Retirement Starts Today

Latest Episodes:

The Four Unique Risks in Decumulation, Ep #346 Apr 29, 2024

Show notes

You've been accumulating your savings your entire life, but when the time comes to draw down your investments, there are new risks. In this episode, we'll discuss four risks that come with the decumulation phase of retirement.

Press play to learn how to avoid these risks in retirement.

Are you looking for a new advisor? One of our listeners is looking for a checklist to help him hire a retirement advisor. While answering that question I went ahead and made my advisor checklist available to all of you to download here.

Outline of This Episode

[1:47] Understand effective strategies for the decumulation phase
[11:20] Do I have a checklist to use to hire a retirement advisor?

Resources & People Mentioned

Connect with Benjamin Brandt

Get the Retire-Ready Toolkit:http://retirementstartstodayradio.com/
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Join the newsletter: https://retirementstartstodayradio.com/newsletter
Dive deeper into retirement planning with Ben at www.RetirementIncome.University

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More Muscles = Better Retirement, Ep #345 Apr 22, 2024

Show notes

A lot of us are looking to get in shape in retirement. This is a good thing since part of living an even better retirement is looking after your health and muscle mass. Staying healthier and more active longer will ensure that you are making the most out of your retirement. In addition, maintaining a healthy muscle mass is a huge part of keeping your health as you age.

In this episode, we'll explore a Scientific American article on keeping your muscles strong as you age. Make sure to listen in to discover some tools that I use to track my health and wellness as I enter the second half of my life.

Outline of This Episode

[1:12] Keeping up your muscles
[5:23] What I'm doing to stay healthy
[10:01] How can two opposite approaches achieve the same goal?

Resources & People Mentioned

Connect with Benjamin Brandt

Get the Retire-Ready Toolkit:http://retirementstartstodayradio.com/
Follow Ben on Twitter:https://twitter.com/retiremeasap
Join the newsletter: https://retirementstartstodayradio.com/newsletter
Dive deeper into retirement planning with Ben at www.RetirementIncome.University

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Index Funds Have Officially Won, Ep #344 Apr 15, 2024

Show notes

Do you have index funds in your portfolio? Chances are you do!

Our retirement headline today describes the rise of index funds over active funds and why that's important. Discover how index funds connect with my investment philosophy by pressing play now.

Outline of This Episode

[1:22] Index funds have grown exponentially over the years
[2:23] What are index funds
[5:58] How index funds fit into my investment philosophy
[10:04] Will my estimated Social Security benefit decrease if I retire before full retirement age?

Resources & People Mentioned

Connect with Benjamin Brandt

Get the Retire-Ready Toolkit:http://retirementstartstodayradio.com/
Follow Ben on Twitter:https://twitter.com/retiremeasap
Join the newsletter: https://retirementstartstodayradio.com/newsletter
Dive deeper into retirement planning with Ben at www.RetirementIncome.University

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The 529 to Roth IRA Rollover, Ep # 343 Apr 08, 2024

Show notes

Recent legislation has made everyone's favorite college savings plan a little more flexible. Funds in a 529 plan aren't as locked up as they used to be now that your children's unused college funds can be rolled into a retirement account.

In this episode, we'll discuss an article from the White Coat Investor which explores how the 529 can be rolled into a retirement account. We'll discover the benefits and drawbacks of using a 529 to save for retirement. Listen in to hear whether the 529 rollover could help you in your retirement.

Outline of This Episode

[2:12] Using unused 529 funds
[9:30] Utilizing spend-down strategies

Resources & People Mentioned

Connect with Benjamin Brandt

Get the Retire-Ready Toolkit:http://retirementstartstodayradio.com/
Follow Ben on Twitter:https://twitter.com/retiremeasap
Join the newsletter: https://retirementstartstodayradio.com/newsletter
Dive deeper into retirement planning with Ben at www.RetirementIncome.University

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The 4 Phases of Retirement, Ep #342 Apr 01, 2024

Show notes

It may be easy to define success in your working career, but defining success in retirement can be more difficult. What does success look like in retirement? What will you do daily or weekly to get the most out of your retirement?

In this episode of Retirement Starts Today, we'll explore a TEDx talk about the 4 phases of retirement that many (but not all) experience. Click play to hear how you can squeeze the most juice out of your retirement.

