Perfect Game Retirement

Ryan Ledden
  • 4.9 (13)
  • INVESTING
  • UPDATED SEMIMONTHLY

Welcome to Perfect Game Retirement, hosted by Ryan Ledden of Black Oak Asset Management. As a former pro ballplayer and CFP, Ryan combines his love of the game with financial expertise to guide you to a confident retirement. Securities and Advisory Services offered through Silver Oak Securities, Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC. Black Oak Asset Management and Silver Oak Securities, Inc. are not affiliated.

  1. 6D AGO

    5 Major Events From 2025 That Impacted Retirement Plans

    📅 Book a 1-on-1 with Ryan: https://speakwithryan.com/ 📦 Grab your FREE Tax-Free Retirement Toolkit: https://toolkit.blackoakam.com/podcast-toolkit.html A lot happened in 2025: political swings, stubborn inflation, new tax rules, and even a historic government shutdown. But headlines alone don’t determine your retirement outcome; how you respond to them does. In this episode, Ryan reflects on the five biggest financial events of the year and what actually mattered for long-term planning. The noise will change in 2026, but the strategy that creates confidence stays the same. Here’s what we discuss in this episode: 🌍 Tariffs: Market reactions and volatility 📈 Inflation: Why prices still feel high 🏦 High-Yield Savings: Making cash work harder 🚨 Government Shutdown: Why emergency funds matter 🏢 Federal Resources: Support for government employees   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

    16 min

  2. 12/23/2025

    How to Ask Better Questions About Retirement

    📅 Book a 1-on-1 with Ryan: https://speakwithryan.com/ 📦 Grab your FREE Tax-Free Retirement Toolkit: https://toolkit.blackoakam.com/podcast-toolkit.html You’ve heard the phrase, “There’s no such thing as a bad question.” But in retirement planning, the quality of your questions often determines the quality of your outcome. Today Ryan reframes common retirement questions, and shares how clearer question lead to better strategies, and more confidence about the future. The smartest investors don’t just look for answers. They learn to ask better questions. Here’s what we discuss in this episode: 💰 Income Clarity: What you need vs. what you’ve saved 🏥 Long-Term Care: Exploring real options 🧾 Tax Strategy: Planning ahead, not just this year but beyond 🛑 Social Security: Smarter claiming decisions, not guesswork 💳 Debt Management: Reducing pressure in retirement 📉 Market Volatility: Adjusting portfolios thoughtfully   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

    15 min

  3. 12/18/2025

    Warning Signs You Picked the Wrong 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 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

    12 min

  4. 12/11/2025

    How to Plan Together When You Keep Finances Separate

    📅 Book a 1-on-1 with Ryan: https://speakwithryan.com/ 📦 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

    13 min

  5. 12/04/2025

    How to Give with Purpose & Meaning

    📅 Book a 1-on-1 with Ryan: https://speakwithryan.com/ 📦 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

    14 min

  6. 11/26/2025

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

    📅 Book a 1-on-1 with Ryan: https://speakwithryan.com/ 📦 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

    22 min

  7. 11/20/2025

    Warning Signs That Financial Trouble Could Be Ahead?

    📅 Book a 1-on-1 with Ryan: https://speakwithryan.com/ 📦 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

    16 min

  8. 11/13/2025

    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

    10 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.9
out of 5
13 Ratings

About

Welcome to Perfect Game Retirement, hosted by Ryan Ledden of Black Oak Asset Management. As a former pro ballplayer and CFP, Ryan combines his love of the game with financial expertise to guide you to a confident retirement. Securities and Advisory Services offered through Silver Oak Securities, Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC. Black Oak Asset Management and Silver Oak Securities, Inc. are not affiliated.

Information

  • Creator
    Ryan Ledden
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2025
  • Episodes
    169
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright Ryan Ledden 2025
  • Show Website
    Perfect Game Retirement