The Retirement Planners of America Podcast

Getting Ready To Retire Checklist

Getting ready for retirement is a lot easier when you use a checklist. In this episode, Ken Moraif walks through a practical retirement planning checklist that helps you organize the big decisions before you stop working, so the transition feels smoother and your plan is built around real life costs. You’ll hear why where you live can be the biggest driver of your cost of living, how to think about what you’ll do after you retire, why many retirees aim to reduce debt and review investment risk, and how to avoid gaps in healthcare coverage. Ken also explains a simple way to think about budgeting without turning it into a household argument, plus timing tips for Social Security and an overview of when a 401(k) rollover to an IRA may be worth considering - and when staying in an employer plan might make more sense. If you’re over 50 and planning your next chapter, share this with a friend who’s also getting close to retirement. 0:00 Retirement checklist intro, why checklists work 0:40 Step 1: Decide where you plan to live 2:10 Step 2: Plan what you’ll do in retirement 3:35 Step 3: Pay off your mortgage and reduce debt 4:55 Step 4: Consider reducing investment risk near retirement 6:05 Step 5: Know your retirement income sources 7:25 Step 6: Healthcare planning, avoid gaps in coverage 8:45 Step 7: Budgeting without the household argument 10:10 Shark story: why expenses adapt to the “pool size” 11:25 Step 8: Apply for Social Security three months early 11:55 Step 9: Consider a 401(k) rollover to an IRA, case by case 12:25 Wrap-up and next steps RPOA Advisors, Inc. (d/b/a Retirement Planners of America) (“RPOA”) is an SEC-registered investment adviser. Registration as an investment adviser is not an endorsement by securities regulators and does not imply that RPOA has attained a certain level of skill or training. This podcast has been prepared for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide, and should not be relied upon for, personalized investment, financial, tax, or legal advice. RPOA does not provide tax or legal advice. You should consult your own tax and legal advisors before engaging in any transaction or strategy. Opinions expressed are those of RPOA as of the date of publication and are subject to change. Investing involves risks, including possible loss of principal. Diversification and asset allocation do not guarantee a profit, nor do they eliminate the risk of loss. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

The Seven Mistakes IRA Owners Make

If you own an IRA, a few simple mistakes can quietly create bigger problems later, including unnecessary taxes, penalties, and outdated beneficiary choices. In this episode, Ken Moraif and Jeremy Thornton walk through seven common IRA mistakes they see over and over and explain how to avoid them with better habits and better planning. They cover the mistakes retirees and pre-retirees make most often, including missing contribution limit increases, forgetting spousal IRA contributions, taking early withdrawals without understanding your options, leaving beneficiary designations outdated, mishandling trusts as IRA beneficiaries, missing required minimum distributions (RMDs), and not planning for how an IRA may affect heirs. If you are over 50, retired, or retiring soon, this is a practical checklist episode to help you stay organized and avoid costly errors.  Like and subscribe for more retirement planning episodes. 0:00 Intro: Why avoiding mistakes matters 0:55 The “tennis” mindset: win by making fewer errors 2:10 Mistake 1: Not tracking IRA contribution limit increases 4:05 Mistake 2: Forgetting spousal IRA contributions 6:00 Mistake 3: Early withdrawals and avoidable penalties 8:05 Mistake 4: Outdated IRA beneficiary designations 11:10 Mistake 5: Naming a trust incorrectly as IRA beneficiary 14:30 Mistake 6: Missing RMDs and penalty risk 18:00 Mistake 7: Not planning for heirs and inherited IRA strategy 22:10 Wrap-up: Simple habits to prevent costly IRA mistakes RPOA Advisors, Inc. (d/b/a Retirement Planners of America) (“RPOA”) is an SEC-registered investment adviser. Registration as an investment adviser is not an endorsement by securities regulators and does not imply that RPOA has attained a certain level of skill or training. This podcast has been prepared for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide, and should not be relied upon for, personalized investment, financial, tax, or legal advice. RPOA does not provide tax or legal advice. You should consult your own tax and legal advisors before engaging in any transaction or strategy. Opinions expressed are those of RPOA as of the date of publication and are subject to change. Investing involves risks, including possible loss of principal. Diversification and asset allocation do not guarantee a profit, nor do they eliminate the risk of loss. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