Outline of This Episode

[1:52] How to squeeze the most juice out of retirement
[11:18] Help with spending more in retirement

Resources & People Mentioned

The Retirement Podcast Network
The 4 Phases of Retirement TEDx Talk
The 4 Phases of Retirement by Fritz Gilbert

Connect with Benjamin Brandt

Get the Retire-Ready Toolkit:http://retirementstartstodayradio.com/
Follow Ben on Twitter:https://twitter.com/retiremeasap
Join the newsletter: https://retirementstartstodayradio.com/newsletter
Dive deeper into retirement planning with Ben at www.RetirementIncome.University

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A Short History of the 60/40 Portfolio, Ep #341 Mar 25, 2024

Show notes

Due to last year's poor market returns, you've probably seen the headlines that the 60/40 portfolio is dead. But is that really the case?

This week's retirement headline explores the history of this classic retirement investment strategy. After we tackle the headlines, Bret and I team up to consider the best places to move in retirement. Listen in to hear where not to move.

Outline of This Episode

[1:52] A history of the 60/40 portfolio
[8:09] Why I like 60/40
[15:10] Where should retirees consider moving to for a great retirement?

Resources & People Mentioned

Connect with Benjamin Brandt

Get the Retire-Ready Toolkit:http://retirementstartstodayradio.com/
Follow Ben on Twitter:https://twitter.com/retiremeasap
Join the newsletter: https://retirementstartstodayradio.com/newsletter
Dive deeper into retirement planning with Ben at www.RetirementIncome.University

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8 Ways to Become Poor in Retirement, Ep #340 Mar 18, 2024

Show notes

There are many ways that could threaten your financial security in retirement. Knowing the common issues can ensure that you don't fall into the traps.

Today's financial headline comes from Yahoo Finance and is called 8 Ways Baby Boomers Become Poor in Retirement. Listen in to learn what they are so that you don't drive yourself into the poorhouse.

Outline of This Episode

[1:22] 8 ways to become poor in retirement
[10:58] How can we determine the biases in an advisor

Resources & People Mentioned

Connect with Benjamin Brandt

Get the Retire-Ready Toolkit:http://retirementstartstodayradio.com/
Follow Ben on Twitter:https://twitter.com/retiremeasap
Join the newsletter: https://retirementstartstodayradio.com/newsletter
Dive deeper into retirement planning with Ben at www.RetirementIncome.University

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More Than Half of Americans Want to Retire Gradually, Ep #339 Mar 11, 2024

Show notes

We all want to retire, but have you considered how you would like to transition to retirement?

This week's retirement headline article shares some interesting statistics on phased retirements: who is thinking about them, who is utilizing them, and what people think about them.

Listen in to learn the findings. Then stick around for our listener question surrounding stock positions, diversification, and taxes.

Outline of This Episode

[1:42] Exploring the idea of a phased retirement
[7:12] Can a phased retirement allow you to have your cake and eat it too?
[11:38] A book update
[13:10] Weighing risk vs tax consequences

Resources & People Mentioned

Connect with Benjamin Brandt

Get the Retire-Ready Toolkit:http://retirementstartstodayradio.com/
Follow Ben on Twitter:https://twitter.com/retiremeasap
Join the newsletter: https://retirementstartstodayradio.com/newsletter
Dive deeper into retirement planning with Ben at www.RetirementIncome.University

Subscribe to Retirement Starts Today on

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The Retirement Crisis That Wasn't, Ep #338 Mar 04, 2024

Show notes

Once upon a time, there was a prediction that the baby boomer generation would face a retirement crisis. So how did this gloom and doom projection turn into the wealthiest generation in history? Listen in to find out.

Make sure to stay tuned for the listener question: What is the best way to fund a large expense without a large tax bill?

Outline of This Episode

[1:37] The accuracy of predictions
[7:26] What is the best way to fund a large expense without a large tax bill

Resources & People Mentioned

Connect with Benjamin Brandt

Get the Retire-Ready Toolkit:http://retirementstartstodayradio.com/
Follow Ben on Twitter:https://twitter.com/retiremeasap
Join the newsletter: https://retirementstartstodayradio.com/newsletter
Dive deeper into retirement planning with Ben at www.RetirementIncome.University

Subscribe to Retirement Starts Today on

Apple Podcasts,Stitcher,TuneIn,Podbean,Player FM,iHeart, orSpotify

Using Guardrails For The 4% Rule, Ep #337 Feb 26, 2024

Show notes

You've heard of the 4% rule, and if you've listened to this podcast before, you've heard of Guyton's guardrails strategy. But have you ever heard of using them together? Today's retirement headline explores this idea.

Overall, the article highlights the importance of considering sequence-of-returns risk in retirement planning and adopting flexible strategies, such as guardrails, to ensure financial security throughout retirement.

Listen in to learn more about this combination of strategies as well as my opinion on the matter. Then stick around for the listener question segment where Bret and I answer the question: Do I need a will if I want to split my assets evenly between my two children?

Outline of This Episode