Retirement Starts Today Radio

Tax season is here. This yearly duty is something that a good portion of citizens put off until the last minute, with some even requesting an extension to file later. However, today I have 8 reasons for you to consider filing your taxes early. Listen in to discover why you might want to bite the […] The post 8 Reasons to File Your 2021 Tax Return Early, Ep #232 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

You may be worried about money in retirement, but are you worried that you won’t spend enough of it? Today’s retirement headline comes from Neil Templin over at Barrons.com and it examines how people’s core spending and saving habits from their working years continue in their retirement years. Listen to this episode to hear the author’s suggestion […] The post Retirees Aren’t Spending Enough, Ep #231 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Tax scams are as old as taxes themselves, so are you doing everything you can do to avoid them? In this episode of Retirement Starts Today, we’ll explore what the IRS labels, ‘the dirty dozen’ tax scams. You’ll learn who is targeted by the various scams and then you’ll discover what you should do to […] The post Americans Urged to Watch Out for Tax Scams During the Pandemic, Ep #227 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Do you have gold as a part of your investment portfolio? Several years ago there were loads of infomercials about investing in gold, but after today’s retirement headline you may want to think twice about complicated investment strategies. Don’t miss out on this real-world cautionary tale which provides an example of how and why owners […] The post A “Gold IRA” and a $300,000 Tax Mistake… Ep #226 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

You may have noticed how the spirit of giving changed your mood this holiday season. That is because giving can actually increase your happiness. This week’s retirement headline from BigThink.com is titled How Generosity Changes Your Brain, and it discusses recent research on how giving to others promotes happiness. On this episode of Retirement Starts Today, […] The post My Favorite Retirement Resources for 2022 & How Generosity Changes Your Brain, Ep # 225 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Would you want to raise your standard of living for half of what you live on now? Tim Leffel did, which is why he chose to uproot his family from their life in Nashville to move to a small city in Mexico. Tim is the author of the book A Better Life for Half the […] The post Could Living Abroad Save You Money? with Tim Leffel [Rebroadcast] appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Despite the economic downturn, 2020 turned out to be a fantastic year for charitable giving. In this episode, we’ll look at how people chose to give and you’ll learn about the efficiency of giving through donor-advised funds (DAFs). In the listener questions segment, you’ll learn how to survive a bear market in retirement. We’ll investigate […] The post Fidelity & Schwab Donors Set Record for Charitable Giving in Response to Pandemic [Rebroadcast] appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

We’ve all been sitting at home for the past year and now everyone is getting the travel bug. That’s why today we’re kicking off the Summer Travel Series with an interview with Lee Huffman. Lee hosts a podcast called We Travel There and he writes a frugal travel blog at BaldThoughts.com. I’ve been curious about the world of […] The post Summer Travel Series: Travel Hacking with Lee Huffman [Rebroadcast] appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

What is the number one travel goal for people approaching retirement? Disney! People young and old alike love to go to Disney. In my 15 years of retirement planning, I have discovered that a multi-generational trip to Disney is at the top of most people’s bucket lists. That is why I have brought the world’s […] The post Planning Multi-Generational Disney Trips with Lou Mongello [Rebroadcast] appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Since travel is on many soon-to-be retirees’ must-do lists I have created this summer travel series with various travel experts. Danielle Desir from the Thought Card podcast joins me today to discuss how to travel to any destination on a budget. Recognized by Flight Network as one of the best travel hackers in the world, Danielle has […] The post Bucket List Travel on Any Budget with Danielle Desir [Rebroadcast] appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Now is a great time to start financial and tax planning for the next year. To do so, you must first look at any changes that were made to tax laws. We’ll do that by exploring 2 articles from Forbes and CNBC which take a closer look at any imminent changes to the tax code. Then we’ll dive into […] The post Tax & Retirement Planning Changes for 2022, Ep #219 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Have you ever filled out a questionnaire at your financial advisor’s office? If you have, it was probably a risk tolerance questionnaire. I have my own opinions about them, but you’ll have to wait until the end of this episode to hear what it is. On this episode of Retirement Starts Today, we’ll explore an […] The post Risk Tolerance Questionnaires Don’t Work, Ep #218 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Do you let news headlines affect your choices? The Center for Retirement Research at Boston College wanted to learn more about this question, so they conducted a study to find the answers. In this episode of Retirement Starts Today, we’ll take a look at the findings of this study and analyze how people’s misconceptions can […] The post The Media Will Decide Your Social Security Claiming Age, Ep #217 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Our chances of death are 100%, so that means at some point in your life you will probably experience the death of a loved one, and you’ll need to prepare for your own passing. Choosing the right executor can make a traumatic time more bearable. The role of executor is not an easy one, which […] The post Executor Help – How to Settle an Estate, Pick an Executor, and Avoid Family Fights with David Edey, Ep #216 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

