Safe Money Radio with Brad Pistole

Hosted by Brad Pistole

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Episodes

159

Latest episode

Aug 2026

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EN-US

About the show

Safe Money Radio host Brad Pistole is a nationally recognized Financial Professional who specializes in planning that protects principal from stock market volatility and creates guaranteed lifetime income. Listen here to receive insights from Brad and hear what he has to say regarding retirement income planning.

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60 recent

August 20, 202654 min

You Are Not Ready To Retire Until You Can Answer These Three Questions

Retirement decisions get dangerous when they are driven by exhaustion instead of numbers. We start with a simple challenge: can you say, out loud, the exact monthly income you need after your paycheck stops, and can you prove it with a retirement budget you trust? If you cannot, you are not alone, and you are exactly who this conversation is for. We break retirement income planning into three must-answer questions. First, we nail down your baseline monthly expenses so you are not guessing. Second, we separate real income from “if come” by looking at what is contractually guaranteed for life versus what depends on markets, tenants, or timing. Along the way, we unpack why down years like 2022 can crush retirees who are withdrawing from traditional portfolios, and we explain the “quadruple whammy” of taking distributions during losses while still paying fees and taxes. Then we move to the part too many plans skip: risk removal. We talk survivor planning when one spouse dies and a Social Security check goes away, pension elections that can cut income, and the hard truth about healthcare and long-term care costs that can spike fast. These are not abstract risks, they are real stories and real numbers, and they are exactly why guaranteed lifetime income and smart tax planning can bring peace of mind. Subscribe for more practical retirement guidance, share this with someone within three years of retirement, and leave a review so more families can find the show. What is the one “what if” you want your retirement plan to handle? Send us Fan Mail To learn more about Brad Pistole and the Ozark Retirement Group, please visit www.ozarksretirement.com

August 13, 202656 min

When Your Spouse Dies: A Widow’s Story on Money, Social Security & Surviving the Shock

Your spouse dies and suddenly the questions are nonstop, and some of them are terrifyingly practical: Where are the accounts? What were the passwords? Which check is still coming next month? I sit down with my 79-year-old mom, Peggy Sue Pistole, for a raw, in-person conversation about becoming a widow and learning how to live again after losing her best friend and marriage partner, my dad, Joe “Hilliard” Pistol. We walk through the night he passed, the shock of an unexpected medical emergency, and what happens after the funeral when the paperwork and money decisions hit all at once. We talk about the things families rarely plan for: how long it can take to gain access to a computer and records, how hard it can be to even find a life insurance policy, and why Social Security survivor benefits can still bring a surprise when a deposit gets pulled back after a death. Then we get practical about retirement income planning. We explain why sequence of returns risk matters, why an “income floor” can protect a surviving spouse from panic, and how guaranteed lifetime income from annuities can create steady monthly cash flow through direct deposit even when markets feel uncertain. We also touch on Roth conversion planning and why tax free money can be a lifeline when life happens fast. If you want a retirement plan your family can run without you, listen, take notes, and share this with someone you love. Subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and tell us what part of your plan you want to simplify next. Send us Fan Mail To learn more about Brad Pistole and the Ozark Retirement Group, please visit www.ozarksretirement.com

August 7, 202656 min

How Guaranteed Income Unlocks Growth In Retirement

Retirement doesn’t fail because you picked the wrong fund. It fails when your paycheck depends on a market that doesn’t care what year you retired. We sit down with Curtis Cloak, a world-renowned retirement income planner, to unpack his “promise-based income” approach and why certainty comes first when you’re trying to make money last for life. We talk through the idea of building an income floor using contractual sources like Social Security, pensions, and the right kind of guaranteed lifetime income, then using that foundation to pursue growth with the rest. Curtis explains the research-backed target of aiming for roughly 80% of your grossed-up retirement income from promise-based sources, and why the red zone (10 years before and after retirement) is where sequence of returns risk can permanently derail a plan. We also dig into why the old 4% rule may not fit today’s longer lifespans and higher volatility, and why planning closer to a 3% withdrawal rate from risk-based assets can change the odds dramatically. Along the way, we make it practical: the “holding assets hostage” example, the difference between living on assets versus living on income, and why safety does not have to mean “no growth.” Curtis also tells the behind-the-scenes Ken Fisher annuitybunk story that shows how misunderstood annuities can be, especially when people treat 1 out of 42 product types like it represents the whole category. If you care about retirement income planning, guaranteed lifetime income, and building a plan that accounts for fees, taxes, and inflation, this conversation gives you a clear framework to think with. Subscribe so you never miss an episode, share this with a friend who’s near retirement, and leave us a review with your biggest retirement planning question. Send us Fan Mail To learn more about Brad Pistole and the Ozark Retirement Group, please visit www.ozarksretirement.com

