The Aaron Katsman Show

What will happen to your money when you’re gone and how much can you safely give away while you’re still here? Without a will, the distribution of your estate may be determined by the law rather than your wishes. At the same time, giving too much money to children or grandchildren during retirement can jeopardize your own ability to remain financially independent. On today’s podcast, I’m covering...

Could you afford to retire earlier than you originally planned? Many people assume that early retirement requires reaching a particular savings target. The real calculation is more personal: how much you currently spend, which expenses may disappear, what retirement will add to your budget, and whether your money is accessible when you need it. On today’s podcast, I’m breaking down how to evaluate...

Are you investing for retirement or gambling on the next hot trend? Consistently saving money is important, but saving without a sound investment strategy can still leave you dangerously unprepared. One investor spent 25 years chasing popular stocks, speculative ideas, and yesterday’s winning trends, only to reach his late 50s with approximately $50,000 saved for retirement. On today’s podcast, I’...

How will you spend your time when work no longer structures your day? Many people carefully calculate whether they can afford to retire but devote far less attention to what their everyday lives will look like afterward. Travel can be wonderful, but even several long vacations will leave most of the year completely unplanned. On today’s podcast, I’m talking about why people who are accustomed to w...

Are you earning good money today without building the savings you’ll need tomorrow? Entrepreneurs and independent contractors can fall into a dangerous trap: a strong income creates the feeling of financial security, even when very little is being set aside for retirement. Without an employer contributing to a pension or retirement account, no one is automatically preparing for the day the income...

Could you maintain your standard of living on Social Security alone? Many people expect government benefits to carry them through retirement, only to discover too late that the monthly payment falls far short of what they need. On today’s podcast, we’re examining how heavily many retirees depend on Social Security, why pensions and personal investments need to play a much larger role, and how cons...

Rosh Hashanah is a time for judgment and reflection. Jewish sources teach that our financial circumstances are part of that judgment, making this a fitting time to look honestly at how we spend, save, and invest. On today's podcast, I’m discussing how a realistic budget can help you live within your means, why separating needs from wants matters, and how to stop compounding the same debt, spending...

Are you so focused on saving that you’re afraid to enjoy the money you have? Financial discipline matters, but there comes a point when refusing every lunch, vacation, or meaningful experience no longer protects your future. It simply keeps you from enjoying the life you’ve worked hard to build. Today I’m discussing why people with substantial assets can still fear running out of money, how to dis...

What will you actually do every day once you retire? Freedom, travel, and time with family can make retirement wonderful, but they won’t necessarily give structure and meaning to all 365 days of the year. Without a routine or sense of purpose, the days can begin to blur together. I’m discussing why travel isn’t a retirement plan, how a daily schedule and meaningful goals can create a more fulfilli...

Could your retirement plan survive if your career ended several years earlier than expected? Most people plan around retiring at 65, 67, or even later. A layoff, health problem, or changing technology can bring their working years to an unexpected end, and finding a comparable job in your late 50s or early 60s may be more difficult than anticipated. Today I’m discussing why every retirement plan s...

What should you do after receiving an inheritance, selling a home, or otherwise coming into a large sum of money? The excitement and anxiety that accompany a financial windfall can make people feel pressured to invest or spend it immediately. Acting too quickly, however, can lead to expensive decisions that are difficult to reverse. Today I’m discussing why you should slow down before touching the...

Why do some money problems remain even after you earn or save more? Many people assume that greater wealth will eliminate their financial problems. Yet the desire to get rich quickly, outperform everyone else, and continually accumulate more can create problems at every income level. Today, I’m discussing five money problems that may never disappear completely, why slow and steady investing is usu...

Could adding your child to a bank account create serious problems for your family? Giving an adult child access to your money may seem like a simple way to prepare for aging or incapacity. However, joint ownership can create unexpected estate, tax, and family consequences... especially when relationships or circumstances change. I’m discussing what happened when one client’s relationship with her...

Are other people’s highlight reels influencing how you spend your money? Social media makes it easy to compare your ordinary life with someone else’s carefully selected vacations, accomplishments, and purchases. Trying to keep up can leave you spending money you don’t have for approval that doesn’t last. I’m discussing why comparison can lead to serious financial trouble, how social media distorts...

Are you building a sound portfolio or simply investing in whatever is hot right now? It’s tempting to chase the stocks and sectors delivering the highest returns, but today’s winners rarely remain on top forever. By the time an investment attracts widespread attention, much of its growth may have already happened. Today I’m discussing why there is no single “best” portfolio, how diversification ca...

Could your financial advice actually hurt the people you love? Many people are quick to tell family and friends how they should invest their money. The problem is that good advice for one person can be completely wrong for someone else. Today I’m discussing a recent conversation with a couple in their 90s, why context matters more than investment returns, and the dangers of giving financial advice...

Should you use extra money to pay off your mortgage or invest it instead? Some financial experts argue that low mortgage rates make investing the better choice. Others believe there’s real value in becoming debt-free before retirement. I’m discussing the case for investing versus paying down your mortgage, why peace of mind matters just as much as the math, and the two-track strategy I believe can...

What would happen if your parents suddenly couldn’t manage their finances? Many families avoid conversations about money, aging, and future care until a crisis forces the issue. By then, important information may be difficult to find and critical decisions may need to be made quickly. I’m discussing how to start conversations with aging parents, why access to financial accounts and legal documents...

Should your investment strategy change as retirement gets closer? For decades, many investors focus on growth. But as retirement moves from a distant goal to a reality on the horizon, the questions become more complicated. I’m discussing when it may make sense to shift from maximizing growth to preserving wealth, how late starters should approach retirement investing, and why two retirees with sim...

How do you know when it’s time to sell a stock? Most investors spend a lot of time thinking about what to buy, but far less time deciding when to sell. That can lead to missed opportunities, holding on too long, or selling for the wrong reasons. I’m discussing why knowing when to take profits is so difficult, why even professional investors struggle with it, and how having a clear strategy can hel...

How much risk should you really be taking? Many investors build portfolios based on what they think they should do rather than what they can actually live with when markets get rough. I’m discussing the relationship between risk, emotions, and investing, along with a simple stress test that can help you determine whether your portfolio is right for you. To learn how to evaluate your true tolerance...

Do you actually need to understand advanced investing theory to be successful? A lot of people think investing requires complicated math, constant research, and trying to outsmart the market. I disagree. I’m breaking down what actually matters when it comes to investing success, why most people overcomplicate the process, and the one trait that really separates successful investors from everyone e...

Buying a home is exciting. Overbuying is not. I’m breaking down the financial and emotional dangers of buying a house you can’t really afford, why banks often approve people for far more than they should borrow, and how becoming “house poor” can create years of stress and financial pressure. To learn how to avoid one of the biggest financial mistakes people make, tune in. SOCIAL LINKS: Facebook: A...

Aging parents living on their own creates all kinds of financial and logistical challenges, especially when family lives far away. Today we're discussing the growing role of daily money managers, what they actually do, how they help elderly individuals stay independent longer, and why trust is such a critical part of the process. To learn whether a daily money manager may be the right solution for...

You received an inheritance. Now what? For a lot of people, the instinct is to act quickly, hold onto what was given to them, or assume the portfolio they inherited is exactly what they should keep. That’s usually a mistake. I’m breaking down why inherited portfolios often don’t fit your situation, why moving too quickly can cost you, and how to think about these decisions more clearly before you...