Retirement Starts Today

When we envision retirement, we think more about the things we'll do to enjoy our time than about the person that we'll become. My guest today encourages us to change that to spend more time thinking about who we want to be in the future.  Dr. Benjamin Hardy is an organizational psychologist, speaker, and author, in addition to being my coach. I have been involved in Dr. Hardy's coaching mastermin...

Have you been considering a change of scenery in retirement? Before you pack up the house, make sure to listen to today's episode.  In the Retirement Headlines segment, we'll check out an article from Harriet Edelson at  MarketWatch.com  which discusses 6 considerations before moving in retirement. This informative article lists statistics and anecdotal examples that can help you make the relocati...

I'm sure you have heard the news about the recent Inflation Reduction Act, but what will this Act mean to you as a retiree? We'll explore this question by examining an article written by Kelly Anne Smith over at  Forbes .  If politics isn't your thing, don't worry, it's not mine either. I scour the internet looking for the most neutral, least political articles that I can get my hands on. So, if y...

The decision of when to take Social Security is one of the biggest that you will face in retirement. Many people turn to Social Security break-even calculators to help them make the decision, but my guest today insists that this shouldn't be your only deciding factor. Social Security expert,  Devin Carroll from  SocialSecurityIntelligence.com   joins me today to discuss all things Social Security....

You may have seen the news about tennis superstar, Serena Williams' upcoming retirement. In a recent interview, Serena expresses her heartache about her decision. In our retirement headlines segment, we'll explore an article from MarketWatch that compares Serena Williams' feelings with those of many retirees upon their decision to retire.  Afterward, we'll check out a question from our recent list...

Have you ever considered taking a sabbatical from work? If you did take one, would it ruin your career and financial goals? Most companies in the United States don't offer paid sabbaticals like  some in Europe , so doing so would require extensive planning. Jake Northrup at  Kitces.com  recently wrote an article that could help financial planners and DIYers plan how to take a sabbatical without de...

Have you considered moving to a new city in retirement? If you work in the tech industry you may find a city willing to pay you to move there.  In today's retirement headline segment, we'll dive into  an article  written by Christopher Mims at The Wall Street Journal which explores towns that provide incentives to lure highly paid tech workers away from Silicon Valley. Don't miss out on the listen...

Nobody likes to think about their own death but to save your loved ones from the headache of trying to navigate your digital accounts without your passwords, you'll need to set them up for success now. If you don't take steps to share your accounts after your death, gaining access to your data could be a lengthy and challenging process. I recently found an excellent article from Dalvin Brown at Th...

 Many of us have financial goals that extend beyond ourselves to include friends and family. Doing so can be an enormous help to those you love, but it is important to consider your own financial well-being in conjunction with that of the ones you want to help. Today, we'll look at an article that explores how to intentionally offer financial support to your loved ones without deviating from your...

Have you ever tried tax loss harvesting? With the markets down across the board, now is a good time to learn to utilize this tax-saving tool. I found a great article about this from  Barrons.com  that I share in the retirement headline segment. The article explores the traps that can befall someone trying to use this strategy. Afterward, in the listener questions segment, we'll dive into the quest...

If you are like many retirees and soon-to-be retirees, you may be rethinking your entire investing strategy. Stocks are down, interest rates are up, and inflation is eating away at your purchasing power.  One listener wonders, with everything going on in the world, should they shift their investments into commodities? In the listener question segment, I discuss what commodities are, how to invest...

Nobody likes to experience the uncertainty that a bear market brings, but it's an even more challenging experience to weather when you are a recent retiree. It's easy to lose sight of your goals in a bear market which is why I found an article outlining some lessons that you can remember during a bear market. Listen to this episode to hear some wise words of wisdom that may help you keep your wits...

It's no secret that we're living longer than ever. People are living so long that we may soon be seeing 6 generations in a single-family.  With people living such a long time it makes retirement planning even more challenging than ever before. Understanding the 4 stages of retirement can help understand the different approaches to money management in each stage. Listen in to learn the 4 stages of...

