Podcast
The Fiscal Physical Retirement Podcast
Hosted by Ryan Nelson & Aaron Hoisington · EN
Smart Retirement Planning. Straightforward Advice.
Welcome to The Fiscal Physical Retirement Podcast, the show built for professionals and pre-retirees who want clarity, confidence, and control over their financial future. Hosted by Aaron Hoisington and retirement planner Ryan Nelson, founder of Alchemy Wealth Management and author of Your Fiscal Physical, this podcast delivers practical advice, expert insights, and real conversations about retirement readiness, tax-efficient investing, and long-term wealth strategies.
Whether you're five years from retirement or just starting to get serious about your financial goals, each episode simplifies complex financial topics into clear, actionable steps. No jargon. No fear. Just the guidance you need from a trusted financial advisor serving Nevada and beyond.
If you’re looking for a retirement podcast that’s approachable, insightful, and worth your time, this is it.
Subscribe now and get your Fiscal Physical. Your retirement health depends on it.
27episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Is the Middle Class Getting Squeezed? Wages vs. the Cost of Living
2w ago00:24:01Tap to summarizeIs the middle class really getting squeezed, or is that just a headline? In this episode, Ryan looks at what has actually happened to middle-class buying power over the past few decades and why housing has become the single biggest pressure on most family budgets.He and Aaron separate the real strain from the noise, including why your personal inflation rate can look very different from the number you see on the news. The goal here is perspective, not panic. Understanding where the squeeze is real, and where it is overstated, helps you focus your budget and your plan on the things that actually move the needle for your household.Find "Your Fiscal Physical" the book on AmazonIf you have suggestions or feedback, please email us at: Podcast@AlchemyWealth.comAnd, as always, Stay the Course!
Transcribe →The Paper Ceiling: Why Degree Requirements Are Changing in Hiring
3w ago00:21:54Tap to summarizeThe paper ceiling is the invisible barrier that keeps qualified workers without a college degree from being considered for jobs they are fully capable of doing. Ryan explains how it compares to the glass ceiling, which typically involves race or gender bias, and why degree inflation, the practice of adding degree requirements to roles that do not actually need one, has made the problem worse over time.Ryan and Aaron look at the issue from both sides. From the candidate's perspective, it is a filter that removes you before you get a shot at the interview. From the employer's perspective, it is a practical screening tool that may be cutting out the best person for the job. Skills-based hiring is the alternative gaining traction. Ryan notes that some roles genuinely require formal credentials, but many others do not, and employers who screen by skills rather than degrees tend to build stronger teams.Find "Your Fiscal Physical" the book on AmazonIf you have suggestions or feedback, please email us at: Podcast@AlchemyWealth.comAnd, as always, Stay the Course!
Transcribe →BlackRock, Vanguard, and State Street: Do They Really Own the Market?
4w ago00:20:28Tap to summarizeBlackRock, Vanguard, and State Street manage trillions of dollars, but they do not own the market. Ryan explains what asset managers actually are: intermediaries who run funds on behalf of investors. When you put money into a Vanguard index fund, Vanguard holds the underlying shares in trust for you. They charge a fee to do it; they do not own what is inside the fund.The more legitimate concern Ryan raises is not ownership but influence. Because these firms hold voting rights on behalf of massive pools of assets, they have significant say in corporate governance. Ryan and Aaron walk through why this matters, how it compares to how any advisory firm operates, and why low-cost, diversified investing in these funds is still a sound strategy for most people. A calm, clear response to something that often gets exaggerated online.Find "Your Fiscal Physical" the book on AmazonIf you have suggestions or feedback, please email us at: Podcast@AlchemyWealth.comAnd, as always, Stay the Course!
Transcribe →Pre-Retirement Checklist: What to Do in the Year Before You Retire
May 500:34:26Tap to summarizeA 64-year-old listener planning to retire in about a year asked Ryan for a practical checklist. Ryan's answer covers eight areas: gather all your data first, including pensions from multiple states and any old retirement accounts; get clear on your spending and goals; build your income plan; think through the tax and Social Security interplay; understand Medicare, IRMAA, and healthcare costs; review your insurance; make sure your estate documents are current; and keep enough cash on hand for the transition.Ryan is honest that 12 months goes fast, especially when tracking down old pension balances across multiple states and plan administrators. The consistent message throughout is that retirement is a beginning you will continue to manage, not a finish line. Talk to your financial advisor, CPA, and an estate attorney to work through the pieces most specific to your situation.Find "Your Fiscal Physical" the book on AmazonIf you have suggestions or feedback, please email us at: Podcast@AlchemyWealth.comAnd, as always, Stay the Course!
