John H. Curry's Secure Retirement Podcast

Last week, the SECURE Act 2.0 was signed into law. What does this mean for you and your retirement? In this episode, we cover the most important changes from the SECURE Act 2.0 that you need to be aware of. These changes include: Age for required minimum distributions Effects on retirement accounts Automatic enrollment Treatment of student loan payments Distributions from 529 plans to Roth IRAs And more

What are the 5 financial risks you will face in retirement (& how do you avoid them)? With the right planning, you can create your own secure retirement… That means having the money for the life you want… But traditional planning doesn’t work for retirement… Wealth distribution is very different from wealth accumulation… In this podcast, we show you how to prepare for the top 5 financial risks in retirement and achieve financial balance.

Medicare is a complicated topic with a lot of moving parts… But as you reach retirement age, you’ll need to make decisions about Medicare. We all need to cover healthcare costs as we get older—there’s no avoiding it. In this webinar, we’ll cover everything you need to know to get started with Medicare planning so you can prepare for a secure retirement.  We’ll answer common questions about Medicare, such as: What does Medicare cover? When & how do I enroll in Medicare? Which Medicare option is best for me? What is a special enrollment period? And more

Many people make decisions about taxes in a vacuum… But taxes have a significant impact on your finances in retirement. The good news is that there are proven strategies to optimize your income so you can minimize your taxes. In this podcast, we’ll show you how tax diversification can help you build a secure retirement. Listen to learn: How tax rates will change in the future Why it’s a myth that you’ll have less income in retirement How different types of investments are taxed The difference between tax-deferred accounts, tax-favored accounts, and taxable accounts How to achieve tax diversification The impact taxes will have on your income The essential facts about Roth IRAs How you can use cash value life insurance as tax-free income in retirement And more

Planning when you’ll take Social Security might be the most important decision you make for your retirement… It impacts your income for the rest of your life (and your spouse’s income, too)… The decision you make determines your destiny… You need to make the decision that leads to your secure retirement—you’ll have the money to do the things you want and live worry-free. In this episode, we’ll cover the basics of Social Security and help you understand this important decision. Listen to learn: What factors determine when you should take Social Security? The pros and cons of delaying Social Security How to find your full retirement age What is the cost of living adjustment? What spousal benefits will you receive? Will Social Security change in the coming decades? Is a strategy session right for you?

When it comes to planning for retirement, the decisions you make today determine your destiny tomorrow. And no matter what stage of life you’re at, making a plan now will ensure that you can retire with maximum freedom, security, and enjoyment. If you wait any longer, your time and money are on the line. In this webinar, we answer the most common questions about retirement and show you how to plan for a secure future. Listen to learn: How to get the most out of FRS benefits When is the best time to retire If going into DROP is right for you When you should start taking Social Security Why you should retire TO something—not FROM something What you may not know about required minimum distributions And more

What’s the most important thing you can do today for yourself and your family? Plan for life insurance--before it’s too late. But what type of life insurance should you buy? When should you buy it? And who should you buy it from? How can you create wealth for yourself today AND leave a legacy behind when you die? This podcast episode breaks down life insurance fundamentals and shows you how to get the most out of this essential financial tool. Listen to learn: Why you can’t wait any longer to plan for life insurance The common life insurance mistakes to avoid Which life insurance strategy is right for you How to use life insurance to grow wealth while you’re alive And more

In today’s episode, I sit down with my friend Steve Gordon to talk about overcoming adversity, or how to deal with life's ambushes. You may already know my story, but if you haven’t listened lately, we’ll catch you up on one of those life changing ambushes I faced earlier this year. What I went through was by far the most difficult, life changing, game changing event I’ve ever faced, yet it's given me insight and wisdom I wouldn’t have gotten otherwise.Listen as Steve and I walk through what happened, and how I got to the milestone where I am today, as well as:  The first thing you need to do when a life-changing event drops into your life How to quickly get past agonizing and into action mode when presented with a problem—I share the two things that helped me remain calm in the face of such adversity Breakthrough solutions to reset and refocus your mindset The real reason we don’t get what we want and how to change your focus so you do And much more

On this week’s episode of The Secure Retirement Podcast, April and I walk through the options for keeping more of your retirement income by paying less taxes—yes, we’re talking tax diversification and the strategies you can employ so your retirement income doesn’t get clobbered by taxes.As I say, “It’s not what you get, it's what you keep.”Listen as we break down the three types of retirement investment accounts and walk you through: Why it’s important not to put all of your retirement “eggs” in one basket—how to diversify using the different types of investments How to accomplish what you want with your money and leave it behind in a tax efficient manner How to easily find out which strategies might work for you, how to make them work for you, and when you should be using a different type of strategy And much more.

