Episodes

If you're sitting on $10 million to $25 million or more, you've probably heard all about GRATs, SLATs, and estate tax strategies. But how often do you actually stop and think about how you want to use your money? In this episode of the Retirement Power Hour, Joe Allaria, CFP ®, walks through four ways high-net-worth individuals can think about spending, gifting, and giving, from covering living expenses and long-term care to leaving a legacy through charitable giving. This isn't about the te...

If you're planning to retire in the St. Louis area, one of the biggest questions you'll face is whether to settle in Illinois or Missouri. In this episode, Joe Allaria, CFP ®, breaks down seven key categories, including retirement income tax, estate tax, personal property tax, real estate tax, gas and sales tax, and home prices, to score each state and find out which one comes out ahead. But the results come with a twist. While Missouri wins more categories overall, the two biggest factors, ...

How much can you actually spend in retirement? In Episode 44 of the Retirement Power Hour, Joe Allaria, CFP®, breaks down six retirement spending questions every retiree needs to answer before locking in their income plan.

Saving for retirement and living off retirement savings are two very different skills. In Episode 43 of Retirement Power Hour, host Joe Allaria walks through seven critical questions to help you build a retirement income plan that actually holds up — including how to structure withdrawals across taxable, IRA, and Roth accounts; when to take Social Security; whether an annuity makes sense for your situation; and the most common investment mistake retirees make once they start drawing income. Sub...

How much can you contribute to your 401(k), IRA, Roth IRA, HSA, or SIMPLE IRA in 2026? In this episode of the Retirement Power Hour, Joe Allaria, CFP®, breaks down the latest retirement contribution limits, catch-up rules, income phase-outs, tax deduction changes, and key updates from recent legislation so you can make smarter decisions about saving for retirement. If you’re wondering whether you’re contributing enough or where your money should be going this episode will help you understand ...

In this episode of the Retirement Power Hour, Joe Allaria, CFP®, breaks down the key differences between Roth and Traditional retirement accounts so you can make smarter, more tax-efficient decisions with your savings. We’ll cover: 🔹 The real tax advantages of each account 🔹 Who should choose Roth vs who should choose Traditional 🔹 How your income level and future tax bracket affect your decision 🔹 Why some people benefit from using BOTH 🔹 What the Backdoor Roth IRA is and when it makes sense...

According to a 2023 SurveyMonkey study, 46% of 401(k) investors don’t know what they’re actually invested in. If that’s you — don’t worry, you’re not alone. In this episode of The Retirement Power Hour, Joe Allaria, CFP®, breaks down the most common 401(k) investment options and helps you answer one of the most important retirement questions: "How should I invest my 401(k)?" We’ll cover: ✔️ Target date funds: pros, cons, and how to adjust ✔️ DIY investing: building your mix of large cap, small ...

According to the 2025 Intuit Prosperity Index, 68% of Americans aren’t confident they’ll ever be able to retire. One big reason? Most people don’t know how much they should contribute to their 401(k). In this episode of The Retirement Power Hour, Joe Allaria, CFP®, breaks down exactly how much you should be contributing to your 401(k)—based on your age, income, and personal situation. You’ll learn: -Why getting your employer match is non-negotiable -The “rules of thumb” for 401(k) contribution...

Welcome to the Retirement Power Hour with Joe Allaria, CFP®. In episode 35, we break down the 2025 retirement contribution limits and key tax changes you need to know. Learn about updates to IRAs, Roth IRAs, 401(k)s, SIMPLE IRAs, and more—including the new provisions introduced by Secure Act 2.0. Key Topics Discussed: IRA and Roth IRA contribution limits and phase-outs New 401(k) and SIMPLE IRA catch-up provisions Changes to tax brackets, standard deductions, and Social Security wage base HSA c...

In this episode, Joe and Jay dive deep into the pros and cons of two popular types of life insurance: Term Life and Whole Life. While both offer unique benefits, choosing the right policy depends on your individual financial goals. Key Terms Discussed: Term Life Insurance Whole Life Insurance The Cash Value Debate Guaranteed Dividends Buy Term, Invest the Rest Whether you’re new to life insurance or reassessing your coverage, this episode will help you understand the key differences between...

Welcome to Retirement Power Hour! In Episode 33, host Joe Allaria, CFP®, discusses the key factors in determining how much life insurance you need. He covers important considerations like paying off mortgages, covering future expenses for children, and replacing income for a spouse, along with strategies for wealth transfer and estate tax planning. Joe also explains the difference between term and permanent life insurance, helping you decide what best suits your needs. Check out our article o...

Welcome to Retirement Power Hour! In Episode 32, host Joe Allaria, CFP®, interviews Scott Carson, a seasoned wealth advisor with over 30 years of experience. Scott, a senior wealth advisor at CarsonAllaria Wealth Management, shares valuable insights from his extensive career in financial planning. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to check out our latest podcast Can I Retire with $1M at age 60? Submit Your Questions To submit a listener question, visit our website, and enter the details o...

