will my survivor benefits be?
Do I have to take survivor benefits immediately?
Can I still get survivor benefits if I am divorced?

I am sharing the answers to these questions and giving you what you need to know about Social Security survivor benefits. Buckle up, because it get's pretty technical in this episode!

Other episodes mentioned:
Ep. 45: The Complete Guide to Social Security Spousal Benefits

Want help with your retirement plan?👇🏼
☎️ Book a call with me
✉️ Email me: jacob.duke@appliedcapital.com

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Submit your question here: jacob@retirementanswers.net

#retirement #howmuchtoretire #retirementplanning #rothira #rothconversion #investing #401k #socialsecurity

Last 5, First 5: The Most Important Years

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 07:00:00 -0600

I've had this concept in my mind lately and wanted to share it with you. It's not groundbreaking or innovative. It's a simple concept that I have labeled "Last 5, First 5". It's the idea that this 10 year window (the last 5 years of your career and the first 5 years of your retirement), is the most important to get right in your retirement journey.

If you don't get things right in the Last 5, First 5, a successful retirement could be in doubt... Hopefully, this episode encourages you to start preparing for retirement sooner and make sure you execute the plan in the early years of retirement.

Want help with your retirement plan?👇🏼
☎️ Book a call with me
✉️ Email me: jacob.duke@appliedcapital.com

My YouTube Channel
Submit your question here: jacob@retirementanswers.net

#retirement #howmuchtoretire #retirementplanning #rothira #rothconversion #investing #401k #socialsecurity

3 Investment Principles to Live By

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 09 Jan 2024 07:00:00 -0600

Investing can be hard, but it doesn't have to be... What if I said simple is better, and you don't need a crazy strategy to be a successful investor? We all have our own biases & opinions about what to invest in, but we also have friends, family, neighbors, & advisors telling us what we should do. So, how we do know what the best solution is?

Well, I'm sharing 3 principles that I use as a guide to my investment decisions. I hope these help you become a better investor!

Want help with your retirement plan?👇🏼
☎️ Book a call with me
✉️ Email me: jacob.duke@appliedcapital.com

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Submit your question here: jacob@retirementanswers.net

#retirement #howmuchtoretire #retirementplanning #rothira #rothconversion #investing #401k #socialsecurity

The Power of a One-Page Plan

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 02 Jan 2024 07:15:00 -0600

Does retirement scare you or give you anxiety? Do you feel like there is too much to know? Well, you're not alone. Almost everyone I talk to who is trying to retire feels a sense of analysis paralysis. They know there are many considerations to thinking about when putting together their retirement plan, but are just unsure how to put it all together.

In comes the One-Page Plan... This is a documents that simply lists out what needs to evaluated and when. But how can you fit everything onto 1 page? Well, that's not really the point. The point is to create a distilled list of items to plan for rather than have a 50 page retirement plan. A long retirement plan will only leave you more confused...

I'm a fan of simplicity. I know that a One-Page Plan will give you clarity, direction, and increase your confidence around retirement. Listen in to see the power of how this works.

Other episodes mentioned: 3 Bucket Retirement Plan

Want help with your retirement plan?👇🏼
☎️ Book a call with me
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Submit your question here: jacob@retirementanswers.net

#retirement #howmuchtoretire #retirementplanning #rothira #rothconversion #investing #401k #socialsecurity

Important Numbers to Know in 2024

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 26 Dec 2023 07:00:00 -0600

2024 is right around the corner and there are important changes that you need to know about!

In this episode, we are covering:

IRA contribution limit increases
401k contribution limit increases
IRA deductibility rules
Roth eligibility rules

And I have a FREE cheat sheet for you! This is a resource you can use throughout 2024 to make sure you are on track. Email me for a copy of this FREE resource.

***Help me make the show better in 2024. Fill out this quick survey!

Want help with your retirement plan?👇🏼
☎️ Book a call with me
✉️ Email me: jacob.duke@appliedcapital.com

My YouTube Channel
Submit your question here: jacob@retirementanswers.net

#retirement #howmuchtoretire #retirementplanning #rothira #rothconversion #investing #401k #socialsecurity

Donor Advised Funds - How & When To Use Them

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 07:00:00 -0600

I've had a few questions about charitable giving lately, so in today's episode, I am talking about Donor Advised Funds. We will discuss:

What they are
How they work
Why you would use one
When you would use one

I walk you through two examples of how this charitable giving strategy will help save you taxes and be able to give more the church or charities you love!

