The Retirement Planners of America Podcast

Buy-and-hold has a place—but retirement brings new risks like sequence-of-returns, required withdrawals, and tax considerations. In this conversation, Ken and the team break down how market downturns can affect lifetime income, why diversification alone may not limit losses, and where a rules-based “sell discipline” can fit into a retirement plan.

We cover:
• Sequence-of-returns risk and why early losses can sting in r...

How much market risk do you actually need to reach your retirement goals? In this episode, Ken and Jeremy walk through the trade-off between return and volatility, how mix (e.g., 60/40 vs. 30/70) changes portfolio behavior, why diversification helps—but isn’t a cure-all—and why the “most important decade” (five years before and five years after retirement) deserves extra care.
Ready to talk through your plan? Visit rpoa.com to ...

Will your savings reliably support you through your retirement years?

In this episode of the Retirement Planners of America podcast, Ken Moraif and co-host Jeremy Thornton walk through their Retirement Cash Flow Plan framework — a practical way to think about income, withdrawals, taxes, inflation, and bear markets when you’re in (or approaching) retirement.

Using a real-world style example, they discuss:

...

Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) can impact taxes, Medicare premiums, and cash-flow in retirement. In this episode, Ken Moraif and Jeremy Thornton explain when RMDs start (age rules), how the penalties work, and practical ways retirees plan ahead—like tax-bracket management, Roth conversions, qualified charitable distributions (QCDs), spousal planning, and timing tactics that help you stay organized and invested.

RPOA...

Inflation eats into purchasing power—especially once pay raises stop. In this episode, Ken and Jeremy cover practical, level-headed ways retirees can plan for inflation without hype: from choosing where to keep cash, to timing Social Security, budgeting with intention, and setting the right mix of stocks versus safer assets.

We keep it simple, educational, and actionable so you can feel more confident about your retirement...

Retirement has a “red zone”: the 5 years before and the 5 years after you retire. Decisions in this window can shape the rest of your financial life. In this episode, Ken Moraif and CIO Jordan Roach discuss why this decade matters, how major market drawdowns have impacted real families, and practical ways to think about risk, withdrawals, and planning so your savings can support your goals for the long run.

RPOA Advisors, ...

Many families are surprised to learn that while life insurance proceeds are generally income-tax free, they can still be included in your taxable estate if ownership and premium rules aren’t handled correctly. In this episode, Ken and Jeremy break down when a policy may be pulled into your estate and how a properly structured Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust (ILIT) can help. We also cover the three IRS “ownership/incidents/premiums...

Protecting an inheritance for children and grandkids can be done thoughtfully and within the law. In this episode, we unpack how dynasty (aka generation-skipping) trusts are structured, what they can and cannot do, and why some families use them to help insulate assets from lawsuits, divorce, bankruptcy, and potential estate taxes—subject to state rules and careful drafting. This discussion is educational, not legal advice. Please ...

Thinking about how to pass your home to family the right way? In this episode, Ken and Jeremy walk through the Qualified Personal Residence Trust (QPRT)—what it is, when it’s considered, key trade-offs, and common pitfalls to avoid. You’ll learn high-level concepts like present-value discounting, trust timelines, living arrangements, and why professional advice is essential.
What we cover:
• What a QPRT is (at a high level)...

Thinking about excluding an heir from your estate? This video gives you a clear, education-focused guide to what’s involved, what commonly goes wrong, and legal tools that may help (like living trusts).
What you’ll see in the video:
• Why disinheritance is almost always emotional, not just financial
• Risks to your plan if you don’t set up documents carefully
• How a living trust can help avoid surprises or challeng...

✍️ Estate planning may not be the most glamorous topic—but it’s one of the most important steps you can take to protect your family and your legacy. Without a plan, you risk letting the government decide what happens to your wealth, or worse, creating family conflicts that last for generations.

In this episode of the Retirement Planners of America Podcast, Ken Moraif and Jeremy Thornton break down:
✅ The basics of will...

If you’re not careful, the way you take money out of your retirement accounts could cost you tens of thousands of dollars in unnecessary taxes. The good news? With the right strategy, you can keep more of your hard-earned savings.

In this episode, Ken Moraif (Founder & CEO of Retirement Planners of America) and CIO Jordan Roach cover:
✅ The biggest withdrawal mistakes retirees make
✅ How tax treatment differs a...

What if you could receive your Social Security tax free? Sounds too good to be true — but for millions of retirees, new rules could make it possible until 2029.

In this episode, Ken Moraif (Founder & CEO of Retirement Planners of America) and CIO Jordan Roach break down:
✅ How Social Security is taxed using provisional income
✅ The new $6,000 deduction per person — and what it means for retirees
✅ How retir...

President Trump just signed an executive order that could allow cryptocurrency, real estate, and private equity inside your 401(k).

But what does this mean for retirees and those nearing retirement? Is it a golden opportunity—or a risky move?

In this episode of the Retirement Planners of America Podcast, Ken Moraif and Chief Investment Officer Jordan Roach break it all down:
• The potential benefits of adding ...

Retirement Planners of America's Senior Retirement Planner Ken Moraif reviews the economy and market events for August 15, 2025. Learn more or sign up for RPOA's weekly Market Alerts at https://RetirementPlannersofAmerica.com​. 

Invest and Protect Episode: https://youtu.be/gdBNBICvKww 

Economic indicators and stock market performance cannot be predicted. Opinions expressed regarding the economy and the s...

🎯 The Four Stages of Your Financial Life Cycle: Where Do Most People Fail?

Retirement doesn’t happen by accident—it’s a journey that unfolds across four critical stages: Earning, Accumulation, Protection, and Legacy. In this episode of the Retirement Planners of America Podcast, Ken Moraif and Jeremy Thornton break down each phase and reveal where most people go wrong—and how you can avoid costly mistakes.

💡 Wha...

🚩 5 Red Flags to Watch for When Choosing a Financial Planner
Not all financial planners are created equal. In this episode, we break down five warning signs to look out for when evaluating who to trust with your money.

From vague answers to questionable incentives, these red flags can help you ask better questions and make more informed decisions.

This episode is part of an ongoing series aimed at helping you...

🎙️ 5 Critical Things to Know Before You Take Social Security
Deciding when and how to take Social Security isn’t just about picking a date—it can have lasting financial consequences. In this episode, we break down five essential factors to consider before making your choice, including:

✅ Key age milestones that impact your benefits
✅ The role of life expectancy and break-even points
✅ How your income affects b...

📰 Social Security Cuts? What You Need to Know Now

The Social Security Trustees have issued a stark update: by 2035, the system may only be able to pay out 81% of promised benefits. In this episode, we unpack what’s happening, what it could mean for your retirement income, and how these changes might affect people at different income levels.

Ken and Jeremy explore:

The latest Social Security projections

What happened in the past—and...