Secure Your Retirement

In this Episode of the Secure Your Retirement Podcast, Radon and Murs discuss retirement planning 2026 with returning guest Tom Siomades, chief market economist, for a mid-year Economic Check on everything that's shaped the markets so far. From the Iran conflict's effect on oil prices and inflation to a new Kevin Warsh Fed chair trying to find footing amid inflation and interest rates that refuse to cooperate, this Markets update covers the headlines retirees are hearing everywhere and translates them into what actually matters for your plan.
Listen in to learn about why stock market volatility has made 2026 feel like a tale of two markets, with AI stocks 2026 and tech stock names like SpaceX carrying much of the S&P 500 outlook while the rest of the economy absorbs energy prices US pressure and shifting consumer spending trends. Tom shares his honest read on recession risk, why Federal Reserve rate cuts have stalled out, and where the market uncertainty of the SpaceX IPO and the AI rally could go from here.
In this episode, find out:
Why 2026 has followed a strikingly similar path to last year, and what that pattern means for retirement advice going forward
How the Iran conflict pushed oil prices and inflation higher, and why gas prices don't fall as fast as oil does
What Kevin Warsh Fed chair is up against, and why Federal Reserve rate cuts have all but disappeared from this year's forecasts
Why Tom is cautious about chasing AI stocks 2026 and tech stock hype, including his candid take on the SpaceX IPO
What Tom is watching for the rest of the year, and why he still sees a path to retiring comfortably despite the market uncertainty

Tweetable Quotes:
"We sit here in the middle of 2026, and it's amazing how quickly it's gone by, but there's also been a lot of bumps in the road." – Murs Tariq, Secure Your Retirement Podcast
"It's amazing if you think about how important oil is to just making the world go round, not just gas, but manufacturing, shipping, and every cargo carrier out there." – Murs Tariq, Secure Your Retirement Podcast
Whether you're actively working on your retirement checklist or still in the early stages of planning retirement, this Economic Check is a reminder that a real Retirement Planning strategy has to hold up no matter what the headlines say. Retirement isn't about predicting the next SpaceX IPO or timing the next rate cut. It's about building a plan for retirement sturdy enough to absorb inflation and interest rates, tech stock swings, and everything in between.
Resources: If you are in or nearing retirement and you want to gain clarity on what questions you should be asking, learn what the biggest retirement myths are, and identify what you can do to achieve peace of mind for your retirement, get started today by requesting our complimentary video course, Four Steps to Secure Your Retirement! To access the course, simply visit POMWealth.net/podcast.

Medicare's new GLP-1 Bridge Program gives eligible retirees access to Wegovy and Zepbound for $50 a month — but there are three financial catches worth knowing before you enroll.
In this episode of the Secure Your Retirement Podcast, Radon and Murs discuss one of the biggest Medicare developments of 2026 — the new GLP-1 Bridge Program, launching July 1, which allows eligible Medicare beneficiaries to access popular GLP-1 weight loss medications like Wegovy and Zepbound for a flat $50 copay per month. Joined by Peace of Mind Wealth Management's in-house Medicare specialist Sean Southard, they break down exactly what this program is, who qualifies, how the approval process works, and what the financial implications look like for retirees on fixed incomes.
Listen in to learn about the three financial angles every retiree needs to understand before enrolling in the GLP-1 Bridge Program, including why that $50 copay sits completely outside your normal Medicare Part D protections, what happens when the program ends in December 2027, and how GLP-1 medications and Medicare prescription drug coverage fit into a broader retirement planning conversation around healthcare costs, budgeting, and long-term affordability.

In this episode, find out:
What GLP-1 medications are, why Medicare historically excluded them for weight loss, and what changed in 2026 to make the GLP-1 Bridge Program possible
Who qualifies for the program based on BMI and health conditions, and how your doctor submits a prior authorization request through Medicare's centralized system
Why the $50 flat copay does not count toward your Medicare Part D deductible or annual out-of-pocket maximum, and what that means for your retirement budget
What retirees need to plan for when the program's temporary status ends in December 2027 and costs could jump significantly
The health considerations and side effects of GLP-1 medications that matter most for older adults, and why this conversation belongs with your doctor and your financial planner

Tweetable Quotes:
"Retirees need to avoid assuming that this benefit program is going to be permanent forever. Plan for what happens if that $50 copay jumps back up to several hundred dollars a month." — Murs Tariq
"This is both a healthcare conversation and a financial planning conversation. Retirees should evaluate long-term affordability, potential future coverage changes, and how chronic disease management fits into an overall retirement plan." — Shawn Southard
Resources:
If you are in or nearing retirement and you want to gain clarity on what questions you should be asking, learn what the biggest retirement myths are, and identify what you can do to achieve peace of mind for your retirement, get started today by requesting our complimentary video course, Four Steps to Secure Your Retirement!
To access the course, simply visit POMWealth.net/podcast.

