What if work became a choice, not a requirement?

The Early Retirement Podcast is here to help you navigate the path to financial independence, so you can retire when you want and live how you want. Whether you’re nearing retirement or just starting to plan, this podcast delivers clear, actionable insights designed to simplify your biggest financial decisions.

We focus on strategies that make a real impact—from tax planning moves that may unlock $100,000+ in lifetime savings, to investment and withdrawal strategies that align with your values and goals. It's not about chasing perfection, it's about creating a plan that gives you freedom, clarity, and peace of mind.

Because at the end of the day, early retirement isn’t just about leaving your job, it’s about building a life you don’t want to escape from.

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Advisory services are offered through Root Financial Partners, LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. This content is intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered personalized investment, tax, or legal advice. Viewing this content does not create an advisory relationship. We do not provide tax preparation or legal services. Always consult an investment, tax or legal professional regarding your specific situation.

The strategies, case studies, and examples discussed may not be suitable for everyone. They are hypothetical and for illustrative and educational purposes only. They do not reflect actual client results and are not guarantees of future performance. All investments involve risk, including the potential loss of principal.

Comments reflect the views of individual users and do not necessarily represent the views of Root Financial. They are not verified, may not be accurate, and should not be considered testimonials or endorsements

Participation in the Retirement Planning Academy or Early Retirement Academy does not create an advisory relationship with Root Financial. These programs are educational in nature and are not a substitute for personalized financial advice. Advisory services are offered only under a written agreement with Root Financial.

Create Your Custom Early Retirement Strategy Here

Get access to the same software I use for my clients and join the Early Retirement Academy here

Ari Taublieb, CFP ®, MBA is the Chief Growth Officer of Root Financial Partners and a Fiduciary Financial Planner specializing in helping clients retire early with confidence.

You’ve probably heard that maxing out your 401(k) and IRA is the smartest move you can make. But for many investors, that strategy alone may lead to a surprising challenge: becoming "qualified rich, cash poor." In other words, having plenty saved, but locked away in accounts you can’t easily access without tax consequences or penalties.

That’s where the often-overlooked brokerage account comes in.

Also called a taxable, individual, or joint account, the brokerage account offers unmatched flexibility. No age restrictions. No early withdrawal penalties. And potential long-term capital gains tax treatment instead of higher ordinary income rates. That can make a big difference when it comes time to actually enjoy what you’ve saved.

More than just a retirement supplement, brokerage accounts give you the freedom to fund mid-term goals, adjust to life’s unexpected changes, or even retire earlier. They also play a key role in long-term tax planning by allowing you to pull from different types of accounts—pre-tax, Roth, and brokerage—based on what’s most efficient each year.

A truly thoughtful financial plan isn’t just about growing wealth. It’s about having access to it, when and how you need it most.

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Advisory services are offered through Root Financial Partners, LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. This content is intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered personalized investment, tax, or legal advice. Viewing this content does not create an advisory relationship. We do not provide tax preparation or legal services. Always consult an investment, tax or legal professional regarding your specific situation.

The strategies, case studies, and examples discussed may not be suitable for everyone. They are hypothetical and for illustrative and educational purposes only. They do not reflect actual client results and are not guarantees of future performance. All investments involve risk, including the potential loss of principal.

Comments reflect the views of individual users and do not necessarily represent the views of Root Financial. They are not verified, may not be accurate, and should not be considered testimonials or endorsements

Participation in the Retirement Planning Academy or Early Retirement Academy does not create an advisory relationship with Root Financial. These programs are educational in nature and are not a substitute for personalized financial advice. Advisory services are offered only under a written agreement with Root Financial.

Create Your Custom Early Retirement Strategy Here

Get access to the same software I use for my clients and join the Early Retirement Academy here

Ari Taublieb, CFP ®, MBA is the Chief Growth Officer of Root Financial Partners and a Fiduciary Financial Planner specializing in helping clients retire early with confidence.

Retirement doesn’t come down to a magic number, it comes down to your number. In this episode, we walk through a simple, personalized framework to help you understand when you can truly retire, based on what you want life to look like, not generic benchmarks.

We cover the core question: How much do you want to spend each month? From there, we reverse-engineer your retirement target, factoring in taxes, withdrawal strategies, estate planning, and those big one-time expenses that often get missed.

And it’s not just about the math. We dive into the emotional side of retirement. It's about how to find purpose, identity, and meaning in this next chapter. Whether retirement feels decades away or just around the corner, this episode will help you stop guessing and start planning with clarity.

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Advisory services are offered through Root Financial Partners, LLC, an SEC registered investment adviser. This content is intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered personalized investment, tax, or legal advice. Viewing this content does not create an advisory relationship. We do not provide tax preparation or legal services. Always consult your CPA or attorney regarding your specific situation.