***Help me make the show better in 2024. Fill out this quick survey!

Want help with your retirement plan?👇🏼
☎️ Book a call with me
✉️ Email me: jacob.duke@appliedcapital.com

My YouTube Channel
Submit your question here: jacob@retirementanswers.net

#retirement #howmuchtoretire #retirementplanning #rothira #rothconversion #investing #401k #socialsecurity

How to Retire in 2024 - 5 Steps To Take Now

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 12 Dec 2023 07:00:00 -0600

Are you hoping to retire in 2024? Curious if you are on the right track or if you have everything done to make retirement a reality? In this episode, I am sharing 5 steps you can take to make sure you are ready to retire in 2024.

If you aren't retiring in 2024, don't go anywhere! You can start using these 5 tips right now to be even more prepared for your future retirement!

***Help me make the show better in 2024. Fill out this quick survey!

Want help with your retirement plan?👇🏼
☎️ Book a call with me
✉️ Email me: jacob.duke@appliedcapital.com

My YouTube Channel
Submit your question here: jacob@retirementanswers.net

#retirement #howmuchtoretire #retirementplanning #rothira #rothconversion #investing #401k #socialsecurity

The 4 Parts of a Successful Retirement Plan

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 05 Dec 2023 07:00:00 -0600

I always talk about different retirement strategies and things to think about, but I think it's important to zoom out and look at the big picture. It is easy to get overwhelmed when thinking about all the things that must be considered when evaluating your retirement.

I received a question from a listener recently asking what the most important parts of a retirement plan are. So, I wanted to share the 4 things I think you need to have in your retirement plan.

***Help me make the show better in 2024. Fill out this quick survey!

Want help with your retirement plan?👇🏼
☎️ Book a call with me
✉️ Email me: jacob.duke@appliedcapital.com

My YouTube Channel
Submit your question here: jacob@retirementanswers.net

#retirement #howmuchtoretire #retirementplanning #rothira #rothconversion #investing #401k #socialsecurity

Year-End Tax Planning Reminders for 2023

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 28 Nov 2023 07:00:00 -0600

The end of 2023 is upon us... Crazy! But this is the time of year to make sure you have completed any tax planning that needs to be done.

This includes things like:

Roth conversions
Tax-loss harvesting
Tax-gain harvesting
Retirement plan contributions
Charitable giving

Tune in to this week's episode to gain new insights on the importance of these year-end tax strategies!

***Help me make the show better in 2024. Fill out this quick survey!

Want help with your retirement plan?👇🏼
☎️ Book a call with me: https://calendly.com/jacobduke/intro
✉️ Email me: jacob.duke@appliedcapital.com

Submit your question here: jacob@retirementanswers.net
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@retirementanswers

#retirement #howmuchtoretire #retirementplanning #rothira #rothconversion #investing #401k #socialsecurity

Retirement Investing Mistakes & How To Avoid Them

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 07:00:00 -0600

As a financial advisor, I see a lot of investing mistakes... And to be honest, I've made a lot of these mistakes myself. I've that getting the investment results you want is far more about limiting your mistakes than hitting home runs.

So, I wanted to share common investing mistakes that you should look out for and give you a playbook to avoid them.

***Help me make the show better in 2024. Fill out this quick survey!

Want help with your retirement plan?👇🏼
☎️ Book a call with me: https://calendly.com/jacobduke/intro
✉️ Email me: jacob.duke@appliedcapital.com

Submit your question here: jacob@retirementanswers.net
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@retirementanswers

#retirement #howmuchtoretire #retirementplanning #rothira #rothconversion #investing #401k #socialsecurity

6 (Common) Roth Conversion Mistakes to Avoid!

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 14 Nov 2023 07:00:00 -0600

Roth conversions are a powerful tax savings tool for many retirees. There are many reasons to do Roth conversions:

Pay less tax now compared to the future
Minimize future RMDs
Avoid future IRMAA surcharges
Help avoid the Widow's Tax Trap
Leave tax-free assets to heirs

But mistakes can be made when doing these conversions. In this episode, Jacob shares 6 common Roth conversion mistakes to watch out for.

