Retirement Starts Today Radio

Last year 14 million Americans paid for tax prep that they could have had for free. Are you one of those people? Today, we’ll take a look at why people are spending money they don’t need to and how to rectify that. I’ll also answer some insightful listener questions concerning legal documents for retirees, the […] The post Are You Paying for Tax Prep That Should Be Free? Ep # 128 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

I’m sure you’ve seen Tesla all over the news lately, today we’ll think about what we can learn from its parabolic trajectory. We’ll also cover additional questions about the SECURE Act and I make a correction about something I said about the SECURE Act as it pertains to minor beneficiaries. Then we’ll cap off the […] The post What to do When a Stock Goes Parabolic, Ep #127 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Do you know how to avoid penalties on early retirement withdrawals? Is the 4% rule confusing to you? On this episode of Retirement Starts Today 2 astute listeners have some fantastic questions for me to answer today. You’ll want to listen in to hear 3 tips on how to take early retirement without the early […] The post 3 Tips to Avoid Penalties on Early Retirement Withdrawals, Ep #126 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Welcome back to another episode of Retirement Starts Today. On this episode, I review the questions that were asked in both sessions of the SECURE Act webinar. You’ll want to listen even if you attended a webinar session since you didn’t hear the questions that were asked in the other session. I really enjoyed teaching […] The post Questions and Answers from the SECURE Act Webinar, Ep # 125 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Now that the SECURE Act is the law, we need to rethink our estate planning strategies since it has effectively killed the stretch IRA. With the death of the stretch IRA, many people are scrambling to figure out what the best way is to leave their heirs their IRA’s. Fortunately, estate attorney and host of […] The post Estate Planning Strategies to Preserve IRA’s with John Ross, Ep #124 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

You know that you need to have a diversified portfolio with both stocks and bonds, but do you know how bonds work? On this episode of Retirement Starts Today we have 2 fantastic listener questions that deserve detailed responses. John wants to know how bonds work before he begins investing in them and George has […] The post How Bonds Work, Ep # 123 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Webinar #1 sign up – 11AM CST, January 23rd Webinar #2 signup – 3:30PM CST January 23rd The recently passed Secure Act brought about the most significant changes to retirement planning in a decade. In this free live training, you’ll learn the key points that could affect your retirement plans, your parent’s retirement accounts, and […] The post Free Training January 23rd – The SECURE Act and Your Retirement appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Webinar #1 sign up – 11AM CST, January 23rd Webinar #2 signup – 3:30PM CST January 23rd The recently passed Secure Act brought about the most significant changes to retirement planning in a decade. On this episode, you’ll learn the key points that could affect your retirement plans. Make sure to listen to the end […] The post How the Secure Act May Affect Your Retirement Plans, Ep #122 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Welcome back to Retirement Starts Today and welcome to 2020! The New Year is a time when many of us consider setting goals or resolutions and focus on self-improvement. I don’t have any new goals for 2020. Instead, I am looking to improve where I failed in 2019. Rather than feeling defeated by my resolution […] The post My 2019 Resolution Fails and What You Can Learn From Them, Ep # 121 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Originally broadcast June 2019. I recently had 2 fantastic questions about retirement strategies come to my inbox. Both questions require thoughtful, detailed answers. So on today’s episode of Retirement Starts Today, I focus on carefully answering both of these questions. On this episode, you’ll learn how to tweak an already fantastic retirement plan and turn […] The post Tweak Your Retirement Strategies to Create an Epic Retirement Plan [Rebroadcast] appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Originally broadcast June 2018 We all work hard to plan for retirement. In any such endeavor, it’s good to learn from other people’s triumphs and mistakes, so I’d like to share six retirement mistakes I see all too frequently. The best part is, they’re easily avoidable! The post Top 6 Easily Avoidable Retirement Mistakes [Rebroadcast] appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Originally broadcast in May of 2019 Do you have a retirement planning process? Do you know how much you need to retire? Have you thought about what the purpose of your money is? Jason Parker from Sound Retirement Radio is my guest today and is here to discuss the steps you need to take to […] The post What’s Your Retirement Planning Process? with Jason Parker [Rebroadcast] appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Originally broadcast April 2018. While becoming a 401k millionaire may seem like a crazy, out-of-reach goal, it’s not that hard to become a 401(k) millionaire if you have the self-discipline to stick with a long-term plan. The post 5 Easy Steps to be a 401k Millionaire [Rebroadcast] appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Podcasts! I love them (and I’m guessing you do too). This week I’m sharing my favorite retirement podcasts that will educate and entertain you all the way to your ideal retirement. The post My Favorite Retirement Podcasts [Rebroadcast] appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Are bonds worth buying as a way to help keep a balanced portfolio in retirement? You may have read in the news lately about negative yield bonds. One listener has, and he is concerned that if they aren’t paying much interest then maybe they aren’t worth buying. I’ll tell you my thoughts on bonds as […] The post Are Bonds Worth Buying in Retirement? Ep # 115 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

