Podcasts by Retirement Starts Today

8 Reasons to File Your 2021 Tax Return Early, Ep #232 from 2022-02-21T09:00:49

Tax season is here. This yearly duty is something that a good portion of citizens put off until the last minute, with some even requesting an extension to file later. However, today I have 8 rea...

Retirees Aren’t Spending Enough, Ep #231 from 2022-02-14T09:00:33

You may be worried about money in retirement, but are you worried that you won’t spend enough of it? Today’s retirement headline comes from Neil Templin over at Listen

Where Should I Live in Retirement? Ep #230 from 2022-02-07T09:00:55

 Do you know where you’ll live when you retire? Deciding where to live in retirement is one of the biggest retirement decisions that you’ll make. There are so many factors to consider that it ca...

Are You Saving Too Much Money, Ep #229 from 2022-01-31T09:00:38

Is saving for the future preventing you from enjoying your present life? This may be an unpopular opinion for a financial podcast, but it is important to ask difficult questions to experience growt...

Six Month Social Security Mulligan, Ep #228 from 2022-01-24T09:00:19

Deciding whether to delay filing for Social Security is a hefty decision. Waiting to collect Social Security until age 70 will increase your monthly benefit by 32%, but that doesn’t mean much if...

Americans Urged to Watch Out for Tax Scams During the Pandemic, Ep #227 from 2022-01-17T09:00

Tax scams are as old as taxes themselves, so are you doing everything you can do to avoid them? In this episode of Retirement Starts Today, we’ll explore what the IRS labels, ‘the dirty dozen’ t...

A “Gold IRA” and a $300,000 Tax Mistake… Ep #226 from 2022-01-10T09:00

Do you have gold as a part of your investment portfolio? Several years ago there were loads of infomercials about investing in gold, but after today’s retirement headline you may want to think t...

My Favorite Retirement Resources for 2022&How Generosity Changes Your Brain, Ep # 225  from 2022-01-03T09:00

You may have noticed how the spirit of giving changed your mood this holiday season. That is because giving can actually increase your happiness. This week’s retirement headline from BigThink.co...

Could Living Abroad Save You Money? with Tim Leffel [Rebroadcast] from 2021-12-27T06:00

Would you want to raise your standard of living for half of what you live on now? Tim Leffel did, which is why he chose to uproot his family from their life in Nashville to move to a small city ...

Fidelity&Schwab Donors Set Record for Charitable Giving in Response to Pandemic [Rebroadcast] from 2021-12-20T06:00

Despite the economic downturn, 2020 turned out to be a fantastic year for charitable giving. In this episode, we’ll look at how people chose to give and you’ll learn about the efficiency of givi...

Summer Travel Series: Travel Hacking with Lee Huffman [Rebroadcast] from 2021-12-13T06:00

We’ve all been sitting at home for the past year and now everyone is getting the travel bug. That’s why today we’re kicking off the Summer Travel Series with an interview with Lee Huffman. Lee h...

Planning Multi-Generational Disney Trips with Lou Mongello [Rebroadcast] from 2021-12-06T06:00

What is the number one travel goal for people approaching retirement? Disney! People young and old alike love to go to Disney. In my 15 years of retirement planning, I have discovered that a mul...

Bucket List Travel on Any Budget with Danielle Desir [Rebroadcast] from 2021-11-29T06:00

Since travel is on many soon-to-be retirees' must-do lists I have created this summer travel series with various travel experts. Danielle Desir from the Listen

Tax&Retirement Planning Changes for 2022, Ep #219 from 2021-11-22T09:00

Now is a great time to start financial and tax planning for the next year. To do so, you must first look at any changes that were made to tax laws. We’ll do that by exploring 2 articles from  Listen

Risk Tolerance Questionnaires Don’t Work, Ep #218 from 2021-11-15T09:00

Have you ever filled out a questionnaire at your financial advisor’s office? If you have, it was probably a risk tolerance questionnaire. I have my own opinions about them, but you’ll have to wa...

The Media Will Decide Your Social Security Claiming Age, Ep #217 from 2021-11-08T09:00

Do you let news headlines affect your choices? The Center for Retirement Research at Boston College wanted to learn more about this question, so they conducted a study to find the answers. In th...

Executor Help - How to Settle an Estate, Pick an Executor, and Avoid Family Fights with David Edey, Ep #216 from 2021-11-01T08:00

Our chances of death are 100%, so that means at some point in your life you will probably experience the death of a loved one, and you’ll need to prepare for your own passing. Choosing the right...

Inflation in Retirement and Breaking Social Security News! Ep #215 from 2021-10-25T08:00

If you are like many Americans who watch the news, inflation is probably on your mind. Since the Covid 19 pandemic began costs have been rising. We are still facing the effects of the supply cha...

Tax Moves You Should Be Making Before Year's End, Ep #214 from 2021-10-18T08:00

The end of the year is coming up right around the corner, and you know what that means: it’s time for end-of-the-year tax planning! However, this year’s tax planning may look a bit different wit...

3 Social Security Do-Over Options, Ep # 213  from 2021-10-11T08:00

Do you wish that you could have a mulligan when it comes to taking your Social Security benefit? Once you file for Social Security, it seems like your decision is set in stone. But what if I tol...

Do's and Don'ts for Your 7-Figure Retirement, Ep #212 from 2021-10-04T08:00

Do you wish that there was a list of what to do and what not to do in your retirement? I recently discovered an article from MorningStar.com written by Sheryl Rowling titled Listen

Are Annuities a “License to Spend”? Ep # 211 from 2021-09-27T08:00

 Do annuities give retirees a different attitude towards spending in retirement? In this week’s retirement headlines, we’ll examine an article that discusses the psychological benefits that reti...

The Social Security Update, Ep # 210 from 2021-09-20T08:00

 The annual Social Security beneficiary report was recently released and just like every other year that they release it, it has caused people to worry about their future. Social Security is a c...

