ClearPath Retirement Radio

The Retirement Questions That Keep You Up at Night: And Why a Plan Beats an Opinion

Sat, 23 May 2026 10:00:00 -0400

Retirement planning isn't about having the right advisor. It's about having a real plan — one that shows you in black and white how your money holds up against taxes, inflation, market risk, and time.

Today, Stewart Smith and Mitch Davies tackle the questions that genuinely keep pre-retirees awake:
Will I have enough?
What will taxes do to my IRA?
When should I take Social Security?
Can we survive a major healthcare event?

These aren't hypothetical worries — they're conversations happening every week at ClearPath.

In this ClearPath Retirement Radio episode:

Why "your advisor said you're fine" isn't the same as a plan and what that difference costs people
The psychology of retiring after 30+ years: identity, anxiety, and the shift from saving to spending
Mitch's Market Minute: What's keeping the market picture cloudy right now — the war in Iran, inflation, and record corporate earnings all at once
Qualified Charitable Deductions (QCDs): The most-missed tax strategy for retirees who give to charity
Withdrawal order: Why the account you tap first matters just as much as how much you've saved
Roth conversions explained plainly — including the truth about the five-year rule most people get wrong
The "magic window" between retirement and age 73 — and why it may be your best tax planning opportunity
The tax torpedo and how it hits surviving spouses hardest
How the One Big Beautiful Bill Act's extra standard deduction may create a short-term Roth conversion opportunity through 2028

This is the Season 1 finale of ClearPath Retirement Radio. We're taking a short break and coming back in June for Season 2 — recorded live from our Greenville office and available every week on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.

If you've been listening this season, thank you. We're just getting started.

If any of this has been sitting with you, we'd love to help. Call us at 864-775-5033 or visit clearpathretirement.com to start the conversation.

ClearPath Retirement Planning serves pre-retirees and retirees across Upstate South Carolina, Columbia, and Western NC. We're veteran-owned, fiduciary, and planning-first — always.

Ready to stress-test your retirement plan?

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

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

Schedule your complimentary consultation today at www.clearpathretirement.com

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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 Plannin...

Greenville SC Senior Living: Plan Now or Face a 5-Year Waitlist

Sat, 16 May 2026 10:00:00 -0400

Retirement planning involves many conversations about income, taxes, and investments. But one of the questions Stewart Smith and Mitch Davies hear most often from families across Upstate South Carolina is this: How do we figure out the senior care piece and how do we pay for it?

This week, Stewart and Mitch are joined in the studio by Lynn Baird of Oasis Senior Advisors, a 30-year veteran who helps families navigate independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing facilities across the Greenville area. Think of her as a real estate agent and advocate for families going through one of the most complicated transitions of their lives.

In this episode:

The four levels of senior care and exactly what triggers the move from one to the next
How activities of daily living (ADLs) connect to insurance and long-term care benefits
What senior living actually costs in Upstate SC — and why it may surprise you
Why some of the most sought-after Greenville communities have five-year waiting lists
The questions every family should ask when touring a facility
How to recognize the signs that a loved one may need more help — and why it's harder to spot than most people think
Medicaid planning and the five-year lookback — what you need to know before you need it
Stewart's personal story about his father, a power of attorney, and a stroke that changed everything eight months later

Mitch also covers this week's market update — inflation numbers, the new Federal Reserve chair, and what continued volatility means for retirees who haven't stress-tested their portfolios lately.

For senior living placement in Upstate SC, visit Lynn at oasissenioradvisors.com and search for the Greenville location.

Ready to stress-test your retirement plan?

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

Behind the Plan: Meet the Team Driving ClearPath's Planning-First Process

Sat, 09 May 2026 10:00:00 -0400

Something a little different this week on ClearPath Retirement Radio.

Stewart is traveling, so Mitch Davies takes the helm — joined by Servicing Adviser Lara Bishop and Marketing Director Kathy Farah — for a conversation that gives listeners a real look at the people and philosophy behind ClearPath's planning-first approach.

