In some states, probate is avoidable. However, in many states, you can avoid having your estate go through the probate process. I recently went through the probate process when my grandfather passed away and I helped my father settle his estate. It is far easier for your family to settle your estate once you’re gone if it doesn’t go through probate. So, in this episode, I’ll cover 7 things you can do to keep your estate from landing in probate.

Protecting your finances from hackers is more critical than ever. Cybercriminals are getting more sophisticated, accessing sensitive information like social security numbers and attempting to steal directly from financial accounts. I recently experienced this firsthand when someone impersonated one of my clients. The fraudster knew my client’s social security number and tried to withdraw funds under the guise of an emergency. Fortunately, we were suspicious and confirmed the scam before any money was lost. This encounter highlights the importance of being proactive about securing your accounts. That’s why, in this episode, I’ll share seven essential Steps to protect your Schwab accounts from hackers.

Age 59 ½ is the magic age at which you can start taking distributions from retirement accounts without a penalty. This listener is wondering if he can convert part of his IRA to a Roth IRA even though he’s not 59 ½. And if he goes ahead with the conversion, will it be subject to the 10% penalty? Listen to this episode to find out.

It can be overwhelming to think about what you can do to minimize your tax burden. That’s why, in last week’s episode, we covered 7 year-end tax moves for retirees. This week, we’ll tackle what those nearing retirement need to dive into at the end of every calendar year. We all need to be mindful of how our decisions impact our tax burden and this is a great place to start!

Tax planning—and anything related to taxes, in general—isn’t most people’s favorite topic. But because we’re getting toward the end of the year, it’s actually a great time to think about tax planning and all of its benefits. In this episode of Retire with Ryan, I’ll share 7 things you should think about that can (and will) help save you money in retirement.

What financial steps do you need to take during a divorce? How do you figure out what life will look like on the other side? How does splitting your assets actually work? Renée C. Bauer—an experienced family law attorney and mediator—joins me in this conversation to help flesh out the details.

We’ve all heard the statistics that almost half of all marriages end in divorce. And divorce comes at a large cost. That’s why you should come up with a plan for life after divorce. Look at your net worth, put together a budget, and make projections for your future. Let’s get you prepared as you can be.

Why would you want to make a Roth contribution? If you believe tax rates will be higher in the future, it could benefit you. How? The contributions grow tax-deferred. When you withdraw the money, it’s tax-free. A tax-free income can be very beneficial in retirement.

One of my favorite ways to save for retirement is through a Health Savings Account (HSA). Too many people overlook a health savings account as a great way to save for retirement and healthcare costs. So how do you get the most bang for your buck out of your HSA? I share some simple strategies that very few people employ in this episode.

Will your benefits be there when you need them the most? If so, should you collect your benefits as soon as possible? This is something I’m frequently asked, so much so that I decided it was time to address it. In this episode of Retire with Ryan, I’ll cover how Social Security works, how long Social Security will remain solvent, and whether or not you should collect early.

What are some of the biggest tax mistakes you should be avoiding when you file taxes? CPA Steven Jarvis has worked on thousands of tax returns. He focuses on helping people who have a long-term focus. He wants to make sure his clients only pay every dollar they owe and nothing more. It’s not about getting a big tax return. It’s about looking at the long-term picture and being proactive. We dig in and dissect the top tax mistakes you need to avoid in this conversation.

What are the current trends with ETFs? What’s happening in the fixed-income market? How can investors tackle current challenges? Matthew Bartolini, CFA, CAIA—the head of ETF Research at State Street Global Advisors—joins me to dissect the ETF market and how investors can handle volatility.

Matthew believes the ETF market will only continue to grow and create opportunities for long-term wealth. He shares how to navigate the factors that impact the market—including Federal Reserve policy, elections, and general trends—in this episode of Retire with Ryan.

How do you know if your financial advisor is delivering value? Is seeing a financial gain in your investments the only metric you should use? I’ve identified four key areas where your financial advisor should be delivering value to you: Awareness of costs and fees, performance of your portfolio, financial planning benefits, and communication.

I’ll cover each of these areas in detail in this episode. I’ve also included a checklist you can use to make sure your current financial advisor is delivering value.