The Great Resignation, Ep #209 from 2021-09-13T08:00

Have you been feeling the pull to retire? This feeling isn’t constrained to those nearing retirement age; many people have been feeling the desire to quit their jobs lately. So many workers are ...

Quit Cutting Your Own Grass, Ep #208 from 2021-09-06T08:00

In retirement, you have all the time in the world, but are you using your time wisely? I recently read an Listen

Bucket List Travel on Any Budget with Danielle Desir, Ep #207 from 2021-08-30T08:00

Since travel is on many soon-to-be retirees' must-do lists I have created this summer travel series with various travel experts. Danielle Desir from the Listen

Should I Buy a Bond Fund? Ep #206 from 2021-08-23T08:00

 Do you have bond funds in your portfolio? Many people understand the way that bonds work, but they may not know how bond funds work. El has written in to ask this question which I will answer i...

Social Security Earnings Test, Ep #205 from 2021-08-16T08:00

Are you preparing for a successful retirement? If you are, you’ll need to consider more than just your finances because 80% of a successful retirement has nothing to do with money. However, when...

Overcoming Frugality Syndrome, Ep # 204  from 2021-08-09T08:00

Do you have a case of frugality syndrome? Many of us are so used to saving and living frugally that we have a hard time pivoting from the accumulation stage of retirement planning into the distr...

Can I Go Fishing for the Next 25 Years and Forget About Work?, Ep #203 from 2021-08-02T08:00

How’s this for a headline? I’m 62, unemployed, living off my savings, and waiting on Social Security — ‘Can I go fishing for the next 25 years and forget about work? It naturally caught...

Boomers Want to Stay Home - Senior Housing Now Faces Budding Glut, Ep # 202  from 2021-07-26T08:00

What do you think about senior living communities? Would you want to move to one? According to a recent Listen

Affluent Americans Rush to Retire in New ‘Life-Is-Short’ Mindset, Ep #201 from 2021-07-19T08:00

Has the Covid pandemic caused you to reevaluate your life and consider early retirement? If so, you are not alone. Now that we are starting to emerge from the pandemic, many Americans have a new...

Affluent Retirees Scared To Draw Down Savings, Ep #200 from 2021-07-12T08:00

Episode 200! I can’t believe I’ve made it to this landmark episode. Thank you all for joining me on this journey and I hope you'll join me for the next 200.

I enjoy looking back and remin...

Planning Multi-Generational Disney Trips with Lou Mongello, Ep #199  from 2021-07-05T08:00

What is the number one travel goal for people approaching retirement? Disney! People young and old alike love to go to Disney. In my 15 years of retirement planning, I have discovered that a mul...

Sabbaticals Are Essential For The Way We Work with Paul Millerd, Ep #198 from 2021-06-28T08:00

Have you ever thought about your relationship with work? As retirement looms ahead, many people become fearful of the unknown that it brings. A common way to express this fear is to worry about ...

Summer Travel Series: Travel Hacking with Lee Huffman, Ep #197 from 2021-06-21T08:00

We’ve all been sitting at home for the past year and now everyone is getting the travel bug. That’s why today we’re kicking off the Summer Travel Series with an interview with Lee Huffman. Lee h...

7 Steps for Widows and Widowers to Manage Their First Year Alone, Ep # 196 from 2021-06-14T08:00

Nobody wants to think about becoming a widow or widower, but unfortunately, if you are married, there is a 50/50 chance that you could. In addition to the crushing grief that comes with losing a...

Do You Know the Difference Between Being Rich and Being Wealthy? Ep #195 from 2021-06-07T08:00

Do you consider being rich and being wealthy the same thing? In the book by Morgan Housel, The Psychology of Money, the author argues that these words mean two different things. In this episode ...

Cheaper Health Insurance Before Medicare? Ep # 194  from 2021-05-31T08:00

Are you one of the many that are being held back from early retirement by the exorbitant cost of health insurance? If so, you won't want to miss this episode. This week’s retirement headline com...

Improving the 4% Rule, Ep # 193  from 2021-05-24T08:00

I’m sure you’ve all heard about the 4% rule for retirement planning. This rule is great for speculating your likelihood of success, but it isn’t always the best rule to follow in practice. 

The 6 Phases of Retirement, Ep # 192 from 2021-05-17T08:00

As you prepare yourself for retirement, you probably have a vision of your retired self traveling, spending more time on your hobbies, or with loved ones. Retirement will give you time for all t...

Time for a Gap Year? Ep # 191 from 2021-05-10T08:00

Have you ever considered going back to school? Early retirement can be a fantastic time to explore new learning opportunities. 

In this episode of Retirement Starts Today, we’ll take a lo...

Deducting Your Home Office in a Work from Home World, Ep # 190  from 2021-05-03T08:00

Since 2020 was the year of working from home, you may be wondering how you can deduct your home office expenses from your taxes now that tax time is upon us. For this reason, we explore an artic...

The Future Is Foggy, Plan Accordingly, Ep #189 from 2021-04-26T08:00

If 2020 has taught us anything it is that the future is not always certain. This has brought about feelings of insecurity and anxiety in some people. That’s why this week, I share an article fro...

What You Need to Know About Your My Social Security Account, Ep # 188  from 2021-04-19T08:00

Are you signed up for the My Social Security account from the Social Security Administration? In this episode, we’ll review a Listen

Fidelity&Schwab Donors Set Record for Charitable Giving in Response to Pandemic, Ep #187 from 2021-04-12T08:00

Despite the economic downturn, 2020 turned out to be a fantastic year for charitable giving. In this episode, we’ll look at how people chose to give and you’ll learn about the efficiency of givi...

Why We’re Experiencing Zoom Fatigue and How To Fix It, Ep # 186 from 2021-04-05T08:00

If you’ve been working from home over the past year you may wonder why you feel even more exhausted than normal. This could be due to Zoom Fatigue.

In this episode, we’ll explore an artic...

