Episode 369 - What Happens Financially When One Spouse Passes Away

Episode 370 - How to Lower Taxes in Retirement Before the End of 2026

In this Episode of the Secure Your Retirement Podcast, Radon and Murs discuss some of the most effective ways to lower taxes in retirement before the end of taxes 2026. Drawing from more than 150 client tax strategy meetings conducted by Peace of Mind Wealth Management, they break down the Retirement tax planning strategies that delivered the greatest benefits to retirees. From charitable giving opportunities to Roth conversion strategy analysis, this episode provides actionable insights designed to help retirees make smarter decisions about their future tax liability. Listen in to learn about proven tax strategies including Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs), Donor Advised Funds, Tax Efficient Investing, Tax Loss Harvesting, and RMD planning. Whether you're focused on reducing retirement income tax, preparing for future Required Minimum Distributions, creating a comprehensive retirement checklist, or looking for ways to secure your retirement, this episode offers valuable guidance to help you maximize your wealth and keep more of what you've worked so hard to save. In this episode, find out: * How a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) can help charitably inclined retirees reduce taxes in retirement while supporting causes they care about. * Why a Donor Advised Fund may allow you to maximize charitable deductions and improve your overall tax planning strategy. * How Tax Efficient Investing and Tax Loss Harvesting can potentially reduce taxes and improve after-tax portfolio returns. * Why Roth conversion analysis can help lower future retirement income tax and reduce the impact of future Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs). * How proactive Retirement Planning and annual tax strategy reviews can help you plan for retirement, optimize your finances, and retire more confidently. Tweetable Quotes: "A Qualified Charitable Distribution is one of the few opportunities where you can put money into an IRA, receive the tax deduction, experience growth, and then ultimately distribute those dollars completely tax-free to charity." — Murs Tariq "Everyone should not do a Roth conversion, but everyone should do a Roth conversion analysis because the impact on lifetime tax savings can be substantial." — Radon Stancil Resources: If you are in or nearing retirement and you want to gain clarity on what questions you should be asking, learn what the biggest retirement myths are, and identify what you can do to achieve peace of mind for your retirement, get started today by requesting our complimentary video course, Four Steps to Secure Your Retirement! To access the course, simply visit POMWealth.net/podcast [https://pomwealth.net/podcast].

Episode 369 - What Happens Financially When One Spouse Passes Away

In this Episode of the Secure Your Retirement Podcast, Radon Stancil and Murs Tariq discuss the difficult but essential topic of what happens financially when a spouse passes away. From understanding Social Security survivor benefits and the widow penalty to navigating Medicare changes, tax planning, and inherited IRA decisions, this conversation highlights why proactive financial planning and estate planning are so important for every surviving spouse. The death of a spouse can create emotional stress and financial confusion, especially when retirement income planning, account access, and beneficiary updates have not been organized ahead of time. Listen in to learn about the most important steps couples should take before tragedy strikes, including creating a financial checklist, organizing documents, simplifying advisors, and preparing a letter to heirs. Radon and Murs explain how a proper retirement checklist and planning retirement strategy can help families avoid unnecessary stress while protecting the surviving spouse financially. If you want to plan for retirement, retire comfortably, and secure your retirement, this episode offers practical guidance for what to do when a spouse dies and how to prepare for life’s most difficult transitions. In this episode, find out: * How Social Security survivor benefits work when a spouse passes away * Why the widow penalty can increase taxes and Medicare costs for a surviving spouse * The importance of beneficiary reviews, inherited IRA options, and estate planning * How a letter to heirs and financial checklist can simplify the transition process * Why retirement income planning and organizing financial accounts are critical for a surviving spouse Tweetable Quotes: “The last thing you want is for the event to happen, and then you've got someone trying to figure it all out through files and folders during one of the hardest moments of their life.” – Murs Tariq “Both spouses don’t have to be the financial gurus, but they both need to see the roadmap.” – Radon Stancil Resources: If you are in or nearing retirement and you want to gain clarity on what questions you should be asking, learn what the biggest retirement myths are, and identify what you can do to achieve peace of mind for your retirement, get started today by requesting our complimentary video course, Four Steps to Secure Your Retirement! To access the course, simply visit POMWealth.net/podcast [https://pomwealth.net/podcast].

Episode 368 - Why Reviewing Your Beneficiary Designations Could Protect Your Family

