Stay Wealthy Retirement Podcast

ESG investing is exploding in popularity—but it's also a giant, confusing mess. Over $35 trillion in global assets now follow ESG guidelines. 🤯 But despite the rapid growth, most retirement investors still don't fully understand ESG investing... ...or how to spot legitimate ESG strategies from clever marketing hype. To help break through the confusion, Liz Simmie joins me to discuss: ➤ What ESG investing is and how it differs from Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) ➤ How retirement savers should evaluate ESG funds, particularly in terms of cost and performance ➤ The #1 data point Liz screens for when evaluating an ESG investment We also explore how investors can cut through ESG marketing hype to find genuinely responsible investment solutions. *** 2025 TAX CHEATSHEET Subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter! As a thank you, you'll receive my recently updated 2025 Tax Cheatsheet (PDF). You'll also receive weekly retirement and investing tips from yours truly. 👉 Click here to subscribe and grab your cheatsheet. *** EPISODE RESOURCES: 📊 Get Your FREE Retirement & Tax Analysis! ✏️ View the Episode Show Notes

Morningstar recently published its annual "State of Retirement Income" research report. This year's report finds the highest 30-year safe withdrawal rate for retirees is... 3.7% 🤯 In this episode, you'll learn: ► How researchers arrive at different recommended withdrawal rates ► Why popular withdrawal strategies are (likely) too conservative ► 3 proven strategies for boosting retirement income And since there is no one-size-fits-all, you'll also learn the pros and cons of each retirement income strategy discussed! *** 2025 TAX CHEATSHEET Subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter! As a thank you, you'll receive my recently updated 2025 Tax Cheatsheet (PDF). You'll also receive weekly retirement and investing tips from yours truly. 👉 Click here to subscribe and grab your cheatsheet. *** EPISODE RESOURCES: 📊 Get Your FREE Retirement & Tax Analysis! ✏️ Grab the Episode Show Notes 📘 Subscribe to "The Go-Go" Retirement Newsletter

Today I'm discussing the biggest retirement investment risk. As Morgan Housel put it, "It's the hardest risk for people to understand... ...and it's the only one that really matters." In this episode, you'll learn: ► What the three sides of risk are ► Why tail risk is all that matters ► How to mitigate this risk in your retirement plan You'll also learn why most investors should (probably) stay away from investment products promising you lots of upside with limited downside. *** 2025 TAX CHEATSHEET Subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter! As a thank you, you'll receive my recently updated 2025 Tax Cheatsheet (PDF). You'll also receive weekly retirement and investing tips from yours truly. 👉 Click here to subscribe and grab your cheatsheet. *** EPISODE RESOURCES: 📊 Get Your FREE Retirement & Tax Analysis! ✏️ Grab the Episode Show Notes 📘 Check Out the Retirement Podcast Network

Worried about Medicare IRMAA eating into your retirement savings? Whether you're 10+ years away from Medicare or already enrolled, this episode will help you navigate this pesky surcharge and protect your retirement savings. Key topics covered: ► Updated 2025 IRMAA brackets ► Answers to common planning questions ► 3 strategies to minimize (or avoid) IRMAA You'll also learn how to project future IRMAA brackets for better planning. If you want a clear roadmap for making informed decisions about your future healthcare costs, you'll enjoy today's episode. *** RETIREMENT & TAX PLANNING: Looking to hire a financial planner with retirement & tax planning expertise? My team and I only have a few more openings for Discovery Meetings with new clients. If you're seeking professional help, we would love to have a conversation! 👉 Learn more about our process and grab one of the remaining slots. *** EPISODE RESOURCES: 📊 Get Your FREE Retirement & Tax Analysis! ✏️ Grab the Episode Show Notes 📘 Check Out the Retirement Podcast Network

Markets tend to operate in cycles—yesterday's winners often become tomorrow's losers (and vice versa). The most unloved asset classes can quietly become the best performers, while the most popular ones frequently disappoint. Yet, many investors fall into the trap of assuming recent trends will continue indefinitely. But markets don't work that way. No asset class outperforms or underperforms forever. To help you avoid falling into this trap (and make more informed portfolio decisions), I'm sharing key takeaways from Vanguard's 2025 Market & Economic Report in this episode. I'm also sharing 5 actions retirement savers can take right now to prepare for success over the next decade and beyond. *** Looking to hire a financial planner with retirement & tax planning expertise? My team and I only have a few more openings for Discovery Meetings with new clients. If you're seeking professional help, we would love to have a conversation! 👉 Learn more about our process and grab one of the remaining slots. *** EPISODE RESOURCES: 📊 Get Your FREE Retirement & Tax Analysis! ✏️ Grab the Episode Show Notes 📘 Check Out the Retirement Podcast Network

Looking to hire a financial planner with retirement & tax planning expertise? My team and I have availability for 25 Discovery Meetings over the next 8 weeks. If you're seeking professional retirement planning help, we would love to have a conversation! 👉 Learn more about our process and grab one of the 25 meeting slots. We intentionally limit the number of new clients we take on each year. This ensures we can provide each family with highly customized investment, retirement, and tax planning services. Once these 25 meetings are scheduled, we will not have availability to meet with new clients until later this year. Schedule your Discovery Meeting. *** Today I'm sharing the essential steps for evaluating and selecting the right financial advisor for your unique situation. Specifically, I cover 5 important things: ► How to identify and document your financial challenges, needs, and goals before starting your search ► Critical questions to ask yourself about the type of professional you want ► Guidance for conducting background checks ► Non-obvious questions to ask potential advisors ► The importance of a well-defined evaluation process (and why you shouldn't rush your decision) You'll learn how to navigate through the sea of 300,000+ financial advisors to find the right one for you. Whether you want a short-term or long-term engagement, this episode provides actionable steps to help you make the right choice. *** EPISODE RESOURCES: 📊 Get Your FREE Retirement & Tax Analysis! ✏️ Grab the Episode Show Notes 📘 Check Out the Retirement Podcast Network