How To Protect Yourself and Your Savings From Cyberfraud, Ep # 185  from 2021-03-29T08:00

You have fraud protection on your bank accounts and your credit cards, but what about your retirement accounts? Today we’ll explore an article from the Listen

The American Rescue Plan Act Of 2021, Ep # 184  from 2021-03-22T08:00

If you have listened to the news at all lately, you probably know what our Retirement Headlines segment will cover. The American Rescue Plan is all any financial news is talking about these days...

What to Expect When You're Expecting (to Apply for Medicare), Ep # 183  from 2021-03-15T08:00

Enrolling in Medicare can be extremely stressful and confusing. There are so many choices to make, there are different rules to follow, and timelines to be met. Additionally, there is so much in...

Why Save If You’re Not Going To Spend? Ep #182 from 2021-03-08T09:00

How long have you been saving for retirement? Are you hesitant to break into your retirement funds and start living it up once you retire? 

This week I share two Retirement Headlines arti...

Is a 50% Probability of Success Good Enough? Ep #181  from 2021-03-01T09:00

Have you heard of the Monte Carlo retirement projection analysis? It is being used more and more by advisors and even popular retirement planning websites. Today, in the Retirement Headlines seg...

Why Markets Boomed in a Year of Human Misery, Ep #180 from 2021-02-22T09:00

Have you wondered why the markets had such an amazing year in 2020 when the economy was a mess and everyone was stuck at home? You aren’t the only one. That’s why in this episode, we’ll look at ...

Why Companies Fret as Vacation Days Go Unused, Ep # 179 from 2021-02-15T09:00

Has the Covid-19 pandemic cut into your vacation plans? It seems like everyone’s travel plans have changed over the past year. But what does that mean for employees and companies? Anne Steele an...

Frothy Markets - Beware or Prepare? Ep # 178  from 2021-02-08T09:00

Has the news about the ups and downs in the market lately got you a bit worried? You aren’t the only one. Many people are even thinking about pulling their money out in case there is a market co...

Single-Ply Retirement, Ep #177 from 2021-02-01T09:00

Are you setting yourself up for a single-ply retirement? Do you find yourself trying to save money out of habit rather than necessity? Listen to the retirement headlines segment to find out why ...

Life Insurance Isn’t Special, Ep #176  from 2021-01-25T09:00

I figured that you all may be a bit sick of hearing the news lately which is why this week’s episode will focus only on listener questions without the Retirement Headlines segment. I’ve got 2 li...

What to Do with $500,000 I Don’t Need? Ep #175 from 2021-01-18T09:00

I’m feeling optimistic this year and I want to continue to spread that optimism. That’s why I want to focus several shows on travel. Most people’s travel plans were foiled by covid in 2020, so 2...

Could Living Abroad Save You Money? with Tim Leffel, Ep # 174  from 2021-01-11T09:00

Would you want to raise your standard of living for half of what you live on now? Tim Leffel did, which is why he chose to uproot his family from their life in Nashville to move to a small city ...

What You Need to Know About Coronavirus Stimulus Package 2.0, Ep # 173  from 2021-01-04T09:00

I’m thrilled to be back sharing the latest retirement headlines with you after my short holiday break. The biggest news on the retirement radar this week is that the 2nd Coronavirus stimulus pac...

A Special Year End Message from Benjamin from 2020-12-31T07:00

Schedule time for an introductory phone Zoom call at https://RetirementStartsToday.com/meeting

Retirement Rewind: How to Retire Abroad with David Jacoby, Ep # 172 from 2020-12-28T09:00

Welcome back to another edition of Retirement Rewind -- episodes so good we played them twice! 

Time for travel is by far the number one thing that Retirement Starts Today Radio listeners...

Retirement Rewind: Estate Planning Strategies to Preserve IRAs with John Ross, Ep #171 from 2020-12-21T09:00

Welcome to this episode of our Retirement Rewind. Retirement Rewind episodes are so informative that we decided to play them again while I take the month of December to spend a bit more time to ...

Retirement Rewind: It’s Roth Conversion Season, Ep #170 from 2020-12-14T09:00

What would happen if you go over your tax bracket by $1 when doing a Roth IRA conversion? On this Retirement Rewind episode, we’ll explore the best way that you can take advantage of the current...

Retirement Rewind: My Favorite Retirement Podcasts (for the 3rd time) #169 from 2020-12-07T09:00

Welcome back to the Retirement Rewind! I take the last part of the year off from podcasting to spend more time with my family. But that doesn’t mean that you miss out on your favorite retirement...

Retirement Rewind: The Hidden Challenges of Retirement with Fritz Gilbert, Ep # 168 from 2020-11-30T09:00

Welcome to Retirement Rewind! Each year I take the holiday season off from podcasting to spend more time with my family. The good news is that I prepare my favorite episodes from the past for yo...

BIG Legislation Changes, tiny Portfolio Changes, Ep # 167 from 2020-11-23T09:00

Are you worried about what the election means for your retirement portfolio? Many people are tempted to make big changes to their retirement savings to reflect their election concerns. On this e...

Medicare Annual Maintenance and Timelines: What Do I Need to Do Annually? Ep #166 from 2020-11-16T09:00

After you finally get Medicare all figured out and everything in place, the last thing you want to do is ever think about it again. But unfortunately, you need to review your Medicare coverage a...

Medicare Supplements&Advantage - Where Does Part D Fit In? Ep. #165 from 2020-11-09T09:00

Do you know the difference between a Medicare supplement and a Medicare advantage plan? You’ll need to understand their differences to make an educated decision about which to choose when it is ...

Retirement: What to Expect if You Retire Before or After Age 65 with Danielle Roberts, Ep # 164 from 2020-11-02T09:00

Deciding to retire before age 65 can be a tough decision to make. For most people, this decision will result in an extra $1000 or more a month in health insurance expenses. Retiring after age 65...

Medicare Basics: What to Expect as You Approach Age 65 with Danielle Roberts, Ep # 163  from 2020-10-26T08:00

You asked and I listened. This summer I asked you all for your thoughts on the show and many people responded that they wanted to hear more deep dives into complex subjects. We tried this out wi...

