If You’re 55+ and Feel Financially Behind in 2026, Listen to This

The Red Zone Retirement Planning Process Explained | Adam Olson CFP®

If you're within 5–7 years of retirement or recently retired, you're entering what I call the Red Zone of Retirement — the most important stretch of your financial life. This is the decade where every decision you make can determine the next 20–30 years of your financial future. In this episode, Adam Olson, CFP®, sits down with TJ to break down: • How the Red Zone Retirement Planning Process was created • The patterns Adam saw after years of helping retirees • Why traditional financial planning often fails retirees • How the Go-Go, Slow-Go, and No-Go framework works • The step-by-step client journey through the Red Zone process The Red Zone process was designed specifically for people approaching retirement who need clarity around income, taxes, investments, and long-term planning. Rather than focusing only on accumulation, this process focuses on what matters most: Turning decades of savings into reliable retirement income. You'll also hear real stories about how this framework has helped families retire with clarity, confidence, and peace of mind. Adam Olson is a Certified Financial Planner™ professional and retirement strategist who helps individuals and families prepare for and transition into retirement. He is the author of: • 21 Things You Need to Know About Money • What's Your Plan? • Red Zone Retirement Plan Adam created the Red Zone Retirement Planning Process to guide families through the most important financial decade of their lives. His goal is simple: Help people live every day of retirement like it's Saturday. Explore resources, schedule a meeting, or download Adam's book: Linktree: https://linktr.ee/adamolsoncfp The Red Zone Retirement Planning Process is designed for: • Pre-retirees within 5–7 years of retirement • Recently retired individuals • High savers preparing to transition from accumulation to distribution • Families looking for clarity around taxes, income, and long-term planning About Adam OlsonLearn More / ConnectWho We Help Investing involves risk, including loss of principal. Be sure to understand the benefits and limitations of your available options and consider all factors prior to making any financial decisions. Any strategies discussed may not be suitable for everyone. Securities and advisory services offered through Mutual of Omaha Investor Services, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. Adam Olson, Representative. Mutual of Omaha Investor Services is not affiliated with any entity listed herein. This podcast is for educational purposes only and may include references to concepts that have legal and/or tax implications. Mutual of Omaha Investor Services and its representatives do not offer legal or tax advice. The information presented is subject to change without notice and is not intended as an offer or solicitation with respect to the purchase or sale of any security or insurance product.Mutual of Omaha Investor Services and its various affiliates do not endorse or adopt comments posted by third parties. Comments posted by third parties are their own and may not be representative or indicative of other's opinions, views, and experiences.

7 Spending Strategies NOBODY Uses in Retirement (Retire 3X Richer in After-Tax Income)

🔗 Start Here: https://linktr.ee/adam.olson Most retirees don’t get poorer because of bad investments. They get poorer because of tax sequencing mistakes. In this video, I break down 7 income-sequencing strategies inside the U.S. retirement system that can dramatically increase your after-tax spending power over a 30-year retirement. These are NOT investment tricks. These are tax-bracket and income-control strategies most advisors never talk about. Inside this video, you’ll learn: ✔️ The Tax Bracket Fill Withdrawal Strategy ✔️ The Roth Conversion Ladder Before RMD Age ✔️ Social Security Timing Based on Tax Structure ✔️ The Pre-73 Traditional IRA Spend-Down Strategy ✔️ IRMAA Threshold Management ✔️ Survivor Bracket Protection Planning ✔️ Dynamic Bucket Sequencing (The Right Withdrawal Order) Retirement isn’t about portfolio size. It’s about how much you actually keep. If you’re 5–7 years from retirement (or already in it) and want to protect your income from: • RMD compression • Social Security taxation • Medicare IRMAA surcharges • Survivor tax bracket spikes • Lifetime marginal rate stacking Then this video will show you how to think differently. If you’d like help applying this to your specific situation, click the link above and fill out the short questionnaire. I’ll personally send you a customized video breaking down your numbers. I’m Adam Olson, a CFP®. I used my 14 years of experience to create the Red Zone Retirement Planning Process, so that your retirement feels like a Saturday every day. #RetirementPlanning #RedZoneRetirement #RothConversion #TaxPlanning #SocialSecurityStrategy #IRMAA #RMD #RetirementIncome #FinancialPlanning #CFP #PreRetirement #WealthManagement How much you need to retire quiz: https://bit.ly/Adam-OlsonInvesting involves risk, including loss of principal. Be sure to understand the benefits and limitations of your available options and consider all factors prior to making any financial decisions. Any strategies discussed may not be suitable for everyone. Securities and advisory services offered through Mutual of Omaha Investor Services, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. Adam Olson, Representative. Mutual of Omaha Investor Services is not affiliated with any entity listed herein. This podcast is for educational purposes only and may include references to concepts that have legal and/or tax implications. Mutual of Omaha Investor Services and its representatives do not offer legal or tax advice. The information presented is subject to change without notice and is not intended as an offer or solicitation with respect to the purchase or sale of any security or insurance product.Mutual of Omaha Investor Services and its various affiliates do not endorse or adopt comments posted by third parties. Comments posted by third parties are their own and may not be representative or indicative of other's opinions, views, and experiences.

