Most people think a Roth conversion comes down to one question: will my tax rate be lower later? That question matters, but it is only the start.

Some of the biggest surprises show up on your tax return and your Medicare bill, sometimes two years after you convert.

In this episode, Stewart Smith and Mitch Davies walk through what to think about before you convert. They explain why the simple "pay tax now or pay tax later" math may miss the point, and where people get tripped up. Whether you are turning 63, already retired, or just starting to wonder if a conversion makes sense, this could help you ask better questions before you act.

In This Episode, 5 Things to Think Through:

• Tax rates: why the real goal may be a lower bracket later, not a break-even spreadsheet
• Medicare: IRMAA explained in plain words, and how the two-year look back works
• Standard deduction: how the extra senior deduction can be lost by going a little over the line
• Other income: why dividends, interest, and capital gains count too
• The long view: why this needs a plan that looks past this year, including the years before required withdrawals begin

Timestamps:
[00:00] The Bill That Arrives Later
[00:44] Roth Conversions Aren't for Everyone
[01:50] Will Taxes Only Go Up?
[04:43] Why Break-Even Math Misleads
[06:01] Filling Up Your Tax Bracket
[09:06] The Medicare Surcharge Surprise
[11:53] The Couple Nobody Warned
[16:46] The Standard Deduction Trap
[19:59] Model It Past Today
[23:37] The Years Before Required Withdrawals
[25:05] Hidden Income That Pushes You Over

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Ready to build your retirement plan?

ClearPath Retirement Planning helps retirees and pre-retirees in the SC and NC areas create tax-efficient retirement income strategies.

📍 300 Executive Center Drive, Suite 104 | Greenville, SC 29615
📞 (864) 775-5033

Schedule your ClearPath Retirement Review today www.clearpathretirement.com

Subscribe & Connect:
YouTube: @ClearPathRetirementPlanning
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ClearPathRetirement
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clearpathretirement

Important Disclosure:

Investment advisory services offered through Alphastar Capital Management, LLC, a SEC-registered investment adviser. SEC registration does not constitute an endorsement of the firm by the SEC nor does it indicate that the adviser has attained a particular level of skill or ability. Fixed insurance products are offered through Clearpath Retirement Planning, LLC and Alphastar Capital Management is not involved in the offer, recommendation, sale or management of commission-based fixed Insurance products. Alphastar Capital Management and Clearpath Retirement Planning, LLC are separate a...

As you approach retirement or as a retiree, have you ever said this to yourself...

"What am I gonna do, just sleep and watch TV all day?"

"If I stop working, my brain's gonna slow down."

"I'll just keep working, I guess. I don't know what else I'd do."

If any of that sounds familiar, this episode is for you.

Stewart Smith and Mitch Davies step away from the usual playbook this week to explore something Stewart has never talked about on the show before: his faith, and what the Bible actually says about retirement.

After hearing a lecture at a faith-driven conference in Houston, Stewart couldn't stop thinking about one question. Does scripture say anything about retiring at all? He and Mitch dug in, and what they found changes the whole way you might think about this next chapter of life.

In This Episode:
→ The one direct mention of retirement in the entire Bible, found in Numbers 8
→ Why the Levites stepped back at 50, but never stopped showing up
→ The real difference between retiring "from" work and retiring "to" a new life
→ Why the happiest retirees Stewart has met in 25 years are the ones who stay purposeful, not idle
→ Genesis 2:15 and the surprising truth that work existed before the fall
→ Proverbs 21:20 and what it means to be wise with what you've built
→ Proverbs 13:22 and the idea of leaving something for your children's children
→ Why wealth itself isn't the problem, but loving it is
→ The old saying that stuck with Stewart for 25 years: you're either green and growing, or ripe and rotten

Timestamps:
→ [00:00] Welcome in and the story behind this week's topic
→ [04:17] Does the Bible actually address retirement?
→ [06:10] Numbers 8, the Levites, and stepping back without stepping away
→ [09:10] Retiring "to" a life, not "from" a career
→ [14:21] Genesis 2:15, work before the fall
→ [18:29] Proverbs 21:20, the wise store up
→ [20:50] Proverbs 13:22, leaving an inheritance
→ [23:24] Wealth isn't the sin, loving it is
→ [27:32] Final thoughts and closing out the episode

Stewart Smith, LUTCF®, RICP®, and Mitch Davies, CFP®, share this conversation as neighbors, not preachers, hoping it gives you something to think about as you plan your own next chapter.

