Retire With Ryan

In an ideal world, everyone should aim to keep 3–6 months of living expenses in an emergency fund. But let's face it—building that kind of safety net isn't always easy. For many pre-retirees, most savings are tied up in retirement accounts, leaving limited options for unexpected expenses. So, what can you do if an emergency arises? In today's episode, I'll walk you through how to access emergency...

If you retire early (before 65), you're too young to qualify for Medicare. So what are your health insurance options? In this episode of Retire with Ryan, I'll address five different options you have to get health insurance. I'll also share some ways you can lower the cost of your premiums to keep coverage affordable until you qualify for Medicare.  You will want to hear this episode if you are in...

President Biden recently signed the Social Security Fairness Act into law, bringing significant changes to Social Security benefits for millions of public school teachers and former public employees. This new legislation eliminates provisions that previously reduced or limited their benefits. In this episode, I'll break down how the bill works, who it impacts, what it means for you, and what steps...

Happy New Year! As we step into 2025, it's time to reflect on the lessons of the past year and anticipate what's ahead. In this episode, I take a deep dive into my 2024 market predictions—where I was right, where I went wrong, and the key takeaways to help guide your investment decisions moving forward. The S&P 500 delivered a remarkable 23.8% return, Bitcoin soared by 121%, and interest rates shi...

In this episode, I'm joined by Larry Swedroe, a thought leader in evidence-based investing and former Chief Research Officer at Buckingham Strategic Wealth. Larry has authored over 18 books that have shaped the way people think about personal finance, and now, after 28 years in the industry, he's sharing the most valuable lessons he's learned in retirement planning and investing. In this episode,...

Happy Holidays and welcome to a special Christmas Eve episode of  Retire with Ryan ! To celebrate the season, I'm embracing the holiday spirit with a financial twist on the iconic Christmas movie,  Home Alone . This 1990 classic has become a Christmas staple, featuring young Kevin McCallister, who's accidentally left behind while his family flies to Paris for Christmas vacation. Armed with creativ...

How can an annuity help you secure income in retirement? Annuities often come with a reputation for being complicated, expensive, and overhyped—but they aren't one-size-fits-all. The truth is, while they're not the best solution for everyone, there are situations where they can provide the guaranteed monthly income some retirees need.  In this episode, I'm joined by Andy Panko, CFP®, RICP®, EA, an...

Last year, Americans donated $558 million  to charities. 69% of those donations come from individuals. They also donated 4.1 billion hours to charities.  If you are someone making a donation to a charity, you need to know how they can help you reduce your taxes. One way to do that is through a donor-advised fund.  What is a donor-advised fund? How does it work? Should you consider using one for ch...

What could a Trump White House and Republican-controlled Congress mean for your finances? In this episode, we break down the potential tax changes—from individual tax brackets to business deductions and state taxes—that could impact your bottom line. Tune in to understand the areas with low, moderate, and high potential for change and what steps you should consider if you live in a high-tax state....

How does Medicare Open Enrollment work? Do you need a supplement plan? How do you choose between a Medigap or Medicare Advantage plan? Navigating these questions can be overwhelming. That's why Danielle Roberts—co-founder of  Boomer Benefits  and the author of "10 Costly Medicare Mistakes You Can't Afford to Make"—joins me in this episode to help you avoid common pitfalls during Medicare Open Enro...

On November 8th, 2024, Medicare announced that in 2025, Medicare Part B will cost $185 per month per person—an increase of about $10.30 from 2024. Keep in mind, if your income is above a certain point, you'll have to pay an "Income-Related Monthly Adjusted Amount," or "IRMAA" tax. Is there a way to avoid paying the IRMAA surcharge? I share some strategies in this episode of Retire with Ryan. You w...

In this episode, we're diving into the often-overlooked tax benefits of 529 plans. Most people know that 529 plans can help cover college expenses, but there are other valuable perks beyond just tuition savings.  From paying down student loans to making the most of tax deferral advantages, this episode breaks down five key tax benefits you may not be aware of. Let me help you maximize the potentia...

