Retirement Starts Today

How long have you been saving for retirement? Are you hesitant to break into your retirement funds and start living it up once you retire?  This week I share two Retirement Headlines articles. The first is called  Right-Sizing Retirement  and it comes from the  Financial Planning Association . In this article, the authors pose an important question: why save for retirement if you're not going to s...

Have you heard of the Monte Carlo retirement projection analysis? It is being used more and more by advisors and even popular retirement planning websites. Today, in the Retirement Headlines segment, I offer some insight on an  article  from Kitces.com that argues that using the Monte Carlo projection, a 50%probability of success rate is good enough. Then in the listener questions segment, I answe...

Have you wondered why the markets had such an amazing year in 2020 when the economy was a mess and everyone was stuck at home? You aren't the only one. That's why in this episode, we'll look at a New York Times article that examines this question.  We'll also answer some listener questions directly from our  newsletter  readers. Dave asks about dividend investing in retirement and Brian asks about...

Has the Covid-19 pandemic cut into your vacation plans? It seems like everyone's travel plans have changed over the past year. But what does that mean for employees and companies? Anne Steele and Chip Cutter examine the effects of Covid-19 and vacation taking in a recent  Wall Street Journal article  that we'll look at today.  In addition to our Retirement Headline, I'll answer two listener questi...

Has the news about the ups and downs in the market lately got you a bit worried? You aren't the only one. Many people are even thinking about pulling their money out in case there is a market correction. Does this sound like you? If so, you'll definitely need to listen to this episode.  When you press play you'll hear what would happen if you only invested at the market peaks, what to do with an i...

Are you setting yourself up for a single-ply retirement? Do you find yourself trying to save money out of habit rather than necessity? Listen to the retirement headlines segment to find out why this may not be the best idea in retirement.  In the listener questions segment, I actually have a listener answer. I asked the subscribers of my Every Day is Saturday newsletter what they were doing to com...

I figured that you all may be a bit sick of hearing the news lately which is why this week's episode will focus only on listener questions without the Retirement Headlines segment. I've got 2 listener questions that will pique your interest. Chris asks about long term care insurance. What is the difference between hybrid and traditional policies and when can someone self insure? And Janet wants to...

I'm feeling optimistic this year and I want to continue to spread that optimism. That's why I want to focus several shows on travel. Most people's travel plans were foiled by covid in 2020, so 2021 will be the year of the vacation! We'll be interviewing experts and discussing the mental and physical health benefits of travel. We get started on that road today with a Retirement Headline from Harvar...

Would you want to raise your standard of living for half of what you live on now? Tim Leffel did, which is why he chose to uproot his family from their life in Nashville to move to a small city in Mexico. Tim is the author of the book A Better Life for Half the Price and he joins me today to discuss the pros and cons of living abroad. Don't miss the opportunity to learn how you can save money by l...

I'm thrilled to be back sharing the latest retirement headlines with you after my short holiday break. The biggest news on the retirement radar this week is that the 2nd Coronavirus stimulus package has passed. Together, we'll take a look at the most relevant parts. Then I'll answer the question: do you need a Roth IRA even if you make more than the income limits allow for? Let's start preparing f...

Welcome back to another edition of Retirement Rewind -- episodes so good we played them twice!  Time for travel is by far the number one thing that Retirement Starts Today Radio listeners look forward to in retirement. That's why I interviewed David Jacoby on to this episode and why it was chosen as a Retirement Rewind.  David Jacoby is a financial planner and travel expert who specializes in help...

Welcome to this episode of our Retirement Rewind. Retirement Rewind episodes are so informative that we decided to play them again while I take the month of December to spend a bit more time to enjoy my family. Estate planning attorney, John Ross from the Big Picture Retirement podcast, joins me to discuss how you can preserve your IRAs for your heirs in the wake of the SECURE Act. Check out this...

