Retirement Starts Today

Happy 4th of July weekend!! Can you believe the podcast that started as a crazy experiment on my kitchen counter in the fall of 2015 is now over 300 episodes?! Thank you for all your support over these many years.  As a way to say thank you, I'm heavily discounting Retirement Income University this month.  Enter promo code "PODCAST" for a special $300 price to celebrate episode #300 (nearly 40% of...

One of the greatest financial assumptions is that it's always better to own than to rent. However, in retirement, this may not be true. Once you are financially independent it is important to realize that not every dollar you spend needs to yield a return. Join me for this episode of Retirement Starts Today to question traditional thinking and to see how you can improve your life, spend more money...

Have you considered working part-time in retirement? A growing number of older adults are choosing to continue work even after reaching retirement age. While some continue work due to financial necessity, many choose work that offers fulfillment and enjoyment. In the retirement headlines segment of this episode of Retirement Starts Today, we'll explore the meaning and nature of work and what that...

If you clicked on this title you may be wondering what a $300 gym bag has to do with retirement. Well, this podcast focuses on learning how to spend more money and pay less taxes to set yourself up for the ideal retirement. Outline of This Episode= [1:32] What a new gym bag can teach us about retirement [4:20] The lens that you view your purchases through [6:25] A thought experiment Connect with B...

Have you ever considered joining a retirement mastermind group? Many of us choose mastermind groups to further our careers, businesses, or other areas of our lives, but few think to create one for retirement planning. Today, we'll focus this entire episode on Fritz Gilbert's  recent article  on his experience creating a retirement mastermind group.  You won't want to miss out on hearing what you c...

Have you ever thought about how much money you need to be truly happy? If so, you're not alone. And chances are that number is elusive.  In today's Retirement Headline segment, we'll check out an article from  The Atlantic  called " The Reason Many Ultrarich People Aren't Satisfied With Their Wealth ." In doing so, we'll explore human nature and how to know when enough is enough. In the Listener Q...

If you have found this podcast you're probably interested in spending more money, spending less in taxes, and making life even better in retirement.  On this episode of Retirement Starts Today, we're taking a look at how to spend more money in retirement by assessing a two-part article from  AdvisorPerspectives.com  called A Framework for Assessing Variable Spending Strategies.  If you are trying...

Welcome back to the second part of our lessons in estate planning. Bret and I recently reviewed all of our clients' estate plans and in doing so, we learned a lot from this exercise that could help you and your heirs. If you haven't listened to  last week's episode  make sure to go back and listen–especially if you have stepchildren or blended families. In this episode, you'll learn why you might...

Bret and I recently reviewed all of our clients' estate plans this spring and, as a result, we have so much to share with you about what we learned. It was so much that we had to break it into multiple episodes! If you are curious about how this sort of meeting goes and wish that you could be a fly on the wall, you won't want to miss this episode.  Today we'll discuss why you need to ask yourself...

Do you ever get together with your friends from high school and wonder why they all look so old? Are you surprised by the image that you see in the mirror each morning? If so, you're not alone.  In today's retirement headline segment, we'll explore an article from Jennifer Senior at  MSN.com  that examines the abstract concept of feeling a different age in your head than you physically are in year...

Have you made any changes to your retirement savings due to the poor economy? If you did, you're not alone.  According to a  Financial-Planning.com  article, half of America stopped saving for retirement last year. Don't miss hearing why this is such a bad idea. Stick around for the listener questions segment where Bret and I address one listener's worry about the upcoming changes to the tax code....

You may be excited to jump on the early retirement bandwagon, but before you do, listen to this episode. In our retirement headlines segment, we explore a peer-reviewed article that shows that early retirement can accelerate cognitive decline.  Stay tuned for the listener questions segment to hear how to reimagine your retirement spending mindset by creating a flexible spending plan.  Retirement S...

Many DIY investors would like to learn more about the latest changes in financial and tax laws but don't have the same opportunities to attend professional financial conferences. The good news is that Bret and I do have these opportunities, and we relish sharing our findings.  On this episode of Retirement Starts Today, Bret shares his insights from his boots-on-the-ground experience at  Ed Slott'...

