Retirement Starts Today

You know that you need to have a diversified portfolio with both stocks and bonds, but do you know how bonds work? On this episode of Retirement Starts Today we have 2 fantastic listener questions that deserve detailed responses. John wants to know how bonds work before he begins investing in them and George has […]

Webinar #1 sign up – 11AM CST, January 23rd Webinar #2 signup – 3:30PM CST January 23rd The recently passed Secure Act brought about the most significant changes to retirement planning in a decade. In this free live training, you'll learn the key points that could affect your retirement plans, your parent's retirement accounts, and […]

Webinar #1 sign up – 11AM CST, January 23rd Webinar #2 signup – 3:30PM CST January 23rd The recently passed Secure Act brought about the most significant changes to retirement planning in a decade. On this episode, you'll learn the key points that could affect your retirement plans. Make sure to listen to the end […]

Welcome back to Retirement Starts Today and welcome to 2020! The New Year is a time when many of us consider setting goals or resolutions and focus on self-improvement. I don't have any new goals for 2020. Instead, I am looking to improve where I failed in 2019. Rather than feeling defeated by my resolution […]

Originally broadcast June 2019. I recently had 2 fantastic questions about retirement strategies come to my inbox. Both questions require thoughtful, detailed answers. So on today's episode of Retirement Starts Today, I focus on carefully answering both of these questions. On this episode, you'll learn how to tweak an already fantastic retirement plan and turn […]

Originally broadcast June 2018 We all work hard to plan for retirement. In any such endeavor, it's good to learn from other people's triumphs and mistakes, so I'd like to share six retirement mistakes I see all too frequently. The best part is, they're easily avoidable!

Originally broadcast in May of 2019 Do you have a retirement planning process? Do you know how much you need to retire? Have you thought about what the purpose of your money is? Jason Parker from Sound Retirement Radio is my guest today and is here to discuss the steps you need to take to […]

Originally broadcast April 2018. While becoming a 401k millionaire may seem like a crazy, out-of-reach goal, it's not that hard to become a 401(k) millionaire if you have the self-discipline to stick with a long-term plan.

Podcasts! I love them (and I'm guessing you do too). This week I'm sharing my favorite retirement podcasts that will educate and entertain you all the way to your ideal retirement.

Are bonds worth buying as a way to help keep a balanced portfolio in retirement? You may have read in the news lately about negative yield bonds. One listener has, and he is concerned that if they aren't paying much interest then maybe they aren't worth buying. I'll tell you my thoughts on bonds as […]

We make financial choices harder than they need to be. That's why Peter Lazaroff wrote the book, Making Money Simple. He joins me today to discuss the theme of his book. We reflect on why we make money decisions so complicated when the beauty of finance lies in simplicity. You'll be interested to hear why […]

Have you heard about the coming changes to Medicare in 2020? On this episode of Retirement Starts Today, we'll say good-bye to the donut-hole and take a look at other relevant changes to the retiree health insurance program. Then in the retirement headline segment, I cover a Forbes article that highlights a proposal on lowering […]

You may not have considered the importance of having friends in retirement, but they add more than just social value to your life. On the Retirement Headlines portion of the show, I read from a Forbes article that discusses the value of having an active social life in retirement. You'll learn why an active social […]

It's Roth conversion season! What does that mean for you, and how can you take advantage of the current tax cuts to get the most out of your money? On this episode of Retirement Starts Today Radio we'll get down and dirty with Roth IRA's and find out what happens if you earn even $1 […]

Have you considered a medi-share or health sharing plan in retirement? Shary asks why I've never mentioned them before. So on this episode, I open up and share what a health sharing ministry is and how I feel about them. Our second listener question comes from Don who asks about owning company stock in retirement. […]

If you turn on the cable news there is only one thing you will hear about: the possible impeachment of President Donald Trump. This is not a political show. I don't discuss politics on this show or in my practice. But we do need to discuss the impeachment possibility because you need to be prepared […]

Are annuities for retirees a good option? Nes wants to learn more about annuities and how they work. But before I answer that question, first Bruce asks how he can calculate his exact social security benefits. If you have a question for me that you would like answered on the show, you can email me […]

If you have been thinking of retiring early, you know that one of the biggest factors is health insurance before Medicare. One listener asks whether Obamacare or COBRA would be the best option. Another listener writes in with a question about investing his home equity in the stock market. You'll hear my responses to these […]

Do you understand how to use the bucket strategy for retirement? One listener has a question about how to use the bucket strategy and whether or not it is too conservative. I also answer another listener question about the 5-year rule for Roth conversions. And finally, we discuss a retirement headline about the shift from […]

What retirement lessons can you learn from a 4-hour daily commute? On this episode of Retirement Starts Today I share an article I found on CNBC. The article isn't directly about retirement but there are lessons we can learn from it that apply to life and retirement. I also answer a listener question about Roth […]

Do you know what to do if you fall victim to a Social Security scam? In the Retirement Headlines segment, we'll discuss a recent Market Watch article that shares some excellent tips for protecting yourself against social security scams and advice on how to minimize the damage if you fall victim to one. But before […]

Have you heard of the FIRE movement? In this episode, you'll hear why I hate it. We'll also discuss a listener question about spousal Social Security benefits and a CNBC article that compares retiring at different ages. You'll learn why it is important to work for as long as possible. Listen to this episode to […]

Do you know what you need to do to travel or retire abroad? We asked and you answered. The number one thing that our listeners would like to do in retirement is travel. That's why I found financial travel expert, David Jacoby from RemoteFinancialPlanner.com to help us understand all the nuances of travel and living […]

If you've seen then news lately, then you know that there are big changes in Medicare supplement plans coming in 2020. This is why I've invited Danielle Roberts on the show today. Danielle is a Medicare Expert with Boomer Benefits. Boomer Benefits is a Medicare broker that can help you navigate the complex world of […]

On episode 100 I answer listener questions including what to do about the rising costs of long-term care insurance premiums, what to do with old annuities, and SIPC protection. Thanks to all of you listeners for 100 amazing episodes! I have learned so much alongside you all. Your questions and feedback on the show have […]