Safe Money Radio with Brad Pistole

Brad Pistole
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Safe Money Radio host Brad Pistole is a nationally recognized Financial Professional who specializes in planning that protects principal from stock market volatility and creates guaranteed lifetime income. Listen here to receive insights from Brad and hear what he has to say regarding retirement income planning. 

  1. MAR 27

    Maximize Social Security in 2026 with Joseph Jordan

    Social Security is not just a government benefit. It’s a lifetime income decision that can define how retirement feels at 75, 85, or 95. We sit down with industry veteran Joseph Jordan to unpack why claiming rules feel confusing, why so many families miss meaningful dollars over a lifetime, and why the “take it at 62” advice often ignores today’s longevity reality.  We talk about what’s really driving the pressure on Social Security and Medicare, starting with demographics: fewer workers supporting more retirees who live longer and need more expensive care. From there, we get practical about the new Registered Social Security Analyst (RSSA) training and the kinds of real-world scenarios it helps solve, including spousal strategies, survivor planning, divorce rules, dependent benefits, disability, and how taxes can change the net paycheck you actually keep.  We also dig into Medicare IRMAA, why it surprises people, and why tax-free income sources matter more than ever in retirement income planning. That includes a clearer look at modern reverse mortgage planning, cash value life insurance, Roth IRA conversions, and the role of annuities as guaranteed lifetime income when markets and life expectancy are unpredictable. And we don’t skip the human side: retirement can bring a loss of routine, identity, and purpose, so planning has to go beyond spreadsheets.  If you want to make smarter Social Security claiming choices and build a more resilient retirement income plan, listen now, then subscribe, share this with someone close to retirement, and leave a review. What question do you want answered about your Social Security strategy? Send us Fan Mail To learn more about Brad Pistole and the Ozark Retirement Group, please visit www.ozarksretirement.com

    53 min

  2. MAR 19

    How To Plan For Parents’ Care And Protect Retirement Income with Heather Schreiber

    Your retirement plan can get blindsided by one question you never budgeted for: “What happens if my parent can’t live alone anymore?” We get real about the moment caregiving begins and why it feels like you’re solving ten problems at once: safety, doctors, accounts, passwords, housing, and family dynamics, all under time pressure. We share the practical first steps that reduce chaos fast, including how to think about legal authority like durable power of attorney and health care directives, and why waiting too long can push families into guardianship. Then we zoom out to the money side of elder care: what Medicare does and does not cover, why long-term care costs can drain savings quickly, and where Medicaid fits in. We explain the basics of Medicaid eligibility, including spend-down rules, income limits, recordkeeping, and the five-year lookback, plus why tools like a Qualified Income Trust (Miller Trust) may matter in higher-income cases. Finally, we tackle listener Social Security questions that prove claiming is never “one size fits all,” especially with a big age gap, minor kids at home, or a surviving spouse. We break down dependent and caregiver benefits, the family maximum, the earnings test for survivors, and the remarriage rules that can permanently change widow benefits. If you want clearer retirement income planning, smarter Social Security timing, and fewer surprises around Medicare and long-term care planning, this conversation gives you the framework. If this helped, subscribe, share the episode with someone navigating caregiving, and leave a review with the question you want us to answer next. Send us Fan Mail To learn more about Brad Pistole and the Ozark Retirement Group, please visit www.ozarksretirement.com

    49 min

  3. 1D AGO

    A Clear Guide To Social Security Claiming With Real History And Real Numbers

    Social Security is one of the biggest levers in retirement income planning, yet most people still make their claiming decision with a rule of thumb and a half-remembered story from a friend. We wanted to fix that. From our brand new studio, we share why we expanded our office and why we went deeper on Social Security training so we can help families make decisions that hold up for decades, not just this year’s budget. We walk through the real history of Social Security from 1935 forward, because the “why” behind the program explains the “why” behind the rules. You will hear the key moments that changed everything: the arrival of COLA, the addition of disability coverage, the 1983 reforms that raised full retirement age and introduced taxation of benefits, and the 2015 law that shut down certain couple claiming strategies while leaving survivor options intact. We also unpack the latest headlines, including the 2025 Social Security Fairness Act that repealed WEP and GPO for many retirees and surviving spouses. Then we bring it back to practical claiming strategy. Social Security has thousands of rules, the SSA cannot give personalized advice, and your choice can become difficult to undo after a short window. We explain the “throughout the month” eligibility rule, how benefit payment dates are set, why full retirement age matters so much, and why the “best” age to claim is different for every household. If you want to maximize lifetime Social Security benefits, reduce retirement taxes, and build a more reliable retirement income plan, this is your starting point. Subscribe, share this with someone near retirement, and leave a review with the Social Security question you want us to answer next. Send us Fan Mail To learn more about Brad Pistole and the Ozark Retirement Group, please visit www.ozarksretirement.com