***Help me make the show better in 2024. Fill out this quick survey!

Want help with your retirement plan?👇🏼
☎️ Book a call with me: https://calendly.com/jacobduke/intro
✉️ Email me: jacob.duke@appliedcapital.com

Submit your question here: jacob@retirementanswers.net
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@retirementanswers

#retirement #howmuchtoretire #retirementplanning #rothira #rothconversion #investing #401k #socialsecurity

The Complete Guide to Social Security Spousal Benefits

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 07 Nov 2023 07:00:00 -0600

Social Security is one of the pillars of retirement income. But it can be very confusing when you think about PIAs, FRAs, and spousal benefits.

In this episode, I break down everything you need to know about Social Security Spousal Benefits and how they work. A big misconception I often hear is that "You get 50% of your spouses benefits."

I share why this is a misunderstanding and how spousal benefits are truly calculated. Also, be sure to listen to the end if you are divorced. You could be entitled to spousal benefits if you meet certain criteria!

***Help me make the show better in 2024. Fill out this quick survey!

Want help with your retirement plan?👇🏼
☎️ Book a call with me: https://calendly.com/jacobduke/intro
✉️ Email me: jacob.duke@appliedcapital.com

Submit your question here: jacob@retirementanswers.net
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@retirementanswers

#retirement #howmuchtoretire #retirementplanning #rothira #rothconversion #investing #401k #socialsecurity

7 Common Retirement Fears (& How To Overcome Them)

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 31 Oct 2023 07:00:00 -0500

Retirement can be a scary thought. Do I have enough to retire? When should I take Social Security? What if I run of money before I die? How much can I spend?

These are big questions that can create anxiety as you approach retirement. So, in this episode, I share 7 common retirement fears and how you can overcome them. This isn't a comprehensive list of fears that come up in retirement, but they are some of the most common ones I hear about.

***Help me make the show better in 2024. Fill out this quick survey!

Want help with your retirement plan?👇🏼
☎️ Book a call with me: https://calendly.com/jacobduke/intro
✉️ Email me: jacob.duke@appliedcapital.com

Submit your question here: jacob@retirementanswers.net
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@retirementanswers

#retirement #howmuchtoretire #retirementplanning #rothira #rothconversion #investing #401k #socialsecurity

2024 Social Security COLA & More

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 24 Oct 2023 07:00:00 -0500

The 2024 Social Security COLA has been announced! I am sharing the following:

What the 2024 COLA is
Who gets the COLA
How does it compare to COLAs historically
Why WHEN you begin receiving your Social Security benefits continues to impact you moving forward
2 reasons why your COLA won't be as high as you think

***Help me make the show better in 2024. Fill out this quick survey!

Want help with your retirement plan?👇🏼
☎️ Book a call with me: https://calendly.com/jacobduke/intro
✉️ Email me: jacob.duke@appliedcapital.com

Submit your question here: jacob@retirementanswers.net
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@retirementanswers

#retirement #howmuchtoretire #retirementplanning #rothira #rothconversion #investing #401k #socialsecurity

Spending with Confidence in Retirement

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 17 Oct 2023 07:00:00 -0500

Retirement can be challenging... When should I take Social Security? How aggressively should I be investing? How can I manage my taxes? Where is my income going to come from?

These are the challenges that typically come up when planning for retirement. But as a financial planner who does retirement planning every day, I have found that one of the hardest parts of retirement is the mental side.

Most retirees are worried about spending too much money each month. This can steal your joy because of constant anxiety, and by not spending enough, you are cutting yourself short form the fulfilling retirement you dreamed of.

Today, I talk through this common struggle and provide 3 steps you can take to build your confidence in your income and spending plan in retirement.

***Help me make the show better in 2024. Fill out this quick survey!

Want help with your retirement plan?👇🏼
☎️ Book a call with me: https://calendly.com/jacobduke/intro
✉️ Email me: jacob.duke@appliedcapital.com

Submit your question here: jacob@retirementanswers.net
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@retirementanswers

#retirement #howmuchtoretire #retirementplanning #rothira #rothconversion #investing #401k #socialsecurity

5 Ways to Use a HSA in Retirement

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 10 Oct 2023 06:00:00 -0500

The Health Savings Account (HSA) is the only account you can contribute to that receives triple-tax advantages.

