Dolphin Financial Radio

In May of 2025, the House passed the "One Big, Beautiful, Tax Bill." It now goes to the Senate for approval. There are many provisions in this Bill that impact pre-retirees or those already in retirement the most.

Do spouses that retire at different times spend more or less in retirement? Does the decision of when each spouse retires really impact their level of spending? The study results we review in this show might surprise you.

Social Security spousal benefits allow for the lower earning spouse to potentially get an increase in benefits based on their spouse's work history. This holds true for certain DIVORCED spouses. In this show we talk about the rules and calculations around claiming Social Security benefits based on your ex-spouse.

Social Security spousal benefits allow for the lower earning spouse to potentially get an increase in benefits based on their spouse's work history. In this show we talk about the rules and calculations around claiming Social Security benefits based on your spouse.

Which is better for retirement - a 401k or a Pension. We review the pros and cons of each retirement plan and decide which is preferrable for retirement planning. At age 62, would you rather have $1 million in a 401k or $75,000 per year in lifetime income?

Are there people, including those close to retirement, that want to see a stock market correction? In this show we talk about the six types of people that enjoy Bear Markets and why you may want to be one of them.

Retiring is a difficult task for many. If you happen to time retirement during a bear market, it may make things even more difficult. What should people do to alleviate the pressures associated with retiring as the market is going down?

Where has it been getting more expensive to retire? Is Florida the "best" place to retire, or has it become the most expensive. The answer depends on who you ask. In this show we review three recent studies that show how expensive it has become to retire in the Sunshine State and elsewhere.

Social Security is a big government program in the crosshairs of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Changes to the SSA in 2025 have been happening at a relatively face past (for a government agency). Are the rumors about how these changes are hurting the overall program and services true?

More people are helping their adult children financially according to a 2025 survey. With the average support to an adult child of over $1,400 per month, this can become quite a drag on retirement savings. In this show we talk about the emotional and often difficult choices involved in this situation.

When you are moving your retirement funds from one account to another, it's important to follow the IRS rules, particularly if you are doing an indirect rollover. Be sure you are aware of the 60-Day rule to avoid taxes and a potential penalty when you least want it!

Social Security payments are projected to fall short in the near future. How might this impact retirees and should claiming strategies adjust based on this potential income decrease?

There has been proposals to eliminate taxation of Social Security income. What once was tax free, may become tax free again! Does this potential change impact filing strategies? Should you adjust when you claim based on this potential tax change?

Not all assets are taxed the same. In retirement, taxes can be your biggest expense. This is why properly structuring your assets into different tax buckets can be a very smart financial planning strategy. In this show we talk about three tax buckets (Taxable, Tax Deferred, Tax Free) and debate which one is the "best" for retirees.

Replacing your income when you retire is an important task. There are many different strategies to generate the income you need to live after your paycheck ends. One seemingly simple strategy is using Retirement Income Buckets. Is the "Bucket Approach" to retirement income as simple as is often made out to be?

Many people will show more income in order to completely "fill" a tax bracket. This strategy can lead to lower taxes in the long run and is often part of Roth Conversions. However, there are 3 important and often overlooked considerations when implementing this strategy.

One particular tax penalty that new retirees are surprised by has to do with paying estimated taxes. It's known as the "Underpayment of Estimated Tax by Individuals Penalty." This penalty is for those that fail to pay estimated quarterly taxes, which is often something overlooked by new retirees. Learn how to avoid this sneaky tax penalty.

Now that the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) are no longer part of Social Security, what's next? How and when will I get an increase? What actions should I take now to increase my benefit? What's the latest from SSA?

Prescription drug prices have been getting quite expensive over the years, particularly for those on Medicare and fixed incomes. However, the government is here to help! Has government price negotiations worked and what can we expect going forward?

The highest monthly Social Security check in 2025 will be $5,108. How does one qualify to get that much? In this show we'll explain the three qualifications a person must have in order to get the maximum amount from Social Security in 2025.

Prescription drug costs on Medicare can be quite expensive. However, the government has set a limit on the out of pocket expenses on Medicare Part D (Prescription Drug) plans. The new $2,000 limit applies to the deductible, the copays, and the coinsurance. But, will this actually reduce the overall cost for prescription drug plans?

Investment portfolios can get out of balance based on market performance. Many people will rebalance their holdings to get back in line with their original risk levels. However, retirees face a unique set of challenges when it comes to rebalancing. Do retirees even need to rebalance?

If you need health insurance before Medicare (typically age 65), it can be outrageously expensive. In this show we explore the costs for plans in 2025. We also explain how to be able to afford these plans that can easily cost over $20,000 per year.

The "Santa Claus Rally" is a term used to describe an increase in the stock market around the Christmas holiday. Based on a term coined in 1972, this market phenomenon has historical data to back it up. Yet, is the Santa Claus Rally a real thing, and if so, should you factor it into your financial plans?

Research is showing that nearly 6 in 10 people retire earlier than they planned. Why are they doing this? Is this a case of great savings, poor planning, or unexpected circumstances? In this show, we explore some of the data from a Nov. 2024 study.