The strategies, case studies, and examples discussed may not be suitable for everyone. They are hypothetical and for illustrative and educational purposes only. They do not reflect actual client results and are not guarantees of future performance. All investments involve risk, including the potential loss of principal.

Comments reflect the views of individual users and do not necessarily represent the views of Root Financial. They are not verified, may not be accurate, and should not be considered testimonials or endorsements.

Participation in the Retirement Planning Academy or Early Retirement Academy does not create an advisory relationship with Root Financial. These programs are educational in nature and are not a substitute for personalized financial advice. Advisory services are offered only under a written agreement with Root Financial.

Create Your Custom Early Retirement Strategy Here

Get access to the same software I use for my clients and join the Early Retirement Academy here

Ari Taublieb, CFP ®, MBA is the Chief Growth Officer of Root Financial Partners and a Fiduciary Financial Planner specializing in helping clients retire early with confidence.

Tax gain harvesting is one of the most underused but powerful strategies available to early retirees and those pursuing financial independence. In this episode, we explore how it works, who it's best suited for, and how it can help reduce long-term tax liability.

Unlike tax loss harvesting, which involves selling investments at a loss to offset gains, tax gain harvesting is about intentionally realizing gains when you're in a low or zero percent tax bracket—allowing you to reset your cost basis without triggering federal tax in certain situations.

This strategy is most effective in taxable brokerage accounts and is typically not applicable to retirement accounts like IRAs or 401(k)s. It tends to work best in years where your income is lower, such as early retirement or transition periods before drawing Social Security.

Even with additional income from dividends or part-time work, many people can still benefit from this approach. However, it’s important to consider potential state tax implications as well.

We’ll break down how tax gain harvesting fits into a broader retirement tax strategy, what makes someone a good candidate, and how to use it thoughtfully as part of your long-term financial plan.

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Advisory services are offered through Root Financial Partners, LLC, an SEC registered investment adviser. This content is intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered personalized investment, tax, or legal advice. Viewing this content does not create an advisory relationship. We do not provide tax preparation or legal services. Always consult your CPA or attorney regarding your specific situation.

The strategies, case studies, and examples discussed may not be suitable for everyone. They are hypothetical and for illustrative and educational purposes only. They do not reflect actual client results and are not guarantees of future performance. All investments involve risk, including the potential loss of principal.

Comments reflect the views of individual users and do not necessarily represent the views of Root Financial. They are not verified, may not be accurate, and should not be considered testimonials or endorsements.

Participation in the Retirement Planning Academy or Early Retirement Academy does not create an advisory relationship with Root Financial. These programs are educational in nature and are not a substitute for personalized financial advice. Advisory services are offered only under a written agreement with Root Financial.

Create Your Custom Early Retirement Strategy Here

Get access to the same software I use for my clients and join the Early Retirement Academy here

Ari Taublieb, CFP ®, MBA is the Chief Growth Officer of Root Financial Partners and a Fiduciary Financial Planner specializing in helping clients retire early with confidence.

What does it really mean to change someone’s life through financial advice? While we’re not saving lives like doctors, the impact we have on our clients’ futures can be just as meaningful. Often, it’s not about the numbers—it’s about helping someone move forward when fear is holding them back.

We’ve seen it firsthand. Like the dentist who had every detail in place to open her own practice but couldn’t take the final step. What helped wasn’t another spreadsheet—it was a mindset shift. Or the couple who had more than enough to retire but needed a gentle nudge to believe it was truly okay. These are the moments where great financial advice becomes personal and transformative.

At Root, we believe a solid financial plan is about more than projections. It’s about building a life you’re excited to live. That’s why we focus not only on technical guidance, but on walking with our clients through the real-life decisions that matter most.

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Viewing this video does not create an advisory relationship with Root Financial. We only provide advisory services to clients under a written agreement.

Investment strategies discussed may not be suitable for everyone. All investments involve risk, and past performance is not indicative of future results.

Any opinions expressed are as of the date of recording and are subject to change.

Comments left on this video reflect the views and opinions of the individual commenters and do not necessarily represent the views of Root Financial Partners, LLC. Comments should not be considered a testimonial or endorsement of our services and have not been solicited or compensated. Root does not verify the accuracy of comments and is not responsible for their content.

Create Your Custom Early Retirement Strategy Here

Get access to the same software I use for my clients and join the Early Retirement Academy here

Ari Taublieb, CFP ®, MBA is the Chief Growth Officer of Root Financial Partners and a Fiduciary Financial Planner specializing in helping clients retire early with confidence.

You don’t need $2 to $3 million to retire unless your lifestyle truly requires it. In this episode, we break down why your retirement number should be built around your personal spending needs, not a one-size-fits-all benchmark.

With a well-diversified $1.5 million portfolio, many retirees can support $60,000 to $75,000 per year in spending, especially when using flexible withdrawal strategies that adjust with market conditions. We dive into how spending can adapt over time and how Social Security benefits can reduce the burden on your investments.