How to Avoid Burnout While Working From Home, Ep # 162  from 2020-10-19T08:00

Are you one of the many people still working from home due to the pandemic? What seemed like a phase that would last a few weeks has turned into a trend with no end in sight. While working from ...

Social Security Bankruptcy Insurance, Ep # 161  from 2020-10-12T08:00

Are you worried about the seemingly constant news stories which claim that Social Security may run out of money? These articles highlight any problems that the Social Security program is facing ...

How Do You Plan to Give Your Retirement Notice? Ep # 160  from 2020-10-05T08:00

If you are listening to Retirement Starts Today, you probably have retirement on your mind. You have probably given thought as to how you will spend your money, where that money will come from, ...

Are Stock Splits Good for Stocks? Ep # 159 from 2020-09-28T08:00

Have you seen the news about Tesla and Apple lately? Their stock prices are surging to new highs after the announcement of a stock split. Is this what is supposed to happen with a stock split? L...

How the Biden Tax Plan Could Affect Your Retirement, Ep # 158 from 2020-09-21T08:00

 Have you been wanting to know a bit more about Biden’s tax plan without all the political spin? Me too! That’s why I dug deep to find the best information that I could share with you all. I pro...

Will Bank Bail-Ins Replace Bail-Outs? Ep # 157 from 2020-09-14T08:00

Have you ever hear of a bank bail-in? You read that right, bail-in, not a bail-out. I hadn’t heard of this concept until recently and wanted to share it with you so that you understand how it wo...

Mentored By a Shark with Kevin Harrington from TV’s Shark Tank, Ep # 156  from 2020-09-07T08:00

You may be wondering why I have invited Shark Tank star, Kevin Harrington on the show today. I often talk about how becoming a mentor in retirement is an amazing way to continue to get ...

Do You Still Need Life Insurance in Retirement? Ep #155 from 2020-08-31T08:00

Have you thought about what you’ll do with your life insurance policy in retirement? One listener is considering what he should do with his policy. Find out 3 options you have available as well ...

Lifetime Income Illustrations Are Coming to Your 401K, Ep #154 from 2020-08-24T08:00

Welcome back to another exciting episode of Retirement Starts Today. I want to say thank you to everyone who has participated in the Listener Survey. There is still time until the end of August ...

Nobody Wants Your Stuff, Ep # 153  from 2020-08-17T08:00

Do you have a lot of stuff? If you said yes, you are not alone. 60% of Americans think that they have too much stuff. We’ll take a look at an article that addresses this problem in the Retiremen...

Does It Still Make Sense to Save in a 401K? Ep # 152 from 2020-08-10T08:00

Welcome back to Retirement Starts Today! I have long been a proponent of saving in 401K’s, but will Listen

Put Your Social Security Knowledge to the Test, Ep # 151 from 2020-08-03T08:00

So you think you know a thing or two about Social Security? Let’s put it to the test! I came across a Listen

Taxes in Retirement with Andy Panko, Ep # 150 from 2020-07-27T08:00

Tax expert, Andy Panko, joins me today to discuss taxes in retirement. Andy and I know each other from his Listen

Optimizing Your Retirement Planning Strategies with Grant Bledsoe, Ep # 149  from 2020-07-20T08:00

Have you ever wondered what I sound like on a different podcast? Well, today you get to find out. Since I am attempting a family road trip with 6 kids under 12, I can’t personally be with you al...

Money Can’t Buy Happiness - Or Can It? Ep # 148 from 2020-07-13T08:00

It’s true, money can’t buy happiness. But does how you choose to spend your money affect your happiness? Today we’ll discuss one article that challenges that old adage. We’ll also discuss a mult...

Should Private Equity Funds Have a Place in Your 401K? Ep # 147 from 2020-07-06T08:00

Would you consider adding private equity funds to your 401K? We’ll weight the pros and cons of this interesting idea as we explore the retirement headlines. No listener questions today, instead,...

The Hidden Challenges of Retirement with Fritz Gilbert, Ep # 146 from 2020-06-29T08:00

Retirement Manifesto blogger, Fritz Gilbert joins me today. Fritz was actually my very first guest on t...

Answering Listener Questions with Grant Bledsoe, Ep # 145 from 2020-06-22T08:00

I’ve got an exciting episode planned for you today. This episode will focus solely on listener questions but as an added twist I’ve asked my friend Grant Bledsoe over at Listen

Bankrupt in Just Two Weeks, Ep #144 from 2020-06-15T08:00

Can you imagine this nightmare? You’re newly retired and then a global pandemic comes along and threatens financial markets all over the world leaving you bankrupt in only two weeks. Listen to t...

4 Questions to Ask Yourself If You Are Offered an Early Retirement Package, Ep #143  from 2020-06-08T08:00

Do you know what you would do if your employer offered you an early retirement package? Before you rush into an answer, I have 4 questions for you to consider. Given the present economic climate...

Are You a Prudent Pessimist? Ep # 142 from 2020-06-01T08:00

Are you an eternal optimist or a prudent pessimist? It may seem like the stock market is the eternal optimist. Have you seen the headline that Uber laid off 3,000 employees? If you have, you may...

Economic Effects of the Coronavirus, Ep #141 from 2020-05-25T08:00

Thanks for participating in the office hours that we’ve held for the past several weeks. Due to that question and answer period, we have exhausted all of our listener questions. But don’t worry ...

How Did Oil Prices Drop to Negative Numbers? with Dan Eberhart, Ep # 140 from 2020-05-18T08:00

Have you been listening to what has been going on in the commodities markets lately? People around the world were shocked when oil prices went negative in the month of May. I didn’t even know th...

How to Get a Refund for Your Cancelled Plans, Ep # 139  from 2020-05-11T08:00

 One of the effects of the Coronavirus has been a number of cancelled plans. Have you had to cancel plans due to the pandemic? Today we’ll explore how to get a refund. I’ll also share a CNBC art...

