Episodes

When my college started capping the concrete stairs in granite at The Quad, we knew something was up. In fact, with tuition rising 10% a year at the time, the students protested. This was 36 years ago, and it’s only gotten more expensive to send kids to college. In this episode, we explore what happened to get us here, and what to consider when thinking about how to send your kids into the world. EPISODE LINKS You can download a free digital copy of Dennis' book “Retirement Built Right – The Es...

Markets often move based on government reports — good or bad. The problem is distinguishing between noise and signal. Too often the seasonal adjustments made with the intent of allowing investors to compare apples to apples completely miss the mark. In this episode, I’ll share some common sense ways to think deeper about the financial news, and help you make decisions based on reality — not on a faulty reporting adjustment that obscures what’s actually happening. EPISODE LINKS You can download ...

25 years ago when I grabbed a stack of free pens at a conference, little did I know the heartache I’d feel when the last pen was finally used up. And when I had an opportunity to buy these discontinued pens on Ebay for $0.75 a pop twelve months ago (and refused), imagine my shock when today they’re going for $16 each! In this episode, we talk about pricing discrepancies that most people ignore at their peril. EPISODE LINKS You can download a free digital copy of Dennis' book “Retirement Built R...

When the richest, most powerful, and beloved pillars of your community hire the best legal help to handle their estate planning — and they get sub-par results — what chance do we regular people have? My honest answer: a lot. In this episode, I share a surprising story about how even the most successful people can (falsely) think they have their estate plan squared away, and the three documents that will put you ahead of 87% of new retirees. EPISODE LINKS You can download a free digital copy of ...

After helping hundreds of people make the transition from the workforce into retirement, I can tell you that retirement is the single most stressful event of your life. In this episode, we break down a survey that illustrates the chasm between pre-retirement expectations and the reality of stepping away from the workforce. EPISODE LINKS You can download a free digital copy of Dennis' book “Retirement Built Right – The Essential Guide for Telephone Employees!” here: https://theverizonguy.pages.o...

When the retirement accounts of two couples who make similar incomes, are the same age, and have similar circumstances end up in very different places, it makes you wonder what happened to cause the difference. In this episode, we dig into a surprising “intangible” that grew one couple’s account by 8X their peers. EPISODE LINKS You can download a free digital copy of Dennis' book “Retirement Built Right – The Essential Guide for Telephone Employees!” here: https://theverizonguy.pages.ontraport....

In my 30 years as a financial planner, not one person reached retirement age and wished they had done less to prepare — which is why a prospect telling me, “I’m not retiring yet!” was a sad surprise. In this episode, I reveal the three most common reasons people avoid financial planning, and what you can do to ensure your future self looks back to today with gratitude. EPISODE LINKS You can download a free digital copy of Dennis' book “Retirement Built Right – The Essential Guide for Telephone ...

About 25 years ago I went golfing with a buddy and his dad at his favorite golf course. Things were rough at the start, but when guys in hazmat suits appeared in a water hazard, I knew this wouldn’t be a normal afternoon of golf. In this episode, we discuss how the “new normal” is dangerous to your portfolio, and a lesson that will keep your financial plan pointed at true north regardless of what’s happening around you. EPISODE LINKS You can download a free digital copy of Dennis' book “Retirem...

In the winter of 1892, a freak accident and a perfect storm of events combined to decimate the heart of Fall River, MA. In this episode, we look at three lessons this tragedy can teach us that will help prevent your portfolio from suffering the same fate. EPISODE LINKS You can download a free digital copy of Dennis' book “Retirement Built Right – The Essential Guide for Telephone Employees!” here: https://theverizonguy.pages.ontraport.net/ebookoptin ABOUT THE SHOW Tap into Dennis O’Keefe’s 30+...

Why are the talking heads on TV and online so often wrong? And why does the market tend to zig when it should zag? In this episode, I share the two economic reports that can give you the real state of the economy — and what to look for that reveals where the economy is going while most of the market is focused on the wrong thing. EPISODE LINKS You can download a free digital copy of Dennis' book “Retirement Built Right – The Essential Guide for Telephone Employees!” here: https://theverizonguy....

Four years ago I was motivated to become fit, and did everything I knew how to boost my health. I made progress, but it wasn’t until I met Dave that I made significant strides. In this episode, I share why even motivated DIYers can benefit from professional help (plus the true cost of DIY in any situation). EPISODE LINKS You can download a free digital copy of Dennis' book “Retirement Built Right – The Essential Guide for Telephone Employees!” here: https://theverizonguy.pages.ontraport.net/ebo...

This is one of the most common questions I hear from people nearing retirement age: when should I begin taking social security? And the truth is . . . it depends. In this episode, I’ll share why the common wisdom about taking social security may have it wrong, and what you need to consider when choosing when to start taking social security. EPISODE LINKS You can download a free digital copy of Dennis' book “Retirement Built Right – The Essential Guide for Telephone Employees!” here: https://the...

