Retire Today

Jeremy Keil explains how putting your cash in the wrong spot could prevent you from earning thousands in interest during your retirement. Many retirees spend a lot of time thinking about how to get better returns on their investments. But very few spend time thinking about the return on their cash. That’s a problem. Because for many retirees, cash isn’t a small side account. It can be a meaningful...

Author Ethan Lohr shares how the four buckets retirement income strategy helps retirees behavior-proof their retirement. Many retirees face one similar problem that they struggle to name: the emotional shift from saving money to spending it. Retirement typically means going from “decades of saving to decades of retirement where you’re spending ,” and that transition creates real anxiety for people...

Jeremy Keil explains 3 smart ways to help your kids with money while avoiding IRS paperwork Early in the year, I received an email from a couple asking a question I hear all the time: “What’s the maximum we can give our kids?” That question usually shows up in December. Parents are trying to get a last-minute gift in before the year ends, and the conversation quickly becomes about tax limits. But...

The retirement mindset mentor George Jerjian explains how a second chance at life inspires him to help coach people into retirement. When George Jerjian was 52 years old, he was diagnosed with a bone tumor and given six months to live. For three weeks, he believed that was it. Then he was told he belonged to what he calls “the 2% club.” The cancer hadn’t spread. He would live. That experience didn...

Jeremy Keil explains the 5 RMD (Required Minimum Distribution) mistakes in Retirement and how to avoid them. A retiree recently called for help. It was their first year taking Required Minimum Distributions. They had delayed their first RMD until April of the following year — which meant taking two distributions in one tax year. That part was allowed. In some cases, it can even be strategic. But w...

Nate Miles joins Jeremy Keil to discuss how the Allspring retirement research reveals trends of concern among retirees and the options they have to address them. Mike and Susan did what many couples do. They saved diligently. They crossed the $1 million mark before retirement. They felt prepared. But when it came time to make actual retirement decisions—when to claim Social Security, how to withdr...

Jeremy Keil examines how tax law changes might affect Roth conversion strategies for retirees in 2026. A few years ago, Roth conversions felt like one of those rare financial strategies that was almost too obvious to ignore. Taxes were historically low. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act had put a clear expiration date on those lower brackets. And for many retirees, the logic seemed airtight: pay taxes now...

A candid conversation with Eric Brotman on why retirement planning needs structure, flexibility, and fewer assumptions. One of the things I’ve learned after years of retirement planning conversations is that most people aren’t short on opinions — they’re short on clarity. They’ve heard plenty of rules. They’ve absorbed countless headlines. They’ve picked up advice from coworkers, friends, and fina...

Retirement researcher Stefan Sharkansky explains why the 4% rule often leaves retirees underspending — and how a more flexible, math-driven approach can lead to a better retirement experience. For decades, the 4% rule has been treated as a gold standard for retirement spending. In fact, I made video about it on my YouTube channel . If you ask most retirees how much they can safely spend, the conve...

Author Jesse Hurst explains how retirement planning helps reduce the guesswork of retiring through his book “PopEnomics”. A lot of people approach financial planning with one big fear: that it’s going to feel restrictive. Budgets. Rules. Spreadsheets. Being told what you can’t do with your money. But in this episode of Retire Today , I sat down with Impel Wealth Management president and author of...

Happiness expert Monique Rhodes explains why retirement often feels disorienting at first — and how creating a personal retirement roadmap can turn this transition into one of the most fulfilling stages of life. Retirement is often marketed as the ultimate reward. After decades of work, deadlines, and responsibility, you finally arrive at a chapter filled with freedom, rest, and happiness. But for...

Gary Zimmerman of Max ® explains how to utilize your cash asset in retirement. Cash is one of the most overlooked assets in retirement. Here’s how retirees can earn thousands more in interest while keeping their money safe and FDIC-insured. Many retirees spend years carefully managing their investments — stocks, bonds, and retirement accounts get plenty of attention. But there’s one asset class th...

