Conventional wisdom sounds safe, but it can be deceiving. “You can’t go wrong with real estate.” “A mortgage is good debt.” “If your investments aren’t working, just try something else.” Sound familiar? In retirement planning, these rules of thumb can be misleading, or even dangerous. In this episode, Mark unpacks common money myths and shows how blindly following them could derail your retirement strategy.

Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:

🏠 Real estate is not always a guaranteed win

🏦 Paying off the mortgage vs keeping it

💤 Retirement without purpose can lead to boredom

📉 Why chasing new investments can backfire

🗺️ Custom planning beats one-size-fits-all advice

Want to get in touch with Mark?

https://retirementhuddle.com/
mark@howardfinancialgroup.com
888-511-7526

What do restaurants and retirement planning have in common? More than you might think. In this episode, Mark uses memorable restaurant stories—from the days of smoking vs. non-smoking sections to “pick two” menu rules—to explain some of the most important lessons in investing. You’ll never look at a menu, or your portfolio, the same way again.

Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:

🚭 How “secondhand smoke” from one sector can damage your portfolio

📊 The trade-off between growth, safety, and liquidity—and why you can only pick two

🍱 What restaurant menus can teach about diversification

🧭 Why your investing style should change as you approach retirement

🥗 How a balanced “menu” of investments can give you clarity and confidence

Want to get in touch with Mark?

https://retirementhuddle.com/
mark@howardfinancialgroup.com
888-511-7526

📱 Have questions about your retirement strategy? Connect with Mark to get personalized guidance: 👉 https://retirementhuddle.com/#contact

Remember those high school superlatives? “Most Likely to Succeed” or “Best Hair?” Well, Mark is handing out his own class superlatives… for the financial world. In this episode, Mark names the best and worst performers when it comes to financial tools and strategies. He dishes on the “Most Underrated,” the “Most Likely to Disappoint” (sorry, variable annuities), and the “Most Overrated” (crypto fans, brace yourselves).

Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:

🎢 Crypto volatility

🍗 Target-date funds = the Costco rotisserie chicken of investing

⏳ Market Timing… where does it land on the list?

💸 The most underrated financial tool you need to know about

😂 Reunion moment: Mark’s real-life “Most Hair Lost” award

Want to get in touch with Mark?

https://retirementhuddle.com/
mark@howardfinancialgroup.com
888-511-7526

📱 Have questions about your retirement strategy? Connect with Mark to get personalized guidance: 👉 https://retirementhuddle.com/#contact

You’ve heard them your whole life, classic proverbs like “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket” or “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.” But did you know these old sayings can teach you a lot about how to prepare for retirement? In this episode, Mark shares timeless truths and what they reveal about financial planning.

Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:

🔍 Real diversification vs. Wall Street diversification

🌊 “A rising tide lifts all boats”—until it doesn’t

🧺 “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket” (and why that basket may not be protected)

🪙 Custom financial plans > cookie cutters

🧠 Math, logic, and wisdom you can start applying today

Want to get in touch with Mark?

https://retirementhuddle.com/
mark@howardfinancialgroup.com
888-511-7526

Are you losing sleep over your retirement plan? You’re not alone, and this episode breaks down the most common financial pain points keeping retirees up at night. Mark shares the five biggest fears he sees in his own practice, from outliving savings to the crushing cost of long-term care. But more importantly, he offers clear, realistic strategies to turn worry into confidence and overwhelm into action.

Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:

🚫 Avoiding running out of funds in retirement

🧾 Smart tax planning = more money in your pocket

🏥 How long-term care could drain your savings

💲 The fear of walking away from a steady paycheck

📉 How market crashes can hurt your retirement (and what to do about it)

Want to get in touch with Mark?

https://retirementhuddle.com/
mark@howardfinancialgroup.com
888-511-7526

Retirement isn’t just a financial transition, it’s a complete lifestyle transformation. It marks the beginning of a new chapter that should be filled with purpose, connection, and well-being. In this episode, Mark draws inspiration from The Five People You Meet in Heaven to highlight the five essential people you should meet before you retire. These aren’t just helpful contacts, they’re the difference-makers who can profoundly shape your experience in retirement.

Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:

📊 Why your advisor should offer more than just investment advice

📜 The estate planning checklist most retirees skip

🛡️ Health insurance gaps & the Medicare maze

🏌️‍♂️ The connection between movement, mood & meaningful aging

🤝 How mentorship can give your retirement purpose

Want to get in touch with Mark?

https://retirementhuddle.com/
mark@howardfinancialgroup.com
888-511-7526

Retirement is meant to bring peace of mind, but that’s hard to achieve when your plans are based on ideas that aren’t completely true. Too many people head into retirement relying on outdated assumptions they’ve heard for years, without realizing the risks they carry. These myths can create a false sense of security, leaving critical gaps in your plan you won’t notice until it’s too late. In this episode, Mark debunks some of the biggest retirement misconceptions that could quietly sabotage your financial future.

Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:

🦍 A zoo hoax becomes a metaphor for retirement myths

📄 Why bulky financial plans often mean less, not more

💔 The dangerous myth about surviving spouses needing less income

💊 Medicare’s hidden gaps

📉 Are stocks still right for you in retirement?

Want to get in touch with Mark?

https://retirementhuddle.com/
mark@howardfinancialgroup.com
888-511-7526

Most people approach retirement planning with a list of questions in hand, but what if you're asking the wrong questions? In this episode, Mark unpacks why traditional thinking about retirement often leads people astray. If you’ve ever fixated on your “magic number” for retirement or chased high returns, Mark will show you how those concerns might be holding you back and what to do instead.

Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:

💰 Why a magic “retirement number” is a myth

🏥 Smarter ways to plan for long-term care

🧾 The one document your advisor should be asking for—but probably isn’t

🧠 Better questions to ask than “How much do I need?”

Want to get in touch with Mark?

https://retirementhuddle.com/
mark@howardfinancialgroup.com
888-511-7526