We make financial choices harder than they need to be. That’s why Peter Lazaroff wrote the book, Making Money Simple. He joins me today to discuss the theme of his book. We reflect on why we make money decisions so complicated when the beauty of finance lies in simplicity. You’ll be interested to hear why […] The post This CIO Only Owns One Mutual Fund with Peter Lazaroff, Ep # 114 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Have you heard about the coming changes to Medicare in 2020? On this episode of Retirement Starts Today, we’ll say good-bye to the donut-hole and take a look at other relevant changes to the retiree health insurance program. Then in the retirement headline segment, I cover a Forbes article that highlights a proposal on lowering […] The post Wave Good-Bye to the Donut Hole and Other Changes to Medicare in 2020, Ep # 113 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

You may not have considered the importance of having friends in retirement, but they add more than just social value to your life. On the Retirement Headlines portion of the show, I read from a Forbes article that discusses the value of having an active social life in retirement. You’ll learn why an active social […] The post The Importance of Having Friends in Retirement, Ep # 112 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

It’s Roth conversion season! What does that mean for you, and how can you take advantage of the current tax cuts to get the most out of your money? On this episode of Retirement Starts Today Radio we’ll get down and dirty with Roth IRA’s and find out what happens if you earn even $1 […] The post It’s Roth Conversion Season, Ep #111 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Have you considered a medi-share or health sharing plan in retirement? Shary asks why I’ve never mentioned them before. So on this episode, I open up and share what a health sharing ministry is and how I feel about them. Our second listener question comes from Don who asks about owning company stock in retirement. […] The post Are Health Sharing Plans Worth the Risk? Ep #110 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

If you turn on the cable news there is only one thing you will hear about: the possible impeachment of President Donald Trump. This is not a political show. I don’t discuss politics on this show or in my practice. But we do need to discuss the impeachment possibility because you need to be prepared […] The post Will a Trump Impeachment Crash Your Retirement? Ep # 109 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Are annuities for retirees a good option? Nes wants to learn more about annuities and how they work. But before I answer that question, first Bruce asks how he can calculate his exact social security benefits. If you have a question for me that you would like answered on the show, you can email me […] The post Annuities for Retirees: Are They a Good Option? Ep #108 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

If you have been thinking of retiring early, you know that one of the biggest factors is health insurance before Medicare. One listener asks whether Obamacare or COBRA would be the best option. Another listener writes in with a question about investing his home equity in the stock market. You’ll hear my responses to these […] The post What is the Best Choice of Health Insurance Before Medicare? Ep #107 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Do you understand how to use the bucket strategy for retirement? One listener has a question about how to use the bucket strategy and whether or not it is too conservative. I also answer another listener question about the 5-year rule for Roth conversions. And finally, we discuss a retirement headline about the shift from […] The post How to Use the Bucket Strategy for Retirement, Ep #106 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

