Retire Sooner with Wes Moss

Unpack the keys to investing for a happy retirement by highlighting foundational principles like prioritizing stocks to combat inflation and the strategic use of diversified "dry powder" assets for stability. Tackle listener questions, exploring international investments, mortgage payoff strategies, long-term healthcare costs, and tax-efficient withdrawals. On today’s episode, Wes is joined again...

On today’s episode, Wes looks at 2024’s obstacles to see what might serve as clues for success in 2025. The resilient U.S. economy closed 2024 with a 25% S&P 500 gain, defying inflation fears, international turmoil, and political upheaval. While consumer spending remains a vital economic driver, boosted by low unemployment and rising wages, renewed productivity fueled by AI and innovation could sp...

On today's episode of the Retire Sooner Podcast, we dive into the essential pillars for seeking to achieve financial freedom and a fulfilling retirement. Wes outlines five key strategies that may contribute to long-term success: prioritizing stocks, embracing massive diversification, practicing patience and longevity, navigating today's investing challenges, and creating a robust financial plan. W...

We’ve all met that one guy who pontificates endlessly about the “fantastic” investments he’s made that year. He always seems drawn to the hottest and latest trends. You don’t fully believe him, but it still makes you feel a bit of dread at the thought of being left behind. On this episode of the Retire Sooner Podcast, Producer Mallory joins Wes in the studio to explain why a fear of missing out on...

Most people have a vague idea of what it takes to stay healthy as we age—some combination of cutting out the delicious, irresponsible activities while adding in more nutritious, boring ones. While it never seemed overly complicated, it also didn’t sound very fun. Today’s guest flipped that script. According to Maddy Dychtwald, a healthy mindset can lower stress, which can actually make it easier a...

Everyone wants a good life, but what does that mean, and how can you make it happen? On today’s show, Wes combines analysis from a neuroscientist, a bank CEO, and two very different retirees to find the overlapping characteristics of each. According to Dr. Wendy Suzuki, professor of Neural Science and Psychology at New York University, the unifying theme is some sort of fulfillment. In a discussio...

I was recently at my son’s football games when one of the other dads walked over. He looked about 45 and said he was starting to think about the future. It’s a typical age for that concern to creep in, especially once a person feels financially secure. Now that you can take your foot off the gas a little bit, where should you steer the vehicle? Dr. Riley Moynes is a doctor of figuring out what to...

Our Retire Sooner Team has been researching, studying, and writing about happy retirements for years, so there aren’t many aspects we haven’t considered. But every once in a while, a new study grabs our attention. The latest, Retire Without Regrets, from the Harvard Business Review, used a longitudinal study to examine the gap between retirement expectations and real-world applications. Using life...

The transition from one goal to another is often more challenging than either of the goals themselves. Once you get going, momentum can do a lot of the work, but turning the ship around or veering in a different direction takes planning, effort, discipline, and patience. If that sounds daunting, don’t worry. Today’s guest can help. Dr. Dorian Mintzer specializes in life transitions, helping both i...

Only 36% of voters still believe the American Dream is attainable, according to a 2023 Wall Street Journal/NORC survey. This figure is decidedly lower than other pollster findings in similar surveys. Those revealed that 48% of voters in 2016 and 53% in 2012 felt reasonably assured of their opportunities for a prosperous future. In other words, more than half of Americans felt optimistic in 2012, a...

Think about the day you drove your favorite car off the dealer’s lot. The engine was purring, the paint job was shining, and it ran like a dream. But as time passed, little things started to go wrong. A scratch here. An odd noise there. You took it to the shop for repairs, but eventually, you had to buy a new one. The same thing happens to our bodies. Unfortunately, we can’t just buy new ones when...

Warren Buffett once said, “If a statue is ever erected to honor the person who has done the most for American investors, the hands-down choice should be Jack Bogle.” By creating index investing, the Vanguard Group founder helped to provide investors with a streamlined and low-cost way to buy broader market-tracking mutual funds. Though he died in 2019, his lessons continue to light the path toward...

Investing for the future can be daunting. And while many of us assume the key is mastering the market’s financial aspects, a persuasive argument says the behavioral side is perhaps even more critical. How we think about money can significantly impact our journey to financial freedom in retirement. But where exactly is that intersection of mind and markets? Dr. Daniel Crosby is the Chief Behavioral...

