Retirement Ready

Retirement Checklist

Retirement is a significant milestone that requires careful planning and preparation. In today’s podcast, Eric shares a comprehensive checklist to ensure you're fully prepared for your golden years.
 
Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:
Understanding your monthly income needs.
Choosing the right account for withdrawals.
Timing Social Security benefits appropriately.
Addressing longevity risk.
Handling market volatility.
Combating inflation and preparing for future tax increases.
 
Get in touch with the Peterson Financial team: https://petersonfg.com/

Financial Wisdom from Mark Twain

In the latest episode of the Retirement Ready Podcast, Eric invites us to explore the timeless wisdom of Mark Twain and how it applies to modern financial planning. Mark Twain, known for his wit and keen observations, offers quotes that are surprisingly relevant to today's financial landscape. Eric takes these quotes and translates them into practical advice for those planning their retirement.
 
Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:
"Apparently there is nothing that cannot happen today."
"The lack of money is the root of all evil."
“Suppose you were an idiot, and then suppose you were a member of Congress; but I repeat myself.”
"October is one of the particularly dangerous months for speculating in stocks. The others are…”
"The secret to getting ahead is getting started."
 
Get in touch with the Peterson Financial team: https://petersonfg.com/

Understanding Bonds in Today's Market

Are bonds really the safe investment we've always been told they are? What percentage of assets should a retiree or pre-retiree hold in bonds? In today’s episode, Eric addresses some of his most frequently asked questions about the world of bonds…
 
Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:
What is a bond and how does it work?
How do bond funds and individual bonds differ?
What makes bond prices rise or fall?
What percentage of assets should a retiree or pre-retiree hold in bonds?
What alternatives to bonds might be considered for safer investments?
 
Get in touch with the Peterson Financial team: https://petersonfg.com/

Understanding Your Financial Statements

Financial statements can often feel like a foreign language, filled with jargon and numbers that seem to have little relevance to your everyday life. However, understanding these documents is crucial for effective retirement planning. In the latest episode of the Retirement Ready Podcast, Eric breaks down the essentials of reading and interpreting your financial statements.
 
Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:
Why you should review your financial statements.
Understanding projections and asset allocation.
The importance of knowing your fees.
What the tax implications could be.
Reading the fine print.
 
Get in touch with the Peterson Financial team: https://petersonfg.com/

From Graduation to Retirement

This one goes to the grads! Whether you know someone graduating high school, college, or even preschool, graduation marks a new stage and season in life. Similarly, retirement is a new chapter in life. It's a time of change, celebration, and sometimes, uncertainty. On today’s show, we talk through the similarities between leaving school and entering retirement.
 
Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:
Retirement is more than just having enough money.
Your daily life and routines change in a big way.
Relationships can be hard to maintain in the same way.
The emotions you face might surprise you.
You may face a shift in identity or even have an identity crisis.
 
Get in touch with the Peterson Financial team: https://petersonfg.com/

401(k) Mistakes

Your 401(k) likely plays a major role in your retirement savings. That's why it’s important that it’s set up and functions in the way that’s most beneficial to you. Following our last podcast about beneficiary mistakes, now we focus on common mistakes people make with their 401(k).
 
Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:
Moving a 401(k) to another retirement account.
Allocation and rebalancing with your contributions.
What to think about target date funds.
Who the real client is of a company 401(k).
Hidden fees to look out for.
 
Get in touch with the Peterson Financial team: https://petersonfg.com/

Beneficiary Mistakes

In this episode of the Retirement Ready Podcast, Eric guides us through the critical yet often overlooked details of beneficiary designations. Learn the simple yet vital steps to prevent beneficiary blunders that could lead to unnecessary headaches for your heirs. Eric calls these errors "low hanging fruit" because they're easy to fix yet can save your family from future heartache.
 
Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:
Eric shares some details from his exotic vacation!
What beneficiary mistakes are most common?
Do you have an alternate?
What happens with probate?
What a will does and doesn’t do for you.
 
Get in touch with the Peterson Financial team: https://petersonfg.com/

How Emotions Can Impact Your Retirement Plan

Dive into the world of financial emotions in this episode with Eric Peterson. Discover how greed, fear, hope, and pride can make or break your investment strategy. Eric unravels the complexities of managing emotions to ensure a secure and enjoyable retirement.
This episode isn't just about financial strategies; it's about understanding the human side of investing. It's about knowing when to hold on and when to let go, when to take risks and when to seek shelter. It's a must-listen for anyone standing at the cusp of retirement—or even those just starting to climb their financial mountain.
 
Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:
Greed motivates us to keep chasing returns in the market when we should be taking chips off the table.
The pull between what you know you should do versus what fear is driving you to do.
Why you need to have a plan for your spouse passing away.
The role an advisor plays in helping you overcome emotions.
 
Get in touch with the Peterson Financial team: https://petersonfg.com/

Retirement Planning Statistics

Retirement is closer than you think, but are you ready? With a staggering number of people lacking confidence in their retirement savings, Eric shares the misconceptions people have and what mistakes can derail someone’s financial future. Many people feel inadequate when it comes to what they have saved in their nest egg, uninformed about the pitfalls of target date funds, and unprepared about the reality of leaving the workforce earlier than expected.
 
Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:
76 percent of Baby Boomers say they are not confident they have saved enough.
30 percent of workers say they don't know what to do with their 401(k).
46 percent ​of ​workers ​leave ​the ​workforce ​earlier ​than ​they ​planned.
Only 24 percent of retirees work with a financial advisor of some sort.
 
Get in touch with the Peterson Financial team: https://petersonfg.com/

Mailbag: Should I Fire My Broker?

Navigating life's financial crossroads can be tricky, especially when it involves your financial future. In this episode of Retirement Ready, Eric addresses these complex issues head-on. How do you best evaluate your broker and your investment performance against the S&P 500? Eric says a lot of that comes down to setting expectations and understanding the risks. Then, Holly wants to know what to consider before making a midlife career change.
 
Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:
Mailbag: Do I need to fire my broker?
Mailbag: What to consider about switching careers in your mid-fifties.
Mailbag: How to support adult children living at home.  
 
Get in touch with the Peterson Financial team: https://petersonfg.com/