Ready For Retirement

• Advice from Retirees: What They Wish They Knew in Their 50s

  Ever wish your 80-year-old self could give you a nudge today? After years working with clients in their 70s and 80s, three lessons rise to the top: treat wealth as money, time, and health, know your financial independence number, and prioritize what money can’t buy while you still can.In your 50s–60s, many people hit a rare “sweet spot” where financial security, free time, and decent health overlap. Too many keep grinding until that window closes. A clear FI plan turns work from mandatory to optional, so choices reflect values instead of fear. And the biggest ROI isn’t from another spreadsheet. It comes from a fit body, a calm mind, rich relationships, and purposeful use of time.Cognitive health compounds. So do habits. Mental challenge, movement, and social connection strengthen the brain; chronic stress and self-doubt erode it. Don’t wait for retirement to start living. Money can be rebuilt. Health and relationships are harder to regain.What would your older self tell you right now? Drop a comment so others can learn from your playbook.-Advisory services are offered through Root Financial Partners, LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. This content is intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered personalized investment, tax, or legal advice. Viewing this content does not create an advisory relationship. We do not provide tax preparation or legal services. Always consult an investment, tax or legal professional regarding your specific situation.The strategies, case studies, and examples discussed may not be suitable for everyone. They are hypothetical and for illustrative and educational purposes only. They do not reflect actual client results and are not guarantees of future performance. All investments involve risk, including the potential loss of principal.Comments reflect the views of individual users and do not necessarily represent the views of Root Financial. They are not verified, may not be accurate, and should not be considered testimonials or endorsementsParticipation in the Retirement Planning Academy or Early Retirement Academy does not create an advisory relationship with Root Financial. These programs are educational in nature and are not a substitute for personalized financial advice. Advisory services are offered only under a written agreement with Root Financial.Create Your Custom Strategy ⬇️ Get Started Here.Join the new Root Collective HERE!

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• Roth vs. Traditional IRA – Which One Really Saves You More?

  Is a Roth IRA really better than a traditional IRA? The truth is... it depends on your tax situation. In this video, you’ll learn why your current tax bracket versus your retirement tax bracket should drive your decision, not blanket advice.Most retirees pay less in taxes later in life, which creates opportunities for smart strategies like tax arbitrage and Roth conversions. By contributing to traditional accounts during high-earning years and converting in lower-tax years, you can potentially save thousands (even hundreds of thousands) over your lifetime.James also covers why neither Roth nor traditional accounts are truly tax-free, and how tax diversification gives you flexibility to manage income in retirement. With a real case study, you’ll see how strategic Roth conversions added more than $100,000 to retirement assets.Listen now to discover how to choose between Roth vs traditional IRAs and optimize your retirement tax planning.-Advisory services are offered through Root Financial Partners, LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. This content is intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered personalized investment, tax, or legal advice. Viewing this content does not create an advisory relationship. We do not provide tax preparation or legal services. Always consult an investment, tax or legal professional regarding your specific situation.The strategies, case studies, and examples discussed may not be suitable for everyone. They are hypothetical and for illustrative and educational purposes only. They do not reflect actual client results and are not guarantees of future performance. All investments involve risk, including the potential loss of principal.Comments reflect the views of individual users and do not necessarily represent the views of Root Financial. They are not verified, may not be accurate, and should not be considered testimonials or endorsementsParticipation in the Retirement Planning Academy or Early Retirement Academy does not create an advisory relationship with Root Financial. These programs are educational in nature and are not a substitute for personalized financial advice. Advisory services are offered only under a written agreement with Root Financial.Create Your Custom Strategy ⬇️ Get Started Here.Join the new Root Collective HERE!

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• You Could Spend WAY More Than the 4% Rule Suggests (Says the Man Who Created It)

  Financial planning’s most famous guideline just got an upgrade. In this exclusive interview, James speaks with Bill Bengen—the MIT-trained engineer turned financial advisor who created the 4% rule—about his updated research and what it means for retirees today.Bengen reveals that diversification alone can raise the safe withdrawal rate to 4.7%, and under certain market conditions, retirees may be able to withdraw 6%, 7%, or even 8% annually. The original 4% rule was never meant to reflect average scenarios. It was built from the worst-case retirement timing in modern history. Even then, a 4% withdrawal strategy lasted 30 years. Bengen’s findings show that across history, the average sustainable withdrawal rate has exceeded 7%, suggesting many retirees could be living more cautiously than necessary.In this conversation, James and Bengen discuss the two factors that matter most when determining safe withdrawals: inflation expectations and stock market valuations at retirement. They also explore why downturns don’t usually require major changes to a plan, but inflation threats demand immediate attention.Rather than focusing on a single “magic number,” Bengen emphasizes a process-oriented approach—one that starts with your circumstances and considers the economic environment before setting a withdrawal strategy.- Advisory services are offered through Root Financial Partners, LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. This content is intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered personalized investment, tax, or legal advice. Viewing this content does not create an advisory relationship. We do not provide tax preparation or legal services. Always consult an investment, tax or legal professional regarding your specific situation.The strategies, case studies, and examples discussed may not be suitable for everyone. They are hypothetical and for illustrative and educational purposes only. They do not reflect actual client results and are not guarantees of future performance. All investments involve risk, including the potential loss of principal.Comments reflect the views of individual users and do not necessarily represent the views of Root Financial. They are not verified, may not be accurate, and should not be considered testimonials or endorsementsParticipation in the Retirement Planning Academy or Early Retirement Academy does not create an advisory relationship with Root Financial. These programs are educational in nature and are not a substitute for personalized financial advice. Advisory services are offered only under a written agreement with Root Financial.Create Your Custom Strategy ⬇️ Get Started Here.Join the new Root Collective HERE!

