Your Successful Retirement

On this episode of Your Telecom Retirement, I unveil a little-known approach to maximizing your retirement wealth using Roth IRAs and Roth 401(k)s. Based on my 30 years of experience in retirement planning specific to telecom employees, I'll guide you through managing distributions effectively for a tax-free retirement. Join me as I share my insights on the five-year rule, navigating tax brackets,...

The longer your career, the wider your trail of various retirement and financial accounts littered behind you. This and other financial clutter makes focused saving and investment difficult, and can lead to costly misunderstandings of our positions and can slow your overall retirement savings. In this episode, we dig into the importance of “spring cleaning” your finances, what it means, how to do...

Whenever there’s talk of a recession, people wonder what they should be doing. But how do you prepare for a future nobody can predict? In this episode, we discuss the false belief that we know what’s going to happen, what this means for retirement planning, and how to ensure you don’t fall for the trap of “timing” your way to a huge nest egg. EPISODE LINKS You can download a free digital copy of D...

Retiring today is 180 degrees from what it was in 1993, and there are huge implications for anyone who wants to enjoy a comfortable retirement. In this episode, we’ll examine how the shift from pensions and employer-paid healthcare has changed the game, and who you must depend on to ensure your money lasts as long as you need. EPISODE LINKS You can download a free digital copy of Dennis' book “Ret...

I love my Nana, but let’s just say her culinary adventures were trips to avoid. For her signature Mac & Cheese dish, she got a lot of things right — but missed some crucial details that would have transformed the results. In this episode, we look at a retirement planning error I’ve noticed in several people I’ve been talking to, and why getting this wrong isn’t something that can easily be recover...

I Bonds are the current popular kid at the party. It seems like every financial news outlet and publication is pushing them. So are they REALLY a good deal? In this episode, I demystify I Bonds, including the benefits and limitations of these financial instruments — so you can judge for yourself whether they’re worth a place in your portfolio. EPISODE LINKS You can download a free digital copy of...

Banks are the foundation of the financial system (and the recent turmoil reminds us how important banks are to all of us). Join me and our special guest and banking insider, Samantha, for a peek behind the curtain at banking institutions small, large, and local, and how to know which option fits your financial needs and temperament. EPISODE LINKS You can download a free digital copy of Dennis' boo...

George Constanza was many things, but an investment genius wasn’t one of them. In this episode, we discuss the myth of market momentum, the common mistake investors make when chasing returns, and why Costanza’s goofball antics have a lesson about staying focused in the face of a fluctuating market. EPISODE LINKS You can download a free digital copy of Dennis' book “Retirement Built Right – The Ess...

Nothing like some CEOs on a tropical island complaining about their pay to steer the way toward a content retirement. In this episode, we discuss the importance of avoiding the comparison game, and how you can appreciate where you are and where you’re going without settling for less than you deserve. EPISODE LINKS You can download a free digital copy of Dennis' book “Retirement Built Right – The E...

When my college started capping the concrete stairs in granite at The Quad, we knew something was up. In fact, with tuition rising 10% a year at the time, the students protested. This was 36 years ago, and it’s only gotten more expensive to send kids to college. In this episode, we explore what happened to get us here, and what to consider when thinking about how to send your kids into the world....

Markets often move based on government reports — good or bad. The problem is distinguishing between noise and signal. Too often the seasonal adjustments made with the intent of allowing investors to compare apples to apples completely miss the mark. In this episode, I’ll share some common sense ways to think deeper about the financial news, and help you make decisions based on reality — not on a f...

25 years ago when I grabbed a stack of free pens at a conference, little did I know the heartache I’d feel when the last pen was finally used up. And when I had an opportunity to buy these discontinued pens on Ebay for $0.75 a pop twelve months ago (and refused), imagine my shock when today they’re going for $16 each! In this episode, we talk about pricing discrepancies that most people ignore at...

When the richest, most powerful, and beloved pillars of your community hire the best legal help to handle their estate planning — and they get sub-par results — what chance do we regular people have? My honest answer: a lot. In this episode, I share a surprising story about how even the most successful people can (falsely) think they have their estate plan squared away, and the three documents tha...

