Podcast
TaylorMade Retirement with Taylor Demars, CFP®
Hosted by Taylor Demars, CFP® · EN
Welcome to TaylorMade Retirement! Featuring Taylor Demars, a 3rd-generation financial advisor and CFP®, this podcast explores what it really takes to build a retirement that works- for your money and your life.
Each episode breaks down strategies, stories, and steps to help listeners approach retirement with clarity and confidence. From cutting taxes to avoiding common retirement traps, Taylor draws on decades of family expertise to make complex financial ideas easy to understand.
Because life should shape your money, not the other way around.
26episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
The 5 D's of Retirement Planning
5d ago00:13:14Tap to summarizeBased on a recent article from Kiplinger, there are five keys to a retirement plan that actually holds up over time. They all happen to start with the same letter — which either means it's a great framework or someone really wanted it to work out that way. Taylor explores how these five areas provide a practical framework for evaluating the strength and sustainability of your retirement strategy. How well does your plan address all five?Here’s what we discuss in today’s show:🧩 Diversification: Build income across multiple tax buckets⏳ Duration: Plan for money to last🛡️ Downside Protection: Prepare for early retirement losses💳 Discretionary Income: Understand your true lifestyle spending⚓ Return Drag: Reduce taxes, fees, and idle cashHow to Turn a $1 Million Nest Egg Into a Lifetime Income Machinehttps://www.kiplinger.com/retirement/retirement-plans/how-to-turn-a-usd1-million-nest-egg-into-a-lifetime-income-machineResources:Website: https://www.demarsfinancial.com/Phone: (509) 536-9556Schedule an introduction call with Taylor: https://bit.ly/demarspodcastCheck out Taylor's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TaylorMadeRetirementTaylor's Newsletter: https://demars-financial-group.kit.com/827c64fe0eDisclaimer: Since we don't know your specific situation, none of this information should be construed as tax, legal, financial, insurance, financial advice, or other advice and may be outdated or inaccurate. It is your responsibility to verify all information yourself. This content is prepared for entertainment purposes only. If you need advice, please contact a qualified CPA, attorney, insurance agent, financial advisor, or the appropriate professional for the subject you would like help with. Demars Financial Group, LLC or its members cannot be held liable for any use or misuse of this content. Advisory services offered through Demars Financial Group LLC, a Registered Investment Advisor. Demars Financial Group is not affiliated with LPL Financial.
Transcribe →Just Retired at 63? It's the Most Dangerous Year of Your Financial Life - Here's Why
1w ago00:13:54Tap to summarizeGet started on your retirement strategy here: https://www.demarsfinancial.com/start-here?utm_source=Youtube&utm_medium=Videolink&utm_campaign=46210📋 The Retire Once Guide (free) — find out whether you're actually ready to pull the trigger: https://www.demarsfinancial.com/retire-once-guideMaster your first year of retirement by navigating crucial financial decisions. Learn how to manage income and taxes to avoid costly mistakes.The first year of retirement is a critical period that sets the foundation for your long-term security. This episode focuses on five major decisions that converge during this time, specifically designed for those approaching or currently in the transition phase. We break down the complexities of retirement financial planning to help you organize your affairs effectively.We examine how to identify and structure your retirement income sources while managing the tax implications of withdrawals and conversions. You will learn the importance of planning for tax payments early to ensure your cash flow remains consistent. By listing all expected financial events that impact your tax returns, you can avoid surprises and keep more of your savings.Implementing a solid retirement tax strategy now provides clarity for the years ahead. This guide offers the framework you need to coordinate these moving parts successfully.Timestamps:0:00 Why year one is the "takeoff"0:46 The five decisions and the one question connecting them1:19 The switch: your paycheck stops, your portfolio starts1:52 The one thread running through all five2:07 Decision 1: Social Security timing (the hardest to walk back)3:33 Decision 2: Where your new paycheck comes from5:04 Decision 3: Medicare premiums that follow your income5:44 What happened to David (the IRMAA example)7:24 How we help couples coordinate this7:33 Decision 4: Paying your own taxes in retirement9:03 Decision 5: The Roth conversion window10:56 Why all five are really one decision11:26 The year-one checklist (order of operations)12:13 The yellow flag and the red flag12:54 How to book a callResources:Website: https://www.demarsfinancial.com/Phone: (509) 536-9556Schedule an introduction call with Taylor: https://bit.ly/demarspodcastCheck out Taylor's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TaylorMadeRetirementTaylor's Newsletter: https://demars-financial-group.kit.com/827c64fe0eDisclaimer: Since we don't know your specific situation, none of this information should be construed as tax, legal, financial, insurance, financial advice, or other advice and may be outdated or inaccurate. It is your responsibility to verify all information yourself. This content is prepared for entertainment purposes only. If you need advice, please contact a qualified CPA, attorney, insurance agent, financial advisor, or the appropriate professional for the subject you would like help with. Demars Financial Group, LLC or its members cannot be held liable for any use or misuse of this content. Advisory services offered through Demars Financial Group LLC, a Registered Investment Advisor. Demars Financial Group is not affiliated with LPL Financial.
