The Retirement Bullpen with Richard Warner

Miss the window for a Chick-fil-A peach milkshake and you wait until next year. Miss certain retirement planning opportunities, and the consequences can last much longer. In this episode of The Retirement Bullpen, Richard Warner discusses some of the most important timing windows in retirement planning. From catch-up contributions and early retirement withdrawal strategies to Medicare enrollment, Social Security claiming decisions,...

Think your business is your retirement plan? The real question is whether someone else will see the same value in it when it's time to sell. In this episode of The Retirement Bullpen, Richard Warner continues the conversation on exit planning for business owners. He breaks down the three key pillars of a successful transition: business readiness, financial readiness, and personal readiness. Richard explains how business valuations ...

What if the biggest threat to your retirement isn't the market, but the fact that your business may not sell when you're ready to walk away? In this episode of The Retirement Bullpen, Richard Warner explores why so many business owners invest decades into building a company only to discover that turning it into retirement income is far more complicated than expected. Richard discusses the "value gap," succession planning, owner dep...

What if one phone call could cost you your life savings? In this episode of The Retirement Bullpen, Richard Warner breaks down the growing threat of financial scams targeting retirees—and how quickly they can escalate. He explores common tactics like impersonation calls, urgent payment demands, and increasingly sophisticated digital fraud designed to exploit trust and emotion. The conversation also highlights practical steps ...

What happens to your retirement plan when you’re suddenly navigating it on your own? In this episode of The Retirement Bullpen, Richard Warner explores the realities of entering retirement solo—whether by loss, divorce, or choice—and the added financial pressures that can follow. He breaks down key challenges like the loss of a Social Security check, shifting tax brackets, and the need for careful income and long-...

Could changes to Social Security quietly reshape your retirement income? In this episode of The Retirement Bullpen, Richard Warner unpacks a proposal to cap benefits—and what it reveals about the future of Social Security. He explores fairness concerns, potential benefit reductions, and why the system faces pressure from longer life expectancies and shifting workforce dynamics. The conversation also highlights how fear can in...

What if avoiding the long-term care conversation today creates the biggest burden for your family tomorrow? In this episode of The Retirement Bullpen, Richard Warner unpacks why long-term care planning is often ignored—and how that decision can impact finances, family relationships, and future care options. He addresses common misconceptions about Medicare and Medicaid, the real cost of care, and the emotional toll placed on ...

Why do smart retirement decisions sometimes unravel the moment fear sets in? Using the classic lesson of Pavlov’s Dog, this episode of The Retirement Bullpen explores how emotional triggers—like market headlines, health scares, and uncertainty—can push retirees from rational thinking into reaction mode. Investment advisor representative, Richard Warner, discusses the psychology behind fear, why “what if&rdqu...

Trying to swing for home runs in retirement can leave you striking out when it matters most. In this episode of The Retirement Bullpen, investment advisor representative, Richard Warner, uses baseball season as a powerful analogy for financial planning—breaking down why “singles and doubles” may matter more than big wins once you’re living off your savings. He explores how volatility affects retirees differe...

Working one more year sounds responsible—but what if it costs more than it gives you? In this episode, host Richard Warner explores the often‑overlooked emotional and lifestyle signals that may indicate it’s time to retire. From burnout and tech fatigue to shifting priorities and changing workplace dynamics, he walks through 10 common signs people experience as retirement approaches. The conversation also looks at why f...

A Super Bowl win can come with a six‑figure tax bill—and that surprise isn’t limited to pro athletes. Using California’s “jock tax” as a real‑world example, this episode explores how unexpected taxes can surface later in life. Host and retirement advisor, Richard Warner, unpacks how required minimum distributions can turn once‑tax‑free Social Security into taxable income, trigger higher Medicare premiu...

Target date funds were built to simplify retirement saving—but what happens when guaranteed income is added to the mix? In this episode of The Retirement Bullpen, Richard Warner examines Vanguard’s new target date fund that blends traditional investing with an annuity component. The discussion breaks down how guaranteed income inside an employer plan works, why sequence‑of‑returns risk matters, and where this approach m...

Few financial topics trigger stronger reactions than annuities—and much of that reaction comes from misunderstanding. In this episode of The Retirement Bullpen, Richard Warner breaks down why annuities are often lumped together despite working very differently from one another. The conversation explores fixed, fixed indexed, and variable annuities, highlighting how structure, fees, risk, and liquidity shape their role inside ...

Selling your business is only half the story… what comes next can be just as complex. In part two of The Retirement Bullpen’s “Silver Tsunami” series, Richard Warner shifts the focus to life after the sale. The conversation explores what happens when entrepreneurs receive a large lump sum, how taxes can quietly erode proceeds without planning, and why turning business wealth into long‑term income requires a...

What if the business you’ve spent decades building isn’t as sellable as you think? In this episode of The Retirement Bullpen, Richard Warner dives into the financial reality facing small business owners as the “Silver Tsunami” of retirements approaches. The conversation explores why many privately owned businesses never sell, how owner‑dependent relationships quietly erode value, and what buyers actually loo...

Financial bad habits don’t usually announce themselves – but they can quietly derail your retirement. In this episode of The Retirement Bullpen, Richard Warner breaks down the most common money mistakes that chip away at long‑term security, from spending without a clear picture of monthly costs to skipping portfolio rebalancing and misunderstanding sequence‑of‑returns risk. The conversation explores how lifestyle creep,...

That “safe” cash sitting in your account might be quietly costing you more than you realize. In this episode of The Retirement Bullpen, Richard Warner breaks down the concept of dead money—funds parked in low‑yield accounts that fail to keep up with inflation. The conversation explores why idle cash can erode purchasing power over time, how retirees can balance liquidity with growth, and where tools like tiered re...

Most financial resolutions fade by February, but a new year brings a fresh chance to get your retirement plan on track. In this episode, Richard Warner shares his essential New Year’s portfolio checklist—covering tax strategies, the impact of new standard deductions, Roth conversion opportunities, and how to rebalance for market uncertainty and inflation. Discover why sequence of return risk matters for retirees and how...

Ready for a financial wake-up call? Americans spend over $950 billion during the holidays, but December is also the perfect time to give your retirement plan a year-end checkup. In this episode, investment advisor Richard Warner shares a practical checklist to help you maximize contributions, make smart tax moves, and avoid costly mistakes before 2026 arrives. Learn why reviewing your 401(k), considering Roth conversions, and handl...