Can you retire with $1M at age 60? Tune in to Episode #31 as host Joe Allaria, CFP®, discusses the different factors that impact the answer, including your retirement expenses, other income, Social Security, and more. Check out our article on this topic: Can I Retire at 60 with $1 Million Dollars? If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to check out our latest podcast on How to Retire Early Using Phases Submit Your Questions To submit a listener question, visit our website, and enter the deta...

Do you want to retire now and gain more freedom sooner? The answer could be yes, but the path to achieving it might differ from what you imagine. In episode #30 of the Retirement Power Hour, Joe Allaria, CFP®, and Mark Allaria, CFP®, sit down and discuss ways you can retire early using phases. Many people envision retirement as abruptly shifting from a 40-hour workweek to working zero hours. However, incorporating a semi-retirement phase can allow you to experience retirement earlier and can off...

The 2024 presidential election has caused many investors to wonder if they should be doing anything differently. Is it safe to stay invested in stocks and bonds during this time, or should investors move their money to the sidelines until later this year? In Episode #28 of the Retirement Power Hour, Joe Allaria, CFP®, talks with Jake DeKinder, Head of Client Communications and Vice President at Dimensional Fund Advisors, about what the stock market has done in the past during election years and ...

In Episode #27 of the Retirement Power Hour, Joe Allaria, CFP®, talks about various ways you can protect yourself online from cybersecurity attacks, phishing attempts, and other forms of attempted fraud. Resources Mentioned on the Show: As Nationwide Fraud Looses Top $10 Billion in 2023 Identity Theft: 15 Ways to Protect Against Cyber Attacks If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to check out our latest podcast on Social Security: Will I Get It? Submit Your Questions To submit a listener q...

In 10 years will you be able to rely on social security to be there for you? In this episode of the Retirement Power Hour, Joe Allaria, CFP ®, talks about if social security is going to pay out benefits in the future and a 6 part plan on how to fix social security. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to check out our latest podcast on 2024 Stock Market Predictions. Resources Mentioned on the Show: The Reformer: An interactive Tool to Fix Social Security Submit Your Questions To submit a li...

Can we trust these large financial institutions that claim to know what the market is going to do? In this episode of the Retirement Power Hour, Joe Allaria, CFP ®, sits down with fellow financial advisor, Jay Waters, to talk about what happened in 2023, what the “experts” say is going to happen in 2024, and why to think twice before listening to what these large financial institutions predict. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to check out our latest podcast on How to Pay 0% in Capital ...

Is it possible to pay 0% in Capital Gains Tax? In this episode of the Retirement Power Hour, Joe Allaria, CFP®, explains 4 strategies to NOT pay any Capital Gains Tax, including gain harvesting, donating appreciated shares of securities, tax-loss harvesting, and not selling at all (but instead leaving your shares to your heirs). If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to check out our last podcast on How to Not Fail at Retirement with Author Mike Drak. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCc1uTayt5E...

Without your health how could you enjoy your retirement? The time is now to invest in your health! In this episode, Joe Allaria, CFP®, gets the chance to sit down and talk with Dr. Tibor Kopjas and discuss ways to stay healthy, get fit, and feel great in retirement. About Our Guest Dr. Tibor Kopjas, a practitioner for over 30 years in Maryville, IL. He returned to his original vision of patient-focused healthcare in 2019 when he began partnering with MDVIP to prioritize personalized care. Reso...

Travel is one of the most popular activities that retirees like to tackle after their working years. Whether traveling domestically or internationally, retirement is a wonderful time to explore new places and to take your time while doing so. On this episode, Host Joe Allaria is joined by Travel Advisor and Founder of New View Travel, Janine Cartier to discuss how to plan your dream vacation in retirement. SPOILER: It all starts with a solid plan. About Our Guest Janine Cartier is a Travel Advi...

Do you have "good" investments? How do you know? What is a good rate of return? How much time do you need to evaluate if you own good investments? In this episode, Host Joe Allaria and Co-Host Jay Waters discuss the pitfalls the many investors fall into when they are evaluating their own investments, and how having the wrong perspective can lead you astray. Listener Question What is a realistic rate of return expectation for a newly retired individual? Submit Your Questions To submit a listene...

Annuities seem to have a negative connotation within the financial industry, but do they deserve it? Are annuities good or are they bad? Because there are so many different types of annuities, it's hard to generalize that they are either good or bad. Each annuity should be evaluated independently based on each individual’s situation. On episode #19, host Joe Allaria is joined by Partner and Wealth Advisor of CarsonAllaria Wealth Management, Mark Allaria, CFP®, as the two discuss the pros and co...