Joe Knows Retirement

Hosted by Joe Schmitz Jr., CFP® ChFC® CKA®

Business Investing

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Episodes

313

Latest episode

Aug 2026

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About the show

Welcome to the Joe Knows Retirement Podcast! Where Joe will take you through strategies to make the most of your retirement.

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60 recent

August 21, 2026Episode 31415 min

Do THIS Instead of a Roth Conversion

Roth conversions can be one of the best tax planning strategies in retirement, especially if you have a pension and $1 million or more saved. But what if the bigger opportunity isn't just saving taxes? In this episode of Joe Knows Retirement, Joe challenges Midwestern Millionaires to think beyond Roth conversions and ask a much bigger question: What is the real purpose of your money? 🎥 Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/430T9Lv 📚Get a FREE copy of Joe's book "Midwestern Millionaire": https://keap.page/bsd964/midwestern-millionaire-toolkit-podcast.html 🟥 Read our latest article featured in Kiplinger: https://www.kiplinger.com/taxes/tax-planning/times-that-a-roth-conversion-is-a-bad-idea-for-retirees 📞 Schedule a call with our team: https://peakretirementplanning.com/schedule-a-meeting/

August 18, 2026Episode 31319 min

8 Tax Strategies Your CPA Won't Tell You - Part 2

If you have a pension and $1 million or more saved for retirement, simply filing your taxes may not be enough. The bigger opportunity could be proactive tax planning. In this episode of Joe Knows Retirement, Joe covers 8 more retirement tax strategies your CPA or financial planner may not be talking about. 🎥 Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/430T9Lv 📚Get a FREE copy of Joe's book "I Hate Taxes": https://keap.page/bsd964/toolkit-podcast.html 🟥 Read our latest article featured in Kiplinger: https://www.kiplinger.com/personal-finance/cpa-vs-tax-planner-whats-the-difference 📞 Schedule a call with our team: https://peakretirementplanning.com/schedule-a-meeting/

August 14, 2026Episode 31217 min

I'm 60 With $2 Million and a Pension... Should I Do Roth Conversions?

You're 60 years old, you have a pension, and you've saved $2 million for retirement. Congratulations! But now comes one of the biggest tax planning decisions you'll ever make: should you be doing Roth conversions? In this episode, Joe walks through a real-world case study showing why Roth conversions may make sense for retirees with pensions and substantial retirement savings. You'll learn why this situation is different than most retirees, how Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) can create a future tax problem, and how proper planning could potentially save hundreds of thousands of dollars over your lifetime. 🎥 Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/430T9Lv 📚Get a FREE copy of Joe's book "I Hate Taxes": https://keap.page/bsd964/toolkit-podcast.html 🟥 Read our latest article featured in Kiplinger: https://www.kiplinger.com/retirement/retirement-planning/regrets-for-retirees-with-a-pension-and-a-million-dollars 📞 Schedule a call with our team: https://peakretirementplanning.com/schedule-a-meeting/

August 11, 2026Episode 31119 min

Retiring With a Pension? Watch This

If you're retiring soon with a pension, your retirement planning is different than most people. Less than 20% of retirees have a pension, and if you've also saved $1 million or more, you're in a unique financial position that requires more advanced planning. In this episode of Joe Knows Retirement, Joe covers the biggest retirement mistakes to avoid before making irreversible pension decisions. 🎥 Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/430T9Lv 📚Get a FREE copy of Joe's book "2% Club": https://keap.page/bsd964/2-percent-toolkit-podcast.html 🟥 Read our latest article featured in Kiplinger: https://www.kiplinger.com/retirement/reasons-roth-conversions-and-pensions-work-well-together 📞 Schedule a call with our team: https://peakretirementplanning.com/schedule-a-meeting/

August 7, 2026Episode 31019 min

13 Roth Conversion Windows You CAN'T Afford To Miss

If you have a pension and $1 Million or more saved, often the question is not whether you should do a Roth conversion, but when. In this episode of Joe Knows Retirement, Joe walks through 13 Roth conversion windows that could help you reduce taxes, lower future required minimum distributions and make smarter retirement decisions. From early retirement to Medicare, Social Security, the widow's penalty, charitable giving, and more, you'll learn the key opportunities that could make Roth conversions far more valuable. 🎥 Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/430T9Lv 📚Get a FREE copy of Joe's book "I Hate Taxes": https://keap.page/bsd964/toolkit-podcast.html 🟥 Read our latest article featured in Kiplinger: https://www.kiplinger.com/taxes/tax-planning/times-that-a-roth-conversion-is-a-bad-idea-for-retirees 📞 Schedule a call with our team: https://peakretirementplanning.com/schedule-a-meeting/

