My Retirement Clarity with Lee Perkins

Three Questions From People Thinking About Retiring In 2026

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We're doing something a little different today. Three listeners wrote in with variations of the same question- am I ready to retire in 2026? Same question, three very different situations, three very different answers.
Here’s what we discuss in today’s show:
📉 Why scary headlines can derail smart retirement decisions
🧠 The emotional side of retirement most people ignore
🏥 Medicare gaps and pension timing considerations
📺 How media fear impacts investor behavior
📋 Why a retirement plan helps prevent costly mistakes
Want to set up a meeting with us? Visit us here: http://talkwithjp.com
Get more financial education at http://myretirementclarity.com

“I Wish I Knew This at 25” — Young Adult Money Mistakes

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📚 Looking for more financial education? Check out 👉 http://myretirementclarity.com
If you want unfiltered financial advice, don’t just read a book, scroll the comments. Spend five minutes on Reddit or YouTube, and you’ll find people being brutally honest about what they wish they had done differently with money. Today, Lee breaks down some of the biggest financial regrets younger adults face and why small decisions early in life can quietly shape your future. The earlier you recognize these habits, the easier it becomes to build confidence, flexibility, and long-term financial stability.
Here’s what we discuss in today’s show:
💸 Start Early: Compounding rewards consistency💳 Credit Card Trap: Minimum payments create long-term debt🏦 Too Much “Safety”: Inflation quietly erodes cash🎁 401(k) Match: Free money gets ignored🧭 No Real Plan: Lifestyle creep steals opportunity
Want to set up a meeting with us? Visit us here: http://talkwithjp.com
Get more financial education at http://myretirementclarity.com

Why Spending in Retirement Is Harder Than It Sounds

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You spend decades building your savings, then retirement comes, and spending it feels harder than expected. Lee dives into why that shift is so difficult and what’s really going on beneath the surface. He looks at the real reasons people hold back. Without a plan and the right mindset, it’s easy to miss out on the retirement you worked so hard to build.
Here’s what we discuss in today’s show:
⚠️ Fear of Running Out: Drives hesitation at any wealth level
🔄 Habit Problem: Saving mindset doesn’t turn off
🧠 Emotional Barriers: Past experiences shape behavior
💸 Guilt Factor: Legacy goals can limit enjoyment
📊 Plan Creates Confidence: Clarity makes spending easier
Want to set up a meeting with us? Visit us here: http://talkwithjp.com
Get more financial education at http://myretirementclarity.com

Don't Waste Your Annual Financial Review

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📚 Looking for more financial education? Check out 👉 http://myretirementclarity.com
Your annual financial review might be the most important hour of your financial life, but only if it’s done right. In this episode, Lee breaks down what a great review should actually look like and why it should go far beyond just investment performance. The goal isn’t to check a box once a year; it’s to make sure your plan is still aligned with your life.
Here’s what we discuss in today’s show:
📅 Annual Reviews Matter: One of the most valuable financial meetings you’ll have
💬 It Starts With You: The best reviews begin with what’s on your mind
📊 Beyond Performance: It’s not just about returns and benchmarks
🧾 Full Planning View: Taxes, income, goals, and life changes all matter
🤝 Advisor Value: A good advisor focuses on your life, not just your portfolio
Want to set up a meeting with us? Visit us here: http://talkwithjp.com
Get more financial education at http://myretirementclarity.com

The Federal Retirement Match: What It Means for You

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There was a surprising retirement announcement tucked inside the State of the Union, one that could impact millions of Americans without access to employer-sponsored plans. In this episode, Lee shares his early reactions to the proposal, which introduces a government-managed retirement account with a potential federal match. He also shares a special announcement about his firm.
Here’s what we discuss in today’s show:
🏛️ Federal Match Idea: New proposal for $1,000 match
🧾 Plan Details: Government-run retirement account concept
🧠 Behavioral Reality: Free money doesn’t guarantee action
📊 Real Impact: May not move the needle for many
🎓 Next Gen Workshops: Teaching kids real-world money skills
 
Want to set up a meeting with us? Visit us here: http://talkwithjp.com
Get more financial education at http://myretirementclarity.com

Tax Mistakes New Retirees Make (And How to Avoid Them)

