Mid-Year Market Check: Valuations, Interest Rates, and Retirement Income | Episode 155

Brian Decker and Marc Knauss, CFP®, open the second half of 2026 with a look at what a strong market means for people at or near retirement. They cover the difference between accumulation planning and distribution planning, why trailing price-to-earnings valuations matter historically, and how momentum and dividend strategies have behaved in past flat market cycles. The conversation moves through interest rate risk and why Decker Retirement Planning does not use bond funds in client portfolios, then walks through how short-term, medium-term, and long-term dollars can be structured differently based on when the money is needed. The second half turns to taxes: 401(k) and catch-up contributions, health savings accounts, 529 plans funded by grandparents, estate tax exposure in states like Washington, and depreciation on rental real estate. The episode closes with the math behind drawing retirement income from fluctuating accounts, including a look at the history of the 4% rule. Learn more at DeckerRetirementPlanning.com or call 833-707-3030. Investment advisory and insurance services offered through Decker Retirement Planning, Inc., a registered investment adviser. Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal. Any references to protection, safety, or lifetime income refer to fixed insurance products, never securities or investments. Insurance guarantees are backed by the financial strength and claims-paying ability of the issuing carrier. This episode is for informational purposes only and does not constitute tax, legal, or individualized investment advice.