What if you could retire earlier than expected, access your savings without penalties, get health insurance subsidies, and pay no taxes for the first few years? Would you believe that's possible?

In this episode of Retirement Answers, I explain how it can be done using a case study of a client named Joe where I break down the strategies and financial maneuvers used to help him retire at 55.

👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

✅ Get your Important Numbers 2026 PDF here: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/2026-important-numbers

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

00:00 Welcome

00:51 Special Announcement: 2026 Important Numbers Data Sheet

01:36 Meet Joe: A Real-Life Case Study

04:12 The Rule of 55: Accessing Retirement Funds Early

07:04 Tax Strategies for Early Retirement

08:04 Health Insurance and ACA Subsidies

16:25 Combining Strategies for a Tax-Free Retirement

18:42 Conclusion

Have you ever wondered if certain beliefs about retirement could actually jeopardize your future instead of securing it? In this episode of the Retirement Answers Podcast, Jacob Duke, a certified financial planner, delves into common assumptions that may seem harmless but can quietly derail your retirement plans. Tune in to learn how to identify and overcome these misconceptions for a secure and fulfilling retirement journey.

👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

✅ Get your Important Numbers 2025 PDF here: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/2025-important-numbers

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

00:00 Introduction

01:33 Belief #1: The Magic Number Myth

02:59 Belief #2: Spending Less in Retirement

05:45 Belief #3: Skipping the Financial Plan

10:12 Belief #4: Playing It Too Safe

14:12 Belief #5: Retirement Equals Happiness

15:31 Conclusion

Get the FREE Checklist Here: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/pre-65-retirement-checklist

👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

✅ Get your Important Numbers 2025 PDF here: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/2025-important-numbers

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

What ingredients make for the most optimal Roth conversions? In this episode, I explain what the Roth conversion sweet spot is and why this period of time is the best time to do conversions.

📋 Get Your FREE Checklist here: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/roth-conversion-sweet-spot-checklist

👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

✅ Get your Important Numbers 2025 PDF here: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/2025-important-numbers

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

You ever have something not be what expected it to be? Well, as a retirement planner who is helped over 100 clients, I have learned an important lesson that I think anyone who is preparing for retirement needs to understand.

👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

✅ Get your Important Numbers 2025 PDF here: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/2025-important-numbers

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

Roth conversions might help you save on taxes in retirement, but that doesn't mean you only need Roth IRAs... In this episode, I share why it's actually tax-efficient to have money in a Traditional IRA.

👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

✅ Get your Important Numbers 2025 PDF here: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/2025-important-numbers

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

The 2026 Social Security COLA has been announced! I will share what it is, who it applies to, how it's calculated, and why your Social Security claiming strategy impacts your future COLAs.

👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

✅ Get your Important Numbers 2025 PDF here: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/2025-important-numbers

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

Are you sure you are taking Social Security at the right time? Well, in this episode, I share 5 common mistakes retirees make when claiming Social Security and what you should look out for.

👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started

✅ Get your Important Numbers 2025 PDF here: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/2025-important-numbers

Email: jacob@rivertreewealth.com
Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke

Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.