Transcribe →The Danger of Being Well-Informed The Financial World
2w ago00:17:40Tap to summarizeHaving more financial information at your fingertips should make decisions easier, but often, it does the opposite. In this episode, Taylor explores why constant access to research, opinions, and advice can leave investors overwhelmed or falsely confident. You’ll also hear how to evaluate what you’re hearing and recognize when more information is no longer helping. Are you truly informed, or has all that research made it harder to move forward? Here’s what we discuss in today’s show:🔍 Research Overload: More information can create confusion📰 Media Incentives: Clicks often matter more than clarity🤖 Missing Context: AI may overlook personal circumstances⚠️ Generic Advice: Someone else’s strategy may not fit🧩 A Clear Roadmap: Personalized planning creates clearer direction✅ False Confidence: Misinformation can feel dangerously convincingResources:Website: https://www.demarsfinancial.com/Phone: (509) 536-9556Schedule an introduction call with Taylor: https://bit.ly/demarspodcastCheck out Taylor's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TaylorMadeRetirementTaylor's Newsletter: https://demars-financial-group.kit.com/827c64fe0eDisclaimer: Since we don't know your specific situation, none of this information should be construed as tax, legal, financial, insurance, financial advice, or other advice and may be outdated or inaccurate. It is your responsibility to verify all information yourself. This content is prepared for entertainment purposes only. If you need advice, please contact a qualified CPA, attorney, insurance agent, financial advisor, or the appropriate professional for the subject you would like help with. Demars Financial Group, LLC or its members cannot be held liable for any use or misuse of this content. Advisory services offered through Demars Financial Group LLC, a Registered Investment Advisor. Demars Financial Group is not affiliated with LPL Financial.
Transcribe →I'm A 3rd Gen Advisor. Here's What I Tell Every Client At 62
2w ago00:16:22Tap to summarizeGet started on your retirement strategy here: https://www.demarsfinancial.com/start-here?utm_source=Youtube&utm_medium=Videolink&utm_campaign=46203📋 The Retire Once Guide (free) — find out whether you're actually ready to pull the trigger: https://www.demarsfinancial.com/retire-once-guideMost retirement advice was built to help you grow your money. Almost none of it was built to help you actually use it.Taylor is a third-generation financial advisor, and after watching this industry change from the inside since his grandfather started his firm in 1975, here's what he's learned: the word "financial advisor" can mean three completely different jobs, all wearing the same business card. One sells products. One manages a portfolio. Only one actually plans your retirement. And at 62, that difference can quietly cost you a real piece of what you spent a lifetime building, plus the part no statement will ever show you.In this episode, he breaks down how the industry got stuck optimizing the wrong half of retirement, the three ways that gap costs you, and four questions you can use to tell whether your plan is actually built for this part of your life, whether you have an advisor, you're shopping for one, or you're doing it all yourself.Chapters0:00 — The questions no one's answering at 621:18 — Why "financial advisor" tells you almost nothing2:07 — When the job was just selling products3:01 — The rise of the portfolio (and "fee-only")5:06 — The meeting that changed