If you are like many Americans who watch the news, inflation is probably on your mind. Since the Covid 19 pandemic began costs have been rising. We are still facing the effects of the supply chain breakdowns brought on by the pandemic in addition to extreme, worldwide weather events. These events have led to an […] The post Inflation in Retirement and Breaking Social Security News! Ep #215 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

The end of the year is coming up right around the corner, and you know what that means: it’s time for end-of-the-year tax planning! However, this year’s tax planning may look a bit different with new tax legislation making its way down the congressional pipeline. Many wealthy individuals are nervous about what the current regime […] The post Tax Moves You Should Be Making Before Year’s End, Ep #214 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Do you wish that you could have a mulligan when it comes to taking your Social Security benefit? Once you file for Social Security, it seems like your decision is set in stone. But what if I told you that you have options to reverse your decision? In this episode of Retirement Starts Today, we’ll […] The post 3 Social Security Do-Over Options, Ep # 213 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Do annuities give retirees a different attitude towards spending in retirement? In this week’s retirement headlines, we’ll examine an article that discusses the psychological benefits that retirees who shift their assets from savings to lifetime income enjoy. This group of retirees has more of a license to spend attitude and ends up gaining more enjoyment […] The post Are Annuities a “License to Spend”?, Ep # 211 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

The annual Social Security beneficiary report was recently released and just like every other year that they release it, it has caused people to worry about their future. Social Security is a crucial, foundational element of most retirement income plans, so when you read headlines that it will run out soon how should you react? […] The post The Social Security Update, Ep # 210 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Have you been feeling the pull to retire? This feeling isn’t constrained to those nearing retirement age; many people have been feeling the desire to quit their jobs lately. So many workers are considering a job change that this wave of people has begun what is called “The Great Resignation.” I read about this phenomenon […] The post The Great Resignation, Ep #209 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

In retirement, you have all the time in the world, but are you using your time wisely? I recently read an op-ed article from CNBC about the power of delegation and it got me thinking about the way we spend our time. On this episode of Retirement Starts today, we’ll explore that op-ed article, I’ll share what […] The post Quit Cutting Your Own Grass, Ep #208 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Since travel is on many soon-to-be retirees’ must-do lists I have created this summer travel series with various travel experts. Danielle Desir from the Thought Card podcast joins me today to discuss how to travel to any destination on a budget. Recognized by Flight Network as one of the best travel hackers in the world, Danielle has […] The post Bucket List Travel on Any Budget with Danielle Desir, Ep #207 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Do you have bond funds in your portfolio? Many people understand the way that bonds work, but they may not know how bond funds work. El has written in to ask this question which I will answer in the listener questions segment. Before we get to that retirement question, we’ll take a look at a […] The post Should I Buy a Bond Fund? Ep #206 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Are you preparing for a successful retirement? If you are, you’ll need to consider more than just your finances because 80% of a successful retirement has nothing to do with money. However, when people focus on retirement planning, money is often the only thing they focus on. In the retirement headlines segment this week, we’ll […] The post Social Security Earnings Test, Ep #205 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Do you have a case of frugality syndrome? Many of us are so used to saving and living frugally that we have a hard time pivoting from the accumulation stage of retirement planning into the distribution stage. A recent retirement headline from Advisor Perspectives titled Overcoming the Frugality Syndrome caught my eye. This article discusses the difficulty […] The post Overcoming the Frugality Syndrome, Ep # 204 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

