The Retirement Referee with Brooks Bernhagen cover art

All Episodes

The Retirement Referee with Brooks Bernhagen — 61 episodes

#
Title
1

The Hidden Market Risk That Hits Right as Retirement Begins

2

The Retirement Clock Is Ticking—When Should Planning Really Begin?

3

Why Hitting $1 Million Can Be More Stressful Than You Expect

4

The Retirement Spending Curve Nobody Talks About

5

The Medicare Bill You Didn’t See Coming

6

How to Avoid a Pay Cut in Retirement

7

The Hidden Tax Shock Behind “Paper Millionaires”

8

The Retirement Risk Most Investors Don’t See Coming

9

The Spending Rule That Changes When the Market Does

10

When the Paychecks Stop: The Retirement Mistake Money Can’t Fix

11

Why Letting One Spouse Handle the Money Can Backfire

12

The Hidden Cost of Dipping Into Your 401(k)

13

Why Social Security Alone Isn’t the Retirement Plan You Think It Is

14

The Money You Don’t Spend Might Matter Most

15

The Hidden Risks Lurking Inside Your Retirement Portfolio

16

You Don’t Need $1 Million to Retire Well

17

The $6,000 Deduction Every Retiree Should Understand

18

Retirement Scams to Look Out For in 2026

19

The Retirement Move Most People Regret And Why It Happens

20

The Truth Behind Guaranteed Paychecks in Retirement

21

Uncle Sam’s Holiday Surprise: RMDs Explained | Should You Take More Than Your Minimum? | Income Layering: The Key to Stress-Free Retirement

22

Retirement Under Pressure: Outsmarting Risks Before They Strike | Beyond the 401(k): Building a Retirement Plan That Lasts | Hidden Retirement Risks—and How to Beat Them

23

The Wealth Transfer No One Talks About | Inheritance: Blessing or Burden?

24

Every Day Is Saturday—But Is Your Retirement Ready? | Retirement Plans Need Software Updates Too | From Jordan’s Final Game to Your Financial Future

25

Shohei Ohtani’s Paycheck Strategy Meets Retirement Planning | Defer Now, Gain Later: Retirement Lessons from the Ballpark | How to De-Risk Without Slamming the Brakes

26

Is Your Retirement Plan Breathing Toxins? | The Hidden Costs That Could Pollute Your Portfolio | Why Bull Markets Feel Like Summer—But Winter Always Comes

27

Gold Rush or Fool’s Gold? Navigating Retirement’s Biggest Decisions | COLA, Costs, and Caution: The Retirement Referee’s Playbook | Don’t Let FOMO Derail Your Retirement—Brooks Bernhagen Explains How

28

Retirement Curveballs: Are You Ready for the Unexpected? | Surprises Ahead: Navigating Taxes, Tantrums, and Retirement | The Retirement Referee’s Guide to Life’s Financial Twists

29

Is Your Retirement Plan Ready for a Season Shift? | Don’t Let Lazy Money Sink Your Golden Years | Financial Cavities: What’s Hiding in Your Retirement Plan?

30

Medicare Mayhem: Are You Ready for the Changes? | Retirement Isn’t a Recipe—It’s a Design

31

Medicare Maze: Are You Missing a Hidden Exit? | Retirement Myths That Could Cost You Big

32

Retirement Referee: Playchecks, Paychecks, and Peace of Mind | Will Your Retirement Survive the Next Market Downturn?

33

Is Your Retirement Ready for September’s Surprises?

34

The 1% Fee That Could Cost You $280K

35

Buffett’s Billion-Dollar Move: Should You Be Worried?

36

Trump Accounts vs. 529s: What’s Right for Your Family?

37

Retirement Planning Is Like Marriage—Here’s Why

38

The $123K Tax Bomb: What Went Wrong at 90?

39

Every Day Is Saturday—Are You Ready?

40

Why Smart Investors Sell at a Loss

41

Retirement Mistakes That Echo Blockbuster

42

Retirement Isn’t a Test Drive—But Here’s How to Take One

43

Why Your Retirement Plan Shouldn’t Include a Part-Time Job

44

The Sheepdog vs. The Rottweiler: Protecting Your Retirement from Uncle Sam

45

How to Build a Personal Pension—and Why You Might Need One

46

Retire Early, But Don’t Go Broke: The Insurance Gap Explained

47

Retirement X-Ray: Spotting Financial Fires Before They Burn

48

From Paychecks to Playchecks: Designing Your Golden Years

49

How Tariffs Could Affect Your Retirement

50

Are You Maximizing Your Retirement Income?

51

Common Mistakes in Asset Protection

52

Who Needs Life Insurance?

53

Understanding Social Security Benefits

54

Creating Guaranteed Income for Retirement

55

How Much Money Do You Really Need to Retire?

56

The Impact of Trump's Tax Policies

57

Understanding Qualified vs Non-Qualified Money

58

New Year, New Retirement Rules for 2025

59

Mastering Your 401(k): A Guide to Retirement Planning

60

Navigating Retirement: Your Guide to Financial Planning

61

Retirement Referee Podcast Trailer