My Retirement Clarity with Lee Perkins

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

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📚 Looking for more financial education? Check out 👉 http://myretirementclarity.com
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

Meet with us: http://talkwithjlp.com
📚 Looking for more financial education? Check out 👉 http://myretirementclarity.com
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?

Meet with us: http://talkwithjlp.com
📚 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

Meet with us: http://talkwithjlp.com
📚 Looking for more financial education? Check out 👉 http://myretirementclarity.com
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

I’m 62: Should I File For Social Security Or Wait?

 Meet with us: http://talkwithjlp.com
📚 Looking for more financial education? Check out 👉 http://myretirementclarity.com
Turning 62 might not feel like a milestone birthday… until you realize the Social Security clock just started ticking. Filing now could put money in your pocket sooner or cost you tens of thousands over a lifetime. How do you pick the right strategy? Let’s break down how to think through one of the biggest retirement decisions you’ll ever make.
Here’s what we discuss in today’s show:
🕒 Why many retirees choose to claim Social Security at 62
📊 The trade-offs between early filing and full retirement age
💼 How working impacts Social Security through the earnings test
💍 Spousal and survivor benefit considerations
💡 Using Social Security strategically to enhance your retirement lifestyle
 
Want to set up a meeting with us? Visit us here: http://talkwithjp.com
Get more financial education at http://myretirementclarity.com

What If I Retire With ‘Only’ $1M?

 Meet with us: http://talkwithjlp.com
📚 Looking for more financial education? Check out 👉 http://myretirementclarity.com
Nothing will mess with your financial confidence faster than comparing your savings to your brother, your coworkers, or that guy on YouTube who claims he retired at 35. Your retirement number isn’t a competition. Today, Lee talks about what really matters when you’re trying to figure out if you’re behind on your savings goals…and what to do if you actually are. Everyone’s financial story is different. Once you stop comparing and start planning, you’ll know exactly what steps to take next.
Here’s what we discuss in today’s show:
🔍 Comparison steals joy and creates unnecessary retirement stress
💰 Your retirement number is personal, not a competition
📉 Expenses, not savings, determine how much you truly need
📈 Comparing investment returns is misleading and unhelpful
🛠️ Focus on controllable actions like saving and budgeting
 
Want to set up a meeting with us? Visit us here: http://talkwithjp.com
Get more financial education at http://myretirementclarity.com

The 5 Retirement Questions Smart People Ask

 Meet with us: http://talkwithjlp.com
📚 Looking for more financial education? Check out 👉 http://myretirementclarity.com
We've all heard the saying there is no such thing as a bad question, but in retirement planning, some questions are definitely better than others. In this episode, Lee explains the five questions smart investors ask and explains how reframing each one leads to better decisions, stronger strategies, and more confident planning. The smartest investors don’t just look for answers. They learn to ask better questions.
Here’s what we discuss in today’s show:
📰 Office News: team update and new advisor announcement
💰 How Much Do I Need? Reframing savings into income needs
🏥 Long-Term Care: exploring all coverage options instead of rolling the dice
💸 Fees vs. Value: understanding what you truly get for the price
🧾 Taxes: shifting the conversation from “this year” to lifetime tax savings
📉 Market Fear: building a portfolio that works in every market—not timing the chaos
 
Want to set up a meeting with us? Visit us here: http://talkwithjp.com
Get more financial education at http://myretirementclarity.com

Planning for Retirement When You Marry Later in Life

Meet with us: http://talkwithjlp.com
📚 Looking for more financial education? Check out 👉 http://myretirementclarity.com
Considering marriage in your 50s or 60s? While it's a time for new beginnings and happiness, it can also introduce unique financial challenges. In this episode, Lee shares expert insights on navigating retirement planning when two lives- and two sets of finances- come together. Discover how honest conversations today can strengthen your relationship and ensure your legacy for the future.
Here’s what we discuss in today’s show:
💍 Remarriage & Retirement: blending lives without merging finances
💬 Financial Transparency: why honesty builds long-term stability
💵 Cash Flow Planning: aligning income and spending in retirement
📊 Separate Accounts: managing assets while planning together
👨‍👩‍👧 Family Balance: protecting children and shared goals
⚖️ Ground Rules: setting expectations before you tie the knot
Check out our upcoming workshops:
https://jlperkinswealth.com/attend-an-event/

Mailbag: Income Boosts, Aging Parents, Social Security & Vacation Homes

Meet with us: http://talkwithjlp.com
📚 Looking for more financial education? Check out 👉 http://myretirementclarity.com
The mail’s here! Today, Lee answers listener questions about life, money, and retirement planning. Each scenario highlights the unique challenges people face as they approach or live through retirement, and the importance of making confident, well-coordinated decisions along the way. Most times, the best advice doesn’t come from Google, it comes from experience, wisdom, and planning.
Here’s what we discuss in today’s show:
💰 Income Boost: how to handle a sudden increase in earnings
👵 Parents’ Financial Health: addressing concerns and planning for their future
📆 Social Security Choices: deciding when and how to claim benefits
🏡 Vacation Home Dilemma: the pros and cons of buying property with family
Check out our upcoming workshops:
https://jlperkinswealth.com/attend-an-event/