In this Episode of the Secure Your Retirement Podcast, Radon and Murs discuss why the beginning of the year is one of the most important times for smart tax decisions and how early planning can prevent costly mistakes later. With the help of their Director of Financial Planning and Tax Strategy, Taylor Wolverton, they walk through practical smart tax strategies designed to support effective tax planning in retirement and help you stay ahead with a proactive tax planning checklist. From contribution rules to charitable strategies, this episode focuses on building a strong foundation for retirement tax planning that supports long-term confidence.

Listen in to learn about key decisions that impact your ability to plan for retirement, reduce unnecessary taxes, and ultimately secure your retirement. Whether you are still working, transitioning into Retirement, or already planning retirement income, these insights can help you align your retirement checklist with current rules, deadlines, and opportunities—so you can focus on retiring comfortably without last-minute surprises.

1. How the 401k catch up rule works, including 401k catch up contributions and updated 2026 401k contribution limits
2. Why the IRA contribution deadline matters and how a Roth IRA contribution can still be made after year-end
3. How qualified charitable distribution strategies work, including important QCD rules
4. When it may make sense to donate stock to charity versus giving cash and how this affects your charitable deduction
5. How income choices impact a long-term Roth conversion strategy and overall retirement tax planning

1. “The beginning of the year is where smart tax planning really starts—what you do now determines how much flexibility you’ll have later.” — Radon Stancil
2. “Tax planning in retirement isn’t just about deductions; it’s about choosing the right accounts at the right time.” — Murs Tariq

Understanding how the standard deduction, charitable strategies, and income planning work together is a critical part of Retirement Planning. From managing distributions to timing conversions, early awareness helps avoid mistakes that can limit your ability to secure your retirement and maintain tax efficiency throughout the year.

Resources:

If you are in or nearing retirement and you want to gain clarity on what questions you should be asking, learn what the biggest retirement myths are, and identify what you can do to achieve peace of mind for your retirement, get started today by requesting our complimentary video course, Four Steps to Secure Your Retirement!

To access the course, simply visit POMWealth.net/podcast.

In this Episode of the Secure Your Retirement Podcast, Radon and Murs discuss why Medicare 2026 is shaping up to be one of the most impactful years for retirees and those approaching retirement. With major Medicare updates, rising Medicare costs 2026, and several Medicare new rules taking effect, understanding how these changes affect your overall Retirement Planning is more important than ever. From prescription drug reforms to premium increases and income-based adjustments, Medicare is not something you can afford to “set and forget” when you’re planning retirement and working to secure your retirement.

Listen in to learn about how Medicare Part B premium 2026 increases, IRMAA surcharges, and Medicare income limits 2026 can directly impact your cash flow in retirement. Radon and Murs also explore how Medicare planning fits into a comprehensive strategy to help you retire comfortably, avoid costly surprises, and align your healthcare decisions with your long-term retirement checklist and broader financial plan.

In this episode, find out:

1. How Medicare drug price negotiations and Medicare Part D changes 2026 are lowering costs for certain prescriptions
2. What the new Medicare out of pocket cap means for retirees with high prescription drug expenses
3. Why the increase in Medicare Part B premium 2026 matters for your monthly retirement income
4. How IRMAA surcharges and income from strategies like Roth conversions can affect your Medicare premiums
5. What Medicare does not cover, including the difference between a Medicare wellness visit and a traditional physical, plus updates on Telehealth Medicare

Tweetable Quotes:

1. “Medicare isn’t separate from your financial plan—it’s interconnected with your taxes, income, and investment strategy.” — Radon Stancil
2. “One decision, like a Roth conversion, can trigger higher Medicare premiums if you don’t account for IRMAA.” — Murs Tariq

Understanding Medicare 2026 is a critical part of Retirement Planning, whether you’re already enrolled or just beginning to plan for retirement. Staying informed about Medicare updates, knowing your coverage gaps, and proactively planning can make a meaningful difference in how confidently you approach Retirement.

Resources:

If you are in or nearing retirement and you want to gain clarity on what questions you should be asking, learn what the biggest retirement myths are, and identify what you can do to achieve peace of mind for your retirement, get started today by requesting our complimentary video course, Four Steps to Secure Your Retirement!

To access the course, simply visit POMWealth.net/podcast.

In this Episode of the Secure Your Retirement Podcast, Radon and Murs discuss a comprehensive market update 2025 recap and how lessons from last year can help investors confidently plan for retirement as we move into 2026. They reflect on policy changes, inflation trends, interest rate shifts, and how thoughtful portfolio risk management and managing market volatility can turn uncertainty into opportunity—especially for those focused on retiring comfortably and achieving true peace of mind.

Listen in to learn about how disciplined retirement investment strategies, including diversification, the three bucket strategy, and proactive tax planning, help create a resilient retirement portfolio. Radon and Murs break down how peace of mind investing isn’t about chasing returns, but about building systems that support income, growth, and stability—no matter what the markets bring—so you can confidently secure your retirement.

In this episode, find out:

1. How the Market update 2025 sets the stage for smarter investment strategies in 2026
2. Why managing market volatility matters more than chasing high returns in retirement
3. How the three bucket strategy balances income, safety, and growth bucket investing
4. The role of tax efficient investing, including direct indexing strategy, tax loss harvesting, and capital gains planning
5. How alternative investments can reduce volatility and strengthen a long-term retirement portfolio

Tweetable Quotes:

1. “If your portfolio is designed correctly, you don’t have to sweat market corrections—you can still sleep at night and enjoy retirement.” — Radon Stancil
2. “Peace of mind investing comes from managing risk and taxes, not swinging for home runs.” — Murs Tariq

From retirement planning basics and a practical retirement checklist to advanced strategies like direct indexing strategy and alternative investments, this episode ties together everything needed for effective planning retirement. Whether you’re years away or already retired, these insights help you build confidence, reduce stress, and move closer to secure your retirement.

Resources:

If you are in or nearing retirement and you want to gain clarity on what questions you should be asking, learn what the biggest retirement myths are, and identify what you can do to achieve peace of mind for your retirement, get started today by requesting our complimentary video course, Four Steps to Secure Your Retirement!

To access the course, simply visit POMWealth.net/podcast.