How will the recent Federal Reserve rate cut impact your retirement income? Are your investments at risk or ready to benefit? In today’s episode of Retire Sooner, Wes Moss breaks down the 0.5% interest rate cut announced on September 18th and what it could mean for income investors. Plus, we revisit our popular episode, “Income Investing: The Process, The Approach, and The Reward,” where Wes dives...

More than one in five Americans serve as caretakers for an elderly parent or aging relative. How will we know what to do if and when that time comes? Is there someone we can ask? On today’s episode of the Retire Sooner Podcast, Wes sits down with author and Certified Caregiving Consultant Elizabeth Miller. Elizabeth’s experiences caring for her aging parents and a brother with a developmental disa...

In today’s episode of the Retire Sooner Podcast, Wes takes aim at a recent Wall Street Journal article claiming the 60/40 portfolio and 4% retirement withdrawal rate could lead to ‘catastrophic’ outcomes. Wes concedes the author’s point about market unpredictability but rebuts such a gloomy hypothetical. He points to the potentially destructive consequences such an outlook can have on those fighti...

Have you ever met a 75-year-old who seems 40? How about a 30-year-old who seems 50? Why do some folks seem to age like a fine wine while others settle like a lukewarm wine cooler? On today’s episode of the Retire Sooner Podcast, Wes sits down with Dr. Alan Castel to delve into how we might be able to improve our own aging process. A Professor in UCLA’s Psychology Department, he studies learning, m...

Americans have faced immense financial challenges in the past two-plus decades. The Dotcom Bubble sent stock prices down nearly 50% between 2000 and 2002, the Great Recession and Housing Crisis of 2007-2009 cratered stocks more than 55%, and theCOVID-19 Pandemic and shutdowns sent stocks tumbling 30% in a month’s span and led to massive inflation and high interest rates thereafter. In today’s epis...

A fulfilling job is great, but being able to do it in your pajamas? Now, we’re talking. On today’s episode, we’re joined by Kerry Hannon, author of “Great Pajama Jobs: Your Complete Guide To Working From Home.” Between that and the dozen other books she’s published, Kerry is a renowned professional on careers, entrepreneurship, and financial planning for older adults. The smoother your transition...

On today’s episode of the Retire Sooner Podcast, Wes examines the recent market crash and analyzes how the Fed’s decisions may have helped lower inflation but negatively affected the housing market and unemployment rate. Wes acknowledges that the specific challenges can differ for each market downturn but reassures listeners that productive reactions often follow evergreen principles. He then disc...

It’s been said that loneliness is worse for our health than smoking cigarettes. Take a second to inhale that scary thought. In contrast, pro-social behavior triggers the release of oxytocin in our body. That’s the love hormone, and it’s crucial for happiness. We’ve all had that nagging feeling that we need to spend more leisure time with friends and family. But some of the options out there aren’t...

In today’s episode, Wes points out that the population of mini-millionaires is growing and that society’s perception of them isn’t always very accurate. Producer Mallory Boggs joins to discuss this latest variant of what authors Thomas Stanley and Bill Danko originally coined, The Millionaire Next Door. They elaborate on five habits that this cohort tends to follow. And Wes points out that althoug...

In this actionable episode of Retire Sooner, Wes Moss sits down with Erin Eleuterio to explore the importance of physical activity for older adults. Erin shares her unique techniques, like parkour-based fall resiliency training, to help people in their 70s and 80s stay strong and recover from falls. They discuss the benefits of programs such as SilverSneakers, which offers resources for seniors to...

On today’s episode, we ponder the question, “Can money buy happiness?” The answer might surprise listeners, and Wes borrows the words of best-selling author Morgan Housel to help discuss the positive and negative psychological effects money can have on retirees. Wes then uses his own “Bucket System” analogy to explain income investing and how three keys can help folks sleep well at night. Learn mo...

Morgan Housel’s eye-opening book amplified the idea that the intersection of psychology and money is bigger and more bustling than most of us know. Today’s guest, Christine Moriarty, has dedicated her life to finding harmony between the two. Christine isn’t the typical CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™. Despite her finance degree and MBA in Entrepreneurship, she was never even remotely interested in fi...