If you've ever wondered what it actually feels like to work with a firm that leads with your plan and not a product pitch, this episode answers that question from the inside out.

Mitch opens with the Market Minute — markets have recovered to all-time highs, the AI trade continues to show strong earnings, and what the possibility of a peace deal could mean going forward. Plus a look at GDP and PCE numbers heading into summer.

Then the conversation shifts to the team itself. Mitch and Lara share how they each found their way into retirement planning, what drives them, and how Stewart has built an environment where different personalities, perspectives, and approaches all work together toward one goal — helping clients get to a place where retirement feels secure, not stressful.

You'll also hear:

Why retirement income planning starts with your expenses and goals, not your assets or returns
What clients wish they'd known before picking up the phone — and why you don't need to have it all together before you call
How the planning-first process works in practice, and at what point products even enter the conversation
What it means that ClearPath advisors have no back-office pressure to sell — and why that changes everything about the client experience
How the team stays proactively connected with clients, especially when markets get noisy

As Kathy put it during the conversation: the ages haven't mattered. What comes through consistently is that this is a team that genuinely wants to help people and has built a process that reflects that.

If you're in the retirement red zone — roughly the three to five years leading up to retirement — or you're already retired and wondering if your plan is as solid as it should be, this is a good episode to sit with.

Ready to stress-test your retirement plan?

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

The New Senior Scams That Even Smart People Fall For And How to Fight Back

Sat, 02 May 2026 10:00:00 -0400

ClearPath Retirement Planning's Stewart Smith, LUTCF®, RICP®, and Mitch Davies break down the fastest-growing threat to retirement security in 2026. AI-powered scams that are so sophisticated that even financially savvy people are falling for them.

In 2024, seniors lost nearly $5 billion to fraud. That number is probably much higher because most victims never report it, out of shame.

And the old red flags are gone. No more obvious tells. AI has changed everything.

On this episode of ClearPath Retirement Radio, Stewart and Mitch walk through exactly how these scams work and what you can do right now to protect yourself and your family:

→ The grandparent scam 2.0 — how scammers clone your grandchild's actual voice from a 10-second social media clip and why you can't trust what you hear

→ The imposter advisor call — what your real financial advisor will never ask you over the phone

→ Fake investment opportunities — how a wrong number text can lead to losing your life savings

→ The $250,000 real estate scam — a real client story about a savvy businessman who never saw it coming

→ Email phishing scams — why you should never log into a financial account from a link in a text or email

→ The three red flags that apply to every scam — urgency, fear, and secrecy

→ The never pay rule — the four payment methods that mean it is always a scam

→ The ClearPath Protection Playbook — family safe words, credit freezes, multi-factor authentication, and more

→ Mitch's Market Minute — where the markets stand and what the new Fed chairman means for retirees

If you are retired or approaching retirement, this episode could be the most important one you listen to this year. These scams happen every day to people who never thought they would happen to them.

Reach out to the team at ClearPath Retirement Planning to make sure your retirement assets are protected with a plan built around your full picture.

Ready to stress-test your retirement plan?

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

The Long-Term Care Problem SC Retirees Can't Afford to Ignore

Sat, 25 Apr 2026 10:00:00 -0400

7 out of 10 Americans over the age of 65 will need some form of long-term care. A multi-year stay in a skilled nursing facility could easily consume a significant portion of your retirement savings. And most people don't have a plan for any of it.

If you've been putting off this conversation because it felt too expensive, too complicated, or too uncomfortable, this episode of ClearPath Retirement Radio is for you.

Stewart Smith, LUTCF®, RICP®, and Mitch Davies walk through the real costs of long-term care, why traditional long-term care insurance is failing people, and what a newer hybrid solution can do that the old approach never could. Stewart also shares his own experience watching his father's health decline — a man who signed a power of attorney convinced he would never need it, only to spend the last six years of his life in memory care. It is a story that brings this topic off the spreadsheet and into real life.

