Retirement GPS - Navigated by Zynergy
The Retirement GPS Podcast helps you navigate the road to and through retirement with clarity and confidence. Hosted by Ryan Zacharczyk, CFP®, President of Zynergy Retirement Planning, and Zane Belcak, Associate Planner, each episode breaks down the most important financial topics. From tax strategies and income planning to Social Security, investing, and estate considerations, we cover the issues that matter most—without the jargon. Our goal is simple: give you the tools and guidance to make informed decisions, avoid costly mistakes, and stay on course for the retirement you deserve. Whether you’re already retired or planning ahead, consider this your personal guide to a smarter, more intentional future. Learn more at zynergyretirement.com and follow Zynergy Retirement on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn! Also, look out for our Mile Markers blog series that corresponds to the podcast episode you just listened to.
Episodes
In this episode of the Retirement GPS Podcast, Ryan and Zane tackle a retirement challenge that rarely gets talked about: learning how to actually enjoy the money you spent decades building.
After years of saving, investing, and delaying gratification, many retirees struggle to shift into spending mode, even when they’re financially secure. Ryan and Zane explain why that mindset is so com...
In this episode of the Retirement GPS Podcast, Ryan and Zane continue the “How Do I Retire With…” series by exploring what retirement can look like with $5 million in investible assets.
They walk through Zynergy’s 10 GPS planning components and explain how this asset level can support income, travel, lifestyle flexibility, charitable giving, legacy planning, and long-term financial confid...
Ryan and Zane walk through a question many people don’t think to ask: how is your financial advisor actually getting paid, and what does that mean for you?
They break down the differences between fee-only, fee-based, and commission-based advisors, and explain how each structure can shape the recommendations you receive. They also clarify what it really means to work with a fiduciary and w...
In this episode of the Retirement GPS Podcast, Ryan and Zane tackle a common question from pre-retirees and retirees: should you consolidate your investment accounts?
They explain how multiple IRAs, old 401(k)s, brokerage accounts, and inherited accounts can create unnecessary complexity over time, especially when it comes to asset allocation, beneficiary designations, tax planning, and r...
In Episode 37 of the Retirement GPS Podcast, Ryan and Zane continue the “How Do I Retire With…” series by breaking down what retirement really looks like with $4 million in investible assets.
They walk through Zynergy’s 10 GPS planning components and explain how decisions around income, taxes, investments, risk management, and estate planning evolve at this level of wealth. From safe dist...
In Episode 36 of the Retirement GPS Podcast, Ryan and Zane break from their usual format to address a question many investors are asking right now: What’s going on in the world, and what does it mean for your retirement?
They unpack how recent geopolitical tensions are impacting oil prices, inflation, interest rates, and both the stock and bond markets. More importantly, they explain how ...
In Episode 35 of the Retirement GPS Podcast, Ryan and Zane answer one of the most common retirement concerns: What happens to your plan when the market drops 20%?
They explain what a 20% decline really means, how often it happens, and why volatility is a normal part of investing, even in retirement.
You’ll hear how sequence of returns risk impacts retirees, w...
In Episode 34 of the Retirement GPS Podcast, Ryan and Zane begin the new “How Do I Retire With…” series by exploring what retirement really looks like with $3 million in investible assets.
They walk through Zynergy’s 10 GPS planning components and explain the key decisions that come with this level of wealth, from income and distribution strategy to taxes, emergency reserves, estate plann...
In Episode 33 of the Retirement GPS Podcast, Ryan and Zane introduce a new series built around one key question: How do I retire with the assets I have?
This series explores how retirement planning evolves at different asset levels — from income and taxes to investing, legacy planning, and lifestyle decisions. Each episode will focus on a specific asset range, helping you understand the s...
In Episode 32 of the Retirement GPS Podcast, Ryan and Zane tackle one of the biggest retirement decisions pension recipients face: Should you take the lump sum or the monthly pension income?
They walk through the real trade-offs behind each option including longevity and health, survivor income for a spouse, inflation risk, taxes and Medicare impacts, and the legacy question of what (if a...
Retirement changes the rules of investing.
In Episode 31 of the Retirement GPS Podcast, Ryan and Zane answer a critical question: How much risk is appropriate after you retire?
They break down the difference between risk capacity, risk tolerance, and risk need, and explain why focusing only on market volatility can lead to costly mistakes. You’ll learn how se...
New Jersey has some of the highest property taxes in the country, but there are programs designed to help retirees stay put.
In Episode 30 of the Retirement GPS Podcast, Ryan and Zane break down the three major New Jersey property tax relief programs: Senior Freeze, ANCHOR, and StayNJ. These benefits can stack together and, in some cases, reduce property tax costs by up to 50%.
How much can you safely spend in retirement—without running out of money?
In Episode 28 of the Retirement GPS Podcast, Ryan and Zane break down how to turn your retirement savings into a reliable income stream that supports your lifestyle while protecting long-term portfolio longevity. They explain why distribution planning is often harder than saving, and how the right withdrawal strateg...
When should you claim Social Security, and what does that decision really cost you over time?
In this episode of the Retirement GPS Podcast, Ryan and Zane break down the strategy behind claiming at 62, full retirement age, or 70. This isn’t just about getting your money sooner. For married couples especially, Social Security is often a survivor income decision, not a “right now” decision.
...Retirement isn’t just about stopping work, it’s about redesigning your cash flow.
In Episode 27 of the Retirement GPS Podcast, Ryan and Zane tackle one of the most common and emotionally charged retirement questions: Should you pay off your mortgage or keep it in retirement?
Rather than relying on rules of thumb, they walk through a decision framework designe...
Retirement planning often focuses on numbers, but fulfillment doesn’t come from finances alone.
In this episode of the Retirement GPS Podcast, Ryan and Zane explore what truly drives happiness in retirement through the Pleasure, Passion, and Purpose framework. They discuss why pleasure fades, passion engages, and purpose provides the long-term direction many retirees don’t realize they’re...
Medicare can feel confusing, especially when you’re have so many options such as Part A, Part B, Part D, Part C, and Medigap.
In this episode, Ryan and Zane break Medicare down into a simple framework so you understand what each part covers, what it costs, and what decisions matter most as you approach age 65. They also cover enrollment windows, late penalties, common mistakes (including ...
Retirement isn’t a single event, it’s a transition.
In Episode 24 of the Retirement GPS Podcast, Ryan and Zane break down Zynergy’s Retirement Landing framework, a structured process designed to guide retirees through the final weeks before retirement and the first months after their last paycheck.
They walk through the most important financial and emotional ...
Required minimum distributions can create tax challenges—but they can also create opportunity.
In this episode, Ryan and Zane explain how Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) allow retirees to give directly from an IRA while potentially reducing taxable income and Medicare-related costs.
They walk through who qualifies, how QCDs work with RMDs, and commo...
Charitable giving can be more effective with the right structure.
In this episode, Ryan and Zane break down Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs) and how they allow families to take a tax deduction today while supporting charities over time.
They discuss when DAFs make sense, how “bunching” deductions works, and why donating appreciated investments can be more efficient...
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