The $3M Retirement Tax Trap: RMDs, IRMAA, and the Hidden IRS Schedule

How much you need to retire quiz: https://bit.ly/Adam-Olson What actually happens when you retire with $3 million in traditional retirement accounts? In this episode, I walk through the real numbers behind Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) starting at age 73—and why having a large IRA or 401(k) can quietly turn into a tax and Medicare premium problem if you don’t plan ahead. You’ll learn: * What a $3M portfolio forces you to withdraw in your first RMD year * How RMDs stack with Social Security, pensions, and dividends * Why many retirees end up in higher tax brackets than they expected * How RMD income can trigger IRMAA Medicare surcharges years later * The surviving spouse tax trap almost no one sees coming * What proactive tax planning (like Roth conversions) can still do—before it’s too late The biggest threat to a well-funded retirement isn’t market loss—it’s government-mandated income taxed on their schedule, not yours. I’m Adam Olson, a CFP®. I used my 14 years of experience to create the Red Zone Retirement Planning Process, so that your retirement feels like a Saturday every day. If you want help optimizing your own retirement plan, click the link to fill out the questionnaire and I’ll send you a personalized video showing exactly how this applies to your situation. How much you need to retire quiz: https://bit.ly/Adam-OlsonInvesting involves risk, including loss of principal. Be sure to understand the benefits and limitations of your available options and consider all factors prior to making any financial decisions. Any strategies discussed may not be suitable for everyone. Securities and advisory services offered through Mutual of Omaha Investor Services, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. Adam Olson, Representative. Mutual of Omaha Investor Services is not affiliated with any entity listed herein. This podcast is for educational purposes only and may include references to concepts that have legal and/or tax implications. Mutual of Omaha Investor Services and its representatives do not offer legal or tax advice. The information presented is subject to change without notice and is not intended as an offer or solicitation with respect to the purchase or sale of any security or insurance product.Mutual of Omaha Investor Services and its various affiliates do not endorse or adopt comments posted by third parties. Comments posted by third parties are their own and may not be representative or indicative of other's opinions, views, and experiences.

If You’re 55+ and Feel Financially Behind in 2026, Listen to This

If you’re 55 or older and feel financially behind heading into 2026, this episode may completely change how you think about retirement. Most people assume retirement readiness is about how much you’ve saved. But after working with hundreds of pre-retirees, I’ve found that it’s not a number problem—it’s a sequence problem. In this episode, I break down why being in your late 50s or early 60s with a lower balance can actually give you more leverage than someone with twice the money but worse timing. You’ll learn how low-income years, tax sequencing, and intentional withdrawals can help you flatten your tax curve, reduce future IRS exposure, and avoid Medicare IRMAA surprises. We’ll cover: * Why feeling “behind” can actually be a timing advantage * How MAGI suppression can unlock ACA subsidies worth $15,000–$25,000 per year * Strategic IRA spend-downs that prevent future RMD explosions * How Social Security can be used as a tax-planning tool—not just a benefit * Why redirecting contributions and eliminating debt before retirement creates freedom * The real catch-up move that has nothing to do with saving more This is the foundation of my Red Zone Retirement Planning process—helping you catch up by design, not by stress or guesswork. If you’re in the window before the system stops giving you options, this is the episode you don’t want to miss. How much you need to retire quiz: https://bit.ly/Adam-OlsonInvesting involves risk, including loss of principal. Be sure to understand the benefits and limitations of your available options and consider all factors prior to making any financial decisions. Any strategies discussed may not be suitable for everyone. Securities and advisory services offered through Mutual of Omaha Investor Services, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. Adam Olson, Representative. Mutual of Omaha Investor Services is not affiliated with any entity listed herein. This podcast is for educational purposes only and may include references to concepts that have legal and/or tax implications. Mutual of Omaha Investor Services and its representatives do not offer legal or tax advice. The information presented is subject to change without notice and is not intended as an offer or solicitation with respect to the purchase or sale of any security or insurance product.Mutual of Omaha Investor Services and its various affiliates do not endorse or adopt comments posted by third parties. Comments posted by third parties are their own and may not be representative or indicative of other's opinions, views, and experiences.

9 Purchases That Destroy Your Retirement! (And What to Do Instead)

How much you need to retire quiz: https://bit.ly/Adam-Olson Most people think they’re “getting ready” for retirement between ages 60 and 67. In reality, this is when many retirees quietly sabotage their entire plan. In this episode, I break down 9 common purchases people make before age 62 that seem smart—but actually destroy flexibility, increase taxes, and cost tens of thousands of dollars over time . You’ll learn: * Why the 60–67 window is the most tax-sensitive period of your entire financial life * How early annuities, insurance, renovations, and debt payoffs can backfire * The hidden impact these decisions have on Roth conversions, ACA subsidies, IRMAA, and Social Security timing * Real client examples where “good intentions” led to massive opportunity loss * What you should spend money on instead during the Retirement Red Zone This episode is especially important if you’re within 5–7 years of retirement and want to protect your income, lower lifetime taxes, and stay in control—without locking yourself into irreversible decisions. If you want help sequencing your income the right way and avoiding the mistakes that derail most retirements, check the link in the show notes. How much you need to retire quiz: https://bit.ly/Adam-OlsonInvesting involves risk, including loss of principal. Be sure to understand the benefits and limitations of your available options and consider all factors prior to making any financial decisions. Any strategies discussed may not be suitable for everyone. Securities and advisory services offered through Mutual of Omaha Investor Services, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. Adam Olson, Representative. Mutual of Omaha Investor Services is not affiliated with any entity listed herein. This podcast is for educational purposes only and may include references to concepts that have legal and/or tax implications. Mutual of Omaha Investor Services and its representatives do not offer legal or tax advice. The information presented is subject to change without notice and is not intended as an offer or solicitation with respect to the purchase or sale of any security or insurance product.Mutual of Omaha Investor Services and its various affiliates do not endorse or adopt comments posted by third parties. Comments posted by third parties are their own and may not be representative or indicative of other's opinions, views, and experiences.