In This Episode:

→ What long-term care actually covers — home healthcare, assisted living, skilled nursing, and memory care

→ Why the cost of care compounds faster than regular inflation and what the national averages look like today

→ The hard truth about self-insuring, Medicaid spend-down, and what it really costs the surviving spouse

→ Why traditional long-term care insurance is failing people — rising premiums, strict underwriting, and the use-it-or-lose-it problem

→ A newer hybrid product — an indexed annuity with long-term care benefits — that may address nearly every problem with the old approach

→ How a single premium could potentially give you a meaningful multiplier for long-term care benefits with no use-it-or-lose-it risk

→ The 1035 exchange strategy that may turn an old non-qualified annuity into a tax-free long-term care payout

→ How this product may allow you to pay a family caregiver tax-free — replacing their income while they help care for you

→ Mitch's Market Minute: volatility, the market recovery, and why your allocation matters more than the headlines

Call 864-775-5033 or visit clearpathretirement.com to schedule a conversation.

Ready to stress-test your retirement plan?

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

Wills, Trusts & What Most SC Families Get Wrong About Estate Planning

Sat, 18 Apr 2026 10:00:00 -0400

Most people assume that having a will means their estate is taken care of. But a will does not avoid probate, and probate could cost your family thousands of dollars, months of waiting, and more stress than you'd expect.

If you've been putting off estate planning because it felt complicated or expensive, this episode of ClearPath Retirement Radio is for you.

Stewart Smith, LUTCF®, RICP®, and Mitch Davies break down living revocable trusts in plain terms — what they are, who needs one, how to fund it, and why they may be one of the most practical steps a retiree can take right now.

In This Episode:

→ Why a will alone does not avoid probate and what probate could actually cost your family

→ What a living revocable trust is and why it is simpler than most people expect

→ How to fund the trust — what to retitle, what to name as beneficiary, and what to leave alone

→ The step-up in cost basis question: you do not lose it with a revocable living trust

→ How trusts address blended families, aging spouses, and complicated ownership situations

→ Why healthcare and financial power of attorney documents may be just as critical as the trust itself

→ Why beneficiary designations need a review now, not someday

→ Mitch's Market Minute: what the recent sharp market recovery means for retirees

Ready to get this taken care of once and for all?

ClearPath Retirement Planning helps retirees and pre-retirees in the Upstate SC and Columbia, SC areas build a complete estate plan — including living revocable trusts, power of attorney documents, and beneficiary reviews — all in one place, without the confusion.

Ready to stress-test your retirement plan?

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

Feeling Behind on Retirement Savings? Here's What You Can Still Do

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 10:00:00 -0400

Nearly half of Americans over 55 feel they haven't saved enough for retirement. If you've looked at your 401 (k) statement and felt that familiar knot in your stomach, this episode of Clearpath Retirement Radio is for you.

Stewart Smith, LUTCF®, RICP®, and Mitch Davies walk through four real steps people in their 50s and early 60s can take right now to close the gap and still build a retirement worth looking forward to.

In This Episode:

→ Catch-up contributions — how to sock away an extra $7,500 per year in your 401k after age 50

→ Why delaying Social Security could be the most powerful move you make

→ Getting real on your expenses — the one-month notebook exercise that changes everything

→ Bridge work: how $1,500–$2,000/month in part-time income can dramatically reduce pressure on your savings

→ Market update: what a headline-driven market means for retirees right now

→ Why the anxiety doesn't go away until you have an actual plan

Timestamps:

→ 0:00 - Feeling Behind: You Are Not Alone

→ 3:46 - Tip 1: Catch-Up Contributions After Age 50

→ 10:00 - Tip 2: Delaying Social Security

→ 15:00 - Tip 3: Trim the Budget and Get Real on Spending

→ 25:00 - Mitch's Market Minute: Volatility, Oil Prices, and Headline Markets

→ 31:28 - Recap: The Four Steps to Catching Up

→ 39:16 - Tip 4: Bridge Work and the Part-Time Income Strategy

→ 46:00 - Why Procrastination Is the Enemy of Retirement

→ 49:00 - When You Have a Plan, the Anxiety Clears

Ready to stop wondering and start getting clear?