Jeremy Keil explains the 5 steps you can take if you are planning to retire in 2026 or 2027. If you’ve been planning to retire in 2026 or 2027, it might feel like you still have plenty of time. But in reality, retirement has a way of showing up earlier than expected — and when it does, the people who feel the most confident are the ones who prepared well in advance. In this episode of Retire Today...

Jeremy Keil weighs the opportunities and risks associated with giving your money away to your kids and charity. Most retirees I talk with don’t worry about whether they can give money away. They worry about whether they should . When you’ve worked hard, saved diligently, and reached a point where you have more than you need, a new question quietly creeps in: What’s the purpose of the extra? In thi...

Jeremy Keil explains the top 3 tax efficient strategies for charitable giving in 2025. Most people give to charity because it’s meaningful to them — not because of the tax break. And that’s the right mindset. But if you’re already giving, it makes sense to be intentional and structure that giving in a way that helps you keep more of your hard-earned money . In this episode of Retire Today , I walk...

Jeremy Keil explores 7 money moves you can consider before the new year to lower your taxes and keep more of your money in retirement. Every December, people scramble to finish holiday shopping, travel plans, and year-end tasks. But one of the most important deadlines — your December 31st tax deadline — often gets overlooked until it’s too late. And once the calendar flips to January 1st, many of...

Dale Hall of the Society of Actuaries explains how to project your longevity and why informed life expectancy matters for retirement planning. Most people build their retirement plan around a single number: life expectancy . They’ll say, “My dad died at 78, my mom at 82, so I’ll probably be gone by then too.” Then they quietly design their plan to “run out” around that age. But as my guest Dale Ha...

Author Beth Pinsker shares her experience overcoming the challenges of financial caregiving based on her book “My Mother’s Money.” Most people imagine estate planning, inheritance, and beneficiaries when they think about aging. But today, more and more adult children are also facing something much harder: stepping in to manage their parents’ finances when those parents can no longer manage them al...

Jeremy Keil dives into the details of estate planning, what people often miss and how to leave a legacy that lasts. When most people hear the words estate planning , they think about wills, trusts, and what happens after they’re gone. But that’s only half the picture. Estate planning is just as much about protecting you while you’re alive as it is about transferring assets after you pass. In this...

Author Jillian Johnsrud explains how mini retirements help people retire often in this week’s episode of “Retire Today” with Jeremy Keil. When most people think about retirement, they picture one big event—the day they finally walk away from their job and start living life on their own terms. But what if instead of waiting 30 or 40 years for that freedom, you could enjoy pieces of retirement throu...

Jeremy Keil compares long-term care insurance to self-funding long-term care through the lens of 3 clarifying questions. When most people start planning for retirement, they’re focused on investment returns, income, and taxes. But one of the biggest financial and emotional challenges retirees face isn’t about markets or money — it’s about health. Specifically, it’s about how to plan for long-term...

Rona Guymon and Jeremy Keil discuss how the recent economic changes have affected retirement plans and strategies. Is inflation forcing you to rethink your retirement plans? You’re not alone. In a recent episode of the Retire Today podcast, I sat down with Rona Guymon from the Nationwide Retirement Institute to discuss how recent economic changes are reshaping retirement expectations. Rona and her...

Kanwal Sarai of “Simply Investing” explains his 12 rules for dividend investing and how this strategy could be used in retirement planning. When most people think of investing, they picture charts, constant news updates, and the stress of trying to time the market. But as my guest Kanwal Sarai shared on the Retire Today podcast, successful investing doesn’t have to be complicated—or stressful. In...

Andrew Motiwalla explains how to prepare for long-term travel and how to incorporate travel into your retirement plan. When I sit down with people to talk about retirement, one of the first things I hear is, “I want to spend more time with my grandkids and I want to travel.” And while grandkids may not need much planning, travel does—especially if you want to do it in a way that truly enriches you...

Discover how step 5 of building your retirement master plan can help you leave a lasting legacy while avoiding the big 3 retirement risks. When most people think about retirement planning, they picture saving money, managing investments, and planning income. But retirement is about more than how you live—it’s also about what you leave behind. And as I often remind my clients, it’s not what you lea...