Retirement Starts Today Radio

Recent legislation has made everyone’s favorite college savings plan a little more flexible. Funds in a 529 plan aren’t as locked up as they used to be now that your children’s unused college funds can be rolled into a retirement account. In this episode, we’ll discuss an article from the White Coat Investor which explores […] The post The 529 to Roth IRA Rollover, Ep # 343 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

It may be easy to define success in your working career, but defining success in retirement can be more difficult. What does success look like in retirement? What will you do daily or weekly to get the most out of your retirement? In this episode of Retirement Starts Today, we’ll explore a TEDx talk about […] The post The 4 Phases of Retirement, Ep #342 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Due to last year’s poor market returns, you’ve probably seen the headlines that the 60/40 portfolio is dead. But is that really the case? This week’s retirement headline explores the history of this classic retirement investment strategy. After we tackle the headlines, Bret and I team up to consider the best places to move in […] The post A Short History of the 60/40 Portfolio, Ep #341 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

There are many ways that could threaten your financial security in retirement. Knowing the common issues can ensure that you don’t fall into the traps. Today’s financial headline comes from Yahoo Finance and is called 8 Ways Baby Boomers Become Poor in Retirement. Listen in to learn what they are so that you don’t drive […] The post 8 Ways to Become Poor in Retirement, Ep #340 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

We all want to retire, but have you considered how you would like to transition to retirement? This week’s retirement headline article shares some interesting statistics on phased retirements: who is thinking about them, who is utilizing them, and what people think about them. Listen in to learn the findings. Then stick around for our […] The post More Than Half of Americans Want to Retire Gradually, Ep #339 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Once upon a time, there was a prediction that the baby boomer generation would face a retirement crisis. So how did this gloom and doom projection turn into the wealthiest generation in history? Listen in to find out. Make sure to stay tuned for the listener question: What is the best way to fund a […] The post The Retirement Crisis That Wasn’t, Ep #338 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

You’ve heard of the 4% rule, and if you’ve listened to this podcast before, you’ve heard of Guyton’s guardrails strategy. But have you ever heard of using them together? Today’s retirement headline explores this idea. Overall, the article highlights the importance of considering sequence-of-returns risk in retirement planning and adopting flexible strategies, such as guardrails, […] The post Using Guardrails For The 4% Rule, Ep #337 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Is it possible to suddenly step away from a high-powered job and into a life of leisure? This may not be the best idea for your retirement if you work at the executive level. In this episode of Retirement Starts Today, we’ll explore an article from Harvard Business Review that outlines several pitfalls that could […] The post The Challenges of Retiring from a High-Powered Job, Ep #336 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

There are two ways to mess up retirement: run out of money or die with regret. Oftentimes, people in the retirement space only focus on the running out of money part. In an effort to help you live an even better retirement, today’s retirement headline discusses the regret part. Join me to learn five expenses […] The post 5 Expenses Retirees Wish They Spent More Money On, Ep # 335 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

If you want to spend more money in retirement you’ll want to understand how to maximize your Social Security benefits. Many people think that there is no going back once you’ve decided to collect your Social Security benefits. However, today’s retirement headline discusses two options in case you’d like a do-over. In our listener question […] The post 2 Social Security Mulligans, Ep # 334 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Tax season is here so when I found this article from Morning Star to share some tax tips for you. Your tax bill will be the largest bill you pay in retirement. If you want to reduce it, make sure to press play. Helping clients save money on taxes and avoid common investment mistakes is […] The post Save Money with These Tax Tips, Ep #333 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Some tax breaks aren’t worth the hassle of pursuing them, however, today’s example is definitely worth the hassle! If you are charitably minded you’ll want to listen to learn about the advantages of making qualified charitable distributions. Discover how to increase your standard deduction while enjoying charitable tax benefits. Stick around for the listener question […] The post A Tax Break Worth the Hassle, Ep # 332 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Planning retirement spending is tough to do since there are so many unknowns. Many people tend to take a fear-based approach and rely on the 4% rule. Some even take a step further and spend less of their nest egg. Today’s Retirement Headline urges you to take a different approach. Listen in to hear what […] The post We Need to Talk About Your Retirement Spending, Ep #331 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

