Money Master Retirement Podcast
Episodes
Should I Pay Off My Mortgage Before Retiring?
29 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
One of the top questions we hear from people right before retirement is: Should I pay off my mortgage? It sounds simple, but the answer is a little m...
6 Types of Retirement Income — Ranked: Which Ones Build the Most Confidence?
10 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What if I told you that two people could have the same retirement income…but one lives confidently and the other is constantly worried they're sp...
What We Wish Everyone Knew Before Their First Meeting With Us
25 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Most people get a little nervous before their first meeting with a financial advisor. They wonder—what will they ask me? Am I going to get pitched ...
How to Retire in Your 50's (Without Regret)
27 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
More people than ever are asking: Can I retire in my 50s? And maybe the better question is…Can I retire in my 50s without regret? Today ...
Why Financial Headlines Keep You Anxious (and Broke)
06 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
You've probably seen the headlines: 'Crash coming,' 'Recession inevitable,' or 'Buffett moves to cash.' And it raises the question: are these headline...
The Retirement Tax Window: Does This Apply to You?
16 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What if the lowest tax years of your life are the ones you never planned to take advantage of? Today we're talking about what we call the Re...
What Does "Comfortable" Actually Look Like in Retirement?
04 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We hear this all the time—'I just want to feel comfortable in retirement.' But what does that actually mean? Is it a number? A lifestyle? Just peace...
Can They Retire Early Without Regret? | Real Case Study.
14 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Mike and Julie were in their early 60s—and they were ready to retire. The only problem? They didn't feel READY, the market felt SHAKY, and they were...
Warren Buffett is Sitting on Cash—Should You Be?
03 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You may have seen the headlines—Warren Buffett just boosted Berkshire Hathaway's cash pile to a record $347 billion. And naturally, people are askin...
What If My Advisor is Wrong?
21 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
“Have you ever had that thought: What if my advisor is wrong? It’s a fair question—especially when the future feels uncertain. Today, we’re go...
How To Spend For Maximum Happiness In Retirement
30 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the podcast, Nick, Tori, and Connie explore a provocative idea: what if the key to happiness in retirement isn’t saving more, but...
Withdrawals That Work: The Risk-Based Guardrails Q&A Session!
17 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this Q&A session, Tori and Nick sit down with Connie to answer real questions about how our firm approaches retirement withdrawals using a risk-bas...
How Do I Handle Drawdowns in Retirement?
12 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How will I handle market drawdowns in retirement? This is a question we hear often. People want to know what their retirement plan will do when th...
Will My Social Security Benefits Be Taxed?
29 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
One question we hear often is “Will my SS be taxed?” When you retire and begin taking your SS benefits, will the government want to tax that? Af...
Should I Gift Money Now or Wait Until Later
08 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today, we’re tackling a big question: Should I gift money now or wait until later? You want to give gifts to loved ones or to charities--- but y...
Is it too risky to keep investing in retirement?
24 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today, we’re talking about investing in stocks during retirement. People ask about balancing growth vs safety in retirement. You hear all of thi...
Should I work an extra year?
10 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
People ask if they should work an extra year or not. We hear it a lot--- and the answer is not just about money—it’s about your lifestyle, your ...
Here’s When You SHOULDN’T Do Roth Conversions
27 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If you’ve ever been told, “ A Roth conversion is the best thing you can do for your retirement, “ this episode is for you…. Because you also ...
Some People Should Not Hire a Financial Advisor...Yet
13 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
There is a right time to hire a financial advisor and there’s a wrong time---- or at least a time when they aren’t as beneficial. We’ve spoke...
The 5 Financial Conversations Every Couple Should Have Before Retirement
13 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
There are 5 conversations every couple should have before they retire. Retirement isn’t just a financial transition; it’s a lifestyle change that ...
Will Social Security Bankrupt?
30 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today, we're addressing a topic that’s in headlines quite often: What happens if Social Security becomes insolvent? Is it really going away in 2034...
Are you behind for retirement?
16 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You’ve been scrolling social media, chatting with friends, or attending reunions, and it feels like everyone is posting about their retirement parti...
The Ultimate New Year Checklist: Master Your Money in 2025
02 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The responsible side of each and every one of us knows we should be doing certain financial planning things each year. But we’re busy people and m...
How your investment fees REALLY work.
19 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
People say they don’t get a straight answer about fees. Investment fees are very misunderstood. In today’s episode, we walk through a practical gu...
Emergency cash needs change when you retire.
05 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We all know that life throws curveballs—whether it’s an unexpected medical bill, a job loss, or a surprise home repair. But are you truly prepared...
