Synopsis
Eric Heckman's weekly radio show on KTRB 860 AM where he & his guests go over personal finance issues for people in Silicon Valley. www.WealthCreator.com
Episodes
-
How to Protect Your Retirement from Hidden Obstacles
01/04/2025 Duration: 48minRetirement should be a time of relaxation and enjoyment, but financial uncertainty can make it stressful. Market volatility, changing tax laws, and economic shifts can all impact your savings. So, how do you protect your retirement and ensure your money lasts? In this episode of Wealth Creator Radio, Eric Heckman is sharing essential strategies to safeguard your financial future. Tune in to make sure your money lasts as long as you do! Blueprint to Worry Less Wealth Get your Wealth Creator Toolbox
-
Beware of the IRS Dirty Dozen: Common Tax Scams to Avoid
25/03/2025 Duration: 49minToday, we’re talking about tax scams, specifically the IRS’s "Dirty Dozen" list. If you’ve never heard of it, this is a list of some of the top scams the IRS wants you to watch out for — especially around tax season. In this episode of Wealth Creator Radio, Eric Heckman is explaining the most common scams, how to spot them, and how to protect yourself. Plus, he’s sharing how to reduce your taxable income during retirement. Blueprint to Worry Less Wealth Get your Wealth Creator Toolbox
-
How to Make Your Retirement Money Last as Long as You Do
18/03/2025 Duration: 48minWhen you picture retirement, you probably imagine relaxing, traveling, spending time with loved ones, and doing all the things you enjoy. But that can only happen if your retirement money lasts as long as you do. So how do you make sure that happens? In this episode of Wealth Creator Radio, Eric Heckman is sharing how to determine how much money you’ll spend in retirement, common retirement pitfalls to avoid, and ways to ensure your money will last for a worry-less retirement. Blueprint to Worry Less Wealth Get your Wealth Creator Toolbox
-
Taxes in Retirement: What You Need to Know in 2025
11/03/2025 Duration: 47minNow that we’re a few months into 2025, there’s a big financial shift on the horizon that retirees need to be prepared for: the expiration of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. While many hope these tax cuts will be extended, there’s no guarantee. That means now is the time to take action and ensure your retirement savings are positioned to weather potential tax increases. In this episode of Wealth Creator Radio, Eric Heckman is explaining what you need to know about the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, how it affects your retirement, and steps you can take today to secure your financial future. Blueprint to Worry Less Wealth Get your Wealth Creator Toolbox
-
What the Trump Tax Laws Mean for Your Retirement
04/03/2025 Duration: 46minTaxes are one of the biggest expenses retirees face – often more than healthcare. Yet, many people overlook tax planning when preparing for retirement. With the potential extension of the Trump tax laws, understanding how they impact your financial future is more important than ever. In this episode of Wealth Creator Radio, Eric Heckman is sharing the basics of the Trump tax laws, what you can do now to make the most out of the tax law extension, and common retirement assumptions to watch out for to make sure you’re on track for retirement.
-
Maximize Your Retirement Income: Smart Strategies for a Secure Future
25/02/2025 Duration: 46minPlanning for retirement can feel overwhelming, especially when you're trying to ensure that your savings will last as long as you do. You might have questions about Social Security, taxes in retirement and more. Veteran financial planner Eric Heckman is here to give you the information you need to make smart retirement decisions now. In this episode of Wealth Creator Radio, Eric Heckman is sharing practical strategies to help you maximize your retirement income and create a solid financial future. Tune in for tips on income planning, how to avoid the biggest retirement mistakes, and how to avoid Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) penalties.
-
Tackling Taxes and Inflation: How to Protect Your Retirement Today
18/02/2025 Duration: 46minHistory shows us that when countries accumulate too much debt, it can lead to big economic problems. For retirees, this can translate to rising taxes and inflation, which can eat away at their hard-earned savings. If you want to make sure your money lasts as long as you do, you need to make a plan for taxes and inflation in retirement. In this episode of Wealth Creator Radio, Eric Heckman is breaking down the four pillars of a solid retirement plan, the risks to your retirement, and how to protect your money from rising taxes and inflation.