What retirement lessons can you learn from a 4-hour daily commute? On this episode of Retirement Starts Today I share an article I found on CNBC. The article isn’t directly about retirement but there are lessons we can learn from it that apply to life and retirement. I also answer a listener question about Roth […] The post Retirement Lessons from a 4-Hour Commute, Ep # 105 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Do you know what to do if you fall victim to a Social Security scam? In the Retirement Headlines segment, we’ll discuss a recent Market Watch article that shares some excellent tips for protecting yourself against social security scams and advice on how to minimize the damage if you fall victim to one. But before […] The post How to Protect Yourself Against a Social Security Scam, Ep # 104 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Have you heard of the FIRE movement? In this episode, you’ll hear why I hate it. We’ll also discuss a listener question about spousal Social Security benefits and a CNBC article that compares retiring at different ages. You’ll learn why it is important to work for as long as possible. Listen to this episode to […] The post Why I Hate the FIRE Movement, Ep # 103 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Do you know what you need to do to travel or retire abroad? We asked and you answered. The number one thing that our listeners would like to do in retirement is travel. That’s why I found financial travel expert, David Jacoby from RemoteFinancialPlanner.com to help us understand all the nuances of travel and living […] The post How to Retire Abroad with David Jacoby, Ep # 102 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

If you’ve seen then news lately, then you know that there are big changes in Medicare supplement plans coming in 2020. This is why I’ve invited Danielle Roberts on the show today. Danielle is a Medicare Expert with Boomer Benefits. Boomer Benefits is a Medicare broker that can help you navigate the complex world of […] The post How to Navigate the Upcoming Changes in Medicare Supplement Plans with Danielle Roberts, Ep # 101 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

On episode 100 I answer listener questions including what to do about the rising costs of long-term care insurance premiums, what to do with old annuities, and SIPC protection. Thanks to all of you listeners for 100 amazing episodes! I have learned so much alongside you all. Your questions and feedback on the show have […] The post How to Offset the Rising Costs of Long-Term Care Insurance Premiums, Ep # 100 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Are you ready to learn about portfolio distribution? I’ve got the perfect visual for you! Listen in to hear how to rebalance your portfolio in retirement. Thank you all for sending in your rebalancing spreadsheets! Several listeners sent in their own rebalancing spreadsheets and they all were fantastic. I’m working with an Excel wizard and […] The post What Can a Mullet Teach us About Portfolio Distribution? Ep #99 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

On this week’s episode of Retirement Starts Today we’ll discuss whether donor-advised funds are a good fit, tax planning in retirement, and answer a listener question about Roth IRA’s. Have you taken our listener survey? If you are signed up for the Every Day is Saturday email list then you’ve probably seen the listener survey. […] The post Donor-Advised Funds, Tax Planning in Retirement, and Roth IRA’s Ep #98 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Do you have multiple retirement accounts lying around and don’t know what to do with them? On this episode of Retirement Starts Today we answer 2 listener questions. One is about having multiple retirement accounts with multiple custodians, the other is about how to withdraw from a portfolio in retirement without adding additional risk. Then […] The post What to do with Multiple Retirement Accounts, Ep #97 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Charitable giving in a tax beneficial way has gotten a bit more complicated with the new tax law. Of course, we donate to charities to help those less fortunate, but it helps when we receive tax benefits as well. CPA, John Madison, joins me to discuss how to reap the most tax benefits from your […] The post 4 Tips for Tax Beneficial Charitable Giving with John Madison, Ep #96 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Is your Social Security timing losing you money? Millions of Americans don’t ideally time their Social Security and end up losing thousands of dollars. On today’s episode of Retirement Starts Today I focus on 3 articles. The first one focuses on Morning Star’s star ratings. You’ll learn how and why they are getting an overhaul. […] The post $110,000 per Household is Lost by Poor Social Security Timing, Ep # 95 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

On this episode of Retirement Starts Today, we’ll discuss the pros and cons of target date funds as well as Vanguard’s managed payout fund. You’ll learn exactly what a target date fund is and why they are the preferred vehicle of the majority of 401K savers. We’ll discuss an Investment News article that warns of […] The post Set it and Forget it! A Rallying Cry for Target Date Funds, Ep # 94 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

I recently had 2 fantastic questions about retirement strategies come to my inbox. Both questions require thoughtful, detailed answers. So on today’s episode of Retirement Starts Today, I focus on carefully answering both of these questions. On this episode, you’ll learn how to tweak an already fantastic retirement plan and turn it into an epic […] The post Tweak Your Retirement Strategies to Create an Epic Retirement Plan, Ep #93 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

