Month: January 2026
Voluntary Retirement Offers: What You Need to Know Before Deciding

Voluntary Retirement Offers: What You Need to Know Before Deciding

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Major companies are restructuring, and voluntary retirement packages are landing on desks across the country. How do you know if taking the offer is the right move for your future?

In this episode, Dennis O’Keefe examines the complexities of voluntary retirement offers and involuntary layoffs. He reveals how companies carefully craft these packages to achieve specific workforce reductions and shares insights from HR professionals about the strategy behind these offers. Dennis also discusses the current employment landscape at major telecommunications companies, the risks of waiting too long to decide, and practical steps to prepare, whether you’re facing a voluntary severance package or potential layoff.

Dennis discusses:

  • How companies strategically design voluntary offers to target specific employee groups and achieve precise headcount goals
  • The difference between voluntary severance packages and involuntary layoffs, including benefits and compensation comparisons
  • Key factors to assess when evaluating an offer: retirement readiness, marketable skills, geography, and career trajectory
  • The importance of retraining opportunities and using employer-paid education benefits before a potential departure
  • Why professional guidance from financial advisors and career coaches can help you make informed decisions during transitions
  • And more

Connect with Dennis O’Keefe: 

All content presented is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as an endorsement of any third party, or as a solicitation or offer to sell securities or provide investment, tax, legal, or consulting services, and should not be acted upon without obtaining specific advice from a qualified professional. We believe the information presented to be reliable, but it is not guaranteed as to its accuracy or completeness. All examples are hypothetical and for illustrative purposes only. Any opinions or statements by third parties are their own and may not be representative of the experience of others or indicative of future investment performance or success. No compensation has been exchanged for any testimonials, endorsements, and/or recognitions.
Can AI Really Replace Human Financial Guidance?

Can AI Really Replace Human Financial Guidance?

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Join us this episode as Dennis O’Keefe outlines the ways AI tools are being used in financial planning and where they currently fall short. He explains how automated systems process information, where they provide efficiency, and the limitations that appear when personal context or situational nuance is required. 

Dennis also describes the differences between automated platforms, large national firms, and independent fiduciary advisors, focusing on how each model approaches service and decision support.

Key takeaways:

  • AI can help organize data and handle defined tasks, but it does not interpret personal context or long-term considerations.
  • Large firms provide structure, yet personalization may vary depending on how their service models are designed.
  • Independent advisors may identify risks or opportunities that automated systems do not detect.
  • Retirees should consider what level of support they want when evaluating technology-based planning tools.
  • And more!

Connect with Dennis O’Keefe: 

All content presented is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as an endorsement of any third party, or as a solicitation or offer to sell securities or provide investment, tax, legal, or consulting services, and should not be acted upon without obtaining specific advice from a qualified professional. We believe the information presented to be reliable, but it is not guaranteed as to its accuracy or completeness. All examples are hypothetical and for illustrative purposes only. Any opinions or statements by third parties are their own and may not be representative of the experience of others or indicative of future investment performance or success. No compensation has been exchanged for any testimonials, endorsements, and/or recognitions.