Retirement Made Simple

In this episode of "Retirement Made Simple," we delve into the fascinating world of guaranteed income and its profound impact on retirement spending. We explore why many retirees, despite having sufficient funds, often underspend in their golden years. We discuss the findings of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) and how it reveals that households with more wealth in guaranteed income...

In this episode, we dive into a topic that's often misunderstood by investors: Dividends. While many people are attracted by the promise of regular income from dividend-paying stocks, it's not all smooth sailing. Our host explores the five potential pitfalls of dividends: Yield Chasing, Dividends Aren't Guaranteed, Lack of Diversification, Lack of Tax Efficiency, and Significant Risks...

In today's episode of "Retirement Made Simple", we delve into the world of financial regrets and how you can avoid them as you navigate your journey towards retirement. Our discussion is guided by a recent insightful survey conducted by economists Abigail Hurwitz and Olivia Mitchell, which polled Americans over the age of 50, revealing the top five financial regrets that they have. W...

In today's episode, we're talking about how to prepare for a smooth transition into retirement. Whether you're five years away from retirement or just starting to think about it, these steps are crucial for ensuring you are financially, emotionally, and physically ready for this significant life change. Disclaimer: This episode is for informational purposes only and does not constitute...

In this episode of "Retirement Made Simple," we take a deep dive into the world of old 401(k) accounts, specifically focusing on five possible options for what you can do with them. This includes leaving your money in your old 401(k), rolling it over into a new employer's plan, rolling it over into an Individual Retirement Account (IRA), or cashing it out. Throughout the episode, we...

In this episode, host Kevin Lum focuses on the downsides of investing in a 401k. He starts by providing an overview of the history of 401k and the importance of understanding the potential costs associated with this popular retirement savings option. The first downside discussed is the high fees you can find in a 401k plan. The second downside of investing in a 401k: limited investment options. He...

In this episode of Retirement Made Simple, host Kevin Lum, CFP® discusses the critical decision of when to claim Social Security benefits: at age 62 or 70. Should you take Social security right away or delay. Tune in as we dive deep into the factors that can impact your financial future, including understanding Social Security benefits, the pros and cons of claiming at different ages, and how to m...

In today’s episode I want to explain one of the most overlooked strategies for both reducing your taxable income and investing for the future.   In fact, I’m going to show you how you can get a tax deduction today and allow the money to grow tax deferred for years and then take out the money tax free.  You can find a list of expenses that qualify for a health savings account expendi...

It seems nearly impossible to find a safe place to park your cash with decent returns. In this episode I'm going to walk through three places you can park extra cash that pay up to 1000% more money than your local bank.

The IRS recently disallowed a charitable donation, because the donor was missing just a few simple words. And it turns out a lot of donors are making the exact same mistake. In this video I'll walk through the mistake a widow made that cost her a $464,000 tax deduction because her tax paperwork lacked a few key words and tell you how to avoid the same mistake. We'll walk through the key things you...

On this episode, we talk with Fari Gonzaque of Transformations by Fari about staying healthy and active in retirement. Fari has been a fitness coach for over 30 years.

In this episode we explore the question of whether we're headed for a recession along with practical tips for handling a market downturn and economic slowdown. 

In this episode, I recap an email I wrote to our clients about current market volatility and also give my thoughts on the future of the market.