Grab your Tax Planning Cheatsheet (updated for 2025!) by clicking here. The 2-page PDF guide includes every important number you'll need for your retirement & tax planning next year. Updated federal income tax brackets, AMT annual limits, standard deductions, Social Security taxation summary, estate and gift tax annual limits…and more. 👉 Download it now. *** In our final episode of the year, I'm taking a break from the usual nerdy retirement planning talk to share twelve (12) insightful, fun, and humourous investing statistics. These stats cover topics such as: ➤ The McRib Effect: Can a fast-food favorite influence markets? ➤ Shiller P/E Ratio History: What does this popular valuation signal suggest for the market's future? ➤ Netflix Drawdowns: A stock's wild history of recovery. ➤ Berkshire Hathaway: A long-term (unbelievable) investment story unfolds. ➤ Pet Spending: A surprising shift in American priorities. Whether you're a market enthusiast or just here for the entertaining stories, you'll love this lighthearted yet insightful end-of-year episode. Thank YOU for making this year so special by tuning in and engaging with the show. Enjoy the holidays, reflect on the year behind us, and prepare to dive into 2025 with fresh market insights and retirement planning strategies. Here's to "staying wealthy" next year and beyond! 🎉 *** EPISODE RESOURCES: 📊 Get Your FREE Retirement & Tax Analysis! ✏️ Grab the Episode Show Notes 📘 Check Out the Retirement Podcast Network

How do we fix the housing affordability problem in the U.S.? Will lower interest rates really improve the real estate market? How have Zillow and Airbnb contributed to the current housing challenges? What are tariffs (+ benefits and drawbacks)? What's next for the U.S. economy? These are just a few of the questions I'm exploring in this episode with author and economic expert, Kyla Scanlon. *** BOOK GIVEAWAY I'm giving away 10 copies of Kyla's beautifully written and designed book, "In This Economy? How Money & Markets Actually Work." To put your name in the hat and receive a free copy, be sure you're subscribed to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter by visiting https://www.youstaywealthy.com/email. Next week, my team will randomly select 10 lucky readers to give our copies away to. 👉 Join the newsletter! *** FREE RETIREMENT PLANNING RESOURCES: As a bonus for subscribing to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter, you'll also receive three (3) of my MOST popular retirement & tax cheatsheets. *** EPISODE RESOURCES: 📊 Get Your FREE Retirement & Tax Analysis! ✏️ Grab the Episode Show Notes 📘 Check Out the Retirement Podcast Network

Today, I'm discussing the challenges of spending money in retirement. To help, Brian Portnoy, one of the world's leading experts on the psychology of money, joins us to discuss three big things: ➤ Why it's so difficult for retirement savers to transition from saving to spending ➤ What you can do to prepare for the (well-documented!) challenges of retirement spending ➤ How to use Brian's "Four C's" to achieve true wealth in retirement We also delve into the meaning behind Brian's famous quote, "Diversification always means having to say your sorry," and how it can help you make better investing decisions. *** FREE RETIREMENT PLANNING RESOURCES: Subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter! As a thank you, you'll receive three (3) of my MOST popular retirement & tax cheatsheets. You'll also receive my weekly retirement newsletter! 👉 Click here to subscribe and grab your cheatsheets. *** EPISODE RESOURCES: 📊 Get Your FREE Retirement & Tax Analysis! ✏️ Grab the Episode Show Notes 📘 Check Out the Retirement Podcast Network

Emerging Markets are the world's primary drivers of global growth (and wealth accumulation). Just over 50% of the world's economic output comes from these countries. 🤯 They play a crucial role in shaping global economic trends... ...but most retirement investors don't fully understand this asset class. To help break it down for us, Emerging Markets expert and founder of Life + Liberty Indexes, Perth Tolle, stops by to discuss: ➤ What Emerging Markets are and why retirement savers should consider investing in this asset class ➤ Why traditional, low-cost Emerging Market funds may produce lower returns ➤ The pros/cons of excluding countries like China and Russia from an Emerging Markets fund We also discuss why "freedom" plays an important role in this asset class and how investors can (potentially) use freedom metrics to capture higher returns. *** FREE RETIREMENT PLANNING RESOURCES: Subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter! As a thank you, you'll receive three (3) of my MOST popular retirement & tax cheatsheets. You'll also receive my weekly retirement newsletter! 👉 Click here to subscribe and grab your cheatsheets. *** EPISODE RESOURCES: 📊 Get Your FREE Retirement & Tax Analysis! ✏️ Grab the Episode Show Notes 📘 Check Out the Retirement Podcast Network

Why are most people planning for the wrong things in retirement? What should they be planning for that they're not? To help answer these important questions, Psychologist & Behavioral Finance Expert Dr. Daniel Crosby stops by to discuss: ➤ What our happiness is determined by ➤ Why (contrary to popular research) more money can ACTUALLY make us happier ➤ What is the "PERMA model" and how can we use it to improve retirement success We also discuss why retirees are more depressed than everyone else and what they can do to mitigate this risk. *** THE SOUL OF WEALTH: Grab a copy of Daniel's new book, The Soul of Wealth. The book explores what wealth really is and provides practical suggestions for how to change your thinking and your actions in small, powerful ways, for a wealthier life. *** FREE RETIREMENT PLANNING RESOURCES: Subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter! As a thank you, you'll receive three (3) of my MOST popular retirement & tax cheatsheets. You'll also receive my weekly retirement newsletter! 👉 Click here to subscribe and grab your cheatsheets. *** EPISODE RESOURCES: 📊 Get Your FREE Retirement & Tax Analysis! ✏️ Grab the Episode Show Notes 📘 Check Out the Retirement Podcast Network

