Retirement Starts Today

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 […]

Are you ready to learn about portfolio distribution? I've got the perfect visual for you! Listen in to hear how to rebalance your portfolio in retirement. Thank you all for sending in your rebalancing spreadsheets! Several listeners sent in their own rebalancing spreadsheets and they all were fantastic. I'm working with an Excel wizard and […]

On this week's episode of Retirement Starts Today we'll discuss whether donor-advised funds are a good fit, tax planning in retirement, and answer a listener question about Roth IRA's. Have you taken our listener survey? If you are signed up for the Every Day is Saturday email list then you've probably seen the listener survey. […]

Do you have multiple retirement accounts lying around and don't know what to do with them? On this episode of Retirement Starts Today we answer 2 listener questions. One is about having multiple retirement accounts with multiple custodians, the other is about how to withdraw from a portfolio in retirement without adding additional risk. Then […]

Charitable giving in a tax beneficial way has gotten a bit more complicated with the new tax law. Of course, we donate to charities to help those less fortunate, but it helps when we receive tax benefits as well. CPA, John Madison, joins me to discuss how to reap the most tax benefits from your […]

Is your Social Security timing losing you money? Millions of Americans don't ideally time their Social Security and end up losing thousands of dollars. On today's episode of Retirement Starts Today I focus on 3 articles. The first one focuses on Morning Star's star ratings. You'll learn how and why they are getting an overhaul. […]

On this episode of Retirement Starts Today, we'll discuss the pros and cons of target date funds as well as Vanguard's managed payout fund. You'll learn exactly what a target date fund is and why they are the preferred vehicle of the majority of 401K savers. We'll discuss an Investment News article that warns of […]

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 it into an epic […]

When planning your retirement lifestyle it's a good idea to think about how to add exercise into your routine. Many people who haven't made exercise a regular part of their lives may think that it will be difficult but retirement is a great time to start a new lifestyle. Fitness expert, Pete McCall, joins me […]

Are you planning to keep up your life insurance in retirement? One listener asks if I think it's necessary. I also answer another question from a listener about diversification. As you approach retirement, you may want to rethink your risk tolerance. Do you feel secure in your asset allocation? Many people prefer to stay safe […]

Do you have moldy money hanging out in your accounts? I'm not talking about the cash that got wet and stuck in the back of a drawer. Moldy money is the topic of today's Retire Ready segment, you'll want to listen to find out why you don't want to keep moldy money around. You'll also […]

The father of life planning, George Kinder, joins me on this episode of Retirement Starts Today Radio. George trains financial advisors to look at the softer side of retirement planning, at what he calls life planning. He helps financial advisors teach their clients how to live life to the fullest in retirement. Life planning is […]

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 begin considering your retirement. Jason has […]

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. Also in today's episode of Retirement Starts Today, I will help you understand reverse mortgages. You'll discover what they are and whether they are […]

On this episode of Retirement Starts Today I tackle the age-old question: should you sell in May and go away? This is a question you may hear each April and May so we'll talk about where it came from and why people say it. We'll also discuss a big idea from Nobel laureate, Richard Thaler, […]

It was a Thursday afternoon in July of 2017. I had just finished at the gym and checked my phone on the way to my car – over a dozen missed calls – my immediate reaction was, "Who died?"… Rewind to the fall of 2016, my wife & I had decided to start the process […]

You know that the key to investing is having a diversified investment strategy and on this episode of Retirement Starts Today you will hear how people that decided to switch gears during the crisis ended up losing out. We will also discuss the Lyft IPO and why betting on individual stocks is no safer than […]