Money, Myths, and Living on Your Terms (Book Club Edition)
21 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today's episode is part of a special series for our book club on Morgan Housel's The Psychology of Money. Tune in as we chat about the last few chapte...
You Asked, We Answered - Listener's Questions
07 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today on the podcast we want to take a moment to answer a few listener questions. Tune in to see if they might be a few questions you’ve had yoursel...
The Psychology Of Money: Book Club Series! (Part 8)
24 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today's episode is part of a special series for our book club on Morgan Housel's The Psychology of Money. Tune in as we chat about chapters 16 and 17,...
Investing During an Election Year
11 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As election cycles heat up, everyone has questions about how their plan will fare during this time period. With all the political noise and speculatio...
Uncovering Your Financial Story
19 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we dive into the important questions that shape a personalized financial plan. While money and numbers often come to mind when thinki...
Things To Consider In Each Phase Of Retirement
05 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Throughout your planning journey, you've likely heard of the "Go-Go," "Slow-Go," and "No-Go" years of retirement. However, in our experience with clie...
Warning Signs Your Retirement Is At Risk
15 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
One of the biggest fears for pre-retirees is running out of money during retirement. So in today's episode, we're going to discuss five critical warni...
The Impact of Kids and Grandkids On Your Retirement Plans
01 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As many parents and grandparents know, financial responsibilities don't end when the kids move out of the house. From paying for cell phone bills and ...
The Psychology Of Money: Book Club Series! (Part 7)
18 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today's episode is part of a special series for our book club on Morgan Housel's The Psychology of Money. Tune in as we chat about chapters 14 and 15,...
The Psychology Of Money: Book Club Series! (Part 6)
11 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today's episode is part of a special series for our book club on Morgan Housel's The Psychology of Money. This time, we're covering chapters 11-13. Tu...
Retirees Who Inspire Us: Stories of Living Intentionally
27 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
One of the best parts of our jobs is hearing about what our clients are doing or looking forward to in retirement. So, in today's episode, we're highl...
The "Magic Number" Needed To Retire
13 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In recent years, the "magic number" for retirement has shifted from $1 million to $1.5 million. This change, based on a recent survey, has left many w...
The Psychology Of Money: Book Club Series! (Part 5)
16 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today's episode is part of a special series for our book club on Morgan Housel's The Psychology of Money. This week, we're covering chapters 9 and 10....
The Psychology Of Money: Book Club Series! (Part 4)
02 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today's episode is part of a special series for our book club on Morgan Housel's The Psychology of Money. This week, we'll be tackling chapters 7 and ...
Which is better? $5,000 Monthly or $1M for Retirement?
18 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Would you rather have a $1 million lump sum, or get paid $5,000 per month in retirement forever? Common advice often solves this by asking the wrong q...
Protecting Yourself Against Scams & Fraud
04 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As much as any other threat, recognizing and avoiding scams has become a necessary skill in today's world. Join us as we explore crucial steps you can...
The Psychology Of Money: Book Club Series! (Part 3)
21 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We're looking forward to continuing our book club series for Morgan Housel's The Psychology of Money this week. This episode, we're diving into chapte...
The Psychology Of Money: Book Club Series! (Part 2)
07 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today's episode is part of a special series for our book club on Morgan Housel's The Psychology of Money. In our last episode, we dove into the first...
The Psychology Of Money: Book Club Series! (Part 1)
15 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome back to The Money Master podcast! Today's episode is part of a special series for our book club on Morgan Housel's The Psychology of Money. Th...
We Secretly Cringe When Clients Say These Things About Investing with Derek Prusa, CFA, CFP®
01 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We're excited to be joined by Derek Prusa, CFA, CFP®, in this week's episode. Derek is on our investment committee at Brindle and Bay, owns a private...
Our Favorite Books: Personal Growth, Finance, & More!
18 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
To ring in the new year, we thought it would be fun to share some great books we've read that have shaped our lives and our thinking. We'll chat about...
Social Security's Vision 2025 Plan: What You Need To Know
04 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
There's been a lot of buzz around Social Security lately. Today, we're diving deep into the recent changes outlined in the Vision 2025 document. With ...
Tis' The Season: Our Favorite Holiday Traditions
21 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this special holiday episode, we're taking a break from our usual financial discussions to share some festive cheer. Tune in as we chat about the h...
Is There A Best Time Of The Year To Retire?
07 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
For many of us, retirement is a monumental moment we've been contemplating for years. We think about the age we'll retire, the plans we'll make, and t...
Should My Advisor Collect Tax Filing?
