Retirement Roadmap

Mark Fricks
  • 3.7 (3)
  • EDUCATION
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Is your retirement plan rock solid? At MasterPlan Retirement Consultants, we specialize in constructing retirement plans designed to meet the challenges you could face in the course of a 20, 25 or 30-year retirement - or longer. Our tax planning, income planning, Social Security maximization, estate planning, healthcare planning, pension maximization, long-term care planning and other strategies are designed to maximize your retirement savings and income, while minimizing taxes and protecting your assets from outside forces that can disrupt your retirement.  On this podcast, we share videos about the issues retirees face. Advisory services offered through MasterPlan Retirement Consultants, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor in the state of Georgia. Insurance, tax and commodities services offered through Fricks and Associates, Inc. dba MasterPlan Retirement Consultants.  The aforementioned are affiliated companies.

  1. APR 12

    Long-Term Care Reality Check

    What happens if one event quietly wipes out everything you’ve built? In this episode of MasterPlan, we get into one of the least talked about — and most financially destructive — parts of life planning: long-term care. Most people assume it’s something that happens “later” or that family will figure it out. But the reality is a lot more complicated — and a lot more expensive. We talk through: 0:00 — The Question Nobody Asks 0:15 — Welcome + What This Episode Covers 0:45 — The “Nuclear Button” of Retirement 1:30 — Why Home Care Isn’t That Simple 2:10 — What Long-Term Care Actually Includes 3:00 — The Real Costs (2025 Numbers) 4:15 — Nursing Home Costs Explained 5:00 — Medicaid: The Backup Plan 6:00 — The Bigger Problem (System Capacity) 7:00 — Why Long-Term Care Insurance Is Failing 8:00 — What People Get Wrong Send us Fan Mail Visit masterplanretire.com to access our retirement checklists, podcasts, and schedule a complimentary consultation. Call 770-980-9262 to speak directly with someone about your retirement planning needs. https://masterplanretire.com/ Catch all episodes of our podcast at https://www.masterplanyourretirement.com/resources/episodes Listen to Mark Fricks on Saturdays at 12:00 p.m. on XTRA 106.3 FM WFOM. Sign up for one of our upcoming events at https://www.masterplanyourretirement.com/events Purchase Mark’s book, The Road Less Traveled: Turning Your Retirement Worries Into an Excursion of a Lifetime, on Amazon: https://a.co/d/4fx94Al Advisory services offered through MasterPlan Retirement Consultants, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor in the state of Georgia. Insurance, tax and commodities services offered through Fricks and Associates, Inc. dba MasterPlan Retirement Consultants. The aforementioned are affiliated companies.

    25 min

  2. MAR 24

    How to Spend Confidently in Retirement

    Holistic retirement planning isn’t just about saving — it’s about knowing when and how to spend. One of the most common challenges we see is that people who have done a great job preparing for retirement often feel uncomfortable actually using their money. In this episode of Retirement Roadmap with MasterPlan Retirement Consultants, Evan and retirement planner Mark Fricks break down the psychology behind spending in retirement, how to build confidence in your financial plan, and practical strategies to balance enjoying life today while staying on track for the future. Send us Fan Mail Visit masterplanretire.com to access our retirement checklists, podcasts, and schedule a complimentary consultation. Call 770-980-9262 to speak directly with someone about your retirement planning needs. https://masterplanretire.com/ Catch all episodes of our podcast at https://www.masterplanyourretirement.com/resources/episodes Listen to Mark Fricks on Saturdays at 12:00 p.m. on XTRA 106.3 FM WFOM. Sign up for one of our upcoming events at https://www.masterplanyourretirement.com/events Purchase Mark’s book, The Road Less Traveled: Turning Your Retirement Worries Into an Excursion of a Lifetime, on Amazon: https://a.co/d/4fx94Al Advisory services offered through MasterPlan Retirement Consultants, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor in the state of Georgia. Insurance, tax and commodities services offered through Fricks and Associates, Inc. dba MasterPlan Retirement Consultants. The aforementioned are affiliated companies.

