RETIREMENT MADE EASY

In this episode of the Retirement Made Easy podcast, I share two conversations I had with listeners. Both were given advice that I would consider a recipe for failure. One was given a strategy to time the market and the other was advised to chase short-term performance. Why are those two things dangerous? Listen to this episode to find out! You will want to hear this episode if you are interested...

How do I feel about Roth IRAs and 401ks/403Bs? What about the Backdoor Roth IRA? They can be an important tool in your retirement planning. But how do they work? What is the best way to optimize them? Learn more in this episode of Retirement Made Easy! You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... [2:27] Learn more about Roth IRAs/401ks/403Bs [7:51] Conversations about capping the...

In this special Retirement Made Easy Replay, we take a look back at a popular episode. I'll cover the five questions you need to ask a financial advisor to make sure they're THE right fit for you: Question #1: How long have you been doing this? Question #2: Do you have a specialty? Question #3: Are you a fiduciary? Question #4: How are you compensated? Question #5: What does working together look...

What is a fiduciary? How are financial advisors compensated? What is a fatal mistake I see people make with investing? In this episode of retirement made easy, I answer these listener questions so that you can be well-educated about your advisor—and your investments. You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... [1:30] What's covered in this episode [4:45] The role of a fiduciary...

I received a phone call this week from a listener that I thought was absolutely crucial to share with my listeners. She had gone to a retirement seminar that I gave over 10 years ago. She didn't take my advice then and regrets it now. Why? Almost 11 years later, she's almost 76 and is looking for a part-time job to cover her expenses. What did I share in that seminar? Listen to this episode of the...

In this special two-part episode of Retirement Made Easy, I answer a listener's question about Medicare enrollment. I also talk about the tax proposals that legislators snuck into The American Families Plan and how they could impact you. If you're nearing retirement this is a can't-miss episode full of important details. You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... [1:54] Send me...

The last big crash where the year ended down was 2008, with the market ending down 38%. Before 2008, 2000–2002 were three years where the market was down in the double-digits. If you retire at age 62 like the average person, you're expected to live another 30 years! That is 30 years where you will likely experience a market crash.  So what should you do when you experience a market crash during re...

As you're nearing retirement—or thinking about retiring early—you must think about your options for health insurance. If you're retiring early, you have three options for healthcare. If you're planning on waiting until age 65 to retire, you'll qualify for Medicare. I cover the basics of all of these options in this episode of Retirement Made Easy! You will want to hear this episode if you are inte...

Is now a good time to retire—or a bad time? If you're a Baby Boomer, you may be questioning what you should do. Many people are quite fearful of retiring given the state of the country and stock markets. So in this episode of Retirement Made Easy, let's talk about it. I'll share how you can improve your odds of a successful retirement (and the things you need to be aware of). I understand this tur...

A client asked me, "In what scenario would it make sense to claim your social security benefit early (before full retirement age)?" Full retirement is somewhere between age 66 and 67, depending on when you were born. So in this episode of Retirement Made Easy, I'll share a few scenarios in which it might make sense to take your benefits early. Listen to learn more! You will want to hear this episo...

Money is subjective, right? $1 million saved for retirement may not seem like much to one person. To someone else, it seems like a fortune. Whatever it is that you do have saved for retirement, you likely saved and invested for years. The decisions you make with what you have are crucial for your future success. You have to make the most with what you have. In some cases, that may mean retiring in...

I love when people ask questions! So in this special episode of Retirement Made Easy—and celebrating one year of the podcast—I'm answering five listener questions. If you don't have a background in financial or retirement planning, I'll happily answer any question you may have. Just head on over to RetirementMadeEasyPodcast.com and send me a message! You will want to hear this episode if you are i...

This mistake is dangerous when it comes to the investment selections that you make. To avoid this mistake, you have to focus on  why  you're investing in the first place. What is it actually for? You can't make poor decisions with your "serious" money that's devoted to providing for your retirement.  You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... [2:06] Check out the resources on m...

What is your simple ticket to finding unclaimed wealth? How can you find unclaimed money for yourself or the people that you're close with? In this episode of Retirement Made Easy, I diverge from my normal podcast structure to share a tool that can be a game-changer for your retirement. Don't miss it! You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... [3:17] Your ticket to finding uncl...

I recently spoke on the phone with someone nearing retirement who was questioning what their taxes would look like in retirement. Would they be lower? Higher? What strategies can be implemented to keep your tax bill lower? I share some of my favorite strategies in this episode of Retirement Made Easy! You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... [4:18] Social Security retirement...

Many people know I'm a Smartvestor Pro with Dave Ramsey and I'm often found on his website as a resource. I agree with so many of his financial principles that help people make good financial decisions and begin to build wealth. So in this episode of Retirement Made Easy, I'll talk about 5 lessons we can learn from Dave Ramsey. I'll also answer questions from two listener emails. Don't miss it! Yo...

What two things should you avoid purchasing in the near future? Why should you wait? In this episode of Retirement Made Easy, I talk about real estate, annuities, and CDs. Why do they all make poor purchases right now? Listen to this episode to learn more! You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... [2:58] Thing #1: Avoid buying real estate [4:48] Why home prices have skyrockete...

What is causing inflation concerns? What does it mean for the average retiree? What should you be doing to counter inflation? The cost of living is higher than ever. Unfortunately, inflation is here to stay. You need to be able to survive and pay for the increased cost of living. So you have to plan for it. What is the best way to do that? Learn more in this episode of Retirement Made Easy! You wi...

I worked with my life coach and business coach to come up with a solution to help you plan the retirement of your dreams: the retirement blueprint. A retirement blueprint is something that very few financial planners talk about, but it's absolutely crucial to the success of your retirement. It helps you plan for the retirement of your dreams. If you're ready to design your retirement—and not just...

Should you roll over your old 4101k into an IRA? Or should you just leave it where it is? What are the advantages and disadvantages? What should you watch out for? If you've recently left an employer, you may be questioning what you should do. So in this episode of Retirement Made Easy, I'll shed some light on the subject. Hopefully, you can take this information and make a better decision for you...

When should I retire? How much money do I need? Can I afford to retire? Are these questions rolling through your mind? In this episode of Retirement Made Easy, I share some statistics about retirement savings and what various experts think you need. I share some resources to help you determine where you should be, and what I think you should base your retirement goals on. Check it out! You will wa...

What is long-term care insurance? Who needs it? How many types are there? How does it work? In this episode of Retirement Made Easy, I want to give you the information you need so YOU can determine whether it's a good fit for you now or in the future. If long-term care is something you've been worried about, don't miss this episode!  You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... [...

Should you consider gold as an investment? In this episode of Retirement Made Easy, I address having gold as part of your portfolio. I'll share facts, figures, and why I think gold should NOT be part of a long-term investment portfolio. I would actually exclude it if at all possible. Why? Find out in this episode! You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... [2:50] Gold is simply...

If you're on your journey toward retirement, you're either on track, behind, or ahead of schedule. Do you know where you're at? Are you only a few years from retirement, but stuck having to work longer than planned? If you feel behind, how do you catch up? Lisa—a listener of the podcast—recently asked what I would recommend for someone who felt like they weren't on track to retire on time. It's ea...

When is a retirement date fund appropriate? Who might need one? What are the downfalls of retirement date funds? Many people use these in their 401k or 403B. So in this episode of Retirement Made Easy, I talk about the pros and cons—and why I'm personally  not a fan . Don't miss it! You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... [2:28] The whole idea behind retirement date funds [7...