Dollars With Dennis

Get your customized planning started today by connecting with Dennis 👉 https://www.faith401kmgmt.com/contact_us/ Turning 62 unlocks Social Security, but deciding when to file is one of the biggest income decisions you’ll make in retirement. Find out why some people claim early, why others wait, and how fear, health, and lifestyle goals often shape the decision more than math alone. If you want a...

Get your customized planning started today by connecting with Dennis 👉 https://www.faith401kmgmt.com/contact_us/ Nothing will mess with your financial confidence faster than comparing your savings to someone else’s highlight reel. Whether it’s a sibling, a coworker, or a YouTuber who claims they retired at 35, comparison can make even solid savers feel behind. Today, Dennis shares what really mat...

Get your customized planning started today by connecting with Dennis 👉 https://www.faith401kmgmt.com/contact_us/ A lot happened in 2025: big political swings, stubborn inflation, new tax rules, and even a historic government shutdown. But headlines alone don’t determine your retirement outcomes. In this episode, Dennis reveals the biggest financial events of the year and explains what actually ma...

Get your customized planning started today by connecting with Dennis 👉 https://www.faith401kmgmt.com/contact_us/ You’ve heard of Baby’s First Christmas, but what about Retiree’s First Christmas? Your first holiday season after leaving the workforce is a milestone all on its own. The schedule, the spending, the traditions… everything feels a little different. In this episode, Dennis talks about wh...

Get your customized planning started today by connecting with Dennis 👉 https://www.faith401kmgmt.com/contact_us/ The smartest retirees all have one thing in common… they know how to ask better questions. In this episode, Dennis breaks down how the wording, focus, and intent behind your questions can completely change the quality of your retirement decisions. We reveal the usual questions people a...

Get your customized planning started today by connecting with Dennis 👉 https://www.faith401kmgmt.com/contact_us/ How do you know when a financial advisor just isn’t the right fit? In this episode, we break down five of the biggest red flags people overlook when choosing or evaluating an advisor. Dennis explains why advisor stability matters, the dangers of “one-size-fits-all” planning, and how a...

Get your customized planning started today by connecting with Dennis 👉 https://www.faith401kmgmt.com/contact_us/ Getting married later in life means you’re combining lives but not necessarily combining finances. How do you build a retirement plan together when you’ve both already built your own?  Dennis answers a listener’s question about navigating financial and emotional security in later-life...

Giving Tuesday (Dec 2, 2025) and year-end donations are right around the corner. But before you hit that “donate” button, let’s talk about how to give with both your heart and your head, because generosity feels even better when it’s part of a plan. Dennis breaks down the “why, when, how much, and what” of charitable giving and how to make your generosity meaningful, strategic, and tax-efficient....

Get your customized planning started today by connecting with Dennis 👉 https://www.faith401kmgmt.com/contact_us/ Is having more than one financial advisor a smart move or a recipe for confusion? Today, Dennis breaks down the motivations behind splitting assets between multiple experts and highlights the common pitfalls of this approach. You’ll also hear about why consolidating with one trusted ad...

Get your customized planning started today by connecting with Dennis 👉 https://www.faith401kmgmt.com/contact_us/ Fidelity just released their 2025 Retiree Health Care Cost Estimate, and the number is staggering: $172,500 for a 65-year-old retiring today. The bigger problem? One in five Americans haven’t even thought about health care costs in retirement. Dennis breaks down what this means, why it...

Get your customized planning started today by connecting with Dennis 👉 https://www.faith401kmgmt.com/contact_us/ According to recent surveys, the emotional and financial burden of paying for college often exceeds expectations. In this episode, Dennis unpacks the tough trade-offs parents face when trying to help their kids through school without sacrificing their own future. College is a huge inve...

Get your customized planning started today by connecting with Dennis 👉 https://www.faith401kmgmt.com/contact_us/ After years of being overlooked, bonds are back in the spotlight, and investors want to know if now’s the time to buy. Dennis breaks down how bonds really work, what’s driving today’s yields, and why they might deserve a bigger role in your portfolio. Bonds can provide income, balance,...

