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Leah Woodford 00:00 Hi, and welcome to Retire Smart Austin. I’m Leah Woodford, and with me today is Phil Capriotti Sr and John Solyman CRPC of Empower Wealth & Tax. Welcome back
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When most people think about retirement planning, they focus on the obvious questions: Will my savings last? How much income will I need? When should I take Social Security? But there’s one
Retirement isn’t about how much you’ve saved. It’s about how you turn your savings into income you can rely on — for 20, 30, or even 40 years. Most people believe their
Retirement isn’t one-size-fits-all. Two people can retire the same year with the same savings and still need completely different strategies—because income needs, taxes, risk tolerance, health care costs, and family priorities are
Quick Take Life insurance isn’t just for parents with mortgages. The right policy can: protect a spouse’s income plan if one Social Security check disappears create tax-advantaged cash you can access in
Quick Take Annuities are insurance contracts that can turn a portion of your savings into guaranteed income you can’t outlive. For the right person, they lower stress, steady cash flow, and reduce
Key Takeaways (TL;DR) Retirement success is less about “the number” and more about cash-flow durability, tax efficiency, and risk control. A resilient plan blends guaranteed income (Social Security, pensions, annuity floors) with
Big idea: Life insurance and fixed indexed annuities (FIAs) aren’t either/or. Used together, they can help protect income, manage taxes, and transfer wealth more efficiently—especially in volatile markets. Why these two tools
When planning for retirement, one of the greatest challenges is balancing growth potential with protection of principal. Many investors seek opportunities that allow for upside potential without exposing their hard-earned savings to
How much can you spend without running out of money? The 4% rule is a popular rule of thumb, but you can do better. Here are guidelines for finding your personalized spending
What Is a Fixed Index Annuity? A fixed index annuity is a financial product whose terms are defined by a contract between you and an insurance company. It features characteristics of both
Many people decide to claim their Social Security benefit when they retire. You may be one of them. It could be that you need the money, or maybe you want to invest
Learn how the market, economy, and demographics are shaping the annuity industry. The annuity industry is having a moment. After years of mixed opinions and confusion around how they work, annuities
Each June, Annuity Awareness Month shines a spotlight on one of retirement’s most misunderstood—but potentially powerful—financial tools: the annuity. In 2025, as market uncertainty, inflation concerns, and rising interest rates continue to
Although your CalPERS service retirement is a lifetime benefit, and you have other income sources available to you, money can still be tight. Making ends meet is a big concern for many
Annuities have seen a resurgence in popularity as a retirement planning tool, especially in 2025, driven by market volatility, higher interest rates, and an aging population seeking stable income streams. Here’s what
