Retire Stronger

The Lessons We've Learned - [Ep. 49]

In this reflective episode, Bill and John look back on 49 episodes of Retire Stronger and revisit the core principles that drive their philosophy: behavior over returns, guardrails over guesswork, purpose over probability, and tax planning over tax deferral.They discuss the dangers of chasing a “lawnmower number,” why retirement isn’t about beating the S&P 500, and why the real risk isn’t market volatility — it’s your behavior and the structure of your plan.Plus, a special announcement about the future direction of the podcast.⏱️ Timestamps00:00 – Behavior matters more than returns01:06 – Episode 49 reflection & big announcement tease03:36 – Core retirement principles that don’t change05:10 – Tax planning vs. tax deferral (and the IRS as your “partner”)07:00 – Purpose over probability in retirement09:10 – The biggest risk investors take11:30 – What retirees misunderstand about financial planning17:33 – The danger of the “lawnmower number”19:33 – What retirement should really be about24:27 – Major announcement: shifting the podcast formatIf you’re within 5–10 years of retirement (or already there), this episode will challenge how you think about risk, income, and the true goal of retirement.Schedule a ⁠Complimentary Assessment: crownadvisorgroup.com/complimentary-assessment/⁠Phone: 704-469-0200Email: info@crownadvisorgroup dot com Website: ⁠https://crownadvisorgroup.com⁠#RetireStronger #RetirementPlanning #FinancialPlanning #BehavioralFinance

A Century of Data: What 100 Years of Markets Actually Teach Retirees - [Ep. 48]

Most retirees fear one bad market crash will ruin everything. But history tells a very different story. In Episode 48 of Retire Stronger, Bill Kearney and John Foard zoom out nearly 100 years to uncover what actually threatens your retirement — and why volatility isn’t the real enemy. Learn how market expansions, bear markets, recoveries, and investor behavior shape long-term success — and how to build a retirement plan designed to survive reality, not headlines. If you’re over 40 and thinking about retirement income planning, this episode is for you. 🔎 Topics Covered: • Are current markets “too strong”? • Is this bull market overdue for a crash? • Can one bear market ruin retirement? • Sequence of return risk explained • Guardrails & income buffer strategies • The real risk: investor behavior Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@UCcfolySGMpxTDXzie5YvKaw LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crown-advisors-llc/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RetireStrongerWIthCrown [https://www.facebook.com/RetireStrongerWIthCrown] Phone: 704-469-0200 Website: https://www.crownadvisorgroup.com [https://www.crownadvisorgroup.com] Email: info@crownadvisorgroup dotcom Meet: https://crownadvisorgroup.com/complimentary-assessment/ [https://crownadvisorgroup.com/complimentary-assessment/] Timestamps: 00:00 – What Really Threatens Your Retirement? 01:04 – Episode Introduction & Today’s Big Questions 02:40 – 100 Years of Market History in Perspective 04:40 – Expansions, Downturns & Recoveries Explained 06:00 – Volatility Is Structural, Not Abnormal 07:00 – Is This Rally “Too Strong”? 09:40 – Is This Bull Market Too Old? 12:20 – Can One Bear Market Ruin Retirement? 15:45 – Sequence of Return Risk & Structural Planning 18:30 – Guardrails, Income Buffers & Real Retirement Risks 21:10 – What Actually Derails Retirement (Behavior & Emotion) 23:00 – Final Takeaways & How to Prepare Intelligently Crown Advisors, LLC is not aregistered investment adviser, nor an insurance company, but is the LLC thatholds both Crown Private Wealth, LLC, a registered investment adviser, andCrown Insurance Advisors, LLC., an insurance provider. Important disclosuresregarding the business, conflicts of interests, and other pertinent informationis found on the specific entity website along with required regulatorydocuments and disclosures. Crown Advisors, LLC is separate but affiliated withCrown Private Wealth, LLC and Crown Insurance Advisors, LLC. All three entitieshave a similar ownership structure. Crown Private Wealth, LLC is a registeredinvestment adviser located in North Carolina. Advisor may only transactbusiness in those states in which it is registered or qualifies for anexemption or exclusion from registration requirements. Our firm is registeredin the following states NC, SC, & WV. Advisor’s website is limited to thedissemination of general information pertaining to its services, together withaccess to additional investment-related information, publications, and links.Investments involve risk and unless otherwise stated, are not guaranteed. Besure to first consult with a qualified financial adviser and/or taxprofessional before implementing any strategy discussed herein. Pastperformance is not indicative of future performance. #RetirementPlanning #SequenceOfReturns #RetireStronger #FinancialFreedom

You Might Be Able to Reitre, But You Might Not Like The Life You Created [Ep. 47]

