with David Schaeffer
A live show about retirement, healthcare, and inheritance.
Step Inside the Studio
21 seconds. Sound on is worth it.
About the Show
David Schaeffer, 25-year veteran advisor and founder of American Retirement Advisors, hosts a live retirement show every other Friday from the ARA Scottsdale studio. Real callers share their actual retirement situations. David diagnoses them on air. Real questions. Real answers. Real clarity to help you sleep better at night. Just the kind of straight talk most people never get from their advisor.
Segment
Call-In
Real callers share their retirement situation. David diagnoses live. No filter, no fluff.
Segment
The Rant
David takes on retirement myths, bad advice, and industry tricks that cost families money.
Segment
Fiscal Footnote
The surprising history behind the financial tools we use every day. Where did the 401(k) really come from?
All Episodes
Tom and Diane thought they had done everything right after selling their business. Then an unexpected Medicare bill arrived years later. David Schaeffer and Greg Frantz explain why IRMAA, the Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount, catches so many retirees off guard, how the two-year income lookback works, and what you can do to protect your retirement income from surprise surcharges.
Carol feels stuck in a Medicare plan that isn't working for her and isn't sure what her options are. Ray is weighing whether — and when — to sell. David Schaeffer and Kyle Jacobs walk both callers through the practical moves available to them, including how to navigate a plan switch and what to consider before making a major asset decision in retirement.
The plan checked every box on paper. Then the bills started showing up. David Schaeffer and Jason Tweet explain why the wrong Medicare plan can quietly cost you thousands, how a Charitable Remainder Trust may help reduce taxes on large retirement accounts, and why David Edge says being your own healthcare advocate has never mattered more. Plus: the surprising story behind how Medicare was created.
Mom's annuity was supposed to provide income for life. The timeshare was supposed to be a gift. The CD was supposed to be safe savings. David Schaeffer and Jason Tweet reveal the financial tools people trusted that quietly worked against them.
The premiere episode. Carl and Peggy have $500K at Vanguard but no real plan. Candy and John have $1.1M but their advisor won't discuss inheritance. David introduces the Three Colors of Money and reveals why CDs might be costing you more than you think.
Reserve Your Seat
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(602) 281-3898Can't make it in person? Episodes are posted here after each show.
Your Host
Founder & Senior Advisor, American Retirement Advisors
David has been helping Arizona families plan for retirement for over 25 years. He founded ARA to build a firm where the advisor knows your name, your family, and your goals. Fiscal Fridays is his way of bringing that conversation to a wider audience. No product pitch. No sales script. Just the advice he'd give his own family.
Go Deeper
Guidepost
The IRMAA Trap: How More Income Can Cost You More on Medicare
Most retirees never see the Medicare surcharge coming until it's too late. Learn how to plan around it before your income spikes.
Read GuidepostGuidepost
Roth Conversion Playbook: The Window Most Retirees Miss
The two years between retirement and Medicare eligibility are the best time to move money into a Roth. Most people wait too long.
Read GuidepostGuidepost
Bucket List Planning: The Three Colors of Money
Not all money is the same. Understanding which bucket serves which purpose is the foundation of a plan that actually holds up.
Read GuidepostPodcast
The American Retirement Advisor Podcast
New episodes every week. Retirement income, Medicare transitions, and inheritance planning in plain language. 8 episodes live.
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The American Retirement Advisor Blog
Weekly articles on income planning, Medicare, inheritance, and the real decisions facing retirees in Arizona and Nevada.
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