Secure Your Retirement

Latest Episodes:

How to Build an Income That Lasts in Retirement Nov 24, 2025

Show notes

In this Episode of the Secure Your Retirement Podcast, Radon and Murs discuss how to approach retirement income planning with confidence so you can retire comfortably and secure your retirement. With people living longer, dealing with market volatility, navigating retirement income and taxes, and planning around retirement and inflation, creating a strategy that works for decades is more essential than ever. They break down how to create retirement income that can last 30–40+ years while maintaining peace of mind in retirement.

Listen in to learn about the simple yet powerful Retirement Bucket Strategy—cash, income safety, and growth—and how each piece works together to help you plan for retirement at 50, retirement planning at 55, or retirement planning at 60. You’ll also learn how different tax buckets (pre-tax, taxable, and tax-free) impact your retirement withdrawal strategy and long-term retirement planning strategies so you can build an income in retirement that keeps up with life, goals, and inflation.

In this episode, find out:

How to structure your money using the Retirement Bucket Strategy to create retirement income that lasts.
Why market volatility, taxes, inflation, and longevity must be factored into every retirement income plan.
The difference between pre-tax, taxable, and tax-free retirement buckets—and how each impacts your long-term plan for retirement.
How fixed index annuities, cash reserves, and growth investments can work together within a retirement income planning framework.
A real-life scenario showing how to build a retirement withdrawal strategy across multiple buckets for long-term stability.

Tweetable Quotes:

“When you structure your retirement income the right way, you remove anxiety and gain true peace of mind in retirement.” — Radon Stancil

“Diversifying across investment buckets and tax buckets is what makes a retirement income plan strong, flexible, and built to last.” — 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.

4 Tax Strategies to Lower Your 2025 Tax Bill Nov 17, 2025

Show notes

In this Episode of the Secure Your Retirement Podcast, Radon and Murs discuss four powerful tax strategies you can start looking at now to lower your 2025 tax bill and create more long-term flexibility in retirement. They unpack the difference between simple tax filing and true tax planning, walking through how proactive tax projections, IRA tax planning, and coordinated strategies can help reduce taxes over your lifetime—not just this year. You’ll hear how their team uses a comprehensive tax checklist and planning process to help you secure your retirement and avoid costly surprises.

Listen in to learn about practical ways to reduce taxes, from Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) and Donor Advised Funds to Tax Loss Harvesting inside a Direct Indexing strategy, and long-term Roth conversion planning. Whether you’re focused on charitable giving strategies, concerned about Medicare IRMAA surcharges, or just looking for tax savings tips and ideas on how to save on taxes in retirement, this episode will help you think beyond April 15 and build a smarter, more intentional retirement tax plan.

In this episode, find out:

· The key difference between tax filing and true tax strategy—and why tax moves to lower your 2025 bill must be done before December 31.

· How Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) can lower your taxable income, satisfy Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs), and help you avoid Medicare IRMAA surcharges.

· Ways a Donor Advised Fund can “bunch” charitable giving, turn what you were already going to give into a bigger deduction, and enhance your overall charitable giving strategies.

· How a Direct Indexing strategy with ongoing Tax Loss Harvesting can create “tax alpha,” making your brokerage account more tax-efficient and reducing capital gains over time.

· Why a multi-year Roth conversion plan—guided by tax projections—can dramatically lower lifetime retirement taxes for you and your heirs, and support a more confident retirement planning and retiring comfortably strategy.

Tweetable Quotes:

“Real tax planning is not about what happened last year—it’s about using tax projections and tax strategies today so you can decide how and when you want to pay taxes over your lifetime.” — Murs Tariq

“When you combine tools like Qualified Charitable Distributions, Donor Advised Funds, tax loss harvesting, and Roth conversions, you’re not just checking a tax box—you’re building a coordinated tax plan that can help you save on taxes and truly secure your retirement.” — Murs Tariq

Resources:

To access the course, simply visit POMWealth.net/podcast.

Alternative Investments Explained – Lowering Risk and Improving Portfolio Balance Nov 10, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of the Secure Your Retirement Podcast, Radon and Murs discuss how alternative investments can play a valuable role in portfolio management and retirement investing. They’re joined by Brooke Garcia, a Certified Financial Planner™, Chartered Financial Analyst®, and Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst®, who brings deep expertise in private markets investing, risk management for investors, and portfolio diversification strategies.

They explore how adding non-correlated assets such as private equity or private credit investing can help improve portfolio balance and reduce portfolio risk—especially when the traditional 60/40 portfolio approach no longer provides the same stability. This insightful discussion dives into how alternative investments can create a more tax efficient portfolio and contribute to a smoother investment experience during volatile market cycles.