Inflation is weighing heavy on the minds of retirees right now, so when I came across  this article  on WSJ.com from Cristin Lourosa-Ricardo, I knew I had to share it with you. Listen in to try and find the silver lining of inflation.  If you are a financial advisor fan of this show, make sure to stick around until the very end for a special announcement. Outline of This Episode [1:38] How to less...

It's true, money can't buy happiness. But does how you choose to spend your money affect your happiness? Today we'll discuss one article that challenges that old adage. We'll also discuss a multifaceted question from a listener who just accepted an early retirement package. We'll help her consider whether to rollover funds into an IRA and figure out what to do with her target-date funds. Listen in...

Unless you've been living under a rock, you've probably noticed a bit of an issue with the stock market lately. This can be distressing for any retiree, but when the declines in stock prices are coupled with high inflation and rising interest rates, then you have a triple threat to your retirement plans.  Today we have a special guest joining the show. Joseph Hogue, CFA from the  Let's Talk Money!...

We've all heard of the 4% rule, but did you know that the creator's recommendation for it has changed over the years?  I recently discovered an article from  ThinkAdvisor.com  that included an interview with the father of the 4% rule, Bill Bengen. In the retirement headlines segment, we'll take a close look at the article and learn directly from Mr. Bengen's perspective and then I'll offer my own....

Are you planning on enjoying an active retirement? If so, it may cost you more than you think.  On this episode of Retirement Starts Today, I interview Thatcher Taylor, the financial advisor behind ProPathFinancial.com . Thatcher and I discuss how to prepare financially and mentally for an active retirement. Outline of This Episode [1:42] How to navigate the balance between [3:18] How plan for a l...

If you are looking to ease into retirement by transitioning into a part-time role first, you won't want to miss this episode of Retirement Starts Today. In the retirement headlines segment, we'll explore an article by Anne Tergesen at the Wall Street Journal which outlines topics to consider when phasing out your retirement before retiring fully.  Make sure to stick around for the listener questio...

If you have received an inherited IRA or think you will in the future you won't want to miss this episode. In the retirement headlines segment, we'll take a look at the proposed changes in regulations regarding inherited RMDs based on the Secure Act of 2020. In the listener questions segment, we'll hear from Jim who has a question about rebalancing retirement income buckets. Make sure to stick aro...

How much thought have you given to your future self? This week's retirement headline explores the concept of nurturing your future self now so that you can increase your health, happiness, and financial security. Over in our listener questions segment, I'll answer a question from an anonymous listener about increasing their spending in retirement. They are looking for advice on whether they can af...

If you are heading into retirement you probably have a bucket list that you want to work on. While just about everyone has heard of a bucket list, not many are familiar with the concept of reverse bucket lists.  On this episode of Retirement Starts Today, we'll explore this concept by referring to an article from Jeff Stein at Inc.com. You'll learn how a reverse bucket list could help you manage y...

Do you wish you could have more freedom at work yet still earn a paycheck? Remote work and flexible scheduling may help you ease into retirement rather than plunging in all at once. In our retirement headline segment today, we'll explore an  article from the Wall Street Journal  that discusses a new phenomenon that is a direct result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Additionally, I'll answer Frank's ques...

When people begin retirement planning they usually have 3 main questions. We cover the questions about what to do about healthcare before Medicare and should I pay off my house regularly on this show. However, the third question, what do I do if I still have kids at home, is not one we regularly address. That is why I'm excited to have Bobbi Rebell, author of the new book,  Launching Financial Gro...

Have you been hesitant to retire this year because of all that is going on in the world? On this episode of Retirement Starts Today, we'll explore a retirement headline from Maurie Backman at The Motley Fool called  3 Reasons Why 2022 May Be a Bad Year to Retire , but then you'll hear my rebuttal to each of her 3 arguments.  If you have been on the fence about whether you should take the plunge an...