Retirement Answer Man

Do you wonder what you’ll do with all your free time in retirement? Planning your time by filling your days with purpose and passion can help ease the stress that comes with the sudden emptiness of leaving behind a full-time career.  On this episode of Retirement Answer Man, we’ll discuss how dabbling in a few different activities can help you find your purpose. You’ll also hear the answers to que...

Are you curious about the changes that are coming next year on the Retirement Answer Man show? Today, you’ll have a sneak peek at one of our new segments: the Rock Life segment. Bobby Dubois joins me to discuss how to ensure that you have enough energy so that you can rock retirement.  On this episode, you’ll also hear my holiday gift-buying suggestions as well as the listener questions segment. D...

Is it worth investing in individual stocks or should you simply go with ETFs? Joe has recently parted ways with his financial planner and is beginning to manage his portfolio himself and was wondering about the benefits of these choices.  Tanya Nichols and I will explore Joe’s questions as well as others on this episode of Retirement Answer Man. Listen in to hear the benefits of owning ETFs vs ind...

There comes a time when retirement planning becomes retirement doing. Many people get stuck in that gap between knowing vs. doing. While it is important to learn what you can so that you can make educated decisions, you’ll want to build a foundation to give you the confidence to act. My goal is not only to teach you information but also to help you build the structure you need to go out and rock r...

Curiosity is an important quality to nurture as you get older; it can even help you find your purpose in retirement. Today, I’ll help you explore how to use your curiosity to discover your purpose as you embark on the next phase of your life.  This episode is packed with questions that could help you rock retirement. Listen in to learn how to know if an annuity is right for you in retirement, how...

The good life is a direction, not a destination. This is why we are so focused on the process of retirement planning. Rocking retirement is all about having an adaptable process to work through.  On this episode of Retirement Answer Man, I answer a few process-based questions. You’ll learn how to work through the steps to rebalance a bond ladder and how to analyze whether you have enough to create...

When planning your retirement journey it is imperative that you fully explore and understand the options available. On this episode of Retirement Answer Man, Shane asks about the best ways to access his retirement accounts early. Taylor Schulte from Define Financial joins me in the listener questions segment to discuss Shane’s question by clarifying the rule of 55 and 72(t), the ups and downs of u...

If the bear market and inflation may have you worried, a bit of productive paranoia with a tinge of optimism may see you through. On this episode of Retirement Answer Man, we’ll discuss upcoming monthly themes, the next Retirement Plan Live case study, and ideas for new segments for the show. You’ll also hear answers to several listener questions. Today we’re putting our geek hats on to discuss co...

If you don’t qualify for a Roth IRA you may be interested in using a backdoor Roth to utilize the advantages of a Roth IRA. One listener wonders about the rules for contributing to a backdoor Roth. Today, I’ll clear up his question and answer many more.  Other listener questions in this episode cover using RMDs as QCDs, dealing with capital gains, and target date funds. Don’t miss out on discoveri...

The latest news in retirement is that Social Security recipients are getting a raise in 2023. While that is helpful for everyone receiving their benefits, what about those who choose to delay taking Social Security? A couple of listeners have been wondering if they, too, will get inflation adjustments if they wait to file for Social Security. We’ll have the answer to that question and many others...

If you are getting close to retirement you have probably been watching the financial news to help you stay up to date with what is going on in the world. If so, you won’t want to miss out on hearing why this is not a good idea.  Today, I’ll also answer questions about bonds, charitable gifting, and how to find a financial advisor. Make sure to stick around until the end to hear about upcoming chan...

RMD tables, bond classes, international exposure, and 1099s–we’ve got answers to your questions. First up is which account is best to begin drawing from in retirement. Listen to these answers to listener questions and take some time to reflect with me about how too much data can inhibit our ability to make good decisions. Press play to listen. Too much data can hinder your decision-making process ...

Many people choose to save money for their kids and grandkids in a 529 account, but one listener wonders if there is a better way to give. Learn the answer to this question and more on this episode of the Retirement Answer Man show.  Make sure to stick around until the end to hear the Coach’s Corner segment with Kevin Lyles. Kevin and I discuss growth and accepting challenges in retirement. Find o...

Life is about events, the challenges we overcome or not, our successes and failures, but, even more, it’s about how we touch and are touched by the people we meet.  Nicole is back! She is here this week to help me answer your listener questions. In this episode, we discuss the challenges of making friends in retirement, the value of international diversification, contributing to a Roth 401K vs. a...

We’re back again answering your retirement questions! On the docket for today are questions like whether should you consider taking on a mortgage in retirement, whether it’s feasible to hold only ESG investments in retirement, and if you need life insurance in retirement. In addition to answering these listener questions, I’ll also share several book suggestions that I got in response to the 6-Sho...

Are you nearing retirement and wondering how you should pay for large out-of-pocket expenses? Should you dip into your emergency fund, take from your retirement savings, or is there another way?  We’ll consider this question, hear how Larry is living intentionally, learn how visual aids can help when trying to discuss finances with elderly parents, and discuss dollar cost averaging a lump sum paym...

Michael Balchan from Heroic and I have been discussing how to live a heroic retirement for the last several episodes. Today, we wrap up this theme and learn to integrate the subjects we have discussed in the past 4 episodes into rocking retirement. As usual, after the main theme, I’ll answer your listener's questions. If you have a question that you would like answered on the show, now is a good t...

“You are who you are here and now” – Bruce Lee We all live life with the best intentions, yet rocking retirement is all about what we are actually doing–not intending to do. Do the things that you say are important to you now. In this episode of the Living a Heroic Retirement series, you’ll learn how you can begin to live a heroic life today. Michael Balchan and I break down what we are doing to l...

“What one can be, one must be.”--Abraham Maslow Do you know who you want to be in retirement? Here at the Retirement Answer Man, we want to give you the confidence to not just survive retirement but to rock retirement. To truly rock retirement you need to have both a financial and non-financial plan.  Over in the Rock Retirement Club, we have licensed Michael Balchan’s Heroic app and in these past...

This month on the Retirement Answer Man we are learning how to live a heroic retirement. Michael Balchan joins me to discuss what it takes to be the hero of your own story. On this episode, we explore the virtues that heroes embody.  If you are looking to be an exemplar then you’ll exhibit some core universal virtues plus some that are uniquely your own. Learn about these virtues and what it takes...

You may be planning a peaceful retirement, an active retirement, or an engaged retirement, but have you ever thought about living a heroic retirement? Over the course of the next several episodes, we’ll explore what it means to live a heroic retirement with Michael Balchan from Optimize .  In this series, you’ll learn how to build a framework to lean into the kind of person you want to be every da...

Dealing with a bear market after the trials and tribulations of the past 3 years may have you feeling like you are being punched while you are down. Many of us are feeling burnt out and are wondering when the punches will ever end.  In this episode of Retirement Answer Man, we’ll discuss how we can deal with this issue. Kevin Lyles joins me in the Coach’s Corner to offer his perspective on dealing...

Does navigating this bear market in retirement terrify you? If so, you are not alone. No one can (or should try to) predict what will happen next.  A financial advisor’s advice during bear markets is often ”stay the course,” however this can leave one feeling powerless. On this episode of The Retirement Answer Man, Tanya Nichols and I analyze what you can do if you are feeling terrified in a bear...

This month we are answering your listener questions. If you have a question that you would like answered on the show you can jump the line a bit and take the fast track by submitting an audio question. Head on over to RogerWhitney.com/AskRoger and hit record to submit your question. Today I answer questions on a broad range of topics from paying off a mortgage on a rental property to determining t...