Listen in to learn about how alternative investments explained by Brooke can reshape the way you think about diversification and retirement planning strategies. You’ll discover how these vehicles can provide access to opportunities outside of the public markets, deliver potential capital gains strategy benefits, and offer unique tools for investment risk management. If you’re exploring ways to plan for retirement, retiring comfortably, and secure your retirement, this episode is packed with insights that connect tax planning, index replication, and tax loss harvesting into a broader tax strategy that enhances long-term wealth management.

In this episode, find out:

What alternative investments are and how they differ from traditional stocks and bonds.
Why private markets investing may provide higher returns and smoother volatility.
How to use non-correlated assets to build a more diversified portfolio and improve portfolio balance.
Key considerations about liquidity, manager due diligence, and position sizing in alternative investments.
How a well-designed diversification strategy supports long-term retirement planning and tax efficiency.

Tweetable Quotes:

“When bonds and stocks fall together, that’s when investors start to realize the importance of alternative investments in balancing risk.”

— Radon Stancil

“Alternative investments aren’t perfect for everyone, but everyone should evaluate whether they can play a role in their plan for retirement.”

— Murs Tariq

Resources:

To access the course, simply visit POMWealth.net/podcast.

Market Update and Tax Efficient Portfolio Management Nov 03, 2025

Show notes

In this Episode of the Secure Your Retirement Podcast, Radon and Murs discuss how today’s market update ties directly into smarter portfolio management and building a Tax Efficient Portfolio for your non-IRA accounts. From headlines about new highs to rate cuts and tariffs, they translate noise into strategy—focusing on tax planning, tax strategy, and tax efficiency so you can secure your retirement with confidence.

Listen in to learn about using Direct indexing with Tax loss harvesting to mirror an index while managing investment taxes, handling concentrated stock positions, and customizing holdings (think: Index replication without the positions you don’t want). You’ll also hear practical retirement planning strategies to stay diversified, manage risk, and plan for retirement so you’re retiring comfortably with a clear retirement checklist and a resilient approach to Retirement Investing and Investment risk management.

In this episode, find out:

· How recent Fed moves and headlines factor into a pragmatic market update and what that means for Retirement Planning and risk management.

· The core–tactical–bonds/alternatives blend that creates a Diversified portfolio beyond just stocks to smooth volatility.

· What Direct indexing is, how Index replication works with 50–75 stocks, and why Tax loss harvesting can add meaningful tax alpha.

· Ways to unwind a concentrated position (e.g., long-held company stock) using harvested losses and a phased Capital gains strategy.

· How to tailor portfolios (even in IRAs) to exclude specific stocks while still tracking an index—supporting your personalized planning retirement goals.

Tweetable Quotes:

· “We’re not stock-picking heroes—we’re replicating the index and using tax efficiency to your advantage.” — Radon Stancil

· “With Direct indexing, you can make money and harvest losses at the same time—powerful for investment taxes in non-IRA accounts.” — Murs Tariq

Resources:

To access the course, simply visit POMWealth.net/podcast.

4th Quarter 2025 Economic Update Oct 27, 2025

Show notes

In this Episode of the Secure Your Retirement Podcast, Radon and Murs discuss the key themes shaping the 2025 economic outlook — from the Federal Reserve outlook and potential Fed rate cuts in 2025 to ongoing tariffs, inflation, and the evolving role of AI and the economy. Joined by returning guest Tom Siomades, they break down what retirees and investors need to know as we head toward the end of the year. This conversation goes beyond headlines, providing real perspective on what’s happening with the economy, stock market outlook, and how global events—like China trade tariffs and the race for rare earth metals—could influence your retirement investing in 2025.

Listen in to learn about

the trends behind money market rates, the S&P 500 outlook, and how market volatility in 2025 could shape retirement planning strategies. You’ll also hear how shifts in AI, international trade, and interest rates may impact your ability to plan for retirement, stay on your retirement checklist, and continue retiring comfortably with confidence.

In this episode, find out:

· Why ongoing China trade tariffs and access to rare earth metals are creating ripple effects across global markets.

· How the Federal Reserve outlook and potential Fed rate cuts in 2025 could affect money market rates and long-term investing strategies.

· Why Inflation in 2025 still lingers above target and how it’s influencing both spending and retirement portfolios.

· The growing connection between AI and the economy, and whether the market might be in an “AI bubble.”

· What retirees can do now to balance safety and growth in a world of market volatility and changing stock market outlooks.