how Taylor sees this work6:33 — The job retirement actually requires7:55 — Cost #1: The years you can't get back9:58 — Cost #2: Money, but no plan to use it11:28 — Cost #3: The plan only one spouse understands13:06 — The fix: reverse the order14:02 — 4 questions to pressure-test any plan15:10 — What to do nextResources:Website: https://www.demarsfinancial.com/Phone: (509) 536-9556Schedule an introduction call with Taylor: https://bit.ly/demarspodcastCheck out Taylor's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TaylorMadeRetirementTaylor's Newsletter: https://demars-financial-group.kit.com/827c64fe0eDisclaimer: Since we don't know your specific situation, none of this information should be construed as tax, legal, financial, insurance, financial advice, or other advice and may be outdated or inaccurate. It is your responsibility to verify all information yourself. This content is prepared for entertainment purposes only. If you need advice, please contact a qualified CPA, attorney, insurance agent, financial advisor, or the appropriate professional for the subject you would like help with. Demars Financial Group, LLC or its members cannot be held liable for any use or misuse of this content. Advisory services offered through Demars Financial Group LLC, a Registered Investment Advisor. Demars Financial Group is not affiliated with LPL Financial.
Transcribe →How to Plan a Guilt-Free Vacation in Retirement
3w ago00:20:09Tap to summarizeDreaming of big trips in retirement but worried they’ll derail your nest egg? Travel is one of the biggest goals people have for retirement, but actually spending the money can bring more anxiety than excitement. In this episode, Taylor explains how a thoughtful retirement plan can permit people to enjoy the experiences they have spent decades saving for. Tune in to learn how to permit yourself to travel boldly while keeping your retirement on track. It’s time to learn how to spend intentionally and enjoy retirement without constantly second-guessing every trip.Here’s what we discuss in today’s show:🏖️ Guilt-Free Travel: Enjoy vacations without second-guessing every expense🧳 Plan Integration: Build travel directly into retirement spending🗺️ Travel Goals: Match trips to each retirement phase⚖️ Couples Tension: Balance different travel styles and priorities💳 Trip Budgeting: Attach real numbers to future experiences🩺 Hidden Costs: Prepare for insurance and overseas expensesResources:Website: https://www.demarsfinancial.com/Phone: (509) 536-9556Schedule an introduction call with Taylor: https://bit.ly/demarspodcastCheck out Taylor's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TaylorMadeRetirementTaylor's Newsletter: https://demars-financial-group.kit.com/827c64fe0eDisclaimer: Since we don't know your specific situation, none of this information should be construed as tax, legal, financial, insurance, financial advice, or other advice and may be outdated or inaccurate. It is your responsibility to verify all information yourself. This content is prepared for entertainment purposes only. If you need advice, please contact a qualified CPA, attorney, insurance agent, financial advisor, or the appropriate professional for the subject you would like help with. Demars Financial Group, LLC or its members cannot be held liable for any use or misuse of this content. Advisory services offered through Demars Financial Group LLC, a Registered Investment Advisor. Demars Financial Group is not affiliated with LPL Financial.
Transcribe →I Retired at 61 With $3.4M. Now Where Does the Money Come From?