ClearPath Retirement Planning helps retirees and pre-retirees in the Upstate SC and Columbia, SC areas build retirement income plans that actually work — no matter where you're starting from.

Ready to stress-test your retirement plan?

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

Claim Smart: Social Security Mistakes You Can't Take Back

Sat, 04 Apr 2026 10:00:00 -0400

This week episode of ClearPath Retirement Radio covers Social Security claiming strategies for retirees and pre-retirees in Greenville and Upstate South Carolina.

Retirement advisor Stewart Smith, LUTCF®, RICP®, and Mitch Davies break down the most common Social Security mistakes, including when to claim, spousal benefits, survivor income, and how Social Security taxes work in retirement.

Social Security is not a simple age decision.

It is a long-term income strategy, and once you make it, you generally can't undo it. Stewart and Mitch walk through why the break-even calculator most people find online is only the starting point and what the real moving parts are that could cost you or your spouse hundreds of thousands of dollars over a lifetime.

In This Episode:
→ Why claiming at 62 may permanently reduce your benefit by 25 to 30%
→ The spousal benefit most married couples don't know they're missing
→ How your decision as the higher earner determines your spouse's survivor benefit
→ Why the Social Security office won't give you strategy advice
→ The one-year do-over — and exactly how it works
→ Why waiting until 70 could mean an 8% annual increase — and when waiting may not make sense
→ How working in semi-retirement may affect your benefit more than you'd expect → Why Social Security needs to be treated as an asset, not just a check you turn on → Mitch's Market Minute — staying calm in headline-driven markets

Before you claim, grab the free Social Security Optimization Checklist at clearpathretirement.com.

The Social Security guide walks you through the questions most people never think to ask — timing, taxes, spousal coordination, and more — so you can see exactly where your strategy stands before you make a permanent decision.

Ready to stress-test your retirement plan?

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

South Carolina's Hidden Retirement Tax Advantages: What Most Retirees Are Still Missing

Sat, 28 Mar 2026 10:00:00 -0400

ClearPath Retirement Planning's Stewart Smith, LUTCF®, RICP®, and Mitch Davies break down the retirement tax advantages most people in South Carolina don't know they're missing, even after they've moved here.

South Carolina is strategically tax-friendly for retirees.

But those benefits don't happen automatically. The IRS isn't going to call you. And if no one has walked you through this, you could be paying more than you need to every single year.

On this episode of ClearPath Retirement Radio, Stewart and Mitch walk through the specific advantages available to retirees in the Upstate and across South Carolina:

→ No state tax on Social Security income
→ The $15,000 per person retirement income deduction on IRAs, 401(k)s, and pensions
→ The 4% primary residence property tax rate — and why most people aren't getting it
→ The homestead exemption at 65 — $50,000 off your assessed value, but only if you apply
→ No state estate tax and no inheritance tax
→ Why withdrawal order determines whether you capture these benefits or leave them on the table
→ Mitch's Market Minute: Where the S&P and Nasdaq stand and what's driving the pullback from all-time highs.

Timestamps:
→ 0:00 - SC Tax Advantages Overview
→ 2:40 - Retirement Income Deduction & Social Security
→ 5:00 - Property Taxes: The 4% Primary Residence Rate
→ 6:14 - Homestead Exemption at 65
→ 7:39 - No Estate Tax or Inheritance Tax in SC
→ 9:00 - State Income Tax & What's Changing
→ 10:10 - Why Withdrawal Order Matters
→ 24:00 - Mitch's Market Minute
→ 40:00 - The 4% Application Process — What Most People Miss
→ 46:00 - Homestead Exemption: You Have to Apply
→ 48:45 - How ClearPath Can Help

If you've moved to South Carolina for the tax advantages — or you've lived here your whole life — this episode may show you money that was right there the whole time. Reach out to the team at ClearPath Retirement to find out if you're actually getting everything this state offers.