Subscribe to YouTube ClearPath Retirement Planning

Ready to build your retirement plan?

ClearPath Retirement Planning helps retirees and pre-retirees in the SC and NC areas create tax-efficient retirement income strategies.

📍 300 Executive Center Drive, Suite 104 | Greenville, SC 29615
📞 (864) 775-5033

Schedule your ClearPath Retirement Review today www.clearpathretirement.com

Subscribe & Connect:
YouTube: @ClearPathRetirementPlanning
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ClearPathRetirement
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clearpathretirement

Important Disclosure:

Investment advisory services offered through Alphastar Capital Management, LLC, a SEC-registered investment adviser. SEC registration does not constitute an endorsement of the firm by the SEC nor does it indicate that the adviser has attained a particular level of skill or ability. Fixed insurance products are offered through Clearpath Retirement Planning, LLC and Alphastar Capital Management is not involved in the offer, recommendation, sale or management of commission-based fixed Insurance products. Alphastar Capital Management and Clearpath Retirement Planning, LLC are separate a...

As you approach retirement or as a retiree, have you ever said this to yourself...

"Please protect what I've worked so hard to grow."

"I'd like to see some real growth along the way."

"I'm going to need some income I can count on every month."

If any of that sounds familiar, this episode is for you.

Stewart Smith, LUTCF®, RICP® and Mitch Davies, CFP® dig into why retirement feels so scary for so many people and why, in their experience, it usually comes down to working with the wrong advisor — one who leans on fancy jargon and fear instead of a real plan.

In This ClearPath Retirement Radio Episode:
→ The three things almost every client really wants: protect it, grow it, and turn it into income
→ Why some advisors use fear and pressure to sell products, and why that's not how ClearPath operates
→ The emotional side of retirement: stepping away from a career and an identity you've built for decades
→ A simple, real-number example of how investments can cover a monthly income gap without touching your nest egg
→ Getting to know Stewart and Mitch as people, not just advisors
→ Why a retirement plan isn't "set it and forget it," and how ongoing adjustments keep things on track
→ Big news: ClearPath now offers full tax return preparation, joining tax planning, investment planning, and estate planning all under one roof
→ Stewart and Mitch's nonprofit, the Palmetto Financial Freedom Initiative, and how to invite them to speak to your church or community group for free

Timestamps:
→ [00:00] Welcome to another episode
→ [00:31] What scares you about retirement?
→ [01:49] The three things clients really want: protect, grow, income
→ [04:01] Why some advisors talk over your head on purpose
→ [06:18] The corporate tax attorney story
→ [07:21] Preaching fear to sell a product
→ [08:24] Retirement and your identity
→ [12:12] The simple truth about your monthly income gap
→ [15:00] A real example: turning $240,000 into a $2,000 monthly gap solution
→ [16:38] The three types of investments, and why it's not complicated
→ [18:21] Getting to know Mitch
→ [19:53] Getting to know Stewart
→ [22:09] Why a plan is a track to run on, not a "set it and forget it"
→ [24:39] Clients asked for it: ClearPath now does tax returns
→ [25:31] Full-service planning, all under one roof
→ [32:43] The Palmetto Financial Freedom Initiative
→ [34:03] Bring free financial education to your church or group
→ [36:43] Wrap-up

Subscribe to YouTube ClearPath Retirement Planning

Ready to build your retirement plan?

ClearPath Retirement Planning helps retirees and pre-retirees in the SC and NC areas create tax-efficient retirement income strategies.

📍 300 Executive Center Drive, Suite 104 | Greenville, SC 29615
📞 (864) 775-5033

Schedule your ClearPath Retirement Review today www.clearpathretirement.com

Subscribe & Connect:
YouTube: @ClearPathRetirementPlanning
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ClearPathRetirement
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clearpathretirement

Important Disclosure:

Investment advisory services offered through Alphastar Capital Management, LLC, a SEC-registered investment adviser. SEC registration does not constitute an endorsement of the firm by the SEC nor does it indicate that the adviser has attained a particular level of skill or ability. Fixed insurance products are offered through Clearpath Retirement Planning, LLC and Alphastar Capital Management is not involved in the offer, recommendation, sale or management of commission-based fixed Insurance products. Alphastar Capital Management and Clearpath Retirement Planning, LLC are separate a...

As you approach retirement or as a retiree, have you ever said this to yourself...

"Am I going to run out of money before I run out of life?"

"When do I start Social Security?"

"Do I have the right Medicare plan?"

