Eric Blake, CFP®️

So many broad self-serving assumptions in your example. 1. Nobody should put 100% of their retirement assets into stocks at retirement. Especially if working with a competent financial advisor. 2. You seem to be indicating that the individual should have put 100% of their retirement assets into an IUL? This would be your “advice”? 3. Anyone that has $2.5M in retirement assets will likely accumulated the majority of those funds in a company retirement plan(s). How much comes from the employer match? Are suggesting not getting the match? 4. How much does it cost this individual in taxes by not utilizing company retirement plans? And please don’t use the max tax rate assumption for all withdrawals. At $2.5M this individual is not at the max tax rate. 5. So much more wrong with these assumptions, but did you even check your own math?

In October 2007 a 64 year old had $2.5 million set aside for retirement. By November 2008 it was $1.2 million. Thirteen months. Cut nearly in half. He did nothing reckless. The market fell 37 percent and took his retirement down with it. Now run that same $2.5 million inside a properly structured max funded IUL. 2008 credits zero. Not negative. Zero. The 0% floor means a down year doesn't subtract. The index drops 37 percent and the cash value just sits there and waits. 2009 the index recovers and his money compounds forward from $2.5 million. Not from $1.2 million. That is the whole thing. He never had to climb back from a loss he never took. Sequence of returns is what quietly wrecks a retirement. A zero you can retire on.

Most people think tax season ends when the return is filed, but that may be where the real opportunity begins. What if your tax return could guide smarter financial decisions instead of sitting untouched for a year? thesimplyretirementpodcast.com/podcasts/103-h…

Another spin on this topic. A male dominated profession has spent years ignoring the wife and only focusing on the husband. Now women are expected to (and already have) inherit trillions of dollars. Because of the “Great Wealth Transfer”, now you should start paying attention to female clients. Build processes and systems to better serve female clients. It took potentially losing revenue for this evolution?

Anyone else tired of the term “Great Wealth Transfer?” How I interpret that content: “Meet the kids before the client dies so you can keep charging 1% on their inheritance!” If an advisor is only having generational conversations as a revenue retention strategy, that’s sad. Care about the family, not just the finances.

Divorce doesn’t have to be devastating.  It can be empowering when approached with clarity and the right support. In this episode, I sit down with Karen Covy, divorce coach, attorney, and mediator, to explore how women can take control of the divorce process. thesimplyretirementpodcast.com/podcasts/86-ta…

Understanding Social Security can feel complicated, especially when life events like divorce or widowhood come into play.  In this episode, I join Karen Covy on her podcast, Off The Fence, to walk through the rules that often matter most for women. thesimplyretirementpodcast.com/podcasts/85-so…

“I think I worry about money because…” That sentence came from a conversation this week with a client who had experienced an extremely emotional life event — one that forever changed how she viewed uncertainty and control. As we talked, it became clear her concerns weren’t really about the numbers. They were about what money represented: safety, stability, and the ability to withstand life’s unexpected turns. It reminded me how often our financial decisions are rooted in emotion rather than logic. Fear of loss. Desire for security. Hope for freedom. During our conversation, I shared a copy of Messages from Money by Ellen Rogin, CPA, CFP® — a book I often give to clients because it helps explore the deeper dialogue we each have with money and what it reveals about us. These are the moments that remind me why I do what I do. Because financial planning isn’t about chasing more money — it’s about helping people live fuller, more intentional lives with money as the tool, not the goal. What’s your relationship with money? More importantly, do you know what drives your financial decisions?

Grieving the loss of a spouse is devastating. During that fog, there’s still paperwork, decisions, and urgent tasks demanding attention. thesimplyretirementpodcast.com/podcasts/67-na…

Losing a spouse is heartbreaking, but it can also trigger financial challenges that many women aren’t prepared for.  The Widow’s Penalty is real, and it can have long-term consequences on income, taxes, and retirement. thesimplyretirementpodcast.com/podcasts/66-un…

Tax law changes might not sound exciting, but these updates could have a powerful impact on your retirement plans. In this episode, I unpack the top provisions from the new One Big Beautiful Bill Act and how they may affect retirees, especially women planning for long-term income. thesimplyretirementpodcast.com/podcasts/65-ho…

Changing careers or returning to the workforce after a long break can feel overwhelming. But what if the process could feel empowering instead? thesimplyretirementpodcast.com/podcasts/64-na…

Divorce is difficult enough without letting confusion over Social Security take a toll on your future income. thesimplyretirementpodcast.com/podcasts/63-so…

Gray divorce can significantly impact your retirement plans and emotional well-being. In this episode, I sit down with Jill Lowe, Collaborative Divorce Attorney at J Lowe Law, LLC, to discuss the financial and emotional layers of gray divorce. thesimplyretirementpodcast.com/podcasts/62-gr…

What if money could buy happiness, but only if you knew how to spend it? thesimplyretirementpodcast.com/podcasts/61-th…

What’s the right housing move in retirement? Sell and rent, or stay put and downsize? In this episode, I unpack five key decisions that go far beyond dollars and cents, inspired by a real conversation with a client. thesimplyretirementpodcast.com/podcasts/60-do…

Money can feel like the last taboo, especially when it comes to retirement. But what if opening up could completely transform your future? thesimplyretirementpodcast.com/podcasts/59-na…

What happens when love meets life-altering diagnosis and financial pressure?  thesimplyretirementpodcast.com/podcasts/58-ca…

Accessing your retirement funds early doesn’t have to be a costly mistake. In this episode, I break down seven ways you may be able to withdraw from your retirement savings before age 59½ without facing that dreaded 10% early withdrawal penalty.  thesimplyretirementpodcast.com/podcasts/57-7-…

Retirement is about more than finances. How will you spend your time? thesimplyretirementpodcast.com/podcasts/56-wh…

Financial empowerment transforms lives, especially when women have access to tailored resources and support. thesimplyretirementpodcast.com/podcasts/55-em…

Most people think Social Security is straightforward—until taxes show up. The truth is, what you don’t know about how your benefits are taxed can cost you more than you expect. thesimplyretirementpodcast.com/podcasts/54-ho…