Tweetable Quotes:

“The most important thing you can do is have a plan—and have people you trust to help you stick with it, especially in turbulent times.”

— Radon Stancil

“If rates come down, that’s good for the economy, but it also means retirees need to rethink how they generate income.”

— Murs Tariq

Resources:

To access the course, simply visit POMWealth.net/podcast.

Understanding How Annuities Fit in Retirement Oct 20, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of the Secure Your Retirement Podcast, Radon and Murs discuss the power of annuities as part of a holistic retirement income planning strategy. Joined by their guest, Sam Wimpy, an insurance and annuity specialist, they break down the evolving world of fixed indexed annuities and how these vehicles can provide principal protection, guaranteed lifetime income, and a meaningful role in risk management. This conversation challenges traditional ideas about annuities in retirement and highlights how they can act as a bond alternative while helping retirees plan for retirement and retire comfortably.

Listen in to learn about the practical and emotional aspects of building a solid financial foundation. The hosts and Sam dive into how annuities have evolved beyond the stereotypes of decades past and now serve as reliable, tax-deferred annuity options that align with today’s retirement planning strategies. From creating predictable income streams to securing a financial legacy, this episode provides insights for anyone seeking to secure your retirement with confidence and clarity.

In this episode, find out:

· What makes a fixed indexed annuity different from traditional annuities and pensions.

· How annuities serve as a bond alternative to help manage market volatility.

· The role of income riders and guaranteed lifetime income in creating predictable cash flow.

· How to use the Three Bucket Strategy for balanced retirement planning and risk management.

· Why annuities in retirement can help you enjoy stability, flexibility, and peace of mind.

Tweetable Quotes:

“When you understand how an annuity fits into your overall plan, it stops being confusing—and starts being a tool for confidence and security.” — Radon Stancil

“When we view annuities as a pension alternative or a bond alternative, we open the door to better retirement planning strategies that focus on safety, growth, and flexibility.” — Murs Tariq

Resources:

To access the course, simply visit POMWealth.net/podcast.

The Benefits of Life Insurance - Tax Planning - Legacy - Long Term Care Oct 13, 2025

Show notes

In this Episode of the Secure Your Retirement Podcast, Radon and Murs discuss how modern life insurance can be more than a death benefit—it can be an all-in-one tool for retirement planning strategies, tax advantages of life insurance, and long-term care insurance. With guest expert Jim Bowman, they explain how well-structured cash value policies—especially Indexed Universal Life—can provide tax free retirement income, flexible access to cash, and an efficient way to leave a legacy to family or charity.

Listen in to learn about the practical differences between term and cash value policies, how to design funding to avoid MEC rules, why many retirees use unneeded RMDs to create tax-efficient benefits, and how hybrid life insurance can accelerate a portion of the death benefit for qualifying long-term care needs. If you want a clear path to secure your retirement, plan for retirement, and keep a simple retirement checklist for retiring comfortably, this conversation is for you.

In this episode, find out:

· How to think about life insurance benefits beyond debt protection—legacy, liquidity, and LTC.

· The mechanics of life insurance cash value and using policy loans for tax free retirement income.

· Why life insurance and taxes can work in your favor when policies are designed to minimize insurance cost and maximize accumulation.

· When to consider life insurance for retirement (including for business owners) and how to fund over 5–7 years to avoid MECs.

· Using unwanted RMDs to fund life insurance for seniors or a hybrid life insurance policy with long term care insurance riders.

Tweetable Quotes:

· “Life insurance can be the Swiss Army knife of retirement—growth, tax efficiency, legacy, and long-term care in one plan.” — Radon Stancil

· “Design the policy to minimize insurance cost and maximize cash value—then let it do the heavy lifting for tax-free income.” — Murs Tariq

Throughout the episode, we cover: Retirement Planning, retirement planning strategies, planning retirement with Indexed Universal Life, coordinating with a broader financial plan, and using a straightforward retirement checklist to align cash flow, taxes, and legacy goals—so you can secure your retirement.

Resources:

To access the course, simply visit POMWealth.net/podcast.

One Big Beautiful Bill – Part 2 Oct 06, 2025

Show notes

In this Episode of the Secure Your Retirement Podcast, Radon and Murs discuss the latest provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill and how these updates directly affect retirees and pre-retirees. Joined by tax expert Taylor Wolverton, CFP® and EA, they dive into key areas of the 2025 tax changes that could significantly impact your retirement planning strategies. From estate tax exemption levels to the nuances of the QBI deduction, these insights help you better understand how to navigate Taxes in Retirement while maximizing opportunities for long-term tax savings.