In this episode of the Secure Your Retirement Podcast, Murs and Nick discuss why retirement stress and retirement anxiety don't disappear when the account balance hits a certain number, and what it actually takes to plan for retirement with real confidence. Joined by Senior Wealth Advisor and Certified Financial Planner Nick Hymanson, they walk through the fears and financial stress that show up most often in client meetings, from losing the paycheck to navigating market volatility, long-term care planning, and the weight of protecting a surviving spouse. Whether you are retiring comfortably or still working toward that goal, this conversation gets honest about the gap between having money and having a plan.
Listen in to learn about the five critical areas of retirement income planning that form the foundation of a secure retirement, including tax strategy for retirement, healthcare costs in retirement, estate planning, and how to build a financial checklist that actually prepares you for what retirement looks like day to day. Radon, Murs, and Nick explain how financial planning strategies like Roth conversions in retirement and a structured bucket approach to market volatility can shift retirement planning from something that keeps you up at night to something you trust completely.
In this episode, find out:
Why retirement anxiety hits even high-net-worth retirees, and how the loss of a paycheck changes the entire structure of a retirement plan
How market volatility creates sequence of returns risk in the early years of retirement, and what tax strategies for retirees can do to protect against it
What long-term care planning and healthcare costs in retirement look like inside a complete financial checklist, and why waiting too long to address them is one of the costliest mistakes in planning retirement
How Roth conversions in retirement and other proactive tax strategy tools can reduce your lifetime tax bill, especially in the years between retirement and required minimum distributions
Why estate planning and protecting the surviving spouse belongs inside every retirement plan, and how the Peace of Mind Pathway™ addresses all five critical areas under one team, one plan, one fee

Tweetable Quotes:
"The only way you overcome these fears is you talk about them. And the only way you get comfortable and confident is there's a plan around it that you can reference and revisit." – Murs Tariq
"How do we structure things so there's less risk in the plan and things go the way someone wants them to go? That's what retirement income planning is really about." – Nick Hymanson

Resources:
If you are in or nearing retirement and you want to gain clarity on what questions you should be asking, learn what the biggest retirement myths are, and identify what you can do to achieve peace of mind for your retirement, get started today by requesting our complimentary video course, Four Steps to Secure Your Retirement!
To access the course, simply visit POMWealth.net/podcast.

In this episode of the Secure Your Retirement Podcast, Radon and Murs discuss the SpaceX IPO and what retirement-age investors need to think about before making any decision with their savings. SpaceX began trading on June 12, 2026, at a $1.75 trillion valuation, the largest IPO in stock market history, and the questions from clients started pouring in almost immediately. Rather than telling you whether SpaceX is a good or bad investment, Radon and Murs walk through a clear, honest framework for making sure whatever you decide is driven by your retirement plan and not the noise of the moment.
Listen in to learn about the real data behind how major IPOs have historically performed in their first year of trading, why your 401(k) or IRA may already be buying SpaceX without any action on your part, and the three questions every retiree should answer before putting retirement savings into any newly public company. Whether SpaceX is on your radar or you are simply trying to build better habits around big investment decisions, this episode gives you the tools to think clearly when the headlines get loud.
In this episode, find out:
What SpaceX actually is as a business, which of its three divisions is profitable today, and why the $1.75 trillion valuation is priced on the future rather than current earnings
What the last 30 major IPOs over the past 15 years reveal about first-year performance, including an average maximum drawdown of 50% to 55% and why it happens around the six-month mark
Why index rule changes mean millions of Americans may already be picking up SpaceX exposure through their existing 401(k) and IRA index funds
The critical difference between making a trade and making a long-term investment, and why that distinction should shape the entire decision for anyone nearing or already in retirement
Three questions to ask before buying any IPO, starting with the one that eliminates most bad decisions before they happen

Tweetable Quotes:
"You can believe in a company and still decide that buying it at IPO price in week one isn't where your retirement money belongs." - Radon Stancil
"Waiting twelve months to buy a stock you plan to hold for fifteen years is not missing out. It is just a longer on-ramp, and it might come with a significantly better price." - Murs Tariq
Resources: If you are in or nearing retirement and you want to gain clarity on what questions you should be asking, learn what the biggest retirement myths are, and identify what you can do to achieve peace of mind for your retirement, get started today by requesting our complimentary video course, Four Steps to Secure Your Retirement!

In this Episode of the Secure Your Retirement Podcast, Radon and Murs discuss some of the most effective ways to lower taxes in retirement before the end of taxes 2026. Drawing from more than 150 client tax strategy meetings conducted by Peace of Mind Wealth Management, they break down the Retirement tax planning strategies that delivered the greatest benefits to retirees. From charitable giving opportunities to Roth conversion strategy analysis, this episode provides actionable insights designed to help retirees make smarter decisions about their future tax liability.
Listen in to learn about proven tax strategies including Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs), Donor Advised Funds, Tax Efficient Investing, Tax Loss Harvesting, and RMD planning. Whether you're focused on reducing retirement income tax, preparing for future Required Minimum Distributions, creating a comprehensive retirement checklist, or looking for ways to secure your retirement, this episode offers valuable guidance to help you maximize your wealth and keep more of what you've worked so hard to save.
In this episode, find out:
How a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) can help charitably inclined retirees reduce taxes in retirement while supporting causes they care about.
Why a Donor Advised Fund may allow you to maximize charitable deductions and improve your overall tax planning strategy.
How Tax Efficient Investing and Tax Loss Harvesting can potentially reduce taxes and improve after-tax portfolio returns.
Why Roth conversion analysis can help lower future retirement income tax and reduce the impact of future Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs).
How proactive Retirement Planning and annual tax strategy reviews can help you plan for retirement, optimize your finances, and retire more confidently.

Tweetable Quotes:
"A Qualified Charitable Distribution is one of the few opportunities where you can put money into an IRA, receive the tax deduction, experience growth, and then ultimately distribute those dollars completely tax-free to charity." — Murs Tariq
"Everyone should not do a Roth conversion, but everyone should do a Roth conversion analysis because the impact on lifetime tax savings can be substantial." — Radon Stancil
Resources:
If you are in or nearing retirement and you want to gain clarity on what questions you should be asking, learn what the biggest retirement myths are, and identify what you can do to achieve peace of mind for your retirement, get started today by requesting our complimentary video course, Four Steps to Secure Your Retirement!
To access the course, simply visit POMWealth.net/podcast.