How’s this for a headline? I’m 62, unemployed, living off my savings, and waiting on Social Security — ‘Can I go fishing for the next 25 years and forget about work?. Today we’ll check out this MarketWatch article and answer the headline’s question as well as explore the additional recommendations the article mentions on ways to make retirement savings […] The post Can I Go Fishing for the Next 25 Years and Forget About Work?, Ep #203 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

What do you think about senior living communities? Would you want to move to one? According to a recent WSJ article, occupancy in senior housing is on the decline despite the fact that baby boomers are aging and more of these communities are springing up all over the country. In the retirement headlines segment, we’ll take […] The post Boomers Want to Stay Home – Senior Housing Now Faces Budding Glut, Ep # 202 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Has the Covid pandemic caused you to reevaluate your life and consider early retirement? If so, you are not alone. Now that we are starting to emerge from the pandemic, many Americans have a new ‘life is short’ mindset. This, coupled with an upswing in investments and home values is leading many affluent Americans in […] The post Affluent Americans Rush to Retire in New ‘Life-Is-Short’ Mindset, Ep #201 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Episode 200! I can’t believe I’ve made it to this landmark episode. Thank you all for joining me on this journey and I hope you’ll join me for the next 200. I enjoy looking back and reminiscing on previous episodes, but I don’t have to go too far back to find my most recent favorite. Episode […] The post Affluent Retirees Scared to Draw Down Savings, Ep #200 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

What is the number one travel goal for people approaching retirement? Disney! People young and old alike love to go to Disney. In my 15 years of retirement planning, I have discovered that a multi-generational trip to Disney is at the top of most people’s bucket lists. That is why I have brought the world’s […] The post Planning Multi-Generational Disney Trips with Lou Mongello, Ep #199 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Have you ever thought about your relationship with work? As retirement looms ahead, many people become fearful of the unknown that it brings. A common way to express this fear is to worry about money, but this fear goes beyond money. The real fear that people have about retirement is about how they will spend […] The post Sabbaticals Are Essential For The Way We Work with Paul Millerd, Ep #198 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

We’ve all been sitting at home for the past year and now everyone is getting the travel bug. That’s why today we’re kicking off the Summer Travel Series with an interview with Lee Huffman. Lee hosts a podcast called We Travel There and he writes a frugal travel blog at BaldThoughts.com. I’ve been curious about the world of […] The post Summer Travel Series: Travel Hacking with Lee Huffman, Ep #197 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Nobody wants to think about becoming a widow or widower, but unfortunately, if you are married, there is a 50/50 chance that you could. In addition to the crushing grief that comes with losing a spouse, there are many details to take care of in that first year alone. This is why I want to […] The post 7 Steps for Widows and Widowers to Manage Their First Year Alone, Ep # 196 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Do you consider being rich and being wealthy the same thing? In the book by Morgan Housel, The Psychology of Money, the author argues that these words mean 2 different things. In this episode of Retirement Starts Today, we’ll explore the difference between rich and wealthy as well as the connotation of the word money. Outline of […] The post Do You Know the Difference Between Being Rich and Being Wealthy? Ep #195 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Are you one of the many that are being held back from early retirement by the exorbitant cost of health insurance? If so, you won’t want to miss this episode. This week’s retirement headline comes from Carolyn McClanahan at AdvisorPerspectives.com and it outlines the enhanced health insurance subsidies that stem from the American Rescue Plan (ARP). You’ll want […] The post Cheaper Health Insurance Before Medicare? Ep # 194 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

I’m sure you’ve all heard about the 4% rule for retirement planning. This rule is great for speculating your likelihood of success, but it isn’t always the best rule to follow in practice. Druce Vertes at AdvisorPerspecives.com offers a different approach to implementing the original 4% Rule. On this episode of Retirement Starts Today, we’ll dive into […] The post Improving the 4% Rule, Ep # 193 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

As you prepare yourself for retirement, you probably have a vision of your retired self traveling, spending more time on your hobbies, or with loved ones. Retirement will give you time for all that and more. I read an article recently that describes the 6 phases of retirement. I had never defined it that way […] The post The 6 Phases of Retirement, Ep # 192 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Have you ever considered going back to school? Early retirement can be a fantastic time to explore new learning opportunities. In this episode of Retirement Starts Today, we’ll take a look at a Market Watch article that describes the burgeoning culture of adult learning for those at or near retirement age. We’ll continue by exploring many higher […] The post Time for a Gap Year? Ep # 191 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Since 2020 was the year of working from home, you may be wondering how you can deduct your home office expenses from your taxes now that tax time is upon us. For this reason, we explore an article written by Jeffrey Levine at Kitces.com. Learn the home office deduction rules and discover if they will apply to […] The post Deducting Your Home Office in a Work from Home World, Ep # 190 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

