The Financial Lab
The Financial Lab
Creating a solid retirement requires more than an idea. It can take a lot of trial and error to tell the difference between just a hypothesis and the real-world truths. That’s why you need a source that puts the data to the test and discovers the results only years of experience can bring to the table. There’s everyone else, and then there’s The Financial Lab with Travis Shepherd! Each week Travi…Social links:
Follow the podcast:
Scary Headlines, Costly Decisions: Are You Falling for the Noise?
What if the biggest threat to your retirement plan isn’t market volatility—but how you react to it? Travis Shepherd breaks down why emotional investing can derail long-term goals, especially during election cycles, inflation scares, and headline-driven market swings. He explains why successful inve…
12:45Clean
The Retirement Risk Most Couples Never Talk About
What happens financially when one spouse is gone and the IRS still expects business as usual? In this episode of The Financial Lab, Travis Shepherd explores the often-overlooked retirement risks surviving spouses face, from reduced Social Security benefits and higher tax exposure to estate planning…
17:42
Inflation’s Slow Burn on Your Retirement Plan
Inflation isn’t loud, but it may be quietly reshaping your retirement. This episode breaks down how rising costs act like a “silent killer,” gradually eroding purchasing power and cash flow over time. Through real client stories and practical examples, the conversation highlights why holding too mu…
13:58Clean
The Retirement Lie: Why Your Savings Number Might Not Matter
What if retirement isn’t about how much you’ve saved, but how you turn it into a paycheck? This episode explores the shift from pensions to self-built income, and why many people may be closer to retirement than they think. Travis Shepherd breaks down the difference between accumulating assets and …
11:33Clean
Why Volatility Hits Harder Right Before Retirement
Markets don’t warn you before they test your retirement plan—they just expose it. In this episode, Travis Shepherd breaks down why volatility around midterm cycles can hit retirees hardest, and how poor income planning forces investors to sell at the worst time. Travis explains the difference betwe…
17:21Clean
The Retirement Tax Trap No One Talks About
A bigger tax refund might feel like a win—but it could be a warning sign. Travis Shepherd unpacks why higher refunds don’t always mean better planning, and how overlooked tax strategies can quietly cost you in retirement. From hidden impacts of new tax laws to the growing risks of RMDs and taxable …
14:35Clean
When Inflation Hits the Gas Pedal Near Retirement
Gas prices are up, inflation feels stubborn, and headlines are loud—so what actually matters if retirement is close? On this episode of The Financial Lab, Travis Shepherd unpacks how rising oil prices and inflation pressures intersect with retirement income planning. The conversation focuses on the…
13:41Clean
The Hidden Risks Lurking Behind the 4% Rule
What happens when a widely accepted retirement rule meets inflation, market downturns, and real life? In this episode of The Financial Lab, Travis Shepherd unpacks why the popular 4% rule can break down in practice. Using a real-world example of a retiree who ran out of money far sooner than expect…
14:30Clean
When Wall Street Buys and Main Street Hesitates
Most retirement savers are pulling back while Wall Street charges ahead, so who’s actually reading the moment, right? In this episode of The Financial Lab, financial advisor Travis Shepard unpack why everyday investors feel uneasy as professionals lean into the markets. They break down the differen…
13:23Clean
Your Tax Refund Isn’t the Win You Think It Is
That big tax refund might feel like a win—but what if it’s actually a missed opportunity? In this episode of The Financial Lab, Travis Shepard breaks down why refunds often signal overpayment and how a year‑round tax process can reshape retirement planning. The conversation explores new tax law cha…
18:46Clean