Ex-silicon valley guest turned Scuba Diver shares the truth behind retiring early! Hope you enjoy the insights shared! Want to be a guest on THIS show and help others by sharing your story? Complete this: https://vwo3759x8i7.typeform.com/to/gh00JmnZ Interested in a custom strategy to retire early? → https://www.rootfinancial.com/start-here/ Get access to the same software I use in my videos and join the Early Retirement Academy here → https://ari-taublieb.mykajabi.com/early-re...

Hiring a financial advisor isn’t about credentials alone, it’s about timing. And for many people, getting that timing wrong can cost years of freedom. Ari explores when it doesn’t make sense to hire a financial advisor, when it absolutely does, and why the decision often has less to do with intelligence or interest in finances and more to do with stress, life stage, and opportunity cost. Drawing from personal experience, real client conversations, and a story from his own life, Ari explains w...

Most people think the safest path to retirement is to keep saving more, no matter how close they are to the finish line. But what if there comes a point where saving actually matters less, and investing well, living well, and spending with intention matter more? In this end-of-year episode, Ari shares why many near-retirees may need to rethink their instinct to “just keep saving.” He breaks down the surprising point where portfolio growth outweighs new contributions, why being “qualified-rich...

Choosing when to collect Social Security is one of the most stressful retirement decisions people face, and it doesn’t have to be. In this episode, Ari breaks down how most people actually decide when to claim Social Security, why there is no single “best” age, and how to think about the decision without fear or guesswork. Using real data and real-world scenarios, the focus stays on understanding trade-offs rather than chasing a perfect answer. Listen as Ari explains why some people c...

Most advisors start with one question: “What’s your risk tolerance?” In retirement, that question might steer you in the wrong direction. In today’s episode, Ari breaks down why traditional risk questionnaires fail, and the better framework that actually protects your lifestyle, your confidence, and the income you need to live well in retirement. You’ll hear the story of a couple who rated their risk tolerance completely differently… and then changed their answers the moment markets dro...

Deciding when to claim Social Security is one of the most important retirement choices you’ll make, but most people approach it the wrong way. They pick an age early, cling to it for years, and assume the “best” decision never changes. In reality, the right claiming strategy shifts as your life shifts: your spouse’s benefit, your health, your spending, your tax plan, and even how much joy you’re getting out of retirement all matter far more than a hard rule. In this episode, Ari explains why ...

Stop letting your birthday decide your bond mix. That “age in bonds” rule feels safe, but it can quietly rob you of growth, freedom, and spending power. In this episode, Ari challenges the traditional 60/40 rule and shows how to build a smarter allocation based on your actual life, not your birth year. Using a real client story—a couple with $2 million in a 401(k), $85K in rental income, and $50K in part-time work—we explore how to balance risk, income, and long-term security without falling...

Everyone wants better returns. Almost no one talks about where those returns should live. You can own all the right investments and still lose thousands a year if they sit in the wrong place. Asset location is one of those quiet advantages that doesn’t make headlines but changes everything behind the scenes. It’s how you line up your accounts so they work together instead of against each other. The difference isn’t theoretical. It’s real tax savings, smoother withdrawals, and more flexibility...

Some retirees have more money than they ever imagined… and still feel guilty buying the $5 M&Ms. This episode is for the lifelong savers who nailed the retirement planning side—maxed out accounts, invested consistently, hit their “number”—but feel stuck when it’s time to actually spend. James and Ari share real client stories of multimillionaires who still walk past convenience to save a few dollars, not because they need to… but because the “always save” habit is so deeply wired in. In t...

Retiring by 55 sounds incredible, but it takes more than hitting a savings target. You need to understand how to bridge the gap between your last paycheck and the life you want to live. In this episode, Ari Taublieb, CFP®, shares the five things every early retiree should know before calling it quits. From the overlooked “Rule of 55” to navigating healthcare costs and tax traps, this guide helps you move forward with confidence in your plan instead of crossing your fingers. Here’s what we cov...

Retirement doesn’t come down to a magic number, it comes down to your number. This episode gives you a simple, personalized framework to decide when you can truly retire based on the life you want, not generic benchmarks. First, get clear on monthly spending (baseline needs + lifestyle wants). Then reverse-engineer your target by layering in taxes, a sensible withdrawal strategy, guaranteed income (Social Security, pensions), and the one-time costs people forget—like cars, remodels, weddings,...

What if the “smart” money choice isn’t the choice that builds your best life? This Root Talks episode starts with a bucket-list moment for James—throwing the first pitch at a Padres game—and turns into a bigger lesson: money is a tool to create meaning, not a score to keep. It’s a look at the Five Types of Wealth (financial, time, social, mental, and physical) and why the spreadsheet answer isn’t always the human answer. Ari and James share real examples: paying for time to be with family an...

Most headlines shout that you need millions to retire comfortably. The truth? It depends on you. Ari breaks down what “enough” really means, and how to design a plan that fits your lifestyle, health, and peace of mind, not someone else’s spreadsheet. In this episode, you’ll hear real-life stories that prove one size doesn’t fit all. A saver with $3 million who can’t enjoy travel because of sciatica. A Chevron retiree with $487K, a paid-off home, and a $2,800 monthly budget li...

Feeling like “flat” retirement spending plans don’t match real life? You’re not imagining it. Spending typically follows a retirement smile: higher in the early “go-go” years, lower in the “slow-go” years, then rising again later with healthcare needs. In this episode, Ari Taublieb, CFP®, shows how acknowledging that curve can unlock more life early on—without losing long-term security. Using illustrative scenarios (not recommendations), see how a $2,000,000 portfolio might support higher spe...

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 Ari and James break down: Sequence-of-returns risk — why bad early years hurt more than bad averages. The modern 4% rule — how to use it as a guardrail, not a guarantee. Diversificat...

Feeling like healthcare makes early retirement impossible? It’s a common belief, but often fixable with thoughtful income planning. Premium tax credits under the ACA aren’t vanishing; the enhanced credits are scheduled to sunset after 2025, and the pre-2021 rules (including the ~400% FPL income cap) are slated to return in 2026 unless Congress acts. The takeaway: managing MAGI matters. In this episode, Ari Taublieb, CFP®, walks through a practical, illustrative case: a 60-year-old couple with...

Feeling anxious about taking money from your retirement accounts? You’re not alone. That first withdrawal feels odd after decades of saving, but a clear process and tax plan turns uncertainty into confidence. In this episode, Ari Taublieb, CFP®, breaks down how withdrawals actually move from investment accounts to your checking—and what the tax bite may look like. Using a simple $100,000-per-year example for a married couple filing jointly, you’ll see illustrative ballpark math: in a no-incom...

Are you overthinking your Roth conversion strategy? While Roth conversions can be powerful, not every retiree needs them. In this video, you’ll learn when a Roth conversion truly makes sense—and when it may just add unnecessary complexity. Using the “cauliflower analogy,” we break down how Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) can push retirees into higher tax brackets, and why paying taxes now can sometimes help avoid bigger bills later. But there’s an even more important question: could you...

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 perfection, they’re about perspective. They remind you that regret comes from the chances you didn’t take, that discipline lasts longer than motiva...

Forget everything you thought you knew about retirement planning. While 401(k)s and IRAs get most of the spotlight, brokerage accounts can be a powerful tool for flexibility, tax savings, and early retirement. In this episode, you’ll learn the seven key advantages brokerage accounts offer, including how a married couple could generate over $126,000 in tax-free annual income, how heirs can inherit appreciated assets without paying capital gains tax, and how these accounts provide penalty-free ...