Retirement planning in paycheck terms.
The gist
Ready, Set, Retire! is a practical retirement-planning show centered on the question of what replaces a paycheck after work ends. Steve Anzoni and Jessica Forkel keep returning to guaranteed income, Social Security, taxes, market volatility, and simple planning tools like income buckets.
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About Ready, Set, Retire!
Ready, Set, Retire! is built around one central retirement question: where does the paycheck come from when work stops? The show answers in plain, repetitive, highly practical terms. Steve Anzoni and Jessica Forkel return again and again to income, cash flow, Social Security, annuities, taxes, and the fear of running out of money. Market performance matters here, but it is not treated as the whole plan. A strong episode often begins with a familiar worry, such as inflation, a possible stock-market drop, a tax-law change, or a couple where only one person handles the finances. From there, the conversation moves toward a retirement blueprint. The show favors simple models. One recurring example is the bucket approach, with income, inflation, emergency money, and a fun bucket used to make abstract planning feel concrete. Another frequent comparison is the old pension world versus the modern 401k world, where many retirees must create their own predictable income. Annuities get substantial attention as a way to mimic part of what Social Security or pensions provide. The episodes are candid about tradeoffs. Taxable withdrawals, exclusion ratios, guarantees, penalties, and payout options are all part of the discussion, though the explanations stay conversational rather than technical. The show also spends time on behavior. It pushes against waiting for volatility to calm down, dipping into retirement accounts too casually, or letting one spouse remain uninvolved in the money conversation. The register is directness: simple examples, repeated phone numbers, and frequent offers to run numbers. It is not a broad personal-finance magazine show. It is a focused retirement-income program for people approaching or entering retirement who want to see how savings could become a monthly check.
Made for: Ready, Set, Retire! is for pre-retirees and recent retirees who are worried about replacing employment income, coordinating Social Security, and protecting cash flow from taxes, inflation, and market drops. It especially suits couples who need both partners to understand the plan.
What sets it apart: The show stands apart by treating retirement less like portfolio theory and more like a household income blueprint. Its recurring bucket framework and emphasis on written guaranteed-income scenarios give the advice a concrete feel.
In their own words
Planning for retirement is not a guessing game. Now is the time to plan! What have you done to protect yourself from another recession? Can you afford to ride the waves of a volatile market? When the paychecks stop but the bills keep coming, how are you going to maintain your lifestyle? For more than 30 years, retirement income specialist Steve Anzuoni of Fairway Financial, Inc has been using customized strategies to help people just like you build a successful retirement that includes guaranteed lifetime income. Share not only the wealth of a happy retirement but also in your Cape Cod community. Steve supports a number of local organizations such as The Cape Cod Baseball League, Veteran's T…
Why you'd press play
Retirement math gets four literal buckets, and you get fewer excuses to leave the paycheck question fuzzy.
Press play if you want
- a plain-English bridge from your Social Security and savings to an actual retirement paycheck
- market-drop talk that turns your vague dread into practical cash-flow questions
Talks about
Podcasts like Ready, Set, Retire!
Master Passive Income Podcast NetworkMaster Passive Income NetworkReal-estate freedom, taught in plain numbers.
Episodes
- 1
The Retirement Reality Check Most Investors Need
Financial advisors discuss how retirees are not increasing their income despite inflation, and advise seeking professional help to navigate retirement income options.
Apr 7, 2026·10m - 2
When Market Swings Meet Retirement Reality
Steve Anzoni discusses how retirees and near-retirees react to market swings, emphasizing that while working people can use dollar cost averaging, those close to retirement often become anxious and watch their money daily.
Mar 31, 2026·18m·1 clip - 3
When One Person Handles the Money—and Why That’s a Problem
Financial expert Ramit Sethi and host Steve Anzoni discuss why couples should both be involved in retirement planning, not just one designated money person.
Mar 24, 2026·18m·1 clip - 4
When Your Paycheck Retires Before You Do
Financial advisors discuss the importance of proactive retirement planning and portfolio review during market volatility, emphasizing guaranteed income over market gains for those nearing retirement.
Mar 17, 2026·15m·1 clip - 5
Saved Enough… But Still Not Sure You Can Retire?
Steve and Jessica discuss why many Americans feel they can't retire despite saving, focusing on the need to replace guaranteed income and the risks of market timing when withdrawing funds.
Mar 10, 2026·20m·1 clip - 6
When Bills Collide with Retirement
Steve Anzoni explains how a client's $70,000 life-insurance cash value could address debt before retirement.
Mar 3, 2026·17m·1 clip - 7
A Bigger Refund Is Just the Beginning
Steve Anzoni connects potentially higher refunds of $3,500 to $4,000 with 529 plans, Trump accounts, and legacy-focused insurance strategies.
