Stay Wealthy Retirement Podcast

Taylor Schulte, CFP®

An award-winning retirement podcast dedicated to helping you lower taxes, invest smarter, and make work optional. Do you want to avoid overpaying the IRS in retirement? Or learn how to prepare for the next stock market crash? How about when to take Social Security and how to turn your investments into reliable retirement income? Hey there! I'm CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Taylor Schulte, and I was recently named the #2 Independent Financial Advisor in the U.S. by Investopedia. Each week on this retirement podcast, I'll answer BIG financial questions and help you "stay wealthy" in retirement.

  1. FEB 5

    Annuities Explained: When Guarantees Help—and When They Hurt Your Retirement

    Annuities are often sold as a simple solution to a complicated retirement problem. Guaranteed income. Protection from market volatility. Peace of mind that your money won't run out. But behind those promises is a much more complex set of trade-offs that many investors don't consider.  Because while annuities can play a role in retirement planning, evaluating them in isolation often leads to unintended consequences (higher fees, reduced flexibility, extra taxes).  So in today's episode, I break down how annuities actually work. We'll walk through the major types of annuities, how "guarantees" are structured, what you're really paying for, and where the risks tend to show up later in retirement. I'll also explain when annuities may make sense, when they don't, and how to evaluate them as part of a coordinated retirement plan so you can make informed decisions with confidence. *** 📆 BOOK A CALL: For two decades, we've have helped hundreds of families across the U.S. plan smarter retirements—from tax strategies and investments to income and legacy planning. The result? Less stress. Lower taxes. More confidence about the future. If you're looking for clarity and a proven, personalized process, we'd be honored to have a conversation. 👉 Click to Learn More and Schedule *** EPISODE RESOURCES: →  Grab the Episode Show Notes → Join the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter →  Learn About the Total Retirement System™

    29 min
  2. JAN 22

    What Happens to Your Taxes When a Spouse Dies (And How to Plan Ahead)

    After decades of filing taxes together, most couples assume their retirement plan will continue largely unchanged if one spouse passes away. But for many surviving spouses, the first surprise is a higher tax bill, even when income hasn't changed much. In this episode, I explain how a feature of the tax code can increase taxes after the loss of a spouse. Using a real-world example, I show why tax brackets shrink, why retirement income often doesn't, and how that mismatch can quietly drive taxes higher over time. More importantly, I share a planning framework couples can use while both spouses are still alive. We'll cover common mistakes, why the "married window" matters, and how small, intentional decisions made years in advance can meaningfully protect the surviving spouse. This isn't about fear or worst-case scenarios—it's about avoiding unnecessary surprises and making thoughtful, proactive decisions that support confidence throughout retirement. *** 📆 BOOK A CALL: For two decades, we've have helped hundreds of families across the U.S. plan smarter retirements—from tax strategies and investments to income and legacy planning. The result? Less stress. Lower taxes. More confidence about the future. If you're looking for clarity and a proven, personalized process, we'd be honored to have a conversation. 👉 Click to Learn More and Schedule *** EPISODE RESOURCES: →  Grab the Episode Show Notes → Join the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter →  Learn About the Total Retirement System™

    17 min
  3. JAN 15

    How to Use 2026 Market Outlooks to Plan for Retirement

    Every year, Wall Street rolls out its market predictions. Targets get published, expectations get set, and the headlines make it sound like the future is just a spreadsheet away. But markets have a long history of humbling even the most confident forecasts, and that creates a real problem for retirement savers. Because, while short-term forecasts are usually noise, ignoring market expectations altogether isn't the answer either.  So in today's episode, I break down how to think about market outlooks the right way. We'll cover why forecasts so often miss the mark, when long-term assumptions actually matter, and how market research can be used as a planning tool (not a prediction engine). I also share key themes from Vanguard's Economic and Market Outlook for 2026, focusing on growth, inflation, and expected returns—and why all of that matters for your portfolio and retirement plan. *** 📆 BOOK A CALL: For two decades, we've have helped hundreds of families across the U.S. plan smarter retirements—from tax strategies and investments to income and legacy planning. The result? Less stress. Lower taxes. More confidence about the future. If you're looking for clarity and a proven, personalized process, we'd be honored to have a conversation. 👉 Click to Learn More and Schedule *** EPISODE RESOURCES: →  Grab the Episode Show Notes → Join the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter →  Learn About the Total Retirement System™

    20 min

Hosts & Guests

4.7
out of 5
635 Ratings

About

An award-winning retirement podcast dedicated to helping you lower taxes, invest smarter, and make work optional. Do you want to avoid overpaying the IRS in retirement? Or learn how to prepare for the next stock market crash? How about when to take Social Security and how to turn your investments into reliable retirement income? Hey there! I'm CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Taylor Schulte, and I was recently named the #2 Independent Financial Advisor in the U.S. by Investopedia. Each week on this retirement podcast, I'll answer BIG financial questions and help you "stay wealthy" in retirement.

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