Podcast
roadmap to RETIREMENT
Hosted by Alex Neri · EN
roadmap to RETIREMENT
16episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
EP83: Supercharge Your Retirement Fund
2w ago00:19:50Tap to summarizeWelcome back to another solo episode. Today I’m breaking down popular financial planning rules of thumb…some I like and some I don’t. I’ll cover the 50/30/20 budgeting rule, why a 3–6 month emergency fund matters, and how “pay yourself first” can make spending guilt-free. We’ll compare debt payoff strategies (snowball vs. avalanche), discuss the 20/4/10 car-buying rule, and a guideline for limiting student loans. Finally, I’ll explain why I dislike age-based stock/bond rules and why I still like the 4% retirement withdrawal rule.   Come back soon for another new episode!
Transcribe →EP82: Business Exit Guide ft. Conner Young
Jul 1500:30:07Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Roadmap to Retirement, I sit down with Conner Young from Baskets Capital to talk about what business owners should consider when planning to exit. We cover common valuation blind spots, organizing financials, and how taxes can change depending on how you sell. Conner shares why the five-year mark matters for potential QSBS planning, plus how to think about saving and investing outside your business to reduce concentration risk while you grow.   Thank you for listening and come back soon for a new episode!
Transcribe →EP 81: Navigating Market Bubbles
Jul 100:15:30Tap to summarizeWelcome back to another “Roadmap to Retirement” episode. During this episode, I am covering several financial topics. Addressing fears of an AI-driven market bubble by comparing two investors: one stays invested and grows $100 to $200 before a 40% drop to $120, while the other stays in cash at $100, illustrating why long-term investors may still come out ahead and why market predictions are unreliable. I discuss college savings tools, emphasizing opening a 529 plan early to enable gifts from family, and mentions opening a “Trump account” for the $1,000 benefit without adding personal contributions; also noting brokerage and UTMA/UGMA alternatives. I also contrast retirement planning by starting from spending needs versus starting from assets to determine sustainable spending and potential legacy gifting. Another note, beware that using CDs for emergency funds can be flawed due to lack of liquidity and suggests more liquid alternatives. Stay tuned for a new episode soon and new book release coming soon!!
Transcribe →EP 80: Inflation & Retirement
Jun 1600:21:46Tap to summarizeWelcome back to Roadmap to Retirement. This episode we are joined by friend of the show, Nick Savas for a fast-moving conversation drawn from common client questions. We discussed how to choose inflation assumptions in financial plans—typically using long-term historical averages around 3% and stress-testing higher rates—while noting that each person’s “personal inflation rate” can differ from headline CPI and that healthcare costs often rise faster (around 5–6%). We talked about Social Security COLA and how it can lag inflation, reducing retirees’ buying power, especially for those relying mainly on Social Security. We then shifted to pension elections, highlighting the risk of choosing a single-life option that leaves a surviving spouse with no income, and explored potential band-aids like term life insurance to cover the early years of retirement. Finally, we covered a client scenario about moving to Ohio for family and how state residency can affect pension taxation. Come back next week for a new episode!
Transcribe →EP79: Affording College Debt
May 2000:13:28Tap to summarizeWelcome back to the Roadmap to Retirement podcast! During this episode, I explain how parents can decide if college is the right path by making the economics real: estimate a child’s starting salary, subtract savings and taxes, then build a post-graduation budget including student loan payments, rent, and car costs. I use nursing as an example and show how big loans can strain cash flow, influencing school choices like scholarships, state school, or two years of community college. I also urge applying for scholarships, working in college, and understanding loan responsibility. Come back soon for a new episode with a returning guest!
Transcribe →EP78: Avoiding Credit Card Traps
May 600:19:40Tap to summarizeWelcome back to Roadmap to Retirement, this episode I will be answering recent client questions: What to do if you’re spending more in retirement (first verify if it’s sustainable, then budget, cut expenses, or add part-time income) How to help an elderly mom after a pension ends (consider selling the home or a reverse mortgage) Ways to tackle credit card debt (lower-rate loans, possibly a 401(k) loan and fixing the underlying income/expense or emergency-fund issue) Planning a “retirement” that’s really a second full-time career (adjust investments, taxes, and health insurance) When to involve adult children (beneficiary meeting sooner is better) How much cash to keep (about 3–6 months’ expenses, start small if needed). Come back soon for another episode!
Transcribe →EP77: Geopolitics & Retirement Plans
Apr 2200:14:45Tap to summarizeOn the Roadmap to Retirement Podcast, I talked with Jason Grover from Grover Financial Services about how geopolitical conflicts like the current Iran situation can spark fear and tempt investors to make drastic moves. Our core message was that “this time isn’t different”: if your goals haven’t changed and you still own great companies, the plan shouldn’t change just because of headlines you can’t control. For clients still accumulating, market drops can mean buying more shares while prices are down; for retirees taking income, we discussed setting aside a two-to-five-year “war chest” so lifestyle doesn’t have to change during volatility. We also covered how anxiety often peaks around retirement, why experience through past downturns matters, and how advisors add value through behavioral management, including using systematic, pre-committed strategies when emotions run high. Come back soon for another episode!
Transcribe →EP 76: What Are “Trump Accounts”?
Apr 800:07:35Tap to summarizeIn this Roadmap to Retirement episode, I break down what “Trump accounts” are and when they may make sense for parents and grandparents. The account lets you contribute up to $5,000 per year and works like a non-deductible, after-tax IRA: your contributions come back tax-free, but any growth is taxed as ordinary income when withdrawn. The big draw is the federal $1,000 seed deposit for children born between January 1, 2025 and December 31, 2028, so if you’re eligible, I recommend taking the free money, investing it in a U.S. equity fund/low-cost ETF, and letting it grow. Beyond that, I generally see 529 plans as better for most people due to tax-free education withdrawals and possible state tax deductions, though a Roth conversion strategy could benefit affluent families aiming for long-term wealth. Sign-ups may happen via trumpaccount.gov or through tax filing, starting July 4. Come back soon for a new episode with a returning guest!
Transcribe →EP 74: Client Q&A
Mar 2500:13:54Tap to summarizeIn this solo Roadmap to Retirement mailbag, I answer five listener and client questions: how to retire early by building a liquid, non-retirement investment pool to bridge the years before penalty-free access to retirement accounts (while still enjoying life); whether to buy a whole life policy for a friend, where I stress starting with your financial plan rather than a product; whether to buy silver, where I caution against chasing what’s been hot and suggest only a small, diversified allocation if any; how to handle being overconcentrated in one stock, where I argue that paying capital gains taxes can be worth it to reduce risk and note options like spreading sales across tax years; and whether it’s “stupid” to move and give up a low 2020-era mortgage rate, where I weigh lifestyle needs and mention refinancing if rates fall. Thanks for listening and come back for new episodes and returning guests soon!
Transcribe →EP75: Four Pillars of Retirement
Mar 2500:26:28Tap to summarizeOn this episode of Roadmap to Retirement, I talked with Jon Sheldon, founder of BelleauWood Coaching LLC in Rochester, NY, about the non-financial side of the FIRE movement—especially the purpose gap that can hit when someone retires around 45 and suddenly loses the structure and meaning work provided. Jon explains his coaching framework built on four pillars: Purpose (separating personal purpose from business purpose and spotting misalignment) Vision Motivation Ecosystem (the people, places, and tools—especially technology—that shape your best self). We discussed how redefining success can shift priorities, and how ecosystem changes often mean adding the right relationships, not just cutting toxic ones. Jon closes with his “briefs and battle plans” approach to quicker decision-making: clarity, condition, cost, align, act, and adapt.
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