Your Retirement Coach

07/16/2026

07/15/2026

Retirement without a destination isn't freedom, it's just stopping. The most fulfilled retirees don't just walk away from a career; they walk toward something bigger, more purposeful, and deeply intentional.

In today's conversation, Nic sits down with Mark and Diane Adams, a faith-driven couple approaching retirement, to explore what thoughtful pre-retirement planning actually looks like. From estate planning and tax strategy to legacy, generosity, and knowing when it's time to make the leap, this episode is essential listening for anyone approaching that next chapter.

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⏱️ Episode Timeline & Highlights
[00:00] – Meet Mark & Diane: Almost 40 years of marriage and one granddaughter who runs the show.
[05:15] – First money memory: An $84,000 house, six months into marriage and two very different opinions.
[08:57] – Faith and finances: Why you can't out-give God and the funnel, not a bucket mindset.
[13:00] – Advice to their younger selves: Be content in the season you're in.
[15:30] – The "have to, should do, could do" framework for retirement thinking.
[18:39] – Money and marriage: The spending conversation every couple needs to have.
[23:40] – The three pain points: Taxes, estate planning, and retirement income.
[28:29] – What they look for in an advisor: Shared faith, shared values, right questions.
[32:00] – The donor advised fund: A giving strategy that changed everything.
[34:18] – On the edge of retirement: Gather the facts, then listen to the Holy Spirit.
[40:10] – Building the right team now: Why finding a doctor mirrors finding a financial advisor.
[43:00] – Final words: Plan ahead, be proactive, and don't leave a mess for your kids.
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Links & Resources Mentioned
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: meritfinancialadvisors.com/about/locations/marietta-ga/
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Closing Thoughts
If today's conversation resonated with you, please like, share, comment, and subscribe, it helps us reach more people who are ready to retire with purpose, not just a plan.

Are you approaching retirement and wondering what the right questions are? Reach out at [email protected] — we'd love to have that conversation with you. Stay coachable!
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Testimonial Disclosure
This client has not been paid or received any other compensation for making these statements. As a result, the client does not receive any material incentives or benefits for providing the testimonial.
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Disclaimer
Investment advice offered through Merit Financial Group, LLC., an SEC-registered investment adviser.

07/09/2026

One of the smartest things you can do with retirement wealth is plan who it benefits beyond you.

Charitable giving in retirement isn't just meaningful. It comes with real tax advantages, too. Church, nonprofits, and causes you care about can all be included in your legacy plan.

Building wealth with a purpose is retirement done right.

🎧 Watch full episode @ link in bio

07/08/2026

Retirement planning feels harder when the world is uncertain.

The markets shift, politics change, makes it easy to second-guess every financial decision you make.

What actually helps is trusted guidance from someone who has already navigated it.

The right retirement coach doesn't just manage your money. They give you peace of mind, too.

🎧 Watch full episode @ link in bio

07/06/2026

Knowing your retirement numbers gives you the confidence to spend your money.

You stop guessing and start making intentional decisions about your income, your lifestyle, and what you actually want retirement to look like.

Clarity is what turns a retirement savings account into a retirement.

🎧 Watch full episode @ link in bio

07/01/2026

Some people talk about doing retirement right. Nancy Martin is living proof of what it actually looks like. A Marietta native, 30-year-plus educator, and pillar of her community, Nancy brings 18 years of shared history with the coaches and a story full of wisdom, generosity, and hard-won financial confidence.

In today's conversation, Nic and Randy sit down with Nancy to explore her remarkable journey from frugal saver to financially free, and what it means to steward wealth with purpose, faith, and a brand new kitchen.
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⏱️ Episode Highlights
[01:25] – First money memory: The grocery money stolen from her purse while teaching at Marietta High, and why it still stings.
[02:50] – A Marietta legacy: How Nancy's father became the first veterinarian in Cobb County and built a practice that lasted generations.
[04:19] – 30 years in the classroom: From Marietta High to Marietta Middle School and why teaching was always a calling, not just a career.
[05:03] – How Nancy and David built wealth: Coupons, frugality, and a whole lot of CDs at 15% interest.
[06:07] – The 2008 turning point: Why a financial crisis and a trusted friend's referral led them to their first retirement coach.
[09:22] – What they were looking for and what happened instead.
[10:40] – 18 years of confidence: Why Nancy's biggest win wasn't a number, it was trust.
[11:46] – Faith and finances: How First Baptist Marietta, the Salvation Army, and St. Jude's became part of their legacy plan.
[13:52] – The kitchen moment: The story of what happens when you finally know your numbers, and what Nancy did with that freedom.
[15:04] – Who needs a retirement coach? Nancy's advice for savers who need guidance, not just growth.
[16:08] – Final words of wisdom: "Start early. Don't put it off. And seek wise counsel from people who've been down that road."
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Links & Resources Mentioned
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: meritfinancialadvisors.com/about/locations/marietta-ga/
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Closing Thoughts
If today's conversation encouraged you, please rate, follow, share, and review the podcast. It helps us reach more people who are ready to take that next right step. Stay coachable!

Disclaimer!!!
Investment advice offered through Merit Financial Group, LLC., an SEC-registered investment adviser.

06/25/2026

SpaceX is still private. But that could change, and when it does, it may land straight in your retirement account without you lifting a finger.

Most people have no idea what is already sitting in their 401 (k). This conversation will make you want to check.

Watch the full episode to find out what could be coming for your portfolio.

🎧 Watch full episode @ link in bio

06/24/2026

Most people think SpaceX is just a rocket company. It is so much bigger than that.

And what Elon Musk has built could quietly become one of the most important conversations in retirement investing.

Watch the full episode. This one is worth your time.

🎧 Watch full episode @ link in bio

06/22/2026

SpaceX, market swings, global uncertainty, the noise never stops.

But the investors who come out ahead are never the ones who chased the hype. They are the ones who stayed diversified and kept a clear head through every season.

Watch the full episode to hear why boring still wins.

🎧 Watch full episode @ link in bio