If 2020 has taught us anything it is that the future is not always certain. This has brought about feelings of insecurity and anxiety in some people. That’s why this week, I share an article from Harvard Business Review which describes how people can use micro-planning and biomimicry to combat feelings of uncertainty brought on by this […] The post The Future Is Foggy, Plan Accordingly, Ep #189 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Are you signed up for the My Social Security account from the Social Security Administration? In this episode, we’ll review a Kitces.com article written by Jeffrey Levine about this important resource. We’ll review the history of My Social Security, how to sign up for it, how its benefit calculations account for inflation, and how Americans can interpret […] The post What You Need to Know About Your My Social Security Account, Ep # 188 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Despite the economic downturn, 2020 turned out to be a fantastic year for charitable giving. In this episode, we’ll look at how people chose to give and you’ll learn about the efficiency of giving through donor-advised funds (DAFs). In the listener questions segment, you’ll learn how to survive a bear market in retirement. We’ll investigate […] The post Fidelity & Schwab Donors Set Record for Charitable Giving in Response to Pandemic, Ep #187 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

If you’ve been working from home over the past year you may wonder why you feel even more exhausted than normal. This could be due to Zoom Fatigue. In this episode, we’ll explore an article from CNBC that references a Stanford study about this phenomenon. In the listener questions segment, I’ll answer questions about RMDs […] The post Why We’re Experiencing Zoom Fatigue and How To Fix It, Ep # 186 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

You have fraud protection on your bank accounts and your credit cards, but what about your retirement accounts? Today we’ll explore an article from the Wall Street Journal outlining a case of cyber fraud in a 401K account. We’ll also discuss ways for people to safeguard their savings. In the listener questions segment, I’ll answer a question […] The post How To Protect Yourself and Your Savings From Cyber Fraud, Ep # 185 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

If you have listened to the news at all lately, you probably know what our Retirement Headlines segment will cover. The American Rescue Plan is all any financial news is talking about these days, so in today’s episode, we’ll explore what you need to know about this recent piece of legislation. Then in the Listener […] The post The American Rescue Plan Act Of 2021, Ep # 184 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Enrolling in Medicare can be extremely stressful and confusing. There are so many choices to make, there are different rules to follow, and timelines to be met. Additionally, there is so much information out there that it merely adds to the confusion. On this episode of Retirement Starts Today, I share with you an article […] The post What to Expect When You’re Expecting (to Apply for Medicare), Ep # 183 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

How long have you been saving for retirement? Are you hesitant to break into your retirement funds and start living it up once you retire? This week I share two Retirement Headlines articles. The first is called Right-Sizing Retirement and it comes from the Financial Planning Association. In this article, the authors pose an important question: why save […] The post Why Save If You’re Not Going To Spend? Ep #182 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Have you heard of the Monte Carlo retirement projection analysis? It is being used more and more by advisors and even popular retirement planning websites. Today, in the Retirement Headlines segment, I offer some insight on an article from Kitces.com that argues that using the Monte Carlo projection, a 50%probability of success rate is good enough. […] The post Is a 50% Probability of Success Good Enough? Ep #181 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Have you wondered why the markets had such an amazing year in 2020 when the economy was a mess and everyone was stuck at home? You aren’t the only one. That’s why in this episode, we’ll look at a New York Times article that examines this question. We’ll also answer some listener questions directly from […] The post Why Markets Boomed in a Year of Human Misery, Ep #180 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Has the Covid-19 pandemic cut into your vacation plans? It seems like everyone’s travel plans have changed over the past year. But what does that mean for employees and companies? Anne Steele and Chip Cutter examine the effects of Covid-19 and vacation taking in a recent Wall Street Journal article that we’ll look at today. In addition to our […] The post Why Companies Fret as Vacation Days Go Unused, Ep # 179 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.