Ready to stress-test your retirement plan?

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

The Retirement Income Gap: What Most People Don't Discover Until It's Too Late

Sat, 21 Mar 2026 10:00:00 -0400

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

"I've been saving for years and the number on my statement looks good but I honestly don't know if it's actually enough to last 20 or 30 years."

"My advisor mentioned Roth conversions once and never brought it up again and I still don't know if I missed my window."

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

In this episode, Stewart Smith, LUTCF®, RICP®, and Mitch Davies break down the retirement income gap — what it is, why it may be bigger than you expect, and the strategies ClearPath uses to help close it.

They cover the Roth conversion strategy, the tax arbitrage window before RMDs kick in, and a three-bucket investment approach built specifically for people who are in or approaching retirement.

In This Episode:

→ The retirement red zone: why the five years before you retire could be the most critical financial decisions you make

→ Are you working part-time just to pay more taxes on Medicare and Social Security?

→ What it means to be a planning-first firm

→ The Roth conversion strategy explained clearly — including the tax arbitrage window and the One Big Beautiful Bill Act deduction

→ The five-year rule on Roth accounts: what it actually means and why most people have it wrong

→ Would you rather leave your children money or a tax problem?

→ Mitch's Market Minute: what's driving current market volatility and why it matters more when you're depending on your portfolio for income.

→ Why investing in retirement is a completely different game than accumulating

Ready to stress-test your retirement plan?

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

The Key to a Fuller, Richer South Carolina Retirement Starts With a Real Plan

Sat, 14 Mar 2026 10:00:00 -0400

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

"I have a pile of statements in a drawer but I honestly don't know if I have a real plan."

"My advisor talks about returns but nobody has ever talked to me about taxes, Social Security timing, or what happens if I need long-term care."

"Looking back, I think I was sold a product instead of given a real plan."

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

In this solo episode, Stewart Smith (LUTCF®, RICP®) pulls back the curtain on what led him to leave the traditional financial advisory world and build ClearPath Retirement Planning from the ground up.. a firm where planning always comes first, no exceptions.

Stewart shares the real complaints he hears every week from clients across Greenville, Columbia, and Upstate South Carolina who came to him frustrated and confused. He walks you through exactly what a real retirement plan looks like and why it changes everything.

In This Episode:

Why Stewart walked away from other firms to build something different
What a real retirement income plan actually models — longevity, inflation, healthcare, and market downturns
The long-term care reality SC retirees need to plan for now
The #1 complaint Stewart hears from people leaving other advisors
Why Roth conversions require careful tax threshold planning and what most advisors miss
Annuities as a tool, not a default how to know when they make sense
Why your accumulation planner may not be the right fit for retirement

Timestamps:

0:00 - Why Stewart Started ClearPath
2:33 - Planning Always Comes First
3:36 - Building Your Retirement Income Plan
5:32 - Modeling Long-Term Care & Healthcare Costs
10:21 - Roth Conversions & Tax Threshold Planning
17:19 - The Biggest Complaints From Other Advisors' Clients
17:51 - "They Sold Me a Product Instead of a Plan"
19:15 - Annuities as a Tool, Not a Default
26:58 - Poor Communication & What ClearPath Does Differently
30:00 - Fees, Surrender Charges & Transparency
42:34 - Accumulation Planners vs. Retirement Planners
44:47 - The Three-Bucket Retirement Investment Strategy

Ready to stress-test your retirement plan?

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

SC Retirees: What to Do With Your Portfolio When Markets Get Scary

Sat, 07 Mar 2026 10:00:00 -0500

With geopolitical tensions rising and markets reacting, this episode is essential listening for anyone within five years of retirement or already living off their retirement portfolio.

