McNamaraOnMoney

How do you turn retirement savings into dependable income when markets are unpredictable? In this episode of McNamara on Money, Alyssa and Mike McNamara discuss managing withdrawals, planning for taxes, and making your money last. They explain how cash reserves and disciplined rebalancing can help reduce the need to sell investments during a downturn. They also cover required minimum distributions...

Are bonds still a safe investment in today's economy? On this episode of McNamara on Money, Justin and Michael McNamara take a closer look at the bond market and what rising interest rates mean for investors, particularly those approaching or already enjoying retirement. With U.S. Treasury yields reaching surprising levels compared to countries like Greece, the McNamaras explain what's happening i...

Medicare can be confusing, and with rising premiums and changing coverage options, making the right decisions is more important than ever. This week on McNamara on Money, Mike McNamara welcomes Medicare specialist Peter Stoner for a practical conversation about navigating Medicare and understanding what recent changes could mean for your healthcare costs. Together, they break down Medicare Parts A...

Alyssa McNamara Reed takes a closer look at one of the biggest questions in retirement planning: does long-term care insurance still make financial sense? Drawing on more than two decades of experience, Alyssa compares traditional long-term care policies, newer hybrid options, and the alternative of setting aside your own assets to cover future care. She examines how rising premiums, tighter benef...

In this episode of McNamara on Money, Justin McNamara and Mike McNamara take a closer look at what’s happening in the bond market and why it matters to investors, especially those approaching or living in retirement. They break down the basics of how bonds work, why bond prices tend to fall when interest rates rise, and what today’s Treasury yields may be telling us about the broader economy and t...

Insurance is about more than policies and premiums. It’s about protecting what you’ve worked hard to build. In this episode of *McNamara on Money*, private risk consultant Dylan Flaherity joins the conversation to explore the role insurance plays in a comprehensive financial plan. They discuss why standard coverage may not always be enough, particularly for people with significant assets, high-val...

What does a Roth conversion actually look like when you run the numbers? In this episode of McNamara on Money, financial advisor Alyssa McNamara Reed works through a real-life Roth conversion analysis with volunteer Jerry. Using financial planning and tax software, Alyssa looks at Jerry’s retirement income, spending, mortgage, taxes, and long-term goals to see whether converting traditional retire...

Choosing a college is a major decision, and understanding how to pay for it can be just as important as deciding where to go. On this episode of **McNamara on Money**, Justin McNamara talks with Julie Shields-Rutina of the **Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority (MEFA)** about navigating the college financial planning process. With National College Decision Day approaching, they discuss ho...

In this episode of McNamara on Money, Mike McNamara continues the series “Real People, Real Lives, Real Financial Situations” with Susie, a recent widow facing some important decisions about the next chapter of her life. Together, they look at the real financial and emotional questions that can come with losing a spouse, from whether to remain in a longtime family home or consider downsizing, to m...

In this episode, Alyssa McNamara Reed talks with Mark Friedman, owner of Senior Helpers Boston, about what it really takes to help an aging parent remain safely and independently at home. They explore the challenges facing the “sandwich generation,” as adult children balance careers, families, finances, and the increasing care needs of their parents. Mark explains why planning early matters, from...

In this episode of *McNamara on Money*, Joan McGrath, CEO of Plan of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, joins the program for a practical conversation about financial planning for individuals with disabilities and the families who support them. Joan explains the important differences between SSI and SSDI and why eligibility rules can make financial planning particularly complicated. The discussion ex...

In this episode of *McNamara on Money*, Mike McNamara talks with listener Dave about a question many successful savers eventually face: How do you shift from building wealth to using it confidently in retirement? Dave has accumulated more than $2 million in his 401(k), but approaching retirement brings a new set of decisions. Mike walks through how a portfolio might be repositioned from an emphasi...

In this episode of *McNamara on Money*, Alyssa McNamara Reed and Mike McNamara take a practical look at managing your finances in an uncertain economy. Mike discusses the growing national debt, government spending, and what those larger economic pressures could mean for individual investors and retirees. The conversation then turns to the financial decisions people can actually control: living wit...