8 Questions to Ask a Financial Advisor, Ep # 138 from 2020-05-04T14:12:25

With the recent market volatility, people are looking for financial advisors now more than ever. But how can you choose a financial advisor that’s right for you? I created a PDF with 8 questions...

Retirement Questions from Office Hours, Ep # 137  from 2020-04-27T08:00

On this episode of Retirement Starts Today I want to share with you the retirement questions I received through my Friday Office Hours. Office Hours is an online space where I am available to an...

Your Stimulus Check Questions Answered, Ep #136 from 2020-04-20T08:00

You may have gotten your stimulus check last week, but whether or not you have received the funds you may still have stimulus check questions. On this episode, I’ll answer several common questio...

Spotting and Avoiding Coronavirus Scams, Ep # 135 from 2020-04-13T08:00

We all know that scammers are out there looking for the next opportunity to prey on their targets. The Coronavirus isn’t just a worldwide pandemic, for scammers its an opportunity to try new sca...

What You Need to Know About Buying the Dip with Lawrence Hamtil, Ep # 134  from 2020-04-06T08:00

Everyone is talking about buying the dip, but what is the best way to do that? I’m not an investment advisor, but since the stock market has taken a serious downturn, now may be a good time to c...

What You Need to Know About the Coronavirus Stimulus Package, Ep # 133 from 2020-03-30T08:00

With the Coronavirus situation bringing so much change into our lives, I decided to bring an abrupt conclusion to the Living Off Your Savings series. Instead, today, we’ll talk about some of the...

Living Off Your Savings: How to Turn Assets Into Retirement Income, Ep # 132 from 2020-03-23T08:00:11

Before you retire you’ll need to think about how to turn your assets into retirement income. Today I’ll share with you my 2 favorite ways to turn your assets into retirement income. You’ll hear abo...

Living Off Your Savings: How to Deal With a Bear Market, Ep # 131 from 2020-03-16T08:00

I promise I did not crash the market just to give you guys an example of a bear market for this episode! But I guess this episode is releasing at the right time. As of this recording, we are not in...

Living Off Your Savings: How Do I Cover My Spending in Retirement? Ep # 130 from 2020-03-09T08:00

Now you know what your spending in retirement will be, but how do you know where and when to withdraw money? Welcome back to the second episode in the Living Off Your Savings series. Last week we e...

Living Off of Your Savings: How to Create a Retirement Budget, Ep # 129 from 2020-03-02T09:00

Have you created a retirement budget? That’s what we’re going to cover this week on Retirement Starts Today. The month of March brings a change in format for us. We are going to try a monthly serie...

Are You Paying for Tax Prep That Should Be Free? Ep # 128 from 2020-02-24T01:30

Last year 14 million Americans paid for tax prep that they could have had for free. Are you one of those people? Today, we’ll take a look at why people are spending money they don’t need to and how...

What to do When a Stock Goes Parabolic, Ep #127 from 2020-02-17T09:00

I’m sure you’ve seen Tesla all over the news lately, today we’ll think about what we can learn from its parabolic trajectory. We’ll also cover additional questions about the SECURE Act and I make a...

3 Tips to Avoid Penalties on Early Retirement Withdrawals, Ep #126 from 2020-02-10T09:00

Do you know how to avoid penalties on early retirement withdrawals? Is the 4% rule confusing to you? On this episode of Retirement Starts Today 2 astute listeners have some fantastic questions for ...

Questions and Answers from the SECURE Act Webinar, Ep # 125 from 2020-02-03T09:00

Welcome back to another episode of Retirement Starts Today. On this episode, I review the questions that were asked in both sessions of the SECURE Act webinar. You’ll want to listen even if you att...

Estate Planning Strategies to Preserve IRA’s with John Ross, Ep #124 from 2020-01-27T09:00

Now that the SECURE Act is the law, we need to rethink our estate planning strategies since it has effectively killed the stretch IRA. With the death of the stretch IRA, many people are scrambling ...

How Bonds Work, Ep # 123 from 2020-01-20T09:00

You know that you need to have a diversified portfolio with both stocks and bonds, but do you know how bonds work? On this episode of Retirement Starts Today we have 2 fantastic listener questions ...

Free Training January 23rd – The SECURE Act and Your Retirement from 2020-01-18T01:13:09

Webinar #1 sign up – 11AM CST, January 23rd Webinar #2 signup – 3:30PM CST January 23rd The recently passed Secure Act brought about the most significant changes to retirement planning in a decade....

How the Secure Act May Affect Your Retirement Plans, Ep #122 from 2020-01-13T09:00

Webinar #1 sign up – 11AM CST, January 23rd Webinar #2 signup – 3:30PM CST January 23rd The recently passed Secure Act brought about the most significant changes to retirement planning in a decade....

My 2019 Resolution Fails and What You Can Learn From Them, Ep # 121 from 2020-01-06T09:00

Welcome back to Retirement Starts Today and welcome to 2020! The New Year is a time when many of us consider setting goals or resolutions and focus on self-improvement. I don’t have any new goals f...

Tweak Your Retirement Strategies to Create an Epic Retirement Plan [Rebroadcast] from 2019-12-30T07:20

Originally broadcast June 2019. I recently had 2 fantastic questions about retirement strategies come to my inbox. Both questions require thoughtful, detailed answers. So on today’s episode of Reti...

Top 6 Easily Avoidable Retirement Mistakes [Rebroadcast] from 2019-12-23T08:54:40

Originally broadcast June 2018 We all work hard to plan for retirement. In any such endeavor, it’s good to learn from other people’s triumphs and mistakes, so I’d like to share six retirement mista...

What’s Your Retirement Planning Process? with Jason Parker [Rebroadcast] from 2019-12-16T09:00

Originally broadcast in May of 2019 Do you have a retirement planning process? Do you know how much you need to retire? Have you thought about what the purpose of your money is? Jason Parker from S...

