The Volatile Vet

Nine myths. Nine ways a solid retirement plan quietly falls apart. From the "savings number" that doesn't save you, to the diversification that isn't, to the tax strategy that's really just procrastination — we're calling them out. All of them. This is 9 Retirement Myths That Can Turn the Golden Years Blue.

More yield. Better Social Security timing. Higher returns. Retirees try all of it in the quest for maximum income. Some of it works. Some of it backfires. And almost none of it compares to the one strategy that can increase what you actually keep by 30, 40, even 50 percent — without taking a single dollar of additional risk.

Think of the Retirement Red Zone as the 8 to 10 year window surrounding retirement — about 4 to 5 years before, and 4 to 5 years after. What happens during this period often has a bigger impact on your financial future than the following 20 years. Sequence of returns, withdrawal timing, and tax decisions all matter more than ever. Get the Red Zone right, and retirement can feel a whole lot more secure.

On this week's episode, we take you through 7 "must haves" to ensure your estate plan does what it's designed to do.

Habits can create an environment to attract, grow, and preserve wealth. The opposite is also true - the wrong habits can repel, prohibit, and destroy wealth. On this week's episode, we explore 13 positive habits to empower your wealth.

When it comes to retirement income planning, the traditional Wall Street Advice - which based on a growth approach - often falls short. There are 8 truths or principles that don't work in Wall Street's favor when you retire and need your hard-earned savings to live on. So, Wall Street is not excited to share them. We will. Herein, we tackle the 4% rule, growth vs income approaches, the "retirement red zone", sequence of return risk, and more.

More important than your asset allocation is your asset location. There are only 3 columns (categories) of financial vehicles: Taxable Tax-deferred Tax-free Before deciding what your allocation should be, you must decide where you want your assets to live. There is a perfect balance for each saver. In this episode, we dive into the advantages and disadvantages of each column, the proper uses of the assets that make up in column, and how to strategically transfer taxable and tax-deferred assets to the tax-free column.

Roth conversions aren’t about avoiding taxes — they’re about deciding when, how, and at what rate you’ll pay them. Too many people focus on the micro view: “How much tax will this cost me this year?” A better question is, “How will this decision impact my entire retirement?” Strategic conversions can create decades of tax-free income, reduce or eliminate required minimum distributions, lower Medicare premiums and Social Security taxation, and provide insulation from future tax increases. Yes, there can be short-term friction — higher taxable income or temporary IRMAA surcharges — but for many households, those are time-boxed issues in exchange for long-term control, certainty, and tax-free wealth.

In this episode of the Volatile Vet, Jesse Abshire breaks down the 2026 retirement rule changes, why tax-deferred money can quietly become a trap, and how written financial planning, Roth strategies, and income layering can dramatically improve retirement security and legacy outcomes.

By now, many have heard of the Silver Tsunami—the wave of baby boomers who currently or will shortly need some form of long-term care. This is a reality to the vast majority of retirees—now or in the future—will face. Unfortunately, most have not planned for it—either overlooking it or not being informed on the best choices for their situation. Make no mistake: long-term care planning is part of your retirement planning, whether you actively plan for it or not. Modern advances in long-term care options have largely done away with the “use-it-or-lose-it” type of coverage that gives so many retirees understandable consternation. Further, the choice to “self-insure”—even for those that truly can afford it—is no longer good math with newer planning options. In this episode, we explore these modern approaches and give real-world case studies to demonstrate the advantages of modern long-term care planning.

When creating a retirement strategy, remember the acronym P.L.A.N. Predictability - value predictability over potential Low-correlation - strive include strategies and asset classes that do not require the market to perform in order for you to succeed Alignment - ensure that each component of you strategy reinforces and compliments the others rather than (unknowingly) creating friction Net-income - choosing tax-free/efficient strategies in place of tax-deferred/hostile strategies can be the difference between a retirement of plenty and one of scarcity Also, follow along in our case study where we demonstrate P.L.A.N. in action and create 5 streams of tax-free income while increasing potential net-spendable income by 59%.

Why does 90% of wealth disappear by the 3rd generation? What causes 70% of wealth transfer from one generation to the next to fail? For those that create multi-generational wealth and maintain family harmony, what principles and practices fo they adhere to? The answer is a shocking as it is simple. In this episode, we discuss what research and high net-worth advisors all observe amongst the wealthiest and their successes and failures in maintaining the family wealth. We also lay out a blueprint anyone can follow to foster multi-generational wealth.

How can you create retirement income plans that are more resilient through good and tough times? In this episode, we share 5 core principles designed to help with just that. Also, a deep dive discussion on using a fixed income annuity as a potential bond replacement in the ubiquitous 60/40 stock/bond model portfolio. The results are startling and enlightening. Finally, we cap off this episode with a practical discussion on how to prepare for the “silver tsunami” of long-term care starting to hit the retirement shores.

Major updates and impacts are happening in the retirement landscape. Social Security cost of living adjustments, Medicare premium increases, IRMAA surcharge increases, and new taxes. How are you affected, and how you best navigate the landmines? We also explore how create a guaranteed tax-free foundation of income throughout retirement that avoid social security taxation and IRMAA surcharges on Medicare.

With Halloween around the corner, it's a good time to watch out for spooky retirement mistakes we see everyday. Tune in and see how many of these common missteps might be in your path.

What creates wealth, and what prohibits or even destroys wealth? It is surprising to many that the answers have less to do with rate of return and how much money you make. Rather, focus, perspective, and habit are often the differences between having and maintaining wealth and not. In this episode, we explore the 7 keys to wise financial stewardship.

