Best James Conole Cfp Podcasts (2025)

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Your Tax Planning Window Won’t Last Forever | Top 3 Strategies to Prioritize 21:28

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1h ago21:28

21:28

Retiring early isn’t just about having enough money, it’s about using the right tax moves in the right years. This conversation between James and Ari maps the three biggest levers for early retirees: Roth conversions, ACA health insurance subsidies, and 0% long-term capital gains. A real-world case study shows how account mix and spending levels ca…

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Will Low Returns Ruin Your Retirement? (How to Interpret Goldman Sachs 3% Forecast) | Root Talks 16:17

1h ago16:17

16:17

What if the next 10 years bring just 3% returns from the S&P 500? In this episode, we turn that forecast into a real-world retirement plan—not panic. You’ll learn how to stress test your portfolio, build flexibility into your spending, and design a withdrawal strategy that can survive tough markets. Listen as James and Ari break down: Sequence-of-r…

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Stop Ending the Day Exhausted: A Playbook for Peak Performance 17:45

21h ago17:45

17:45

Ever finish a day full of meetings or creative work and feel wiped out, even when you love what you do? James did too, until one image changed how he looked at energy forever. After seeing a scan of a “brain on meetings,” he realized the problem wasn’t the work itself, it was the lack of recovery between high-focus efforts. That insight led him to …

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3 Investments That Should Never Go In Your Retirement Portfolio 12:08

2d ago12:08

12:08

Think your retirement’s safer with a little gold, a favorite stock, and a home full of equity? Time for a reality check. In this episode, we put three “sacred” retirement assets to the test and show how they can quietly derail the one outcome that really matters: a steady paycheck for life. You’ll learn how to define your retirement portfolio’s rea…

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We're 62 with $2M: Retire Now or Wait? 13:27

5d ago13:27

13:27

The real question isn’t “Can we retire?”, it’s “On how much, and when do the big costs fade so our savings can breathe?” In this episode, James walks through one couples' retirement plan to show how timing, travel, and housing choices can turn a shaky forecast into a confident glidepath. He highlights the income canyon most people miss (the stretch…

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What Business Owners Need to Know About the OBBBA 16:38

7d ago16:38

16:38

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act has some pretty great enhancements for business owners, but you have to know what you’re looking for in order to get them. Whether it’s the extension of Qualified Business Income, the 100% Bonus Depreciation, or Enhanced Qualified Small Business Stock, the bill has something for businesses of any size. In this episode…

51
10 Ways Retirement Has Completely Changed in 30 Years 11:32

10d ago11:32

11:32

Forget the gold watch and glide path to the couch. Retirement has been rewritten. In this episode, James walks through the 10 biggest shifts redefining life after work—and how to replace outdated rules with a plan that’s practical, human, and built for how people actually live today. From the mindset shift away from Depression-era scarcity to using…

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$10M+ Net Worth Case Study: What to Do First 16:48

12d ago16:48

16:48

What if the real financial risk isn’t running out of money, but running out of time to use it well? In this episode, listen as James and Ari unpack a $14 million case study with concentrated inherited stock, sizable retirement accounts, and big questions about spending, portfolio risk, taxes, and legacy. See how a single allocation decision can swi…

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The 3 Worst Retirement Mistakes I See All the Time 12:25

20d ago12:25

12:25

By James Conole, CFP®

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The BEST Retirement Advice (From 909 Real Retirees) 11:36

23d ago11:36

11:36

What if the riskiest move isn’t retiring too early, but waiting so long your best years pass by? This episode unpacks the real regrets of 909 retirees and the practical steps they wish they’d taken sooner. Design purpose. Spend on what matters. Do it while health and energy are on your side. Beat the “one more year” trap. Working longer can look sa…

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The Cliché Advice You Should Finally Pay Attention To 19:47

21d ago19:47

19:47

We’ve all heard the clichés: focus on what you can control, embrace the pain not the suffering, fight for what you want. Easy to dismiss, right? But the truth is, those sayings stick around for a reason. They hold the kind of wisdom that can change how you approach life, work, and even setbacks. What often gets missed is that clichés aren’t about p…

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How to Quickly Communicate the Real Value of Your Advice 25:05

26d ago25:05

25:05

Advisors often stumble when they try to prove their worth by listing services. Tax planning, investments, estate documents... it can feel like noise to a prospect who just hears “another $27,000 a year.” What really moves the needle is helping clients connect their unspoken fears and goals to the value you deliver. The truth is, the skills that got…