When planning your retirement lifestyle it’s a good idea to think about how to add exercise into your routine. Many people who haven’t made exercise a regular part of their lives may think that it will be difficult but retirement is a great time to start a new lifestyle. Fitness expert, Pete McCall, joins me […] The post How to Add Exercise to Your Retirement Lifestyle with Pete McCall, Ep # 92 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Are you planning to keep up your life insurance in retirement? One listener asks if I think it’s necessary. I also answer another question from a listener about diversification. As you approach retirement, you may want to rethink your risk tolerance. Do you feel secure in your asset allocation? Many people prefer to stay safe […] The post Will You Need Life Insurance in Retirement? Ep # 91 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Do you have moldy money hanging out in your accounts? I’m not talking about the cash that got wet and stuck in the back of a drawer. Moldy money is the topic of today’s Retire Ready segment, you’ll want to listen to find out why you don’t want to keep moldy money around. You’ll also […] The post Do You Have Moldy Money Laying Around? Ep #90 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

The father of life planning, George Kinder, joins me on this episode of Retirement Starts Today Radio. George trains financial advisors to look at the softer side of retirement planning, at what he calls life planning. He helps financial advisors teach their clients how to live life to the fullest in retirement. Life planning is […] The post Life Planning in Retirement with George Kinder, Ep #89 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Do you have a retirement planning process? Do you know how much you need to retire? Have you thought about what the purpose of your money is? Jason Parker from Sound Retirement Radio is my guest today and is here to discuss the steps you need to take to begin considering your retirement. Jason has […] The post What’s Your Retirement Planning Process? with Jason Parker, Ep #88 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Podcasts! I love them (and I’m guessing you do too). This week I’m sharing my favorite retirement podcasts that will educate and entertain you all the way to your ideal retirement. Also in today’s episode of Retirement Starts Today, I will help you understand reverse mortgages. You’ll discover what they are and whether they are […] The post My Favorite Retirement Podcasts, #87 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

On this episode of Retirement Starts Today I tackle the age-old question: should you sell in May and go away? This is a question you may hear each April and May so we’ll talk about where it came from and why people say it. We’ll also discuss a big idea from Nobel laureate, Richard Thaler, […] The post Should You Really Sell in May and Go Away? Ep # 86 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

It was a Thursday afternoon in July of 2017. I had just finished at the gym and checked my phone on the way to my car – over a dozen missed calls – my immediate reaction was, “Who died?”… Rewind to the fall of 2016, my wife & I had decided to start the process […] The post Triplets on 24 Hours Notice – Our Adoption Story appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

You know that the key to investing is having a diversified investment strategy and on this episode of Retirement Starts Today you will hear how people that decided to switch gears during the crisis ended up losing out. We will also discuss the Lyft IPO and why betting on individual stocks is no safer than […] The post How a Diversified Investment Strategy Will Help You Keep a Level Head, Ep #84 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Will retiring baby boomers crash the stock market? Are you part of the looming baby boomer retirement crisis? According to some experts, baby boomers will crash the market when they retire. Find out my take on this by listening in. You guys probably don’t want to hear another thing about taxes after paying Uncle Sam […] The post Will Retiring Baby Boomers Crash the Market? Ep # 83 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Welcome to Retirement Starts Today Radio, a retirement podcast. On today’s episode, we take a look at your children. Will they be the downfall of your retirement plans? We all love our kids, but they could ruin our financial planning for retirement if we don’t create some boundaries. We will also discuss a new retirement […] The post Will Your Kids Ruin Your Retirement? Ep #82 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

What could we learn about ourselves if we took a one-week “dry run” at retirement? Your host Benjamin Brand CFP®, RICP® is under the weather, so we are revisiting this idea of sitting home for a full week and doing absolutely nothing. What can be learned about your future, and how would your plans for […] The post Retirement Rehearsal (Revisited) Ep #81 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.

Are you ready for your kids to start learning about finances? Well, don’t send them to me! This may surprise you, it certainly surprised a client of mine that asked me to work worth their children. I specialize in working with baby boomers who are getting ready to retire and I don’t work with young […] The post Why I Won’t Work With Your Kids, with Shannah Game Ep #80 appeared first on Retirement Starts Today Radio.