Retirement Ready

Retirement Ready

Financial and retirement planning guidance from Des Moines’ Eric Peterson of Peterson Financial Group.

Episodes

December 31, 2025 12 mins

📞 Ready to take the next step?

Connect with the Peterson Financial team here 👉 https://petersonfg.com/ 

When it comes to retirement, having enough money doesn’t automatically mean having everything figured out. In this episode, Eric tackles real listener questions that reveal where even confident savers can still go wrong. From deciding whether an advisor adds value when money isn’t an issue, to the risks of relying on stock-pick...

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📞 Ready to take the next step?

Connect with the Peterson Financial team here 👉 https://petersonfg.com/ 

We’ve all seen those Christmas ornaments that say things like “Baby’s First Christmas.” It’s a milestone moment worth commemorating. But what about a retiree’s first Christmas? You may not have a specialty ornament to hang on the tree for this one, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a milestone. Let’s break down what might be diffe...

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📞 Ready to take the next step?

Connect with the Peterson Financial team here 👉 https://petersonfg.com/ 

We’re bombarded daily with headlines that spark panic — elections, health insurance changes, Social Security insolvency, market swings, and more. But how much of it really matters for your retirement?

In this episode of the Retirement Ready Podcast, Eric Peterson breaks down three major worries retirees bring up all the time — ...

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📞 Ready to take the next step?

Connect with the Peterson Financial team here 👉 https://petersonfg.com/

 

Your retirement journey has more in common with The Wizard of Oz than you might think. In this playful but practical episode, Eric uses themes from the classic film — the Yellow Brick Road, the Scarecrow, Glinda the Good Witch, and more — to illustrate some of the most important principles in retirement planning.

Here’s some o...

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December 4, 2025 11 mins

📞 Ready to take the next step?

Connect with the Peterson Financial team here 👉 https://petersonfg.com/ 

Eric explores common money mistakes people often make when planning for retirement, and scenarios that could cost you in the long run. The discussion also covers critical considerations around long-term care and how to avoid financial setbacks. Tune in to learn what you can do now to steer clear of these all-too-common errors a...

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November 26, 2025 10 mins

📞 Ready to take the next step?

Connect with the Peterson Financial team here 👉 https://petersonfg.com/ 

What do flight plans and retirement strategies have in common? In today’s episode, Eric draws an analogy between piloting a plane and navigating retirement. He explains how stress-testing your retirement plan against life’s turbulence can enhance your confidence and strengthen your financial resilience. So, fasten your seatbelt...

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📞 Ready to take the next step?

Connect with the Peterson Financial team here 👉 https://petersonfg.com/ 

It’s time to get comfortable with the uncomfortable. In this episode, Eric tackles the financial discussions most people put off and explains how facing them now can protect your family’s future. Tune to discover honest, practical ways to talk about loss, legacy, and long-term care—and learn how these conversations can bring cl...

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November 13, 2025 12 mins

📞 Ready to take the next step?

Connect with the Peterson Financial team here 👉 https://petersonfg.com/ 

Think fairy tales are just for kids? Think again. The secrets to lasting wealth may be hiding in stories you heard at bedtime. Today, Eric takes a creative approach to financial planning, drawing lessons from Aesop’s Fables to show why slow, steady, and intentional strategies still win the race.

Here’s some of what we discuss i...

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📞 Ready to take the next step?

Connect with the Peterson Financial team here 👉 https://petersonfg.com/ 

Ever wondered if your financial review truly reflects who you are and what matters most to you? In this episode, Eric explores how financial reviews aren’t one-size-fits-all, they’re tailored to your unique personality and goals. From data-centric clients who thrive on numbers and details, to family-focused individuals focused ...

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October 30, 2025 13 mins

📞 Ready to take the next step?

Connect with the Peterson Financial team here 👉 https://petersonfg.com/

Instilling strong habits creates a foundation for you to build on, and investing is no different. Today, Eric breaks down the habits that can turn good intentions into bad investing outcomes. He explains how emotional reactions, trend-chasing, and lack of a clear plan often derail even disciplined savers. Learn how to focus on w...