Today, I'm talking about navigating the risks of concentrated investments. Specifically, Peter Lazaroff, CIO of Plancorp, joins me to answer three BIG questions: ➤ How do you know if you have a "concentrated investment?" ➤ What are some little-known risks investors aren't considering? ➤How do you (tax-efficiently) diversify concentrated investments? I also share a specific exercise investors can follow to decide if they should sell some or all of their concentrated holding(s). *** FREE RETIREMENT PLANNING RESOURCES: Subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter! As a thank you, you'll receive three (3) of my MOST popular retirement & tax cheatsheets. You'll also receive my weekly retirement newsletter! 👉 Click here to subscribe and grab your cheatsheets. *** EPISODE RESOURCES: 📊 Get Your FREE Retirement & Tax Analysis! ✏️ Grab the Episode Show Notes 📘 Check Out the Retirement Podcast Network

Today, I'm sharing how retirement investors can take action in this final episode of our Small Cap Value series. Specifically, I'm discussing three things: ➤ Why paying MORE for an investment can pay off ➤ How to easily and properly evaluate different funds ➤ What small-cap value funds to consider I'm also sharing two important reminders before taking action and investing in this popular asset class. *** FREE RETIREMENT PLANNING RESOURCES: Subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter! As a thank you, you'll receive three (3) of my MOST popular retirement & tax cheatsheets. You'll also receive my weekly retirement newsletter! 👉 Click here to subscribe and grab your cheatsheets. *** EPISODE RESOURCES: 📊 Get Your FREE Retirement & Tax Analysis! ✏️ Grab the Episode Show Notes 📘 Check Out the Retirement Podcast Network

Today, I'm diving into part two of our Small Cap Value investing series. Specifically, I'm addressing three big questions: ➤ How do small-cap value stocks reduce risk + improve returns ➤ What criteria does an investment need to meet to be included in a portfolio ➤ Why value investing is still alive and well While there is no shortage of research in favor of this dominant asset class... ...I'm also sharing why investors don't necessarily need small-cap value stocks to reach their retirement goals. *** FREE RETIREMENT PLANNING RESOURCES: Subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter! As a thank you, you'll receive three (3) of my MOST popular retirement & tax cheatsheets. You'll also receive my weekly retirement newsletter! 👉 Click here to subscribe and grab your cheatsheets. *** EPISODE RESOURCES: 📊 Get Your FREE Retirement & Tax Analysis! ✏️ Grab the Episode Show Notes 📘 Check Out the Retirement Podcast Network

Today I'm kicking off a two-part series on Small Cap Value investing. Specifically, I'm addressing three big questions: ➤ What exactly are small-cap value stocks? ➤ Why have small-cap value stocks, historically, outperformed most major asset classes? ➤ Does the recent 20-year underperformance suggest that the strategy is dead and won't work in the future? I'm also sharing critical differences between small-cap value funds + how to take action if you want to include this asset class in your portfolio. *** FREE RETIREMENT PLANNING RESOURCES: Subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter! As a thank you, you'll receive three (3) of my MOST popular retirement & tax cheatsheets. You'll also receive my weekly retirement newsletter! 👉 Click here to subscribe and grab your cheatsheets. *** EPISODE RESOURCES: 📊 Get Your FREE Retirement & Tax Analysis! ✏️ Grab the Episode Show Notes 📘 Check Out the Retirement Podcast Network

Today, I'm sharing key takeaways from three of the BEST retirement articles I read this month. 1️⃣ The first article is about the future of taxes in this country and specifically makes a strong case for why they will be higher. 2️⃣ The second reveals why investors missed out on 15% of investment returns over the last decade. 😳 3️⃣ Lastly, the third article is a real-life account of what it actually feels like to transition from the working world into retirement. Didn't get a chance to read everything that was published last month? Don't worry—I've got you covered! *** FREE RETIREMENT PLANNING RESOURCES: Subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter! As a thank you, you'll receive three (3) of my MOST popular retirement & tax cheatsheets. You'll also receive my weekly retirement newsletter! 👉 Click here to subscribe and grab your cheatsheets. *** EPISODE RESOURCES: 📊 Get Your FREE Retirement & Tax Analysis! ✏️ Grab the Episode Show Notes 📘 Check Out the Retirement Podcast Network

Today, I'm sharing FIVE surprising statistics about the economy, markets, and retirement. For example, one stat highlights a "stock market indicator" that has a 100% success rate 😳 Another emphasizes a growing insurance risk that everyone needs to protect against. Along with being entertaining, these stats bring important investing and planning topics to the surface. They also serve as important reminders. If you're ready to have some fun learning about the history of the markets and little-known investing facts, this episode is for you. *** FREE RETIREMENT PLANNING RESOURCES: Subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter! As a thank you, you'll receive three (3) of my MOST popular retirement & tax cheatsheets. You'll also receive my weekly retirement newsletter :) 👉 Click here to subscribe and grab your cheatsheets. *** EPISODE RESOURCES: 📊 Get Your FREE Retirement & Tax Analysis! ✏️ Grab the Episode Show Notes 📘 Check Out the Retirement Podcast Network