Stewart Smith (LUTCF®, RICP®) and Mitch Davies break down exactly how the current conflict is affecting retirement portfolios, what sectors are benefiting and which are under pressure, and the structural strategies that keep retirement income stable when headlines get scary.

As a veteran-owned business and former military, Stewart and Mitch discuss what SC retirees need to know right now.

In This Episode:

Iran conflict impact on oil, inflation, and retirement portfolios
Why retirees who panic in volatile markets pay the biggest price
The self-directing mistake Stewart has seen for 25 years
The three-bucket strategy that protects retirement income in any market
Mitch's Market Minute: VIX, Fear and Greed Index, defense ETFs up 15% YTD
What happens to your family's finances if the financial spouse is gone
Power of attorney, living revocable trust, and the master financial document

Timestamps:

0:00 - Iran Conflict, Oil Markets & Portfolio Impact
5:23 - Don't Panic: What History Shows
7:34 - The Advisor Advantage & Fear Selling Cycle
15:30 - The Three-Bucket Strategy
28:50 - Mitch's Market Minute
37:15 - The Financially Uninformed Spouse
47:19 - Power of Attorney & Living Revocable Trust
59:15 - Retirement Income Roadmap

Ready to stress-test your retirement plan?

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

The Retirement Red Zone: 5 Critical Decisions in the 5 Years Before Retirement

Sat, 28 Feb 2026 10:00:00 -0500

If you're within 5 years of retirement, this episode is essential listening.

Stewart Smith (LUTCF®, RICP®) and Mitch Davies cover five critical planning areas in the Retirement Red Zone where portfolio positioning, tax strategy, healthcare, and income decisions intersect.

In This Episode:

Sequence of Returns Risk — Portfolio protection strategies for market downturns
Tax Conversion Window — Roth conversions without triggering IRMAA or SS taxation
Medicare & IRMAA Planning — How today's income affects healthcare costs in 2 years
Withdrawal Strategy — Which accounts to access first and why sequence matters
First Five Years — Why early retirement decisions impact 20-30 year sustainability
Market Analysis — Current trends and what retirees should watch
Long-Term Care — Hybrid alternatives to traditional insurance

Timestamps:

0:00 - Welcome & Introduction
0:52 - What is the Retirement Red Zone?
1:46 - The 5 Critical Planning Areas Overview
3:07 - About ClearPath: Veteran-Owned, SC-Based
4:25 - Topic 1: Sequence of Returns Risk
6:30 - How Market Timing Affects Your Retirement
9:15 - Structuring Income for the First 5 Years
12:40 - Topic 2: The Tax Conversion Window
14:20 - Roth Conversion Strategy & Timing
17:45 - South Carolina Tax Advantages
21:30 - Topic 3: Medicare & IRMAA Planning
23:15 - How Income Affects Medicare Premiums
26:00 - The Two-Year Lookback Explained
28:45 - Topic 4: Mitch's Market Minute
30:10 - Current Market Analysis & Volatility
32:40 - Rotation from Tech to Consumer Staples
35:20 - What Retirees Should Watch
37:50 - Topic 5: Retirement Income Structure
39:15 - Withdrawal Order Strategy
41:30 - Which Accounts to Access First
44:10 - Coordinating Social Security with Withdrawals
46:17 - Long-Term Care Planning Considerations
47:24 - Hybrid Products vs. Traditional LTC Insurance

Download the Retirement Red Zone Guide: Visit www.clearpathretirement.com to download our free PDF covering these 5 critical planning areas.

Ready to stress-test your retirement plan?

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

How Taxes Work Differently in Retirement (What to Consider Before Filing)

Sat, 21 Feb 2026 10:00:00 -0500

Tax season is here, and if you're retired or approaching retirement, your tax situation looks very different than it did during your working years.

In this episode, Stewart Smith (LUTCF®, RICP®) and Mitch Davies (CFP®) break down the critical tax considerations for the distribution phase of retirement.