Tax-deductible contributions
Tax-deferred growth
Tax-free distributions (for qualified medical expenses)

And having a funded HSA in retirement comes with it's advantages:

Use for more frequent healthcare costs
Bridge gap until Medicare age
Helps pay for long-term care
Can be used for anything after age 65 without penalty

***Help me make the show better in 2024. Fill out this quick survey!

Want help with your retirement plan?👇🏼
☎️ Book a call with me: https://calendly.com/jacobduke/intro
✉️ Email me: jacob.duke@appliedcapital.com

Submit your question here: jacob@retirementanswers.net
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@retirementanswers

#retirement #howmuchtoretire #retirementplanning #rothira #rothconversion #investing #401k #socialsecurity

When Should I Take Social Security? 6 Things to Consider

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 03 Oct 2023 06:00:00 -0500

Deciding when to take your Social Security benefits is a common question for most retirees. This decision can cause stress because there is never a perfect answer.

If you knew how long you were going to live, it would make this really easy, but that just isn't reality. So, making the most educated decision based on your specific situation is all you can do.

In this episode of Retirement Answers, I cover the following:

The basics of how your Social Security benefits are calculated
3 questions to ask yourself when deciding when to take Social Security
And 6 things to consider when making this decision

It's not always as easy as saying, "I'm going to take my benefits as soon as I can because I want to get something out of Social Security". Yes, your health, family history, and current financial situation might indicate that you should take your benefits as soon as possible.

But for others, this could be a mistake. I hope this episode helps give you some insights into what you should think about before taking Social Security.

If you are enjoying Retirement Answers, please give a rating and review. Also, share the podcast with friend who might find it helpful.

Want help with your retirement plan?👇🏼
☎️ Book a call with me: https://calendly.com/jacobduke/intro
✉️ Email me: jacob.duke@appliedcapital.com

Submit your question here: jacob@retirementanswers.net
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@retirementanswers

#retirement #howmuchtoretire #retirementplanning #rothira #rothconversion #investing #401k #socialsecurity

Are You Ready For The Next Recession?

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 06:00:00 -0500

What are you going to do next time the market enters a recession? Are you prepared? Do you have a plan?

Most investors are reactive to turbulence in the market. They act out of emotion and fear, which is human nature, but if they had a plan in place BEFORE the market volatility came, they wouldn't have to panic.

Listen in as I share why you have to:

Have a plan before the market volatility begins
Expect poor market and economic conditions

And how how you can change your outlook on retirement so you don't have to live in worry.

Want help with your retirement plan?👇🏼
☎️ Book a call with me: https://calendly.com/jacobduke/intro
✉️ Email me: jacob.duke@appliedcapital.com

Submit your question here: jacob@retirementanswers.net
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@retirementanswers

#retirement #howmuchtoretire #retirementplanning #rothira #rothconversion #investing #401k #socialsecurity

How to Pay 0% Capital Gains Tax

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 19 Sep 2023 06:00:00 -0500

Tax planning in retirement is a crucial piece in a successful retirement plan. We often think about Roth conversions and tax-loss harvesting as the primary ways to lower your tax bill in your retirement years.

But many forget about an opportunity right in front of them... Tax-gain harvesting!

This is when you can use the long-term capital gains tax rates to your advantage by intentionally realizing gains when your income is low. By doing this you can achieve a 0% capital gains rate on your investment gains!

Want help with your retirement plan?👇🏼
☎️ Book a call with me: https://calendly.com/jacobduke/intro
✉️ Email me: jacob.duke@appliedcapital.com

Submit your question here: jacob@retirementanswers.net
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@retirementanswers

#retirement #howmuchtoretire #retirementplanning #rothira #rothconversion #investing #401k #socialsecurity

The Ultimate Guide to 401k Rollovers

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 12 Sep 2023 06:00:00 -0500

Do you have an old 401k from a previous employer? Or maybe even a few straggling out there?

I'm a fan of keeping things organized and simple, so rolling over those old 401ks into an IRA to consolidate your money could is typically a good idea. The hard part is knowing how to actually do the rollover correctly.

It can be scary because it is your life savings that you are trying to move from one account to another.

Well, in this episode, I guide you through the exact process to make sure you do your 401k rollover correctly. Also, I share the benefits of doing a rollover and different times it might not make sense to do a rollover.

Want help with your retirement plan?👇🏼
☎️ Book a call with me: https://calendly.com/jacobduke/intro
✉️ Email me: jacob.duke@appliedcapital.com

Submit your question here: jacob@retirementanswers.net
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@retirementanswers

#retirement #howmuchtoretire #retirementplanning #rothira #rothconversion #investing #401k #socialsecurity

The Ultimate Retirement Checklist: 6 Things To Include in Your Plan

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 05 Sep 2023 06:00:00 -0500

What is a retirement plan... actually?

