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Many people assume Roth strategies are only for younger savers, but that belief might narrow your options later in life. In this episode, Ryan responds to a question that highlights how career changes and timing can reshape retirement decisions. The real issue isn’t age, it’s understanding your options when it matters most.

Here’s what we discuss in this episode:

⚖️ Roth vs. Traditional 401(k): How the tax treatment differs

💸 Tax Implications: Paying taxes now versus later

🔓 Income Flexibility: Why Roth 401(k)s don’t have income limits

🚀 Maximizing Contributions: Using catch-up rules and additional accounts

Visit us online: https://blackoakam.com/

Phone: (470) 508-0508

Get in touch with the Black Oak team: https://blackoakam.com/contact-us/

Get more financial education on our YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/45kJlwI

📅 Book a 1-on-1 with Ryan: https://speakwithryan.com/

📦 Grab your FREE Tax-Free Retirement Toolkit: https://toolkit.blackoakam.com/podcast-toolkit.html

One of the biggest retirement decisions most people make has nothing to do with the stock market. It’s a choice buried deep in pension paperwork, and once it’s made, it’s usually permanent. In this episode, Ryan walks through a common pension tradeoff that many retirees underestimate until it’s too late. When you clearly understand the balance between income, longevity, and protection, the right decision often becomes much easier to see.

Here’s what we discuss in this episode:

📄 The Pension Tradeoff: Choosing between higher monthly income or long-term protection

⏳ Longevity Risk: How life expectancy quietly changes the math

💔 Surviving Spouse Planning: Why income needs don’t drop as much as people assume

💰 Income Sources: How Social Security, investments, and insurance factor in

🧠 Income vs. Peace of Mind: Deciding what kind of security matters most

Visit us online: https://blackoakam.com/

Phone: (470) 508-0508

Get in touch with the Black Oak team: https://blackoakam.com/contact-us/

Schedule a call with Ryan: https://speakwithryan.com/

Get your tax-free retirement toolkit: https://bit.ly/3PMjKqc

Get more financial education on our YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/45kJlwI

📅 Book a 1-on-1 with Ryan: https://speakwithryan.com/

📦 Grab your FREE Tax-Free Retirement Toolkit: https://toolkit.blackoakam.com/podcast-toolkit.html

There’s no shortage of retirement advice, but not all of it holds up in real life. Many widely accepted beliefs sound reasonable on the surface yet quietly undermine long-term security when tested by market volatility, taxes, health changes, or longevity. Today, Ryan exposes ten retirement myths that continue to trip people up and gives tips for how to have fewer surprises and more confidence when making decisions.

Here’s what we discuss in this episode:

📜 Estate Planning Basics: Why a will alone often falls short

💸 Spousal Income Reality: Don’t expect expenses to drop in half

📊 Investment Strategy Shifts: Rethinking stocks, bonds, and timing

🏷️ Tax Bracket Myths: Why retirement taxes stay stubborn

⏳ Working Longer Assumptions: Why it’s a risky fallback

Visit us online: https://blackoakam.com/

Phone: (470) 508-0508

Get in touch with the Black Oak team: https://blackoakam.com/contact-us/

Schedule a call with Ryan: https://speakwithryan.com/

Get your tax-free retirement toolkit: https://bit.ly/3PMjKqc

Get more financial education on our YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/45kJlwI

📅 Book a 1-on-1 with Ryan: https://speakwithryan.com/

📦 Grab your FREE Tax-Free Retirement Toolkit: https://toolkit.blackoakam.com/podcast-toolkit.html

A new government-backed savings account for kids is coming, and on the surface, it sounds like a no-brainer. Ryan shares his take on what these new accounts really offer, and what you need to consider if you choose to utilize it. The money is real, but so are the limitations, and whether it’s worth it depends on your goals, your flexibility, and what you’re already doing.

Here’s what we discuss in this episode:

💵 The Free Money: Government contributions and why that part is appealing

⚖️ Hidden Trade-Offs: Taxes, withdrawal rules, and flexibility concerns

🧾 Paperwork & Complexity: Extra forms, administration, and logistics

🧠 Better Alternatives?: How Trump Accounts compare to 529s, custodial accounts, and other strategies

Visit us online: https://blackoakam.com/

Phone: (470) 508-0508

Get in touch with the Black Oak team: https://blackoakam.com/contact-us/

Get more financial education on our YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/45kJlwI

📅 Book a 1-on-1 with Ryan: https://speakwithryan.com/

📦 Grab your FREE Tax-Free Retirement Toolkit: https://toolkit.blackoakam.com/podcast-toolkit.html

Are you ready to make a move that could impact your finances for decades to come? Join Ryan as he reveals what really goes into deciding the best time to claim Social Security, especially as age 62 approaches. Discover why picking the right strategy, not just a date, can make all the difference in your retirement journey. Don’t let a quick decision today shape your tomorrow.

