Think you need millions of dollars to retire comfortably? Think again. Most people believe they're "behind" on retirement savings because they're measuring against arbitrary benchmarks that don't reflect their unique situation. But what if retiring at 62 is actually more achievable than you've been led to believe? In this episode, I'm sharing: ► Why you should ignore popular savings benchmarks ► Why delaying Social Security isn't always the right move (and how taking it early might preserve MORE...
Jun 26, 2025•16 min•Ep. 245
"I planned for 30 years of expenses—but zero years of purpose." This was a recent client's confession, and she's not alone. In fact, nearly 40% of retirees say they wish they had waited longer to retire (and it's not about money). In this episode, I'm revealing why even the most financially prepared retirees fall into identity crises and regret. I'm also sharing my 5-step "Bridge Strategy" to help you retire with clarity and purpose, not just a seven-figure portfolio. If you're planning FOR reti...
Jun 13, 2025•10 min•Ep. 244
"Cash is king" has guided investors since the 1987 market crash. But what if this so-called "king" is actually putting your retirement plan at risk? Millions of retirees are lured by today's enticing cash yields, confusing safety nets for sound investment strategies. In this episode, I'm revealing why cash (even at 4-5%) is a deceptive long-term investment. I'm also sharing details about a critical investment performance metric to help you make more informed portfolio decisions. If you're wonder...
Jun 05, 2025•12 min•Ep. 243
You’ve finally made it to retirement! But what if some of the choices you’re making right now are quietly pulling you back to work? Every year, countless retirees are forced back into the workplace. Not because they were reckless, but because they followed advice that sounded smart and safe. In this episode, I'm sharing 7 of the most common retirement pitfalls that can derail even the best-laid plans. I'm also sharing our Total Retirement System™—a comprehensive framework to ensure you retire on...
May 15, 2025•17 min•Ep. 242
"I'll just work a few more years." It's the retirement safety net millions of Americans often count on. In large part because the financial industry has convinced everyone that retiring later is the most sensible backup plan if your savings fall short. But what if this common advice is actually setting you up for one of the most costly mistakes of your life? In this episode, I'm sharing why the real danger may not be running out of money in retirement, but rather working too long. I’m also shari...
May 01, 2025•17 min•Ep. 241
Today I'm diving into the tariff-induced market mania that has been dominating every news headline. Specifically, I'm joined by Cullen Roche, monetary economics expert and founder of Discipline Funds, to discuss three important things: ► How tariffs actually work and why economists across the political spectrum overwhelmingly agree they are bad ► What the recent tariff proposal means for the economy (and American consumers) ► What yesterday’s "90-day pause" means for the markets going forward We...
Apr 10, 2025•58 min•Ep. 240
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 sho...
Mar 20, 2025•36 min•Ep. 239
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...
Mar 06, 2025•19 min•Ep. 238
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 CHEATSH...
Feb 13, 2025•14 min•Ep. 237
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 yo...
Jan 30, 2025•21 min•Ep. 236
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 shari...
Jan 16, 2025•16 min•Ep. 235
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 plann...
Jan 09, 2025•24 min•Ep. 234
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, ...
Dec 19, 2024•18 min•Ep. 233
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 Eco...
Dec 12, 2024•33 min•Ep. 232
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, “D...
Dec 05, 2024•32 min•Ep. 231
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 conside...
Nov 21, 2024•38 min•Ep. 230
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 e...
Nov 07, 2024•33 min•Ep. 229
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 RETIREMEN...
Oct 24, 2024•34 min•Ep. 228
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 ...
Oct 10, 2024•17 min•Ep. 227
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...
Sep 26, 2024•16 min•Ep. 226
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 portf...
Sep 12, 2024•18 min•Ep. 225
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 ever...
Aug 29, 2024•28 min•Ep. 224
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-kno...
Aug 15, 2024•22 min•Ep. 223
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...
Jul 31, 2024•48 min•Ep. 222
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 ca...
Jul 18, 2024•29 min•Ep. 221
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 ...
Jun 27, 2024•26 min•Ep. 220
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...
Jun 06, 2024•18 min•Ep. 219
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...
May 22, 2024•20 min•Ep. 218
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 coveri...
May 09, 2024•19 min•Ep. 217
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 l...
Apr 25, 2024•14 min•Ep. 216