16 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Interestingly, a lot of people that meet with us in our office are surprised that we ask for their tax returns. In today's episode, we're going to di...
Can AI Replace Your Financial Advisor?
02 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Artificial intelligence is a revolutionary tool that is reshaping our world. You've probably heard about ChatGPT and its widespread use for various ta...
What Is The Deal With Bonds?
19 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Bonds have been a cornerstone of financial planning for years, but how well do you really understand them? In today's episode, we're diving deep into ...
The Future of Retirement In America: Is The Glass Half Full or Half Empty?
05 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Are we on the brink of a retirement renaissance or stormy seas ahead? On this episode, we jump into the pressing issues of Social Security, healthcare...
Exposing Retirement Planning Complaints
21 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we tackle the common complaints and fears about financial situations during retirement. We'll discuss which concerns are well-founded...
Making The Right Choice – Paying Down Mortgage Or Saving Into Your 401k
07 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
As homeowners, we all know that paying down our mortgage decreases both debt and stress. But have you ever wondered if there's a better way to secure...
Do You Have Enough To Retire? Here's How To Know!
17 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How much income one needs to retire is a piece of information that many people do not know. On today's show, we'll explore three possible approaches ...
Downsizing For Retirement - 4 Things To Consider
03 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When going into retirement, many people decide to sell their current home and downsize. While there are many benefits to this, there are also a few th...
3 First Year Retirement Surprises
20 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we discuss retirement surprises that new retirees often encounter and wish they had been told about beforehand. From adjusting to spe...
5 Things To Consider Before You Retire
06 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Retirement is a big step to take and it's crucial that you're prepared when going into this next phase of life. On this episode, we'll cover 5 key con...
Mailbag: Where Should I Save Money For My Grandchildren?
22 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome back to The Money Master podcast! In today's episode, we will be answering some listener questions that have recently come into the show. We w...
6 Financial Planning Principles We Live By
15 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we will be discussing Brindle and Bay's planning principles. We use these principles every day in our practice and hope that some of ...
Ep 43: 6 Retirement Investing Principles We Live By
18 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
There is a lot of information out there surrounding investing for retirement. This can make somebody feel easily overwhelmed and hesitant when they ne...
Ep 42: Is There A Best Time To Take RMDs?
04 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
As you go along in retirement, there will come a point where you will have to take your RMD (Required Minimum Distribution) from your retirement accou...
Ep 41: Is The 4 Percent Rule Still Relevant?
20 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
There are many general rules out there in the retirement world and it can be difficult to navigate which ones are still relevant in today’s environm...
Ep 40: What Is Diversification?
06 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Diversification is a common term in the financial landscape, but what does this term actually mean? Today we will be covering the basics of diversific...
Ep 39: Spring Cleaning Your Finances
30 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
For some people, it’s time for spring cleaning, and that often means diving into a cluttered closet and getting it cleaned out and organized. On tod...
Ep 38: 5 Bad Habits That Blow Through Retirement Savings
02 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Sometimes we can stand in the way of our own goals. This is no different when it comes to retirement planning. We will be discussing 5 bad habits that...
Ep 37: SECURE Act 2.0
19 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
After being discussed in Congress for nearly a year and a half, the SECURE Act 2.0 has been passed. Let’s see what we need to know. Check Out Our Yo...
Ep 36: 3 Ways To Reduce Taxes On Your Social Security
05 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Tax planning can have a massive impact on your retirement plan and can help you save money in the long term. Some of these strategies need to be caref...
Ep 35: Learning From Grandma’s Financial Wisdom
15 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Even if she wasn’t directly talking about money, Grandma said a lot of smart things that we can apply to financial planning. Let’s take some class...
Ep 34: Are You Saving For Retirement In The Wrong Account Types?
22 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
When saving for retirement, it is important to know what types of accounts you are saving in and if they are the most effective ones to help you reach...
Ep 33: How Social Security Is Calculated
17 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Social Security is one of the main pillars of retirement planning. However, many people do not realize how their benefit gets calculated. You need to ...
Ep 32: Getting It Right: Irreversible Financial Decisions
27 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
There are plenty of decisions that you’ll make in the retirement planning process that can’t be undone, so you want to make sure that you make the...
Ep 31: 2 Methods To Turn Savings Into Income
20 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
One of the biggest challenges when planning for retirement is figuring out a stategy that will allow you to turn your nest egg into income. There are ...
Ep 30: 9 Questions To Ask Before Taking Social Security
29 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Social Security is one of the most complex retirement planning topics. There are multiple ways to file, everyone will receive a different amount, and ...