Is it a Monte Carlo simulation? Tax projections? Investment allocations?

A retirement plan, in my opinion, is non of those things individually. But when they are put together correctly, they each help produce a comprehensive plan.

So, this week I week I wanted to share what I think a comprehensive retirement plan looks like and what you should include in your plan.

The key takeaway: Your plan doesn't have to be long or super technical. It can be as simple as bullet points on a single page. The most important thing is that the plan is actionable because you can have the best plan, but if you don't execute the plan, it is worthless.

Want help with your retirement plan?👇🏼
☎️ Book a call with me: https://calendly.com/jacobduke/intro
✉️ Email me: jacob.duke@appliedcapital.com

Submit your question here: jacob@retirementanswers.net
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@retirementanswers

#retirement #howmuchtoretire #retirementplanning #rothira #rothconversion #investing #401k #socialsecurity

Backdoor Roth IRA: What it is + How it works

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 29 Aug 2023 06:00:00 -0500

When you want to save Roth money for retirement, but your income is too high... what do you do?

Do a Backdoor Roth IRA contribution!

Listen in where Jacob shares what a backdoor Roth contribution is, when you should do this (and when you SHOULDN'T), and how to do this correctly.

Want help with your retirement plan?👇🏼
☎️ Book a call with me: https://calendly.com/jacobduke/intro
✉️ Email me: jacob.duke@appliedcapital.com

Submit your question here: jacob@retirementanswers.net
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@retirementanswers

#retirement #howmuchtoretire #retirementplanning #rothira #rothconversion #investing #401k #socialsecurity

How to Pay Taxes on Roth Conversions

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 22 Aug 2023 06:00:00 -0500

We all know that Roth conversions can be a powerful tax savings strategy for retirees, but how do you actually pay the taxes when doing a conversion?

Listen in to this week's episode to learn about the 2 ways to pay your conversion taxes:

Withhold the taxes
Pay the taxes with cash

Also, I share a few things to look out for and which of these two options I think is the best way to pay the taxes on your Roth conversions.

Be sure to stay to the end to hear this week's listener question. Enjoy the show!

As always, please reach out with questions or topics you want to hear more about by emailing me at jacob@retirementanswers.net.

Want help with your retirement plan?👇🏼
☎️ Book a call with me: https://calendly.com/jacobduke/intro
✉️ Email me: jacob.duke@appliedcapital.com

Submit your question here: jacob@retirementanswers.net
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@retirementanswers

#retirement #howmuchtoretire #retirementplanning #rothira #rothconversion #investing #401k #socialsecurity

The Roth Conversion Sweet Spot

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 15 Aug 2023 06:00:00 -0500

Roth conversions are often a useful tax savings strategy for retirees, but the hardest part is deciding WHEN to actually do them. In this episode of Retirement Answers, Jacob walks you through what he calls the "Roth Conversion Sweet Spot".

The "Sweet Spot" consists of a few things:

Low Income
Large Tax-Deferred Accounts
Retired
Not taking Social Security
Good cash savings
Not RMD age yet

When all of these things are true, you are a prime candidate for Roth conversions. Even if only a few of these items apply to you, Roth conversions could still be beneficial for you.

Want help with your retirement plan?👇🏼
☎️ Book a call with me: https://calendly.com/jacobduke/intro
✉️ Email me: jacob.duke@appliedcapital.com

Submit your question here: jacob@retirementanswers.net
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@retirementanswers

#retirement #howmuchtoretire #retirementplanning #rothira #rothconversion #investing #401k #socialsecurity

Watch Out for This BIG Retirement Tax Trap

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 08 Aug 2023 06:00:00 -0500

We all know that we need a plan for taxes in retirement... But what if there is a big tax bill waiting for surviving spouses? Yes, surviving spouses often have larger tax bills as a single tax filer compared to when they were filing jointly. This is what I call the Widow's Tax Trap.

Do you have large IRA or 401k balances?
Are you married?

Well, you will want to pay attention to this episode. I am sharing what the Widow's Tax Trap is and what you can do to avoid it.

Want help with your retirement plan?👇🏼
☎️ Book a call with me: https://calendly.com/jacobduke/intro
✉️ Email me: jacob.duke@appliedcapital.com

Submit your question here: jacob@retirementanswers.net
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@retirementanswers

#retirement #howmuchtoretire #retirementplanning #rothira #rothconversion #investing #401k #socialsecurity

The 3 Bucket Retirement Plan

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 01 Aug 2023 06:00:00 -0500

There are many different retirement income strategies to choose from, but my favorite is the 3 Bucket Plan.

