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Mastering Your Wealth

David Gagnon

Need a hand in making your best retirement possible? Join David Gagnon on the Mastering Your Wealth podcast! From taxes to long-term care, Social Security maximization, retirement income planning, and more, David’s show is designed to help educate the community on the important steps for preparing for retirement. David’s goal is to answer your pressing retirement questions and boost your confidence going into retirement.

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21 episodes
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English

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Today · 19 min
Is Your Retirement Plan Ready for Year-End?
The financial moves you make before year-end could shape your retirement long after the calendar turns. On this episode, David Gagnon discusses year-end tax planning, Roth conversions, and why tax preparation and proactive tax strategy are very different. He also explores how Social Security claiming decisions can affect lifetime and survivor benefits, plus why portfolio rebalancing should be driven by your retirement plan rather than market headlines. It’s a look at coordinating taxes, income, Social Security, and investments as retirement approaches. Help Protect, Preserve, and Expand Your Wealth TODAY! Follow us on Social Media: Facebook and LinkedIn! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
October 20 · 14 min
Are Bonds the Missing Piece in Your Retirement Plan?
Are stocks getting all the attention while an important piece of retirement planning gets overlooked? David Gagnon explores the role bonds and other fixed-income options can play in creating income, stability, and diversification as retirement approaches. He also discusses why more Americans are working later in life, how planning can help make work a choice rather than a necessity, and where annuities may fit into a broader retirement income strategy. It’s a practical look at balancing growth, income, and protection when preparing for retirement. Help Protect, Preserve, and Expand Your Wealth TODAY! Follow us on Social Media: Facebook and LinkedIn! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
October 13 · 18 min
Could Playing It Too Safe Put Your Retirement at Risk?
Could playing it too safe with your money create a different kind of retirement risk? David Gagnon explores how balancing investment risk and long-term growth can factor into retirement planning. He also discusses planning for couples with significant age gaps, coordinating Social Security, healthcare and taxes, and looking beyond strong market returns. Plus, learn why business and farm succession planning may require careful conversations about income, inheritance and family legacy. Help Protect, Preserve, and Expand Your Wealth TODAY! Follow us on Social Media: Facebook and LinkedIn! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
October 6 · 16 min
Is AI Hype Creating Hidden Risk in Your Retirement Portfolio?
Could AI hype be quietly increasing the risk in your retirement portfolio? David Gagnon explains why headline-driven investing can lead to costly decisions and how hidden concentration in technology stocks may be affecting diversification. He breaks down the four key areas investors should evaluate: risk tolerance, time horizon, diversification, and concentration. The conversation also explores longevity risks, inflation, healthcare costs, retirement income planning, and common estate planning surprises that can create family conflict. Learn why understanding what you own and having a clear plan matters more than reacting to the latest market headlines. Help Protect, Preserve, and Expand Your Wealth TODAY! Follow us on Social Media: Facebook and LinkedIn! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
September 29 · 18 min
The Fed Raised Rates: Should Retirees Be Worried?
A Fed rate hike has investors wondering if market trouble is next, but are the headlines distracting retirees from the questions that matter most? David Gagnon explains why rising interest rates don't automatically spell disaster for stocks, how retirees can avoid costly emotional decisions, and why income planning matters more than predicting the market. The conversation covers debt management, creating reliable retirement income, managing risk during market volatility, and taking advantage of higher-yield opportunities in today's rate environment. Plus, a look at how building a solid income floor can help create greater financial confidence and contentment in retirement. Help Protect, Preserve, and Expand Your Wealth TODAY! Follow us on Social Media: Facebook and LinkedIn! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
September 22 · 18 min
Why Panic Can Cost More Than a Market Drop
What if the biggest threat to your retirement isn't a market crash, but the decisions you make during one? David Gagnon explores why financial anxiety is rising as inflation, market volatility, and geopolitical uncertainty weigh on investors. He discusses the risks of emotional decision-making, the importance of proactive retirement planning, and how income, tax, and investment strategies can work together to help address uncertainty. The conversation also examines surprising retirement timing data and the reasons many people retire earlier than expected, including health issues, job loss, and caregiving responsibilities. Help Protect, Preserve, and Expand Your Wealth TODAY! Follow us on Social Media: Facebook and LinkedIn! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
September 15 · 20 min
Rising Rates, Retirement Risks, and Hidden Opportunities
Are rising Treasury yields creating hidden opportunities or unexpected risks for retirees? On this episode, David Gagnon breaks down how higher interest rates can impact stocks, bonds, income strategies, and retirement portfolios. He explores why some retirees struggle to spend confidently in retirement, the role of income planning in reducing financial anxiety, the continued growth in annuity adoption despite criticism, and how healthcare and long-term care costs can affect retirement plans. The conversation focuses on aligning investments with purpose and preparing for changing economic conditions. Help Protect, Preserve, and Expand Your Wealth TODAY! Follow us on Social Media: Facebook and LinkedIn! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
September 8 · 15 min
Could Rolling Your Roth IRA Back Into a 401(k) Ever Make Sense?
