What The Wealth Retirement Podcast

Jonathan Bednar II, CFP
  • 4.8 (15)
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When it comes to financial planning and investing, many of us have more questions than answers. The “What the Wealth?!” Retirement Podcast offers sound financial information and guidance on numerous concerns to help Gen X and Y families and professionals as well as 50-Forward individuals create the lives they love. Jonathan P. Bednar, II, CFP, joined Paradigm Wealth Partners in January 2010, where he is in partnership with his father, Jon P. Bednar. As a Wealth Advisor, Jonathan enjoys guiding his clients to make informed financial decisions and planning as a means to solve their investment and retirement concerns.Securities offered through LPL Financial. Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advice offered through Paradigm Wealth Partners, a registered investment advisor and separate entity from LPL Financial.

  1. 12/12/2025

    Avoid The Costly Estate Mistake That Erases Your Step-Up In Basis (118)

    We break down a costly estate planning mistake that can cost you six-figures with the IRS!  A simple change in timing preserves the step-up in basis. A real client story and a simple change that can preserve your gift. • The risk of gifting appreciated real estate • What's the step-up in basis? • Probate, good or bad? • Simplify gifting • When and how to consult attorneys and advisors • Practical steps for rentals, equities, and businesses 🗓️ Meet with me: https://paradigmwealthpartners.com/begin-your-journey/#calendly ↔️ Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbednarii/ 🌐 Paradigm Wealth Partners (website) – Financial planning for career professionals who want to retire and stay retired: https://paradigmwealthpartners.com/ 🌐 What the Wealth (website) – Adding clarity to difficult financial topics: https://whatthewealth.com/ ▶️ YouTube: Paradigm Wealth Partners If you or someone you care about could use the help of a financial advisor and sees the value in establishing a financial plan, please reach out to me. Thanks for Listening! Jonathan

    6 min

  2. 11/25/2025

    Case Study: $1.4M, Early 50's – A Small Tweak Results in More Cash, Less Stress (117)

    In this episode I share a real-life example of how a couple with $1.4 million was feeling crushed by cash flow but found relief with a 5% contribution change and a focused debt reduction. Small, smart tweaks restored breathing room, protected retirement, and funded key home repairs without new loans. • How saving more can add stress when cash flow is tight • A small 5% 401(k) reduction created real breathing room • Setting up a debt snowball for quick wins • Rolling freed cash into essential projects • Preserving long-term retirement while easing today’s pressure • The right time to restore higher contributions 🗓️ Meet with me: https://paradigmwealthpartners.com/begin-your-journey/#calendly ↔️ Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbednarii/ 🌐 Paradigm Wealth Partners (website) – Financial planning for career professionals who want to retire and stay retired: https://paradigmwealthpartners.com/ 🌐 What the Wealth (website) – Adding clarity to difficult financial topics: https://whatthewealth.com/ ▶️ YouTube: Paradigm Wealth Partners If you or someone you care about could use the help of a financial advisor and sees the value in establishing a financial plan, please reach out to me. Thanks for Listening! Jonathan

    12 min

  3. 10/29/2025

    Three Retirement Questions That Can Shape Our Future – MIT AgeLab Study (116)

    In this episode I share three practical questions that can reshape retirement:  Who you’ll have lunch with, Who will handle home tasks, andHow you’ll get an ice cream cone? The focus shifts from bucket lists to daily life, social health, safety, and mobility, with steps you can act on now. • Why day-to-day design beats bucket lists • Planning social routines to avoid loneliness • Right-sizing the home and safety upgrades • Protecting mobility and spontaneity with transport options • Blending tech tools with community and family help • Budgeting for services that sustain independence • Key stats from MIT AgeLab and practical examples More on the study and MIT AgeLab 🗓️ Meet with me: https://paradigmwealthpartners.com/begin-your-journey/#calendly ↔️ Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbednarii/ 🌐 Paradigm Wealth Partners (website) – Financial planning for career professionals who want to retire and stay retired: https://paradigmwealthpartners.com/ 🌐 What the Wealth (website) – Adding clarity to difficult financial topics: https://whatthewealth.com/ ▶️ YouTube: Paradigm Wealth Partners If you or someone you care about could use the help of a financial advisor and sees the value in establishing a financial plan, please reach out to me. Thanks for Listening! Jonathan

