Episode 5 - The Retirement Power Duo Disrupting Tax Myths and Market Fear

Guests: Karen Stawicki & Samantha Irish | Co-Founders, Compass Financial (Charleston, SC) - A mother-daughter team on a mission to help high-net-worth clients minimize taxes and build a retirement income they can’t outlive.

Episode Overview:

Markets wobble. Taxes rise. Most retirees feel trapped and afraid they’ll outlive their savings or pay more to the IRS than they must. In this episode, Karen Stawicki and Samantha Irish unveil the strategies behind their bestselling book, The Power of Three, and reveal how ordinary families can reclaim control over both taxes and income.

They call themselves the “Retirement Power Duo,” and in this dynamic conversation you’ll learn:

How to Fire the IRS as Your Silent Business Partner

• Why most retirees unknowingly overpay taxes year after year.

• The simple repositioning tactics that shift dollars into tax-friendly vehicles—so the IRS stops acting as a silent partner in your nest egg.

• Real-life case studies: how one couple paid $500K less to the IRS over a lifetime.

Whether you’re a seasoned advisor or a retiree terrified of stock-market swings and hidden tax traps, Karen and Sam deliver truth bombs, actionable insights, and the road map you need to build a “tax-sheltered, guaranteed-income ecosystem.” Tune in to discover how to break free from Wall Street’s fear tactics, fire the IRS from your retirement plan, and reboot your Roth strategy before markets rebound.

Tune in to learn:

• How to keep every dollar performing a defined role (income, growth, liquidity) so you never worry about running out of money

• The “silent tax trap” hiding in traditional IRAs and 401(k)s—and how to escape it

• Why a mother-daughter approach to wealth management can be the secret to your financial peace of mind

Don’t miss Karen & Sam on the “Financial Freedom with Tom Hegna” podcast and discover the strategies to outsmart the IRS, guarantee steady income, and create the retirement you’ve always envisioned.

Guests:

Karen Stawicki grew up in a family that valued both hard work and service. She followed her natural affinity for numbers into 45-year career guiding families through market downturns and retirement transitions. In 2013, Karen launched Compass Financial with a simple promise: never abandon a plan when markets get tough. Her expertise in tax-efficient annuities and legacy planning has earned her local TV appearances, media features, and a loyal “Compass family” of clients who trust her to safeguard their financial futures.

Samantha Irish didn’t major in finance—she majored in sociology and communications to learn what her mom didn’t teach her. After a decade in marketing and consulting, Sam joined Compass Financial to marry her empathy and problem-solving skills with Karen’s deep expertise. As the “future of Compass Financial,” she helps each client feel heard, supported, and empowered to rewrite their own retirement story. Together, Karen and Sam combine logic and heart, structure and soul, to create “bullet-proof” retirement plans for high-net-worth families.

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