Perfect Game Retirement

Warning Signs You Picked the Wrong Advisor

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How do you know if your financial advisor is actually a good fit, or quietly working against your best interests? In this episode, Ryan walks us through common red flags that signal an advisor may not be serving you well. From cookie-cutter plans to poor communication, they explain what to watch for before small issues become costly mistakes. A great advisor builds trust, listens well, and never leaves you feeling in the dark.
Here’s what we discuss in this episode:
📈 Overpromising Returns: unrealistic expectations and guarantees
🧾 Tax Blind Spots: missing long-term tax coordination
📅 Outdated Plans: set-it-and-forget-it approach
🤝 Built Trust: strong relationships and transparency
 
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

How to Plan Together When You Keep Finances Separate

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📦 Grab your FREE Tax-Free Retirement Toolkit: https://toolkit.blackoakam.com/podcast-toolkit.html
More couples are entering marriage later in life with established careers, children from previous relationships, and financial lives they prefer to keep separate. Ryan breaks down how couples can still build a unified retirement plan without combining accounts. If you’ve ever wondered how to “team up” financially while keeping your money separate, this conversation gives you a blueprint.
Here’s what we discuss in this episode:
💍 Later-Life Remarriage: unique challenges couples face when they maintain separate assets
📖 Ground Rules & Transparency: sharing enough financial info to build a real plan
📜 Estate Planning Essentials: wills, trusts, prenups, and protecting blended families
🧭 Advisor as Mediator: how a planner provides objectivity and reduces emotional friction
 
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

How to Give with Purpose & Meaning

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📦 Grab your FREE Tax-Free Retirement Toolkit: https://toolkit.blackoakam.com/podcast-toolkit.html
Giving Tuesday and year-end donations always spark generosity, but the real impact comes when giving is intentional, not rushed or emotional. Ryan breaks down how to align your generosity with your financial plan so your giving feels meaningful and works smarter behind the scenes. The goal is to support causes you care about while staying thoughtful about timing, taxes, and long-term strategy.
Here’s what we discuss in this episode:
❤️ The “Why” Behind Giving: impact on your life, family, and community
📅 Timing Your Gifts: how year-round giving differs from seasonal giving
🧾 Tax-Smart Strategies: deductions, planning, and getting more mileage from every dollar
💸 Types of Giving: comparing cash gifts, QCDs, and donor-advised funds
 
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

Smart Ways to Protect Your Finances in an Uncertain Economy with Bob Ginty

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📦 Grab your FREE Tax-Free Retirement Toolkit: https://toolkit.blackoakam.com/podcast-toolkit.html
What’s the fastest way to regain control when your finances feel chaotic? This week, Ryan talks with Ramsey-Preferred Financial Coach Bob Ginty about practical ways to stabilize your finances, even when the economy feels unpredictable. They explore key areas that can help you create a stronger financial foundation no matter what’s going on around you.
Here’s what we discuss in this episode:
💰 Emergency Funds & Investing: building a strong base before taking risks
📉 Debt & Budgeting Solutions: cutting costs and organizing a workable plan
🧩 Budgeting Challenges: fixing the habits and hurdles that derail progress
🔄 Income & Expense Shifts: adjusting where money flows as life changes
🤝 Accountability & Communication: staying consistent through honest conversations and support
 
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

Warning Signs That Financial Trouble Could Be Ahead?

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📦 Grab your FREE Tax-Free Retirement Toolkit: https://toolkit.blackoakam.com/podcast-toolkit.html
Are you missing the warning signs in your financial life? In this episode, Ryan and Ramsey-Preferred Financial Coach Bob Genty discuss the biggest money challenges families are facing today—from overspending and debt stress to a lack of clear financial direction. They break down the habits and decisions that quietly sabotage progress and share practical ways to get back on track.
Here’s what we discuss in this episode:
🚩 Red Flags: common warning signs of a bad advisor relationship
💬 Communication Gaps: what it means when you feel “in the dark”
🤝 Advisor Fit: the importance of trust and transparency
📊 Financial Coaching: how accountability builds long-term success
🧭 Proactive Planning: why good advisors educate instead of sell
 
Learn more about Financial Coach Bob Ginty: www.setfreefinancialcoaching.net 
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

Should You Have More Than One Financial Advisor?