How can we best protect our retirement from the ravaging effects of inflation? Excusing tax liabilities from our income sources could be one of the best ways to stay ahead of inflationary forces while also increasing our strategy's net Income Production Ability (IPA) and securing potentially 10 years' worth of "inflation-adjustments" all at once.

In today's episode, we dive into common questions: When should I claim my social security? What does the recent Fed rate cut mean for me? How can I lock in higher rates on my savings for for many years to come? How much and when should I convert to a Roth or IUL? What does the new senior bonus deduction mean for me?

When doing tax planning throughout retirement, we are conditioned to look at the "micro view" of immediate benefit. Rather, that "macro view" is where the real savings and benefits come in. Such things as pre-tax retirement vehicles are often a culprit, granting short-term gain in exchange for long-term pain. In this episode, we explore all the ins and outs of each and how to adopt a macro view for your benefit.

Most people have more potential in their financial picture than they might realize. Poorly positioned assets, traditional approaches, and incorrect information keep that potential bottled up. In this episode, we’ll explore how to identify and unleash your financial picture’s hidden potential.

Tax-efficient retirement strategies can be an important part of your retirement, but what about ensuring you cannot outlive your money? What if life throws you curve balls and Murphy's law takes over? This week's episode demonstrates how to create 5 streams of tax-free income and "portfolio insurance" to protect against the unforeseen.

Behavioral Finance highly influences the outcomes in our retirement and life. Understanding the "why" and "how" of wealth creation and preservation are just as important as the math behind it all. On this episode, we dive into how to get your retirement to "behave" the way you want it to.

This week on the Volatile Vet, we dive into 7 critical Social Security updates, 7 unique claiming strategies, and a case study demonstrating how to potentially get your social security tax-free, get more enjoyment from retirement, and leave an impactful legacy.

How does the OBBBA affect social security? Taxes and the TCJA? Medicaid? Deductions? Roth conversion opportunities? We dive into all this and more in this episode of the Volatile Vet.

Uncover the secrets to generating tax-free income and building long-term wealth. This episode explores four powerful strategies to minimize your tax burden and maximize your financial gains. Learn how to create sustainable income streams that keep more money in your pocket, no matter your income level.

The are essential elements to every estate plan. Large or small estate, make sure 7 elements are incorporated into your plan. Also, we'll dive into common mistakes we see families make in their estate planning.

Ready to secure your family's future? This week on the show, we dive deep into estate and legacy planning, breaking down wills, trusts, and power of attorney. Learn practical steps you can take now to ensure your assets are protected and your wishes are honored for generations to come.

How does the One Big Beautiful Bill - if passed - affect government employees? HSA contributions and eligibility? What is your total retirement tax burden likely to be throughout retirement? We'll explore all that and more in this episode.

What are the three different ways your money can be taxed? How can you get as much money into the "tax-free" category as possible? On this episode, we'll explore what's legal, what's smart, and how to accomplish it.

Saving for retirement pre-tax is said to generate upfront "tax savings." but at what cost? We dive in and explore...

5 major social security updates. What causes benefits to be taxable? How to set up retirement properly to potentially get your benefits tax-free. How to reduce elderly poverty by up to 50%. How often does claiming benefits early actually work out better for you?

What to do with your old 401(k) How small businesses are navigating economic headwinds Retirement income concerns in today’s economy And what does the Moody’s downgrade of U.S. debt mean for interest rates—and you

How should retirement strategies be judged? Learn how to find your strategy's net Income Production Ability (IPA)

This episode explores the significant impact of current tariffs on market stability and how these fluctuations can directly affect your retirement planning. We analyze which sectors and investment types are most vulnerable to tariff-induced volatility and discuss strategies for safeguarding your retirement portfolio against potential downturns. Learn how to navigate these uncertain market conditions while staying on track to achieve your long-term retirement goals.

The possibility that taxes may be higher in the future has led many savers to consider Roth Conversions. If we’re already managing market and income risks through diversification, shouldn’t we apply the same approach to address tax risk as well?

Don't let tax procrastination cost you! In this episode we discuss avoiding tax penalties and why tax planning for the future is extremely important.

In this episode, we delve into the world of annuities and how they can be a powerful tool for income planning. We'll break down the different types of annuities and discuss strategies for incorporating them into your retirement portfolio. Learn how to create a predictable income stream and mitigate longevity risk with expert insights.

Fear is one of the biggest roadblocks to financial success. Many people avoid making decisions, hoping things will somehow work out—but inaction can be more dangerous than making the wrong choice. In this episode of Volatile Vet, we break down the psychology of financial paralysis, the hidden costs of procrastination, and real-life case studies of people who waited too long to take action.

When it comes to financial decisions, why people avoid making those decisions, and how to break free from that paralysis.

Addressing the inevitability of long-term care is an indispensable piece of every retirement plan. In this episode we continue our discussion on tips and strategies to help plan and pay for long-term care.

Addressing the inevitability of long-term care is an indispensable piece of every retirement plan. In this episode we go over important tips and strategies to help plan and pay for long-term care.

In this episode we continue our discussion on how to minimize your tax burden on income in retirement.

Ever wondered how different income streams are taxed? In this episode, we break down real-life financial scenarios, exploring the tax implications of everything from side jobs to investments. Get ready to understand how to maximize your earnings while minimizing your tax burden.

In this episode we continue our discussion on powerful strategies to minimize your tax burden and maximize your financial gains. Learn how to create sustainable income streams that keep more money in your pocket.

During this show, we’ll examine retirement steps when you’re 10 years, five years, and one year from retirement.

During this show, we’re going to discuss what you can do to get yourself out of debt.