Transcribe →Quarterly Earnings Reports Explained: What the Numbers Actually Mean
Apr 2800:20:00Tap to summarizeEvery publicly traded company is required to release its financial results every quarter. Ryan explains the four numbers investors pay attention to: revenue (total sales), earnings (what is left after expenses), profit margins (a measure of efficiency), and guidance (management's forecast for the next period). Guidance is often just as market-moving as the results themselves.Ryan and Aaron discuss why there is real theater involved in these reports, with some companies treating them as polished presentations and others keeping it dry. The practical advice for long-term investors is not to overreact to a single quarter. One bad report from a company you hold in a diversified portfolio is rarely a reason to sell. Context and trend matter far more than any single data point.Find "Your Fiscal Physical" the book on AmazonIf you have suggestions or feedback, please email us at: Podcast@AlchemyWealth.comAnd, as always, Stay the Course!
Transcribe →Financial Advisor Disclosures Explained: What the ADV Tells You
Apr 2100:20:33Tap to summarizeEvery registered investment advisor is required to send clients an annual ADV and privacy policy. Ryan explains what these documents actually contain: how the firm charges fees, what services it provides, any conflicts of interest, background information on the advisors, disciplinary history, and how client data is handled. Aaron shares that reading Alchemy's ADV gave him a clearer picture of who was managing his money.Ryan describes these disclosures as the owner's manual for the relationship. They are written in legal language and most people skim them, but knowing where to find the fee structure and the material changes section is worth a few minutes. If you have a financial advisor, Ryan recommends pulling up the most recent ADV and checking those two sections at minimum. Talk to your advisor if anything raises questions.Find "Your Fiscal Physical" the book on AmazonIf you have suggestions or feedback, please email us at: Podcast@AlchemyWealth.comAnd, as always, Stay the Course!
Transcribe →US Tax System Explained: How Progressive Tax Brackets Work
Apr 1400:25:12Tap to summarizeThis episode revisits how the progressive tax system works and layers in the specific 2026 updates most relevant to retirement savers. Ryan explains progressive brackets using plain-language examples so listeners understand that earning more money does not mean getting taxed at a higher rate on every dollar, only on the dollars above each threshold.The 2026 updates Ryan covers include changes to the estate tax exemption, the annual gift exclusion, 401k and IRA contribution limits including catch-up contributions, the new mandatory Roth catch-up rule for higher earners, and a new non-itemized deduction. Ryan says several times throughout: talk to your CPA. Tax rules are complex and individual situations vary significantly. This episode is education, not personalized tax advice.Find "Your Fiscal Physical" the book on AmazonIf you have suggestions or feedback, please email us at: Podcast@AlchemyWealth.comAnd, as always, Stay the Course!
Transcribe →Medical Debt Explained: Why It's Different and How to Handle It
Apr 700:18:55Tap to summarizeMedical debt is different from every other kind of debt because it is not planned. Ryan frames it as one of the big five debt categories, alongside mortgage, car, credit card, and student loans, but points out that no one wakes up choosing to incur it. Bills are often delayed, confusing, error-prone, and arrive from multiple providers at once.The practical advice here is worth the listen. Ryan explains that medical providers are among the most willing to negotiate. A simple phone call can open up payment plans, discounts, or hardship programs. He also warns against the common mistake of paying medical bills with high-interest credit cards or a 401k withdrawal. Building an emergency fund is the best long-term buffer. Talk to your financial advisor if a large medical bill is affecting your broader financial plan.Find "Your Fiscal Physical" the book on AmazonIf you have suggestions or feedback, please email us at: Podcast@AlchemyWealth.comAnd, as always, Stay the Course!
Transcribe →Nonprofit Explained: What "Nonprofit" Actually Means
Mar 3100:17:32Tap to summarizeNonprofit does not mean the organization makes no money. Ryan explains what it actually means: there are no shareholders, so any surplus stays inside the organization instead of going to owners or investors. Nonprofits can charge fees, sell services, pay employees, and even pay executives well. The legal and tax classification says nothing about efficiency or ethics.Ryan and Aaron get into how to evaluate a nonprofit before donating. The key question is how much of each donated dollar reaches the actual cause versus covering salaries and overhead. Some nonprofits put 70 to 90 cents of every dollar to work. Others do not. Tools like charity watchdog organizations can help you check before you give. A short, clear episode that fixes a very common misconception.Find "Your Fiscal Physical" the book on AmazonIf you have suggestions or feedback, please email us at: Podcast@AlchemyWealth.comAnd, as always, Stay the Course!
Transcribe →Monte Carlo Simulation Explained: How Retirement Plans Use Probability
Mar 2400:24:47Tap to summarizeA Monte Carlo simulation runs thousands of hypothetical market scenarios against your retirement plan to calculate a probability of success. Ryan explains what that probability actually means: the percentage of simulated scenarios in which you do not run out of money before the end of your plan. The tool accounts for sequence-of-returns risk, meaning whether a bad market comes early or late in retirement matters a lot.Ryan also tackles the counterintuitive point that a 100% probability score is not the goal. A plan that works in every simulated scenario may mean you are saving far more than you need and shortchanging your life today. Aaron shares that this came up in his own planning meeting, which keeps the conversation grounded. Talk to your financial advisor to understand what probability range makes sense for your specific situation.Find "Your Fiscal Physical" the book on AmazonIf you have suggestions or feedback, please email us at: Podcast@AlchemyWealth.comAnd, as always, Stay the Course!
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