I don’t know about you, but I want to stay active and healthy for as long as possible. That’s why when I saw this Forbes article I knew I wanted to share it with you. If you want to learn how to age gracefully and maintain your vitality, you won’t miss this episode. Then, stick […] The post I Don’t Want To Be Old When I Am Old, Ep # 330 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Most people are worried about spending too much and running out of money in retirement. However, few people worry about spending too little. In this week’s episode of Retirement Starts Today, you’ll learn why you should spend your principal in retirement. Our retirement headline comes from Dr. Jim Dahle at the Whitecoat Investor and shows […] The post Spend Your Principal! Ep #323 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Would you like to have more confidence in your retirement plan? In the retirement headlines segment, you’ll learn one simple way to increase your certainty about what you can accomplish in retirement. In the listener questions segment, Bret helps answer what the essential aspects of an estate plan include. If you are ready to get […] The post Boost Your Retirement Confidence by 17% with One Simple Trick, Ep #322 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Do you wish you had more optionality when it comes to designing your retirement? In this episode of Retirement Starts Today, we’ll explore an article from Forbes that poses five alternatives to the 4% rule that you may want to explore for your retirement withdrawal strategy. In our retirement headlines segment Bret and I team […] The post 5 Alternatives To The 4% Retirement Withdrawal Rule, Ep #321 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

What happens if you get to retirement age and realize that you saved too much? Believe it or not, this does happen and has its own set of problems. In this episode, we’ll explore those problems along with some potential solutions. Stick around until the end of the episode to hear our listener question about […] The post I Saved Too Much for Retirement, Ep # 320 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Would you like to make $170,000? On this episode, you’ll learn what you can do to save yourself 17% in lower returns over a decade. On a million-dollar portfolio that comes to $170,000! In the Retirement Headline segment, we’ll dive into an article from Financial Advisor Magazine which explores Morningstar’s annual Mind the Gap study analyzing the […] The post Bad Timing Cost Fund Investors 17% Ep #319 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Have you thought about using your home’s equity to help you fund a portion of your retirement? In this episode of Retirement Starts Today, we’ll explore a Morningstar article that examines ways to use this supersized emergency fund. If you are ready to start thinking about retirement outside the box, listen to this episode to […] The post Ways to Use Home Equity in Retirement, Ep #318 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Do you remember when you were a kid and were fascinated by the thought of living to be 100? It seemed like such a far-fetched idea, but now with advances in technology, nutrition, and medicine, this far-flung notion increasingly seems like a real possibility. As you may have guessed, today’s retirement headline discusses planning to live until […] The post Plan on Living to 100, Ep # 317 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Medicare’s open enrollment is starting soon, so I’ve invited Danielle Roberts from Boomer Benefits to join me today. In this episode, we’re discussing what’s new with Medicare in 2024, the important dates to remember for open enrollment, when to reevaluate your health insurance options, and how to ensure you have health coverage when traveling abroad […] The post Traveling After 65 with Danielle Roberts from Boomer Benefits, Ep #316 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

As retirement super savers, you all know that slow and steady wins the race. According to this Wall Street Journal article, that race is paying off again for many Americans. In the retirement headlines segment, we’ll take a look at this article. Then in the Listener Questions segment, Bret and I will discuss the merits of […] The post 401K Millionaires are Back! Ep # 315 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Even if you aren’t familiar with Monte Carlo analyses, you’ve probably used it. Monte Carlo drives math behind the retirement planning software that you use. Monte Carlo software is truly amazing, however, the way people look at it is wrong. In this episode, you’ll hear the pros and cons of Monte Carlo analysis and how […] The post The Problems with Monte Carlo Are in Your Mind, Ep #314 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Aretha Franklin can teach you more than a little R-E-S-P-E-C-T. On this episode of Retirement Starts Today, you’ll learn from her estate plan (or lack thereof). After hearing about this estate plan gone haywire Bret and I will team up to answer a listener’s question on how you can transition from a saving to a […] The post Why Are the Notes Found in Aretha Franklin’s Couch a Valid Will? Ep #313 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Here at Retirement Starts Today, we are always looking for ways to teach you how to spend more money so that you can enjoy an even better retirement. However, many times our clients and listeners have trouble loosening their purse strings. After years of being diligent savers, instead of enjoying the fruits of their labor, […] The post Overdoing Delayed Gratification, Ep #312 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

