Perfect Game Retirement

The 146th US Open tennis tournament gets underway at the end of August, so Ryan figured it was a good excuse to see what tennis can teach us about financial planning. Turns out, more than you'd think. Every great tennis player has a game plan, but also the discipline to adjust it mid-match without losing their nerve. That's not a bad description of good financial planning either.
Here’s what we discuss in this episode:
🎾 Singles vs. Doubles: Couples often have more planning flexibility than individuals
🏆 Specialization Matters: Different advisors may be better suited for different financial needs
🎯 Hold Serve: Focus on savings, debt, and other factors within your control
🚫 Unforced Errors: Emotional decisions can derail an otherwise solid plan
⏳ Long-Term Game: A bad month or year doesn’t define your retirement outcome
 
Visit us online: https://blackoakam.com/
Phone: (470) 508-0508
Get in touch with the Black Oak team: https://blackoakam.com/contact-us/
Schedule a call with Ryan: https://speakwithryan.com/
Get your tax-free retirement toolkit: https://bit.ly/3PMjKqc
Get more financial education on our YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/45kJlwI

Somewhere in a drawer, a filing cabinet, or a shoebox in the closet, most of us are holding onto financial paperwork we don't actually need. And we’re probably missing a few things we do need. Ryan sorts out what stays, what goes, and where it all belongs. Nobody loves paperwork, but a little bit of organization now saves a lot of scrambling later for you and for whoever has to help sort it out someday. When in doubt, ask us before you shred it.
Here’s what we discuss in this episode:
🗂️ Organizing Documents: A clear system makes important records easier to find
💼 Pay Stubs and Tax Forms: Keep what supports taxes or resolves discrepancies
📈 Investment Statements: Prioritize year-end records over monthly paperwork
📜 Estate Documents: Store current originals securely and permanently
🏦 Loan Paperwork: Keep records until the debt is fully resolved
🗑️ Document Disposal: Shred paperwork containing sensitive personal information
 
Visit us online: https://blackoakam.com/
Phone: (470) 508-0508
Get in touch with the Black Oak team: https://blackoakam.com/contact-us/
Schedule a call with Ryan: https://speakwithryan.com/
Get your tax-free retirement toolkit: https://bit.ly/3PMjKqc
Get more financial education on our YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/45kJlwI

More people in their 60s and 70s are staying on the job than ever before, and it's not always about the money. Today, Ryan digs into the real reasons retirees keep showing up to work. Working longer isn't automatically the wrong call. Sometimes it's exactly right. The real question is whether it's a choice or a fallback. That's worth figuring out before you assume the answer.
Here’s what we discuss in this episode:
👥 Extended Workforce Participation: People continue working for many different reasons
🤝 Social Interaction: Work can provide community, identity, and purpose
💵 Money Worries: Leaving a paycheck can create understandable anxiety
🏠 Change at Home: Retirement can reshape routines and relationships
🗺️ Planning Doubts: Uncertainty can make retirement feel too risky
 
Visit us online: https://blackoakam.com/
Phone: (470) 508-0508
Get in touch with the Black Oak team: https://blackoakam.com/contact-us/
Schedule a call with Ryan: https://speakwithryan.com/
Get your tax-free retirement toolkit: https://bit.ly/3PMjKqc
Get more financial education on our YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/45kJlwI

When it comes to financial planning, everybody has something that bothers them. Today, Ryan’s walking through some of the most common pain points we see and the real conversations that happen around them. Nobody walks into retirement without at least one of these on their mind. The good news is that most of them have real answers. And all of them are worth talking about. If any of these hits close to home, that's exactly where our conversation should start.
Here’s what we discuss in this episode:
💸 Running Out: Test whether retirement income can last
🧾 Tax Angst: Structure withdrawals for greater tax efficiency
🏥 Long-Term Care: Prepare for possible future care costs
💵 Leaving Paychecks: Replace workplace income with a plan
📉 Market Anxiety: Stress-test retirement against poor returns
✅ Start Talking: Address concerns before retirement begins
 
Visit us online: https://blackoakam.com/
Phone: (470) 508-0508
Get in touch with the Black Oak team: https://blackoakam.com/contact-us/
Schedule a call with Ryan: https://speakwithryan.com/
Get your tax-free retirement toolkit: https://bit.ly/3PMjKqc
Get more financial education on our YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/45kJlwI

There's an entire television network dedicated to doing things yourself — home renovation, landscaping, interior design, all of it. And the DIY mentality is genuinely admirable. But when it comes to retirement planning, Ryan says that the stakes of a bad install are a little higher than a crooked backsplash. DIY has its place. But some projects are worth calling a professional, especially when the cost of getting it wrong follows you for the next thirty years.
Here’s what we discuss in this episode:
🛠️ DIY Planning: Know when to stay in your lane
⚖️ Cost vs. Value: Decide what professional help is worth
🚨 Common Triggers: Life changes often prompt action
🧩 Planning Mistakes: Small oversights can create major consequences
🤝 First Meeting: Start with conversation, not commitment
 
Visit us online: https://blackoakam.com/
Phone: (470) 508-0508
Get in touch with the Black Oak team: https://blackoakam.com/contact-us/
Schedule a call with Ryan: https://speakwithryan.com/
Get your tax-free retirement toolkit: https://bit.ly/3PMjKqc
Get more financial education on our YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/45kJlwI