Ep 29: Can I Work and Take Social Security?
01 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Social Security can be one of the most confusing aspects of retirement planning. There are countless claiming strategies and it can be difficult to kn...
Ep 28: 5 Reasons To Retire Early (If You Can)
18 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
There are a lot of considerations when making the decision to retire early. Many people just want to work to a certain age, or dollar amount to make t...
Ep 27: Should I Have 3 Years Cash?
28 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We invite a special guest on the show Tori Ten Hagen. Tori currently serves as a Resident Financial Planner on the Brindle and Bay team and is working...
Ep 26: All Hands On Deck
05 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Rising interest rates and inflation are two topics that are a big concern right now in the financial landscape. We thought this would be a great time ...
Ep 25: What's The Difference Between An Advisor & Planner?
28 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The financial world is filled with a lot of terms that can make it difficult for many people to navigate. On this show, we'll be discussing the differ...
Ep 24: Understanding Financial Jargon: Advisor Designations & Definitions
24 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It does seem like anyone can call themselves a financial advisor these days. So how can you sort through the different levels of qualification in the ...
Ep 23: How To Recognize Your Own Voice of Greed & Fight Against It
17 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
When it comes to your money, you might have several different voices in your head—maybe the voice of greed, or the voice of fear, and sometimes the ...
Ep 22: Planning For Things We Can’t Predict
17 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
There are certain things in life we just can’t predict. If we knew the answers to some of these questions, planning for retirement would sure be a l...
Ep 21: What They’re Saying: What Is The Most Important Part Of Retirement Planning?
10 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We all should realize that planning for retirement is relatively complex. There are a lot of different moving parts and factors to consider. Adjusting...
Ep 20: Mailbag: What Percentage Of My Income Should I Save For Retirement?
06 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
To kick off the new year, we answer some listener questions that have come into the show. We will discuss the concept of phased retirement, what perct...
Ep 19: 22 Money Resolutions For 2022
16 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
You might not be able to follow through on all 22 of these resolutions, but implement even just a few of these and you’ll be well on your way to a m...
Ep 18: Where Financial Advisors Drop The Ball
18 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We see a lot of people who aren’t getting the kind of advice and service from their financial advisor that they should be. In a lot of cases, the ad...
Ep 17: Retirement Is As Easy As A Jigsaw Puzzle
11 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
To successfully complete a jigsaw puzzle, there are some strategies that you’ll want to keep in mind. And many of those same strategies apply to ret...
Ep 16: How Age & Wisdom Play Into Financial Planning
02 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
There’s an old quote that says, “Age is the price of wisdom.” Let’s talk about how that applies to the financial world. Check Out Our YouTube ...
Ep 15: Mailbag: Should You Trust A Robo Advisor?
19 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode, we will answer some mailbag questions that have come in from our listeners. We will discuss different investment strategies, buliding...
Understanding The SECURE Act 2.0
05 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The SECURE Act became law at the beginning of 2020 and created some significant differences in how people should plan for retirement. And while it’s...
Ep 14: It’s Just A Joke
29 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The world is stressful. Let’s take a small break from it with some goofy financial planning and financial advisor jokes and see what kinds of lesson...
Ep 13: 5 Things You Must Know About Decumulation To Retire Successfully
22 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
So much focus in the financial world revolves around accumulating money. There’s all sorts of advice, how- to guides and guardrails in place when it...
Ep 12: What’s Your Spending Personality?
24 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Before you can effectively put together a retirement income plan, it’s important to understand your own tendencies for spending. Let’s explore the...
Ep 11: Why Are Lumber Prices So High?
17 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Lumber prices have skyrocketed in the last year and many people are blaming inflation for the spike. However, there are other factors that have contri...
Ep 10: Do Retirees Need Life Insurance?
20 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Sometimes talking about life insurance can be an uncomfortable conversation, but it doesn't mean you should avoid it. Nick and Connie talk about wheth...
Ep 9: Describing Retirement
13 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It makes sense that the way we plan for retirement is largely influenced by what we think retirement is like or all about. So, let’s take a look at ...
Ep 8: The Double-Edged Sword
22 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Many financial circumstances that you’ll find yourself in have both positive and negative aspects. Decisions that you can make have both good and ba...
Ep 7: Are You Flirting With Disaster?
15 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Let’s talk about some of the areas of your financial life where you might be flirting with disaster and don’t even know it on today's show. If you...
Ep 6: 15 Minute Phone Call Questions
25 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On today's show, Connie and Nick discuss some of the 15 minute phone call topics that they have recently had with clients and listeners. They'll talk ...