-
How to Create a Lasting Legacy with a Legacy Plan
11/02/2025 Duration: 48minPlanning for retirement isn’t just about saving enough money – it’s about making strategic decisions that allow you to enjoy life while leaving a lasting legacy for your family. On this episode of Wealth Creator Radio, Eric Heckman, a financial planner of over 30 years and president of Heckman Financial, is sharing the most common retirement regrets and how to avoid them, why you need a legacy plan for retirement, and how to get started on your lasting legacy.
-
You Retirement Checklist for a Worry-Less Retirement
04/02/2025 Duration: 46minA new Axios poll tells us that 1 in 5 Americans think they won’t ever be able to retire, and 62% think Social Security won’t cover even half of their expenses. Does this sound like you? If it does, you’re not alone – but it doesn’t have to be that way. With a solid plan in place, you can retire with peace of mind. Eric Heckman, veteran financial planner at Heckman Financial, is here to give you the retirement checklist you need to make it happen.
-
All About Annuities in Retirement
28/01/2025 Duration: 52minAre you confident in your retirement and financial knowledge? A recent Retirement Income Literacy Quiz by the American College of Financial Services showed that many Americans aged 50–75 scored poorly when it came to understanding retirement. Today, veteran financial planner Eric Heckman is unpacking one of the most misunderstood financial concepts: annuities. Eric is sharing everything you need to know about annuities: what types you can utilize, common misconceptions, and how to strike the right balance between protecting and growing your retirement income. Tune in for the retirement education you need! Check out the show notes for this episode!
-
How to Take Control of Your Retirement in Uncertain Times
21/01/2025 Duration: 48minWe’ve experienced a series of unprecedented events in recent years. From a global pandemic to a historic market crash, to increasing interest rates, inflation, and global unrest – you might be feeling like you have less control over your future than ever before. Here’s the good news: There are things you can do today to take control of your financial future. Eric Heckman, a certified financial planner with over 30 years of experience, is sharing what you can do today for a better retirement tomorrow. In this episode of Wealth Creator Radio, he’s covering the top 5 most commonly asked questions about retirement, how we got to a place of economic uncertainty, and actionable tips to take control of your retirement in uncertain times. Check out the show notes for this episode!
-
Common Money Challenges in Retirement and How to Avoid Them
14/01/2025 Duration: 49minDo you worry that you’ll outlive your retirement savings? You’re not alone. The fear of running out of money in retirement is a top concern for retirees. On this episode of Wealth Creator Radio, Eric Heckman, president of Heckman Financial, is sharing the biggest money challenges people face in retirement, the pillars of a secure retirement, and how to take action to build your retirement foundation today. If you want to retire with worry-less wealth, tune in to this one!
-
How to Make the Most of Your Retirement Income
07/01/2025 Duration: 48minWill your money last as long as you do? Will you be able to have fun and enjoy your retirement? These are the big questions people approaching retirement need to consider. So many Americans worry about running out of money in retirement, and for good reason. The truth is, if you don’t have money during retirement, then you’re not retired… you’re just unemployed. If you’re worried about running out of money in retirement, the solution is to plan now for your retirement income. In this episode, Eric Heckman, veteran financial planner and president of Heckman Financial, explains the biggest risks to your retirement income, and how to make sure your money lasts as long as you do.
-
Mapping Your Journey: The Financial Stages of Retirement
31/12/2024 Duration: 49minIn this episode, Eric emphasizes the importance of having a personalized income plan and tackling the complexities of retirement planning, which include navigating confusing products, changing tax laws, and volatile markets. The episode also features listener questions, where Eric provides expert advice on crucial topics like determining how much to save, estimating taxes, and transitioning from saving to generating income in retirement. Eric shares a ‘Wealth Success Story’ about the financial transitions faced by retirees in Silicon Valley, highlighting the importance of being prepared for unexpected career changes. This episode is packed with actionable advice!
