DIY works great for fixing up the house or building a bookshelf, but does it hold up when you're planning your retirement? In this episode, Eric unpacks the pros and pitfalls of do-it-yourself financial planning, especially as you transition from the "saving" years to the "spending" years. It's one thing to manage your portfolio when you're working and have time to bounce back from a mistake. But once that paycheck stops, the financial game changes fast.

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

🛠️ Why DIY works during the accumulation phase

⚠️ The hidden risks of doing it alone in retirement

📉 How poor timing and emotion can wreck a solid plan

📊 What most DIYers miss when it comes to taxes

🎯 The importance of a Retirement Readiness Review

Get in touch with the Peterson Financial team: https://petersonfg.com/

Turning 62 isn’t just another birthday, it’s a milestone that kicks off some big retirement decisions. In this episode, Eric breaks down what reaching this age really means, from deciding when (or if) to claim Social Security to navigating income limits that could reduce your benefits. We’ll also explore how your health, family longevity, and lifestyle goals should influence that decision.

Beyond Social Security, you’ll hear strategies for covering the tricky gap before Medicare kicks in at 65, why this is the perfect time to review your legal documents, and more!

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

⏳ Should you claim Social Security at 62 or wait?

💼 How working in retirement impacts your Social Security benefits

🩺 Bridging the gap to Medicare with affordable health insurance

📜 Why updating legal documents and beneficiaries is critical at this stage

🧠 Using early retirement as a chance to reduce future tax burdens

Resources for this episode:

Ehealth Calculator: https://www.ehealthinsurance.com/resources/affordable-care-act/subsidy-calculator

Get in touch with the Peterson Financial team: https://petersonfg.com/

Most of us have a junk drawer stuffed with random odds and ends we forgot about. But what about your financial junk drawer? Old insurance policies, dusty 401(k) statements, outdated wills, or savings bonds from decades ago could be sitting forgotten, and they might be costing you money or missing opportunities. In this episode, Eric opens the drawer on common financial items people stash away and forget to revisit.

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

🗂️ Old life insurance policies that might still have value

📜 Wills and estate documents that need updating (or replacing!)

🧾 Forgotten 401(k)s and missing Social Security records

💸 Unclaimed savings bonds and lost checks hiding in plain sight

📋 How cleaning your “financial junk drawer” helps prep for retirement planning

Get in touch with the Peterson Financial team: https://petersonfg.com/