    25 min

  3. MAR 15

    We Get Mail: Q&A Episode 2

    Retirement planning gets complicated quickly when you start asking the questions most people avoid. What happens if long-term care becomes necessary? Should you trust a pension payout or take control of the money yourself? And how much should Social Security really factor into your plan if the future feels uncertain? In this Q&A episode of Retirement Roadmap with Master Plan Retirement Consultants — “We Get Mail” Part 2 — Evan and retirement planner Mark Fricks continue answering common retirement questions from clients and listeners, covering family financial habits, Medicare and Medicaid misconceptions, pension decisions, 401(k) strategy, and whether Social Security should still be part of the retirement equation. We cover: 00:10 – We Get Mail Part 2 (Intro + how to submit questions) 02:30 – How do I get my children to be more financially minded and take retirement planning seriously? 07:17 – Won’t Medicare and Medicaid cover my medical bills late in life? 10:48 – Should I take my pension as a lump sum? Can’t I earn more if I invest the funds? 15:10 – My 401(k) does not offer a match. Is it even worth contributing? 18:41 – When planning for retirement, should I just assume Social Security is going away and leave it out of the equation? 23:54 – Closing thoughts Send us Fan Mail Visit masterplanretire.com to access our retirement checklists, podcasts, and schedule a complimentary consultation. Call 770-980-9262 to speak directly with someone about your retirement planning needs. https://masterplanretire.com/ Catch all episodes of our podcast at https://www.masterplanyourretirement.com/resources/episodes Listen to Mark Fricks on Saturdays at 12:00 p.m. on XTRA 106.3 FM WFOM. Sign up for one of our upcoming events at https://www.masterplanyourretirement.com/events Purchase Mark’s book, The Road Less Traveled: Turning Your Retirement Worries Into an Excursion of a Lifetime, on Amazon: https://a.co/d/4fx94Al Advisory services offered through MasterPlan Retirement Consultants, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor in the state of Georgia. Insurance, tax and commodities services offered through Fricks and Associates, Inc. dba MasterPlan Retirement Consultants. The aforementioned are affiliated companies.

    25 min

  4. FEB 27

    Landmark Ages in Retirement (50, 55, 59½, 62, 65, 67, 70, 73/75)

    Retirement has “landmark ages” — moments where the rules change on contributions, withdrawals, Social Security, Medicare, and RMDs. In this episode of Retirement Roadmap, Evan and retirement planner Mark Fricks walk through the retirement timeline and explain what each age unlocks — and what to watch out for before you pull the trigger. Send us Fan Mail Visit masterplanretire.com to access our retirement checklists, podcasts, and schedule a complimentary consultation. Call 770-980-9262 to speak directly with someone about your retirement planning needs. https://masterplanretire.com/ Catch all episodes of our podcast at https://www.masterplanyourretirement.com/resources/episodes Listen to Mark Fricks on Saturdays at 12:00 p.m. on XTRA 106.3 FM WFOM. Sign up for one of our upcoming events at https://www.masterplanyourretirement.com/events Purchase Mark’s book, The Road Less Traveled: Turning Your Retirement Worries Into an Excursion of a Lifetime, on Amazon: https://a.co/d/4fx94Al Advisory services offered through MasterPlan Retirement Consultants, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor in the state of Georgia. Insurance, tax and commodities services offered through Fricks and Associates, Inc. dba MasterPlan Retirement Consultants. The aforementioned are affiliated companies.

    25 min

  5. FEB 19

    We Get Mail: Q&A Episode

    Holistic retirement planning isn’t a buzzword — it’s a framework for how real life actually works in retirement. Your investments matter, but they’re only one piece of a plan that has to coordinate income, taxes, healthcare, and legacy decisions (and the ripple effects between them). In this Q&A episode of Retirement Roadmap with Master Plan Retirement Consultants — “We Get Mail” — Evan and retirement planner Mark Fricks answer some of the most common questions they hear from clients and prospects, from Roth conversion timing to early-retirement income access, and how to think about long-term care planning when traditional insurance feels out of reach. Send us Fan Mail Visit masterplanretire.com to access our retirement checklists, podcasts, and schedule a complimentary consultation. Call 770-980-9262 to speak directly with someone about your retirement planning needs. https://masterplanretire.com/ Catch all episodes of our podcast at https://www.masterplanyourretirement.com/resources/episodes Listen to Mark Fricks on Saturdays at 12:00 p.m. on XTRA 106.3 FM WFOM. Sign up for one of our upcoming events at https://www.masterplanyourretirement.com/events Purchase Mark’s book, The Road Less Traveled: Turning Your Retirement Worries Into an Excursion of a Lifetime, on Amazon: https://a.co/d/4fx94Al Advisory services offered through MasterPlan Retirement Consultants, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor in the state of Georgia. Insurance, tax and commodities services offered through Fricks and Associates, Inc. dba MasterPlan Retirement Consultants. The aforementioned are affiliated companies.

    25 min

  6. JAN 29

    Holistic Retirement Planning: The 3-Circle Plan (Money, Taxes, Legacy)

    Holistic retirement planning isn’t a buzzword — it’s a framework for how real life actually works in retirement. Your investments matter, but they’re only one piece of a plan that has to coordinate income, taxes, and legacy decisions (and the ripple effects between them). In this episode of Retirement Roadmap with Master Plan Retirement Consultants, Evan and retirement planner Mark Fricks break down what “holistic” really means, why the old-school “buy and hold + check in once a year” model often falls short for today’s retirees, and how a truly comprehensive plan helps you avoid mistakes you don’t have time to undo once you’re on the “descent” side of the mountain. Send us Fan Mail Visit masterplanretire.com to access our retirement checklists, podcasts, and schedule a complimentary consultation. Call 770-980-9262 to speak directly with someone about your retirement planning needs. https://masterplanretire.com/ Catch all episodes of our podcast at https://www.masterplanyourretirement.com/resources/episodes Listen to Mark Fricks on Saturdays at 12:00 p.m. on XTRA 106.3 FM WFOM. Sign up for one of our upcoming events at https://www.masterplanyourretirement.com/events Purchase Mark’s book, The Road Less Traveled: Turning Your Retirement Worries Into an Excursion of a Lifetime, on Amazon: https://a.co/d/4fx94Al Advisory services offered through MasterPlan Retirement Consultants, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor in the state of Georgia. Insurance, tax and commodities services offered through Fricks and Associates, Inc. dba MasterPlan Retirement Consultants. The aforementioned are affiliated companies.