What would happen if you go over your tax bracket by $1 when doing a Roth IRA conversion? On this Retirement Rewind episode, we'll explore the best way that you can take advantage of the current tax cuts and get the most out of your money. What will Roth conversion season mean for you? Listen in and find out! Outline of This Episode [1:22] Why do we wait so long to convert our Roth IRA's? [3:44] W...

Welcome back to the Retirement Rewind! I take the last part of the year off from podcasting to spend more time with my family. But that doesn't mean that you miss out on your favorite retirement podcast. Actually, I have a treat for you today. This episode is so good this is the 3rd time I'm playing it. Press play to find out which retirement podcasts I listen to in my spare time and scroll down t...

Welcome to Retirement Rewind! Each year I take the holiday season off from podcasting to spend more time with my family. The good news is that I prepare my favorite episodes from the past for you to enjoy.  This episode is an interview with Fritz Gilbert over at the Retirement Manifesto blog. In this interview, Fritz and I discuss his new book, Keys to a Successful Retirement as well as his firsth...

Are you worried about what the election means for your retirement portfolio? Many people are tempted to make big changes to their retirement savings to reflect their election concerns. On this episode of Retirement Starts Today Radio, you'll learn what you can do to your portfolio if you are nervous about the transition. You'll also hear what the new RMD tables mean and how the Biden proposals cou...

After you finally get Medicare all figured out and everything in place, the last thing you want to do is ever think about it again. But unfortunately, you need to review your Medicare coverage annually.  Danielle Roberts is back, yet again, to help us understand what we need to do annually to review our Medicare plans. In this episode, you'll learn what to do if you have a prescription drug change...

Do you know the difference between a Medicare supplement and a Medicare advantage plan? You'll need to understand their differences to make an educated decision about which to choose when it is time to sign up for Medicare. Danielle Roberts from Boomer Benefits joins me again to help us wade through the various Medicare supplement choices. Learn how best to fill the gaps that Medicare leaves by li...

Deciding to retire before age 65 can be a tough decision to make. For most people, this decision will result in an extra $1000 or more a month in health insurance expenses. Retiring after age 65 has its pitfalls as well. On this episode of Retirement Starts Today, Danielle Roberts joins me again to discuss the potential landmines that you need to look out for whether you are planning to retire bef...

You asked and I listened. This summer I asked you all for your thoughts on the show and many people responded that they wanted to hear more deep dives into complex subjects. We tried this out with the Living Off Your Savings series and now we're taking some extra time to discuss Medicare. This episode is the first of a 4 episode series on Medicare. Grab your headphones and press play to begin your...

Are you one of the many people still working from home due to the pandemic? What seemed like a phase that would last a few weeks has turned into a trend with no end in sight. While working from home creates exciting possibilities, especially for those considering retirement, it also has its downfalls. Many people have discovered that working from home means the lines between work life and home lif...

Are you worried about the seemingly constant news stories which claim that Social Security may run out of money? These articles highlight any problems that the Social Security program is facing which can lead the reader to fret about the future of the guaranteed income source in retirement. Not surprisingly, there are companies out there that want to capitalize on this worry.  Does Social Security...

If you are listening to Retirement Starts Today, you probably have retirement on your mind. You have probably given thought as to how you will spend your money, where that money will come from, healthcare, and plenty of other subjects.  But have you put any thought into how much notice you will give your employer? Do you have one of those jobs where you relish the day that you give your retirement...

Have you seen the news about Tesla and Apple lately? Their stock prices are surging to new highs after the announcement of a stock split. Is this what is supposed to happen with a stock split? Learn more about stock splits and what they mean for you by listening to this episode of Retirement Starts Today.  After we the Retirement Headlines I answer several listener questions. Have you been wonderi...

 Have you been wanting to know a bit more about Biden's tax plan without all the political spin? Me too! That's why I dug deep to find the best information that I could share with you all. I promise, no politics here; just relevant information to help you best prepare for an amazing retirement.  In addition to learning how Biden's tax plan could affect your retirement, I'll answer a couple of list...