Could a new rule change give retirees another option for managing Roth savings? On this episode, David Gagnon explains a proposed change that could allow Roth IRA assets to be rolled into workplace Roth plans and why that decision requires careful analysis. He explores the tradeoffs between consolidation and flexibility, discusses the role of AI in financial planning, breaks down how to evaluate advisory fees based on value rather than cost alone, and shares strategies for addressing inflation risk within a retirement income plan. Help Protect, Preserve, and Expand Your Wealth TODAY! Follow us on Social Media: Facebook and LinkedIn! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
September 1 · 16 min
Are Taxes Costing You More Than the Market?
Are hidden taxes quietly taking a bigger bite out of your retirement than market volatility? On this episode, David Gagnon explains why retirement success is about more than investment returns. He discusses tax planning, Roth conversions, Social Security claiming strategies, healthcare costs, and the small financial habits that can shape long-term retirement outcomes. The conversation highlights how coordinated planning can help uncover blind spots, reduce costly mistakes, and bring greater clarity to retirement income, taxes, and legacy goals. Help Protect, Preserve, and Expand Your Wealth TODAY! Follow us on Social Media: Facebook and LinkedIn! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
August 25 · 16 min
The Retirement Prediction Board: Which Risks Are Most Likely?
What if the biggest retirement risks aren't the ones you can predict? David Gagnan explores the retirement “prediction board,” examining how inflation, market volatility, health changes, taxes, and shifting retirement timelines can affect long-term plans. He also discusses why income planning matters just as much as saving, the realities behind low withdrawal rates, and whether the traditional 401(k) approach still fits today's retirement landscape. The conversation focuses on preparing for uncertainty, stress testing financial decisions, and building a retirement strategy that accounts for more than investment returns alone. Help Protect, Preserve, and Expand Your Wealth TODAY! Follow us on Social Media: Facebook and LinkedIn! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
August 18 · 17 min
The Retirement Mistake You May Not See Coming
What if the biggest threat to your retirement isn't the market, but the financial blind spots you're overlooking today? David Gagnon explains why waiting to plan for retirement can limit your options, how tax-deferred savings may create future tax challenges, and why proactive tax planning matters long before retirement begins. The conversation covers wealth transfers, required minimum distributions, Social Security taxation, and the importance of building a strategy based on your goals instead of assumptions. Plus, David shares real-world examples of how small planning decisions today can have a lasting impact on retirement outcomes. Help Protect, Preserve, and Expand Your Wealth TODAY! Follow us on Social Media: Facebook and LinkedIn! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
August 11 · 14 min
The Biggest Retirement Risk Might Not Be What You Think
Retirement isn’t derailed by one big mistake. It’s often shaped by the questions people never stop to ask. David Gagnon explains why many pre-retirees have investment accounts but not a true retirement plan and discusses the shift from saving to spending as more baby boomers enter retirement. The conversation covers income planning, taxes, Social Security decisions, longevity risk, and why relocating to a lower-tax state may not deliver the savings many expect. It’s a practical look at building a retirement strategy that accounts for real-life spending, longer lifespans, and major lifestyle decisions. Help Protect, Preserve, and Expand Your Wealth TODAY! Follow us on Social Media: Facebook and LinkedIn! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
August 4 · 18 min
Warren Buffett Cut Risk. Should Retirees Do the Same?
What if the biggest risk in retirement isn’t the stock market, but playing it too safe? On this episode David Gagnon discusses Warren Buffett’s decision to move billions into cash and what it reveals about managing risk in retirement. He explains sequence of returns risk, the importance of aligning investments with income needs, and how a strategic withdrawal plan can help retirees balance growth, liquidity, and stability. The conversation also explores the growing role of AI in financial planning and why personalized retirement strategies still require a comprehensive review of an individual’s unique circumstances. Help Protect, Preserve, and Expand Your Wealth TODAY! Follow us on Social Media: Facebook and LinkedIn! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 28 · 15 min
Is Your Retirement Plan Missing the Most Important Piece?