I’ve always said that it’s important to retire to something rather than away from something. To do that means finding a sense of purpose. In this episode, we’ll explore an article from PhysicianOnFIRE.com that discusses how retirees can discover and maintain a sense of purpose in their lives after leaving the workforce. Make sure to stick around […] The post 7 Tips to Maintain a Sense of Purpose in Retirement, Ep #311 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Would a 0% tax rate help you live an even better retirement? In this week’s Retirement Headline, we’ll explore a WSJ article titled How You Can Grab a 0% Tax Rate. If that doesn’t pique your interest, I don’t know what will! Listen in to hear how you can learn to plan so that you can […] The post How to Pay 0% on Capital Gains, Ep #310 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Scammers are constantly changing their playbooks to try and stay ahead of the authorities. That is why the IRS annually updates its “Dirty Dozen Tax Scam” list. This week we’ll explore the latest article from the IRS on this year’s tax scams then we’ll check out an article from Financial Advisor Magazine that involve questionable tax practitioners and charitable […] The post Dirty Dozen Tax Scams, Ep #309 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

As a financial advisor that thinks a lot about the Medicare surcharge IRMAA, an article titled Stop Worrying About IRMAA written by a source I trust certainly caught my eye. In this episode, we’ll explore what IRMAA does, reflect on the article, and discuss whether the IRMAA surcharge is worth worrying about. If you have […] The post Should We Even Worry About IRMAA? Ep #308 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Who wants to live longer? I know I do! Before you start taking magic pills and seeking the fountain of youth in an effort to increase your life span, Alex Janin from the Wall Street Journal suggests you start exercising. In this episode of Retirement Starts Today, we’ll explore Alex’s article, What if the Most Powerful […] The post The Most Powerful Way to Live Longer? Ep #307 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

If you have diligently saved throughout your career, you may be ready to retire, yet still feel uncertain about spending your savings. To truly live your best life in retirement you need to learn how to shift from a saving mindset to a spending mindset. In this episode of Retirement Starts Today, we’ll help you […] The post 3 Tricks to Help Retirees Spend More, Ep #306 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

If you are new to the show, welcome! This is a place where we talk about how to spend more money, pay less taxes, and have an even better retirement. Today we’re investigating that last part–the even better retirement. In the retirement headlines segment, we’ll take a look at a CNBC article that dives into an 85-year […] The post The #1 Retirement Challenge That No One Talks About, Ep #305 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Do you long for a lost golden age when everything was better? If you do you’re not alone. Many people feel that society is experiencing a moral decline. But is that really true? On this episode of Retirement Starts Today, we’ll explore a New York Times article that challenges this way of thinking and attributes it to […] The post Your Brain Has Tricked You Into Thinking Everything Is Worse, Ep # 304 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

If you want an amazing retirement you need to start thinking about your future self. We discussed the idea of your future self on a previous episode where I interviewed my coach, Dr. Benjamin Hardy. In this episode, we’re taking a look at another book on the future self, Your Future Self by Hal Herschfield. I’m listening to the […] The post Your Future (Retired) Self, Ep #303 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

One of the greatest financial assumptions is that it’s always better to own than to rent. However, in retirement, this may not be true. Once you are financially independent it is important to realize that not every dollar you spend needs to yield a return. Join me for this episode of Retirement Starts Today to […] The post 12 Reasons to Rent in Retirement, Ep #302 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Have you considered working part-time in retirement? A growing number of older adults are choosing to continue work even after reaching retirement age. While some continue work due to financial necessity, many choose work that offers fulfillment and enjoyment. In the retirement headlines segment of this episode of Retirement Starts Today, we’ll explore the meaning […] The post The Power of Semi-Retirement and Work-Life Balance, Ep #301 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

