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. JAN 29

    Retiring in the US with a Pension? How to Make it Fit with Social Security and Savings? (121)

    Too many retirees make one pension decision they can’t undo and it reshapes their entire financial future. We break down the real trade-offs hiding behind payout options, survivor benefits, and the lure of a lump sum, then show you how to weave your pension together with Social Security and investments to build a calm, resilient retirement plan. We start by reframing the pension as a supercharged bond; steady, predictable income that can cover the must-haves and free your portfolio to fund the fun stuff. You’ll learn a simple two-column method to map fixed expenses against guaranteed income, why 80 to 100 percent coverage is a powerful target, and how that floor helps you sleep at night when markets get rough. From there, we unpack the key payout choices: single life for maximum income, joint-and-survivor to protect both lives, and variations with different survivor percentages. We explain how to stress test each option against age, health, tax implications, and timing your Social Security benefits. A candid case study shows the cost of chasing the biggest monthly number and leaving a spouse with too little income. We also walk through when a lump sum can work; low fixed expenses, solid guaranteed coverage, strong legacy goals, and the discipline to manage market risk after rolling to an IRA. To keep you out of trouble, we highlight common mistakes like ignoring inflation, misreading the pension’s bond-like role, and making decisions in silos instead of as a system. By the end, you’ll have a clear framework: cover essentials with guarantees, fund goals with growth, and choose a payout that protects the person you love most. If this helped you think more clearly about your pension, subscribe, share it with someone who needs it, and leave a quick review. Your support helps others find the show and make smarter, safer retirement choices. 🗓️ 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

  2. JAN 21

    Using Your Lower-Income Years to Convert IRAs and Reduce Lifetime Taxes (120)

    The years between your last paycheck and your first Social Security or RMD can be the most valuable tax planning window of your life. We call it the Golden Window, and it’s when your income is low, your tax brackets are flexible, and your choices can reshape your entire retirement. In this conversation I lay out the strategy that helped one couple save $180,000 in lifetime taxes without sacrificing lifestyle or taking more risk. We unpack how to use low-income years to your advantage: converting pre-tax IRAs to Roth at favorable rates, harvesting long-term capital gains at 0% in some cases, and rebalancing or simplifying portfolios with minimal tax impact. Why delaying Social Security and pensions can open room to “fill” the 12% or 22% bracket with Roth conversions today to avoid 24% to 32% later. You’ll learn how proactive moves now can shrink future RMDs, reduce IRMAA surcharges on Medicare premiums, and lower the portion of Social Security that gets taxed. You’ll also hear a step-by-step case study of Mark and Linda, both retired at 62 with most of their savings in IRAs. By living from cash and brokerage for five years and converting $60,000 to $100,000 annually before age 67, they moved $380,000 into Roth accounts, cut projected RMDs from $78,000 to $32,000, avoided IRMAA, and kept more of every benefit. Common pitfalls to avoid—claiming Social Security too early, turning on pensions immediately, skipping conversions, and ignoring bracket math—and a clear framework to plan year by year. If you’re looking to build a smarter retirement tax plan and stop tipping the IRS, this breakdown gives you the blueprint. Subscribe, share with someone planning to retire soon, and leave a review with the question you want answered next. 🗓️ 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

  3. JAN 5

    A Big Inheritance: How to Successfully Pass Wealth (119)

    In this episode, I explain how inheritances go wrong and lay out a plan to keep wealth private, tax-smart, and protective. We compare wills and trusts, share real examples, and detail tools that shield heirs from probate, overspending, taxes, and outside claims. • Hidden risks of probate, cost, delay, and publicity • Living trusts for privacy, speed, and control • Trust funding steps and trustee selection • Spendthrift structures to prevent blow-ups • Rules for age, milestones, and needs • Roth conversions and the 10-year rule • Asset protection 🗓️ 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

    25 min

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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
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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 - 2026
  • Episodes
    121
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 What The Wealth Retirement Podcast
  • Show Website
    What The Wealth Retirement Podcast