Retirement Starts Today

Paul Morrison details how Medicare premiums, including the IRMAA surcharge, are inflating at a rate higher than Social Security COLAs. This disparity is causing concern, as premiums can potentially consume a retiree's entire Social Security benefit over time, especially for those in higher IRMAA brackets for an extended period. Paul provides concrete examples of how extended periods in higher IRMA...

A special recording from Andy Panko for his Retirement Planning Education Podcast: We discuss how the financial industry is evolving, the common struggles of "super savers" in retirement, and the importance of aligning financial decisions with life goals, not just spreadsheets.  We talk about the role of Monte Carlo simulations, the importance of flexibility in financial plans, and the evolving ro...

Nick Maggiulli's latest article in Of Dollars & Data challenges one of the core ideas that drives personal finance blogs, podcasts, and even some of our own thinking — the belief that financial independence should be the ultimate goal. We explore the surprising downsides of chasing early retirement, the difference between financial independence and financial freedom, and why something called "Coas...

New research from David Blanchett, head of retirement research at PGIM, challenges one of the biggest assumptions in retirement planning: that happiness in retirement depends on maintaining a constant—or even increasing—level of spending. ⬇️ Upon entering retirement, households experience a median consumption decline of about 20%. This drop is often viewed as a red flag in traditional financial pl...

Only 3% of Americans have saved $1 million for retirement. according to 24/7 Wall St. & AOL. I'll break down what that means—and why your personal number might be more important than any national average. After that, I answer a listener question where we tackle how to cover healthcare costs in early retirement—specifically for a 58-year-old retiree with a non-working spouse and three adult kids un...

Most people focus on saving for retirement, but what happens when you actually get there? Retirement isn't just about having enough money—it's about managing risks that can threaten your financial security and lifestyle.  In this episode, we explore Five Key Retirement Challenges (and Solutions), inspired by a Kiplinger's Personal Finance article by Walt West. From unexpected market downturns to r...

Click here to work with us! Many retirees enter their golden years with the goal of financial security, but what if the biggest risk isn't running out of money—it's not spending enough of it? A surprising new study reveals that retirees are withdrawing just 2% a year from their savings—barely half of what's traditionally considered safe. This cautious approach might seem responsible, but it often...

Click here  to work with us! Are you spending too little in retirement, worried you might outlive your savings? Many retirees struggle to strike the right balance, often holding back on enjoying the wealth they've worked a lifetime to build. I'll show you how to overcome those fears and spend with confidence while still planning for the future. What about real estate? Whether you're thinking about...

Major charitable-giving changes are set to take effect next year under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. As a result, 2025 may be the best—and possibly last —great year to make a big charitable gift and get the full tax benefit in the same year.  Listen in to hear the changes that take place in 2026 that could make 2025 the best year to use donor advised funds. In our listener question segment, Chri...

A new report says retirees who use a so-called "bridge strategy" can actually spend more and need fewer assets to retire securely. That's right. By delaying Social Security and using other savings to "bridge the gap," you could improve your lifetime income, reduce longevity risk, and build more peace of mind into your plan.  We will break down the research and find ways to make Social Security wor...

If something promises higher returns, it comes with higher risk — even if that risk isn't easy to see. And if something promises to protect your downside, it's usually charging you for it through fees, limited upside, or long-term lockups. Today's headline from Ben Henry-Moreland fits that idea perfectly. "Why 'Downside Protection' ETFs Don't Protect Portfolios As Well As A Stock-Bond Mix (In The...

A few episodes ago, we covered Derek Tharp's research suggesting that not everyone should delay until 70 — especially those with shorter life expectancies or limited assets. This week's headline brings the opposite perspective: Michael Finke argues that for higher-income retirees who expect to live longer, claiming early is almost always a mistake — and that fear-based decisions about Social Secur...

Do lower-cost funds tend to outperform pricier ones over time? Jeffrey Ptak analyzed fifteen years of performance data covering virtually every U.S. mutual fund and ETF. He divided them into five "cost buckets," from the cheapest 10% all the way up to the most expensive 10%. He then compared each group's average monthly return against its peers within the same category. The result? A clean, almost...