If you clicked on this title you may be wondering what a $300 gym bag has to do with retirement. Well, this podcast focuses on learning how to spend more money and pay less taxes to set yourself up for the ideal retirement. So press play to hear about the $300 gym bag. Outline of […] The post $300 Gym Bag, Ep # 300 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Have you ever considered joining a retirement mastermind group? Many of us choose mastermind groups to further our careers, businesses, or other areas of our lives, but few think to create one for retirement planning. Today, we’ll focus this entire episode on Fritz Gilbert’s recent article on his experience creating a retirement mastermind group. You won’t want […] The post Retirement Mastermind Groups, Ep #299 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Have you ever thought about how much money you need to be truly happy? If so, you’re not alone. And chances are that number is elusive. In today’s Retirement Headline segment, we’ll check out an article from The Atlantic called “The Reason Many Ultrarich People Aren’t Satisfied With Their Wealth.” In doing so, we’ll explore human nature […] The post Rich People Unsatisfied with Their Wealth, Ep #298 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

If you have found this podcast you’re probably interested in spending more money, spending less in taxes, and making life even better in retirement. On this episode of Retirement Starts Today, we’re taking a look at how to spend more money in retirement by assessing a two-part article from AdvisorPerspectives.com called A Framework for Assessing Variable Spending […] The post A Comparison of Variable Spending Strategies, Ep # 297 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Welcome back to the second part of our lessons in estate planning. Bret and I recently reviewed all of our clients’ estate plans and in doing so, we learned a lot from this exercise that could help you and your heirs. If you haven’t listened to last week’s episode make sure to go back and listen–especially if […] The post My Kids Don’t Want My Stuff – Lessons in Estate Planning Part 2, Ep # 296 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Bret and I recently reviewed all of our clients’ estate plans this spring and, as a result, we have so much to share with you about what we learned. It was so much that we had to break it into multiple episodes! If you are curious about how this sort of meeting goes and wish […] The post How Could This Go Horribly Wrong? Lessons in Estate Planning Part 1, Ep #295 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Do you ever get together with your friends from high school and wonder why they all look so old? Are you surprised by the image that you see in the mirror each morning? If so, you’re not alone. In today’s retirement headline segment, we’ll explore an article from Jennifer Senior at MSN.com that examines the abstract concept […] The post The Puzzling Gap Between How Old You Are and How Old You Think You Are, Ep #294 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Have you made any changes to your retirement savings due to the poor economy? If you did, you’re not alone. According to a Financial-Planning.com article, half of America stopped saving for retirement last year. Don’t miss hearing why this is such a bad idea. Stick around for the listener questions segment where Bret and I address one […] The post 50% of Americans Stopped Saving Last Year! Ep #293 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

You may be excited to jump on the early retirement bandwagon, but before you do, listen to this episode. In our retirement headlines segment, we explore a peer-reviewed article that shows that early retirement can accelerate cognitive decline. Stay tuned for the listener questions segment to hear how to reimagine your retirement spending mindset by […] The post Early Retirement Can Accelerate Cognitive Decline, Ep # 292 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Many DIY investors would like to learn more about the latest changes in financial and tax laws but don’t have the same opportunities to attend professional financial conferences. The good news is that Bret and I do have these opportunities, and we relish sharing our findings. On this episode of Retirement Starts Today, Bret shares […] The post Conference Breakdown, Ep #291 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Have you ever used a Monte Carlo analysis to help you plan retirement? If so, the results can seem scary. You may be looking for a 100% likelihood of success so that you can rest easy–after all, you are probably hoping for a 100% successful retirement. However, in this episode of Retirement Starts Today, you’ll […] The post Monte Carlo Failures Aren’t Plane Crashes, Ep #290 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

We talk about retirement income guardrails a lot on this show, but today we’ll go into greater depth while exploring an article from Kitces.com. This article was written by a mentor of mine and takes an advisor’s perspective on how to discuss spending increases and decreases with clients. These are fantastic conversations to review if you […] The post Conversations about “Guardrails,” Ep #289 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Do you want to know how you can fully utilize your biggest advantage over the IRS? Listen to this episode to find out. Today, we explore a ThinkAdvisor.com article that turns traditional retirement tax thinking on its head. Then, Bret helps me answer a listener’s question about opening a Roth IRA when your salary is too high. […] The post Delaying Taxes in Retirement Isn’t Always Best, Award-Winning Paper Shows, Ep #288 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.