5 Easy Steps to be a 401k Millionaire [Rebroadcast] from 2019-12-09T10:33:18

Originally broadcast April 2018. While becoming a 401k millionaire may seem like a crazy, out-of-reach goal, it’s not that hard to become a 401(k) millionaire if you have the self-discipline to sti...

My Favorite Retirement Podcasts [Rebroadcast] from 2019-12-02T09:00

Podcasts! I love them (and I’m guessing you do too). This week I’m sharing my favorite retirement podcasts that will educate and entertain you all the way to your ideal retirement.

Are Bonds Worth Buying in Retirement? Ep # 115 from 2019-11-25T09:00

Are bonds worth buying as a way to help keep a balanced portfolio in retirement? You may have read in the news lately about negative yield bonds. One listener has, and he is concerned that if they ...

This CIO Only Owns One Mutual Fund with Peter Lazaroff, Ep # 114 from 2019-11-18T09:00:56

We make financial choices harder than they need to be. That’s why Peter Lazaroff wrote the book, Making Money Simple. He joins me today to discuss the theme of his book. We reflect on why we make m...

Wave Good-Bye to the Donut Hole and Other Changes to Medicare in 2020, Ep # 113 from 2019-11-11T09:00:47

Have you heard about the coming changes to Medicare in 2020? On this episode of Retirement Starts Today, we’ll say good-bye to the donut-hole and take a look at other relevant changes to the retire...

The Importance of Having Friends in Retirement, Ep # 112 from 2019-11-04T09:00:48

You may not have considered the importance of having friends in retirement, but they add more than just social value to your life. On the Retirement Headlines portion of the show, I read from a For...

It’s Roth Conversion Season, Ep #111 from 2019-10-28T08:00:15

It’s Roth conversion season! What does that mean for you, and how can you take advantage of the current tax cuts to get the most out of your money? On this episode of Retirement Starts Today Radio ...

Are Health Sharing Plans Worth the Risk? Ep #110  from 2019-10-21T08:00:25

Have you considered a medi-share or health sharing plan in retirement? Shary asks why I’ve never mentioned them before. So on this episode, I open up and share what a health sharing ministry is and...

Will a Trump Impeachment Crash Your Retirement? Ep # 109 from 2019-10-14T08:00:38

If you turn on the cable news there is only one thing you will hear about: the possible impeachment of President Donald Trump. This is not a political show. I don’t discuss politics on this show or...

Annuities for Retirees: Are They a Good Option? Ep #108 from 2019-10-07T08:00:16

Are annuities for retirees a good option? Nes wants to learn more about annuities and how they work. But before I answer that question, first Bruce asks how he can calculate his exact social securi...

What is the Best Choice of Health Insurance Before Medicare? Ep #107 from 2019-09-30T08:00:13

 If you have been thinking of retiring early, you know that one of the biggest factors is health insurance before Medicare. One listener asks whether Obamacare or COBRA would be the best option. An...

How to Use the Bucket Strategy for Retirement, Ep #106 from 2019-09-23T08:00:26

Do you understand how to use the bucket strategy for retirement? One listener has a question about how to use the bucket strategy and whether or not it is too conservative. I also answer another li...

Retirement Lessons from a 4-Hour Commute, Ep # 105 from 2019-09-16T08:00:55

What retirement lessons can you learn from a 4-hour daily commute? On this episode of Retirement Starts Today I share an article I found on CNBC. The article isn’t directly about retirement but the...

How to Protect Yourself Against a Social Security Scam, Ep # 104 from 2019-09-09T08:00:28

Do you know what to do if you fall victim to a Social Security scam? In the Retirement Headlines segment, we’ll discuss a recent Market Watch article that shares some excellent tips for protecting ...

Why I Hate the FIRE Movement, Ep # 103 from 2019-09-02T08:00:34

Have you heard of the FIRE movement? In this episode, you’ll hear why I hate it. We’ll also discuss a listener question about spousal Social Security benefits and a CNBC article that compares retir...

How to Retire Abroad with David Jacoby, Ep # 102 from 2019-08-26T08:00:49

Do you know what you need to do to travel or retire abroad? We asked and you answered. The number one thing that our listeners would like to do in retirement is travel. That’s why I found financial...

How to Navigate the Upcoming Changes in Medicare Supplement Plans with Danielle Roberts, Ep # 101 from 2019-08-19T08:00:24

If you’ve seen then news lately, then you know that there are big changes in Medicare supplement plans coming in 2020. This is why I’ve invited Danielle Roberts on the show today. Danielle is a Med...

How to Offset the Rising Costs of Long-Term Care Insurance Premiums, Ep # 100 from 2019-08-12T08:00:29

On episode 100 I answer listener questions including what to do about the rising costs of long-term care insurance premiums, what to do with old annuities, and SIPC protection. Thanks to all of you...

What Can a Mullet Teach us About Portfolio Distribution? Ep #99 from 2019-08-05T08:00:36

Are you ready to learn about portfolio distribution? I’ve got the perfect visual for you! Listen in to hear how to rebalance your portfolio in retirement. Thank you all for sending in your rebalanc...

Donor-Advised Funds, Tax Planning in Retirement, and Roth IRA’s Ep #98 from 2019-07-29T08:00:01

On this week’s episode of Retirement Starts Today we’ll discuss whether donor-advised funds are a good fit, tax planning in retirement, and answer a listener question about Roth IRA’s. Have you tak...

What to do with Multiple Retirement Accounts, Ep #97 from 2019-07-22T08:00:22

Do you have multiple retirement accounts lying around and don’t know what to do with them? On this episode of Retirement Starts Today we answer 2 listener questions. One is about having multiple re...

4 Tips for Tax Beneficial Charitable Giving with John Madison, Ep #96 from 2019-07-15T08:00:09

Charitable giving in a tax beneficial way has gotten a bit more complicated with the new tax law. Of course, we donate to charities to help those less fortunate, but it helps when we receive tax be...

