The Retirement Planner

Not Your Grandparents’ Annuities: John Del Greco, Pt. 2 | The Retirement Planner Podcast Ep. 8

There are a lot of misconceptions out there about annuities, many of which are rooted in the way these assets were structured 20 or more years ago and ignoring developments in the market in more recent years. Are annuities right for your retirement plan? They could be, but there are lots of factors to consider.
This week, Certified Financial Fiduciary Don Chamberlin and holistic planning pioneer John Del Greco continue their conversation about developments in the retirement and financial planning arenas over the course of their careers, with a particular focus on annuities and how they can help add stability and predictability to a retirement roadmap when they’re thoughtfully engaged.
Ready to learn more? Click this link to schedule your no-fee 20-minute Strategy Session with one of Chamberlin’s Certified Financial Fiduciaries®!
https://fb.chamberlin-group.com/podcast
 
Sources listed in order:
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. (n.d.). National Rates and Rate Caps. Retrieved from https://www.fdic.gov/national-rates-and-rate-caps
Nasdaq. (n.d.). Annuities and Estate Planning: A Comprehensive Guide. Retrieved from https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/annuities-and-estate-planning-comprehensive-guide
Investopedia. (n.d.). Deferred Annuity. Retrieved from https://www.investopedia.com/terms/d/deferredannuity.asp
MassMutual. (n.d.). Annuity Death Benefit Protection. Retrieved from https://blog.massmutual.com/retiring-investing/annuity-death-benefit-protection,
Rekenthaler, J. (2023, November 16). An 8% Retirement Withdrawal Rate? Morningstar. Retrieved from https://www.morningstar.com/columns/rekenthaler-report/an-8-retirement-withdrawal-rate
Del Greco, J. (2025, May 28). The guy behind retirement's 4% rule now thinks that's way too low. Here's how much more money you could spend. MarketWatch. Retrieved from https://www.morningstar.com/news/marketwatch/20250528214/the-guy-behind-retirements-4-rule-now-thinks-thats-way-too-low-heres-how-much-more-money-you-could-spendZ
Investopedia. (n.d.). What Is the 4% Rule for Withdrawals in Retirement? Retrieved from https://www.investopedia.com/terms/f/four-percent-rule.asp
Kiplinger. (2024, December 16). The 4% Rule for Retirement Withdrawals Gets a Closer Look. Retrieved from https://www.kiplinger.com/retirement/retirement-planning/the-4-rule-gets-a-closer-look
Morningstar. (n.d.). Just How Bad Was 2022's Stock and Bond Market Performance? Retrieved from https://www.morningstar.com/markets/just-how-bad-was-2022s-stock-bond-market-performance
National Association of Insurance Commissioners. (n.d.). Buyer's Guide to Fixed Deferred Annuities. Retrieved from https://content.naic.org/sites/default/files/publication-anb-lp-consumer-annuities-fixed.pdf
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Kiplinger. (2022, January 21). Why Fixed-Rate Annuities Pay More than Bank CDs. Retrieved from https://www.kiplinger.com/retirement/annuities/604072/why-fixed-rate-annuities-pay-more-than-bank-cds
Companies Market Cap. (n.d.). Lucent Technologies (LU) - Stock price history. Retrieved from https://companiesmarketcap.com/lucent-technologies/stock-price-history/
Defiant Capital Group. (n.d.). S&P 500 Posts Crushing 68% Recovery in 2020. Retrieved from https://defiantcap.com/sp-500-posts-crushing-recovery-in-2020/
NAIC (National Association of Insurance Commissioners). (2023, November 13). US Insurer Common Stock Exposure Year-End 2022. Retrieved from https://content.naic.org/sites/default/files/capital-markets-special-reports-commonstock-ye2022.pdf
Kiplinger. (2022, February 23). What You Need to Know About Annuities. Retrieved from https://www.kiplinger.com/retirement/annuities/what-you-should-know-about-annuities
FINRA. (n.d.). Variable Annuities: What You Should Know. Retrieved from https://www.finra.org/rules-guidance/key-topics/variable-annuities

“We were the very first in Pittsburgh”: Holistic Planning, Retirement Education and Developing a New Philosophy with John Del Greco, Pt. 1 | The Retirement Planner Podcast Ep. 7

“He said to me, ‘I can give you a fish or I can teach you to fish, all right?’ And I looked at him and said, ‘Teach me to fish.’”
When John Del Greco got into the insurance business, he didn’t like their sales model. Cold calling friends and loved ones who weren’t even in the market for the product? Seemed inefficient. So he set out on a different path — one that led to a successful business, and to a new way of looking at retirement planning.
His holistic approach is one that the Chamberlin Group has wholeheartedly embraced, and we’re excited to share his conversation with Certified Financial Fiduciary Don Chamberlin about how it all came together.
Click this link to schedule your no-fee 20-minute Strategy Session with a Certified Financial Fiduciary®!
https://fb.chamberlin-group.com/podcast

The Bucket Plan Backstory | Jason Smith, Pt. 2 | The Retirement Planner Podcast Ep. 6