Here’s what we discuss in this episode:

🕒 Age 62 Decision: What really changes when filing becomes available

🤔 Why People File Early: Fear, cash flow needs, and peace of mind

⏳ Waiting Pays Off: How full retirement age can shift outcomes

📈 Early-Claim Strategies: Smart options if you don’t need the income

🧩 Planning Process: How decisions are tested at Black Oak Asset Management

Visit us online: https://blackoakam.com/

Phone: (470) 508-0508

Get in touch with the Black Oak team: https://blackoakam.com/contact-us/

Schedule a call with Ryan: https://speakwithryan.com/

Get your tax-free retirement toolkit: https://bit.ly/3PMjKqc

Get more financial education on our YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/45kJlwI

📅 Book a 1-on-1 with Ryan: https://speakwithryan.com/

📦 Grab your FREE Tax-Free Retirement Toolkit: https://toolkit.blackoakam.com/podcast-toolkit.html

These days, retiring with $1 million might feel like falling short, especially when everyone around you seems to have more. In this episode, Ryan tackles a listener question that gets to the heart of retirement anxiety: is $1 million actually enough to retire? Are you worried you’re falling behind? This episode offers clarity about what really determines retirement success.

Here’s what we discuss in this episode:

🧠 Comparison Trap: Why savings comparisons destroy confidence

🔄 Reframing Goals: Moving from “my number” to your plan

🧩 What Shapes Outcomes: Lifestyle, debt, benefits, and timing

🚀 Catch-Up Strategies: Practical ways to strengthen retirement readiness

Visit us online: https://blackoakam.com/

Phone: (470) 508-0508

Get in touch with the Black Oak team: https://blackoakam.com/contact-us/

Schedule a call with Ryan: https://speakwithryan.com/

Get your tax-free retirement toolkit: https://bit.ly/3PMjKqc

Get more financial education on our YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/45kJlwI

📅 Book a 1-on-1 with Ryan: https://speakwithryan.com/

📦 Grab your FREE Tax-Free Retirement Toolkit: https://toolkit.blackoakam.com/podcast-toolkit.html

A lot happened in 2025: political swings, stubborn inflation, new tax rules, and even a historic government shutdown. But headlines alone don’t determine your retirement outcome; how you respond to them does. In this episode, Ryan reflects on the five biggest financial events of the year and what actually mattered for long-term planning. The noise will change in 2026, but the strategy that creates confidence stays the same.

Here’s what we discuss in this episode:

🌍 Tariffs: Market reactions and volatility

📈 Inflation: Why prices still feel high

🏦 High-Yield Savings: Making cash work harder

🚨 Government Shutdown: Why emergency funds matter

🏢 Federal Resources: Support for government employees

Visit us online: https://blackoakam.com/

Phone: (470) 508-0508

Get in touch with the Black Oak team: https://blackoakam.com/contact-us/

Schedule a call with Ryan: https://speakwithryan.com/

Get your tax-free retirement toolkit: https://bit.ly/3PMjKqc

Get more financial education on our YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/45kJlwI

📅 Book a 1-on-1 with Ryan: https://speakwithryan.com/

📦 Grab your FREE Tax-Free Retirement Toolkit: https://toolkit.blackoakam.com/podcast-toolkit.html

You’ve heard the phrase, “There’s no such thing as a bad question.” But in retirement planning, the quality of your questions often determines the quality of your outcome. Today Ryan reframes common retirement questions, and shares how clearer question lead to better strategies, and more confidence about the future. The smartest investors don’t just look for answers. They learn to ask better questions.

Here’s what we discuss in this episode:

💰 Income Clarity: What you need vs. what you’ve saved

🏥 Long-Term Care: Exploring real options

🧾 Tax Strategy: Planning ahead, not just this year but beyond

🛑 Social Security: Smarter claiming decisions, not guesswork

💳 Debt Management: Reducing pressure in retirement

📉 Market Volatility: Adjusting portfolios thoughtfully

Visit us online: https://blackoakam.com/

Phone: (470) 508-0508

Get in touch with the Black Oak team: https://blackoakam.com/contact-us/

Schedule a call with Ryan: https://speakwithryan.com/

Get your tax-free retirement toolkit: https://bit.ly/3PMjKqc

Get more financial education on our YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/45kJlwI