July 31, 202657 min

Life Insurance And The Widow’s Penalty Explained

The hardest part of retirement planning isn’t choosing an investment. It’s facing the risk nobody wants to price: the unexpected phone call, the sudden diagnosis, the accident that turns “someday” into “today.” Brad Pistol shares a personal story of loss, then connects it to the real financial chain reaction many families experience when a spouse dies and the plan was built for markets, not real life. We talk through why so many people insure cars, homes, and vacations, yet leave their income underprotected. From there, we unpack the widow’s penalty: how one Social Security check disappears, why taxes can rise when filing status shifts from married to single, and how IRMAA can increase Medicare premiums. If most of your wealth sits in a traditional 401(k) or IRA, withdrawals may become fully taxable at the exact moment the household has less income and less margin for error. We also challenge the “life insurance is always bad” talking point with a more complete fiduciary lens: tax planning, estate planning, beneficiary reviews, decumulation strategy, and building tax-free options like Roth money or properly designed cash value life insurance. Brad explains how tax-free buckets can help retirees avoid selling investments during a market downturn, and why planning before the funeral is the only version that works. If you want a retirement income plan built for real-world shocks, not just spreadsheets, listen now. Then subscribe, share this with someone you love, and leave a review so more families can find the information before they need it. Send us Fan Mail To learn more about Brad Pistole and the Ozark Retirement Group, please visit www.ozarksretirement.com

July 24, 202657 min

I Went To The World Cup And My Wallet Still Hurts

You can feel the electricity of the World Cup from blocks away, but the real shock hits when you start doing the math. After traveling to Dallas for a match at AT&T Stadium, I walked through the crowds, watched the lines in the gift shops, saw the $249 authentic jerseys, and realized something every retirement planner should talk about: “once in a lifetime” spending can quietly become a lifetime financial tradeoff. We break down what a World Cup trip can realistically cost a family of four when you total up tickets, flights, hotels, Ubers, food, and souvenirs. Then we go one step deeper and calculate the opportunity cost using compound interest. What does $10,000 spent today cost a 45-year-old in retirement dollars? What about a 35-year-old or a 25-year-old with decades for compounding to work? This is the kind of retirement planning conversation that turns vague guilt into clear choices. From there, we shift into wealth-building fundamentals: how surprisingly “small” daily savings habits can add up to a million dollars, and why mindset matters more than hype. I also share lessons from Tom Hegna’s Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, including the three phases of wealth: building, protecting, and distributing, plus the money leaks that derail families over time. We close with a candid warning I learned from being a soccer novice who could still “look like an expert” to outsiders: don’t confuse marketing with competence. If you’re trusting someone with your life savings, do your homework. Subscribe, share this with a friend who’s planning retirement, and leave a review so more families can hear the message. Send us Fan Mail To learn more about Brad Pistole and the Ozark Retirement Group, please visit www.ozarksretirement.com

July 17, 202659 min

2026 Social Security Reality Check feat. Heather Schreiber

The Social Security rumor mill is relentless: “It’s going bankrupt, file at 62, take it and run.” We slow that noise down and replace it with facts you can actually plan around, starting with what the Social Security Trustees Report is really saying about the trust fund and the projected 2032 shortfall. We talk through what “insolvency” means in plain English, why it does not mean benefits drop to zero overnight, and why a fear-based early claim can backfire by locking in a permanently reduced benefit. Then we zoom out to the part most people miss: Social Security is not a silo decision. It is retirement income planning, tax planning, and Medicare planning all at once, with real consequences for IRMAA, net benefit after Medicare premiums, and how much you may need to pull from a traditional IRA versus Roth dollars. We also dig into the mistakes that cost retirees the most, including break-even fixation, confusion around spousal benefits and dual entitlement, and the survivor planning blind spot behind the widow’s penalty. With 11 million widows in the US and the average widow around 59.5, this is not a niche topic, it is a core planning reality. If you want a clearer path to smart Social Security claiming strategies, listen now, then subscribe, share with a friend nearing retirement, and leave us a review so more families can plan with confidence. Send us Fan Mail To learn more about Brad Pistole and the Ozark Retirement Group, please visit www.ozarksretirement.com

July 10, 202659 min

Why Annuities Became The BEST New Retirement Vehicle

Annuity used to be the word people wouldn’t say out loud on financial radio. Now it is the centerpiece of retirement mailers, dinner seminars, and advisor proposals everywhere. So what changed and who is actually telling the truth about guaranteed lifetime income? We walk through the shift from the 2008-2009 “never buy an annuity” era to today’s reality, where retirees are prioritizing safety, predictable cash flow, and protection from market losses that can hit hardest right when withdrawals begin. We bring in research and plain-English explanations from top retirement income voices, including Dr. Wade Pfau’s work on annuities and risk pooling and Dr. Kevin Lynch’s case for annuities in a retirement income portfolio. We unpack the risks that derail plans: market risk, sequence of returns risk, longevity risk, inflation risk, and behavioral risk. You will also hear why longevity is the one risk you cannot diversify away with a portfolio, and how annuities use mortality credits to create higher lifetime income per dollar than most people can safely replicate with withdrawals. We also confront the fee conversation head-on, including the long-term cost of ongoing AUM fees, and why “how much money do I have?” is the wrong retirement question compared to “how long will it last?” To tie it all together, we outline a practical framework that blends Social Security planning, annuity income (or pension income), and portfolio withdrawals, plus the survivor-planning realities behind the widow’s penalty. If you want a clearer, more confident retirement income plan, subscribe, share this episode with a friend who is close to retirement, and leave a review so more families can find it. Send us Fan Mail To learn more about Brad Pistole and the Ozark Retirement Group, please visit www.ozarksretirement.com

