Perfect Game Retirement

Pre-Tax vs After-Tax Contributions: Which One’s Right for You?

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Pre-tax or after-tax? That is the question. There’s no Life 101 class that talks you through these choices, and one wrong move could impact how much of your retirement savings you get to keep. Ryan breaks down the key differences between Traditional and Roth IRAs, explaining how each impacts your taxes, contributions, and withdrawals. Tune in for practical tips to help you maximize your retirement savings and choose the best approach for your financial goals.
Here’s what we discuss in this episode:
💵 Pre-Tax Basics: How Traditional IRAs reduce today’s tax bill
🧾 Roth Advantage: Tax-free growth and withdrawals explained
⚖️ Pay Now or Later: The trade-off that defines both accounts
🧮 Contribution Limits: What you can put in for 2025
🕰️ Age Factor: How timing impacts your long-term tax picture
🔁 Conversions: When to roll pre-tax money into a Roth
 
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/
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Retirement Mailbag: RVs, Roth 401(k)s, and Smarter Investing

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Ever thought about buying an RV in retirement, but not sure if it makes sense financially? Or maybe you’ve built up a big nest egg but don’t feel confident about how to actually invest or withdraw it. And what about those new Roth 401(k) options showing up at work, are they worth it? In this episode, Ryan answers real listener questions about these exact scenarios, breaking down the tax traps, planning strategies, and smarter ways to make decisions that fit your retirement lifestyle.
Here’s what we discuss in this episode:
🚐 Should retirees buy, rent, or finance an RV?
💸 The tax hit of pulling from an IRA
📉 Why debt sometimes beats a lump-sum withdrawal
🧑‍🏫 How hiring a financial advisor can help in the decumulation phase
🎯 Target date funds: pros and limitations
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

Reacting To Unfiltered Retirement Takes from YouTube

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Forget polished advice. If you want the real story on retirement, head to the YouTube comments. That’s where people speak their minds, sharing fears about running out of money, frustrations with the system, and creative strategies they’ve tried themselves. In this episode, Ryan digs into those unfiltered takes and separates what’s solid from what can steer you wrong.
Here’s what we discuss in this episode:
💵 Does taking Social Security early make sense?
🏥 Budgeting for healthcare before Medicare
🧠 Overcoming the fear of spending in retirement
👤 Unique estate and tax challenges for singles
 
Visit us online: https://blackoakam.com/
Phone: (470) 508-0508
Get in touch with the Black Oak team: https://blackoakam.com/contact-us/
Get more financial education on our YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/45kJlwI

What If You Fall Short of Your Retirement Savings Goal?

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📦 Grab your FREE Tax-Free Retirement Toolkit: https://toolkit.blackoakam.com/podcast-toolkit.html
In this episode, Ryan tackles a listener question about falling short of your retirement savings goal. Beverly’s goal was to reach $1 million in her 401(k), but she’s currently at $850,000 and unsure if she can retire comfortably in just one more year. Ryan shares how the “magic number” varies for everyone and the importance of flexibility in your retirement plan.
Here’s what we discuss in this episode:
🏦 How much do you really need for retirement?
💡 Flexibility is key in creating an income plan
📉 The importance of planning for lifestyle expenses
🔄 Adjusting your plan based on market fluctuations
 
Visit us online: https://blackoakam.com/
Phone: (470) 508-0508
Get in touch with the Black Oak team: https://blackoakam.com/contact-us/
Get more financial education on our YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/45kJlwI

The Hidden Medicare Penalty You Might Be Paying

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Think Medicare is free once you hit 65? Not quite. Many retirees are surprised by IRMAA—the Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount. This hidden surcharge can quietly increase your Medicare Part B and Part D premiums, shrinking your Social Security check by thousands each year. The frustrating part? It’s tied to your income from two years prior, so you might trigger higher premiums without even realizing it.
Here’s what we discuss in this episode:
🧾 What IRMAA is and who it will impact
💵 IRMAA Triggers: RMDs, capital gains, pensions, and stock sales
🎯 Tips to avoid IRMAA
🧠 Smart tax planning helps reduce or avoid costly surcharges
 