If any of that sounds familiar, this episode is for you.

Stewart Smith, LUTCF®, RICP®, and Mitch Davies, CFP®, break down exactly what separates a true retirement planning advisor from a general financial advisor and what you should look for (and look out for) before you hire one.

In This ClearPath Retirement Radio Episode:
→ The difference between accumulation planners and retirement distribution planners
→ Why fiduciary status and dual licensing (securities and insurance) matter
→ How to decode advisor designations like CFP, RICP, and CFA
→ Why real-world experience is critical when it comes to retirement planning
→ The exact questions to ask before hiring an advisor
→ Red flags to watch for, including guaranteed returns and pressure tactics
→ What a complete retirement income plan should actually cover

Timestamps:
→ [00:00] Intro
→ [01:53] Two types of financial advisors: accumulation vs. distribution
→ [03:49] Signs your advisor isn't built for retirement planning
→ [07:31] Why fiduciary status and dual licensing matter
→ [09:00] What it really means to be a fiduciary
→ [11:16] Decoding designations: CFP, RICP, and CFA
→ [15:50] Weaker designations to watch out for
→ [18:34] Why experience matters in retirement planning
→ [21:06] Character matters: why military service stands out
→ [25:07] Key questions to ask before hiring an advisor
→ [29:00] Ask about their planning process
→ [31:01] Understanding your custodian
→ [33:19] Breaking down fee structures and hidden fees
→ [38:59] Red flags: urgency, guaranteed returns, and unrealistic promises
→ [42:03] What a complete retirement income plan should include

Subscribe to YouTube ClearPath Retirement Planning

Ready to build your retirement plan?

ClearPath Retirement Planning helps retirees and pre-retirees in the SC and NC areas create tax-efficient retirement income strategies.

📍 300 Executive Center Drive, Suite 104 | Greenville, SC 29615
📞 (864) 775-5033

Schedule your ClearPath Retirement Review today www.clearpathretirement.com

Subscribe & Connect:
YouTube: @ClearPathRetirementPlanning
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ClearPathRetirement
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clearpathretirement

Important Disclosure:

Investment advisory services offered through Alphastar Capital Management, LLC, a SEC-registered investment adviser. SEC registration does not constitute an endorsement of the firm by the SEC nor does it indicate that the adviser has attained a particular level of skill or ability. Fixed insurance products are offered through Clearpath Retirement Planning, LLC and Alphastar Capital Management is not involved in the offer, recommendation, sale or management of commission-based fixed Insurance products. Alphastar Capital Management and Clearpath Retirement Planning, LLC are separate a...

As you approach retirement or as a retiree, have you ever said this to yourself...

"I'm just going to have to work forever."

"What if I retire and end up like my dad — gone within six months?"

"I don't see the path. It just feels impossible."

If any of that sounds familiar, this episode is for you.

Stewart Smith and Mitch Davies sit down to talk about a survey that found nearly two-thirds of Americans don't believe they'll ever be able to retire and why, in their 25+ years of working with real clients, that fear almost never matches reality.

In This Episode:
→ Why so many people feel behind on retirement since the pandemic
→ Maria's story — how a waitress with no 401(k) retired comfortably starting at age 48
→ Why retirement is about income, not just how much you've saved
→ The power of compounding — how an extra $500 a month can mean six figures more at retirement
→ Why helping adult children financially can quietly derail your own retirement
→ "There's no loan for retirement" — why saving should come before college costs
→ Paying off your house, claiming two Social Security checks, and why old 401(k)s and small pensions matter more than people think
→ Why understanding your monthly expenses is the single most valuable thing you can do, at any age

Timestamps:
→ [00:00] Why two-thirds of Americans think they'll never retire
→ [01:27] Retirement is about income, not assets
→ [05:29] Maria's story — from waitress to retired
→ [07:21] The Roth IRA and Social Security strategy that changed everything
→ [14:00] It's not how much you have, it's what you need
→ [19:00] The power of compounding — how $500 more a month adds up
→ [24:00] Helping adult children without wrecking your own retirement
→ [27:00] Why there's no loan for retirement
→ [32:00] A modest-income couple's real path to retirement
→ [39:00] Paid-off homes, two Social Security checks, pensions, and forgotten 401(k)s
→ [41:00] Why your expenses matter more than your account balances

Subscribe to YouTube ClearPath Retirement Planning

Ready to build your retirement plan?

ClearPath Retirement Planning helps retirees and pre-retirees in the SC and NC areas create tax-efficient retirement income strategies.