    46 min

  4. MAR 12

    How Medicare's IRMAA Can Erode Your Social Security Benefit feat. Paul Morrison

    IRMAA isn’t a headline; it’s a hidden drain on retirement income that too many people meet for the first time in a letter. We sit down with our friend and IRMAA specialist Paul Morrison to expose how Medicare’s income-related monthly adjustment amounts work, why the two‑year tax return lookback catches people off guard, and what to do before you cross the line. From the SECURE Act’s inherited IRA rules to the surge of “unretiring” workers, the pressures pushing retirees into higher surcharges are rising fast—and often avoidable with the right plan. We break down what actually counts toward IRMAA: RMDs, wages, rental income, dividends, capital gains, pension income, and even interest on municipal bonds. Then we map the flipside—what doesn’t count—so you can build flexibility into your plan. Roth conversions (especially before age 63) reduce future RMDs and keep taxable income lower, which can also reduce the portion of Social Security that’s taxed. Properly designed cash value life insurance can provide tax‑free access to funds in high‑income years without pushing you into a new bracket. We also talk through premium inflation, how Part B and D surcharges compound over time, and why staying in higher IRMAA tiers for years can shrink a Social Security check to almost nothing. This is a practical, step‑by‑step conversation designed to help you see the road ahead. We share a real IRMAA letter, discuss one‑time events that trigger big bills, and outline how to smooth income so surprises don’t show up two years later. If you’re 55 and up, the best time to start modeling taxes and Medicare costs is now. Map your income sources, plan conversions, and choose when to realize gains so you control the brackets rather than letting the brackets control you. Ready to protect your Social Security and lower future Medicare premiums? Subscribe, share this episode with someone who needs it, and leave a review with your top IRMAA question so we can cover it on a future show. Send us Fan Mail To learn more about Brad Pistole and the Ozark Retirement Group, please visit www.ozarksretirement.com

    48 min

  5. MAR 6

    How To Bulletproof A Retirement Income Plan

    A plan that looks perfect on paper can fall apart in a single day. We walk through two true stories that start with strong income, low rates, and tidy portfolios—and then get hit by the kind of events that no spreadsheet can predict. A cancer diagnosis. A fall from a ladder. A pension election that seemed smart until it erased $8,000 a month for a surviving spouse. These moments reveal the cracks most people miss: survivor income, healthcare gaps before Medicare, taxable withdrawals as a single filer, and the silent cost of picking the wrong pension option. From there, we unpack the “quadruple whammy” that drains retirements—withdrawals, market losses, fees, and taxes—and show how to counter it with clear income segmentation, protected cash flow, and smart tax strategy. We break down the ten must-answer questions that shape a resilient plan: how you’ll live, where you’ll live, how much net income you need with inflation, when to claim Social Security for the strongest survivor benefit, and how to fund healthcare and long-term care without sinking your savings. You’ll hear why relying on one bucket of pre-tax money is risky, how to pair pensions with life insurance or annuity income for true survivor protection, and why liquidity outside retirement accounts matters when life hits hard. We keep it practical and human, blending strategy with lessons learned from families who thought they were set. If you want a retirement you can count on through market volatility, tax changes, and health surprises, this guide will help you spot your blind spots and fix them. Subscribe for more candid, step-by-step retirement planning insights, share this with someone who needs a stress test, and leave a review to tell us the next topic you want us to tackle. Send us Fan Mail To learn more about Brad Pistole and the Ozark Retirement Group, please visit www.ozarksretirement.com

    48 min

  6. FEB 27

    Tax Myths, RMD Rules, And Smarter Retirement Moves for 2026

    Tax season doesn’t have to feel like a gut punch. We pull back the curtain on the biggest myths—why a refund is not a win, why the “IRA deduction saves taxes” line is misleading, and how required minimum distributions can hijack your retirement income. From contribution limits to smart rollovers, we map the moves that help you keep more of every dollar you earn. We start by reframing the goal: lifetime, after‑tax income. You’ll hear how 401k, 403b, TSP, and 457 contributions affect future taxes, when an in‑service rollover at 59½ can expand your choices, and why an IRA is an arrangement with rules, not a blank‑check account. For business owners, we compare SEP and SIMPLE IRAs—bigger buckets but trickier obligations—and explain how they fit into a broader plan that blends pre‑tax relief now with tax‑free flexibility later. Then we dig into Roth IRAs and conversions. Learn how Roth dollars can shield you from future bracket hikes, IRMAA surcharges on Medicare, and the taxation of Social Security. We break down Roth income phase‑outs, practical conversion timing, and the massive real‑world gap between a $1M traditional IRA and a $1M Roth. Finally, we highlight two advanced levers: QLACs to delay RMDs on a slice of your savings to as late as 85, and QCDs that let generous retirees send IRA dollars directly to charities after 70½ without raising taxable income. If you’re ready to stop overpaying and start planning, this conversation will give you a clear path: target break‑even instead of refunds, use workplace matches wisely, blend Roth strategies, and deploy QLACs and QCDs where they fit. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs tax clarity, and leave a review with the one question you want us to tackle next. Send us Fan Mail To learn more about Brad Pistole and the Ozark Retirement Group, please visit www.ozarksretirement.com