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Nobody enjoys tax season, but for new retirees, the transition from working income to retirement income can create a whole new set of tax challenges. Lee breaks down several common tax pitfalls that new retirees often face, inspired by a recent financial article and real-world client conversations. Tune in to find out how thoughtful planning can help retirees avoid unpleasant surprises and keep more of their money working for them in retirement.
Here’s what we discuss in today’s show:
📅 Ignoring Upcoming RMDs: Required distributions catch many retirees off guard
🔁 Roth Conversions Done Wrong: Poor timing can create unnecessary taxes
⚠️ Social Security Tax Surprise: Benefits can become taxable depending on income
👨‍👩‍👧 Planning for a Spouse or Heir: Survivor taxes can reshape the financial picture
🏛️ Who Gets the Money?: Without planning, the IRS may get a bigger share
🚀 From Advice to Action: Strategies only work when they’re actually implemented
Read The 5 Biggest Tax Mistakes New Retirees Make in the First 5 Years
https://www.kiplinger.com/taxes/tax-planning/biggest-tax-mistakes-new-retirees-make-in-first-years
Want to set up a meeting with us? Visit us here: http://talkwithjp.com
Get more financial education at http://myretirementclarity.com

Mailbag: Swimming Pool Decisions, Market Fears & Social Security

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In this episode, Lee opens the mailbag to tackle the questions he hears most often in real-life retirement conversations. He addresses the tradeoffs behind major financial choices, the emotions around market ups and downs, and the confusion many feel about key retirement milestones. You’ll hear how he helps people think through these issues so they can move from worry to clarity about their next phase.
Here’s what we discuss in today’s show:
🏊 Swimming Pool Debate: Lifestyle upgrades vs long-term financial impact
📉 Market Drop Fears: What to do when correction anxiety hits
🧓 Social Security Timing: Early vs delayed benefits and what matters most
💼 401(k) Rollover Rules: When you can move money and when you can’t
🏥 Long-Term Care Planning: Insurance options and proactive protection strategies
Want to set up a meeting with us? Visit us here: http://talkwithjp.com
Get more financial education at http://myretirementclarity.com

Popular Advice… But Is It Good Advice?

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📚 Looking for more financial education? Check out 👉 http://myretirementclarity.com
Everyone has an opinion about money, especially the ones with microphones and book deals. Lee weighs in on some of the most talked-about financial advice circulating today. Some ideas have merit. Others sound better on stage than they work in real life. The key is knowing how to separate entertainment from practical planning.
Here’s what we discuss in today’s show:
🎙️ Financial Influencers: Entertainment vs real-world advice
📘 Rich Dad Mindset: Startup risks and alternative assets
🏦 Just-In-Case Cash: Three-to-five year reserve debate
🏠 Buy vs Rent: Lifestyle, appreciation, and flexibility
🤖 AI & Retirement: Bold predictions and real-world reality
Want to set up a meeting with us? Visit us here: http://talkwithjp.com
Get more financial education at http://myretirementclarity.com

Retirement Mailbag: Bonds, Long-Term Care, Inheritance & Tax-Free Income

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Retirement planning rarely follows a straight line, and today’s listener questions prove it. In this special mailbag episode, Lee tackles real questions that reflect the decisions and uncertainties people face in retirement. Along the way, he addresses common retirement myths and shares his perspective on managing risk, keeping things simple, and enjoying life while you’re still healthy.
Here’s what we discuss in today’s show:
💰 Retirement Income Sources: Where bonds fit and where they don’t
👩 Single at 62: Prioritizing income, health, and simplicity
🛡️ Long-Term Care Planning: Why inheritances aren’t a strategy
🏢 Unexpected Job Loss: Options when work ends earlier than planned
⏰ Retirement Timing: Navigating different comfort levels between spouses
 
Want to set up a meeting with us? Visit us here: http://talkwithjp.com
Get more financial education at http://myretirementclarity.com

10 Retirement Myths Too Many People Still Believe

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📚 Looking for more financial education? Check out 👉 http://myretirementclarity.com
There’s no shortage of financial advice out there, and unfortunately, not all of it is good. Some of the most damaging retirement mistakes don’t come from reckless behavior, but from ideas that sound reasonable and get repeated often enough to feel true. Today, we’re busting some of the most common retirement planning myths and explaining why believing them can quietly derail an otherwise solid plan.
Here’s what we discuss in today’s show:
📄 Why bigger financial plans aren’t better
🏠 The limits of “just having a will”
💍 The real income needs of a surviving spouse
📉 Why stopping spending in a downturn doesn’t work
💰 Common myths around Social Security and taxes
 
Want to set up a meeting with us? Visit us here: http://talkwithjp.com
Get more financial education at http://myretirementclarity.com