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.
11episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Once You Understand This, You'll Stop Working Past 58
5d ago00:15:01Tap 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=46147Get free access to the same professional retirement planning software we use with our clients: https://www.demarsfinancial.com/right-expressCan you retire at 58? Most 58-year-olds who keep working "just one more year" aren't making a careful decision — they're avoiding one. The math may already work. The plan may already support the life you want. But there's a different account most people never measure, and it's draining whether you track it or not.In this video, Taylor walks through the three tests that actually determine whether stopping work at 58 is possible — financial readiness, identity readiness, and Wealth Span readiness — using The WealthSpan Framework, the same process the team at Demars Financial Group uses to help clients in their late 50s and early 60s decide whether they're truly ready to retire.If you've saved well — somewhere in the range of $2 million to $5 million — and you keep telling yourself another year of work is the responsible play, this episode is for you. Taylor walks you through the five planning pillars of The Retirement Readiness Roadmap, why most retirement plans miss the most important account you have, and the one question 50 years of clients have told him they wish they'd asked sooner.🔎 THIS VIDEO IS FOR YOU IF YOU'RE ASKING:- Can I retire at 58 with $3 million?- How do I know if I'm ready to retire early?- What is the real cost of working past 58?- How do I decide between retiring now or working a few more years?- What does a real retirement readiness plan look like?- How much do I need to retire comfortably in my late 50s?⏱️ TIMESTAMPS00:00 — The silence around the retirement decision01:15 — Meet Dan and Linda (a real retirement story)03:00 — Why most 58-year-olds keep working "one more year"04:30 — Lifespan vs. health span vs. Wealth Span explained07:00 — Test #1: Financial readiness (The Retirement Readiness Roadmap)09:00 — Test #2: Identity readiness — who are you when you stop working?11:30 — Test #3: Wealth Span readiness and how to evaluate it13:00 — The retirement tradeoff that changed Dan's mind14:30 — What 50 years of retirees actually regretResources: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 You Can't Retire (Even When the Numbers Say You Can)
2w ago00:14:55Tap 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=46139If you've done everything right — saved, invested, stayed in when markets crashed, built the kind of number that's supposed to make retirement feel obvious — and you still can't pull the trigger, your problem probably isn't money. It's that you're stuck in a system that was never built to help you actually leave work.In this episode, Taylor breaks down the two reasons financially-ready people stay stuck in "one more year": the internal one almost no one names, and the structural one almost no advisor will tell you about. He walks through Robert's story (92% confidence, still couldn't retire), Jim's story (one extra working year for $800/month after taxes), and the Purpose-Plan-Portfolio framework we use with clients to actually answer the question a spreadsheet never can.If your retirement plan stops at the math, you're getting half a plan.📌 TOPICS COVERED→ Why a 92% retirement confidence score still leaves people stuck→ The cultural script that quietly trains high achievers to keep working past "enough"→ The concept the financial industry never taught you: how to recognize sufficiency→ Why most advisor meetings end at the math — and what's missing after that→ How "one more year" can erode 70%+ of its expected value once taxes, IRMAA, and pension quirks stack up→ The asymmetric risk most retirement plans completely ignore→ The Purpose → Plan → Portfolio sequence (and why most advisors run it backwards)→ What permission actually feels like when retirement is built in the right order→ Why 51% of retirees over 60 wish they'd retired sooner — by an average of 4 years→ The window for active retirement most people don't realize is closing00:00 The "One More Year" Trap 00:38 Robert’s Story: Overqualified but Unconfident 02:03 The Five Types of Wealth & the "Busy" Trap 04:23 Reframing "Enough": Is it enough for what? 05:07 Why the Financial Industry fails at "The Landing" 06:22 Jim’s Story: The real cost of staying one more year 08:05 The Risk of Retiring Too Late vs. Too Early 09:14 The Framework: Purpose, Plan, Portfolio 11:50 A 50-Year Family Legacy in Financial Planning 13:33 Why you should believe the mathResources: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 →Mailbag: PTO, Vacation Pay & Social Security
2w ago00:11:26Tap to summarizeA listener question came in with a deceptively simple retirement question: Should you start Social Security right away if you don’t actually need the income yet? Taylor explains why the answer involves much more than math, touching on PTO, retirement lifestyle, flexibility, and long-term planning decisions. Before you claim a single dollar, make sure you’re not walking into a Social Security timing trap.Here’s what we discuss in today’s show:💸 Social Security Triangle: Three ways to evaluate timing🧠 Psychology Matters: Confidence changes spending habits🏖 PTO Test Drive: Practice retirement before retiring🛡️ Survivor Planning: Protect the surviving spouse🔁 Regret Risk: Early claiming limits 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 →At 60 With $1.5M? You're Beating The $5M Retirees