Vanguard Research put out a paper called "The Emotional and Time Value of Advice" (June 2025).  It claims that there are "emotional benefits and time-saving value that paid professional financial advice provides to clients."  In other words: The benefit isn't the portfolio or financial advice, but the emotional and time-saving value getting paid professional advice can provide.  Then for our liste...

Only about 4% of retirees actually wait until age 70 to claim Social Security, despite the financial benefits of delaying them. This comes from an article by Derek Tharp at Kitces.com titled "The Flaws In Using A 0% Discount Rate To Justify Delaying Social Security". It takes a hard look at why the common advice to "wait until 70" might not always hold up in the real world.  Tharp argues that the...

Our retirement headline is from a ThinkAdvisor article titled "Ed Slott: Roth Conversions Are Trickier Under New Tax Law" by Melanie Waddell. "With the extended tax cuts under President Trump's recently passed tax and spending law, 'Roth conversions should be accelerated to take advantage of more years of low tax rates,' according to Ed Slott of Ed Slott & Co.  'You never want to leave a low tax b...

Should I collect Social Security early & invest the proceeds into the stock market? This is the age-old question I see on a nearly daily basis in retirement forums. An article from Morningstar - written by Christine Benz and features a conversation with Social Security expert Mary Beth Franklin - gives me the basis for sharing six obstacles for claiming instead of waiting.  Also, we share a listen...

Inflammatory headlines are "Clickbait", and I am not immune to falling for them. "Social Security recipients set to face an $18,000 benefit cut in just seven years" is the most recent culprit in my Google feed - with an image of a Social Security check with a wrecking ball smashing straight through it. The good news is the headline is pretty far from reality for most people, and I explain why. Lis...

" Only 5% of retirees say they're living the dream and 19% are living the nightmare ." says Deb Boyden in an article from Yahoo Finance. Deb provides three lessons to protect your future, which we dig into to see how it applies to your retirement: Lesson 1: You're Probably Not Saving Enough Lesson 2: Expect the Unexpected Lesson 3: Winging It Won't Get You There In our Listener Question segment, w...

If you've saved more than a million dollars, that puts you ahead of 90% of your peers. Statistically, that makes you a super saver. But one of the biggest challenges super savers face is this: it's hard to spend your own money. In this episode, I share one exercise that can help break some of those old habits and open the door to a more fulfilling retirement. A Practical Exercise  Think back over...

We're taking another look at one of retirement planning's sneakiest pitfalls — underestimating your own life expectancy. We explore why smart people make short-sighted Social Security decisions, how psychological biases can distort your thinking, and why planning to live a long time isn't pessimistic. Then, our listener question covers the nuts and bolts of how to apply for Social Security (online...

We're going inside the new tax rules for retirees.  From a brand-new $6,000 deduction for seniors to major changes in how charitable giving is handled, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act has reshaped key parts of the retirement tax landscape.  We'll break down what's changed, what's just political spin, and what you can do right now to take advantage of these new rules.  After that, we answer a listen...

Nick Maggiulli's latest article in Of Dollars & Data challenges one of the core ideas that drives personal finance blogs, podcasts, and even some of our own thinking — the belief that financial independence should be the ultimate goal. We explore the surprising downsides of chasing early retirement, the difference between financial independence and financial freedom, and why something called "Coas...

The (f)law of averages challenges a dangerous assumption we see far too often in retirement planning: The use of average life expectancy as a reliable planning target.  The question is: If you make it to retirement - are you already above average - and if that's true, how do we use that in our planning?  I share six key takeaways from the article: Life expectancy is an average, not a prediction Th...

Could heaven be an RV in a state park? It is for Marian Barry, who became a traveling nurse after working in hospitals during the pandemic. We share this story from a Business Insider article, pointing out that she lives on $2,972 a month in Social Security and is lovig life. "I literally live in heaven." Key takeaways: Low-cost retirement living Lifestyle vs. possessions Community and mental well...