On this week’s episode of The Secure Retirement Podcast, April and I break down my new book, “The Secure Retirement Method for Members of The Florida Retirement System.” This episode will benefit anyone who has a job or is looking to retire one day (even if you aren’t from Florida).  As mentioned in this episode, “What we bring to the table is the ability to ask you questions you’ve never thought about and sometimes we question your answers. We all have a blind spot and need to be challenged sometimes.”Listen as we break down:  What's your baseline for retirement? The four sessions of the Secure Retirement Method The four options of the Florida Retirement System—and how to coordinate your option with everything else you have for retirement Tax considerations in retirement—how can you make decisions today to control your tax future The number one best (tax free) way to take care of those you love And much more

On this week’s episode of The Secure Retirement Podcast, Ken Armstrong joins us. Ken is a lifetime learner who is passionate about seeking new horizons. Ken says, “I challenge my friends to seek new horizons every day whether retired or not… if we’re not seeking new horizons we’re standing in one place... not moving.”At 73, Ken is preparing to embark on the next big step in his quest to seek new horizons, the adventure of a lifetime. He’s planning a trip that will take him across 6 continents, 45+ countries, 100+ cities, and 50,000 miles in 22 months. Listen as he shares:  Why now? He’ll share why NOW is the right time for him to sell his “stuff” and head out on this adventure Where he’s spending 10 weeks (hint: it’s the best place in the world to learn or improve your Spanish) How a jigsaw puzzle played a role in helping him plan his itinerary How he’s preparing mentally, physically, and financially  The place he’s looking most forward to visiting And much more… including how you can follow Ken on his travel

Welcome to John H. Curry's Secure Retirement Podcast. In the last two episodes, Steve Gordon and I have talked about my health crisis, my mindset, and my journey back to work. Steve has nicknamed me “the most productive man in rehab,” but “...there is no “S” on my chest and no blue underwear. There were a couple of moments when I had some tough realizations. At those times I was glad I could step out of my own strength and into that of my team.”Today we’re talking about how I set my business up to click along (and even grow) without me for four months. I’ll give you an inside look at how I went from being a “rugged individualist” to surrounding myself with the most productive team I’ve ever had, as well as: The reciprocity of hiring people (hint: it’s not just about freeing up your time) The number one way to step out of your own problems and into something BIGGER The “secret sauce” of a great team member And much more If you’ve missed the first two conversations in this series, be sure to go back and check t

On today’s episode of the Secure Retirement Podcast, I sit down with Steve Gordon for part two of our conversation. Steve and I discuss how I kept both my business and my personal life moving forward from rehab, when complications occurred during my recovery that kept me mostly isolated for 49 days. How’d I do it? Listen as I share the mindset tools I used to press forward, including: The number one thing you need to determine before moving forward How to leverage the who and not the how for your business and personal life The 2 ways to reach your targets How not to get stuck in the dip on the path to your goals The one book I return to time and again  And much more

I’m Back! As you know, I’ve been out of pocket for four months. Today, in my first episode since returning to work, I sit down for a personal interview with my friend Steve Gordon to discuss the shocking health crisis that both sidelined me and required me to make a life-changing decision with no time to weigh my options. Steve and I go deep into facing adversity head on and how I made peace with my circumstances. I share the challenges I faced in my journey, as well as: My advice for accepting circumstances even when you don’t like them How to make decisions without second guessing yourself The one thing that determines success or failure when faced with life-changing adversity The WIRM technique I use to remain positive when the heat is on The importance of building the right team And much more

On this week’s episode of The Secure Retirement Podcast, April Schoen talks about the importance of tax diversification in retirement.April discusses the three different types of retirement investments, offering examples of each type of account, how you can contribute to them, and their tax implications.Listen as she explains:  Tax-deferred accounts Taxable or tax as you go accounts Tax-favored accounts or tax-free accounts How spreading out your retirement investments can help you keep more income in your pocket How to use Roth IRAs in retirement tax planning Permanent life insurance as a financial tool And more

On this week’s episode of The Secure Retirement Podcast, April Schoen joins us to take a deep dive into the five financial risks you will face in retirement and how to overcome them. Additionally, April discusses retirement planning and what balance looks like in retirement.  Listen in to learn more about the retirement red zone as well as: Mitigating financial risks Retirement planning: what works and what doesn’t  Building a financially balanced retirement plan And more

On this week’s episode of The Secure Retirement Podcast, April Schoen joins us to discuss the best ways to pay for health care in retirement. We detail the key considerations you need to remember when it comes to Medicare, and go over how to create your detailed plan for what is usually the number one concern for anyone approaching retirement. We have an episode packed with valuable information to have at hand when you enroll in Medicare.

This week, I’m joined by fellow North Florida Financial advisor, April Schoen, for a live seminar on Social Security. Over the course of the seminar, we're going to be talking about how social security works, what you need to know around the program, different payment scenarios, and also issues that surround the program. April and I have over 50 years of combined experience in retirement planning and we’ll be using that knowledge today to discuss Social Security with retirement in mind.

On this week’s episode of the Secure Retirement Podcast, we speak with Bonnie Bevis, a retiree with 35 years of work with Highway Safety under her belt. She began her career as a license examiner, and shares with us how she spent her years in public service while raising three children, as well as how she occupies her retirement time now.

Our special guest on this week’s episode of the Secure Retirement Podcast is Helen Livingston. Helen was a teacher, a high school counselor, and a principal in Alabama, and earned both her Master’s and PhD, all while raising four children. She was also an integral part of opening the Medical School at Florida State University. Helen has had an extensive career in education and continues to stay busy and active in her version of retirement.