Investing Smarter as Retirement Gets Closer

In this episode of the Retire Early Podcast, financial advisors and retirement planners Sam Benson and Linwood Fraher of Martin Wealth Solutions tackle one of the most common pre-retirement questions: “Should I still own stocks, or is it time to diversify?” Through real-life client stories and practical analysis, Sam and Linwood break down the importance of time horizon, risk tolerance, and the peace-of-mind factor that comes with a well-diversified portfolio. Whether you’re 5 years out from retirement or already transitioning into the spend-down phase, this episode will help you rethink your allocation—and build a strategy that lasts.

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00:00 Introduction — Market Highs & What to Own Near Retirement 01:00 Meet the Hosts: Sam Benson & Linwood Fraher 02:05 Real Client Story: 62 and 98% in Stocks 04:10 The Danger of Out-of-Sync Risk Tolerance 06:12 Why “It’s Been Working” Isn’t a Plan 07:50 What Diversification Really Means 09:34 The Problem with Being 100% in Bonds 11:30 Why Stocks Still Matter—But So Does Your Time Horizon 14:05 The Power of ETFs for Diversification 16:30 GE Story: A Lesson in Concentrated Risk 18:35 Don’t Sleep on Fixed Income 21:05 The 3-Bucket Strategy for Retirement 24:14 Everyone’s Allocation Needs Are Different 26:05 Big Win Story: From $1.8M to $6.8M—Now What? 28:45 Peace of Mind > Portfolio Bragging Rights 30:12 Final Thoughts & How to Work With Us

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