Retirement Accounts – Relax, It's Retirement Podcast

Planning Ahead for Retirement (Ep. 87)

By Relax, It's Retirement | February 4, 2025

Retirement should be a time of fulfillment, not financial stress, yet many retirees face unexpected challenges.

How can you make decisions today that your future self will thank you for? What steps can you take to avoid common retirement regrets and financial pitfalls?

In this episode, Josh Leonard and Pete Belcastro discuss essential retirement planning strategies, from managing healthcare costs to optimizing tax efficiency. They emphasize the importance of flexibility, debt management, and long-term financial preparedness to ensure a comfortable and intentional retirement.

Josh and Pete discuss:

The top financial concerns of retirees, including the fear of outliving savings and rising healthcare expenses
How to strategically plan for major purchases and avoid tax pitfalls in retirement
The impact of debt in retirement, including the pros and cons of using 401(k) loans and different debt repayment methods
The importance of financial flexibility, including maintaining an emergency fund and planning for unexpected family support needs
Common retirement regrets, such as not diversifying investments early enough or failing to plan for long-term financial security
And more!

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Navigating Post-Employment 401(k) Options (Ep. 38)

By Relax It's Retirement-Podcast | February 20, 2024

What are the long-term impacts of keeping your 401(k) with a former employer versus rolling it over to an IRA or a new employer’s plan? How can the benefits of IRA rollovers and Roth conversions influence your decision for penalty-free withdrawals?

Josh Leonard explores the advantages and disadvantages of maintaining the 401(k) with a past employer, transitioning it into an IRA, or moving it to the retirement plan of a new employer. He highlights the importance of comprehending the regulations, costs, and tax consequences associated with each plan.

Josh discusses:

What are the options for handling a 401(k) with a previous employer
When is it appropriate to roll over a 401(k) to an IRA
How do automatic savings and employer matching contributions benefit 401(k) participants
What are the potential tax implications and benefits of converting a traditional 401(k) or IRA to a Roth IRA
And more