You’ll hear a personal, first-hand story on why it’s absolutely essential to plan for the unexpected. An unforeseen event could happen regarding your finances, your health, your family, just about anything. Things we can’t control are the most difficult to navigate, but they can be overcome if you have a plan.

Program Length: 39 minutes

When the kids are grown and have left the family home, many parents experience "empty nest syndrome.”  It’s a “condition” with both emotional and financial symptoms. John Walker of the Cordasco Financial Network team hosts and is joined by CFN advisor and financial planning specialist Dennis Jablonoski. They discuss the challenges that may arise when a couple, no longer immersed in the efforts of raising children, suddenly find themselves in what may seem like a totally new relationship. Plus, they detail newfound financial opportunities that arise at this stage of life that can be used by couples to reduce expenses and shore up their retirement planning.

Program Length: 18 minutes

Your rising costs for healthcare could bankrupt your retirement plan.  Cordasco Financial Network’s John Walker sits in for me and is joined by CPA Jim Tate, a member of the CFN team. They discuss solutions that will help you prepare for the increasing cost of healthcare.   

Program Length: 16 minutes

Cordasco Financial Network’s Business Development Director John Walker sits in. Like nearly all decisions you make based purely on emotions, the outcome is often not what you’d want or expect.  As the saying goes “cooler heads prevail.”  Most decisions, including those all-important financial and retirement decisions, are best made by pushing aside your emotions and relying on the facts, past history, and sometimes gut instinct. John discusses four specific types of emotional financial decisions and beneficial ways to help you adjust your approach. 

Program Length: 15 minutes

Cordasco Financial Network’s Business Development Director John Walker sits in, along with CFN Financial Advisor and CPA Tim Joseph.  They take an adventurous dive into the most common mistakes you can make while planning for, or living through, your retirement years. John and Tim offer practical advice to help you recognize and rectify these common errors.

Program Length: 30 minutes

Your gradual retirement can benefit you and your employer. If you retire abruptly from full-time work, the transition can be a shock to your system, and to those around you, particularly your spouse.  At a time when a massive number of baby boomers are reaching retirement age, many employers are concerned about finding enough skilled workers to fill their shoes.  Cordasco Financial Network’s John Walker sits for me and is joined by CFN's Brian Hillsberg to discuss the concept of easing into retirement by making a gradual transition. They discuss some of the perceived obstacles and detail the many benefits realized by employees and employers when a long-time employee enters retirement in phases.  They also share a recent case study where together they helped facilitate a slow transition to retirement with excellent results.

Program Length: 22 minutes

Program Length:20 minutes

This week, I go back to the Your Life Your Wealth archives for a discussion on how you can deal with uncertainty and avoid making emotional decisions. I talk with former poker champ turned business consultant Annie Duke, author of “Thinking in Bets: Making Smarter Decisions When You Don’t Have All The Facts.” Learn best practices for poker players and investors.

Program Length: 31 minutes

The IRS tax code, as it stands today, won’t survive.  Some recent changes will either expire in 2026 or, if the political winds in Washington shift, perhaps sooner. Taxes are one of the biggest expenses you’ll face in retirement. Proper tax planning is imperative.  In this episode, I detail four important strategies for Roth IRA conversions you can use today that will help you save on taxes in the years ahead. 

Program Length: 33 minutes

Program Length 24 minutes

Program Length: 23 minutes

The "Extra Eyes" Have It: Income Tax Review

At Cordasco Financial Network, we don’t “do" your taxes, but we do offer the invaluable service of looking over the details of your return to ensure accuracy and make certain every tax-saving opportunity is realized.  CFN Financial Advisor John Walker joins me to discuss the details.  

Program Length: 8 minutes

Do You Know How Much Money You Will Really Need In Retirement?

The biggest fear many retirees have is running out of money. I’m joined by Aline Holzworth, a Behavioral Scientist at Duke University, who recently co-authored a Wall Street Journal article on her research to help determine the amount of money you may need in retirement. It’s a surprisingly high percentage of the annual income earned during your working years, and a much larger number than is often used as a rule-of-thumb by many planners. I also explain why it’s necessary to go beyond the numbers to live your best life in retirement.

Program Length: 14 minutes

Too many investors spend too much time chasing specific stocks or trying to time the market, while at the same time are careless about maximizing their tax benefits.  Carefully managing your taxes is an area where you can have a significant impact on the growth of your investments. Being smart about where you invest for retirement and even smarter about which retirement accounts you withdraw from, and in what order, can make a significant difference in the amount of money you keep and how much you send to Uncle Sam. I share tips and strategies you need to know.

Program Length: 33 minutes