Get your customized planning started today by connecting with Dennis 👉 https://www.faith401kmgmt.com/contact_us/ According to recent surveys, the emotional and financial burden of paying for college often exceeds expectations. In this episode, Dennis unpacks the tough trade-offs parents face when trying to help their kids through school without sacrificing their own future. He also shares practic...

Get your customized planning started today by connecting with Dennis 👉 https://www.faith401kmgmt.com/contact_us/ Well, you’re retired. Now what? Some people subscribe to the “first year rule,” which says that the majority of your best retirement months will take place in the first year. So how can you be strategic during that time and set the tone in the right way, both emotionally and financiall...

Get your customized planning started today by connecting with Dennis 👉 https://www.faith401kmgmt.com/contact_us/ Downsizing may seem like a quick way to cut costs and simplify life, but rising property taxes, insurance rates, and HOA fees can quickly erase any savings. Is downsizing truly the answer, or does it just bring more complications? Today, we’ll go beyond the financials to explore the em...

Think Medicare is free once you turn 65? Not quite. Many retirees are shocked to discover IRMAA—the Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount—a hidden surcharge that increases your Medicare Part B and Part D premiums if your income crosses certain thresholds. This can quietly shrink your Social Security check by thousands of dollars a year, and most people don’t even realize it until it shows up in...

Get your customized planning started today by connecting with Dennis 👉 https://www.faith401kmgmt.com/contact_us/ You’ve spent decades building your investment accounts, monitoring the markets, and contributing to your 401(k). That’s great. But here’s the truth: you’re not ready to retire if that’s all you’ve done. Retirement planning isn’t just about your portfolio; it’s about so much more. In to...

Get your customized planning started today by connecting with Dennis 👉 https://www.faith401kmgmt.com/contact_us/ If your parents passed away relatively young, it’s only natural to wonder whether you’ll follow the same path. And from a financial standpoint, does that change how you should approach things like retirement planning and when to draw Social Security benefits? In today’s episode, Dennis...

Get your customized planning started today by connecting with Dennis 👉 https://www.faith401kmgmt.com/contact_us/ Most people don’t feel wealthy. But what if your day-to-day habits are quietly building serious financial strength? A recent article from Kiplinger outlined five surprising signs that you might be richer than you think. And none of them involve yachts or private jets. In this episode,...

Get your customized planning started today by connecting with Dennis 👉 https://www.faith401kmgmt.com/contact_us/ The kids may be heading back to class, but it’s not a bad time for adults to hit the books too, especially when it comes to retirement. So, let’s test your knowledge with a quick financial pop quiz and see how ready you really are. In this episode, Dennis takes you through five multipl...

Get your customized planning started today by connecting with Dennis 👉 https://www.faith401kmgmt.com/contact_us/ Just because something used to be true doesn’t mean it still is today, especially when it comes to retirement planning. In 2025, rising interest rates, tax uncertainty, and longer life expectancies mean it’s time to rethink some long-held financial beliefs. In this episode, Dennis shar...

Get your customized planning started today by connecting with Dennis 👉 https://www.faith401kmgmt.com/contact_us/ You’ve worked hard, saved diligently, and finally retired… but now the doubt sets in. Today we’ll tackle a question many retirees secretly ask: “What if I made a mistake by retiring too soon?” In this episode, Dennis shares why those feelings are normal and how the right plan should br...

A listener wrote in with a question that many couples might relate to: “How do we plan for retirement when we don’t share accounts and don’t even know each other’s spending habits?” In this episode, Dennis walks through what it looks like to plan for the future when your finances aren’t fully merged, and how couples can find clarity even when they’re working from two different spreadsheets. Here’s...

Dave Ramsey is one of the most recognized voices in personal finance. His 9-step retirement plan is simple, direct, and built for mass appeal. But is it really the best path for your retirement?  Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode: 🧭 Why your retirement plan should start with setting goals 💸 Why saving more than 15% may be necessary 🏡 When paying off your mortgage early makes sense...

In the book The Five People You Meet in Heaven , each person the main character meets helps him understand his life in a new way. Today, Dennis talks about the five people you should meet before retirement. These are the people who can guide your next chapter and help you retire with clarity, confidence, and purpose. Inspired by the themes of that book, Dennis shares a practical, down-to-earth roa...