We also explore a real-world retirement budget to show how far your money can go, including housing, healthcare, travel, and more. Plus, we discuss one of the most overlooked issues: retirees often underspend out of fear, even when their financial plan says they’re in the clear.

Whether you’re years away or nearing the transition, this episode helps you shift from anxiety to clarity and reminds you that retirement isn’t just a number, it’s a strategy.

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Advisory services are offered through Root Financial Partners, LLC, an SEC registered investment adviser. This content is intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered personalized investment, tax, or legal advice. Viewing this content does not create an advisory relationship. We do not provide tax preparation or legal services. Always consult your CPA or attorney regarding your specific situation.

The strategies, case studies, and examples discussed may not be suitable for everyone. They are hypothetical and for illustrative and educational purposes only. They do not reflect actual client results and are not guarantees of future performance. All investments involve risk, including the potential loss of principal.

Comments reflect the views of individual users and do not necessarily represent the views of Root Financial. They are not verified, may not be accurate, and should not be considered testimonials or endorsements.

Participation in the Retirement Planning Academy or Early Retirement Academy does not create an advisory relationship with Root Financial. These programs are educational in nature and are not a substitute for personalized financial advice. Advisory services are offered only under a written agreement with Root Financial.

Create Your Custom Early Retirement Strategy Here

Get access to the same software I use for my clients and join the Early Retirement Academy here

Ari Taublieb, CFP ®, MBA is the Chief Growth Officer of Root Financial Partners and a Fiduciary Financial Planner specializing in helping clients retire early with confidence.

Retiring early doesn’t mean cutting out everything you love, it means being intentional about what truly adds value to your life. In this episode of Root Talks, we take a closer look at the spending choices that can either delay or accelerate your path to early retirement.

We explore which tradeoffs are worth making, where small changes can have a big impact on your timeline, and why some expenses are still worth every penny. This isn’t just about saving money—it’s about aligning your spending with your values, your future goals, and the life you actually want to live.

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Advisory services are offered through Root Financial Partners, LLC, an SEC registered investment adviser. This content is intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered personalized investment, tax, or legal advice. We do not provide tax preparation or legal services. Always consult with your CPA or attorney regarding your specific situation.

Viewing this video does not create an advisory relationship with Root Financial. We only provide advisory services to clients under a written agreement. Investment strategies discussed may not be suitable for everyone. All investments involve risk, and past performance is not indicative of future results. Any opinions expressed are as of the date of recording and are subject to change.

Comments left on this video reflect the views and opinions of the individual commenters and do not necessarily represent the views of Root Financial Partners, LLC. Comments should not be considered a testimonial or endorsement of our services and have not been solicited or compensated. Root does not verify the accuracy of comments and is not responsible for their content.

Create Your Custom Early Retirement Strategy Here

Get access to the same software I use for my clients and join the Early Retirement Academy here

Ari Taublieb, CFP ®, MBA is the Chief Growth Officer of Root Financial Partners and a Fiduciary Financial Planner specializing in helping clients retire early with confidence.

In this episode, Ari and James explore the emotional and practical sides of retiring—specifically, how to have the conversation that officially ends your career.

Whether you're months away or years out, this discussion tackles the fear, hesitation, and freedom that come with telling your boss you're done. You'll hear real stories from Root Collective members who’ve taken the leap, insights on counteroffers, and a powerful reframe: every “yes” to more work is a “no” to your time, your family, your dreams.

Hear more stories from the Root Community here: https://www.skool.com/rootcollective/what-was-your-experience-when-you-told-your-employer-you-were-retiring

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Advisory services are offered through Root Financial Partners, LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. This content is intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered personalized investment, tax, or legal advice. Viewing this content does not create an advisory relationship. We do not provide tax preparation or legal services. Always consult an investment, tax or legal professional regarding your specific situation.

The strategies, case studies, and examples discussed may not be suitable for everyone. They are hypothetical and for illustrative and educational purposes only. They do not reflect actual client results and are not guarantees of future performance. All investments involve risk, including the potential loss of principal.

Comments reflect the views of individual users and do not necessarily represent the views of Root Financial. They are not verified, may not be accurate, and should not be considered testimonials or endorsements

Participation in the Retirement Planning Academy or Early Retirement Academy does not create an advisory relationship with Root Financial. These programs are educational in nature and are not a substitute for personalized financial advice. Advisory services are offered only under a written agreement with Root Financial.

Create Your Custom Early Retirement Strategy Here

Get access to the same software I use for my clients and join the Early Retirement Academy here

Ari Taublieb, CFP ®, MBA is the Chief Growth Officer of Root Financial Partners and a Fiduciary Financial Planner specializing in helping clients retire early with confidence.