I'm a visual learner and being able to separate my money out into 3 different silos helps me remember why my money is invested the way it is.

Bucket #1 = Cash
Bucket #2 = Bonds
Bucket #3 = Stocks

Each bucket has a purpose and a goal. This approach helps you create your investment allocation based on your unique needs, not some rule of thumb.

Enjoy the show!

Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/retirement-answers/id1660268930
Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6a5BQ6ezlhiVyNyW5uxW16?si=1dcefde721ed489a

Want help with your retirement plan?👇🏼
☎️ Book a call with me: https://calendly.com/jacobduke/intro
✉️ Email me: jacob.duke@appliedcapital.com

Submit your question here: jacob@retirementanswers.net
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@retirementanswers

#retirement #howmuchtoretire #retirementplanning #rothira #rothconversion #investing #401k #socialsecurity

5% CDs Are Not Good Investments

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 06:00:00 -0500

Over the last 18 months, the Federal Reserve has been increasing it's interest rates. And because of this interest rates on cash, CDs, Money Markets, Mortgages, and Car Loans have also increased.

In fact, interest rates are the highest we have seen in quite some time. Which can create some issues after such a long period of low interest rates.

We got used to really low mortgage rates, but it seems like those are a thing of the past. And now you can get 5% on a 6-month CD! What a welcome sight...

Well, these higher interest rates have led to some bad investing behavior. People are trading in their long-term "risky" investments for short-term "safe" investments. In this episode, I share why this is could be a major investing mistake.

Want help with your retirement plan?👇🏼
☎️ Book a call with me: https://calendly.com/jacobduke/intro
✉️ Email me: jacob.duke@appliedcapital.com

Submit your question here: jacob@retirementanswers.net
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@retirementanswers

#retirement #howmuchtoretire #retirementplanning #rothira #rothconversion #investing #401k #socialsecurity

Asset Location - How It Saves You Taxes

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 18 Jul 2023 06:00:00 -0500

We all know about how important it is to have a plan for taxes in retirement. So, we create Roth conversions strategies, but what if I told you there is simple tax savings strategy that is available to anyone.

It's called Asset Location.

This is when you align the tax type of your investments when the tax type of your accounts to minimize your annual tax burden.

For example, your IRA will always be taxed as normal income when you take money from it. Because of this, you would want to have investments that are taxed as normal income in this account type.

Asset location is a simple way to lower your tax bill annually, but many don't know about it or are overlooking this - even advisors...

Want help with your retirement plan?👇🏼
☎️ Book a call with me: https://calendly.com/jacobduke/intro
✉️ Email me: jacob.duke@appliedcapital.com

Submit your question here: jacob@retirementanswers.net
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@retirementanswers

#retirement #howmuchtoretire #retirementplanning #rothira #rothconversion #investing #401k #socialsecurity

5 Things To Do 5 Years From Retirement

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 11 Jul 2023 06:00:00 -0500

This week I share 5 things that you need to be doing 5 years before retirement. These are things that will help you have the most successful and fulfilling retirement.

Want help with your retirement plan?👇🏼
☎️ Book a call with me: https://calendly.com/jacobduke/intro
✉️ Email me: jacob.duke@appliedcapital.com

Submit your question here: jacob@retirementanswers.net
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@retirementanswers

#retirement #howmuchtoretire #retirementplanning #rothira #rothconversion #investing #401k #socialsecurity

Q&A Mailbag: Roth Conversions, Basis in IRAs, & Inherited Roth IRA Taxes

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 04 Jul 2023 06:00:00 -0500

The Real Risk of Stocks

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 20 Jun 2023 06:00:00 -0500

We all think stocks are risky because they are volatile. "Oh no! My account is down 25%, I'm losing all of my money!!"

Well, today let's have an honest conversation about risk... I want to flip this idea of risk on its head and share my thoughts on what risk really is and what it isn't.

Enjoy the show!

I'm 55, With $1 Million Saved. Can I Retire?

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 13 Jun 2023 06:00:00 -0500

We are all curious if we have enough saved to retire. What most people don't do is dig into the details of their savings to see how strategically positioned they are to successfully retire.

