Ready For Retirement

If you’re retired, you can’t wait around for the next bonus or stock to vest when you have a large expense. When you’re on a fixed income it’s more important than ever to find the best way to pull funds for large expenses.  In today’s episode, James explains how to find the best way to pay for large expenses in retirement while answering a listener’s question. Questions Answered:  Should you use I...

How much of your portfolio is safe to hold in one individual stock?  While 5% or 10% is typically recommended, rules of thumb like these are often irrelevant and harmful. The right answer depends upon your specific situation. James explains the right way to determine how much individual stock you should hold based on your situation. Questions Answered: How much is okay to have in an individual sto...

What do you think is the key to a successful retirement? By asking yourself the right questions and being intentional about using money to enrich life, you can live more presently in the moment and enjoy a meaningful and successful retirement. James explains the most important question to ask yourself so that you can transform your retirement. Questions Answered: How do you get the most out of lif...

For many people, Social Security will be their primary income source in retirement, but some individuals have sufficient assets or income from other sources, making them less dependent on Social Security benefits. James explains the factors that can affect when you should collect Social Security and how to create a dynamic strategy. Questions Answered:  What if you have sufficient assets/ income t...

Description There are a lot of good reasons to put your money into a Roth account. But does it make sense to have all your money in Roth accounts? The truth is, there is  a point at which it's potentially harmful to continue putting money into Roth accounts.  James explains the nuances of Roth accounts and tax planning, while answering a listener's question. Questions Answered: Is there...

How much it will cost to meet your needs is one of the hardest parts to understand about retirement. Relying on conventional wisdom will only get you so far, and may even lead you astray. In this episode, we explain how to get an accurate sense of your retirement expenses while walking you through a real example from a listener question. As a bonus, we are including a free worksheet for you to use...

Many people believe that when you're retired, you need to own your own home, ideally without a mortgage. But there are instances where renting can make more sense, not just financially but for several other reasons.  In this episode, James discusses the pros and cons of owning versus renting and when it makes sense to rent instead of own. Questions answered: In what instances does it make mor...

Required Minimum Distributions work differently depending on the type of account. How can you most effectively plan for them?  Today we're talking through everything you need to know about RMDs so you can understand their nuances and create a plan to best address them. Questions Answered: At what age do you need to take an RMD? What accounts do you have to take an RMD on? Timestamps: 0:00 Int...

For people who are planning to retire early, planning for retirement can be especially daunting.  There are many different points to consider, but the most important is ensuring that your income stream will sustain you for the rest of your life. Today’s case study examines someone who is looking to retire early so that you can understand what framework and approach to apply to your own situation....

One of the best things you can do for your portfolio is to implement the right tax strategy. Each situation is unique and requires a personalized approach. Using a listener’s question, James explains one specific example to show when and how to implement the right strategy.  Questions Answered:  Why should or shouldn't you do Roth conversions? What should you be mindful of when doing Roth con...

Managing your cash reserves in retirement can get complicated quickly between living expenses, multiple income streams, taxes owed, etc.  James explains how you should manage your cash reserves based on your financial plan and answers a listener’s question. Questions Answered: How do you incorporate cash needs and short-term assets into your bigger-picture portfolio? How does that change from work...

When you retire, there are surprising things you’ll wish you knew beforehand. Unlike social security, IRAs, or Medicare, most people don’t often plan for the emotional and personal matters of retirement. James discusses the five things people often regret not understanding before retirement.  Questions Answered: What do people regret not knowing before retirement? How can you avoid those mistakes?...

James discusses a listener’s question about what to do with stock positions and single stock positions, explaining the pros and cons of holding a concentrated stock position.  He highlights the importance of understanding tax implications and assessing your ability to handle financial and emotional implications. Questions Answered: What should you do when you have a large concentrated stock positi...

James debunks six popular rules of thumb that can actually do more harm than good when it comes to retirement planning.  From the 100-minus-your-age stock allocation rule to the 70% to 80% income replacement myth, James breaks down why rules like these can be counterproductive and suggests alternative strategies that will help you create a personalized financial plan that meets your unique needs a...

In this episode, James tackles a listener’s question about investing a lump sum for his upcoming retirement.  James analyzes one's situation and gives realistic insights on determining the right mix of stable and growth assets that will generate a rising income stream for the rest of your life.  Tune in for tips on how to secure a comfortable retirement using a real-life example. Questions An...

Oftentimes we make decisions about our portfolios based on what we think is the smartest move. Yet when we do that, we can lose sight of the bigger picture.  In this episode, we’ll discuss how the context in which you view your portfolio can steer your financial decisions for years to come. Questions answered: What’s the difference between financial strategy and financial tactics? What are the key...

You might be missing something if you're focusing only on your initial withdrawal rate... ...on today's episode, we'll cover what you might be missing, and how you can maximize your portfolio withdrawal strategy. Questions answered: What is the 4% rule and how does it apply to me? How should staggered income and expenses alter your withdrawal strategy? Time stamps 0:00 Intro 2:15 Wh...

In this episode of Ready for Retirement, James discusses how 4 reasons to NOT do a Roth Conversion. Questions Answered:  How to think through whether a Roth Conversion makes sense for you Understanding how to implement effective Roth Conversions  How can your overall retirement strategy be improved? Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction  2:13 - Example 4:25 - Plan for Conversions 7:22 - Age / Life Expe...

In this episode of Ready for Retirement, James discusses how to protect your most important financial assets. Questions Answered:  How should you think about protecting your most important financial assets? Understanding how to protect what's most important (your TIME) How can your overall retirement strategy be improved? Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction  2:13 - Downsides To Continuing Work 4...

In this episode of Ready for Retirement, James discusses how to protect your most important financial assets. Questions Answered:  How should you think about protecting your most important financial assets? Understanding how to protect what's most important How can your overall retirement strategy be improved? Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction  1:30 - Income 3:25 - Compounding 5:04 - Take-Home...

In this episode of Ready for Retirement, James discusses umbrella insurance coverage and how much you need. Questions Answered:  How should I think about an Umbrella Insurance Policy (how much)? Understanding how much defense (risk management) is needed How can your overall retirement strategy be improved? Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction  2:30 - Umbrella Insurance 101 3:25 - Home/Auto Policies 5:...

In this episode of Ready for Retirement, James discusses Deferred Compensation Plans and how to consider them within your overall retirement strategy. Questions Answered:  How should I think about Deferred Compensation in context of my overall plan? When does it make sense to defer compensation (and when does it NOT)? How can your overall retirement strategy be improved? Timestamps: 00:00 - Introd...

In this episode of Ready for Retirement, Ari Taublieb, MBA guest hosts the Ready for Retirement podcast to discuss where you should pull income from first when you retire early. Ari Taublieb, MBA is the Vice President of Root Financial Partners and a Financial Advisor. This episode is part three of a three-part series. Ari is the host of the Early Retirement podcast available here .  Ari is also o...

In this episode of Ready for Retirement, Ari Taublieb, MBA guest hosts the Ready for Retirement podcast to discuss the 5 mistakes to make sure you avoid when retiring early. Ari Taublieb, MBA is the Vice President of Root Financial Partners and a Financial Advisor. This episode is part two of a three-part series. Ari is the host of the Early Retirement podcast available here .  Ari is also on YouT...

In this episode of Ready for Retirement, Ari Taublieb, MBA guest hosts the Ready for Retirement podcast to discuss the 5 mistakes to make sure you avoid when retiring early. Ari Taublieb, MBA is the Vice President of Root Financial Partners and a Financial Advisor. This episode is part one of a three-part series. Ari is the host of the Early Retirement podcast available here . Ari is also on YouTu...