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5 Signs You Should Fire Your Financial Advisor 12:59

27d ago12:59

12:59

Most people stay with the wrong financial advisor far too long: out of loyalty, inertia, or fear of starting over. But the cost of sticking with the wrong person can be measured in dollars, stress, and lost years you can’t get back. 5 Signs You Should Fire Your Financial Advisor 1. They always say “ask your CPA” instead of doing proactive tax plann…

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Advice from Retirees: What They Wish They Knew in Their 50s 18:39

30d ago18:39

18:39

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 fina…

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Roth vs. Traditional IRA – Which One Really Saves You More? 12:32

1M ago12:32

12:32

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 arb…

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You Could Spend WAY More Than the 4% Rule Suggests (Says the Man Who Created It) 21:25

1M ago21:25

21:25

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%, an…

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How to Know You’ve Found the Right Financial Advisor │ Root Talks 18:18

1M ago18:18

18:18

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 scann…

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Frame It Right: A Simple Shift That Changes Client Behavior 11:58

1M ago11:58

11:58

Have you ever had a client who was financially ready to retire but just couldn't pull the trigger? They keep working, chasing one more bonus, one more year of 401(k) contributions, watching their financial projections climb higher while their actual life satisfaction stagnates. Listen as James unpacks what makes someone financially ready to retire,…

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What’s the Smartest Investment Mix for Retirees Right Now? 13:42

1M ago13:42

13:42

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. List…

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The Real Reason Most People Struggle in Retirement (It’s Not Money) 6:55

1M ago6:55

6:55

Retirement planning is often framed as a numbers game where you can get lost in focusing on maximizing your 401(k), minimizing taxes, and chasing investment returns. But financial security alone doesn’t guarantee fulfillment. The bigger challenge many retirees face is psychological, not financial. The transition from decades of work into retirement…

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How Much Can I Spend In Retirement with a $2 Million Portfolio? 13:19

1M ago13:19

13:19

A retirement story that challenges everything you thought you knew about what’s possible in your golden years. Meet Michael and Lisa: a couple in their early sixties with $2 million saved who are worried about running out of money too soon. Their initial plan looked bleak, but three simple adjustments reshaped their retirement outlook without worki…

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There’s More to Saving for Retirement Than Knowing How Much Money You’ll Need 16:03

1M ago16:03

16:03

“How much money do I need to save in order to retire – what’s my number?” It’s one of the most common questions financial advisors get, and we understand why. People want a goal, something they can work toward to help them feel more at peace about how they’re saving. As is often the case in financial planning, when people ask for their number, the …

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Top 5 Social Security Secrets Every 60-Year-Old Needs to Know 12:19

2M ago12:19

12:19

The hidden complexities of Social Security could cost retirees tens of thousands over a lifetime. While it may seem like a simple income source, the right strategy can dramatically improve your financial security. Claiming isn’t one-size-fits-all. Protecting a spouse, guarding against longevity risk, or maximizing investments each call for a differ…

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Retiring at 65 Might Be Too Late (Here’s Why) 9:37

2M ago9:37

9:37

Most retirement plans focus on money alone, but the equation is incomplete without factoring in healthspan. Lifespan is how long someone lives, but healthspan is the number of years spent in good physical and cognitive health. The gap is significant. The average American lives to 77, but healthspan often ends around 66. This creates a retirement pa…

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Inside Root’s Growth Plan (And the Promise Refuse to Break) │ Root Talks 17:47

2M ago17:47

17:47

What happens when growth changes a company? We’ve all seen it—your favorite restaurant expands and suddenly the quality slips. The connection feels lost. But does growing always mean losing what made you special? At Root, we think about growth differently. We use “anti-goals” to define what we never want to become, with checks in place so expansion…

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Getting Clients to Open Up: A Framework for Financial Advisors 24:09

2M ago24:09

24:09

Advisors often face a gap between what clients ask for and what they truly need. Retirement projections and tax strategies are important, but beneath them is a deeper desire for clarity, purpose, and a meaningful life. In this episode of Root Ready, James shares a framework that builds trust and guides conversations beyond the numbers. Research sho…

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How to Avoid the Widow’s Tax (Before It’s Too Late) 17:30

2M ago17:30

17:30

When one spouse passes away, the survivor often faces what is known as the “widow’s tax.” It is not an official IRS tax, but the impact of moving from married to single tax brackets. A couple earning $120,000 in the 12 percent bracket can see the surviving spouse pushed into the 24 percent bracket with the same income. This tax bracket compression …

