In this episode, Jason shares an important announcement about the future of the Retirement Budget Calculator. He explains why the tool will no longer be available to new public users, what this means for existing users and Parker Financial clients, and the lessons learned from nearly a decade of building retirement planning software. Jason also reflects on how this decision supports a renewed focus on delivering deep planning and investment management for the families he serves.

We are going to start the year off with a podcast series called "The 2026 Retirement Challenge". The idea is that each podcast I am going to bring you one thing to work on so that by the end of the series you will know if you are ready to retire and if the numbers will work.

Most retirement planning starts with a number.

"How much do I need?"
"When can I retire?"
"Am I going to run out of money?"

Those are important questions — and we'll get to all of them in this retirement challenge.

But today, I want to start somewhere else.

Because here's what I've seen after years of working with retirees:

Retirement isn't just a financial transition, it's a life transition.

That's why the first step in the 2026 Retirement Challenge isn't about Social Security, taxes, or investments.

It's about your why.

Why are you retiring?
What are you retiring to?
And what kind of life do you actually want to design?

In today's podcast, I want to take a few minutes to look back on 2025…and then use what we learned to prepare for 2026.

Gold is up more than 50% year-to-date. Costco has been selling gold bars that fly off the shelves. The Discovery Channel's hit show Gold Rush draws millions of viewers. And central banks around the world have been buying gold at record levels.

Demand is high—and the price reflects it.

So in today's podcast, I want to dive into all things gold: what it is, what makes it valuable, why people invest in it, and my own philosophy about owning it.

To find links and resources mentioned in today's podcast, visit SoundRetirementPlanning.com and click on episode #464.

The Retirement Budget Calculator is an intuitive tool that promises ease and accuracy. However, like any tool, user error could potentially lead to costly mistakes. To avoid this, let the experienced advisors at Parker Financial LLC guide you.

When you hire our team, we offer a comprehensive review of your current investments, taxes, and the data in the Retirement Budget Calculator. We will ensure your plan's completeness and accuracy, helping you create an investment strategy, assist with tax planning, and monitor your plan to maximize your retirement journey.

At Parker Financial we offer a well-crafted retirement investment strategy, deeply rooted in academic data and financial science which can be the key to a prosperous retirement.

Don't leave your future to chance. Take the first step towards a sound retirement. Schedule your complimentary discovery session now by visiting Parker-Financial.net let us help you make the most of your retirement years.

In today's podcast, I want to talk about the new Enhanced Senior Deduction that was passed and signed into law on July 4th, 2025.

If you are 65 years old or older—or will be turning 65 sometime between 2025 and 2028—you'll want to understand how this works and how it could impact your retirement plan. If you are not yet 65 but you know someone who is, be sure to send them a link to this episode.

For articles links and resources mentioned in todays show visit https://soundretirementplanning.com/ and click on episode 463

I'm really excited about today's episode because I want to speak directly to the anxiety that so many of you are feeling — and that you've been sharing with me lately.

The title of today's show is "Is a Market Crash Coming?"

It's a question I hear often, and I completely understand why. The headlines can be overwhelming, the markets feel unpredictable, and it's easy to wonder what's next.

In today's episode, I want to talk about what you can do when you start to worry about how the market is going to perform — and, more importantly, what actions you can take to protect your peace of mind and your financial future.

To find links, resources and the transcipt mentioned in today's podcast, visit SoundRetirementPlanning.com and click on episode #462.

The Retirement Budget Calculator is an intuitive tool that promises ease and accuracy. However, like any tool, user error could potentially lead to costly mistakes. To avoid this, let the experienced advisors at Parker Financial LLC guide you.

When you hire our team, we offer a comprehensive review of your current investments, taxes, and the data in the Retirement Budget Calculator. We will ensure your plan's completeness and accuracy, helping you create an investment strategy, assist with tax planning, and monitor your plan to maximize your retirement benefits.

At Parker Financial we offer a well-crafted retirement investment strategy, deeply rooted in academic data and financial science which can be the key to a prosperous retirement.

Don't leave your future to chance. Take the first step towards a sound retirement. Schedule your complimentary discovery session now by visiting Parker-Financial.net let us help you make the most of your retirement years.

To find links and resources mentioned in today's podcast, visit SoundRetirementPlanning.com and click on episode #461.

The Retirement Budget Calculator is an intuitive tool that promises ease and accuracy. However, like any tool, user error could potentially lead to costly mistakes. To avoid this, let the experienced advisors at Parker Financial LLC guide you.

When you hire our team, we offer a comprehensive review of your current investments, taxes, and the data in the Retirement Budget Calculator. We will ensure your plan's completeness and accuracy, helping you create an investment strategy, assist with tax planning, and monitor your plan to maximize your retirement benefits.

At Parker Financial we offer a well-crafted retirement investment strategy, deeply rooted in academic data and financial science which can be the key to a prosperous retirement.

Don't leave your future to chance. Take the first step towards a sound retirement. Schedule your complimentary discovery session now by visiting Parker-Financial.net let us help you make the most of your retirement years.

Today's podcast has three parts: first, a simple question to help you gain clarity; second, a common financial mistake we see—and how to fix it; and third, practical investing moves you can take right now.

To find links and resources mentioned in today's podcast, visit SoundRetirementPlanning.com and click on episode #460.

The Retirement Budget Calculator is an intuitive tool that promises ease and accuracy. However, like any tool, user error could potentially lead to costly mistakes. To avoid this, let the experienced advisors at Parker Financial LLC guide you.

When you hire our team, we offer a comprehensive review of your current investments, taxes, and the data in the Retirement Budget Calculator. We will ensure your plan's completeness and accuracy, helping you create an investment strategy, assist with tax planning, and monitor your plan to maximize your retirement benefits.

At Parker Financial we offer a well-crafted retirement investment strategy, deeply rooted in academic data and financial science which can be the key to a prosperous retirement.

Don't leave your future to chance. Take the first step towards a sound retirement. Schedule your complimentary discovery session now by visiting Parker-Financial.net let us help you make the most of your retirement years.