You can have no debt, a $2M portfolio, optimized Social Security, and still feel unfulfilled in retirement. In this episode, John and Bill unpack why financial planning software answers “Can I retire?” — but rarely asks, “What am I retiring into?” If you’re in your 40s, 50s, or approaching retirement, this conversation could change how you think about the finish line. Timestamps: 00:00 – Financially ready… but personally miserable? 02:00 – The question planning software doesn’t ask 03:16 – What work secretly provides (structure, identity, purpose) 05:30 – The “honeymoon phase” of retirement 06:51 – Mark’s story: $2M saved… and bored 08:10 – The myth of the “lawnmower number” 09:50 – The 3 invisible risks of retirement 12:00 – Relationship strain after leaving work 14:52 – How to stress test your life (not just your portfolio) 16:10 – 4 keys to a fulfilling retirement Before you ask, “Can I retire?” — ask, “Will I like what life looks like on the other side?” 📞 Work with Crown Advisors: Schedule a Complimentary Assessment [https://crownadvisorgroup.com/complimentary-assessment/] Phone: 704-469-0200 Email: info@crownadvisorgroup dot com Website: ⁠https://crownadvisorgroup.com⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa2lMVzBBajdBamMzWXhYQzZ3Z09zQzBSei1od3xBQ3Jtc0ttSEdYQ2lEbzVPZG5YU3FtbGRpZHF3NWV3VjFHRjliYUhIaWFQSHBGejJuUGdJaUZGZjBYOVJDanRaM1hwRXdoOHhGSDBJa1E5bXhUZXNHVlV2LXNEOXZranZsNHZQRk9ET3pFV2xma1RzcEh5emdINA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fcrownadvisorgroup.com%2F&v=RhhJ-2XQwzE] Subscribe for more conversations that help you Retire Stronger. Crown Advisors, LLC is not a registered investment adviser, nor an insurance company, but is the LLC that holds both Crown Private Wealth, LLC, a registered investment adviser, and Crown Insurance Advisors, LLC., an insurance provider. Important disclosures regarding the business, conflicts of interests, and other pertinent information is found on the specific entity website along with required regulatory documents and disclosures. Crown Advisors, LLC is separate but affiliated with Crown Private Wealth, LLC and Crown Insurance Advisors, LLC. All three entities have a similar ownership structure. Crown Private Wealth, LLC is a registered investment adviser located in North Carolina. Advisor may only transact business in those states in which it is registered or qualifies for an exemption or exclusion from registration requirements. Our firm is registered in the following states NC, SC, & WV. Advisor’s website is limited to the dissemination of general information pertaining to itsservices, together with access to additional investment-related information, publications, and links. Investments involve risk and unless otherwise stated, are not guaranteed. Be sure to first consult with a qualified financial adviser and/or tax professional before implementing any strategy discussed herein. Past performance is not indicative of future performance. #RetirementPlanning #RetirementLifestyle #RetirementPurpose #RetireStronger

2 Most Common Retirement Mistakes [Ep. 46]

Most retirement portfolio mistakes don’t come from reckless investing — they come from doing what used to work.In this episode of Retire Stronger, John Foard and Bill Kearney break down the two most common retirement portfolio mistakes they’re seeing right now — mistakes being made by disciplined, successful investors who believe the strategies that got them to retirement will also carry them through it.Using real-world case studies, they explain why retirement portfolios must be built differently once paychecks stop, how sequence-of-return risk quietly destroys income plans, and why cookie-cutter portfolios often leave millions of dollars on the table over a 25–30 year retirement.If you’re approaching retirement or already retired, this episode will challenge how you think about risk, returns, and what your portfolio is actually supposed to do.📞 Questions about your portfolio? Phone: 704-469-0200Email: info@crownadvisorgroup dot comWebsite: https://www.crownadvisorgroup.comMeet: https://crownadvisorgroup.com/complimentary-assessment/00:00 – Why “what got me here” often fails in retirement01:10 – The two retirement portfolio mistakes we see most often02:20 – DIY investors vs. advised investors: different paths, same flaw03:20 – Why retirement planning is harder now than ever04:10 – The dangerous assumption successful investors make05:30 – Average return vs. real-world retirement math07:20 – Why average returns can completely mislead retirees09:50 – Case Study: John and the hidden damage of early losses14:20 – Sequence-of-return risk explained in plain English16:50 – Case Study: Lisa and why a 60/40 portfolio missed the mark19:30 – The long-term cost of cookie-cutter portfolios23:10 – How to design a portfolio around your life, not your age🎧 Listen on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major platforms.👍 If this episode helped, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone who could benefit.Retire Stronger — clarity beats chaos.#RetirementPlanning #RetireStronger #FinancialPlanning #RetirementIncome

Should I Tinker With My Portfolio - [Ep. 45]

Markets move. Headlines get loud. And when volatility hits, the temptation to “do something” with your portfolio can feel overwhelming.In Episode 45 of Retire Stronger, John Foard and Bill Kearney break down why frequent portfolio tinkering often works against investors, how emotions quietly erode long-term returns, and what actually justifies making changes. You’ll learn the difference between being engaged with your plan versus reactive to noise — and why boring, rules-based investing is often the strongest strategy.If you’ve ever wondered “Should I be making changes right now?” — this episode is for you.📞 Questions about your portfolio? Phone: 704-469-0200Email: info@crownadvisorgroup dot comWebsite: https://www.crownadvisorgroup.comMeet: https://crownadvisorgroup.com/complimentary-assessment/ Chapters:[00:00:00] Why market headlines create the urge to tinker[00:02:00] Emotional decisions vs. disciplined investing[00:03:32] Not all portfolios should be treated the same[00:05:01] How financial media fuels fear and urgency[00:06:39] Why bad portfolio decisions feel smart at the time[00:07:00] Legitimate reasons to change a portfolio[00:09:00] What systematic rebalancing really means[00:11:20] Reasons that do NOT deserve portfolio changes[00:14:00] The real cost of market timing and missing key days[00:22:40] How often you should actually touch your portfolio🎧 Listen on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major platforms.👍 If this episode helped, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone who could benefit.Retire Stronger — clarity beats chaos.#RetirementPlanning #RetireStronger #FinancialPlanning #RetirementIncome