-
How Protected Income Can Secure Your Retirement
24/12/2024 Duration: 47minRetirement is a time to relax, travel, and enjoy your favorite hobbies… but that can’t happen if you don’t have protected income. So the question is: How do you make sure your money lasts as long as you do? This week on Wealth Creator Radio, veteran financial planner Eric Heckman is sharing how to plan for protected income, so you can enjoy worry-less wealth in retirement. Tune in to learn why protected income is essential to any retirement plan, where your retirement money might lack protection, and how to plan for a financially secure future. Plus, as a fun bonus, Eric is sharing how he got into financial services and how he taught his kids to understand and be responsible with money!
-
America’s Retirement Savings Crisis: How to Secure Your Financial Future
17/12/2024 Duration: 48minCould our country be facing a retirement savings crisis? This week on Wealth Creator Radio, veteran financial planner Eric Heckman is taking us through a new study from the AARP that seems to paint a bleak picture of retirement savings right here in America: Most Americans used to retire with a pension, but today, 20% of adults over 50 have no retirement savings. But don’t worry, it’s not all doom and gloom. He’s also sharing what you can do about it today to make sure you have enough retirement savings to worry less. Tune in for actionable tips to take control of your financial future.
-
Are You Making Naughty or Nice Financial Decisions?
10/12/2024 Duration: 46minToday on Wealth Creator Radio, Eric Heckman is stepping into the role of “Retirement Santa” to help you understand what’s naughty or nice when it comes to planning for retirement. Eric is looking at common retirement scenarios, like waiting until age 50 or 60 to start saving, making a big move and downsizing in retirement, and dipping into your retirement to help your kids with their college tuition. Tune in to find out if these common financial situations belong on the naughty or nice list!
-
Should You Invest in Bitcoin for Your Retirement?
03/12/2024 Duration: 49minCryptocurrency has been a hot topic in recent years, especially Bitcoin. As its value has increased lately, many retirees are now wondering: Should I invest in Bitcoin? Should Bitcoin play a role in my retirement strategy? Eric Heckman is a certified financial planner with over 30 years of experience, and in this episode of Wealth Creator Radio, he’s sharing what you need to know about Bitcoin, its recent rise in popularity, and whether it aligns with your retirement goals.
-
How to Talk to Family About Money: Making Your Retirement Money Last
26/11/2024 Duration: 50minAre you comfortable talking about money with your family? Money is one of those taboo topics along with politics and religion that you’re supposed to avoid, but as you plan for retirement, these discussions with family are more important than ever – both for your kids’ financial literacy and for your family to understand your financial wishes. Eric Heckman is a certified financial planner with over 30 years of experience, and in this episode of Wealth Creator Radio, he’s here to share why talking about money with your loved ones is essential to making sure your retirement money lasts. He’s sharing the benefits of talking about money with family, the biggest issues retirees face when planning for retirement, and how to account for taxes, inflation, and a volatile stock market in your retirement plans. Tune in to get actionable tips to make sure your money lasts as long as you do!
-
How to Start Year-End Financial Planning for a Great 2025
19/11/2024 Duration: 50minAs the year wraps up, it’s time to start year-end financial planning for a great 2025. While tax reporting happens in the new year, tax planning has to happen now—so you only have a few short weeks to make the most of your financial planning to set yourself up for success in 2025. And with the cost of living rising and healthcare expenses only going up each year, strategic year-end planning can make a huge difference for anyone preparing for retirement. In this episode of Wealth Creator Radio, veteran certified financial planner Eric Heckman shares actionable tips to set yourself up for a financially secure new year. Tune in to learn the best age to start planning, common planning mistakes and how to avoid them, and how to plan for long-term care in retirement now.