    11 min

  4. 10/14/2025

    "We're Tired of All the Statistics — You're Not Hearing Us" (115)

    A portfolio can grow while confidence shrinks—especially when every question gets answered with a statistic. In this episode I unpack a real case study of a retired couple who were told for 16 years to stay “70/30” and not touch their income because actuarial tables said they might live to 95. The returns looked fine on paper, but the plan didn’t feel like their life. So we rebuilt the conversation from the ground up: listen first, translate goals into cash flow, then design a structure that buys time and reduces stress. We walk through a simple, durable bucket strategy anchored by a five-year income “war chest” funded with fixed income and implemented through a bond ladder. When markets wobble, that ladder matures on schedule, keeping monthly checks uninterrupted and avoiding forced equity sales. With near-term income secured, we show how to responsibly raise their retirement paycheck by a few hundred dollars and create a path to adjust upward as the portfolio grows. It’s a shift from product labels to lived experience—less jargon, more clarity about how money supports everyday choices. We also explain why weekly market commentary can amplify anxiety, and how reframing communication around the psychology of money helps clients feel calm, confident, and in control. If you’ve ever wondered whether your retirement plan is built around your goals or someone else’s template, this story offers a blueprint for change: align values, secure cash needs, and let time do its work. Subscribe for more practical strategies, share this with someone stuck in “set-and-forget” mode, and leave a review to tell us what would make you feel more confident about your retirement. 🗓️ Meet with me: https://paradigmwealthpartners.com/begin-your-journey/#calendly ↔️ Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbednarii/ 🌐 Paradigm Wealth Partners (website) – Financial planning for career professionals who want to retire and stay retired: https://paradigmwealthpartners.com/ 🌐 What the Wealth (website) – Adding clarity to difficult financial topics: https://whatthewealth.com/ ▶️ YouTube: Paradigm Wealth Partners If you or someone you care about could use the help of a financial advisor and sees the value in establishing a financial plan, please reach out to me. Thanks for Listening! Jonathan

    11 min

  5. 09/29/2025

    Bridging The Healthcare Gap: Planning For ACA Subsidy Expiration And Early Retirement Costs (114)

    On episode 114 we lay out how the potential expiration of enhanced ACA subsidies after 2025 could affect early retirees and what can be done ahead of time to prepare.  Practical planning moves to manage MAGI, use HSAs, shore up cash flow, and keep retirement on track without panic. • Expanded subsidies, what they did and why they matter  • When the enhancements are set to expire and likely 2026 impact  • How uncertainty creates budgeting stress for early retirees  • Sticker shock for ages 58–64 off employer plans  • MAGI management with CPAs and planners  • HSA strategy to bridge pre‑Medicare years  • Delaying large purchases to maintain flexibility? • Should you consider part‑time work with benefits? 🗓️ Meet with me: https://paradigmwealthpartners.com/begin-your-journey/#calendly ↔️ Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbednarii/ 🌐 Paradigm Wealth Partners (website) – Financial planning for career professionals who want to retire and stay retired: https://paradigmwealthpartners.com/ 🌐 What the Wealth (website) – Adding clarity to difficult financial topics: https://whatthewealth.com/ ▶️ YouTube: Paradigm Wealth Partners If you or someone you care about could use the help of a financial advisor and sees the value in establishing a financial plan, please reach out to me. Thanks for Listening! Jonathan

    18 min

  6. 08/25/2025

    The Million Dollar Retirement Myth, Holding You Back? (113)