According to a recent Kiplinger article, there are five keys to a retirement plan that hold up over time. They all happen to start with the same letter, which either means it's a great framework or someone really wanted it to work out that way. In this episode, Ryan walks through the “5 D’s” of retirement planning and how each one plays a role in helping retirees build a plan that can hold up over time.
Here’s what we discuss in this episode:
🌐 Diversification: Spread income, investments, and taxes
⏳ Duration: Make your savings last longer
🛡️ Downside Protection: Limit damage during market declines
✈️ Discretionary Income: Plan confidently for life’s enjoyment
⚓ Portfolio Drag: Reduce fees, taxes, and inefficiencies
 
Visit us online: https://blackoakam.com/
Phone: (470) 508-0508
Get in touch with the Black Oak team: https://blackoakam.com/contact-us/
Schedule a call with Ryan: https://speakwithryan.com/
Get your tax-free retirement toolkit: https://bit.ly/3PMjKqc
Get more financial education on our YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/45kJlwI

Dave Ramsey has built one of the most recognized brands in personal finance. Millions of people have followed his advice out of debt and into savings. But when it comes to how much you should pull from your retirement accounts each year, Ramsey takes a position that some financial professionals find hard to get behind. Today, we break it down: what Dave says, what the research says, and what Ryan thinks.
Here’s what we discuss in this episode:
📉 Stock Market Risk: Understanding the volatility of an all-stock portfolio
📏 The Traditional Rule: Why 4% became a common retirement benchmark
🚨 The 8% Concern: How withdrawals can magnify losses during a downturn
🧾 Taxes Matter: Choosing which accounts to withdraw from strategically
🧩 Your Personal Number: Building an income plan around your unique needs
 
Check out the article about this topic:
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/ramsey-8-retirement-rule-sounds-170209842.html 
 
Visit us online: https://blackoakam.com/
Phone: (470) 508-0508
Get in touch with the Black Oak team: https://blackoakam.com/contact-us/
Schedule a call with Ryan: https://speakwithryan.com/
Get your tax-free retirement toolkit: https://bit.ly/3PMjKqc
Get more financial education on our YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/45kJlwI

Financial information has never been more available — TV, podcasts, YouTube, Reddit, and now AI that will answer any question in about three seconds. And yet some of the worst financial decisions we see come from people who did a ton of research first. Today, Ryan’s talking about why this happens and what good research actually looks like. Being informed is a good thing. Being confidently misinformed is a different thing entirely. Reach out and let’s have a frank conversation about your financial future.
Here’s what we discuss in this episode:
🔍 Advice Sources: Not all voices are equal
🤖 AI Tools: Helpful but not foolproof
🧠 Algorithm Bias: Seeing only one side
⚖️ Research Balance: Avoid analysis paralysis
🤝 Trusted Guidance: Advice tailored to you
🛑 Decision Delays: Research can become a problem
 
Visit us online: https://blackoakam.com/
Phone: (470) 508-0508
Get in touch with the Black Oak team: https://blackoakam.com/contact-us/
Schedule a call with Ryan: https://speakwithryan.com/
Get your tax-free retirement toolkit: https://bit.ly/3PMjKqc
Get more financial education on our YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/45kJlwI

Over the past year, one retirement video on YouTube pulled in 3.7 million views. The title: "Sell These 5 Things Before You Retire." We thought it was worth a conversation, not to tear it apart, but to react honestly. Does Ryan agree? Let's get into it: 3.7 million people watched this video for a reason. It touches something real. Retirement isn't just about what you've accumulated. Sometimes it's about what you're willing to let go of.
Here’s what we discuss in this episode:
👨‍👩‍👧 Adult Children: Helping versus enabling
🚤 Expensive Toys: Assets or burdens?
🚗 Second Vehicle: Necessity or extra expense
🪪 Work Identity: Preparing for life's next chapter
⚖️ Personal Choices: No one-size-fits-all answer
🎯 Decision Framework: How to ask better questions
 
Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IltvyKpy8Z4 
 
Visit us online: https://blackoakam.com/
Phone: (470) 508-0508
Get in touch with the Black Oak team: https://blackoakam.com/contact-us/
Schedule a call with Ryan: https://speakwithryan.com/
Get your tax-free retirement toolkit: https://bit.ly/3PMjKqc
Get more financial education on our YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/45kJlwI

Risk is unavoidable. The only question is whether the risk you're taking actually makes sense for where you are in life. Today, Ryan looks at three stages of the financial journey, and at each one, we've got three types of people with three very different approaches. Whether you're decades away from retirement or already living it, this conversation will help you think differently about risk and opportunity.
Here’s what we discuss in this episode:
📈 Life Stages: Why risk changes over time
🚀 30s & 40s: Avoiding the danger of being too cautious
⚖️ 50s & 60s: Balancing growth and protection
🏖️ 60s & 70s: Managing risk in retirement
🎓 Financial Education: Why planning early matters
 
Visit us online: https://blackoakam.com/
Phone: (470) 508-0508
Get in touch with the Black Oak team: https://blackoakam.com/contact-us/
Schedule a call with Ryan: https://speakwithryan.com/
Get your tax-free retirement toolkit: https://bit.ly/3PMjKqc
Get more financial education on our YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/45kJlwI