Common Curiosities: Retirement

In this episode Michael CFP®, EA tackles one of the most emotional and confusing decisions in personal finance. Should you buy a home now with a higher interest rate or wait and hope for a lower rate later? Our listener is looking at a payment that could be 42% of their income today but if rates came down would be a smaller amount of their income. We talk through how to think about this without th...

Welcome back to Common Curiosities: Retirement where this time of year means two things in our house: Sports season is in full swing, and so are the financial questions popping up on social media. In this sporty moments episode, Jacqueline shows up repping LSU beach volleyball, Michael shows up repping his undefeated 8th-grade basketball squad, and together we break down a viral financial “hack” y...

Should you pay off your medical school loans ASAP or stretch them out? This is an especially important question for medical professionals, with many factors to consider! From different repayment options, to loan forgiveness programs, to tax implications. Not to mention the emotional satisfaction of making quicker progress on your debt. Which plan is right for you? Jacqueline, is currently in medic...

Ever feel like there are way too many retirement account names to keep straight? It’s almost like alphabet soup for your retirement planning. In this episode of Common Curiosities: Retirement, Michael, CFP® and EA is joined by his wife, who asks the questions many people may secretly have. Like what to do with extra money now, what about extra money I don't need now, how do these different account...

Ever wonder why your tax refund may change so much from year to year or why making a little more money doesn’t always feel like it pays that much extra? In this episode of Common Curiosities: Retirement, Michael CFP® and EA breaks down how our progressive tax system actually works, using everyday language (and a few buckets of water). We walk through side-by-side examples of a married couple earni...

If you’re a Michigan school teacher, you only get 75 days from your first pay period to choose your retirement plan and that one decision may shape your financial future for decades. In this episode, Michael CFP® and EA unpacks what those two options really mean. There's the Pension Plus 2 plan and the Defined Contribution plan. He discussed how they work differently when it comes to paychecks, ma...

In this episode, Michael is joined by his wife Jacqueline (who's wearing all his clothes, apparently) for a casual chat that starts with some of Jacqueline's questions she hears about money recently to get those questions answered. They cover: 💭 What an LLC actually does — and what it doesn’t do for taxes 💭 The difference between tax avoidance (smart) and tax evasion (illegal) 💭 What’s better:...

Gold has been shining bright lately (pun intended) and has hit all-time highs as 2025 is coming to a close. But what’s really behind the surge? In this episode of Common Curiosities: Retirement, we dig into some ideas of why reasons why gold’s up, and explore whether it still makes sense as part of a modern portfolio. Here’s what we unpack: 📝 Uncertainty and global tension — when people get nervo...

Markets are hitting record highs as we are ending 2025, but what’s really driving it? In this episode of Common Curiosities: Retirement, we take a curious look under the hood of today’s market momentum. We’ll unpack a few key forces fueling the climb including: 💭 Many strong corporate earnings that are beating expectations 💭 Interest rate cuts — after a few years of tightening interest rate incr...

Ever wondered if you should wipe out your debt as fast as possible or maybe hang on to those loans and invest instead? In this episode, we explore the balance between math and mindset because financial plans don’t live in spreadsheets, they live in real life. Michael, CFP® and EA unpacks the pros and cons of paying debt quickly versus investing for the long haul, why behavior often beats math in t...

Most people who donate give cash to charities. Which is very generous of them, but what if there’s a better way to gift where the charity can still get the benefit but you may also receive some more tax benefits? In this episode of Common Curiosities Retirement, Michael CFP® and Enrolled Agent unpacks one of the most overlooked tax strategies for charitable givers: donating appreciated assets. It’...

Ever wonder when you can actually use your Roth IRA without getting smacked with taxes and penalties? You’re not alone. In this episode of Common Curiosities: Retirement, we unpack one of the most common unused tools with Roth accounts. When and how to tap them before 59½ without giving the IRS a reason to celebrate. You’ll hear how the rules actually work, where the real flexibility may come from...

If you’re over 70½ or just planning ahead for when you will be this simple move could make your money go further. We walk through what a QCD is, how it’s different from an RMD, who it’s typically best suited for, and some overlooked rules that could help you avoid unnecessary taxes (and maybe some paperwork headaches too). 📘 In this episode, you’ll learn: • What a Qualified Charitable Distributio...

Roth IRAs can be one of the most powerful tools in retirement planning, but only if you understand the rules and how they fit into your bigger picture. In this episode, we break down practical strategies for using Roth IRAs from retirement tax planning and early retirement options Whether you’re just getting started or already building your retirement nest egg, this conversation should help you se...

Thinking about how much you need in retirement and but unsure how what you'll actually need? You’re certainly not alone. In this episode of Common Curiosities: Retirement, we break down two methods that have helped our members get a clearer picture of their potential expenses helping them feel more confident in their retirement planning. 𝐖𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫:🎯 Why many people actually overestimate how much i...

Most people dread looking at their tax return, but what if it could be one of the most valuable tools for you or your financial planning team? In this episode, we break down the 1040 step-by-step and show you how it could help reveal hidden opportunities to potentially lower taxes and help you make smarter financial moves all aimed at helping you keep more of you hard earned money! We cover: ✅ Fi...

Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) can feel intimidating at first, but they don’t have to be! In this episode, we walk through what RMDs are in plain language, why the IRS requires them, and how they fit into your overall retirement planning strategies. We’ll talk about how they work, when you have to start taking them, and how they could impact things like your taxable income, Medicare costs,...

Social Security is a key part of retirement planning. While it can seem complex, understanding the basics can make you feel more confident in your decision and how it fits with the rest of your plan. In this episode, we highlight a few essential factors to consider before choosing when to begin benefits. What we cover: ✅ Full Retirement Age: How it’s calculated and why it even matters. ✅ Early v...

Let’s make sense of your 401k with real questions, clear answers, and potential strategies for 2025 and beyond. Whether you’re new to your 401k or looking to reevaluate your current setup, this video gives you clarity and confidence to take action. ✅ Roth vs. Pre-Tax Contributions ✅ Employer Match Explained (5% for 4% and more) ✅ Target Date Funds ✅ 2025 Contribution Limits, Catch-Up & Sup...

𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐲, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬! In this episode, we discuss the emotional and strategic side of retirement spending. From understanding how much we can spend with $2.5 million to evaluating large purchases. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫: 🔍 Why a 100% simulation of success in re...

There’s been a lot of noise around tax law updates lately. Some of these changes are worth a closer look. In this episode, we break down what’s new after Public Law 119-21 -- aka "The Big Beautiful Bill" Topics: 🎯 Why the standard deduction is shifting (and what $31,500 means for many filers) 🎯 How child tax credits, overtime pay, and tips are being treated differently now🎯 What to know about t...