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Pre-Tax, After-Tax, Roth: How Should You Distribute Your 401(k) Contributions? 17:33

2M ago17:33

17:33

People often think of their 401(k) as the set-it-and-forget-it retirement account. You set your contribution amount, get your employer match, and leave it alone. But what if your company gives you pre-tax, after-tax, and Roth IRA options? It’s a nice problem to have, but things can get complicated pretty quickly. In this episode, we’re answering a …

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They Gave Up the ‘Traditional’ Retirement to Live the Life They Always Wanted: The Retirement Travelers 38:39

2M ago38:39

38:39

Redefining retirement with purpose and adventure John and Bev retired at 55, sold almost everything, and traded their dream home for two backpacks, golf clubs, and a life of full-time travel. Since then, they have visited 107 countries and all 50 states as “The Retirement Travelers.” Their journey began during COVID, when cancelled plans led to an …

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The Hidden Cost of Financial Optimization (And How to Avoid It) 17:43

2M ago17:43

17:43

What if the “financially optimal” choice doesn’t actually lead to your best life? This conversation explores the balance between optimizing money and optimizing happiness. We break down the Five Types of Wealth—financial, time, social, mental, and physical—and show why sometimes the decision that looks inefficient on paper may actually be the smart…

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The #1 Way to Be a Standout Team Member 25:44

2M ago25:44

25:44

Becoming an extraordinary financial advisor takes more than technical skill—it requires mastering teamwork. This episode breaks down the five pillars of collaboration: trust, listening, influence, respect, and care. These qualities shape how you show up for colleagues and clients and determine the impact you make as a team member. Strategies for re…

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When Money Isn’t Enough: The 5 Types of Wealth You Need Before Retiring 21:24

2M ago21:24

21:24

When the numbers say you can retire, but you can’t step away. Many people with the financial means to retire keep working, telling themselves one more year will make the plan even stronger. But at what cost to your time, health, and relationships? This episode explores “the good pickle,” where chasing more financial security comes at the expense of…

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A Meaningful Conversation About Money with Former NYT Columnist Carl Richards 23:32

2M ago23:32

23:32

Whether you know him as “The Sketch Guy” from his decade-long run as a NY Times columnist or you’ve heard him on a podcast, if you’re interested in the world of finance, you probably know who Carl Richards is. He has also written multiple books, including The Behavior Gap, The One-page Financial Plan, and his forthcoming book of sketches, titled si…

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Here's How Early Retirement Will Impact Your Social Security Benefit 17:13

3M ago17:13

17:13

Thinking about retiring early and worried it might hurt your Social Security benefits? Good news: it probably won’t. A common myth is that you have to work into your 60s to get the most out of Social Security. In reality, benefits are based on your 35 highest-earning years—not the age you stop working. This episode breaks down how benefits are calc…

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Does Your Spouse Really Know the Financial Plan? Why That Matters │ Root Talks 16:48

3M ago16:48

16:48

Money conversations fall short when only one spouse is at the table. It’s easy to treat financial planning like another household task to divide and conquer, but unlike errands, your financial plan is the blueprint for your shared future. What we’ve seen time and again is that the person sleeping next to you often holds the key to your blind spots.…

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Why You Feel Busy But Get Nothing Done 20:47

3M ago20:47

20:47

Ever end the day feeling busy but not productive? You’re not alone. In this episode, we tackle the productivity paradox that plagues so many advisors—being in constant motion without meaningful progress. Robert Brault said it best: “We are kept from our goal not by obstacles, but by a clear path to a lesser goal.” Lesser goals feel urgent, familiar…

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Can You Retire Without $1 Million? The Truth Might Surprise You 16:36

3M ago16:36

16:36

Forget the myth that you need a million dollars to retire. What really matters is creating sustainable cash flow—not hitting a magic number. Retirement success comes down to three things: your expenses, guaranteed income (like Social Security or pensions), and the gap your savings need to fill. For some, that gap is smaller than expected. Real exam…

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The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of the OBBBA 21:06

3M ago21:06

21:06

With the OBBBA now signed into law, we’re sitting down to walk through the good, the bad, and the ugly. The biggest takeaway is that the new bill has opened the door to some great tax planning opportunities, but you have to act soon! Most of the OBBBA’s changes expire in four years, so you have a little time and space to consider doing a Roth conve…

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The #1 Way to Ruin Your Retirement (Most People Do This) 7:11

