The Red Zone Retirement Planning Process Explained | Adam Olson CFP®
If you're within 5–7 years of retirement or recently retired, you're entering what I call the Red Zone of Retirement — the most important stretch of your financial life.
This is the decade where every decision you make can determine the next 20–30 years of your financial future.
In this episode, Adam Olson, CFP®, sits down with TJ to break down:
• How the Red Zone Retirement Planning Process was created
• The patterns Adam saw after years of helping retirees
• Why traditional financial planning often fails retirees
• How the Go-Go, Slow-Go, and No-Go framework works
• The step-by-step client journey through the Red Zone process
The Red Zone process was designed specifically for people approaching retirement who need clarity around income, taxes, investments, and long-term planning.
Rather than focusing only on accumulation, this process focuses on what matters most:
Turning decades of savings into reliable retirement income.
You'll also hear real stories about how this framework has helped families retire with clarity, confidence, and peace of mind.
Adam Olson is a Certified Financial Planner™ professional and retirement strategist who helps individuals and families prepare for and transition into retirement.
He is the author of:
• 21 Things You Need to Know About Money
• What's Your Plan?
• Red Zone Retirement Plan
Adam created the Red Zone Retirement Planning Process to guide families through the most important financial decade of their lives.
His goal is simple:
Help people live every day of retirement like it's Saturday.
Explore resources, schedule a meeting, or download Adam's book:
Linktree:
https://linktr.ee/adamolsoncfp
The Red Zone Retirement Planning Process is designed for:
• Pre-retirees within 5–7 years of retirement
• Recently retired individuals
• High savers preparing to transition from accumulation to distribution
• Families looking for clarity around taxes, income, and long-term planning
About Adam OlsonLearn More / ConnectWho We Help
Investing involves risk, including loss of principal. Be sure to understand the benefits and limitations of your available options and consider all factors prior to making any financial decisions. Any strategies discussed may not be suitable for everyone. Securities and advisory services offered through Mutual of Omaha Investor Services, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. Adam Olson, Representative. Mutual of Omaha Investor Services is not affiliated with any entity listed herein. This podcast is for educational purposes only and may include references to concepts that have legal and/or tax implications. Mutual of Omaha Investor Services and its representatives do not offer legal or tax advice. The information presented is subject to change without notice and is not intended as an offer or solicitation with respect to the purchase or sale of any security or insurance product.Mutual of Omaha Investor Services and its various affiliates do not endorse or adopt comments posted by third parties. Comments posted by third parties are their own and may not be representative or indicative of other's opinions, views, and experiences.
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The $3M Retirement Tax Trap: RMDs, IRMAA, and the Hidden IRS Schedule
How much you need to retire quiz: https://bit.ly/Adam-Olson
What actually happens when you retire with $3 million in traditional retirement accounts?
In this episode, I walk through the real numbers behind Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) starting at age 73—and why having a large IRA or 401(k) can quietly turn into a tax and Medicare premium problem if you don’t plan ahead.
You’ll learn:
What a $3M portfolio forces you to withdraw in your first RMD year
How RMDs stack with Social Security, pensions, and dividends
Why many retirees end up in higher tax brackets than they expected
How RMD income can trigger IRMAA Medicare surcharges years later
The surviving spouse tax trap almost no one sees coming
What proactive tax planning (like Roth conversions) can still do—before it’s too late
The biggest threat to a well-funded retirement isn’t market loss—it’s government-mandated income taxed on their schedule, not yours.
I’m Adam Olson, a CFP®. I used my 14 years of experience to create the Red Zone Retirement Planning Process, so that your retirement feels like a Saturday every day.
If you want help optimizing your own retirement plan, click the link to fill out the questionnaire and I’ll send you a personalized video showing exactly how this applies to your situation.
How much you need to retire quiz: https://bit.ly/Adam-OlsonInvesting involves risk, including loss of principal. Be sure to understand the benefits and limitations of your available options and consider all factors prior to making any financial decisions. Any strategies discussed may not be suitable for everyone. Securities and advisory services offered through Mutual of Omaha Investor Services, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. Adam Olson, Representative. Mutual of Omaha Investor Services is not affiliated with any entity listed herein. This podcast is for educational purposes only and may include references to concepts that have legal and/or tax implications. Mutual of Omaha Investor Services and its representatives do not offer legal or tax advice. The information presented is subject to change without notice and is not intended as an offer or solicitation with respect to the purchase or sale of any security or insurance product.Mutual of Omaha Investor Services and its various affiliates do not endorse or adopt comments posted by third parties. Comments posted by third parties are their own and may not be representative or indicative of other's opinions, views, and experiences.
Inside a recent episode
The Red Zone Retirement Planning Process Explained | Adam Olson CFP®
Published 10 Mar 2026 · Transcript excerpt
[…] Right. And part of my process, well, maybe I should just start by explaining the process. Do you think that'd be a good? Yeah, yeah. Why don't you just walk me through the red zone retirement process, sort of a 30 ,000 -foot view? So it's in retirement, you're going to have two types of expenses. Needs and wants. Makes sense? Yeah, absolutely. So the needs in your retirement, I break down such as food, shelter, clothing, taxes, healthcare, cost, and insurance. So your needs and retirement are things that are always going to be there. They're not going to go away. So your needs, we need to get covered by guaranteed income sources, things like social security, pensions if you have one. […]
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