Common Curiosities: Retirement

In this episode Michael CFP®, EA, CSS™ answers four retirement planning questions found with Reddit to hopefully help answer people's questions! 𝐓𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞: 💭 Is having a will enough to avoid probate? 💭 Pros/Cons of putting retirement savings in a savings account? 💭 Do you owe taxes when selling investments in a 401(k)? 💭 Does owning 15 mutual funds mean you're diversified enough?...

Is life insurance a necessary cost or are you paying premiums for coverage you’ve outgrown? Michael Custer CFP®, EA, CSS™ is transparent about his take on the industry. He doesn't love paying for insurance, but it's valuable when needed. So, when would he look at getting life insurance, and when would he pass? Also, what type of insurance does he lean toward? Today, he breaks down some rea...

Turns out, a lot of people have the same questions sitting in the back of their heads. They just don't always know who to ask or are scared to ask! In this episode, Michael Custer CFP®, EA, CSS™ digs into four questions. The kind that sound simple on the surface but can get complicated when planning in depth. We're working through the tradeoffs, the gray areas, and the decisions that may l...

A lot of retirement withdrawal advice is simple: Something like 1.) Spend your brokerage account first, then 2.) Use our pre-tax accounts, and 3.) save the Roth assets for last. But when you really study it, does that always make the most sense? In this episode, Michael Custer CFP®, EA walks through a different way to think about retirement income. Instead of following a rigid order, this conversa...

Homeowners do have access to valuable tax deductions and strategies but most people only know about one or two of them. In this episode, Michael Custer CFP®, EA explores some of the most common tax planning tools available on your primary home. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐘𝐨𝐮'𝐥𝐥 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧! 💭 The mortgage interest deduction: Who qualifies, the limits, and why many people don't use it. 💭 Property tax deductions, inc...

In the previous episode, we broke down what IRMAA is and why it catches so many retirees off guard when it comes to Medicare surcharges. Now it's time to actually see it in action. In this episode, Michael Custer CFP®, EA pulls up real retirement and tax planning software tools and walks through a live scenario — showing how Roth conversions, IRA distributions, and even paying off your home co...

Are you doing Roth conversions without checking this first? If you're not factoring in Medicare surcharges (IRMAA), you could accidentally be paying more for Medicare without even finding out until two years later. In this episode, Michael Custer CFP®, EA breaks down one of the hidden cost of "blind" Roth conversions he sees often. Why could converting too much trigger an Medicare su...

When it comes to investing, a lot of the terminology can feel confusing. What is active vs passive investing? What does alpha actually measure? And what happens if you want to get out of an annuity but there is a surrender charge involved? In this episode of Common Curiosities: Retirement, Michael CFP®, EA walks through three questions that came up. Topics include: 💭 The difference between active...

We find that many people heading into retirement aren't aligning their own life with their investment portfolio and they don't even know it! The investment industry has often placed people in specific investments based upon their age, but why may you want to build a custom investment portfolio based on your life and instead of your age? Here's what we cover: 💭 Why your life and goals — not your a...

What do your taxes actually look like right now and what might they look like in retirement? In this episode, Michael CFP®, EA walks through a listener question from a couple earning $250,000 who wanted to understand their tax picture today, if their 401k contributions are actually helping them much, and what retirement might look like if they plan to spend $100,000/year. This is a step by step wa...

There are so many types of retirement accounts out there… and let’s be honest, most people have no idea what any of them really mean. Whether you’re self‑employed and choosing a plan for your business or trying to learn about the one your employer offers, this episode should help. Jac brings a list of retirement accounts she recently came across and puts Michael CFP®, EA on the spot with a rapid f...

Is there really something magical about having $100,000 invested? Or is it just a shiny milestone that gets a little too much hype? In this episode Jacqueline and Michael unpack the idea of the “$100K magic number” and why it feels so powerful emotionally even though nothing actually flips a switch in your investments overnight. They talk through why the first $100,000 often feels like the hardest...