    25 min

  7. JAN 11

    Playing It Too Safe in Retirement Can Be Dangerous

    Retirement planning isn’t just about avoiding risk — it’s about understanding which risks actually matter. For many retirees and near-retirees, playing it “too safe” can quietly become one of the biggest threats to long-term financial security. In this episode of Retirement Roadmap with Master Plan Retirement Consultants, Evan and retirement planner Mark Fricks discuss why overly conservative portfolios can struggle to keep up with inflation, how emotional reactions to market downturns can lead to missed recoveries, and how proper diversification and income planning can help your retirement last decades — not just years. Send us Fan Mail Visit masterplanretire.com to access our retirement checklists, podcasts, and schedule a complimentary consultation. Call 770-980-9262 to speak directly with someone about your retirement planning needs. https://masterplanretire.com/ Catch all episodes of our podcast at https://www.masterplanyourretirement.com/resources/episodes Listen to Mark Fricks on Saturdays at 12:00 p.m. on XTRA 106.3 FM WFOM. Sign up for one of our upcoming events at https://www.masterplanyourretirement.com/events Purchase Mark’s book, The Road Less Traveled: Turning Your Retirement Worries Into an Excursion of a Lifetime, on Amazon: https://a.co/d/4fx94Al Advisory services offered through MasterPlan Retirement Consultants, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor in the state of Georgia. Insurance, tax and commodities services offered through Fricks and Associates, Inc. dba MasterPlan Retirement Consultants. The aforementioned are affiliated companies.

    25 min

  8. 12/20/2025

    Delay Retirement or Retire Now? Here’s How to Decide

    Retirement isn’t one-size-fits-all—and delaying retirement can be a smart move for some people and a mistake for others. In this episode of Retirement Roadmap with Master Plan Retirement Consultants, Evan and retirement planner Mark Fricks walk through the most common reasons people work longer (financial security, purpose, flexibility) and the key tradeoffs you need to evaluate before you choose a retirement date. We cover: Why more people are delaying retirement (and even “unretiring”)The real retirement math: savings, timeline, and income planning (not a “magic number”)Social Security timing: why the “wait till 70” answer isn’t automatic anymoreHealthcare timing (especially retiring before Medicare at 65)Market timing risk when you’re close to retirementEmotional readiness: purpose, routine, and what you’ll actually do day-to-dayFamily & social life after work (what changes when your schedule changes)Before you decide, ask yourself these 3 questions: Why am I retiring? (new chapter or escaping something?)What will I do every day? (purpose prevents boredom and aimlessness)Can I live on my budget? (run a realistic retirement budget)Send us Fan Mail Visit masterplanretire.com to access our retirement checklists, podcasts, and schedule a complimentary consultation. Call 770-980-9262 to speak directly with someone about your retirement planning needs. https://masterplanretire.com/ Catch all episodes of our podcast at https://www.masterplanyourretirement.com/resources/episodes Listen to Mark Fricks on Saturdays at 12:00 p.m. on XTRA 106.3 FM WFOM. Sign up for one of our upcoming events at https://www.masterplanyourretirement.com/events Purchase Mark’s book, The Road Less Traveled: Turning Your Retirement Worries Into an Excursion of a Lifetime, on Amazon: https://a.co/d/4fx94Al Advisory services offered through MasterPlan Retirement Consultants, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor in the state of Georgia. Insurance, tax and commodities services offered through Fricks and Associates, Inc. dba MasterPlan Retirement Consultants. The aforementioned are affiliated companies.

    25 min
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Ratings & Reviews

3.7
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Is your retirement plan rock solid? At MasterPlan Retirement Consultants, we specialize in constructing retirement plans designed to meet the challenges you could face in the course of a 20, 25 or 30-year retirement - or longer. Our tax planning, income planning, Social Security maximization, estate planning, healthcare planning, pension maximization, long-term care planning and other strategies are designed to maximize your retirement savings and income, while minimizing taxes and protecting your assets from outside forces that can disrupt your retirement.  On this podcast, we share videos about the issues retirees face. Advisory services offered through MasterPlan Retirement Consultants, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor in the state of Georgia. Insurance, tax and commodities services offered through Fricks and Associates, Inc. dba MasterPlan Retirement Consultants.  The aforementioned are affiliated companies.

Information

  • Creator
    Mark Fricks
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    102
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 MasterPlan Retirement Consultants, Inc.
  • Show Website
    Retirement Roadmap

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