3w ago00:16:39Tap to summarizeIf you want your own custom portfolio-to-paycheck system, book a call here: https://www.demarsfinancial.com/start-here?utm_source=Youtube&utm_medium=Videolink&utm_campaign=46195👉 Get free access to the same professional retirement planning software we use with our clients:https://www.demarsfinancial.com/right-expressRetirement income sounds simple until the paychecks stop. This couple retired with $3.4 million and a paid-off house, and three weeks in it felt like going broke, because no one had ever built the system that turns a portfolio into a monthly paycheck.This is the part of retirement almost no one prepares you for. For thirty years, the whole job is saving. Then the deposits stop, and overnight you're supposed to know how to pay yourself from a stack of accounts you spent a career filling. Most people have plenty saved. What they don't have is a plan for where each month's income actually comes from.In this episode, Taylor walks through the exact system he builds for couples in that spot, using one real example with names and details changed. You'll see:* The three-bucket approach, and why your cash "pantry" is a reserve, not your monthly income* The simple, almost boring change that makes your savings feel like a paycheck again* How to keep that paycheck coming during a market downturn without being forced to sell stocks while they're down, which is the heart of managing sequence of returns risk* Which accounts to spend from first, and how a smart withdrawal order can keep more of a six-figure lifestyle in the 12% federal tax bracket or below* The low-tax "gap years" before Social Security and required minimum distributions (RMDs) begin, and why it's one of the best tax-planning windows in retirement* Three questions to ask your spouse tonight to find out whether you have a real retirement income plan, or just a pile of accountsIf you're a few years from retirement with a solid nest egg and no clear picture of how it becomes income, this one is for you.0:00 Retired with $3.4M, and it felt like going broke1:02 Plenty saved, but something felt off2:08 The question that stopped them cold2:51 When "we don't know" spreads to everything3:31 It's not a money problem. It's a paycheck problem.4:11 Why no one taught you how to spend it4:44 The three buckets: pantry, bond bunker, growth5:51 Piece 1: The pantry (how much cash to hold)7:02 Piece 2: The 15-minute paycheck setup8:28 "Isn't that cash just sitting there?"9:15 Piece 3: What to sell, and when10:54 Which account to spend from first (your tax bill)11:53 How a six-figure retirement can pay almost no tax13:05 The part you can't do yourself13:52 3 questions to ask your spouse tonight14:57 How Paul & Susan's story endedResources:Website: https://www.demarsfinancial.com/Phone: (509) 536-9556Schedule an introduction call with Taylor: https://bit.ly/demarspodcastCheck out Taylor's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TaylorMadeRetirementTaylor's Newsletter: https://demars-financial-group.kit.com/827c64fe0eDisclaimer: Since we don't know your specific situation, none of this information should be construed as tax, legal, financial, insurance, financial advice, or other advice and may be outdated or inaccurate. It is your responsibility to verify all information yourself. This content is prepared for entertainment purposes only. If you need advice, please contact a qualified CPA, attorney, insurance agent, financial advisor, or the appropriate professional for the subject you would like help with. Demars Financial Group, LLC or its members cannot be held liable for any use or misuse of this content. Advisory services offered through Demars Financial Group LLC, a Registered Investment Advisor. Demars Financial Group is not affiliated with LPL Financial.
Transcribe →They Had $3.5M and a 98% Score — Here's the Catch.
4w ago00:14:19Tap to summarizeWant a retirement plan optimized for what matters most? Start here: https://www.demarsfinancial.com/start-here?utm_source=Youtube&utm_medium=Videolink&utm_campaign=46186👉 Get free access to the same professional retirement planning software we use with our clients: https://www.demarsfinancial.com/right-expressWe made this couple's retirement plan better — and their Monte Carlo "success score" dropped from 95% to 88%. Here's why that's not a red flag. It's the entire point.A high "retirement success score" feels reassuring. But that number only holds if everything goes exactly to plan: your investment returns, your timeline, future tax rates, how long you and your spouse live, and how much you spend each year. The one thing it can't account for is that life never goes exactly to plan — which, ironically, is the only thing we can truly count on.Over three months and seven planning meetings, we rebuilt this couple's plan to be tax-smart and ready for real life — income, taxes, investments, healthcare, and estate planning. On paper, the score went down. In real life, the plan got far stronger. In this episode, Taylor