Retirement is as much about enjoyment as it is about spending management. But what happens when a retiree swings the spending pendulum too far and outlives their nest egg? In this episode, we look at the life and times of a big spender and how we can learn from his good timey ways. EPISODE LINKS You can download a free digital copy of Dennis' book “Retirement Built Right – The Essential Guide for Telephone Employees!” here: https://theverizonguy.pages.ontraport.net/ebookoptin ABOUT THE SHOW Ta...

It’s tough to stay out of the comparison game, especially when your peers seem to be doing so much better than you. What’s their secret? What are you doing wrong? In this episode, I pull back the curtain and reveal what’s really going on with so many of the people you secretly admire. EPISODE LINKS You can download a free digital copy of Dennis' book “Retirement Built Right – The Essential Guide for Telephone Employees!” here: https://theverizonguy.pages.ontraport.net/ebookoptin ABOUT THE SHOW...

When I was growing up, you couldn’t turn on the TV without seeing a dozen AARP ads. By the time my parents reached age fifty, they refused to join—they didn’t see themselves as old, which is the image AARP members had. In this episode, I give you my take on AARP, and some surprising truths that may cause you to reconsider your position. EPISODE LINKS You can download a free digital copy of Dennis' book “Retirement Built Right – The Essential Guide for Telephone Employees!” here: https://theveri...

In my 30+ year career, you’d be surprised how many people I’ve worked with who thought their job was safe, only to be stunned by a pink slip. With telecoms (and everyone else) looking at cost-cutting in the face of a potential recession, it’s wise to give yourself options in case your job gets the ax. In this episode, I share five ways to protect yourself that you won’t hear in the media. EPISODE LINKS You can download a free digital copy of Dennis' book “Retirement Built Right – The Essential ...

For most people, the idea of pensions seems like an old-timey benefit we wish companies still offered. Since the late nineties, most companies that offered pensions have taken a “it’s your retirement, you pay for it” approach to benefits. In this episode, I reveal the benefits pendulum that drives the benefits we receive, and why pensions may be poised for a comeback. EPISODE LINKS You can download a free digital copy of Dennis' book “Retirement Built Right – The Essential Guide for Telephone E...

When I passed our old school bus driver’s house on the way to the office, I noticed her husband reseeding their lawn from scratch. For the fifth time. In this episode, we learn what lawncare has to do with retirement and discuss three foundations of a rock-solid approach to your investment plan. EPISODE LINKS You can download a free digital copy of Dennis' book “Retirement Built Right – The Essential Guide for Telephone Employees!” here: https://theverizonguy.pages.ontraport.net/ebookoptin ABO...

Where you live in retirement is a question just about everyone asks as that chapter of life approaches. The answer can be tricky—and it’s not just taxes and comfort you need to think about. In this episode, I share different ways to think about your retirement abode, and four questions to answer that put you in a great position, regardless of where you decide to hang your hat. EPISODE LINKS You can download a free digital copy of Dennis' book “Retirement Built Right – The Essential Guide for Te...

The town I’m from is famous for a shovel innovation that changed agriculture forever. You’d never guess how much wealth was created from this idea nobody even thinks about today. In this episode, we discuss the folly of prediction when it comes to your retirement investments, and how your retirement account can benefit from innovation whether you predict it or not. EPISODE LINKS You can download a free digital copy of Dennis' book “Retirement Built Right – The Essential Guide for Telephone Empl...

If you were kicking butt in your investments and savings, how would you interview potential financial advisors? In today’s episode, I share a story about a conversation I had with a prospective client that’s a cautionary tale to anybody interviewing financial advisors—especially if they’re having some success. This is a must-listen episode. EPISODE LINKS You can download a free digital copy of Dennis' book “Retirement Built Right – The Essential Guide for Telephone Employees!” here: https://the...

We all came from somewhere. And in the hundreds of conversations I have with people about their finances every year, it’s incredible how many are “trapped” in a prison of their own making. In this episode, we dig into the root cause of this self-imposed prison, and how you can break free to enjoy the financial and personal life you never thought possible. EPISODE LINKS You can download a free digital copy of Dennis' book “Retirement Built Right – The Essential Guide for Telephone Employees!” he...

If you could get gas 10 cents cheaper across town or buy more convenient (and expensive) gas close by, what’s the better choice? How does this mindset impact your retirement? In this episode, we explore why the “Cheap Gas Effect” could fool you into thinking you’re doing more for your retirement than you are (and how to spot the small moves that make a big difference). EPISODE LINKS You can download a free digital copy of Dennis' book “Retirement Built Right – The Essential Guide for Telephone ...

There’s a habit all of us find difficult which can be the difference between a well-funded retirement and a retirement that never shakes out how we want it to. In this episode, I reveal what this habit is, and why it’s so critical if you want to reach your financial goals. EPISODE LINKS You can download a free digital copy of Dennis' book “Retirement Built Right – The Essential Guide for Telephone Employees!” here: https://theverizonguy.pages.ontraport.net/ebookoptin ABOUT THE SHOW Tap into D...