Decoding Retirement

What veterans need to know about retirement planning

Americans who are veterans or currently serve in the military often have to deal with a patchwork of complicated programs to ensure their promised benefits are accounted

What advisors need to know about financial planning in 2026

Big updates to tax laws are coming this year, affecting everything from deductions to funding for retirement accounts. With so many variables to consider, many prospectiv

Falling short of retirement goals? Here's how you catch up

Preparing for retirement involves a complex set of decisions, with prospective retirees relying on estimates of how long their money can carry them through their golden y

Why the racial wealth gap is so difficult to close

When it comes to the wealth disparity between Black and White families, America has a lot of catching up to do: in fact, the median gap between Black and White households

When banks say no: the financial step families miss

Becoming a caregiver for a loved one is often a difficult journey, giving up time and money to provide assistance to someone who can no longer manage their own affairs. B

What happens to your money if you don't have a plan

Making a plan for what happens to your assets when you're gone may seem uncomfortable, but it can spare your loved ones a huge amount of money and conflict. On this week'

Half of Americans go into holiday debt - here's how to avoid it

The new Harris Poll on holiday shopping, compiled by the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA), paints a picture of Americans teetering on a financial tightrope. Rising pric

Why retirees are finally taking crypto seriously

Cryptocurrency is gaining ground as an increasingly important asset across the world of finance, but does it hold promise as a way for retirees to grow their nest eggs? T

The Social Security mistake that costs couples $180k

Planning for retirement can be one of the most consequential decisions of your life, especially in the 4-5 years directly preceding your departure from the workforce. On

Why younger caregivers may need to work 7-21 extra years

As America experiences a shortage of healthcare workers and an aging population, more and more families are being forced to shoulder the financial and emotional burden of

Why a micro-retirement might be your smartest money move

Has your career given you burnout? Are you wondering when you will be able to focus on the things that matter most to you? On this episode of Decoding Retirement, host Bo

5 smart money moves to make 5 years before retiring

On this episode of Decoding Retirement, host Bob Powell discusses executive retirement with Amy Permenter, executive wealth strategist for Bank of America, revealing the

The $3.4B scam epidemic targeting older Americans

With the rise of AI, internet and phone-based scams are becoming harder to detect, especially among vulnerable populations like seniors. On this episode of Decoding Retir

The $14,000 mistake retirees make during open enrollment

Medicare's "dirty little secrets" - the hidden costs, coverage gaps and commission conflicts that could cost retirees thousands. You'll learn why so-called "free" Medicar

The costly Medicare Part D Mistake 95% of people make

Choosing the right Medicare Part D plan could be the single biggest factor in helping you save thousands on your prescriptions each year. In this Decoding Retirement epis

Medicare Advantage exposed: what’s changing in 2026

Medicare Advantage is more popular than ever, but also more confusing. More than 34 million Americans are enrolled in these Part C plans, yet many don’t understand how th

Don’t pick a Medicare plan until you use this tool

Choosing the right Medicare plan can feel like solving a puzzle, but there’s one tool that can make it much easier. In this episode of Decoding Retirement, Bob Powell and

Should you keep or switch your Medicare plan?

This is your step-by-step guide to deciding whether to keep, switch, or completely change your Medicare coverage. Decoding Retirement host, Robert “Bob” Powell and Medica

The one Medicare letter you can’t afford to ignore

Think you can skip your Medicare paperwork? Think again. The Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) could save you - or cost you - thousands of dollars. In this special episode o

Why Gen X faces the hardest retirement yet

Generation X has long been regarded as scrappy and resourceful, having come of age during a period of significant societal and economic shifts. Now, as the oldest cohort