The S&P 500 is having another stellar year, yet small-cap stocks—representing the smallest publicly traded companies in the United States—haven't performed as well. While this might seem like a downside, it can also present unique opportunities for investors. In this episode, we'll dive into the pros and cons of investing in small-cap stocks, the potential growth they offer, and how you can get st...

The 2024 election is just days away, and soon you'll have your final chance to cast your vote. With so much at stake, many are anxious about how the markets might respond based on who takes the White House. In this episode of  Retire with Ryan , I'll dive into what we could expect from a Trump or Harris presidency—and explain why, no matter the outcome, it shouldn't drastically change your investm...

In some states, probate  is  avoidable. However, in many states, you can avoid having your estate go through the probate process. I recently went through the probate process when my grandfather passed away and I helped my father settle his estate. It is far easier for your family to settle your estate once you're gone  if it doesn't go through probate . So, in this episode, I'll cover 7 things you...

Protecting your finances from hackers is more critical than ever. Cybercriminals are getting more sophisticated, accessing sensitive information like social security numbers and attempting to steal directly from financial accounts. I recently experienced this firsthand when someone impersonated one of my clients. The fraudster knew my client's social security number and tried to withdraw funds und...

Age 59 ½ is the magic age at which you can start taking distributions from retirement accounts without a penalty. This listener is wondering if he can convert part of his IRA to a Roth IRA even though he's not 59 ½. And if he goes ahead with the conversion, will it be subject to the 10% penalty? Listen to this episode to find out. You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... [1:0...

It can be overwhelming to think about what you can do to minimize your tax burden. That's why, in last week's episode, we covered 7 year-end tax moves for retirees. This week, we'll tackle what those  nearing  retirement need to dive into at the end of every calendar year. We all need to be mindful of how our decisions impact our tax burden and this is a great place to start!  You will want to hea...

Tax planning—and anything related to taxes, in general—isn't most people's favorite topic. But because we're getting toward the end of the year, it's actually a great time to think about tax planning and all of its benefits. In this episode of Retire with Ryan, I'll share 7 things you should think about that can (and will) help save you money in retirement.  You will want to hear this episode if y...

You've likely spent your entire lifetime saving for retirement. How do you make sure the money lasts as long as you do? How do you make sure you enjoy your retirement? It's a balancing act for which there may be a solution.  Matthew Jarvis is a Financial Advisor who runs Jarvis Financial, located in Seattle, WA. He's also the host of the podcast "The Perfect RA" and the author of the book " Delive...

How much money do you need to save for retirement? $500,000? $2 million? The answer will never be the same. It's specific to  you . So how do you figure it out? In this episode of Retire with Ryan, I'll share five steps you can follow to determine how much you need to retire.  You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... [1:25] Step #1: Calculate your budget for retirement [4:11]...

Could Social Security become tax-free? As the political scene heats up leading up to the 2024 Presidential Elections, and both candidates make their case for election, the topic of taxation has come up. Former President Trump has promised that Social Security  won't  be taxed if he's elected. What could that mean for you? How is it currently taxed? I cover the details in this episode of Retire wit...

Did you take out a parent PLUS loan or private loan to help your kids pay for college? Are you still struggling to pay off those loans?  According to StudentAid.gov, over 9 million people over 50 have  student loan debt . Of those, over 1 million have loan balances north of $100,000.  If you're nearing retirement, the last thing you want on your plate is student debt. In this episode of Retire wit...

If you've inherited an IRA from someone who wasn't your spouse since 2020, you can't miss this episode. Why? The IRS has  finally cleared up a lot of questions that had been left unanswered about inherited IRAs from a non-spouse. Though I've covered the topic in previous episodes, I wanted to break down the regulation further in this episode.  You will want to hear this episode if you are interest...

In March, The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) settled an antitrust lawsuit. The lawsuit alleged that NAR didn't allow sellers to negotiate what they could pay buyer's agents. The changes outlined in the settlement  will  impact "business as usual."  As of August 17th, 2024, the way home-buying and selling transactions happen will change. Raquel Fernandez—a realtor with over 20 years of exp...