How To Take Distributions From Your IRA Without Paying The 10% Penalty

If you are considering retiring early or you need income before age 59½, the IRS 72(t) rule (also called SEPP, Substantially Equal Periodic Payments) may allow you to take distributions from a traditional IRA without the 10% early withdrawal penalty. In this episode, Ken and Jeremy break down what an IRA is, who 72(t) can help, the three calculation methods, and the most common pitfalls that can trigger penalties if you change or break the plan. You will also hear an example using a $1,000,000 IRA and a planning strategy that may help you match the income you need. 00:00 Intro: the 10% early withdrawal penalty problem 01:10 What an IRA is (traditional vs Roth) 03:05 What is 72(t) SEPP and who it is for 05:00 The big rule: duration and no changes allowed 07:10 Method 1: RMD method (flexible, recalculates) 10:20 Methods 2 and 3: amortization vs annuitization 13:40 Example, interest rate limits, and top mistakes to avoid At Retirement Planners of America, we help people retire when they want to and stay retired. Visit us at rpoa.com to learn more. Like, subscribe, and share for more retirement and investing insights from Ken Moraif and the RPOA team. RPOA Advisors, Inc. (d/b/a Retirement Planners of America) (“RPOA”) is an SEC-registered investment adviser. Registration as an investment adviser is not an endorsement by securities regulators and does not imply that RPOA has attained a certain level of skill or training. This podcast has been prepared for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide, and should not be relied upon for, personalized investment, financial, tax, or legal advice. RPOA does not provide tax or legal advice. You should consult your own tax and legal advisors before engaging in any transaction or strategy. Opinions expressed are those of RPOA as of the date of publication and are subject to change. Investing involves risks, including possible loss of principal. Diversification and asset allocation do not guarantee a profit, nor do they eliminate the risk of loss. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

Seven Deadly Sins Of Investing

Are you accidentally sabotaging your investments? In this episode, Ken Moraif breaks down the 7 Deadly Sins of Investing and explains how common behaviors like emotion, greed, impatience, disorganization, and fear can hurt your long term financial outcomes. If you are retired, retiring soon, or planning for retirement, this is a must watch conversation about how to make smarter investment decisions and avoid costly mistakes. 0:00 Intro: The 7 Deadly Sins of Investing 0:34 Sin 1: Emotion 1:20 Sin 2: Disorganization 2:08 Sin 3: Myopia (missing the big picture) 3:06 Sin 4: Impatience and FOMO 4:02 Sin 5: Greed 5:05 Sin 6: Arrogance 6:12 Sin 7: Cowardice 7:35 Why working with an advisor can help 8:10 Closing thoughts At Retirement Planners of America, we help people retire when they want to and stay retired. Visit us at rpoa.com to learn more. Like, subscribe, and share for more retirement and investing insights from Ken Moraif and the RPOA team. RPOA Advisors, Inc. (d/b/a Retirement Planners of America) (“RPOA”) is an SEC-registered investment adviser. Registration as an investment adviser is not an endorsement by securities regulators and does not imply that RPOA has attained a certain level of skill or training. This podcast has been prepared for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide, and should not be relied upon for, personalized investment, financial, tax, or legal advice. RPOA does not provide tax or legal advice. You should consult your own tax and legal advisors before engaging in any transaction or strategy. Opinions expressed are those of RPOA as of the date of publication and are subject to change. Investing involves risks, including possible loss of principal. Diversification and asset allocation do not guarantee a profit, nor do they eliminate the risk of loss. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

Estate Planning Tip: How to Leave Unequal Inheritances Without Family Wars

Can you leave more to one child than another without creating lifelong resentment? In this episode, Ken Moraif explains why heirs often interpret inheritance as “love units” and how unequal distributions can trigger family conflict, will contests, and years of hurt feelings. The solution is not just legal, it’s relational: communicate your plan ahead of time. Subscribe for more retirement planning, investing education, risk management, and market insights. 0:00 Intro 0:20 The estate attorney story 1:15 The “love units” concept 2:05 Why unequal inheritances create resentment 2:55 The “reading of the will” drama problem 3:35 The best way to do it: talk in advance 4:25 Wrap up and closing RPOA Advisors, Inc. (d/b/a Retirement Planners of America) (“RPOA”) is an SEC-registered investment adviser. Registration as an investment adviser is not an endorsement by securities regulators and does not imply that RPOA has attained a certain level of skill or training. This podcast has been prepared for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide, and should not be relied upon for, personalized investment, financial, tax, or legal advice. RPOA does not provide tax or legal advice. You should consult your own tax and legal advisors before engaging in any transaction or strategy. Opinions expressed are those of RPOA as of the date of publication and are subject to change. Investing involves risks, including possible loss of principal. Diversification and asset allocation do not guarantee a profit, nor do they eliminate the risk of loss. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.