Whether you're planning your first year of retirement or you've been retired for years, understanding how taxes work in this phase can help you make more informed decisions about your retirement income strategy.

In This Episode:

The three tax buckets and why they matter in retirement
How Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) affect your tax bracket
IRMAA: Understanding income-based Medicare Part B premiums
The standard deduction changes for seniors (and the phaseout thresholds)
The "tax torpedo" - why one withdrawal can trigger unexpected tax consequences
The "widow penalty multiplier" and single filer considerations
Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) for those age 70½+
Donor-advised funds as a tax-efficient legacy strategy
Why lifetime tax mapping matters more than year-to-year planning

Key Takeaway: Tax planning in retirement requires looking at the entire retirement timeline, not just the current year. Understanding thresholds, phaseouts, and the interplay between different income sources can help you avoid costly mistakes.

This episode is educational in nature and not intended as tax, legal, or investment advice. Please consult with qualified tax and financial professionals regarding your specific situation.

Connect with ClearPath Retirement: Website: ClearPathRetirement.com Location: Greenville, South Carolina Listen: Saturdays at 10 AM on Upstate Red AM 1330

Ready to stress-test your retirement plan?

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

Retirement Income Strategies and Living Trusts: How Your Investment Approach May Need to Change

Sat, 14 Feb 2026 10:00:00 -0500

Hosts Stewart Smith and Mitch Davies tackle two retirement-planning topics that are often overlooked: how your investment strategy evolves when you shift from accumulation to distribution, and why a living trust might be one of the smartest moves you can make for your legacy.

Drawing from decades of helping retirees and pre-retirees in the Upstate South Carolina area, they break down the three-bucket approach to retirement income, explain sequence of returns risk in plain English, and demystify living trusts—showing you how to protect your assets, avoid probate, and simplify your estate plan.

If you're wondering whether your current investment approach will sustain you through 20-30 years of retirement, or if you've been putting off estate planning because it feels complicated, this episode offers clear, actionable guidance to help you protect what you've worked so hard to build.

In This Episode:

Why investing in retirement is different than accumulating wealth
The three-bucket strategy: How to structure assets for different times
Sequence of returns risk: The hidden danger that could derail your retirement in the first five years
Why keeping everything in one portfolio may not work when you need income
Living revocable trusts explained: What they are and why they matter
How trusts help you avoid probate, protect privacy, and plan for incapacity
The difference between revocable and irrevocable trusts (and which you need)
Real benefits: Simplifying beneficiary designations and streamlining your estate

Timestamps:
[00:00] Welcome & Introduction to Investment Philosophy Changes
[01:00] Accumulation vs. Distribution: Why Your Strategy Must Shift
[03:00] The Three-Bucket Approach to Retirement Income
[07:00] Understanding Sequence of Returns Risk
[12:00] Why Market Volatility Matters More in Retirement
[15:00] Protecting Against Early Losses in Your First Five Years
[20:00] The Second and Third Buckets: Medium and Long-Term Growth
[26:00] Living Revocable Trusts: What They Are and Why You Need One
[31:00] Avoiding Probate and Protecting Your Privacy
[38:00] Planning for Incapacity: The Hidden Benefit of Trusts
[44:00] Revocable vs. Irrevocable Trusts: Understanding the Difference
[50:00] Simplifying Your Estate with the Funnel Approach

Ready to stress-test your retirement plan?

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

The Emotional Side of Retirement: Retiring to a New Life & Thriving with the Right Plan | ClearPath Retirement Radio

Sat, 07 Feb 2026 10:00:00 -0500

Welcome to Episode 2 of ClearPath Retirement Radio!

Hosts Stewart Smith and Mitch Davies explore the emotional side of retirement—the often-overlooked psychological transition that can feel like losing your identity, purpose, or daily structure after years of hard work.

