Could Your 401(k) Create a Retirement Tax Cascade?

Could your biggest retirement account create a bigger tax challenge than you expect? Aaron Vincent and Matt Decker explore how tax-deferred savings can affect retirement income, required minimum distributions, Medicare costs, and future taxes. They also discuss the role Roth conversions can play be…

The Retirement Birthdays You Don’t Want to Miss

Some birthdays come with more than candles. They can also bring important retirement planning decisions. Aaron Vincent and Matt Decker break down key milestone ages, including 55, 59½, 62, 65, and 73, and what each could mean for 401(k) access, Social Security, Medicare, and required distributions.…

Are You Taking Too Much Risk to Beat the Market?

Is beating the S&P 500 really the best way to measure retirement success? Aaron Vincent and Matt Decker explore why returns are only part of the picture, examining risk, portfolio stress testing, diversification, and the dangers of chasing a benchmark. They also discuss retirement spending, the tra…

Rising Rates: What Could They Mean for Your Retirement?

Could your retirement portfolio carry risks you haven’t considered? Aaron Vincent and Matt Decker discuss rising interest rates, bond values, traditional stock-and-bond portfolios, and what those dynamics can mean as retirement approaches. They also tackle the debate surrounding annuities, why some…

Should AI Help Plan Your Retirement?

Can AI help build a retirement plan, or can it create more confusion? Aaron Vincent and Matt Decker discuss the growing role of artificial intelligence in financial planning, where technology can be useful, and where human guidance remains essential. From portfolio analysis to retirement decision-m…

The Retirement Tax Bill Many People Never See Coming

A surprise tax bill in retirement could be hiding in plain sight. Aaron Vincent and Matt Decker discuss required minimum distributions, Roth conversion strategies, survivor tax challenges, and why income planning goes beyond investment returns. They explore how tax decisions made before retirement …

Could Market Headlines Be Hurting Your Retirement?

What if the biggest threat to your retirement isn’t a market correction but your reaction to it? Aaron Vincent and Matt Decker discuss market volatility, media headlines, portfolio durability, and the dangers of emotional investing. They explain why a retirement strategy should be built to withstan…

How Do You Turn a Portfolio Into a Paycheck?

A large retirement portfolio is not the same thing as a dependable monthly paycheck. Aaron Vincent and Matt Decker discuss the challenge of turning accumulated savings into income while coordinating Social Security, pensions, investments, inherited accounts, Roth assets, and taxable accounts. They …

Are Investors Getting Too Comfortable?

Has the market’s long run of gains made investors too comfortable? Aaron Vincent and Matt Decker discuss complacency, risk management, and the importance of preparing for retirement before market conditions change. They explain why retirement planning requires a different mindset than accumulation …

Are Your Financial Fees Worth the Price?

Do you know what you are paying for financial guidance and what you receive in return? Aaron Vincent and Matt Decker cut through flat fees, asset-based fees, fee-only labels, and other pricing structures that can make comparisons difficult. They explain why the lowest-looking fee is not automatical…