Have you ever used a Monte Carlo analysis to help you plan retirement? If so, the results can seem scary. You may be looking for a 100% likelihood of success so that you can rest easy–after all, you are probably hoping for a 100% successful retirement. However, in this episode of Retirement Starts Today, you'll learn why a 100% success rate should not  be your goal. Listen in to hear why. Outline...

We talk about retirement income guardrails a lot on this show, but today we'll go into greater depth while exploring an article from Kitces.com . This article was written by a mentor of mine and takes an advisor's perspective on how to discuss spending increases and decreases with clients. These are fantastic conversations to review if you have been implementing or thinking about using the guardra...

Do you want to know how you can fully utilize your biggest advantage over the IRS? Listen to this episode to find out.  Today, we explore a  ThinkAdvisor.com  article that turns traditional retirement tax thinking on its head. Then, Bret helps me answer a listener's question about opening a Roth IRA when your salary is too high. Bret has a great tip that you may not have thought of before. Finally...

Do you have an HSA? If so, do you simply use it to pay for your medical expenses? Or do you use it as a way to build your wealth? Today we'll look at an article from Financial Advisor Magazine that will help us identify opportunities for wealth creation. Listen in to learn how to maximize the triple benefit of the humble HSA. Outline of This Episode [1:22] A few tricks to turn the humble HSA into...

Do you combine your finances with your partner? If you do, chances are that you might be happier. In this episode of Retirement Starts Today, we'll explore a WSJ article written by Julia Carpenter titled  Couples Who Combine Finances Are Happier. So Why Don't More Do It? In addition to examining the benefits of combining finances, we'll take a look at the reasons couples choose not to pool their r...

Giving advice to your parents can be a challenge both for you and for them. However, there comes a time when the roles reverse and our parents may need to hear our practical advice. If you have been wondering how to go about doing this you're not alone.  This week we'll explore a retirement headline from Francine Russo at WSJ titled  How to Give Your Parents Advice That They Will Actually Listen T...

Investing in yourself is a great way to invest in your retirement. You may know Fritz Gilbert from the Retirement Manifesto blog  or you may even have read his book,  Keys to a Successful Retirement . What you may not know is how he has invested in himself in retirement.  On this episode of Retirement Starts Today, you'll hear how Fritz has chosen to invest in his community and himself through a c...

Do you typically like to get your taxes done early? Before you rush out to submit your tax return, listen to this episode to hear why you might want to wait. In this episode, we'll explore a  CNBC article  by Kate Dore that lists the reasons you may want to wait to file your taxes in 2023. After the Retirement Headlines segment, Bret and I will discuss the differences between bonds and bond funds...

I'm so excited to bring you this interview with Gary Kadi. Gary is the author of one of the best books I read in 2022,  Raise Your Healthy Deserve Level . I call this an accidental retirement book because although it is not specifically written for retirees, many topics apply to retirement.  Gary has so much to share in this interview. We discuss how to receive good things in life, how your net wo...

Many people are concerned that rising interest rates will eventually crash the housing market. Future retirees can become overly worried about the housing market since the value of their homes plays a huge role in their retirement plans. This is why an article from Annie Lowrey at the Atlantic caught my eye. Today, we'll dive into the article,  The U.S. Needs More Housing Than Almost Anyone Can Im...

Have you ever thought about what the future might be like for your children and grandchildren? In this week's retirement headline, we'll explore a Wall Street Journal article called  What Old Age Might Be Like for Today's 30-Year-Olds .  During the listener questions segment, one listener wonders whether it is possible to have too much Roth money. Finally, stay tuned for the personal development s...

Welcome back to Retirement Starts Today Radio! Today we have an extra special episode for two reasons.  Today, you'll finally meet our newest advisor, Bret Mulvaney. He joins me today to discuss the most recent legislation regarding tax and retirement planning.  This entire episode is dedicated to reviewing the Secure Act 2.0. Listen in to learn what's changing in retirement planning and how the S...