After helping hundreds of people make the transition from the workforce into retirement, I can tell you that retirement is the single most stressful event of your life. In this episode, we break down a survey that illustrates the chasm between pre-retirement expectations and the reality of stepping away from the workforce. EPISODE LINKS You can download a free digital copy of Dennis' book “Retirem...

When the retirement accounts of two couples who make similar incomes, are the same age, and have similar circumstances end up in very different places, it makes you wonder what happened to cause the difference. In this episode, we dig into a surprising “intangible” that grew one couple’s account by 8X their peers. EPISODE LINKS You can download a free digital copy of Dennis' book “Retirement Built...

In my 30 years as a financial planner, not one person reached retirement age and wished they had done less to prepare — which is why a prospect telling me, “I’m not retiring yet!” was a sad surprise. In this episode, I reveal the three most common reasons people avoid financial planning, and what you can do to ensure your future self looks back to today with gratitude. EPISODE LINKS You can downlo...

About 25 years ago I went golfing with a buddy and his dad at his favorite golf course. Things were rough at the start, but when guys in hazmat suits appeared in a water hazard, I knew this wouldn’t be a normal afternoon of golf. In this episode, we discuss how the “new normal” is dangerous to your portfolio, and a lesson that will keep your financial plan pointed at true north regardless of what’...

In the winter of 1892, a freak accident and a perfect storm of events combined to decimate the heart of Fall River, MA. In this episode, we look at three lessons this tragedy can teach us that will help prevent your portfolio from suffering the same fate. EPISODE LINKS You can download a free digital copy of Dennis' book “Retirement Built Right – The Essential Guide for Telephone Employees!” here:...

Why are the talking heads on TV and online so often wrong? And why does the market tend to zig when it should zag? In this episode, I share the two economic reports that can give you the real state of the economy — and what to look for that reveals where the economy is going while most of the market is focused on the wrong thing. EPISODE LINKS You can download a free digital copy of Dennis' book “...

Four years ago I was motivated to become fit, and did everything I knew how to boost my health. I made progress, but it wasn’t until I met Dave that I made significant strides. In this episode, I share why even motivated DIYers can benefit from professional help (plus the true cost of DIY in any situation). EPISODE LINKS You can download a free digital copy of Dennis' book “Retirement Built Right...

This is one of the most common questions I hear from people nearing retirement age: when should I begin taking social security? And the truth is . . . it depends. In this episode, I’ll share why the common wisdom about taking social security may have it wrong, and what you need to consider when choosing when to start taking social security. EPISODE LINKS You can download a free digital copy of Den...

Retirement is as much about enjoyment as it is about spending management. But what happens when a retiree swings the spending pendulum too far and outlives their nest egg? In this episode, we look at the life and times of a big spender and how we can learn from his good timey ways. EPISODE LINKS You can download a free digital copy of Dennis' book “Retirement Built Right – The Essential Guide for...

It’s tough to stay out of the comparison game, especially when your peers seem to be doing so much better than you. What’s their secret? What are you doing wrong? In this episode, I pull back the curtain and reveal what’s really going on with so many of the people you secretly admire. EPISODE LINKS You can download a free digital copy of Dennis' book “Retirement Built Right – The Essential Guide f...

When I was growing up, you couldn’t turn on the TV without seeing a dozen AARP ads. By the time my parents reached age fifty, they refused to join—they didn’t see themselves as old, which is the image AARP members had. In this episode, I give you my take on AARP, and some surprising truths that may cause you to reconsider your position. EPISODE LINKS You can download a free digital copy of Dennis'...

In my 30+ year career, you’d be surprised how many people I’ve worked with who thought their job was safe, only to be stunned by a pink slip. With telecoms (and everyone else) looking at cost-cutting in the face of a potential recession, it’s wise to give yourself options in case your job gets the ax. In this episode, I share five ways to protect yourself that you won’t hear in the media. EPISODE...