In this week's episode of Retirement Answers, I walk through a case study from a recent question I received. Be sure to listen in to hear about some of the questions I think about and ask as I evaluate someone's ability to retire.

Enjoy the show!

Your Retirement Plan is Wrong...

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 06 Jun 2023 06:00:00 -0500

What if I told you your retirement plan is wrong? Initially, probably wouldn't be very comforted to hear that, but I'm here to tell you that it's okay!

The simple reality is that we have no way of knowing the future, so all of our retirement plans will be wrong.

In this episode of Retirement Answers, I share why it is okay to have an incorrect retirement plan and why having a plan is still very important.

Enjoy!

401k Catch-Up Contribution Changes in 2024 (SECURE Act 2.0)

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 30 May 2023 06:00:00 -0500

Another big change from the SECURE ACT 2.0 is coming in 2024... This time it has to do with catch-up contributions for everyone 50 or older.

Tune into this episode of Retirement Answers to learn everything you need to know about this rule change.

Enjoy the show!

Annuities (Part 2): Why I Don't Like Them

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 23 May 2023 06:00:00 -0500

Last week on Retirement Answers I shared what annuities were and how they worked.

Well, this week I am sharing 6 reasons I do not like annuities and why I think they are not the best investment option for most investors. I hope you enjoy the show.

Annuities (Part 1): What Are Annuities?

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 16 May 2023 06:00:00 -0500

Ahhhh... Annuities.

We have all heard of them, but do we really know what they are and how they work? the reality is that most people don't truly understand them and it's not their fault. These products are really confusing with a lot of moving parts.

In today's episode, I explain some of the basics that you should know about annuities. Be sure to tune in next week for Part 2 of this series where I will share the biggest pitfalls of annuities and why I'm not a fan of them.

Enjoy the show!

5 Common Investing Mistakes to Avoid

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 09 May 2023 06:00:00 -0500

As a financial planner, I have heard it all when it comes to investing...

"My friend said this company was about to go crazy!"

"Did you see what they said on the news?!"

But rarely do people make money on those hunches... In today's episode, I share 5 common investing mistakes I see and how to avoid them.

I hope you enjoy the show!

How is Social Security Taxed?

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 02 May 2023 09:09:50 -0500

One of the biggest decisions you will make in retirement is when to take Social Security! I have found that understanding how Social Security taxation works is important to your overall retirement plan.

In this episode, I talk through how Social Security is taxed and share some ideas around why this is important to consider. I hope you enjoy the show!

Email: jacob.duke@appliedcapital.com

How Much Do I Need To Retire?

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 25 Apr 2023 06:00:00 -0500

Are you trying to figure out how much you need to have saved to successfully retire? Well, in today's episode I share how you can quickly get to a rough estimate of how much you need to retire.

I also discuss a few of the common "rules of thumb" and how they might not be the best ways to figure out if you can retire.

Enjoy!

$100k Tax-Free Retirement Income!

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 18 Apr 2023 06:00:00 -0500

What if you could have $100k of income in retirement entirely tax-free?! Well, in this episode, Jacob Duke, CFP® shares exactly how one of his clients is doing just that.

Be sure to stick around to the end for tips around how you can accomplish this as well.

Enjoy the show!

7 Tax Planning Tips to Consider

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 11 Apr 2023 06:00:00 -0500

Taxes are one if the biggest headwinds retirees will face. In this episode, I share 7 different ways you can lower your tax bill both now and throughout your retirement.

I hope you enjoy the show!

Tax Diversification

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 04 Apr 2023 06:00:00 -0500

We know how important it is to be diversified in our investments... But are you aware of how important it is to be tax-diversified for retirement?

By having tax diversification, you can create flexibility before and during retirement as you can choose where you pull income from. Also, being tax-diversified can lower your tax bill throughout retirement.

Enjoy the show!

My Thoughts on Silicon Valley Bank

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Wed, 15 Mar 2023 11:22:18 -0500

You've probably heard about the failure of Silicon Valley Bank. In this episode, I share my thoughts on the whole situation and what we can learn from it.

Enjoy!

Taxes on Roth Conversions, How 401ks are Taxed, & Offsetting Dividends with Capital Losses

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 07 Mar 2023 06:00:00 -0600

In this episode of Retirement Answers, I discuss:

How to pay the taxes on Roth conversions
How 401k distributions are taxed
Why you can't offset dividends with capital losses

I hope you enjoy the show!