    49 min

  7. FEB 20

    From Journalism To Retirement Insights With ThinkAdvisor’s John Manganaro

    Ever felt that jolt of panic when you imagine your savings running out too soon? We brought in ThinkAdvisor’s John Manganaro to pull fear out of the shadows and replace it with a plan. John’s journey from late-night policy reporting to leading retirement coverage gives him a rare vantage point: he hears what top researchers discover, what advisors do on the ground, and where real people get blindsided—especially by avoidable taxes and timing mistakes. We start with IRMAA, the Medicare surcharge that often arrives two years after a big income move. If you’ve ever taken a large IRA distribution at 63 and then wondered why your Medicare costs jumped at 65, this conversation breaks down the why and the how to fix it. From Roth conversions and bracket management to Social Security timing, we get specific on ways to reduce tax drag and steady your income. Then we turn to the data: two-thirds of Americans say they fear running out of money more than death. John explains why boomers are especially exposed—early 401(k)s without auto-escalation, heavy tax-deferred balances, and missed opportunities for Roth diversification. Housing plays a starring role too. Real home prices surged in recent years, handing many retirees a powerful lever. But higher rates and the emotional weight of leaving a family home complicate decisions. We explore practical paths—downsizing, renting after selling, or right-sizing to boost cash flow—without ignoring the psychology that keeps people stuck. Finally, we tackle persistent myths. No, an 8% withdrawal rate isn’t a plan. And no, annuities aren’t one-size-fits-all or off-limits. Research from Michael Finke and David Blanchett shows how combining Social Security with a carefully chosen slice of annuitized income can create an income floor that frees you to spend confidently. That “license to spend” is about more than math—it’s about peace of mind. If you want a retirement that feels calm, resilient, and guilt-free, this episode lays out the building blocks: secure income, tax-aware strategy, and the right housing choice at the right time. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs a nudge toward a smarter plan, and leave a review with your top retirement question—we’ll tackle it on a future show. Send us Fan Mail To learn more about Brad Pistole and the Ozark Retirement Group, please visit www.ozarksretirement.com

    50 min

  8. FEB 13

    From Net Worth To Income: A Woman’s Retirement Playbook with Lynn Toomey

    What if the safest path to a confident retirement starts with who you are, not how much you’ve saved? We sit down with Lynn Toomey, founder of Her Retirement and the More for Her Collective, to unpack a human-first approach that helps women feel prepared, informed, and in control. Instead of chasing a “magic number,” we focus on personality, purpose, and practical moves that translate assets into steady, predictable income. We dig into how retirement personality types change the conversation around risk, spending, and the definition of “enough.” Lynn explains why women often feel behind—career breaks, caregiving, wage gaps—and how to rebuild confidence with clear cash flow design. From there, we get tactical: coordinating Social Security timing with taxes and Medicare, avoiding IRMAA surprises, and building an income floor that frees you to enjoy life. You’ll hear why net worth is a scoreboard, but income for life is the outcome, plus smart ways to layer pensions, annuities, and portfolio withdrawals so your plan holds up in any market. Health care is front and center. We talk longevity risk, long-term care funding options, and realistic out-of-pocket estimates that won’t blow up your budget. Lynn shares approachable strategies to reduce uncertainty, use the right professionals, and keep your plan flexible when life changes. It’s a candid, actionable guide for women who want security, clarity, and choice—without the jargon or overwhelm. Ready to feel safer and more prepared? Listen now, subscribe for more clear guidance, and share this episode with someone who needs a confident path forward. If you found value, leave a review and tell us: what does “enough” look like for you? Send us Fan Mail To learn more about Brad Pistole and the Ozark Retirement Group, please visit www.ozarksretirement.com

    48 min
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About

Safe Money Radio host Brad Pistole is a nationally recognized Financial Professional who specializes in planning that protects principal from stock market volatility and creates guaranteed lifetime income. Listen here to receive insights from Brad and hear what he has to say regarding retirement income planning. 

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