Drawing from decades of helping retirees and pre-retirees in the Upstate South Carolina area, they share real client stories, mindset shifts, and how a confident financial plan reduces anxiety so you can truly retire to a new life full of purpose, joy, and fulfillment.

If you've saved diligently but worry about "what now?" days, guilt around spending, fear of change, or grieving your working identity, this episode offers reassurance and practical guidance on building a richer retirement beyond the numbers.

In This Episode:

Why many tie self-worth to their career, and how to redefine purpose in retirement
Retiring to something meaningful: Hobbies, health, relationships, volunteering, and new adventures
Common emotional hurdles: Identity loss, grief after leaving work, guilt spending savings, fear of running out or retiring too early
The power of planning: How a solid income strategy frees you mentally to enjoy life without constant worry
Avoiding "cocktail party advice," fear-driven headlines, and decision fatigue
Real stories: From anxious market-watchers finding peace to those who retired early and thrived
Mitch's Market Minute: Market update, small caps leading, big tech shifting to value plays, gold/silver trends, and retiree implications

[00:00] Welcome & Introduction to the Emotional Side of Retirement
[01:00] The Mental Transition: Why It's as Important as the Money
[03:00] Identity & Purpose: Retiring to a New Life, Not Just Away from Work
[07:00] Building Activities, Structure, and Health Ahead of Time
[12:00] How a Real Financial Plan Brings Mental Peace & Confidence
[15:00] Ditching Cocktail Party Advice & Fear Headlines
[20:00] Shifting from Saving to Spending: Permission to Enjoy What You've Earned
[26:00] Mitch's Market Minute: Current Trends & What Retirees Should Watch
[31:00] Don't Delay—Health Is Wealth: Stories & Mindset Tips
[38:00] Keeping Planning Simple to Avoid Overwhelm
[44:00] Greater Purpose, Overcoming Guilt & Grief
[50:00] Retirement as a New Beginning – Next Steps

Ready to stress-test your retirement plan?

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

5 Retirement Mistakes Most People Don't See Coming

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 11:00:00 -0500

Welcome to the inaugural episode of ClearPath Retirement Radio! Hosts Stewart Smith and Mitch Davies kick off the show by breaking down the most common retirement planning mistakes they see after 24 years of working with retirees in Greenville, Columbia, and the Upstate South Carolina area.

If you've worked hard to build your retirement savings but aren't sure how to turn those assets into reliable income, this episode is for you.

Stewart and Mitch cut through the confusion and provide clear, actionable guidance on the decisions that matter most when you're approaching or already in retirement.

In This Episode:

Why retirement is about income planning, not just investment returns
The biggest Social Security mistake married couples make
How to create a tax-efficient withdrawal strategy from your retirement accounts
Roth conversion opportunities you might be missing
Is Social Security really going away? (The answer might surprise you)
Healthcare planning and Medicare premium surprises to avoid
Mitch's Market Minute: What's driving the markets and why uranium is on our radar

[00:00] Welcome & Introduction to ClearPath Retirement Radio

[06:30] Mistake #1: Thinking Retirement Is About Investments, Not Income

[15:45] Understanding Withdrawal Order & Creating Your Retirement Paycheck

[22:00] Social Security Strategy: When Should You Claim?

[28:30] Will Social Security Go Away? What Retirees Need to Know

[35:00] Tax Planning: The Roth Conversion Opportunity

[45:00] Healthcare Planning & Medicare Surprises

[58:00] What Keeps Retirees Up at Night (And How to Get Answers)

[66:00] Mitch's Market Minute: AI Infrastructure & Energy Sector Trends

About ClearPath Retirement:

ClearPath Retirement Planning helps retirees and pre-retirees in the Upstate South Carolina and Columbia areas design comprehensive retirement strategies that address income planning, tax efficiency, Social Security optimization, and legacy planning.

Ready to see what retirement could look like for you?

Visit www.ClearPathRetirement.com or call (864) 775-5033 to schedule your complimentary consultation.

Ready to stress-test your retirement plan?

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