In this Episode of the Secure Your Retirement Podcast, Radon and Murs discuss the critical importance of reviewing your Beneficiary Designations and how one simple oversight could create major complications for your loved ones. From 401k Beneficiary forms to IRA Beneficiary rules, they break down real-world examples showing how outdated or incomplete beneficiaries can derail even the best Estate Planning intentions. They also explain why beneficiary forms override wills and trusts and how failing to verify your beneficiaries could unintentionally send your assets to the wrong person. Listen in to learn about key Estate Planning tips that can help Protect Your Family, preserve Family Wealth Planning goals, and reduce unnecessary taxes for future generations. Radon and Murs explain concepts like Spousal Consent, Inherited IRA distribution rules, Per Stirpes, Per Capita, and disclaimer strategies that can dramatically impact your Retirement Beneficiaries. Whether you are building your retirement checklist, planning retirement, or trying to secure your retirement for the next generation, this episode provides practical guidance to help protect your assets and ensure your beneficiary wishes are carried out properly. In this episode, find out: * Why Beneficiary Designations override wills and trusts in Estate Planning * The difference between a 401k Beneficiary and an IRA Beneficiary when it comes to Spousal Consent * How Inherited IRA rules under the SECURE Act can impact your family’s taxes * The difference between Per Stirpes and Per Capita beneficiary designations * Why reviewing beneficiaries regularly is essential for Retirement Planning and protecting family wealth Tweetable Quotes: “The beneficiary form trumps everything. You could have anything you want in your will, but if the beneficiary designation says something different, the beneficiary designation wins.” – Radon Stancil “It’s not just about getting the money to the right person. It’s about getting it to them in the most tax-efficient way possible.” – Murs Tariq Resources: If you are in or nearing retirement and you want to gain clarity on what questions you should be asking, learn what the biggest retirement myths are, and identify what you can do to achieve peace of mind for your retirement, get started today by requesting our complimentary video course, Four Steps to Secure Your Retirement! To access the course, simply visit POMWealth.net/podcast [https://pomwealth.net/podcast].

Episode 367 - Will I Pay Tax on the Sale of My Home?

In this Episode of the Secure Your Retirement Podcast, Radon and Murs discuss the often-confusing world of taxes on sale of home and how different tax rules apply when selling your home versus selling rental property investments. Joined by Director of Financial Planning and Tax Strategist Taylor Wolverton, the conversation breaks down capital gains tax explained in a simple and practical way so retirees and pre-retirees can better understand how home sale taxes may impact their financial future. Whether you are downsizing, relocating, or considering selling rental property as part of your retirement planning strategy, this episode highlights the importance of understanding real estate taxes before making a major financial move. Listen in to learn about home sale exclusion rules, depreciation recapture, capital improvements, and how Tax on home sale calculations can dramatically affect your retirement income and long-term financial security. Taylor explains how proper tax planning retirement strategies can help reduce unnecessary taxes and support your goals for retiring comfortably and helping to secure your retirement. If you are focused on financial planning for retirement, creating a retirement checklist, or trying to plan for retirement with confidence, this episode offers valuable insights into Retirement Planning and planning retirement around real estate decisions. In this episode, find out: * How the IRS determines whether a property qualifies for the home sale exclusion * The difference between home sale taxes for a primary residence versus Rental property taxes * Why Capital improvements can help reduce your Capital gains tax when selling your home * How Depreciation recapture works when selling rental property * Important Retirement tax planning strategies to consider before selling real estate in Retirement Tweetable Quotes: “The IRS allows married couples filing jointly to exclude up to $500,000 of gain when selling a primary home if they meet the ownership and use tests.” — Radon Stancil “Depreciation on rental property is a tremendous tax benefit while you own the property, but many people forget about depreciation recapture when they sell.” — Taylor Wolverton Resources: If you are in or nearing retirement and you want to gain clarity on what questions you should be asking, learn what the biggest retirement myths are, and identify what you can do to achieve peace of mind for your retirement, get started today by requesting our complimentary video course, Four Steps to Secure Your Retirement! To access the course, simply visit POMWealth.net/podcast [https://pomwealth.net/podcast].

Episode 366 - Self-Employed Retirement Accounts

In this Episode of the Secure Your Retirement Podcast, Radon and Murs discuss the importance of choosing the right Self-Employed Retirement Accounts after transitioning from W-2 employment into the world of consulting, freelancing, or independent contracting. If you are earning 1099 income and wondering how to handle tax planning, build long-term wealth, and create a strategy for retiring comfortably, this episode breaks down the most effective small business retirement plans available today. From understanding tax deductible retirement contributions to comparing a Solo 401k, SEP IRA, Simple IRA, and even a Defined Benefit Plan, this episode helps self-employed professionals take control of their financial future and secure your retirement. Listen in to learn about the different retirement savings options available for entrepreneurs, consultants, and independent contractors who want to maximize savings while reducing taxes. Radon and Murs explain how proper tax strategies for self employed individuals can dramatically impact long-term wealth accumulation and why creating a solid Retirement Planning strategy is essential when managing 1099 retirement income. Whether you are new to self-employment or already generating significant income, this conversation provides practical insights into Financial planning for retirement, minimizing taxes through the self employment tax deduction, and creating a smart path to planning retirement successfully. In this episode, find out: * How a Solo 401k, SEP IRA, and Simple IRA compare for self-employed professionals * Why tax planning is critical when transitioning from W-2 income to 1099 consulting income * The benefits of Tax deductible retirement contributions and reducing taxable income * When a Defined Benefit Plan may make sense for high-income business owners * Key strategies to help you plan for retirement and build long-term financial independence Tweetable Quotes: “When you flip over into the 1099 world, while you are receiving income from someone else, you’re also your own employer.” – Radon Stancil “The benefit of retirement contributions for self-employed individuals is that you’re not paying tax on those dollars today while building wealth for the future.” – Murs Tariq Resources: If you are in or nearing retirement and you want to gain clarity on what questions you should be asking, learn what the biggest retirement myths are, and identify what you can do to achieve peace of mind for your retirement, get started today by requesting our complimentary video course, Four Steps to Secure Your Retirement! To access the course, simply visit POMWealth.net/podcast [https://pomwealth.net/podcast].