August 4, 2026Episode 30918 min

The 5 Biggest Retirement Concerns I Hear

If you have a pension and $1 million or more saved, your biggest retirement concerns probably aren't what most people think. After helping thousands of retirees, I've noticed the same five concerns come up over and over again. They aren't worried about running out of money. They're worried about making the right decisions with the money they've worked so hard to save. 🎥 Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/430T9Lv 📚Get a FREE copy of Joe's book "2% Club": https://keap.page/bsd964/2-percent-toolkit-podcast.html 🟥 Read our latest article featured in Kiplinger: https://www.kiplinger.com/retirement/financial-planning-one-stop-shops-if-you-have-a-million-plus 📞 Schedule a call with our team: https://peakretirementplanning.com/schedule-a-meeting/

July 31, 2026Episode 30816 min

Why Your Retirement Savings Could KEEP Growing After You Retire

If you have a pension, your retirement may look very different than most people expect. Many retirees assume they'll spend down their investments throughout retirement. But if you have a pension, Social Security, and substantial savings, your portfolio may actually continue growing for decades. In this video, Joe explains why this happens, how compound growth can continue in retirement, and the tax planning opportunities that come with this unique situation. You'll also learn why required minimum distributions, Roth conversions, and your investment strategy deserve a second look if you're fortunate enough to have a pension. 🎥 Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/430T9Lv 📚Get a FREE copy of Joe's book "I Hate Taxes": https://keap.page/bsd964/toolkit-podcast.html 🟥 Read our latest article featured in Kiplinger: https://www.kiplinger.com/retirement/retirement-planning/are-you-being-tax-smart-about-your-pension 📞 Schedule a call with our team: https://peakretirementplanning.com/schedule-a-meeting/

July 28, 2026Episode 30716 min

4 Ways Your Pension Protects You in Retirement

If you have a pension, you're in a unique position that most retirees will never experience. In this video, Joe breaks down four powerful ways your pension can protect your retirement and why your planning strategy should be different from everyone else's. You'll learn how a pension can reduce the risk of running out of money, help protect you from market downturns, provide options to protect your spouse, and allow your investments to grow for your future and your family's legacy. 🎥 Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/430T9Lv 📚Get a FREE copy of Joe's book "2% Club": https://keap.page/bsd964/2-percent-toolkit-podcast.html 🟥 Read our latest article featured in Kiplinger: https://www.kiplinger.com/retirement/retirement-planning/are-you-being-tax-smart-about-your-pension 📞 Schedule a call with our team: https://peakretirementplanning.com/schedule-a-meeting/

July 24, 2026Episode 30614 min

5 Things That Disappear After You Retire

Retirement changes more than just your paycheck. There are things that quietly disappear once your career ends, and many retirees never see them coming. In today's episode of Joe Knows Retirement, Joe covers five things that often disappear after retirement. If you have a pension and $1 million or more saved, some of these may affect you differently than the average retiree. We'll also discuss why planning ahead can help you enjoy retirement with more confidence and fewer regrets. 🎥 Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/430T9Lv 📚Get a FREE copy of Joe's book "2% Club": https://keap.page/bsd964/2-percent-toolkit-podcast.html 🟥 Read our latest article featured in Kiplinger: https://www.kiplinger.com/retirement/retirement-planning/do-you-need-one-million-to-retire-if-you-have-a-pension 📞 Schedule a call with our team: https://peakretirementplanning.com/schedule-a-meeting/

July 21, 2026Episode 30515 min

You're Not the Average Retiree... Here's Why

If you have a pension and $1 million or more saved, your retirement is completely different from the average retiree. Most retirement advice is designed for people who need more income. But if your pension already covers your lifestyle, your biggest opportunities shift toward optimizing taxes, growing your wealth wisely, protecting your legacy, and making the most of the retirement you've worked so hard for. In this video, Joe walks through the biggest differences between the average retiree and those who have reached financial freedom, plus the five things our clients actually want once they no longer have to worry about running out of money. 🎥 Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/430T9Lv 📚Get a FREE copy of Joe's book "2% Club": https://keap.page/bsd964/2-percent-toolkit-podcast.html 🟥 Read our latest article featured in Kiplinger: https://www.kiplinger.com/retirement/retiring-with-a-pension-what-to-know 📞 Schedule a call with our team: https://peakretirementplanning.com/schedule-a-meeting/