Budgeting has a reputation for being boring… but does it really have to be? Are there simpler, more flexible ways to manage your money than the old-school method? Instead of pushing a one size fits all spreadsheet, we walk through two very different approaches to budgeting. 1.) The traditional line by line method and 2.) A reverse budgeting system Michael likes to use. Topics include: 💭 Tradition...

How do you actually spend more in retirement? It's not typically by letting the IRS quietly become your biggest business partner via taxes without a plan. In this episode of Common Curiosities: Retirement, we unpack a few of the most overlooked ideas aimed at helping you spend more in retirement. The quiet, low tax years right after retirement feel great… until RMDs, Medicare surcharges, Social Se...

Most people don’t lie awake thinking about Restricted Stock Units (RSUs). Until they have some and then tax time hits. Then suddenly… curiosity shows up quickly. RSUs aren't the most complex form of equity compensation but they can be tricky. RSUs often sneakily behave like a cash bonus for people and if you don’t plan for them properly, they can quietly create tax surprises, risk concentratio...

Are leveraged ETFs a smart move or a hidden risk? What does “negative yield on cash” actually mean? And how should you think about investing when markets fall? In this episode Michael CFP®, EA breaks down leveraged ETFs, market downturn strategy, and negative yields in plain language so you can understand what may make sense for you and your plan! Topics covered in this episode: 💭 Ideas you may c...

If you want your retirement to feel more comfortable and able to spend more, then smart tax planning may make a big difference for you! If you can pay less in taxes, you should be able to spend more on things you enjoy in retirement, right?! In this episode, Michael CFP®, EA breaks down key retirement tax strategies worth considering. It’s designed specifically for the crucial retirement tax plann...

What in the world is an inverted yield curve and should you actually care? In this episode, Michael and Jacqueline break down what a yield curve is, what it means when it inverts, and why headlines love to turn it into a recession panic button. Instead of reacting to alarming charts or social‑media hot takes, we focus on the actual mechanics behind interest rates, bonds, mortgage markets, and futu...

Becoming an attending is a major turning point, and Jacqueline is right in the middle of that transition as she finishes medical school. She’s starting to think through what strategies doctors may use to help reach their financial goals, try to mitigate taxes wisely, and build a foundation that actually supports the life the physician wants. Topics include: 💭 What changes financially when you bec...

Should physicians attack medical school loans immediately or pursue Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)? That question drives this episode. Student loans are not just math. They often shape how you live, how you work, and how much flexibility you may have over your future. This episode is designed for residents and future attendings who are trying to balance debt, life goals, and long term fina...

Stepping into medicine changes a lot including your relationship with money. In this episode of Common Curiosities, we rewind to the very beginning of the financial journey for resident physicians and future doctors. From student loan overwhelm to first paychecks, we explore the big questions that show up when debt, income, and long term planning all collide at once. Topics include: 💭 The two big...

We’re digging into three big questions that involve incentives, trade‑offs, and possible ripple effects few talk about. 𝐓𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞: 💭 A proposed 10% cap on credit card interest rates 💭 Who may benefit and who could lose when credit card rates are limited 💭 How lower interest rates could affect rewards, approvals, spending and stock prices 💭 Why Fannie and Freddie buying mortgages may push...

Why did my tax bill go up… even though little changed at work? As interest rates have gone up, a lot of people started earning more on cash sitting at the bank. And at tax time, that surprise can show up in a real way. In this episode, Michael, CFP®, EA walks through one of the most common and overlooked reasons people owe more than expected: ordinary income taxes on savings, CDs, and money market...

We’re taking a closer look at the loudest housing headlines currently happening. Are we actually on the brink of another 2008-style crash, or is the story more complicated? Could 50‑year mortgages be a lifeline for buyers or a slow‑burn problem in the making? And how do you figure out whether a home truly fits your life, not just what a lender says you can qualify for? Topics include: 💭 What a 50...

Ever wonder whether you’re on track for your retirement goals? In this episode, Michael walks through the question from a couple in their mid‑40s who hope to retire at 62 and spend about $120,000 a year in today’s dollars. They’ve built a strong foundation by saving early, and now they’re asking a great question: Can we ease up a bit and enjoy more life today without getting off course for tomorro...