What happens to your financial plan when life changes overnight? In this episode, Mike McNamara introduces “Real People, Real Lives, Real Financial Situations,” a new segment featuring conversations with people navigating real-world financial decisions. Mike sits down with Susie, a recent widow facing important questions about her financial future, investments, and whether it still makes sense to...

Are Roth conversions really the tax-saving strategy they’re made out to be? Financial advisor Alyssa McNamara Reed breaks down the benefits, costs, and often-overlooked consequences of converting retirement assets to a Roth account. Using a real-world retirement scenario, Alyssa explores tax-free growth, upfront tax bills, Medicare premiums, Social Security taxation, and the importance of understa...

Planning for a loved one with a disability involves more than saving money. It requires protecting their future without jeopardizing access to essential benefits. In this episode, Mike McNamara speaks with Joan McGrath, CEO of Plan of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, about the critical role of Special Needs Trusts, how they help preserve eligibility for programs like SSI and Medicaid, and the key d...

In this episode of McNamara on Money, host Mike McNamara introduces a new listener-focused series built around live, one-hour retirement consultations. He invites individuals and couples to volunteer for on-air sessions, offering a $200 incentive to participants willing to discuss their 401(k) plans, retirement goals, and financial concerns by Zoom, phone, or in studio. The episode explains how th...

In this episode, financial advisor Alyssa McNamara Reed breaks down the growing interest in Roth accounts and Roth conversions, explaining why they can be powerful retirement planning tools but are not right for everyone. She compares traditional IRAs, which offer upfront tax deductions, with Roth accounts, which provide tax-free growth and tax-free retirement distributions. Reed explains why Roth...

This week, join guest host Patrick Haraden from Lockton Companies in Boston for a discussion about Medicare. This episode of McNamara On Money features a practical conversation with experts from Abacus Business Consulting about the often-confusing world of Medicare. The discussion breaks down the major parts of the program, including Part A, which covers hospital care, and Part B, which covers out...

In this episode, Mike McNamara delivers a blunt assessment of America’s growing financial instability, comparing the federal government’s spending habits to a household headed toward bankruptcy. He explains how persistent deficits, trillions in new borrowing, and interest payments on a national debt approaching $39 trillion are creating an unsustainable cycle. McNamara warns that rising interest r...

In this episode, financial advisor Alyssa McNamara Reed speaks with reverse mortgage specialist David Tourtillott about the modern role of federally regulated Home Equity Conversion Mortgages. David Tourtillott explains how today’s reverse mortgages differ from the poorly regulated and often misunderstood products of the past. Insured by the FHA, these loans include safeguards designed to protect...

This episode features financial advisor Justin McNamara and insurance professional Guy Ziriak discussing two often-overlooked forms of protection: disability insurance and long-term care insurance. They begin with disability insurance, explaining why it is best understood as income protection. The conversation covers the difference between short-term employer benefits and long-term individual poli...

This episode of McNamara on Money explores how vocational education is creating alternative pathways to stable, high earning careers as traditional college costs continue to rise. Host Alyssa McNamara Reed speaks with representatives from Southshore Technical School about the growing demand for skilled trades and the school’s hands-on approach to career preparation. Guests Bob Melo and Amy Dao dis...

In this episode, financial advisor Alyssa McNamara Reed sits down with wedding planner Ashley Fiddler to discuss the realities of planning modern weddings and managing the often substantial costs that come with them. From event management and partial planning to full-service coordination, Ashley explains how professional planners help couples navigate timelines, vendor relationships, and high-pres...

In this episode, host Justin McNamara sits down with Social Security expert Kurt Zarnowski, a former SSA insider, to break down how the system actually works. From earning the required credits over a ten-year minimum to understanding how your highest 35 years of income shape your benefit, they clarify the mechanics that determine what you receive in retirement. The conversation also examines timin...