📚 "This is as much about education as it is about anything else." C2P Enterprises and JJ Smith Group founder Jason Smith literally wrote the book on bucket planning, and in part 2 of his conversation with Certified Financial Fiduciary Don Chamberlin, he gives more insight into what inspired him to get into the weeds of holistic financial planning. 
At Chamberlin, we know many retirees' top concern is making sure they don't outlive their money. When market volatility and financial instability threaten your peace of mind, it's important to know you have a strategy in place to weather the storm. Bucket planning ensures that the wealth you've accumulated is not just distributed wisely, but set up for long-term preservation and growth as well. Join Don and Jason for the second part of their wide-ranging discussion of helping American retirees live out their retirement dreams with confidence and clarity. Ready to join them on that journey?
Click this link to schedule your no-fee 20-minute Strategy Session with a Certified Financial Fiduciary®!
https://fb.chamberlin-group.com/podcast

“It has to be customized to the individual,”: Digging Into Holistic Planning With Jason Smith, Pt. 1 | The Retirement Planner Podcast Ep. 5

“Where do taxes fit in? What's the Medicare cost we're discussing? And if I decide on a certain tax strategy, is that going to boost my Medicare premium?”
Retirees and pre-retirees often have lists of questions like these that they either want to get out ahead of or have learned tough lessons they want to avoid experiencing again. Retirement is a complex system of choices, many of which might have been simplified for you in your working years. Maybe HR took your taxes out of each check, and offered a specific set of healthcare plans with premiums auto-deducted every payday. But in retirement, taxes and healthcare costs can become direct, out-of-pocket expenses, and all those choices you make affect other factors in your overall financial picture.
Join Certified Financial Fiduciary Don Chamberlin as he discusses holistic retirement planning with C2P Enterprises and JJ Smith Group founder Jason Smith. They talk about their own history with holistic planning, their experiences helping retirees navigate the complicated system of retirement options, and factors for retirees to account for in their long-term plans.
Click this link to schedule your no-fee 20-minute Strategy Session with a Certified Financial Fiduciary®!
https://fb.chamberlin-group.com/podcast

"Scheduled Maintenance" For Your Retirement Plan, Pt. 2 | The Retirement Planner Podcast Ep. 4

Are you looking to retire in the next 10 years? Or maybe even sooner, in the next year or two? “Start planning now for what your retirement is going to look like,” Chamberlin Planning Team Director Josh Reesman says. “You don't have to have an exact plan, right? Some things may change a little bit. But start to build the scaffolding, I like to say.” 
Going into retirement with a plan — a scaffold, a roadmap, whatever terminology you decide to use — is especially important when you think about all the different pieces of the financial puzzle you need to put together, and how those pieces affect each other. In part 2 of their discussion, Josh and Don dive deeper into the pillars of Holistic Planning, what you need to know about each one, and how having a planner who looks at the big picture can help you avoid big, unexpected expenses and enjoy your retirement with confidence and stability.
Click this link to schedule your no-fee 20-minute Strategy Session with a Certified Financial Fiduciary!https://fb.chamberlin-group.com/podcast

The 7 Holistic Pillars of Retirement Planning with CFF Josh Reesman | The Retirement Planner Podcast Ep. 3

“I come from a family of educators, so I love how we do things here: Understand the options, educate people on the pros and cons of those different options, and then make some recommendations and give people an idea of what we think the best options might be for them.”
We all have ideas about what we want our retirement to look like, but getting there can feel overwhelming. With so many investment options and financial vehicles out there, and so many questions and variables changing the financial landscape every day, having a solid plan and a knowledgeable advising team can help make the roadmap more approachable and understandable. Chamberlin Planning Team Director Josh Reesman sits down with Don to discuss those financial variables and how the pillars of a holistic retirement plan help address them.
Click this link to schedule your no-fee 20-minute Strategy Session with a Certified Financial Fiduciary!
https://fb.chamberlin-group.com/podcast

Smart Strategies for a Secure Financial Future: Dave Alison and the Tax Management Journey | The Retirement Planner Podcast Ep. 2

Unlock insights into smarter tax management with senior wealth advisor Dave Alison's guidance. This episode continues the discussion on the Tax Management Journey, progressing through crucial concepts like measuring tax brackets and avoiding marginal tax traps. Don and Dave also delve into strategic asset allocation for tax efficiency, explore the nuances of gifting strategies, and tackle the complex decision of "pay now vs. pay later." Finally, Dave reveals how to manage your dynamic tax bracket, helping empower you to take control of your financial future. Watch the full episode to learn more about how to define your retirement dreams and make them happen!
Click this link to schedule your no-fee 20-minute Strategy Session with a CertifiedFinancial Fiduciary!

Don't Let Taxes Ruin Your Retirement | The Retirement Planner Podcast Ep. 1

Welcome to The Retirement Planner Podcast! In our first episode, Certified Financial Fiduciary Don Chamberlin talks with Dave Alison, founding partner of Clarity 2 Prosperity Enterprises, about the taxes in retirement.  They discuss tax-efficient funnels, the widow's penalty, tax planning in retirement, and the order of money. 
Watch the full episode to learn more about how to define your retirement dreams and make them happen! Click ⁠here⁠ to schedule your no-fee 20-minute Strategy Session with a Certified Financial Fiduciary!