Warren Buffett Went to Cash… Should Retirees Do the Same?

What if playing it safe in retirement could create a bigger risk than staying invested? Warren Buffett’s move of $373 billion into cash sparks a conversation about how retirees often react to market uncertainty and whether moving everything to cash is really the safest option. Brooks Bernhagen expl…

Could Your Retirement Savings Trigger a Tax Bomb?

Could a successful retirement account become a costly tax headache later in life? Brooks Bernhagen breaks down the story of an 80-year-old facing a $300,000 required minimum distribution and explains how large IRAs and 401(k)s can create unexpected tax challenges in retirement. The conversation exp…

Is FOMO Quietly Hijacking Your Retirement Plan?

When everyone seems to be making money in the market, how do you know if you're investing wisely or just chasing the crowd? Brooks Bernhagen explores how fear of missing out (FOMO) can derail retirement planning and why retirees need a different mindset than younger investors. Learn how income foun…

Why Retirement Costs More Than You Think

What if the biggest surprises in retirement are the ones most people never see coming? Brooks Bernhagen explores several retirement realities that often feel foreign to future retirees, including why spending may increase during the early years of retirement, how taxes can remain a factor after lea…

The Retirement Question Every Adult Child Eventually Asks

What if your family's biggest concern about retirement isn't the money—but the uncertainty? Brooks Bernhagen explains why retirement conversations often involve more than the retiree, and how bringing spouses and adult children into the planning process can replace fear with clarity. Brooks discuss…

The Retirement Mistake That Happens When Fear Takes Over

The biggest retirement mistake may not be what’s in your portfolio—but how you react when markets get shaky. Brooks Bernhagen explores why the years just before and after retirement are especially vulnerable to emotional investing decisions. From sequence-of-returns risk to the temptation to move e…

Warren Buffett’s Warning and What It Means for Your Retirement

Is today’s stock market investing or just a high-stakes casino in disguise? Brooks Bernhagen reacts to Warren Buffett’s warning about growing market speculation and explains why retirees need guardrails when emotions run high. From defined withdrawal strategies to cash reserves, principal protectio…

Your Retirement Paycheck vs. Inflation: Who Wins?

Inflation isn’t loud—but it’s quietly draining your retirement paycheck every day. This episode unpacks what “hedging inflation” really means and why it’s less about complexity and more about protecting your income. Brooks Bernhagen explains how a retirement plan can outpace rising costs using grow…

The Hidden Fees Eating Your Retirement

What if hidden fees are quietly draining your retirement without you ever noticing? This episode breaks down the often-overlooked costs inside retirement accounts, from expense ratios to advisor and transaction fees. Brooks Bernhagen explains how to calculate your true “all-in” cost and why underst…

The New Reality No One Planned For

Could retirement last as long as your entire working life? A headline suggesting a 40-year retirement sparks a deeper look at longevity, early retirement trends, and the realities shaping modern financial planning. Brooks breaks down why longer lifespans, rising healthcare costs, and inflation are …