Retirement Confidence Starts Here
Join our empowering Online Journey to Retirement Workshop and take the next step on your journey to retirement.
Get clear, straightforward answers to your biggest questions about health care, income, taxes, investments, and more—so you can walk confidently into your next chapter.
2
100%
Hours of focused
education
Complimentary
event
Join Our Online Retirement Workshop
Join our retirement planning workshop and take the next step toward your ideal retirement.
Gain clear, practical insights on income, health care, taxes, investments, and more—so you can make informed decisions and walk confidently into retirement.
Your Journey to Retirement Starts Here
Learn about six key pillars that may impact your retirement:
Lifestyle, Income, Taxes, Investments, Health Care, and Legacy.
Considering how you may want to spend your time in retirement
Lifestyle
Exploring different retirement goals and their costs
Understanding the transition from working life to retirement
Planning for active vs. passive retirement phases
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Reviewing potential income sources and timing considerations
Income
Understanding Social Security claiming strategies
Exploring strategies for maximizing Social Security
Creating a sustainable retirement income plan
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Exploring how different account types are taxed
Taxes
Understanding Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs)
Planning for tax-efficient withdrawal strategies
Demonstrating the impact of Roth conversions
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Understanding how to balance diversification and risk
Investments
The Pros & Cons of Mutual Funds
Investment strategies that help create reliable income
Rebalancing portfolios for retirement income
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Outlining coverage options to be aware of before age 65
Health Care
Understanding Medicare enrollment and timing
Planning for long-term care expenses
Exploring Medicare Part B premiums
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The differences between a Will and a Trust
Legacy
Understanding the Probate Process
Exploring strategies that can create a tax-free legacy
Learning about legacy planning documents and how they are used
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Planning for retirement involves many moving parts — from how you'll create income, to managing potential health care expenses, to making sure your affairs are in order for the future.
This workshop provides educational information to help you think through these topics and identify questions to discuss with your own professional advisors.
What We'll Cover
Practical knowledge and actionable strategies you can implement immediately.
Health Care Coverage
Tax-Smart Strategies
Answers to Your Questions
Learn about your health care options before the age of 65.
Understand tax strategies that can help you keep more of your hard-earned money.
Get answers to the questions that are keeping you up at night, so you can feel more confident in retirement.
Meet Your Presenters
Loren Merkle
CFP® • Founder, Merkle Retirement Planning
Loren Merkle is an award-winning CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and founder of Merkle Retirement Planning with over 24 years of experience. Author of "Retire Your Way" and host of the Iowa Motion Picture Award-winning show "Retiring Today," his expertise has been featured on ABC, CBS, and NBC. Loren has received multiple honors including Best Financial Planner and the Camille Wanna Award. A dedicated philanthropist supporting Habitat for Humanity and The Food Bank of Iowa, Loren is also a single dad to his daughter Jayce and surprisingly, a former competitive axe thrower who enjoys boating, camping, and hiking.
Clint Huntrods, PhD
Certified Financial Fiduciary® • Retirement Planner
Dr. Clint Huntrods brings his PhD in Educational Policy and Leadership to retirement planning with a passion for empowering others through education. As a Certified Financial Fiduciary® with Series 65 securities and Iowa insurance licenses, Clint helps pre-retirees navigate the one-time decisions that come with retirement. His expertise is featured on Retiring Today with Loren Merkle, retirement workshops, and podcasts. When not easing retirement worries, he enjoys country music concerts with his wife Kahri and coaching his two young sons through fishing and biking adventures.
Chawn Honkomp
CFP® • CPA • Retirement Income Certified Professional®
Chawn Honkomp combines 20+ years of experience with extensive credentials including CFP®, CPA, Retirement Income Certified Professional®, and Chartered Financial Consultant®. With an MBA from the University of Iowa and Series 7 and 66 securities licenses, he specializes in tax planning and retirement strategies. His insights are featured on Retiring Today with Loren Merkle and the company's YouTube channel. Growing up as one of five brothers on a dairy farm shaped his strong work ethic. Today, he cheers on his high school son's sports teams, follows his daughter's UI adventures, and enjoys bike rides with his wife Ryan while rooting for the Hawkeyes and Dodgers.
AnnaMarie Morrow
Director of Medicare & Long-Term Care
AnnaMarie Morrow is our in-house Director of Medicare & Long-Term Care. She has helped hundreds of pre-retirees make important Medicare and supplement decisions. AnnaMarie holds life, health, and accident Iowa insurance licenses and America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) Medicare + Fraud, Waste, and Abuse licenses. She is also a National Social Security Advisor (NSSA) certificate holder and a certified Medicare agent with several private insurance carriers. Additionally, AnnaMarie has achieved the Medicare Advantage Certification, awarded by NABIP.
How It Works
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Reserve Your Spot
Attend the Workshop
Clarify YourNext Steps
Complete our simple online registration – takes less than 60 seconds.
Join us for an engaging
2 hours online retirement workshop.
Leave with a better understanding of your checklist for retirement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to bring anything to the workshop?
Can I attend with my spouse or partner?
I'm not retired yet - should I still attend?
What if I can't make my scheduled workshop date?
Your Retirement Won't Wait - Why Should you?
Take the first step toward retirement confidence. Join others who have transformed their retirement outlook in just one evening.
2
100%
Hours of focused
education
Complimentary
event
Register and Access the Complimentary Workbook
Secure online registration
© Merkle Retirement Planning, LLC
We are an independent financial services firm helping individuals create retirement strategies using a variety of investment and insurance products to custom suit their needs and objectives. Investment Advisory Services offered through Elite Retirement Planning, LLC. Insurance Services offered through MRP Insurance, LLC. Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal. No investment strategy can guarantee a profit or protect against loss in periods of declining values. None of the information contained on this website shall constitute an offer to sell or solicit any offer to buy a security or any insurance product. Any references to protection benefits or steady and reliable income streams on this website refer only to fixed insurance products. They do not refer, in any way, to securities or investment advisory products. Annuity guarantees are backed by the financial strength and claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company. Annuities are insurance products that may be subject to fees, surrender charges and holding periods which vary by insurance company. Annuities are not FDIC-insured. The information and opinions contained in any of the material requested from this website are provided by third parties and have been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed. They are given for informational purposes only and are not a solicitation to buy or sell any of the products mentioned. The information is not intended to be used as the sole basis for financial decisions, nor should it be construed as advice designed to meet the particular needs of an individual’s situation.
Medicare services provided through MRP Insurance, LLC. Any and all other services related to insurance are an outside business activity and are not offered through or supervised by Elite Retirement Planning, LLC. MRP Insurance, LLC, is not affiliated with or endorsed by any government agency. This is an advertisement for insurance. By responding to the ad, you will be put in contact with a licensed insurance agent offering Medicare Advantage Plans, Medicare Supplement Plans, and Prescription Drug Plans. We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent [5] organizations which offer [22] products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options.