    I discuss the long-held myth that $1 million is the universal retirement target and explore why your personal number depends on your unique circumstances and goals. • The million-dollar retirement target originated from the 4% rule but does it account for today's economics? • What's the impact of Inflation, healthcare costs, increased longevity, and market volatility on the million-dollar benchmark? • Your retirement number depends on lifestyle, debt, location, family obligations, and income sources • The danger lies in either over-saving and missing out on life now, or under-saving and risking running out of money • Rather than focusing on someone else's benchmark, build a plan based on your expenses, guaranteed income, and personal goals • Our 6-5-4 bucket strategy helps clients build personalized retirement plans that match their values and dreams 🗓️ Meet with me: https://paradigmwealthpartners.com/begin-your-journey/#calendly ↔️ Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbednarii/ 🌐 Paradigm Wealth Partners (website) – Financial planning for career professionals who want to retire and stay retired: https://paradigmwealthpartners.com/ 🌐 What the Wealth (website) – Adding clarity to difficult financial topics: https://whatthewealth.com/ ▶️ YouTube: Paradigm Wealth Partners If you or someone you care about could use the help of a financial advisor and sees the value in establishing a financial plan, please reach out to me. Thanks for Listening! Jonathan

    20 min

  7. 08/18/2025

    The One Big Beautiful Bill: Are There New Opportunities for Seniors and Retirees? (112)

    Tax laws have changed dramatically with the passage of the "One Big Beautiful Bill," and your retirement planning strategy likely needs to adapt. This sweeping legislation extends several tax cuts and Jobs Act provisions while adding several powerful new deductions specifically targeting seniors and retirees. Take a listen and to hear how these changes may affect your retirement.  🗓️ Meet with me: https://paradigmwealthpartners.com/begin-your-journey/#calendly ↔️ Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbednarii/ 🌐 Paradigm Wealth Partners (website) – Financial planning for career professionals who want to retire and stay retired: https://paradigmwealthpartners.com/ 🌐 What the Wealth (website) – Adding clarity to difficult financial topics: https://whatthewealth.com/ ▶️ YouTube: Paradigm Wealth Partners If you or someone you care about could use the help of a financial advisor and sees the value in establishing a financial plan, please reach out to me. Thanks for Listening! Jonathan

    16 min

  8. 07/24/2025

    Nine Accounts, No Plan: Planning a Real Tennessee Retirement (111)

    We recently worked with clients who had nine different financial accounts at nine different institutions with no coherent strategy, including around $450,000 sitting in cash earning nothing. After moving from California to Tennessee, they were struggling with both lifestyle adjustments and financial disarray while approaching retirement within five years. How we helped: • Consolidated nine accounts into fewer, more strategic "buckets" for better clarity and purpose • Created a plan to systematically withdraw from a beneficiary IRA while funding Roth IRAs • Moved bank deposits into interest-bearing accounts generating approximately $1,200 monthly • Focused on creating simple, understandable plans rather than complex strategies clients won't implement • Building momentum through small financial victories to increase confidence • Helping clients navigate lifestyle changes like managing propane heating costs in rural Tennessee • Working toward comprehensive retirement timing and Social Security optimization If you haven't already subscribed to the podcast or the YouTube channel, please do so. That helps me more than you know. Be confident in your retirement. Have a wonderful day. 🗓️ Meet with me: https://paradigmwealthpartners.com/begin-your-journey/#calendly ↔️ Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbednarii/ 🌐 Paradigm Wealth Partners (website) – Financial planning for career professionals who want to retire and stay retired: https://paradigmwealthpartners.com/ 🌐 What the Wealth (website) – Adding clarity to difficult financial topics: https://whatthewealth.com/ ▶️ YouTube: Paradigm Wealth Partners If you or someone you care about could use the help of a financial advisor and sees the value in establishing a financial plan, please reach out to me. Thanks for Listening! Jonathan

    13 min
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4.8
out of 5
15 Ratings

About

When it comes to financial planning and investing, many of us have more questions than answers. The “What the Wealth?!” Retirement Podcast offers sound financial information and guidance on numerous concerns to help Gen X and Y families and professionals as well as 50-Forward individuals create the lives they love. Jonathan P. Bednar, II, CFP, joined Paradigm Wealth Partners in January 2010, where he is in partnership with his father, Jon P. Bednar. As a Wealth Advisor, Jonathan enjoys guiding his clients to make informed financial decisions and planning as a means to solve their investment and retirement concerns.Securities offered through LPL Financial. Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advice offered through Paradigm Wealth Partners, a registered investment advisor and separate entity from LPL Financial.

Information

  • Creator
    Jonathan Bednar II, CFP
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2025
  • Episodes
    118
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 What The Wealth Retirement Podcast
  • Show Website
    What The Wealth Retirement Podcast