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• How to Know You’ve Found the Right Financial Advisor │ Root Talks

  What makes you trust someone with your financial future? In this episode of Root Talks, James and Ari unpack the powerful role of intuition in building lasting relationships with financial advisors, business partners, and even loved ones.They explain how what we call a gut feeling is actually condensed pattern recognition, your brain quietly scanning countless experiences to guide your decisions before you can put words to it. This is why many Root clients engage with our content for months before reaching out. They are building trust, alignment, and confidence long before the first conversation.You’ll also get a behind-the-scenes look at how Root designs every client touchpoint to create that same sense of connection—from videos and the first call with our client success manager Jay to the advisor relationship itself. James shares how Root’s hiring process focuses not just on technical skill but on whether a candidate evokes the same feeling of trust clients get from our content. Ari reflects on how intuition plays a role in personal relationships too, bridging the gap between professional and personal trust.As Root grows, James and Ari discuss how we preserve our culture through decentralized command, empowering advisors to deliver personalized guidance while staying true to our philosophy.If you are searching for a financial advisor who makes you feel understood and confident about your future, explore our Root Drops and Advisor Unplugged series on our website on YouTube channel. Because the right advisor is not just about credentials or knowledge, it is about finding someone who feels right.- Advisory services are offered through Root Financial Partners, LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. This content is intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered personalized investment, tax, or legal advice. Viewing this content does not create an advisory relationship. We do not provide tax preparation or legal services. Always consult an investment, tax or legal professional regarding your specific situation.The strategies, case studies, and examples discussed may not be suitable for everyone. They are hypothetical and for illustrative and educational purposes only. They do not reflect actual client results and are not guarantees of future performance. All investments involve risk, including the potential loss of principal.Comments reflect the views of individual users and do not necessarily represent the views of Root Financial. They are not verified, may not be accurate, and should not be considered testimonials or endorsementsParticipation in the Retirement Planning Academy or Early Retirement Academy does not create an advisory relationship with Root Financial. These programs are educational in nature and are not a substitute for personalized financial advice. Advisory services are offered only under a written agreement with Root Financial.Create Your Custom Strategy ⬇️ Get Started Here.Join the new Root Collective HERE!

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• What’s the Smartest Investment Mix for Retirees Right Now?

  Navigating market volatility in retirement requires more than the traditional 60/40 portfolio. This episode explores three critical risks every retiree must address to maintain financial security through changing market conditions.The first is sequence of return risk, which can devastate a portfolio if early withdrawals align with a downturn. Listen to James share his concept of "Root Reserves", setting aside five years of stable investments to provide protection during turbulent periods without selling at a loss.The second is inflation risk. Even modest 3% inflation can nearly triple the cost of living over a typical retirement. This makes growth investments essential, even for conservative retirees, to preserve purchasing power across decades.The third is behavioral risk. There is an emotional side of investing is often overlooked. Understanding personal comfort with volatility is just as important as the numbers. Different types of fixed income play different roles, from providing liquidity to acting as portfolio ballast during market stress.By analyzing cash flow needs, time horizon, and risk tolerance, retirees can create a portfolio built to weather any financial storm.- Advisory services are offered through Root Financial Partners, LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. This content is intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered personalized investment, tax, or legal advice. Viewing this content does not create an advisory relationship. We do not provide tax preparation or legal services. Always consult an investment, tax or legal professional regarding your specific situation.The strategies, case studies, and examples discussed may not be suitable for everyone. They are hypothetical and for illustrative and educational purposes only. They do not reflect actual client results and are not guarantees of future performance. All investments involve risk, including the potential loss of principal.Comments reflect the views of individual users and do not necessarily represent the views of Root Financial. They are not verified, may not be accurate, and should not be considered testimonials or endorsementsParticipation in the Retirement Planning Academy or Early Retirement Academy does not create an advisory relationship with Root Financial. These programs are educational in nature and are not a substitute for personalized financial advice. Advisory services are offered only under a written agreement with Root Financial.Create Your Custom Strategy ⬇️ Get Started Here.Join the new Root Collective HERE!

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