3M ago7:11

7:11

Can a children’s poem change how you think about retirement? In this episode, we unpack the hidden wisdom in Shel Silverstein’s “Smart” and how it reflects a common retirement planning mistake: trading time and well-being for wealth you may no longer need. We explore why it’s hard to step away from accumulation mode—even after reaching financial in…

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How to Know If You’re Ready to Retire (Hint: It’s Not Just About Money) 17:07

3M ago17:07

17:07

The hardest part of retirement isn’t always financial, it’s psychological. For many, stepping away from work isn’t a light switch, but a dimmer that adjusts over time. This episode of Root Talks unpacks what makes the retirement decision so complex, especially for high-achieving professionals whose identity is tied to their careers. Through a real-…

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How Great Advisors Help Clients Face the Fear of Retirement 25:08

3M ago25:08

25:08

Some clients are more than financially ready to retire, but still can’t bring themselves to do it. The real issue often isn’t the numbers. It’s the fear of losing identity, structure, and purpose after decades of work. In this episode of Root Ready, James explores how to support clients who feel stuck at the edge of retirement—not because they can’…

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This Is Why Financially Ready People Struggle to Retire 11:51

3M ago11:51

11:51

Even with a strong financial plan in place, many professionals find themselves hesitating at the retirement decision—stuck in the cycle of “just one more year.” The numbers say it’s possible, yet the fear of leaving behind a paycheck, a title, or a sense of purpose keeps them working long past the point of “enough.” This episode reframes retirement…

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Am I Behind? Rethinking Retirement Catch-Up Strategies 30:02

3M ago30:02

30:02

Do you ever feel like you're behind on retirement? A 41-year-old listener with over $230,000 saved and a 50%+ savings rate, certainly did. In this episode, we explain why starting late doesn't mean finishing last, especially when you're making such incredible strides! We dive into the numbers, the idea of being "behind" and the importance of the ri…

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What Should You Do With Your 401k When You Retire? 16:25

3M ago16:25

16:25

Your 401(k) is likely your largest retirement asset—so the decisions made about it can have a lasting impact. This episode explores the pros and cons of keeping a 401(k) versus rolling it over to an IRA. Learn when it makes sense to stay in a 401(k), especially for those retiring between ages 55 and 59½, when a special IRS rule allows penalty-free …

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DIY vs. Financial Advisor: How to Know When It’s Time to Get Help │ Root Talks 20:11

4M ago20:11

20:11

If you’ve ever found yourself wondering whether you really need a financial advisor, this episode is for you. James and Ari unpack the deeper reasons people seek financial guidance—and why the decision often goes far beyond dollars and cents. Much like seeing a doctor for preventative care, working with the right advisor is about protecting your fu…

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Want to Be a Better Advisor? Learn to Frame Wealth the Right Way 26:30

4M ago26:30

26:30

What if real wealth goes beyond money? In this episode of Root Ready, Harry Sommers joins James for a thoughtful conversation on redefining wealth—not just for clients, but for ourselves as advisors. Together, they explore a more expansive framework of financial planning that considers time, energy, relationships, and purpose. This isn’t about chas…

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5 Signs It’s Time to Retire - Right Now 9:37

4M ago9:37

9:37

At 90 years old, will you remember that final bonus or the time you didn’t spend with the people you love? This powerful question reframes how we think about retirement timing beyond the numbers. Yes, financial readiness matters. But delaying retirement for "just one more cycle" or "just one more raise" often leads to a dangerous pattern—constantly…

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Are You Saving Money in the Right Order? 25:43

4M ago25:43

25:43

We all know we should probably save some more, but when we pass the piggy bank phase and have larger amounts of money, things get a little more complicated than just dropping some coins every once in a while. In this episode of Real Personal Finance, Scott and Nick get into a little detail that most people skip: “where” and “how” matter as much as …

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Watch Me Stress Test a $1 Million Retirement Plan 19:28

4M ago19:28

19:28

A seven-figure portfolio can feel like a green light for retirement—but the numbers don’t always tell the full story. In one case study, a couple with over $1 million saved faced a withdrawal rate close to 14% based on their desired lifestyle. That’s nearly three times higher than what’s typically considered sustainable. This story is a reminder th…

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Why Brokerage Accounts Might Be the Most Underrated Tool in Your Financial Plan 18:35

4M ago18:35

18:35

Retirement accounts like 401(k)s and IRAs often get all the attention, but there’s another tool that can play a powerful role in your long-term strategy: the humble brokerage account. Unlike retirement accounts with age restrictions and penalties, brokerage accounts offer flexibility. You can access funds at any time, for any purpose without early …