Are you ready to get answers to some BIG retirement questions? Questions such as: ➤ What role does the equity in my home play in my retirement plan? ➤ Why should I do Roth conversions to help mitigate taxes on my kids' inheritance? ➤ Are closed-end funds a good investment? ➤ How do I properly evaluate pension vs. lump-sum decisions? Today on the show, I'm answering these questions (and more!) with my good friend, Roger Whitney. I'm also providing an update on the Retirement Podcast Network after taking a hint from 1,000+ retirement savers. *** FREE RETIREMENT PLANNING RESOURCES: Subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter! As a thank you, you'll receive three (3) of my MOST popular retirement & tax cheatsheets. You'll also receive my weekly retirement newsletter :) 👉 Click here to subscribe and grab your cheatsheets. *** EPISODE RESOURCES: 📊 Get Your FREE Retirement & Tax Analysis! ✏️ Grab the Episode Show Notes 📘 Check Out the Retirement Podcast Network

Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) begin at age 73 for most retirement savers. These forced withdrawals can be a burden for those who don't need (or want) the taxable income. Since they are "required," many assume that they don't have any control over their RMDs. But that's not necessarily the case. In fact, one of the 5 strategies I'm sharing with you today allows you to delay unwanted (mandatory) distributions well past age 73 😳 Applying these strategies and gaining control of your RMDs can potentially help you: ➤ Lower lifetime taxes ➤ Reduce catastrophic risks ➤ Improve risk-adjusted investment returns It doesn't matter if you're still working or already taking RMDs—if you want to optimize your long-term plan, you'll enjoy today's episode. *** FREE RETIREMENT PLANNING RESOURCES: Subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter! As a thank you, you'll receive three (3) of my MOST popular retirement & tax cheatsheets. You'll also receive my weekly retirement newsletter :) 👉 Click here to subscribe and grab your cheatsheets. *** EPISODE RESOURCES: 📊 Get Your FREE Retirement & Tax Analysis! ✏️ Grab the Episode Show Notes 📘 Check Out the Retirement Podcast Network

In the final episode of this series, I'm answering the BEST listener questions I've received about dividend investing. Questions such as: ➤ If dividend investing is NOT a great way to create retirement income, what is? ➤ What dividend-focused funds should investors consider if they insist on investing for yield? ➤ What is the counterargument for stock buybacks? Why are some people against them? Tune in to hear my answers to these great questions! FREE RETIREMENT PLANNING RESOURCES: Subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter! As a thank you, you'll receive three (3) of my MOST popular retirement & tax cheatsheets. You'll also receive my weekly retirement newsletter. 👉 Click here to subscribe and grab your cheatsheets. *** EPISODE RESOURCES: 📊 Get Your FREE Retirement & Tax Analysis! ✏️ Grab the Episode Show Notes 📘 Check Out the Retirement Podcast Network

In today's episode, I'm sharing everything you need to know about stock buybacks. Specifically, I'm sharing: ➤ Why stock buybacks are referred to as a "flexible" dividend ➤ What a stock buyback is (and how it works) ➤ How stock buybacks are more tax-friendly than traditional dividends If you want to learn more about this increasingly popular "flexible dividend" strategy, you'll enjoy this episode. FREE RETIREMENT PLANNING RESOURCES: Subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter! As a thank you, you'll receive three (3) of my MOST popular retirement & tax cheatsheets. You'll also receive my weekly retirement newsletter. 👉 Click here to subscribe and grab your cheatsheets. *** EPISODE RESOURCES: 📊 Get Your FREE Retirement & Tax Analysis! ✏️ Grab the Episode Show Notes 📘 Check Out the Retirement Podcast Network

Today I'm continuing our multi-part series on Dividend Investing. Specifically, in part two, I'm sharing: ➤ What the long-term performance has been for dividend-focused funds ➤ Why popular dividend investing charts can be incomplete (or misleading) ➤ The 3 primary reasons dividend strategies typically underperform If you want to learn more about dividend investing and why it may not be the magical solution it's often marketed as, you'll enjoy this episode. *** FREE RETIREMENT PLANNING RESOURCES: Subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter! As a thank you, you'll receive three (3) of my MOST popular retirement & tax cheatsheets. You'll also receive my weekly retirement newsletter. 👉 Click here to subscribe and grab your cheatsheets. *** EPISODE RESOURCES: 📊 Get Your FREE Retirement & Tax Analysis! ✏️ Grab the Episode Show Notes 📘 Check Out the Retirement Podcast Network

Today I'm kicking off a multi-part series on Dividend Investing. While dividends are a normal occurrence in the global markets, their role in a retirement portfolio is often misunderstood. ➤ What is a dividend, and why do some companies pay them? ➤ How do they affect an investor's return? ➤ Where do dividends fit in the portfolio construction process? ➤ What are the little-known problems with this investment strategy? ➤ And what does my upcoming birthday have to do with dividends? 🥳 I'm covering all of these questions (and more!) in this investing series. *** FREE RETIREMENT PLANNING RESOURCES: Subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter! As a thank you, you'll receive three (3) of my MOST popular retirement & tax cheatsheets. You'll also receive my weekly retirement newsletter :) 👉 Click here to subscribe and grab your cheatsheets. *** EPISODE RESOURCES: 📊 Get Your FREE Retirement & Tax Analysis! ✏️ Grab the Episode Show Notes 📘 Check Out the Retirement Podcast Network

Today I'm sharing a story about a couple who lost $2 million to an investment scam. I'm also sharing (new!) resources to help protect your personal data in 2024. Financial scams are getting more sophisticated and losses are skyrocketing. In fact, last year, Americans lost $10 billion to financial scams. That's $1 billion more than 2022, and is the highest-ever reported annual loss in FTC history. Everyone is at risk. And everyone needs to regularly take proactive steps to stay safe. Tune in to learn more. *** FREE RETIREMENT PLANNING RESOURCES: Subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter! As a thank you, you'll receive three (3) of my MOST popular retirement & tax cheatsheets. You'll also receive my weekly retirement newsletter :) 👉 Click here to subscribe and grab your cheatsheets. *** EPISODE RESOURCES: 📊 Get Your FREE Retirement & Tax Analysis! ✏️ Grab the Episode Show Notes 📘 Check Out the Retirement Podcast Network