Visit us online: https://blackoakam.com/
Phone: (470) 508-0508
Get in touch with the Black Oak team: https://blackoakam.com/contact-us/
Get more financial education on our YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/45kJlwI

Fuzzy Math Could Be Sabotaging Your Financial Future

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You’ve probably said it before: “I ran the numbers, and I should be fine.” But what if the math you’re relying on isn’t telling the whole story? In this episode, Ryan unpacks some of the most common examples of fuzzy retirement math and how they can quietly derail your financial future. Don’t let fuzzy math sabotage your future, learn how to spot it before it’s too late.
Here’s what we discuss in this episode:
📊 Why a “7% average return” doesn’t guarantee future results
🏦 How dividend investing can backfire despite steady payouts
🛍️ Why retirees often spend just as much—just differently
💰 The danger of assuming lower tax brackets in retirement
🛑 Why counting on part-time work is risky at best
 
Visit us online: https://blackoakam.com/
Phone: (470) 508-0508
Get in touch with the Black Oak team: https://blackoakam.com/contact-us/
Get more financial education on our YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/45kJlwI

If I Won’t Live to 90, Should I Claim Social Security Early?

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📦 Grab your FREE Tax-Free Retirement Toolkit: https://toolkit.blackoakam.com/podcast-toolkit.html
If your parents passed away relatively young, it’s only natural to wonder whether you’ll follow the same path. And from a financial standpoint, does that change how you should approach things like retirement planning and when to draw Social Security benefits? In this episode, Ryan answers a listener’s question on this exact topic.
Here’s what we discuss in this episode:
⏳ Claiming at 62 locks in lower benefits for life
📈 Holding off on SS can grow your payout by 8% a year
💑 Spousal benefits and legacy goals change the equation
🛠️ Planning tools can show which claiming age improves your long-term success
 
Visit us online: https://blackoakam.com/
Phone: (470) 508-0508
Get in touch with the Black Oak team: https://blackoakam.com/contact-us/
Get more financial education on our YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/45kJlwI

5 Signs You’re Wealthier Than You Think

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Most people don’t feel wealthy. But what if your day-to-day habits are quietly building serious financial strength? A recent article from Kiplinger outlined five surprising signs that you might be richer than you think. And none of them involve yachts or private jets. Today, Ryan analyzes the habits that signal real, lasting wealth and what to do if you are (or aren’t) on the right track.
Here’s what we discuss in this episode:
🏦 Emergency funds = hidden wealth
📉 Living below your means pays off
📊 Smart investing builds long-term security
💻 Side hustles & passive income streams matter
📆 Long-term focus beats short-term noise
 
Visit us online: https://blackoakam.com/
Phone: (470) 508-0508
Get in touch with the Black Oak team: https://blackoakam.com/contact-us/
Get more financial education on our YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/45kJlwI

Back To School Retirement Planning Quiz

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The kids might be heading back to school, but today it’s your turn to take a pop quiz—on retirement planning. In this episode, Ryan puts us to the test on five essential financial questions every retiree and pre-retiree should know. So, let’s test your knowledge with a quick financial pop quiz and see how ready you really are.
Here’s what we discuss in this episode:
📆 When you can claim full Social Security benefits
💰 Catch-up contributions after age 50
📂 Which accounts require RMDs
📈 What the 4% rule really means today
🚨 Top risks that can derail retirement
 
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 more financial education on our YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/45kJlwI

7 Retirement Assumptions to Reconsider in 2025

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📦 Grab your FREE Tax-Free Retirement Toolkit: https://toolkit.blackoakam.com/podcast-toolkit.html 
Just because something used to be true doesn’t mean it still is, especially in retirement planning. In 2025, rising interest rates, tax uncertainty, and longer retirements mean it’s time to rethink some of the old advice. These seven assumptions sound smart at first… but they could quietly hurt your plan if you’re not careful. In this episode, Ryan walks through the most common retirement “rules” that may have expired, and explains what to consider instead.
Here’s what we discuss in this episode:
📉 Why 4% may no longer work
🧾 Tax strategies need an update
💸 You might not spend less
🧠 Rethink, realign, retire smarter
 
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