The Real Retirement Podcast

On today's episode, I offer my thoughts on a recent article in the Wall Street Journal about re-allocating portfolios from the traditional 60% stocks 40% bond portfolios to a more bond-heavy weighting. If bonds are yielding much higher returns how should we adjust our portfolios? ALSO: Are Long-Term Care policies worth it? And when should I get one?

Today is the day you became a better investor.   For more content on how to retire confidently, head over to www.birchwoodcapital.com . 

Today's episode focuses on doing a Backdoor Roth IRA the CORRECT way. There are many hazards in this quest to overcome the income limitations of a normal Roth IRA contribution. For you higher earners, this is an episode for you. I'll walk you through the steps so you don't make a big mistake.   For more content on how to retire confidently, head over to www.birchwoodcapital.com/writings .

What I'm learning from Howard Marks Memos: '01-'05. My hope is this episode is a resource for you to develop your own competence with retirement, investing and taxes.   For more content on how to retire confidently, head over to www.birchwoodcapital.com/writings .

On today's episode, I help you determine if you can afford to live off of your savings and be financially independent. Easy enough! Joking aside, this is one of the burning questions in the back of most people's minds. Hopefully this episode either relieves some stress or gets you to kick it into gear!   For more content on how to retire confidently, head over to www.birchwoodcapital.com/writings...

What I'm learning from Howard Marks Memos: '96-'00.   For more content on how to retire confidently, head over to www.birchwoodcapital.com/writings . 

On today's episode, we discuss if you should help your children with a home purchase and what things you need to know before you do.   For more content on how to retire confidently, head over to www.birchwoodcapital.com/writings . 

What I'm learning from Howard Marks Memos: '90-'95.   For more content on how to retire confidently, head over to www.birchwoodcapital.com/writings . 

On today's episode we'll be talking about how inflation will affect your retirement and what we can do about them We'll also discuss what the biggest risks to any portfolio are. For more content on how to retire confidently, head over to www.birchwoodcapital.com/writings .    Further Reading: Why are my inflation hedges not working? Don't buy your advisor a house!

On today's episode, we discuss the amazing tax and gifting benefits of using a Donor Advised Fund (DAF).   Many people have not heard of this incredible strategy. A DAF opens the door to avoiding capital gains (yes, that's not a typo), increasing your charitable contributions without costing you more out of pocket, taking advantage of itemizing your deductions and getting credit for your donations...

On today's episode, we'll talk about how to invest a large chunk of money. I'll walk you through what your options are and explain how I approach this situation at Birchwood.   For more content on how to retire confidently, head over to www.birchwoodcapital.com/writings   Show Notes: Every Step of the Birchwood Investment Process How to invest a lump sum of money Even God Couldn't Beat Dollar-Cost...

On today's episode, we do an in-depth guide through Social Security. We discuss the rules surrounding Social Security, the monthly worker and spousal benefits, survivor benefits, and we talk about delaying Social Security or not.   We also discuss the solvency of the system. Will it survive?   For more content on how to retire confidently, head over to www.birchwoodcapital.com/writings   Show Note...

On today's episode, we discuss this question: Why would I invest in the market when I feel like the market will collapse or we'll have a recession? We confront the behavioral biases that interfere with our ability to invest for the long-term. We explain Birchwood's principles of investing, and why one would continue to invest even in this market. For more content on how to retire confidently, head...

If you've done a good job preparing the assets for the family (completed an estate plan), how's it going preparing the family for the assets? We'll discuss a huge unstoppable hurdle that's coming for us all as we age. And we'll lay out 2 easy steps to get started with answering this question. For more content on how to retire confidently, head over to www.birchwoodcapital.com/writings

On today's episode, we're talking about limits on ourselves. If you want to maximize your retirement, that includes maximizing your joy in life. Turns out that putting limitations on ourselves can actually produce more joy. Find out how to start.   For more content on how to retire confidently, head over to www.birchwoodcapital.com/writings   Show Notes: 60% of Americans can't cover a $1,000 expen...

On today's episode, we're going to be covering Required Minimum Distributions or RMDs. Including: What RMDs are When you have to take them How to determine the amount Tax impact of RMDs Medicare impact of RMDs Inherited IRA rules What you can do with your RMD Qualified Charitable Distributions For more content on how to retire confidently, head over to https://birchwoodcapital.com/   Show Notes: I...

Earning interest on safe investments is hard to come by these days. Today's episode covers Series I Savings Bonds sold directly by the US Treasury and these are important now. For more content on how to retire confidently, head over to https://birchwoodcapital.com/

"My investments don't seem to be doing anything. Every time I look at a statement or check my balances online, they look stagnant. Something should be changed" Have you ever thought that? Today I want to share with you 3 things to help fix your investments.   For more content on how to retire confidently, head over to www.birchwoodcapital.com/writings

Roughly $61 trillion will go to heirs between 2018 and 2042. On today's episode, I'm going to share with you how you can properly gift your piece correctly by thinking through 3 big questions: 1. Why do I possess what I possess? 2. What should we pass on? 3. How can we give financial capital effectively?   For more content on how to retire confidently, head over to www.birchwoodcapital.com/writing...

On today's episode, I speak with estate planning attorney, Sarah Suiter. We discuss what makes up an estate plan, why it's so important, and what most people mess up. For more content on how to retire confidently, head over to www.birchwoodcapital.com/writings.

When you have to place a trade, WHEN you do it is very important. But I'm not talking about buying dips or selling at highs. I'm talking about a simple trading tactic to lower your transaction costs. Today's show discusses how ETF's and mutual funds trade and when to do them to minimize your costs. For more content on how to retire confidently, head over to www.birchwoodcapital.com/writings.

If you've come into some money from a relative passing, sold a business or investment property, or maybe downsized your home, you might be wondering how to properly invest this pile of cash. Whatever the case may be, you're sitting on some cash and don't want to make a bad decision and have the market crash as soon as you invest it. Today's show discusses what you should do. For more content on ho...

Have you ever wondered what happens to your retirement account once you retire? On today's episode, we'll discuss this along with how you can avoid unnecessary penalties and not get killed in taxes.   For more content on how to retire confidently head over to: www.birchwoodcapital.com/writings.

Part 4 and final episode of our mini-series on investing. Today, we are going to talk about the most important piece of investing. If you get this part wrong then not much else matters. For more content on how to retire confidently head over to: www.birchwoodcapital.com/writings.

Here's a very easy way to increase your after-tax returns in your investment account that most people miss. More: For more content on how to retire confidently head over to www.birchwoodcapital.com/writings .