📅 Book a 1-on-1 with Ryan: https://speakwithryan.com/
📦 Grab your FREE Tax-Free Retirement Toolkit: https://toolkit.blackoakam.com/podcast-toolkit.html
Some investors believe having more than one advisor means more ideas, more diversification, and more protection. But in reality, it often creates more confusion than clarity. Ryan breaks down the pros and cons of working with multiple advisors, when it might make sense, and why a unified plan often leads to better results. At the end of the day, it’s not about how many people manage your money, it’s about how coordinated your strategy is.
Here’s what we discuss in this episode:
🚫 Hidden Challenges: How conflicting advice can cause confusion and mistakes
🤝 Trust Matters: Why credentials and personal connection should drive your choice
📊 One Team Approach: How a single advisory team provides internal diversification
💸 Avoiding Overlap: Preventing duplicate investments and unnecessary fees
 
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

Do Your Feelings Belong in Your Financial Plan?

📅 Book a 1-on-1 with Ryan: https://speakwithryan.com/
📦 Grab your FREE Tax-Free Retirement Toolkit: https://toolkit.blackoakam.com/podcast-toolkit.html
 
Most people think financial planning is about calculators, spreadsheets, and strategies. But that’s only half the story. The truth is your feelings about money can have just as much impact on your retirement as the numbers do. Today, Ryan explores the human side of money and how your feelings about home, debt, giving, and family can quietly shape your entire financial plan. At the end of the day, numbers give us the framework, but your feelings help define the plan that truly fits you.
Here’s what we discuss in this episode:
🏠 Where You Live: how emotional ties influence retirement location decisions
📊 Investment Preferences: balancing detail-oriented and big-picture mindsets
💳 Debt Decisions: finding peace between logic and emotion
📉 Market Emotions: staying grounded when volatility strikes
🎁 Giving & Legacy: weaving generosity and purpose into your financial plan
 
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

Retirement Health Care Costs Just Jumped Again (2025 Update)

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📦 Grab your FREE Tax-Free Retirement Toolkit: https://toolkit.blackoakam.com/podcast-toolkit.html
Fidelity just released their 2025 Retiree Health Care Cost Estimate, and the number is staggering: $172,500 for a 65-year-old retiring today. The bigger problem? One in five Americans hasn’t even thought about health care costs in retirement. Ryan breaks down what this means, why it matters, and how to prepare before medical costs derail your plan. Health care is one of retirement’s biggest wildcards, but with the right strategy, you can make it just another budget item, not a financial shock.
Here’s what we discuss in this episode:
💊 The Inflation Effect: health costs have more than doubled since 2002
🏥 Medicare Myths: it’s not free and doesn’t cover everything
🧓 Gen X Wake-Up Call: 1 in 4 haven’t planned for health care costs
💰 HSA Power: use the triple tax advantage to grow medical savings
🧠 Don’t Panic, Plan: turn the wildcard of health care into a checklist item
 
Fidelity Investments® Releases 2025 Retiree Health Care Cost Estimate:
https://newsroom.fidelity.com/pressreleases/fidelity-investments--releases-2025-retiree-health-care-cost-estimate--a-timely-reminder-for-all-gen/s/3c62e988-12e2-4dc8-afb4-f44b06c6d52e 
 
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

Where Should Someone Invest $1 Million?

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📦 Grab your FREE Tax-Free Retirement Toolkit: https://toolkit.blackoakam.com/podcast-toolkit.html
What should a financial advisor do if a client comes in with $1 million in cash to invest? That was the question posed to three financial advisors in a recent article, and their answers sparked a lively debate. Ryan reacts to each of their investment strategies and then shares his process for helping clients determine where to invest. It’s interesting to hear what other pros recommend, but the reality is that every million-dollar plan is unique. Age, goals, family, and even your sleep-at-night factor matter more than an allocation pie chart.
Here’s what we discuss in this episode:
🧮 Diversification Basics: Balancing stocks, bonds, and alternatives
⚙️ Risk Tolerance: Matching your comfort level to your strategy
📊 Age Factor: How strategies shift from 40s to 70s
💡 Tax Planning: Placing assets in the right accounts
🤝 Comprehensive Planning: Investments are just one piece of the puzzle
 
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

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

📅 Book a 1-on-1 with Ryan: https://speakwithryan.com/
📦 Grab your FREE Tax-Free Retirement Toolkit: https://toolkit.blackoakam.com/podcast-toolkit.html
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/
Get your tax-free retirement toolkit: https://bit.ly/3PMjKqc
Get more financial education on our YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/45kJlwI