Perfect Game Retirement

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
 
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Phone: (470) 508-0508
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If I Won’t Live to 90, Should I Claim Social Security Early?

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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
 
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Phone: (470) 508-0508
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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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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/
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Gen X, It’s Your Turn: It’s Time To Think About Retirement

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Cue the mixtape of Nirvana, Madonna, and Prince… Gen X, it’s your turn to get ready for retirement. And the stakes are high. You were the first 401(k) generation, hit by two major market crashes, and now you’re entering retirement with more financial uncertainty than the Boomers before you. But you also have something else: resilience. If you're in between your mid-40s and early 60s, it’s time to get serious about what retirement will look like for your generation.
Here’s what we discuss in this episode:
🎸 Rocked by Nirvana, now rocked by retirement? Gen X faces unique financial headwinds
💣 Kill the debt bomb before it blows up your fixed income
💡 Catch-up hacks unlocked! Supercharge savings in your 50s and 60s
🕶️ Semi-retired & still cool… why side gigs could be your secret weapon
🧩 Retirement math isn’t guesswork, smart software and strategy make it crystal clear
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

Big Beautiful Bill Myths Debunked

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Big tax law changes always bring big rumors. But before you assume Social Security is now tax-free or that you’re getting a $40K deduction just for breathing, let’s set the record straight on what this new bill didn’t actually do. In this episode, Ryan sets the record straight on some of the most misleading claims surrounding the new “Big Beautiful Bill.”
Here’s what we discuss in this episode:
⚠️ Six big myths people might believe about the Big Beautiful Bill
📉 Tax cuts aren’t universal, income limits and phaseouts still apply
🤔 What sounds like a benefit, might not be a benefit to everyone
🚗 Car loan interest deduction is real, but let’s look at the fine print
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

What The “Big Beautiful Bill” Means for Your Retirement Plan

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A new tax bill has officially passed (you’ve probably heard it mentioned as the “Big Beautiful Bill”). And while most headlines are focused on politics, we’re focused on what it means for your retirement. The choices you make in the next year or two could have a significant impact on how much you keep and how much goes to Uncle Sam. In this episode, Ryan unpacks the key changes and why they matter for your retirement.
Here’s what we discuss in this episode:
🌆 Good news for high-property-tax states
💵 Tax brackets extended, but don’t call them permanent
💰 “Senior Bonus” deduction… is this a good thing?
🧮 Social Security still taxed, despite misleading headlines
🔁 Roth conversions still alive, with no new limits, no income cap
 
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

The 4 Things You Can Control in Retirement

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Markets crash. Taxes shift. Congress waffles on Social Security. You can’t control any of that. And stressing over it won’t help. What will? Focusing on the four things that actually move the needle in retirement. In this episode, Ryan breaks down the key areas where retirees actually do have control, and how leaning into those can make all the difference.
Here’s what we discuss in this episode:
📉 Why risk consistency matters more than averages
💸 Income streams you can count on
📊 How tax buckets change everything
🧠 Control Social Security’s role in your plan
 
Visit us online: https://blackoakam.com/
Phone: (470) 508-0508
Get more financial education on our YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/45kJlwI

Should You Gift Money While You’re Alive or Leave A Legacy?

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You’ve worked hard, saved well, and now you’re thinking about giving back—maybe to your kids, your grandkids, or a cause you care about. But should you wait and pass that wealth on later, or give while you’re still around to enjoy the impact? Let’s talk about how to make that decision with confidence.
In this episode, Ryan walks through the key considerations for making smart, intentional choices with your wealth, including understanding gift tax rules, weighing the emotional impact, and making sure your own financial foundation is solid before giving anything away.
Here’s what we discuss in this episode:
✨ $19,000 Gift Tax Exclusion
👀 See the Impact Now: enjoy watching loved one's benefit while you're here
🎓 Tuition gifting tip to avoid using gift limit
❤️ Clarify your “why” and what truly matters to you
💸 Smarter RMD strategies
 
Visit us online: https://blackoakam.com/
Phone: (470) 508-0508
Get more financial education on our YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/45kJlwI