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📞 Ready to take the next step?

Connect with the Peterson Financial team here 👉 https://petersonfg.com/ 

Retirement is approaching and how you get started could have a huge impact on the rest of your retirement. Today, Eric shares the do’s and don’ts of entering retirement and explains why the first year is one of the most critical times in your financial life. He breaks down the common pitfalls in managing emotions, spending, tax...

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📞 Ready to take the next step?

Connect with the Peterson Financial team here 👉 https://petersonfg.com/ 

Eric breaks down some of the most common misconceptions about retirement planning and reveals what it really takes to build lasting financial confidence. He explains how to find the right balance between growth, safety, and tax efficiency while addressing myths about investment risk, life insurance, and retirement income. Backe...

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📞 Ready to take the next step?

Connect with the Peterson Financial team here 👉 https://petersonfg.com/ 

When it comes to retirement, every financial decision counts- but some are more complicated than others. In this episode, Eric tackles listener questions about three real-life retirement scenarios. First, he explains what happens when you want to adjust or cancel a life insurance policy with cash value, and why doing it the wro...

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October 2, 2025 12 mins

📞 Ready to take the next step?

Connect with the Peterson Financial team here 👉 https://petersonfg.com/ 

Golf and retirement may seem worlds apart, but the lessons from the course fit perfectly into financial planning. In this episode, Eric shares why chasing “hole-in-one” investments can feel exciting but dangerous if it makes you think you’ve “figured it all out.” Just like golf, one great shot doesn’t win the round. Retirement ...

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📞 Ready to take the next step?

Connect with the Peterson Financial team here 👉 https://petersonfg.com/ 

We’ve all heard the phrase “famous last words.” These statements sound confident in the moment but don’t age well. Retirement planning has its own version of those phrases and believing them can lead to painful consequences. In this episode, Eric shares the financial phrases he’s heard far too often, why they can be dangerous, ...

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September 18, 2025 14 mins

📞 Ready to take the next step?

Connect with the Peterson Financial team here 👉 https://petersonfg.com/ 

Retirement planning often looks straightforward from the outside, but as Eric explains, many decisions can be harder to make than they appear. In this episode, Eric and Marc break down some of the most common challenges retirees face, starting with the big question of when to claim Social Security. They discuss why the timing d...

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September 11, 2025 12 mins

📞 Ready to take the next step?

Connect with the Peterson Financial team here 👉 https://petersonfg.com/ 

The financial world is crowded with titles- advisor, broker, planner- and it isn’t always clear what those labels mean for your retirement. In this episode, Eric breaks down the critical differences between brokers and fiduciary advisors, using simple analogies to show how each approach your money in very different ways.

Here’s...

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September 4, 2025 14 mins

📞 Ready to take the next step?

Connect with the Peterson Financial team here 👉 https://petersonfg.com/ 

Gen X is often called the “forgotten generation,” but when it comes to retirement planning, they may also be the most at risk. Many Xers came of age just as pensions were disappearing, making them the first generation to rely heavily on 401ks. Add in market crashes, higher levels of personal debt, and a fierce streak of indepen...

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📞 Ready to take the next step?

Connect with the Peterson Financial team here 👉 https://petersonfg.com/ 

Conventional wisdom often sounds reassuring: “Real estate always goes up.” “Mortgages are good debt.” “Switch investments when something isn’t working.” But is it actually wise advice? In this episode, Eric challenges some of the most common money clichés and points out where they can lead retirees astray. It’s time to test whe...

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August 21, 2025 13 mins

📞 Ready to take the next step?

Connect with the Peterson Financial team here 👉 https://petersonfg.com/ 

Could you be wealthier than you realize once all your accounts and assets are tallied? Many pre-retirees and retirees underestimate the financial strength they’ve already built, creating unnecessary stress. In this episode, Eric shares five clear signs that you’re on stronger financial footing than you might think. If you’ve ev...

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