The Retirement Summit

What if the biggest risk to your retirement isn’t market swings—but standing still while the financial system changes around you? In this episode of the Retirement Summit Podcast, Shawn O’Keefe explores where the “investment puck” is headed next. Using a Wayne Gretzky analogy, he discusses currency debasement, inflation’s impact on purchasing power, and why traditional cash‑heavy strategies may q...

Inflation doesn’t just show up at the grocery store—it quietly reshapes retirement outcomes. In this episode of the Retirement Summit Podcast, Shawn O’Keefe breaks down how persistent inflation affects income, purchasing power, and long-term planning for those nearing or living in retirement. The conversation explores why many retirees feel the impact more intensely, common misconceptions about shifting from growt...

Market swings can feel unsettling—but what if volatility isn’t the enemy retirees think it is? In this episode of the Retirement Summit Podcast, Shawn O’Keefe breaks down what today’s market volatility really means for those nearing or living in retirement. He explains the difference between risk and volatility, why emotional reactions often lead investors astray, and how portfolio structure matters even mor...

What happens after you sell the business or real estate that’s been funding your life for years? In part two of this tax‑strategy series, wealth advisor Shawn O’Keefe tackles the question every seller eventually faces: how to replace the “golden eggs” once the goose is gone. The conversation explores income creation after a liquidity event, the role of risk‑off and growth‑oriented assets, and why traditional...

What if the real threat to your wealth isn’t market risk—but taxes you never planned for? In this episode of the Retirement Summit Podcast, Shawn O’Keefe unpacks how taxes quietly shape the outcome of selling a highly appreciated asset. From businesses and real estate to collectibles, they explore why many owners hesitate to sell, how deferred tax strategies work under existing tax code, and why planning before a ...

What if the money you’re trusting to protect your future is quietly losing power every single year? In this episode, Shawn O’Keefe breaks down the shifting financial landscape as digital assets, blockchain, and Bitcoin move from fringe concepts to mainstream tools. He explains why Bitcoin is considered “digital hard money,” why traditional currency continues to lose value, and how emerging technologies are r...

What if the biggest shift in money and finance is happening right now — and most people aren’t prepared for it? In this episode, Shawn O’Keefe breaks down how emerging technologies like AI, blockchain, and Bitcoin are reshaping the financial world faster than many advisors realize. He explains why today’s banking system is becoming outdated, why Bitcoin is viewed as “digital gold,” and how tokeni...

Is the AI boom a bubble—or the start of a new era for investors? In this episode of the Retirement Summit Podcast, host and wealth advisor Shawn O’Keefe breaks down the headlines, hype, and realities of artificial intelligence in today’s market. Shawn shares insights from leading tech analysts, explains why today’s innovation differs from past bubbles, and discusses how volatility creates opportunity for lon...

What does “quantitative easing” really mean for your retirement and portfolio? In this episode of the Retirement Summit Podcast, host Shawn O’Keefe, founder of Summit Wealth Strategies, breaks down how central bank policies shape markets, interest rates, and asset values. Shawn explains the impact on housing, inflation, and technology stocks, and shares why having the right balance of risk-off and growth assets is...

What happens to your retirement plan when inflation, interest rates, and market volatility refuse to play by the rules? In this episode, Shawn O’Keefe digs into the realities of today’s unpredictable economy and what it means for retirees and those nearing retirement. From the challenge of keeping up with rising costs to the importance of portfolio “alpha” and emotional resilience, discover how smart plannin...

Is the real threat to your retirement portfolio hiding behind the headlines about tariffs? In this episode, chief wealth advisor Shawn O’Keefe cuts through the noise to reveal why America’s soaring budget deficit and persistent inflation may be eroding your purchasing power far more than trade wars. Discover how retirees and those nearing retirement can rethink their investment strategies to protect their future, even a...

Is the classic 60-40 portfolio still enough for retirement? In this episode, Shawn O’Keefe explains why technology, crypto, and blockchain are changing the rules for investors—and how retirees can adapt. Learn why bonds may no longer protect your buying power, how to plan for rising healthcare costs, and why every retirement strategy needs to account for longevity and “what ifs.” Shawn shares practical advic...

Is your retirement portfolio ready for the future of finance? In this episode, Shawn O’Keefe breaks down how Bitcoin, blockchain, and AI are reshaping investment strategies for retirees. Discover why the classic 60-40 stock/bond split may be outdated, how volatility can be managed, and why positive alpha matters for long-term growth. Shawn explains the realities of digital assets, risk, and inflation, and shares how portfolio...

Shawn O’Keefe of Summit Wealth Strategies explains deferred tax strategies (DTS) and what kinds of transactions are eligible for them. Shawn also shares the benefits of DTS and how people can control how many taxes they pay by not paying Uncle Sam up front. Shawn also describes the comprehensive tax summary that he runs for people to show them how to become more tax-efficient.

If you have a million or more in investable asset...

Shawn O’Keefe of Summit Wealth Strategies gives a primer on annuities – the bad ones, the okay ones, and the good ones. Shawn describes the evolution of annuities, how they are similar to pension plans, and why fixed index annuities can allow people to be more aggressive in other parts of their portfolios.

If you have a million or more in investable assets and want to talk wealth and tax planning, risk-protected plans, ...

Shawn O’Keefe of Summit Wealth Strategies discusses three retirement buckets: short-term, mid-term, and long-term. He shares what time period each bucket covers, what retirement and money tools are in each, and what those buckets are designed to do. Shawn also explains the danger of timing the market and the pitfalls of buying and selling stocks with emotions. And Shawn comments on the decision to stop minting new pennies.

If...

Shawn O’Keefe of Summit Wealth Strategies talks about the process of finding the right money-blend in retirement. Shawn explains how this starts with planning and gauging expenses vs. income. Shawn also discusses three stages of retirement and how demands change, along with the changes in buying power and a recent market shift that has made some retirement tools less effective. And Shawn celebrates his birthday and talks abou...

Shawn O’Keefe talks about different approaches to portfolio diversification, other than the 60/40 stocks-bonds strategy. Shawn shares how bands have given bad returns, what institutional private credits are, ways that he and the Summit Wealth Strategies team can help minimize risk and maximize returns, and what he considers to be “digital gold.” 

If you have a million or more in investable assets and want to ...

Shawn O’Keefe discusses the 60/40 pre-retirement, 40/60 during retirement portfolio rule of thumb. Shawn defines this blend between stocks and bonds and then explains why the bond market’s performance has made it obsolete. Shawn then explains how the U.S. dollar is losing value and why even reputable advisors have been wrong about this strategy.

If you have a million or more in investable assets and want to talk wealth ...