breaks down what a Monte Carlo retirement score actually measures, why a better plan can score lower, and the three "what-ifs" the score quietly ignores: the surviving-spouse "widow's penalty," the hidden cost of never spending what you worked so hard to save, and the curveballs no spreadsheet predicts.If you're 55–65 with most of your savings in tax-deferred accounts (401(k), IRA) and you want to retire with real confidence — not just a higher number on a dashboard — this one's for you. We'll get into tax diversification, Roth conversions, and why a balanced mix of taxable, tax-deferred, and tax-free money gives you options when life changes the plan.0:00 – The review that dropped their retirement score (95% → 88%)0:57 – Why a higher score can be a false sense of security2:35 – The pre-tax trap: $3.5M, RMDs & a growing tax bill3:47 – The fix: same money, reshaped into tax-free Roth5:10 – Why tax-deferred money ties your hands (income tax + IRMAA)6:05 – The widow's penalty: when the survivor pays double6:58 – Why a Monte Carlo score is never actually "right"8:08 – The road trip: Google Maps, a snowstorm & life's curveballs9:23 – The trips and purchases you keep putting off10:08 – Sudden costs: illness, chronic care & getting boxed in10:53 – 95% to 88%, explained: trade-offs & Roth conversions12:01 – The real question: not "will it last," but "how usable?"13:00 – Run your own numbers + book a callResources:Website: https://www.demarsfinancial.com/Phone: (509) 536-9556Schedule an introduction call with Taylor: https://bit.ly/demarspodcastCheck out Taylor's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TaylorMadeRetirementTaylor's Newsletter: https://demars-financial-group.kit.com/827c64fe0eDisclaimer: Since we don't know your specific situation, none of this information should be construed as tax, legal, financial, insurance, financial advice, or other advice and may be outdated or inaccurate. It is your responsibility to verify all information yourself. This content is prepared for entertainment purposes only. If you need advice, please contact a qualified CPA, attorney, insurance agent, financial advisor, or the appropriate professional for the subject you would like help with. Demars Financial Group, LLC or its members cannot be held liable for any use or misuse of this content. Advisory services offered through Demars Financial Group LLC, a Registered Investment Advisor. Demars Financial Group is not affiliated with LPL Financial.
Transcribe →Why the Year You Retire Matters More Than How Much You Have Saved
Jul 700:19:22Tap to summarize👉 Find out if your portfolio is ready for retirement: https://www.demarsfinancial.com/start-here?utm_source=Youtube&utm_medium=Videolink&utm_campaign=46175👉 Get free access to the same professional retirement planning software we use with our clients: https://www.demarsfinancial.com/right-expressTwo retirees. Same $2M portfolio. Same market crash in year one. Completely different retirements. In this episode, Taylor breaks down sequence of returns risk, why it's one of the biggest threats to a multi-million dollar retirement, and the withdrawal structure that separates the retirees who thrive from the ones who don't. If you have $2M or more saved for retirement, this is the risk most plans never address.Watch Next: A full retirement case study: https://youtu.be/uYTiLWqM9gA📌 CHAPTERS:0:00 Same $2M, same market crash, different retirements0:57 What is sequence of returns risk?1:56 Real S&P 500 data shows the impact of one bad year4:09 Robert and Susan: a tale of two $2M retirements5:10 Why the first 5 years of retirement are the most dangerous7:14 The 3 tax buckets most retirees get wrong9:52 What a market crash actually feels like without a paycheck12:27 The Retirement Shock Absorber framework explained14:37 How a down market can become a Roth conversion opportunity15:39 Why you need to build your structure before you retire17:08 A real client story from April 2025Resources:Website: https://www.demarsfinancial.com/Phone: (509) 536-9556Schedule an introduction call with Taylor: https://bit.ly/demarspodcastCheck out Taylor's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TaylorMadeRetirementTaylor's Newsletter: https://demars-financial-group.kit.com/827c64fe0eDisclaimer: Since we don't know your specific situation, none of this information should be construed as tax, legal, financial, insurance, financial advice, or other advice and may be outdated or inaccurate. It is your responsibility to verify all information yourself. This content is prepared for entertainment purposes only. If you need advice, please contact a qualified CPA, attorney, insurance agent, financial advisor, or the appropriate professional for the subject you would like help with. Demars Financial Group, LLC or its members cannot be held liable for any use or misuse of this content. Advisory services offered through Demars Financial Group LLC, a Registered Investment Advisor. Demars Financial Group is not affiliated with LPL Financial.