There is no shortage of questions when it comes to navigating and planning for retirement. ➤ How much do I need to save? ➤ How do I optimize my tax bill and avoid overpaying the IRS? ➤ When do I take Social Security? ➤ What should I invest in? (And what should I avoid?!) The list goes on. And while you've likely read (or heard) helpful answers to most of the big questions, it never hurts to revisit them or get a different perspective. In fact, some studies suggest that it can take hearing something 7 times before you retain it 🤯 Today on the show, I'm answering listener questions with the Retirement Answer Man himself, Roger Whitney. Questions like, "What account type is the best retirement account type to fund after you've reached your savings goals?" And, "What's the best process for making important changes to your investments after learning you aren't invested properly?" If you want to hear our answers to these great questions (and more!), you'll enjoy this episode. *** FREE RETIREMENT PLANNING RESOURCES: Subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter! As a thank you, you'll receive three (3) of my MOST popular retirement & tax cheatsheets. You'll also receive my weekly retirement newsletter :) 👉 Click here to subscribe and grab your cheatsheets. *** EPISODE RESOURCES: 📊 Get Your FREE Retirement & Tax Analysis! ✏️ Grab the Episode Show Notes 📘 Check Out the Retirement Podcast Network

Inflation hit a 40-year high of 9.1% in June 2022. Today, inflation is hovering around 3%. If inflation is back in line with long-term historical averages, why does everything still feel so expensive? When voters were asked what they would most like to see improved in our economy... ...why did 64% of them say "lower prices?" In this episode, I'm digging into the current state of inflation, why prices still feel high, and where inflation might be headed. I'm also sharing tactics for how to successfully navigate challenging time periods. If, like most retirement savers, things still feel outrageously expensive to you, you're going to enjoy this episode. *** RETIREMENT & TAX PLANNING TOOLS: Join 5,000+ listeners and subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter. As a thank you, you'll receive three (3) of my MOST popular retirement & tax cheatsheets. You'll also receive my weekly retirement newsletter :) 👉 Click here to subscribe and grab your cheatsheets. *** EPISODE RESOURCES: 📊 Get Your FREE Retirement & Tax Analysis! ✏️ Grab the Episode Show Notes 📘 Check Out the Retirement Podcast Network

Want an easy way to learn how the "Roth 5-Year Rule" affects your unique situation? Subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter. As a thank you, you'll receive my one-page flowchart (PDF) for navigating this confusing rule. 👉 Click here to join the newsletter! *** TODAY'S EPISODE: The "Trump-era tax cuts" are set to expire in 2026. In other words, retirement savers only have two more years to take advantage of today's lower tax rates. One of the popular strategies to do this is through (aggressive) Roth conversions. As a result, I've had more questions than ever about the wildly confusing "Roth IRA 5-year rule"... ...specifically as it relates to Roth conversions. To help simplify this rule, I'm sharing TWO simple questions you can answer to understand how the rule works. I'm also sharing several real-life examples + my thoughts on what an election year might mean for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). *** EPISODE RESOURCES: 📊 Get Your FREE Retirement & Tax Analysis! ✏️ Grab the Episode Show Notes 📘 Check Out the Retirement Podcast Network

Today I'm talking through four (rarely-discussed) retirement planning misconceptions. In fact, some of these misconceptions might not be misconceptions at all... ...they might be concepts that you've never even considered! For example, is retirement planning a complex problem OR a complicated problem? (And why does it matter?) And, should you develop a retirement plan from the outside in OR the inside out? To help answer these important questions, I'm joined by Roger Whitney, host of the Retirement Answer Man podcast. Along with being a great person and expert retirement planner, Roger is also a deep, critical thinker who will definitely get your wheels turning in this episode. WANT MORE RETIREMENT PLANNING TIPS? Join 5,000+ listeners and subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter. As a thank you, you'll receive a copy of my 2024 Tax Planning Cheatsheet. 👉 Click here to subscribe and grab your cheatsheet. ----- EPISODE RESOURCES: 📊 Get Your Free Retirement Assessment! ✏️ Grab the Episode Show Notes 📘 Check Out the Retirement Podcast Network

It's an election year. As a result, many retirement investors believe that the market MUST be in for a wild ride. But is that true? Over the last 100 years, how have markets behaved during election years? What have been the best and worst returns? How has the market performed during every 4-year presidential term since 1929? And is it "different this time?" To help retirement savers invest wisely during this period of heightened uncertainty, I'm answering these questions (and more). --- WANT THE CHARTS & DATA REFERENCED IN TODAY'S EPISODE? Join the Stay Wealthy Newsletter by clicking here. I'll be sending the 12-page PDF to all newsletter readers this week and next 😊 Click here to subscribe. --- EPISODE RESOURCES: ✏️ Grab the Episode Show Notes 📊 Get Your Free Retirement Assessment! 📘 Check Out the Retirement Podcast Network

The U.S. national debt recently crossed $34 trillion. Without causing some serious pain, paying off this debt is nearly impossible to do. We would have to dramatically cut spending in some VERY important areas, increase taxes, or both. This debacle has led many to label this situation as catastrophic... ...as a "building that we're stuck in that will need to collapse on us before we can leave." But is it really as bad as some make it out to be? Is $34 trillion of debt truly an issue? Should we really be focused on paying down (or paying off) this debt? To help answer these questions and shed light on this complex topic, I'm joined today by Cullen Roche, monetary economic expert and CIO of Discipline Funds. ----- WANT MORE RETIREMENT PLANNING TIPS? Join 5,000+ listeners and subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter. As a thank you, you'll receive a copy of my 2024 Tax Planning Cheatsheet. 👉 Click here to subscribe and grab your cheatsheet. ----- EPISODE RESOURCES: ✏️ Grab the Episode Show Notes 📊 Get Your Free Retirement Assessment! 📘 Check Out the Retirement Podcast Network