$110,000 per Household is Lost by Poor Social Security Timing, Ep # 95 from 2019-07-08T08:00:59

Is your Social Security timing losing you money? Millions of Americans don’t ideally time their Social Security and end up losing thousands of dollars. On today’s episode of Retirement Starts Today...

Set it and Forget it! A Rallying Cry for Target Date Funds, Ep # 94  from 2019-07-01T08:00:47

On this episode of Retirement Starts Today, we’ll discuss the pros and cons of target date funds as well as Vanguard’s managed payout fund. You’ll learn exactly what a target date fund is and why t...

Tweak Your Retirement Strategies to Create an Epic Retirement Plan, Ep #93 from 2019-06-24T08:00:18

I recently had 2 fantastic questions about retirement strategies come to my inbox. Both questions require thoughtful, detailed answers. So on today’s episode of Retirement Starts Today, I focus on ...

How to Add Exercise to Your Retirement Lifestyle with Pete McCall, Ep # 92 from 2019-06-17T08:00:13

When planning your retirement lifestyle it’s a good idea to think about how to add exercise into your routine. Many people who haven’t made exercise a regular part of their lives may think that it ...

Will You Need Life Insurance in Retirement? Ep # 91 from 2019-06-10T08:00:42

Are you planning to keep up your life insurance in retirement? One listener asks if I think it’s necessary. I also answer another question from a listener about diversification. As you approach ret...

Do You Have Moldy Money Laying Around? Ep #90 from 2019-06-03T08:00:41

Do you have moldy money hanging out in your accounts? I’m not talking about the cash that got wet and stuck in the back of a drawer. Moldy money is the topic of today’s Retire Ready segment, you’ll...

Life Planning in Retirement with George Kinder, Ep #89 from 2019-05-27T08:00:24

The father of life planning, George Kinder, joins me on this episode of Retirement Starts Today Radio. George trains financial advisors to look at the softer side of retirement planning, at what he...

What’s Your Retirement Planning Process? with Jason Parker, Ep #88 from 2019-05-20T08:00:56

Do you have a retirement planning process? Do you know how much you need to retire? Have you thought about what the purpose of your money is? Jason Parker from Sound Retirement Radio is my guest to...

My Favorite Retirement Podcasts, #87 from 2019-05-13T08:00:10

Podcasts! I love them (and I’m guessing you do too). This week I’m sharing my favorite retirement podcasts that will educate and entertain you all the way to your ideal retirement. Also in today’s ...

Should You Really Sell in May and Go Away? Ep # 86 from 2019-05-06T11:34:34

On this episode of Retirement Starts Today I tackle the age-old question: should you sell in May and go away? This is a question you may hear each April and May so we’ll talk about where it came fr...

Triplets on 24 Hours Notice – Our Adoption Story from 2019-04-23T20:30:58

It was a Thursday afternoon in July of 2017. I had just finished at the gym and checked my phone on the way to my car – over a dozen missed calls – my immediate reaction was, “Who died?”… Rewind to...

How a Diversified Investment Strategy Will Help You Keep a Level Head, Ep #84 from 2019-04-22T08:00:26

You know that the key to investing is having a diversified investment strategy and on this episode of Retirement Starts Today you will hear how people that decided to switch gears during the crisis...

Will Retiring Baby Boomers Crash the Market? Ep # 83 from 2019-04-15T08:00:12

Will retiring baby boomers crash the stock market? Are you part of the looming baby boomer retirement crisis? According to some experts, baby boomers will crash the market when they retire. Find ou...

Will Your Kids Ruin Your Retirement? Ep #82 from 2019-04-08T08:00:44

Welcome to Retirement Starts Today Radio, a retirement podcast. On today’s episode, we take a look at your children. Will they be the downfall of your retirement plans? We all love our kids, but th...

Retirement Rehearsal (Revisited) Ep #81 from 2019-04-01T06:00:08

What could we learn about ourselves if we took a one-week “dry run” at retirement? Your host Benjamin Brand CFP®, RICP® is under the weather, so we are revisiting this idea of sitting home for a fu...

Why I Won’t Work With Your Kids, with Shannah Game Ep #80 from 2019-03-25T08:00:35

Are you ready for your kids to start learning about finances? Well, don’t send them to me! This may surprise you, it certainly surprised a client of mine that asked me to work worth their children....

Do You Need Bernie Madoff Insurance? Ep #79 from 2019-03-18T08:00:22

Have you ever considered buying fraud insurance for your portfolio? How about moving abroad to save on health care costs? On this episode of Retirement Starts Today we go over articles that tackle ...

How Can a Forcing Mechanism Improve Your Retirement?, Ep #78 from 2019-03-11T08:00:45

Have you ever heard of the term forcing mechanism? You may not have since it is a scientific term. But today you will learn how a forcing mechanism can improve your retirement. But first, we will d...

Are You Aware of the Top 10 Scams Targeting Seniors? Ep #77 from 2019-03-04T09:00

In this episode of Retirement Starts Today, you will learn about scams targeting seniors, what not to do to replace long-term care, and how the sharing economy may help you stay independent longer....

How to Survive Grey Divorce and Being Single in Retirement with Sara Stanich, Ep #76 from 2019-02-25T09:00:43

Have you heard of the grey divorce phenomenon? Many of us have the vision of walking into retirement hand in hand with our spouse. You know that vision, where you walk off into the sunset and live ...

How to Get the Most Out of Your Employer-Sponsored Retirement Plan with Aaron Pottichen, Ep #75 from 2019-02-18T09:00:31

When is the last time you checked up on your employer-sponsored retirement plan? Dealing with 401K’s is a daunting task, people have so much on their plates already. Learning about all the fees and...

Change Your Tax Status by Changing Your Domicile Ep #74 from 2019-02-11T09:00:50

Are you familiar with the term “State of domicile?” You’ll be hearing it more and more as our world becomes more and more digitally connected and people become more mobile. Retirees should especial...

What We Can Learn From The Time Use And Happiness of Millionaires, Ep #73 from 2019-02-04T09:00:16

There are many things we can learn from the time usage and happiness of Millionaires – not just how to make money and enjoy a better lifestyle. This episode brings you a handful of insights from a ...

