The Retirement Huddle

There are financial lessons to be learned from almost every area of life. So, let's see what we can learn about retirement planning from things that get discussed on the Weather Channel. Join us for a unique and insightful lesson on financial planning through weather-related analogies.      Here's some of what you'll learn in this episode: What's the tornado of the financial world? (1:14) Where do...

How much do you know about your own finances? Do you know how much you spend, how much risk you have, and what you're paying in fees? In today's episode, we'll challenge you to assess your financial competency by asking you these crucial questions and more.     Here's some of what you'll learn in this episode:  How much retirement savings do you have? (1:10) How much money do you spend? (2:25) How...

It's time for another mailbag episode! We have an exciting lineup of topics to discuss today. Listen in as we tackle some current questions from our listeners, and you'll likely gain some invaluable insights to help you make informed financial decisions.   This episode could be very helpful if you're looking to improve your financial situation and prepare for retirement. We will discuss whether to...

Steve Martin is a well-known American actor, comedian, writer, producer, and musician. As it turns out, we can learn a lot about retirement from some of his most famous quotes. In today's episode, we'll use his words to share wisdom about persistence, talent, choices, income planning, and more.   Here's some of what you'll learn in this episode, courtesy of some famous Steve Martin quotes: "Persis...

It seems that most people don't have a clear picture of whether they should contribute to a traditional IRA or a Roth. We are here to explain the difference between the two accounts and help you determine what account would be best for your financial goals.    Here's some of what you'll learn in this episode:  What's the difference between a traditional and Roth? (1:12) Why do people tend to choos...

Yogi Berra was a sports icon and one of the most quotable people to ever live. And when we look at some of his quotes through the right prism, they can teach us some lessons about financial planning.   Yogi loved to state the obvious in a funny, quirky way. From "A nickel ain't worth a dime anymore," to "When you come to a fork in the road, take it," we'll explain what these sayings have to do wit...

If you're like most people, you probably have some financial accounts that you don't give much attention. The statements are just collecting dust in your file cabinet, but they might actually be hidden gems that could be put to much better use.   Today we'll talk about some of the accounts that people tend to ignore for too long and why you shouldn't. With some proper planning, you can probably fi...

People are always studying geniuses and highly intelligent people, trying to get an understanding of what makes them tick. Today we're looking at some common characteristics of highly intelligent people that you should apply to your financial life. Here's some of what you'll learn in this episode: Geniuses are highly adaptable. (1:23) Geniuses understand how much they don't know. (3:32) Geniuses a...

Most people spend more time planning vacations than planning retirement. It sounds ridiculous, but it's absolutely true. Today, we're going to trick you into planning for retirement by pretending to plan for a vacation. Ready? Let's go! Here's some of what you'll learn in this episode: Where are you going to stay? (1:15) Where will you eat? (2:39) What will your hobbies be? (4:08)   Want to get in...

Different people have different levels of desire when it comes to finding their retirement date. Today we're exploring these different levels of desire. Which of these statements below sounds most like you and your retirement plan? Here's some of what you'll learn on this episode: I don't see myself ever retiring. I love what I do. (1:15) I could retire, but they pay me pretty well and I don't hat...

Disney World is a fun place, but it can also teach us a lot about financial planning. For instance, you might enjoy riding Space Mountain in the dark, but when it comes to you retirement plan, you don't want to enter it blindly. Today we'll talk about some of the most iconic rides at Disney and how they can relate to your finances.   Here's some of what you'll learn on this episode: Why Space Moun...

Many things in the financial world are critical to your future financial success. But not everything is all it's cracked up to be.  For example, saving money on taxes is wonderful. You don't want to pay Uncle Sam any more than you have to. But that shouldn't be the primary advantage of an investment. From rates of return to emotions, we'll explain the overrated concepts you need to know.   Here's...

Not everyone inherits money, but for those who do, there are some things you need to know. Today we're answering some common questions we get about this topic. From tax implications to common mistakes we see people make, we are here to make sure your current or future inheritances go smoothly. We'll explain what steps you need to take, even if you don't have a clue what to do. What we discuss in t...