With over 300,000 in the U.S., finding a financial advisor is easy. On the other hand, properly evaluating an advisor AND choosing the right expert to help with your unique needs is a challenging task. To help, I'm providing an actionable framework for evaluating financial advisors in this episode. I'm also sharing 3 critical things everyone should consider before entering into a new advisory relationship. It doesn't matter if you are looking for short-term help or a long-term relationship...if you're considering a financial advisor this year, you'll enjoy this episode. WANT MORE RETIREMENT PLANNING TIPS? Join 5,000+ listeners and subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter. As a thank you, you'll receive a copy of my 2024 Tax Planning Cheatsheet. 👉 Click here to subscribe and grab your cheatsheet. ----- EPISODE RESOURCES: 📊 Get Your Free Retirement Assessment! ✏️ Grab the Episode Show Notes 📘 Check Out the Retirement Podcast Network

Today I'm talking about stock market predictions. Specifically, I'm sharing: ‣ What happened in the markets in 2023 ‣ What may lie ahead for us in 2024 ‣ Why we should prepare for the biggest crash of our lifetime I'm also sharing an exciting announcement that will directly benefit you! 😊 WANT MORE RETIREMENT PLANNING TIPS? Join 5,000+ listeners and subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter. As a thank you, you'll receive a copy of my 2024 Tax Planning Cheatsheet. 👉 Click here to subscribe and grab your cheatsheet. ----- EPISODE RESOURCES: 📊 Get Your Free Retirement + Tax Analysis ✏️ Grab the Episode Show Notes 📘 Check Out the Retirement Podcast Network

Today I'm sharing 4 (important!) retirement and tax planning updates for 2024. I'm also sharing my freshly updated two-page tax cheatsheet 😊 One listener recently said: "This is the best two-page cheat sheet that I've seen! I do a lot of planning around taxes, IRMAA's, etc., and it is very helpful." If you're wrapping up your year-end planning + starting to think about 2024 and beyond, you'll enjoy today's episode. RETIREMENT & TAX PLANNING RESOURCES: ‣ Grab Your 2024 Tax Cheatsheet ‣ Join the Stay Wealthy Newsletter (My Top 5 Year-End Checklists Going to Subscribers ONLY Next Week!) EPISODE RESOURCES: ✏️ Grab the Episode Show Notes 📊 Get Your FREE Retirement & Tax Analysis

Year-end is a popular time for tax planning strategies. Roth conversions. Charitable gifts. Squeezing in those final tax-deductible contributions. And, of course, the crowd favorite...good ol' tax-loss harvesting! ‣ Who should consider tax-loss harvesting (and who should stay away from it)? ‣ How can you increase the benefit of tax-loss harvesting? ‣ When can harvesting losses backfire? If you're a retirement saver wanting to learn more about this popular tax strategy, you'll love today's episode. *** ✏️ Grab the Episode Show Notes 📬 Subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Newsletter! 📊 Get Your FREE Retirement & Tax Analysis

Navigating the Medicare world is confusing and challenging. As a result, many retirees make Medicare decisions without clearly understanding the long-term implications. Long-term implications that, in worst-case scenarios, can put a retirement plan in jeopardy. To help you avoid making costly Medicare mistakes, I'm sharing three (3) big pitfalls to avoid in this episode. If you want to brush up on your Medicare knowledge before turning 65—or you're looking to change your current Medicare plan—you'll love today's episode. *** NAVIGATING IRMAA (2024 UPDATED) Click here to view the 2024 IRMAA brackets and learn how to avoid this surcharge. *** WANT MORE RETIREMENT PLANNING TIPS? Join 5,000+ listeners and subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter. As a thank you, you'll receive a copy of my 2023 Tax Planning Cheatsheet. 👉 Click here to subscribe and grab your cheatsheet. *** EPISODE RESOURCES: 📊 Get Your Free Retirement + Tax Analysis ✏️ Grab the Episode Show Notes 📘 Read My New Book: More Than Money

In part two of my series on bonds, I'm tackling three BIG questions: 1.) With cash yielding 5%, does it make sense to use money market funds (or t-bill) as a bond alternative? 2.) What should investors do if they own the wrong bonds and need to make changes? 3.) Does the current landscape shift how retirement investors should approach bonds going forward? If you're ready to dive deep into the research to understand this asset class better, you'll love this episode. ----- WANT MORE RETIREMENT PLANNING TIPS? Join 5,000+ listeners and subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter. As a thank you, you'll receive a copy of my 2023 Tax Planning Cheatsheet. 👉 Click here to subscribe and grab your cheatsheet. ----- EPISODE RESOURCES: 📊 Get Your Free Retirement + Tax Analysis ✏️ Grab the Episode Show Notes 📘 Read My New Book: More Than Money

Bonds are down 20%+ over the past three years. Meanwhile, riskier asset classes (like U.S. stocks) are UP ~30% during the same period. ‣ What the %@#! is happening to bonds right now? ‣ Why are safe asset classes down double digits while risky asset classes scream upward? ‣ Should retirement investors consider changes? ‣ Are money market funds and CDs a better solution than bond funds? ‣ And what might all of this mean for the future of bond investing? I'm answering these questions (and more!) in this 2-part series on bonds. --- WANT MORE RETIREMENT PLANNING TIPS? Join 5,000+ listeners and subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter. As a thank you, you'll receive a copy of my 2023 Tax Planning Cheatsheet. 👉 Click here to subscribe and grab your cheatsheet. --- EPISODE RESOURCES: 📊 Get Your Free Retirement + Tax Analysis ✏️ Grab the Episode Show Notes 📘 Read My New Book: More Than Money