How John Bogle Put Money In Your Pocket, Even If You’ve Never Invested With Vanguard, Ep #72 from 2019-01-28T11:20:40

There are many people who have impacted the way the world of investing works – but none in such a game-changing way as John Bogle. John founded Vanguard, a discount investment company specializing ...

Listener Submitted Retirement Questions (Asked&Answered #3), Ep #71 from 2019-01-21T09:00:27

Most people have retirement questions – and this podcast is aimed at helping answer them – so I’m thankful when I get to do these “Q&A” sessions on the podcast. In this episode, you’re going to hea...

Are Children Responsible For Their Parent’s Debts?, Ep #70 from 2019-01-14T09:00:42

What would you do if a $90,000 bill showed up in your mail a few weeks after your parents passed away? Can creditors pursue children for the medical expenses of their parents? We’ll get into it on ...

How Your Best Year Ever Could Happen in 2019, Ep #69 from 2019-01-07T09:00:56

Even though by all counts, 2018 was a terrible year for investing, you can make 2019 your best year ever. I can say that so confidently because I believe that it doesn’t depend on what will happen ...

Podcast Goals For 2019 – And An Exciting Personal Update, Ep #68 from 2018-12-15T09:00

The calendar is almost done for 2018 – and I’ve been thinking about podcast goals for 2019. Great things have happened with the show in the past year and the future looks very bright. I’ve enjoy...

Simple Tax Strategies For Retirees In 2018 from 2018-12-01T09:00:29

As you might imagine, tax strategies for retirees are not the same as those for non-retired investors. Not only do typical considerations like income brackets make a significant difference there ar...

Become Wealthy by Doing What The Wealthy Do, with Sarah Stanley Fallaw, Ep #66 from 2018-11-15T09:00:53

One of the first books that got me thinking differently about finances and helped me believe that becoming wealthy was within reach was “The Millionaire Next Door.” The impact of the book on my lif...

Chris Hogan: How Ordinary People Built Extraordinary Wealth – and How You Can Too from 2018-11-01T06:00:12

Preorder Chris Hogan’s new book: Everyday Millionaires: How Ordinary People Built Extraordinary Wealth―and How You Can Too I’ve been a fan of Dave Ramsey and the entire Dave Ramsey team for many ye...

Whats the Worst Investment You’ve Ever Seen? 4 Advisors Weigh in from 2018-10-15T06:00:07

Recorded LIVE at FinCon 2018 (Financial Blogger’s Conference) in Orlando Florida. Advisors share their worst investments and the most shocking investments they’ve ever seen.  Later on, the advisors...

Rewire Your Retirement – An Interview with Jamie Hopkins from 2018-10-01T06:00:11

Our guest today is Jamie Hopkins. Jamie and I have a unique connection, as Jamie was one of the professors for my RICP designation (Retirement Income Certified Professional). Listen in as Professor...

Retiring After 70 Part 2 from 2018-09-15T06:00:19

In today’s episode, we tackle part two of our two part series – Working beyond age 70. Check out part one – Health Insurance and Social Security: Retirement Headlines!! We fired up the Retirement S...

Retiring After 70 Part 1 from 2018-09-01T06:00

In today’s episode we share the results of our first annual listener survey, we check out breaking news in our “retirement headlines’ segment, and we tackle part one of our two part series: ‘Workin...

How to Buy a Timeshare: A Beginner’s Guide from 2018-08-15T06:00:30

In our 2018 listener survey, we learned that over 50% of our listeners listed “traveling” as the #1 activity that excites them about retirement. When talking about traveling in retirement, the topi...

Immediate Annuities, Friend or Foe? from 2018-08-01T06:00:33

Click here to take our 2018 listener survey Immediate Annuities: Friend or Foe? A few weeks ago, a reader named Richard emailed me with this exact query: “Is having a non-inflation indexed payment ...

The Road to Hell is Paved With Yield from 2018-07-15T06:00:31

With around 10,000 baby boomers retiring in the US every day, the investment industry is always trotting out the latest and greatest investment offerings to help retirees solve the following riddle...

Dealing With Skyrocketing Long Term Care Insurance Premiums from 2018-07-01T06:00:30

How to Deal with Increasing Long Term Care Insurance Premiums Question from listener: “My Long Term Care insurance premiums just went up by 70%! What should I do?” Long Term Care (LTC) presents a s...

Medicare is Going Broke!! (And Other Exaggerations) from 2018-06-15T06:00:43

Medicare is going broke!! Time to panic! Everybody pack your bags and move to Canada because the the entire country is going broke…. Or is it?…. We’re going to break it all down and help you make s...

Top 6 Easily Avoidable Retirement Mistakes from 2018-06-01T06:00:40

The Top 6 Easily Avoidable Retirement Mistakes We all work hard to plan for retirement. In any such endeavor, it’s good to learn from other people’s triumphs and mistakes, so I’d like to share six ...

Are You Ready to ROCK Retirement? from 2018-05-15T06:00:42

Our guest today, Roger Whitney, is the host of the popular retirement planning podcast The Retirement Answer Man and author of the new book Rock Retirement. Roger has over 27 years experience walki...

Getting a Mortgage in Retirement from 2018-05-01T06:00:04

When looking for that perfect house to retire to, many retirees discover that getting a mortgage in retirement is different than getting a mortgage while working. Once we retire, our wages (the pri...

The Pros and Cons of Selling Your Life Insurance from 2018-04-15T08:00:46

Is Selling Your Life Insurance a Good Idea? Recently, I was sitting in our office waiting anxiously for our Keurig machine to do its job when I saw a commercial that piqued my interest. The commerc...

Intro to Retirement Starts Today Radio from 2015-10-23T05:35:26

Are you ready to head down the path to an amazing retirement? We are tackling the topics on the mind of the modern retiree, on Retirement Starts Today Radio. Recent Posts Do I Need Two Financial Ad...