July 3, 202657 min

Retirement Has Changed More Than You Think In 250 Years Of American Life

We celebrate America at 250 by walking through how entertainment, travel, sports, technology, and everyday costs change across generations and what that means for the way we plan our lives. We connect nostalgia to real retirement planning lessons about longevity, inflation, and getting advice from the right sources. • the shift from live local entertainment to movies, television, VHS, and streaming • how music changes from vinyl and jukeboxes to modern touring Broadway • travel after World War II, interstate road trips, and how flying becomes normal • gas prices and vehicle costs as a simple way to see inflation over time • how sports salaries explode through media, sponsorships, and global marketing • NIL and why college sports money reshapes young athletes’ lives • the rise of retirement communities and active retirement lifestyles • longer retirements, higher healthcare costs, and the move from pensions to personal investments • social media’s impact on connection and the risk of getting financial advice from TikTok Just go to ozarksretirement.com and click on the contact us button, or you can go to 866-780-7233. Now would be a great time to call me for a complimentary copy of my best-selling book, Bulletproof, the Safe and Secure Retirement Income Plan. And I’ll also give you a copy of my Safe Money kit. My number is 866-780 SAFE. That’s 866-780-7233. Send us Fan Mail To learn more about Brad Pistole and the Ozark Retirement Group, please visit www.ozarksretirement.com

June 29, 202656 min

Retirement Security Changes When You Know The History

The retirement rules you live under weren’t invented all at once. They were built in layers across wars, market crashes, tax law rewrites, and the slow disappearance of pensions. I’m Brad Pistole, and I’m taking you on a fast, practical timeline from 1913 to 2026 so you can stop guessing about retirement and start understanding why the system works the way it does. We start with the creation of the Federal Reserve, then move through the Great Depression and the birth of the FDIC, when “keeping your money safe” became a national priority. From there, we dig into the Social Security Act of 1935, how the pay-as-you-go structure still drives retirement income today, and why projections around 2033 keep coming up in conversations about taxes, benefits, and retirement ages. If Social Security is 30% to 70% of a household’s income, the details matter, and so does having other income sources ready. Then we hit the big retirement shift: the Golden Age of pensions giving way to ERISA, IRAs, and the 401(k) boom. I explain why IRA really means “individual retirement arrangement,” how that changes the way you should think about control and tax rules, and why so many retirees ended up relying on rules of thumb like the 4% rule. We also cover the Roth IRA, the Roth conversion changes that took off in 2010, and why taxes, Medicare IRMAA, and Social Security taxation can turn “tax-deferred” into a retirement problem if you don’t plan ahead. We close with what market shocks in 2001 and 2008 taught real families, and why guaranteed lifetime income and annuities have grown as a way to build a personal pension when employers no longer provide one. If you want a clearer, calmer retirement plan, subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a quick review so more people can find it. Send us Fan Mail To learn more about Brad Pistole and the Ozark Retirement Group, please visit www.ozarksretirement.com

June 19, 202654 min

American College of Financial Services (Horizons Conference): Part 4

Social Security headlines push a lot of smart people into costly snap decisions, and the most common one is racing to claim at 62 out of fear. We sit down at the American College Horizons Conference with Dr. Jason Fichtner, former deputy commissioner at the Social Security Administration and a leading voice on retirement security, to separate rumors from reality. Social Security is not “going bankrupt,” but the trust fund timeline matters and it changes how we should think about claiming, spousal protection, and building a paycheck that can last. From there, we get practical about retirement income planning. If fewer workers have pensions, the burden shifts to your 401(k) and IRA to produce reliable income while also managing market volatility and sequence of returns risk. We talk about why “income is the outcome,” how annuities can be used as a bridge to delay Social Security, and why this is rarely an all-or-nothing choice. The point is to match the tool to the need: essential expenses, flexibility, and peace of mind. Then Dr. Michael Finke challenges the idea that retirement success is only financial, breaking satisfaction into three pillars: money, relationships, and health. Finally, Dr. David Blanchett weighs in on the 4% rule, longevity risk, and a simple baseline approach: cover essentials with lifetime income, then decide how much liquidity and risk you truly need using a “liquidity waterfall” mindset. If you want clearer Social Security strategy, smarter retirement spending, and a more durable retirement plan, subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave us a review. What part of your retirement plan needs the biggest upgrade right now? Send us Fan Mail To learn more about Brad Pistole and the Ozark Retirement Group, please visit www.ozarksretirement.com