Do you remember the movie, The Karate Kid ? Mr. Miyagi was the legendary Karate Kid mentor and famously said, "Wax on. Wax off." He helped the karate kid, but his advice can also help you with your finances. Today we'll take a trip down memory lane and learn about money management at the same time. What we discuss in this episode:  Why different investment approaches could work for you. (1:22) Why...

We're opening up the mailbag today to answer your questions. We got a lot of good feedback and had some interesting questions come in. On today's show, we'll share whether you should have a budget when you retire and live on a fixed income, whether ETFs are better than mutual funds, and more. What we discuss in this episode:  Julie is planning to retire and wonders if she needs to start budgeting....

Many of us get mental blocks from time to time. But did you know these blocks can also impact your financial planning? We'll explain what IKEA and bikes have to do with optimism and pessimism and why you might be handling your finances the wrong way. What we discuss in this episode:  How the "IKEA-effect" causes us to place a higher value on things we partially created ourselves. (1:00) Why being...

What can we learn about financial planning from these song lyrics about money? Whether it's "bills, bills, bills" or "take the money and run," we've got some song lyrics that hit home when it comes to your finances. What we discuss in this episode:  Does "Mo' money," in fact, mean "mo' problems," as the Notorious B.I.G sang? (1:09) How Steve Miller's "Take the money and run" song lyrics can impact...

Today we're diving into the mailbag to answer questions from listeners just like you. We're taking questions about short-term loans, whether you should be a conservative investor and what's a good withdrawal rate.   What we discuss in this episode:  0:51 – Cash for closing on house 4:41 – Conservative investor 8:29 – Withdrawal rate   Read more and get additional financial resources here: http://r...

There are a lot of principles from the personal training and fitness world that we can apply to retirement planning. Let's explore some similarities and learn how to increase our level of financial fitness.   What we discuss in this episode:  1:35 – Reading a book 3:29 – Partners 5:36 – Certification 7:07 – Goals 8:48 – Bad habits 10:11 – Journey   Read more and get additional financial resources...

So you've done a good job saving and investing over the years. You've lived on less than you've earned, kept yourself out of debt, and your investments have done pretty well. That means everything will be simple for you in retirement, right? Not necessarily.   What we discuss in this episode:  1:24 – Too much cash 3:48 – Too much risk 5:19 – Tax time bomb 6:50 – Scared to spend   Read more and get...

The 401(k) and other employer-sponsored retirement plans can be a great tool to save for retirement but they aren't perfect. Identifying the weaknesses within these accounts will help you better invest for your future.   What we discuss in this episode:  1:12 – Administrative costs 3:16 – Mainly mutual funds 5:24 – Limited asset classes 6:14 – Subpar conservative investments 8:45 – Withdrawals are...

Conventional wisdom isn't always so wise. Today we're discussing a few examples where financial conventional wisdom might lead you astray.   What we discuss in this episode:  1:02 – Real estate 3:22 – Good debt and bad debt 5:33 – Relaxing in retirement 7:01 – Investments not doing well   Read more and get additional financial resources here: http://retirementhuddle.com

It's often said that the average person spends more time planning vacations than planning retirement. Today we're going to plan for retirement by pretending like we're planning a vacation.   What we discuss in this episode:  1:17 – Where to stay 2:42 – Where to eat 4:44 – Unexpected costs 7:14 – After you leave   Read more and get additional financial resources here:   http://retirementhuddle.com

We're all guilty of telling ourselves money lies from time to time. The lies we tell can change the way we think and act when it comes to finances. Are you guilty of any of these specific money lies?   What we discuss in this episode:  1:30 - $1 million 3:40 – I deserve it 4:36 – Save more later 6:14 – Plenty of time to plan 7:33 – Good debt, bad debt 8:49 – Wanting more 9:53 – How to stop lies  ...

People love do-it-yourself projects. There's even a DIY Network where you can watch shows about home renovation, landscaping, or interior design and how to do those things without professional help. Today we're talking about the DIY mentality in retirement planning.   What we discuss in this episode:  1:22 – No financial advisor 3:10 – Triggers to visit an advisor 4:30 – Costly mistakes 7:48 – Com...