Today I'm sharing nine fun facts about the economy, markets, and retirement. Along with being entertaining, these facts bring important planning topics to the surface. They also help to address and answer common questions. For example: ‣ How correlated is the economy to the stock market? ‣ What are the actual odds of a catastrophic long-term care event? ‣ Should average life expectancy assumptions be used in retirement projections? If you're ready to have some fun learning about the history of the markets and little-known facts about investing, this episode is for you. --- WANT MORE RETIREMENT PLANNING TIPS? Join thousands of listeners and subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter. As a thank you, you'll receive a copy of my 2023 Tax Planning Cheatsheet. 👉 Click here to subscribe and grab your cheatsheet. --- EPISODE RESOURCES: 📊 Get Your Free Retirement + Tax Analysis ✏️ Grab the Episode Show Notes 📘 Read My New Book: More Than Money

Everyone should freeze their credit. But most retirement savers I talk to have not tackled this simple (and free!) task. After commenting briefly about credit freezes in an episode last month, I've received dozens of GREAT questions from listeners. Questions like... ‣ Should minor children freeze their credit even if they don't have a credit score? ‣ After freezing with the "big three" (Equifax, Transunion, Experian), what other agencies should I freeze my credit with? ‣ How will freezing my credit affect my credit score? ...and more! Tune in to get answers to these questions and learn more about this critical financial planning task that continues to be overlooked. --- WANT MORE RETIREMENT PLANNING TIPS? Join thousands of listeners and subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter. As a thank you, you'll receive a copy of my 2023 Tax Planning Cheatsheet. 👉 Click here to subscribe and grab your cheatsheet. --- EPISODE RESOURCES: 📖 How to Freeze Your Credit (Step-by-Step) 📊 Get Your Free Retirement + Tax Analysis ✏️ Grab the Episode Show Notes 📘 Check Out My New Book: More Than Money

Last June, inflation hit a 40-year high of 9.1%. Since then, it's been falling month over month, hitting 3.2% in July of this year. The Fed's aggressive rate hikes seemed to be doing their job, and their 2% inflation target appeared to be in sight. But then, the August CPI report came out a few weeks ago... ...and we saw inflation spike, jumping up to 3.7%. What happened? Where does inflation go from here? And should we be worried about this recent uptick? --- WANT MORE RETIREMENT PLANNING TIPS? Join thousands of listeners and subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter. As a thank you, you'll receive a copy of my 2023 Tax Planning Cheatsheet. 👉 Click here to subscribe and grab your cheatsheet. --- EPISODE RESOURCES: 📊 Get Your Free Retirement and Tax Analysis ✏️ Grab the Episode Show Notes 📘 Check Out My New Book: More Than Money

Year after year, investors underperform the funds they invest in by almost 2%. 🤯 Not because of fees or taxes...but because of poorly-timed investing decisions. In today's episode, I'm sharing the results of this year's "Mind the Gap" study from Morningstar. I'm also sharing: ‣ The asset classes with the highest and lowest behavior gap over the last 10 years ‣ The relationship between volatility and investing returns ‣ Three things retirement investors can do to earn more of the returns generated by their investments --- WANT MORE RETIREMENT PLANNING TIPS? Join thousands of listeners and subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter. As a thank you, you'll receive a copy of my 2023 Tax Planning Cheatsheet. 👉 Click here to subscribe and grab your cheatsheet. --- EPISODE RESOURCES: 📊 Get Your Free Retirement and Tax Analysis ✏️ Grab the Episode Show Notes 📘 Check Out My New Book: More Than Money

Consumers reported losing nearly $9 billion to fraud in 2022 — a 30% increase from the year prior. And those are just the incidents that are reported. In fact, some reports suggest that the ACTUAL amount is closer to $40 billion! One thing every report seems to agree on is that scams are becoming more prevalent and more sophisticated. So to help protect retirement investors from becoming victims, today I'm sharing the three financial scams to watch out for. I'm also sharing how you can protect yourself (and your loved ones) from each scam. --- WANT MORE RETIREMENT PLANNING TIPS? Join thousands of listeners and subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter. As a thank you, you'll receive a copy of my 2023 Tax Planning Cheatsheet. 👉 Click here to subscribe and grab your cheatsheet. --- EPISODE RESOURCES: 📊 Get Your Free Retirement and Tax Analysis ✏️ Grab the Episode Show Notes 📘 Check Out My New Book: More Than Money

In this episode, we're answering listener questions! Specifically, guest host Jeremy Schneider is answering questions like: What are the best index funds to invest in How do you access retirement money early What are the little-known pitfalls of early retirement Jeremy also shares important tips on transferring money from old investment accounts. If you want to get answers to these great questions (and hear from a surprise guest who snuck their way in!), this episode is for you. --- WANT MORE RETIREMENT PLANNING TIPS? Join thousands of listeners and subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter. As a thank you, you'll receive a copy of my 2023 Tax Planning Cheatsheet. 👉 Click here to subscribe and grab your cheatsheet. --- EPISODE RESOURCES: 👉 Follow Jeremy Schneider on Instagram ✏️ Grab the Episode Show Notes 📘 Check Out My New Book: More Than Money 📊 Get Your Free Retirement and Tax Analysis

