Retirement Roadmap

Retirement planning gets complicated quickly when you start asking the questions most people avoid. What happens if long-term care becomes necessary? Should you trust a pension payout or take control of the money yourself? And how much should Social Security really factor into your plan if the future feels uncertain?

In this Q&A episode of Retirement Roadmap with Master Plan Retirement Consultants — “We Get Mail” Part ...

Retirement has “landmark ages” — moments where the rules change on contributions, withdrawals, Social Security, Medicare, and RMDs. In this episode of Retirement Roadmap, Evan and retirement planner Mark Fricks walk through the retirement timeline and explain what each age unlocks — and what to watch out for before you pull the trigger.

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Holistic retirement planning isn’t a buzzword — it’s a framework for how real life actually works in retirement. Your investments matter, but they’re only one piece of a plan that has to coordinate income, taxes, healthcare, and legacy decisions (and the ripple effects between them).

In this Q&A episode of Retirement Roadmap with Master Plan Retirement Consultants — “We Get Mail” — Evan and retirement planner Mark Fric...

Holistic retirement planning isn’t a buzzword — it’s a framework for how real life actually works in retirement. Your investments matter, but they’re only one piece of a plan that has to coordinate income, taxes, and legacy decisions (and the ripple effects between them).

In this episode of Retirement Roadmap with Master Plan Retirement Consultants, Evan and retirement planner Mark Fricks break down what “holistic” really means, why...

Retirement planning isn’t just about avoiding risk — it’s about understanding which risks actually matter.
For many retirees and near-retirees, playing it “too safe” can quietly become one of the biggest threats to long-term financial security.

In this episode of Retirement Roadmap with Master Plan Retirement Consultants, Evan and retirement planner Mark Fricks discuss why overly conservative portfolios can struggle to...

Retirement isn’t one-size-fits-all—and delaying retirement can be a smart move for some people and a mistake for others.

In this episode of Retirement Roadmap with Master Plan Retirement Consultants, Evan and retirement planner Mark Fricks walk through the most common reasons people work longer (financial security, purpose, flexibility) and the key tradeoffs you need to evaluate before you choose a retirement date.

We cover:

• Why m...

Are you treating Social Security like an on/off switch instead of a key part of your retirement income plan? In this episode of Retirement Roadmap, Mark Fricks and Evan Fricks walk through how Social Security really works—and why the decision is about far more than just picking an age between 62 and 70. From misunderstood “full retirement age” rules to inflation, healthcare costs, and earned-income limits, they show how Social Secu...

The retirement planning landscape is changing again in 2026—and for many savers, especially higher earners, the rules are becoming more complex.

In this episode of Retirement Roadmap, Evan and retirement planner Mark Fricks break down the most important 2026 changes affecting 401(k)s, IRAs, Roth accounts, and employer-sponsored plans. These updates create new opportunities to save more, but they also introduce new restrictions that ...

How do you build a retirement that actually feels meaningful, not just mathematically correct?
In this episode of Retirement Roadmap, Mark Fricks and Evan Fricks break down why retirement planning isn’t only about "saving enough." It’s about aligning your money with what gives your life purpose in 2026 and beyond.

Drawing on decades of hands-on retirement planning experience, Mark and Evan explain how purpose...

Do you believe an estate-planning myth? In this episode of Retirement Roadmap, Mark Fricks and Evan Fricks break down the most common misconceptions that cause even “well-prepared” families to face chaos when it matters most. From outdated wills to unfunded trusts and missing powers of attorney, they expose the hidden gaps that can make your plan collapse when your family needs it most.

Drawing from decades of hands-on retirement an...

As trillions of dollars shift hands over the next two decades, the question isn’t whether your wealth will transfer — it’s how. In this episode of Retirement Roadmap, Mark and Evan break down The Great Wealth Transfer—the unprecedented movement of assets from today’s retirees to their heirs—and show how to turn this generational shift into a thoughtful, tax-efficient family strategy.

Drawing from decades of real-world advisory exper...

Planning for your golden years without considering elder law is like building a house without a roof – leaving you exposed when storms hit. Attorney Miles Hurley, one of only twelve certified elder law attorneys in Georgia, reveals the crucial differences between basic estate planning and comprehensive elder law on this eye-opening episode of Retirement Roadmap.

Drawing from both professional expertise and personal experie...

We tackle the often-overlooked issue of retirement tax liability and explore strategies to create tax-free income streams for a potentially more secure financial future.

• Understanding the "mortgage" on qualified plans (401(k)s, IRAs) where the IRS owns an unknown percentage of your savings
• The current "tax sale" has been extended but will eventually end with rates likely rising dramatically
...

Are you playing retirement checkers when you should be mastering retirement chess? This episode unpacks a powerful analogy that demonstrates why traditional retirement planning often falls short.

When approaching retirement, most people arrive with what amounts to a checkerboard and a bag of identical checkers—assets that have served a single purpose during working years: growth. But retirement demands a more sophisticated...

The new federal budget bill makes the 2017 tax cuts permanent, creates a temporary senior deduction, and raises estate exemptions, but also adds $3.4 trillion to national debt while cutting social safety nets. We explore what these changes mean for retirement planning and identify strategies to maximize the limited window of opportunity created by today's low tax environment.

• Tax cuts from 2017 now permanent, but hi...

We explore how to maximize your 401(k) balance and integrate it effectively into your overall retirement strategy.

• 401(k) plans emerged in 1979, giving workers an automatic way to save for retirement without employer-provided pensions
• Most Americans lack proper education on 401(k) investing, contributing blindly without understanding rules or optimal strategies 
• We discuss how to start with your employer matc...

The Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA) is a Medicare surcharge that can significantly increase your healthcare costs in retirement based on income from two years prior.

• IRMAA affects both Medicare Part B and Part D premiums, potentially adding over $500 per month per person
• The surcharge is based on your Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) from two years prior
• Income thresholds begin at $106,0...

We examine essential mid-year financial steps that could help you finish the year strong and brighten your financial future. Time flies by quickly, making it crucial to check in on your financial goals periodically rather than putting them off indefinitely.

• Consider saving for retirement early, even if in small amounts, to harness the power of compound interest
• Check your workplace retirement plans - many now offer...

Longevity risk presents a significant challenge for retirees, with medical advancements potentially extending lifespans and creating decades-long retirements that require careful financial planning.

• Running out of money in retirement is often feared more than death itself
• Life expectancy now averages 79.5 years for men and 82 years for women
• Most retirees now believe they need about $1.5 million to retire com...