Listen in to learn about how provisions such as the new auto loan interest deduction, expanded charitable deduction, and the innovative Trump accounts for newborns can play a role in your personal retirement tax planning. With practical explanations and forward-looking strategies, this episode provides essential knowledge for anyone seeking to secure your retirement and prepare a thoughtful retirement checklist.

In this episode, find out:

· Why the current tax rates are considered “permanent” and what that really means for your tax strategy for retirees.

· How the estate tax exemption impacts your legacy and protects families from unnecessary gift and estate taxes.

· What the Qualified Business Income (QBI deduction) means for self-employed individuals and small business owners.

· The new charitable deduction opportunities even for those who take the standard deduction.

· How auto loan interest deduction and Trump accounts for newborns could change the way families plan for the future.

Tweetable Quotes:

· “There’s significant opportunity ahead of us to take advantage of today’s lower tax rates before changes come in the future.” – Radon Stancil

· “Even small provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill can create big opportunities for retirees who want to plan smartly.” – Murs Tariq

Resources:

To access the course, simply visit POMWealth.net/podcast.

The Fed Just Cut Rates - What It Means for Your Retirement Sep 29, 2025

Show notes

In this Episode of the Secure Your Retirement Podcast, Radon and Murs discuss the recent Fed rate cuts and what they mean for your retirement. After years of historically high Federal Reserve interest rates, the first rate cut of 2025 signals an important turning point for retirees and those planning retirement. With retirement interest rates shifting, CDs, bonds, and even savings accounts are no longer producing the same returns as just a year ago. This episode breaks down how the Fed interest rate changes impact your retirement investment strategy, from cash and CDs to fixed index annuities, bonds, and equities.

Listen in to learn about how to navigate this new environment. Radon and Murs share insights on how to rethink your retirement income planning, balance safety and growth, and use smart retirement planning strategies to secure your retirement. They also explain why now may be a critical moment to evaluate your options and protect your retirement nest egg so you can focus on retiring comfortably with peace of mind.

In this episode, find out:

· Why the latest Fed rate cut immediately affects cash accounts and CD rates.

· How bonds and interest rates respond differently for new buyers versus existing holders.

· Why blindly chasing higher returns in equities can add more risk to your portfolio.

· The role of fixed index annuities as a bond alternative in your retirement financial planning.

· Practical retirement planning strategies to balance growth, safety, and predictable income.

Tweetable Quotes:

· “When the Fed cuts rates, cash becomes less effective—so you need to think carefully about where your money works best in retirement.” – Radon Stancil

· “Retirement planning today is less about chasing the highest return and more about finding the right return that provides predictability and peace of mind.” – Murs Tariq

Resources:

To access the course, simply visit POMWealth.net/podcast.

Is It Possible to Leave Work Before 65? Sep 22, 2025

Show notes

In this Episode of the Secure Your Retirement Podcast, Radon and Murs discuss what it really takes to retire before 65 and the key strategies you need to make early retirement not only possible but sustainable. Many people assume that leaving work before Medicare at 65 is too expensive or too risky, especially when it comes to health insurance before Medicare, tax planning, and long-term income strategies. But with the right process, tools, and guidance, you can build a retirement plan that helps you retire early and retire comfortably.

Listen in to learn about the essential areas you must think through: ACA health plans, Medicare at 65, the 59 and a half rule, the 401k rule of 55, Roth conversions, Social Security timing, and more. Radon and Nick Hymanson, CFP®, break down the critical details around investment strategy, retirement withdrawal strategy, sequence of returns risk, and bucket strategy investing. This conversation highlights not just the numbers, but also the emotional side of retirement—building confidence and clarity to truly secure your retirement.

In this episode, find out:

· Why health insurance before Medicare is the #1 concern for early retirees, and how ACA health plans and subsidies fit into your strategy.

· How to navigate tax rules like the 59 and a half rule, the 401k rule of 55, and smart Roth conversions.

· The importance of a retirement withdrawal strategy that considers taxes, cash flow, and long-term goals.

· How to protect yourself from sequence of returns risk with bucket strategy investing.

· Why budgeting for retirement and addressing the emotional side of leaving work is just as important as the numbers.

Tweetable Quotes:

Radon Stancil: “Retirement planning is like turning knobs—when you adjust one, it impacts the others. The key is making sure they all move in the right direction.”

Murs Tariq: “The confidence to retire doesn’t come from guessing—it comes from having a written plan that helps you make decisions with clarity.”

Resources:

To access the course, simply visit POMWealth.net/podcast.