Naming Beneficiaries, Roth Limits, and Spousal Benefits

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 28 Feb 2023 17:08:08 -0600

In this episode, I answer 3 questions I recently received:

Who will inherit my IRA when I die?
Can I contribute to my Roth IRA and Roth 401k at the same time?
Will I continue receiving my spouses Social Security benefit when they die?

Enjoy the show!

Are Bonds Still a Viable Investment Option?

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 21 Feb 2023 06:00:00 -0600

After the lackluster performance in bonds in 2022, many are wondering if they should be investing in bonds at all... In this episode of Retirement Answers, I share how bonds work and why the value of bonds fluctuates even though the coupon payments remain the same.

Enjoy the show!

SECURE Act 2.0: Changes to RMDs

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 14 Feb 2023 06:00:00 -0600

Well, they have changed RMDs yet again... In this episode of Retirement Answers, I share how the new RMD rules are going to work and perhaps how it could hurt you later on if you don't plan accordingly.

Enjoy the show!

Don't Be Too Conservative in Retirement

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 07 Feb 2023 06:00:00 -0600

Our immediate reaction as we get closer to retirement is to invest more conservatively. But why? The short answer is that our human nature fears potential loss than enjoys potential gain. What if you could have a plan that covers the short-term & long-term? Well, in this episode, I talk through how the 3-bucket retirement plan can do exactly that.

3 Things You Should Do BEFORE You Retire

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Wed, 01 Feb 2023 12:38:49 -0600

In this episode of Retirement Answers, I share 3 things that you should do before you retire. 1. Build Cash 2. Calculate Monthly Spending 3. Write Out Your Goals/Dreams I hope this helps you plan a more successful retirement!

3 Questions My Clients Are Asking Right Now

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Wed, 25 Jan 2023 06:00:00 -0600

In this episode I discuss the 3 questions my clients are asking about right now. - What should I know about the SECURE Act 2.0? - Should I be making changes to my investments? - Should I retire in 2023? Tune in to this episode to hear my answers to these questions.

Roth IRA Distribution Rules

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 17 Jan 2023 06:00:00 -0600

Ever wonder if you can take money from your Roth IRA before age 59.5? Well, the short answer is yes, you can. But tune into today's episode to learn more about the order in which Roth IRA distributions occur and how you can use this to your advantage in your retirement plan.

Understanding Social Security Survivor Benefits

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 10 Jan 2023 06:00:00 -0600

In this episode of Retirement Answers, I discuss the things you need to know about Social Security survivor benefits. I see people often confuse survivor and spousal benefits, so I wanted to answer a question I received about survivor benefits and how they are different from spousal benefits. Enjoy!

Don't forget about the Taxable Investment Account!

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 03 Jan 2023 05:00:00 -0600

We all know about IRAs and 401ks, but are there other ways to optimize your retirement savings? Yes, and it involves the investment account. In this episode of Retirement Answers, I discuss some of the potential tax issues that lie in waiting if all of your retirement assets are in tax-deferred accounts and provide some ideas around how you lower that future tax risk.

👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

✅ If you want the Important Numbers 2025 PDF, send me an email!

Submit your question to have it answered on the podcast: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/ask-a-question

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

Do I have to be receiving Social Security benefits to get the COLA?

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 27 Dec 2022 05:00:00 -0600

Are you curious about the requirements to get the Social Security COLA? This episodes clears up any confusion around COLAs and what has to happen for you to qualify.

👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

✅ If you want the Important Numbers 2025 PDF, send me an email!

Submit your question to have it answered on the podcast: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/ask-a-question

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

Understanding Social Security Spousal Benefits

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Tue, 20 Dec 2022 05:00:00 -0600

So, you know about the Social Security spousal benefit, but do you understand it completely? This episode of retirement answers tells you everything you should know about how spousal benefits work and how your Social Security elections could change the spousal benefit you receive.

👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

✅ If you want the Important Numbers 2025 PDF, send me an email!

Submit your question to have it answered on the podcast: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/ask-a-question

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

Intro

Jacob Duke, CFP® — Fri, 16 Dec 2022 10:31:35 -0600

Welcome to Retirement Answers! This is a quick introductory episode explaining what you can expect from the show moving forward. I invite you to subscribe so you do not miss any future episodes where I will be answering some of the most important retirement questions I receive on a daily basis.

👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

✅ If you want the Important Numbers 2025 PDF, send me an email!

Submit your question to have it answered on the podcast: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/ask-a-question

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.