Transcribe →Why 62 Is The Most Important Age For Your Retirement
Jun 3000:12:15Tap to summarizeFind out if you're working longer than you need to: https://www.demarsfinancial.com/start-here?utm_source=Youtube&utm_medium=Videolink&utm_campaign=46150Get free access to the same professional retirement planning software we use with our clients: https://www.demarsfinancial.com/right-expressAge 62 isn't just when Social Security becomes available. It's the first point where Social Security, portfolio withdrawals, taxes, and healthcare before Medicare all start affecting each other at the same time. Most people only plan for one of those decisions. This episode walks you through what happens when you plan for all of them together.Taylor breaks down the real cost of claiming Social Security early vs. late (it's not just a breakeven chart), why the healthcare gap before Medicare is more expensive than most people budget for, and the one cost the financial industry almost never measures: the cost of waiting too long to retire.He also walks through what he calls the 62 Gap Analysis — four questions he asks every client before they make any major decision at this age.📺 Watch next: Why the Math Says Yes, But You Still Can't Pull the Trigger https://youtu.be/agz5kbJLFMM📋 TIMESTAMPS0:00 The most expensive mistake at 620:58 What actually happens at 62 (the convergence most people miss)2:38 The Social Security mistake most people make4:14 The healthcare gap nobody budgets for6:18 The cost nobody measures (retiring too late)8:09 The 62 Gap Analysis: 4 questions to ask before you decide9:29 Why Michael couldn't pull the trigger (and what changed)10:31 What getting 62 right actually looks likeResources:Website: https://www.demarsfinancial.com/Phone: (509) 536-9556Schedule an introduction call with Taylor: https://bit.ly/demarspodcastCheck out Taylor's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TaylorMadeRetirementTaylor's Newsletter: https://demars-financial-group.kit.com/827c64fe0eDisclaimer: Since we don't know your specific situation, none of this information should be construed as tax, legal, financial, insurance, financial advice, or other advice and may be outdated or inaccurate. It is your responsibility to verify all information yourself. This content is prepared for entertainment purposes only. If you need advice, please contact a qualified CPA, attorney, insurance agent, financial advisor, or the appropriate professional for the subject you would like help with. Demars Financial Group, LLC or its members cannot be held liable for any use or misuse of this content. Advisory services offered through Demars Financial Group LLC, a Registered Investment Advisor. Demars Financial Group is not affiliated with LPL Financial.
Transcribe →First-Time Grandparents: How You Can Help Build Lasting Wealth
Jun 2500:08:32Tap to summarizeBecoming a grandparent often brings a new question: how can you help create opportunities for the next generation? In this episode, Taylor explores several ways grandparents can support their grandchildren financially while maintaining flexibility and control. He discusses how different strategies can align with different goals, whether you're thinking about education, retirement, or creating a lasting family legacy.Here’s what we discuss in today’s show:🎁 Grandparent Goals: Helping grandkids for life🎓 529 Power: Flexible long-term planning tool📈 Roth Head Start: Decades of tax-free growth💰 Super Funding: Front-load future opportunities🏛️ Legacy Planning: Align gifts with your goals⚖️ Control Matters: Ownership affects flexibilityResources:Website: https://www.demarsfinancial.com/Phone: (509) 536-9556Schedule an introduction call with Taylor: https://bit.ly/demarspodcastCheck out Taylor's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TaylorMadeRetirementTaylor's Newsletter: https://demars-financial-group.kit.com/827c64fe0eDisclaimer: Since we don't know your specific situation, none of this information should be construed as tax, legal, financial, insurance, financial advice, or other advice and may be outdated or inaccurate. It is your responsibility to verify all information yourself. This content is prepared for entertainment purposes only. If you need advice, please contact a qualified CPA, attorney, insurance agent, financial advisor, or the appropriate professional for the subject you would like help with. Demars Financial Group, LLC or its members cannot be held liable for any use or misuse of this content. Advisory services offered through Demars Financial Group LLC, a Registered Investment Advisor. Demars Financial Group is not affiliated with LPL Financial.
Transcribe →