Almost every day, I (guest host Jeremy Schneider) hear someone mention their credit score. After being in school our entire young lives, we must all crave for someone to give us another grade. And when the ol' FICO corporation is slapping a big number on all of us... ...we excitedly spend every waking moment trying to improve (or maintain) it. But here's the problem: Focusing on your credit score is a TERRIBLE way to win with money. You're putting your energy towards precisely the wrong thing. In today's episode, I'm sharing why you shouldn't care about your credit score + what you should be focusing on instead! WANT MORE RETIREMENT PLANNING TIPS? Join thousands of listeners around the country and subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter. As a thank you, you'll receive a copy of my 2023 Tax Planning Cheatsheet. 👉 Click here to subscribe and grab your cheatsheet. *** EPISODE RESOURCES: 👉 Follow Jeremy Schneider on Instagram ✏️ Grab the Episode Show Notes 📘 Check Out My New Book: More Than Money 📊 Get Your Free Retirement and Tax Analysis

Today we're talking about the Backdoor Roth IRA. Specifically, guest host Jeremy Schneider is sharing: What the Backdoor Roth IRA strategy is Why you should (or shouldn't) pursue it How to execute it the right way If you're interested in learning more about this unique strategy for getting more money into a Roth IRA, this episode is for you. *** WANT MORE RETIREMENT PLANNING TIPS? Join thousands of listeners and subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter. As a thank you, you'll receive a copy of my 2023 Tax Planning Cheatsheet. 👉 Click here to subscribe and grab your cheatsheet. *** EPISODE RESOURCES: 👉 Follow Jeremy Schneider on Instagram ✏️ Grab the Episode Show Notes 📘 Check Out My New Book: More Than Money 📊 Get Your Free Retirement and Tax Analysis

If YOU were to unexpectedly die tomorrow, would your loved ones know how to access your information? Your bank accounts? Insurance policies? Debts? Access to your home and car? Your devices? Approximately 2/3 of Americans don't have any estate planning documents! To help you avoid leaving a financial mess behind, guest host Jeremy Schneider is sharing how he's PERSONALLY prepared his family for an untimely death. Specifically, he's sharing: ➡ What information and documents he has gathered ➡ Where and how he (securely) stores it ➡ His process for keeping everything updated If you need actionable ideas (and motivation!) to tackle this critical planning task, today's episode is for you. WANT MORE RETIREMENT PLANNING TIPS? Join thousands of listeners and subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter. As a thank you, you'll receive a copy of my 2023 Tax Planning Cheatsheet. 👉 Click here to subscribe and grab your cheatsheet. *** EPISODE RESOURCES: 👉 Follow Jeremy Schneider on Instagram ✏️ Grab the Episode Show Notes 📘 Check Out My New Book: More Than Money 📊 Get Your Free Retirement and Tax Analysis

Today I'm discussing a new retirement withdrawal strategy. The strategy is simple + allows retirees to (safely) spend more money than the 4% rule. It also protects against one of the biggest threats to retirement—Sequence Risk! If you want to avoid leaving behind a mattress full of money and learn about a simpler approach to boosting retirement income, you'll enjoy today's episode. WANT MORE RETIREMENT PLANNING TIPS? Join thousands of listeners and subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter. As a thank you, you'll receive a copy of my 2023 Tax Planning Cheatsheet. 👉 Click here to subscribe and grab your cheatsheet. *** EPISODE RESOURCES: 📘 Check Out My New Book: More Than Money ✏️ Grab the Episode Show Notes 📊 Get Your Free Retirement and Tax Analysis

What separates a good investment from a bad one? How do you evaluate different investment options? Why are some very well-known metrics flawed and problematic? I'm answering these questions + sharing a personal story that caused me to change my approach when giving opinions about different asset classes. WANT MORE RETIREMENT PLANNING TIPS? Join thousands of listeners and subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter. As a thank you, you'll receive a copy of my 2023 Tax Planning Cheatsheet. 👉 Click here to subscribe and grab your cheatsheet. *** EPISODE RESOURCES: 📘 Check Out My New Book: More Than Money ✏️ Grab the Episode Show Notes 📊 Get Your Free Retirement and Tax Analysis

Last year, I published an episode titled, 5 Reasons Not to Do a Roth Conversion. The 5 reasons shared were: 1️⃣ - Shadow taxes 2️⃣ - No undo button 3️⃣ - Lack of cash flow to pay the tax bill 4️⃣ - You just don't want to :) 5️⃣ - Future charitable giving goals Today I'm sharing three (more) reasons not to convert + why it might be ok to leave money in your pre-tax IRA. Roth conversions can be a wildly beneficial tax planning move for the right person... ...but they aren't a "no-brainer" for everyone. If you want to learn more about situations when converting money to a Roth IRA does NOT make sense, today's episode is for you. WANT MORE RETIREMENT PLANNING TIPS? Join thousands of listeners and subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter. As a thank you, you'll receive a copy of my 2023 Tax Planning Cheatsheet. 👉 Click here to subscribe and grab your cheatsheet. *** EPISODE RESOURCES: 📘 Check Out My New Book: More Than Money ✏️ Grab the Episode Show Notes 📊 Get Your Free Retirement and Tax Analysis

"Cash is king." But is it a great investment? Historically, investors have built up dry powder to fund emergencies or survive market downturns. But with cash now yielding close to 5%... ...many investors are viewing cash as a way to make money. Today I'm sharing why cash — even at today's rates — is a bad investment. I'm also sharing how much cash a retirement investor should consider holding. WANT MORE RETIREMENT PLANNING TIPS? Join thousands of listeners and subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter. As a thank you, you'll receive a copy of my 2023 Tax Planning Cheatsheet. 👉 Click here to subscribe and grab your cheatsheet. *** EPISODE RESOURCES: 📘 Check Out My New Book: More Than Money ✏️ Grab the Episode Show Notes 📊 Get Your Free Retirement and Tax Analysis