3w ago00:12:05Tap to summarizeTaylor has seen retirees with $5 million feel broke and retirees with $1.5 million feel free. The difference isn't their portfolio — it's five planning pitfalls that smart savers make over and over.In this episode, he walks through the 5 retirement pitfalls he sees every week as a Certified Financial Planner working with pre-retirees. If you're within 5 years of retirement and sitting on a solid nest egg, these are the blind spots that quietly decide whether the next 30 years feel abundant or anxious.He also shares the bonus pitfall most advisors never mention- the one that has nothing to do with your portfolio but determines whether retirement is the best chapter of your life or the loneliest.Watch next: How the Retirement Readiness Roadmap works https://youtu.be/iQB5tdDXuc80:00 Why more money doesn't always mean a better retirement1:15 Pitfall #1: Picking tools before drawing the blueprint2:55 Pitfall #2: "You're fine" isn't a retirement plan4:25 Pitfall #3: The silent partner (Uncle Sam) you forgot about7:20 Pitfall #4: The stress test most plans skip8:45 Pitfall #5: The accumulator mindset that robs you in retirement10:45 Bonus: The ceiling of YouTube-only planning11:10 How the Retirement Readiness Roadmap worksResources: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 →If Financial Tools Had Yearbook Awards
3w ago00:14:12Tap to summarizeGraduation season is here, and we’re handing out “class superlatives” to popular retirement tools and strategies. Taylor hands out “yearbook awards” to some of the most talked-about financial tools and strategies and breaks down where common financial advice can fall short. Tune in to learn which strategies deserve a spot in your retirement yearbook, and which ones might be holding you back.Here’s what we discuss in today’s show: 🎓 HSAs Deserve More Love: Triple tax advantages make them incredibly powerful💸 Dividend Chasing Has Tradeoffs: Higher payouts can create tax and growth issues📄 Fine Print Matters: Variable annuities often come with hidden complexity and costs🛑 Cash Isn’t Free: Sitting on too much idle money can quietly drag down returns🧾 Taxes Confuse Everyone: Most people misunderstand how tax brackets actually workResources: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 →$4 Million Saved, Here's How He Retired 5 Years Earlier
4w ago00:18:53Tap to summarizeA client came to us with $4 million saved, convinced he had to work until 63. His advisor of 12 years said he was on track. But when we rebuilt his plan from the ground up, we found three assumptions that were costing him five of his healthiest retirement years.In this episode, Taylor walks through the three specific changes we made to his plan, without adding a dollar to his savings or increasing his risk, that moved his retirement date from 63 to 58.If your plan uses flat spending projections, a default investment allocation, and no Roth conversion strategy, this video will show you what you might be missing.Watch next: The Truth About Retiring at 55 Versus 65 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MqmdDqnWcQ&t=5s Resources: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 →My Investments Underperformed the Market - Should I Fire My Advisor?
May 700:13:12Tap to summarizeIt’s one of the most common (and emotional) questions investors ask: If my portfolio isn’t keeping up with the market, is my advisor doing their job? On the surface, it feels like a simple comparison, but there’s usually a lot more going on beneath it. Taylor walks through how to think about performance the right way, why comparing your portfolio to “the market” can be misleading, and what actually matters when evaluating your advisor. Here’s what we discuss in today’s show:📊 Wrong Comparison: Portfolios ≠ the S&P 500🎯 Goal Alignment: Strategy should match your needs⏳ Long-Term Lens: One year doesn’t tell the story🔍 Know What You Own: Simplicity builds confidence⚖️ Second Opinion: Clarity beats guessworkResources: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 →Pension Payout Decision: The Break-Even Analysis Most People Miss
May 500:14:50Tap to summarizeShould you take the pension lump sum or monthly payments? It's one of the most important — and most permanent — financial decisions you'll make in retirement. And most of the advice out there starts and ends with the math.Today, Taylor walks you through The Pension Clarity Test: three questions that go beyond the spreadsheet and help you make the pension decision you won't second-guess at 80.We'll cover how to evaluate a pension lump sum vs. monthly payments, the break-even math most people miss, the survivorship question every married couple needs to have, and the long-term reality of managing a lump sum through 30 years of market cycles.Whether you're sitting on a pension buyout offer, weighing a defined benefit plan payout, or just trying to figure out the right pension payout option before retirement, this episode gives you a framework that works for your life — not just your spreadsheet.WATCH NEXT4 Mistakes To Avoid If You Have a Pension → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tZ-CMku0CAResources: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 →Volunteering: The Best Investment You Might Make In Retirement
Apr 3000:12:34Tap to summarizeRetirement isn’t just about stepping away from work. It’s about stepping into something meaningful. While most people focus on finances, the happiest retirees often find something deeper: purpose, connection, and a reason to get out of bed each morning. Today, Taylor explores how volunteering can transform retirement through your time, talents, and financial resources. You’ll hear real-life examples of why giving back might deliver the greatest return you’ll ever experience.Here’s what we discuss in today’s show:🤝 Meaningful Connection: Build purpose and community⏰ Time Well Spent: Turn hobbies into service🧠 Use Your Skills: Impact others with experience💰 Smart Giving: Maximize tax-efficient strategies🎓 Lasting Impact: Create life-changing opportunitiesResources: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 →5 Reasons To Retire Before 62 With $3.2M in a 401(k)
Apr 2800:21:49Tap to summarizeCan you really retire before 62 with $3.2 million in a 401(k)? Taylor walks you through a real client case study where a couple with $3.2M chose a retirement plan that scored lower, projected less money — and gave them a better retirement than the "slam dunk" plan their previous advisor built.He'll show you why a 94% Monte Carlo score might actually be working against you, what "Tax-Induced Hesitation" is and how it quietly shrinks the retirement you saved for, and the Roth conversion window that closes every year you keep working.🎬 Watch next: How Retirement Changes Once You Save $2.5 Million: https://youtu.be/TKj3AGA0d8AResources: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 →