📍 300 Executive Center Drive, Suite 104 | Greenville, SC 29615
📞 (864) 775-5033

Schedule your ClearPath Retirement Review today www.clearpathretirement.com

Subscribe & Connect:
YouTube: @ClearPathRetirementPlanning
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ClearPathRetirement
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clearpathretirement

Important Disclosure:

Investment advisory services offered through Alphastar Capital Management, LLC, a SEC-registered investment adviser. SEC registration does not constitute an endorsement of the firm by the SEC nor does it indicate that the adviser has attained a particular level of skill or ability. Fixed insurance products are offered through Clearpath Retirement Planning, LLC and Alphastar Capital Management is not involved in the offer, recommendation, sale or management of commission-based fixed Insurance products. Alphastar Capital Management and Clearpath Retirement Planning, LLC are separate a...

Stewart Smith and Mitch Davies are back from a few weeks off, and they're diving straight into the things they see most often when they sit down with clients.

Much like a doctor reading an EKG, Stewart and Mitch spend their days looking at statements and tax returns, hunting for the cracks where a plan could be doing more for you.

In this episode, they break down real gaps they run into constantly: estate planning mistakes like houses titled the wrong way, missing TOD and POD designations, and trusts that were set up but never actually funded. They also get into why so many people aren't contributing enough to their retirement plans, what a 22% cut to Social Security by 2032 could mean if Congress doesn't act, and why Roth conversions are worth a serious look right now. They close things out with a few tax efficiency cracks, including how to handle after-tax brokerage accounts, dividends, and charitable giving the smart way.

If you've ever wondered whether your own plan has one of these cracks in it, this episode is a good place to start checking.

In This Episode:

• Why the way your house is titled matters more than you think
• TOD and POD designations and how they can help you avoid probate
• Two common reasons trusts end up never getting funded
• How to know whether an asset should be retitled or just have the trust named as beneficiary
• Why trusts need to be revisited every so often, especially if you've moved states
• The healthcare and financial power of attorney piece people often skip
• Why "just doing the match" on your 401(k) may not be enough
• What a 22% Social Security reduction in 2032 could mean for your retirement
• Why Roth conversions matter more than ever right now
• Managing after-tax brokerage accounts, dividends, and tax loss harvesting the right way
• Using qualified charitable distributions (QCDs) to give more tax-efficiently

Timestamps:
→ [00:00] Welcome back from a few weeks off
→ [02:14] Estate planning cracks: house titling
→ [04:38] TOD and POD designations to avoid probate
→ [07:06] Why trusts don't get funded
→ [09:00] Retitling assets vs. naming the trust as beneficiary
→ [12:40] Keeping trusts up to date
→ [14:04] Healthcare and financial power of attorney
→ [16:03] Not contributing enough to retirement plans
→ [18:16] Social Security's possible 22% cut in 2032
→ [20:20] Why Roth conversions matter right now
→ [23:17] Doing more than the match in the retirement red zone
→ [27:19] Tax efficiency cracks: after-tax accounts
→ [29:19] Tax loss harvesting done right
→ [29:53] Dividends and interest in after-tax accounts
→ [31:32] Qualified charitable distributions (QCDs)
→ [34:06] Wrap-up

Stewart Smith, LUTCF®, RICP®, and Mitch Davies share this every week so you can catch the cracks in your own plan before they cost you. Catch ClearPath Retirement Radio every Saturday at 10 AM

Subscribe to YouTube ClearPath Retirement Planning

Ready to build your retirement plan?

ClearPath Retirement Planning helps retirees and pre-retirees in the SC and NC areas create tax-efficient retirement income strategies.

📍 300 Executive Center Drive, Suite 104 | Greenville, SC 29615
📞 (864) 775-5033

Schedule your ClearPath Retirement Review today www.clearpathretirement.com

Subscribe & Connect:
YouTube: @ClearPathRetirementPlanning
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ClearPathRetirement
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clearpathretirement

Important Disclosure:

Investment advisory services offered through Alphastar Capital Management, LLC, a SEC-registered investment adviser. SEC registration does not constitute an endorsement of the firm by the SEC nor does it indicate that the adviser has attained a particular level of skill or ability. Fixed insurance products are offered through Clearpath Retirement Planning, LLC and Alphastar Capital Management is not involved in the offer, recommendation, sale or management of commission-based fixed Insurance products. Alphastar Capital Management and Clearpath Retirement Planning, LLC are separate a...