Feb 24, 2026·17m·1 clip - 8
Why Letting One Person “Do the Money” Can Backfire in Retirement
Steve Anzoni and Jessica Forkel discuss why both spouses should understand retirement finances instead of assigning one person to "do the money." Anzoni describes spreadsheets containing account numbers and passwords, arguing that each spouse should know what to do if the other dies.
Feb 17, 2026·19m·1 clip - 9
Is Debt the Real Black Swan No One Sees Coming?
Hidden gemReady, Set, Retire!
Feb 10, 2026·17m·1 clip - 10
Are You Saving Enough—Or Spending the Wrong Way?
Feb 3, 2026·18m - 11
The 401(k) Truth No One Told You About
Jan 27, 2026·19m - 12
Turn Tax Time Into a Retirement Advantage
Jan 20, 2026·18m - 13
The Social Security Strategy You’ve Heard About… but Don’t Actually Understand
Jan 13, 2026·17m - 14
The Lobster Story That Reveals a Retirement Truth
Jan 6, 2026·13m - 15
The Hidden Mistake in Most Retirement Plans—and How to Avoid It
Dec 31, 2025·16m - 16
The $102 Million Mistake: Are You Leaving Your Retirement Unprotected?
Dec 16, 2025·17m - 17
The Medicare Premium Trap: What Retirees Wish They Knew Sooner
Dec 9, 2025·16m - 18
The Surprising Truth Behind America’s Retirement Age
Nov 26, 2025·14m - 19
Spaving: The Hidden Trap Sabotaging Your Retirement
Nov 18, 2025·18m - 20
How to Turn Your Retirement Savings Into a Paycheck for Life
Hidden gemThis episode discusses strategies for turning retirement savings into a steady income stream, including deferring distributions, using annuities, and Roth conversions.
Nov 11, 2025·16m·1 clip - 21
Is Your Retirement Income Built to Last?
Nov 4, 2025·19m - 22
Secret Hotel Sleepers & Retirement Reality: What’s Your Side Gig?
Oct 28, 2025·19m - 23
Stop Waiting: How to Turn Savings Into Guaranteed Income—Now
Steve Anzoni and Jessica Forkel discuss a new rule requiring high earners over 50 to put catch-up contributions into a Roth 401k starting next year.
Oct 21, 2025·17m - 24
From Lego Sculptor to Annuity Maze: Unusual Paths to Retirement Security
Oct 7, 2025·19m - 25
Are You Afraid of Your Own Money?
Oct 3, 2025·17m - 26
Is Your Cash Working Hard Enough? Retirement’s Hidden Traps Revealed
Oct 3, 2025·16m - 27
The Hidden Costs of DIY Roth Conversions
Oct 3, 2025·17m - 28
Is Time Slipping Away? How to Retire Ready—Not Rushed
Oct 3, 2025·16m - 29
Navigating Retirement: Annuities and Alternatives
Apr 1, 2025·16m - 30
Be Proactive in Your Retirement Planning
Mar 25, 2025·17m - 31
Navigating Market Volatility
Mar 18, 2025·16m - 32
Tax Cuts and Retirement: What You Need to Know
Mar 4, 2025·19m - 33
Canned Goods and Annuities: Unlikely Comparisons
Feb 25, 2025·19m - 34
Understanding Tax Strategies and Social Security Changes
Feb 18, 2025·16m - 35
Proactive Planning and Finding Purpose in Retirement
Feb 11, 2025·13m - 36
Understanding Annuities and Their Benefits
Feb 4, 2025·12m - 37
Navigating Financial Uncertainty with New Leadership
Financial advisor Steve Anzoni discusses navigating financial uncertainty with new presidential leadership, emphasizing long-term planning and avoiding short-term reactions.
Feb 1, 2025·16m - 38
Navigating Annuities: The Key to Guaranteed Income
Jan 28, 2025·16m - 39
Mastering Tax Planning for a Secure Future
Jan 14, 2025·18m - 40
Navigating Retirement: End of Year Strategies
Dec 17, 2024·19m - 41
Navigating Tax Strategies for Retirement
Dec 10, 2024·17m - 42
Navigating Retirement: Challenges for Generation X
Nov 19, 2024·16m - 43
Preparing for Retirement: Financial Strategies
Nov 12, 2024·14m - 44
The Importance of Retirement Planning
Nov 5, 2024·16m - 45
Market Trends: What You Need to Know
Oct 22, 2024·16m - 46
Navigating Financial Misinformation
Steve Anzoni and Jessica Forkel discuss the prevalence of financial misinformation, comparing it to political fact-checking, and emphasize the importance of getting accurate retirement planning information.
Oct 15, 2024·20m - 47
The October Effect: History's Impact on Markets
Oct 8, 2024·18m - 48
Taking Control of the Economic Landscape
A discussion on the Fed's cautious approach to rate cuts, inflation, and the impact on retirement planning and fixed income investments.
Sep 24, 2024·21m - 49
Navigating Financial Pressures in Retirement
Sep 18, 2024·17m - 50
Creating an Income Plan in Retirement
Sep 10, 2024·16m