What happens when a health crisis, market downturn, or missing paperwork collides with retirement? David Gagnon explains why retirement planning goes beyond investments and income, covering the critical role of estate planning, beneficiary reviews, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives. He also discusses creating reliable retirement income, the differences between residual income and annuities, and why hoping for a financial windfall is not a retirement strategy. Learn how written plans, stress testing, and thoughtful preparation can help address common retirement concerns and provide greater clarity for the years ahead. Help Protect, Preserve, and Expand Your Wealth TODAY! Follow us on Social Media: Facebook and LinkedIn! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 21 · 15 min
Why a Million Dollars May Not Mean What You Think in Retirement
Can a million dollars create a false sense of security in retirement? David Gagnan explains why focusing on a big account balance can be misleading without understanding the income it can generate after taxes, inflation, healthcare costs, and market volatility. He discusses how “number blindness” affects retirement decisions, why there is no universal retirement magic number, and how hidden risks like taxes, sequence of returns risk, and market overconfidence can impact long-term retirement success. The conversation highlights the importance of translating savings into a practical retirement income plan. Help Protect, Preserve, and Expand Your Wealth TODAY! Follow us on Social Media: Facebook and LinkedIn! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 7 · 16 min
The Annuity Comeback: Why More Retirees Are Taking a Second Look
What happens if retirement arrives sooner than expected—and your paycheck disappears overnight? David Gagnon discusses why more advisors are incorporating annuities into retirement income planning, how today’s annuity options differ from those of the past, and the role guaranteed income can play alongside Social Security and other assets. He also explores the growing risk of unplanned early retirement due to health issues, layoffs, or caregiving responsibilities, and shares strategies for building flexibility, managing expenses, and creating a retirement plan that can adapt to unexpected life events. Help Protect, Preserve, and Expand Your Wealth TODAY! Follow us on Social Media: Facebook and LinkedIn! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 2 · 16 min
Why Are More Retirees Taking a Second Look at Annuities?
What happens if retirement arrives sooner than expected—or your income plan depends too much on the market? David Gagnan explains why annuities are getting renewed attention in today’s retirement landscape and how they may help create predictable lifetime income. He discusses the different types of annuities, common misconceptions, healthcare-related features, and how they can fit into a broader retirement strategy. The conversation also explores forced early retirement, Social Security timing, healthcare costs before Medicare, debt management, and the importance of building a flexible income plan that can adapt to life’s unexpected changes. Help Protect, Preserve, and Expand Your Wealth TODAY! Follow us on Social Media: Facebook and LinkedIn! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
June 23 · 16 min
Is Your Retirement Plan Built on Hope or a Real Strategy?
What if your retirement plan is built more on hope than strategy? David Gagnon explains why many savers overlook future costs, taxes, and risks—and how that leads to costly blind spots. He compares retirement planning to building a home, emphasizing the need for a detailed blueprint, not guesswork. The conversation explores tax-efficient investing, income layering, and the hidden impact of withdrawals like “phantom income” that can trigger higher taxes and premiums. With a focus on flexibility, diversification, and stress-testing your plan, this episode highlights how thoughtful planning can help navigate uncertainty and avoid common financial missteps. Help Protect, Preserve, and Expand Your Wealth TODAY! Follow us on Social Media: Facebook and LinkedIn! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
June 16 · 15 min
Your Retirement Paycheck: Why the First Year Matters Most
Retirement can feel uncertain when your paycheck disappears—but what replaces it? David Gagnan breaks down why the first year of retirement sets the tone for decades, and how a lack of structure—not savings—often creates financial anxiety. He explains the importance of building a personalized income plan, coordinating accounts, managing inflation risk, and shifting from accumulation to distribution. The conversation also highlights common mistakes in the final years before retirement and why flexibility, liquidity, and clarity around spending are critical to sustaining income over time. Help Protect, Preserve, and Expand Your Wealth TODAY! Follow us on Social Media: Facebook and LinkedIn! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
June 9 · 16 min
Are You One Emergency Away from Financial Trouble?
What happens when unexpected expenses or hidden retirement risks derail your financial plan? On this episode, David Gagnan explores why emergency funds, flexible liquidity tools like HELOCs, and detailed income planning are essential for long-term stability. He breaks down how to separate essential, lifestyle, and surprise expenses, identify income gaps, and stress test a retirement plan against risks like inflation, healthcare costs, and market volatility. The conversation also challenges traditional reliance on 401(k)s, highlighting the need for a strategy that turns savings into dependable income. Help Protect, Preserve, and Expand Your Wealth TODAY! Follow us on Social Media: Facebook and LinkedIn! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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