What The Wealth Retirement Podcast

Hosted by Jonathan Bednar II, CFP

Business Investing Education

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Episodes

127

Latest episode

Jun 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

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.

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60 recent

June 11, 2026Episode 12716 min

Why Americans Are Lacking Retirement Confidence Despite Larger Nest Eggs (127)

Retirement confidence is at its lowest level since 2017, and the twist is that many people are doing “fine” on paper. So why are folks hesitant to stop working? I walk through what I see after helping hundreds of retirees: Confidence is not built by a bigger portfolio. It is built by a clear plan you can follow when inflation spikes, the market drops, or health care costs surprise you.We start with the data behind the 2026 Retirement Confidence Survey and the real drivers of anxiety: Inflation, rising medical costs, Social Security and Medicare uncertainty, market volatility, and the fear of outliving your money. Then I break down the five building blocks of retirement confidence: Reliable income, cash reserves (including the five-year “war chest” to manage sequence of returns risk), a retirement tax strategy that considers RMDs, Social Security taxation, and IRMAA, thoughtful health care and long-term care planning, and most importantly a written retirement plan that ties it all together.🗓️ 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 PartnersIf 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

May 29, 2026Episode 1268 min

Turning $1 Million into Steady Retirement Income (126)

A million dollars for retirement sounds like the finish line, until you try to live on it and realize there is no paycheck attached. I’m Jonathan Bedner, a Certified Financial Planner with Paradigm Wealth Partners, and in this episode I'll walk you through a simple, practical way to turn a retirement nest egg into monthly income you can actually rely on. The goal is building a system that feels steady even when the market does not. We start with the familiar 4% rule and why it can be a helpful guide but an incomplete retirement withdrawal strategy on its own. Then we get specific about the real threats retirees face: Taxes, inflation, sequence of returns risk, longevity, and the behavior traps that lead to panic selling or overspending. I break down the three-bucket strategy: A cash “paycheck bucket” for near-term spending, a conservative bond war chest often built with bond ladders, and a long-term growth engine in equities designed to fight inflation over decades. We run a clear example using Social Security plus $3,000 per month from an investment portfolio, including how to refill each bucket in up markets and down markets so you are not forced to sell stocks when they are down. 🗓️ 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 PartnersIf 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

May 20, 2026Episode 12511 min

How To Evaluate An Early Retirement Package (Company Buyout) Without Regret (125)

A buyout offer can feel like a gift, but it can also quietly wreck a retirement plan if you treat the severance cheque like a finish line. Let's walk through the real-world decisions behind Microsoft’s recent reported voluntary retirement style separation package and why moves like this matter to anyone working at a large company. When one major employer offers early exits, the idea spreads fast, and the next offer could land on your desk with a deadline and a surge of emotion.The five biggest mistakes I see when people accept an early retirement package: Overvaluing the payout instead of building a durable retirement income plan, underestimating healthcare costs and the Medicare gap, claiming Social Security too early out of fear, forgetting how brutal taxes can be in a package year (salary, PTO, bonus, RSUs, and severance piling up at once), and retiring from something without a clear purpose to retire to. We also talk through why companies do this, from payroll reduction and reshaping the workforce to freeing capital for priorities like AI and infrastructure.To help you decide without panic, I share three grounding questions: Are you financially independent already, does the offer truly improve your position, and what is your best alternative if you stay or work longer? If you’re within five years of retirement and want clarity on income, taxes, Social Security timing, and healthcare, subscribe, share this with someone weighing a buyout, and leave a review so more people can find it.🗓️ 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 PartnersIf 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

May 8, 2026Episode 12423 min

Why So Many Are Retiring to Tennessee — What You Should Know (124)

Retiring to Tennessee sounds simple until you start adding up the real numbers. We hear the same line again and again: “Tennessee is tax-friendly.” That’s true, but it’s also the fastest path to a bad decision if taxes are the only thing you consider.In this episode I walk through what “no state income tax” actually means for retirees and what it doesn’t mean. Tennessee doesn’t tax IRA and retirement account withdrawals, pension income, or Social Security at the state level, which can be a meaningful benefit for people moving from high income tax states. But federal taxes still apply, and the biggest win is often better tax planning flexibility, especially if you’re considering Roth conversions early in retirement. Let's also pressure-test the assumption that Tennessee is always “lower cost.” Housing has climbed fast in places like Nashville, and even historically affordable areas like Chattanooga and Knoxville are changing as more people move in.The trade-offs people miss on the highlight reels: High combined sales tax that can approach 9% to 10%, healthcare access that varies a lot by location, and weather realities like hot humidity, storm risk, and brutal seasonal allergies. We also talk about growth and infrastructure, including traffic congestion and rising demand that can reshape the day-to-day experience of retirement.If you’re thinking about relocating for retirement, use this conversation as a checklist for evaluating taxes, cost of living, lifestyle fit, and your full income strategy. Subscribe, share this with someone considering a move, and leave a review with your biggest question about retiring to Tennessee.🗓️ 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 PartnersIf 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

April 27, 2026Episode 12348 min

Retirement Episode: Biggest Risks, Options at Age 58, All Things Social Security, the $1.9 Portfolio (123)

There’s a retirement risk almost nobody models, and it has nothing to do with the stock market. It’s the quiet trade you make when you keep working past the point where your healthiest years are already slipping away.We stitched together several of my most important retirement planning clips into one focused compilation. First, I explain why age 58 can be a real turning point: health, energy, and mobility start to change while the “compounding magic” of your savings matters less than you think. We unpack the difference between time on paper, usable time, and high quality time and why the decade from about 58 to 68 often holds the best shot at travel, freedom, and doing life on your terms. If market headlines keep you waiting for perfect conditions, I’ll show you why those conditions never arrive and why a stress tested plan is what actually creates confidence.Next, we get practical on Social Security strategy. I walk through five reasons claiming Social Security at 62 can be smart, including cash flow needs, health, reducing pressure on your investment portfolio, reinvesting benefits, and the break even math. Then I lay out four straightforward ways to increase Social Security benefits, from the 35 year earnings rule to spousal and survivor benefits, plus why claiming decisions must coordinate with taxes, Medicare IRMAA, and required minimum distributions.Finally, I cover why a ~$1.9 million portfolio changes the questions you should be asking. The focus shifts from “will I have enough” to tax planning, withdrawal strategy, risk alignment, simplicity, and legacy planning so the wealth you built actually supports the life you want.🗓️ 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 PartnersIf 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

March 3, 2026Episode 12214 min

Six Retirement Regrets (122)

The hard truth: Most retirements don’t fail on spreadsheets. They fail in real life when emotions, freedom, and spending collide. After decades of doing everything right, it’s easy to feel like you’ve earned the luxury car, the bigger house, the nonstop trips, the generous gifts, the open tab for adult kids, or even the dream vacation home. I break down why those “deserved” purchases often carry long tails of cost—depreciation, insurance, utilities, maintenance, taxes, and expectations—that quietly outgrow the portfolio meant to fund the next 30 years.Six retirement regrets I see again and again: The luxury car trap, upsizing the house, travel without limits, pricey gifts that become norms, ongoing support for adult children, and the vacation home illusion. For each one, we dig into the hidden math, the emotional triggers that make smart people overspend, and practical alternatives that protect comfort and joy.🗓️ 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 PartnersIf 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

January 29, 2026Episode 12115 min

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 PartnersIf 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

January 21, 2026Episode 12011 min

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 PartnersIf 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

January 5, 2026Episode 11925 min

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 PartnersIf 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

December 12, 2025Episode 1186 min

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 PartnersIf 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