Retiring Today

Defer, defer, defer - that's the age-old tax mantra. But could it actually be a tax trap? We explore why the money you’ve worked so hard to save in your 401(k) could be subject to a big tax bill and what you can do now to take control of your taxes. -- If you have questions about your retirement journey, schedule a Complimentary 15 Minute Retirement Check-Up Call with one of our retirement planner...

A little planning now can go a long way when life takes unexpected turns. In this episode of Retiring Today, we discuss some of the items on our Spousal Succession Plan Checklist and the value they bring to the legacy you want to leave. Going through this checklist now can help put you at ease, knowing that if something happens to one spouse, the surviving spouse has a plan. Download our chec...

There are lot of options when it comes to Medicare and healthcare coverage in retirement. In this episode of Retiring Today, AnnaMarie Morrow joins Molly, Loren, and Richelle to cover some great tips for those electing for the first time and those who are several years in. Understanding all your options can save you money and help you choose the best plan for your circumstances.

You've likely heard the rule that states: "You’ll need 70 to 80 percent of the income you made in your final years of employment in order to live a comfortable retirement." Sounds easy enough, right? But is it true? Today we talk about why this retirement Rule of Thumb may or may not work for your personal retirement goals.

Everybody likes a bargain. Today we discuss why Roth conversions are on sale and how to implement this powerful strategy into your retirement plan.

So far, 2022 has been a roller coaster. Inflation, rising interest rates, and Russia invading Ukraine have sparked volatility in the stock market. Throughout history, the stock market has gone through several ups and downs, including bear markets, bull markets, and crashes. We’ll talk about past crashes, the possibility of a crash, and what you can do now to protect your portfolio.

Women face a unique set of challenges in retirement. It can be tough to navigate Social Security benefits, tax questions, and health care plans in today's world – plus what if you're widowed, divorced, or single? In this episode, we dive into these concerns and more that women face in retirement. -- If you're a woman about to retire or in retirement and interested to learn more, attend our upcomin...

As you watch the stock market swing, inflation soar, and interest rates rise, you may be wondering, can I still retire or stay retired? In this episode, we talk about ways to take advantage of the bear markets and how you can develop a plan for your retirement now. 

Interest rates are on the rise while inflation recently hit a 40-year high - this while talk of a bear market makes headlines. During this kind of storm, you may be wondering, should I invest in bonds? In this episode, we talk about the different types of bonds and ways they can be incorporated into your portfolio.

Individual retirement accounts (IRAs) have helped millions save for retirement. But because IRAs were created by government legislation, there are many rules and complexities that need to be understood and navigated. Listen to find out how to avoid some common IRA mistakes.

Market volatility is on the rise. After a wild week you may be wondering, when will it end, how will this impact my retirement savings and should I be making changes to my portfolio? In this week's episode, Loren talks about the current swings and three investment strategies that will help you weather the storm.

Iowa’s Governor has made some big income tax law changes. Today we talk about the new rules, rates and how they impact what you pay in retirement.

Developing a legacy plan is the best way to ensure that your wishes are met at the end of your life or after you are gone. In this episode, we talk with Estate Planning Attorney, Charlie Bottenberg about how the process works. He tells us the difference between a will and a trust and the advantage of a financial power of attorney or medical power of attorney. Plus, he shares some great tips about...

How I am going to pay for health care in retirement? That question alone could prevent you from living out your retirement dreams. A plan is the answer that could help you feel retirement ready.

You can’t “set it and forget it” when it comes to investments - you have to update your investment plan as you get closer to retirement. If you think about it as a slow cooker - you might turn the heat down on risk and crank up the temp on diversification. In this episode we talk about how the investment strategy changes as you head to and through retirement. 

Tax Planning is one of the six components included in every customized retirement plan we help individuals and families put together. We call it Your Merkle Plan. In this episode of Retiring Today, Chawn Honkomp joins us in the podcast booth to talk about the steps you can take to control of taxes in retirement. 

Want to make the most out of your income in retirement? Schedule your 15 Minute Retirement Check-Up Call to talk with a retirement planner at MerkleRetire.com -- ABOUT THIS EPISODE Retirement income is a new concept if you've been receiving W-2 wages for the last 30 or 40 years. In this episode of Retiring Today, Loren Merkle discusses how to turn your retirement savings into retirement income. Pl...

Retirement is so much more than investments. It’s an entire lifestyle. In this episode of Retiring Today, learn how building a lifestyle plan is essential to your retirement vision and how Merkle Retirement Planning offers opportunities for fun, education, and connecting with your peers!

What happens to my 401(k) when I retire? You have a lot of options. In this episode of Retiring Today, we cover two: leave it or roll it. Listen now to learn about the advantages and disadvantages of both. 

Are you ready to retire? Schedule your 15 Minute Retirement Check-Up Call to talk with a retirement planner at MerkleRetire.com -- ABOUT THIS EPISODE Are you ready for retirement, but don't know how to get started? Get organized with our Retirement Checklist. In this episode of Retiring Today, we talk about the things you can do right now to take control of your retirement.

The IRS has changed the IRA rules. Again. In this Episode of Retiring Today, we decode the new IRS guidelines and talk about what it means if you’ve recently inherited an IRA. We also cover the questions that are still unanswered by the IRS and what distribution strategies you have for your inherited IRA. 

Do you ever find yourself searching Google for answers to your retirement questions? In part two of The Web’s Most Searched Retirement Questions, we discuss more commonly searched retirement questions and their explanations. These topics range from taxes, RMDs, and choosing the best retirement account for you.

When you have a question about something, you most likely turn to Google to find the answer. It's estimated Google processes approximately 63,000 search queries every second, translating to 5.6 billion searches per day and approximately 2 trillion global searches per year. On this episode of Retiring Today, we are answering just a few of the web's most searched retirement questions. We discuss ret...

How do I figure out how much money I need in retirement? What does a Retirement Income Plan look like? How do I access the money in my accounts once I am retired? We answer these concerns and more in this episode of Retiring Today. 

In this episode of Retiring Today, we answer your most frequently asked retirement questions. From what is a retirement planner to Social Security and taxes, these are the things our retirement planners get asked the most.