Retirement Starts Today

Latest Episodes:

12 Reasons to Rent in Retirement [Rebroadcast] Dec 11, 2023

Show notes

One of the greatest financial assumptions is that it's always better to own than to rent. However, in retirement, this may not be true. Once you are financially independent it is important to realize that not every dollar you spend needs to yield a return.

Join me for this episode of Retirement Starts Today to question traditional thinking and to see how you can improve your life, spend more money, and have more fun in retirement.

This episode was first broadcast in June 2023.

A Few Simple Tricks Turn Humble HSAs Into Wealth Builders [Rebroadcast] Dec 04, 2023

Show notes

Do you have an HSA? If so, do you simply use it to pay for your medical expenses? Or do you use it as a way to build your wealth? Today we'll look at an article from Financial Advisor Magazine that will help us identify opportunities for wealth creation.

Listen in to learn how to maximize the triple benefit of the humble HSA.

This episode was first broadcast in March 2023.

The Puzzling Gap Between How Old You Are and How Old You Think You Are [Rebroadcast] Nov 27, 2023

Show notes

We are spending some extra time off from the podcast over this holiday season to spend time with family. I hope you're using this opportunity to spend some time with family as well.

I've gone through my favorite episodes of 2023 to bring you some fantastic rebroadcasts. So here's one and I hope you enjoy it!

The Puzzling Gap Between How Old You Are and How Old You Think You Are, first broadcast in May 2023.

Do you ever get together with your friends from high school and wonder why they all look so old? Are you surprised by the image that you see in the mirror each morning? If so, you're not alone.

In today's retirement headline segment, we'll explore an article from Jennifer Senior at MSN.com that examines the abstract concept of feeling a different age in your head than you physically are in years.

Related to the retirement headline, today's listener question is about how to understand when you are mentally ready to retire. Learn how important purpose is in your decision to retire.

Spend Your Principal! Ep #323 Nov 20, 2023

Show notes

Most people are worried about spending too much and running out of money in retirement. However, few people worry about spending too little.

In this week's episode of Retirement Starts Today, you'll learn why you should spend your principal in retirement. Our retirement headline comes from Dr. Jim Dahle at the Whitecoat Investor and shows us why many people don't spend enough of their money and how you can take a practical approach to spending more.

If you are like most people, one of your main worries about retirement is that you'll end up running out of money. While this is a well-founded fear for many underfunded Americans, chances are, if you are listening to this show, you aren't an underfunded retiree.

While the current state of retirement savings is quite shocking, if you have a healthy retirement portfolio, you don't have to lump yourself in with the majority of Americans.

Outline of This Episode

[1:52] Many people have a fear of running out of money in retirement
[3:40] The state of retirement savings
[7:02] Why some people don't spend their principal
[13:19] What should you do with excess RMD dollars?

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, or Spotify

Boost Your Retirement Confidence by 17% with One Simple Trick, Ep #322 Nov 13, 2023

Show notes

Would you like to have more confidence in your retirement plan? In the retirement headlines segment, you'll learn one simple way to increase your certainty about what you can accomplish in retirement.

In the listener questions segment, Bret helps answer what the essential aspects of an estate plan include.

If you are ready to get serious about retirement planning press play to get started.

Outline of This Episode

[2:26] A written retirement retirement plan boosts your confidence
[4:11] 4 areas to consider in your plan
[11:15] What do you need to create an estate plan?

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

5 Alternatives To The 4% Retirement Withdrawal Rule, Ep #321 Nov 06, 2023

Show notes

Do you wish you had more optionality when it comes to designing your retirement? In this episode of Retirement Starts Today, we'll explore an article from Forbes that poses five alternatives to the 4% rule that you may want to explore for your retirement withdrawal strategy.

In our retirement headlines segment Bret and I team up to answer a question that both Google and ChatGPT got wrong. Find out what it is by listening until the end!

Outline of This Episode

[2:22] The types of spending strategies that can be used in retirement
[13:30] Is creating a donor-advised fund a good way to avoid IRMAA?

Resources & People Mentioned

Boomer Benefits
Boomer Benefits Facebook group
Forbes article
Want to help me with my book? Take this survey!
Schedule a meeting with me to see if we would be a good fit
Trusted sources for financial information - Ed Slott, IRS.gov, Kitces.com

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

I Saved Too Much for Retirement, Ep # 320 Oct 30, 2023

Show notes

What happens if you get to retirement age and realize that you saved too much? Believe it or not, this does happen and has its own set of problems. In this episode, we'll explore those problems along with some potential solutions.

Stick around until the end of the episode to hear our listener question about deciding whether to do Roth conversions or take ACA health insurance premium tax credits.

Outline of This Episode

[2:32] Too much retirement savings does have its downsides
[4:54] What you can do to combat
[8:21] My thoughts on what you can do if you saved too much
[11:27] Choosing between Roth conversions and ACA

Resources & People Mentioned

Yahoo Finance article
Book survey - have a chance to be in my book!
Schedule a meeting with me to see if we would be a good fit for each other
BOOK - Die with Zero by Bill Perkins
Retirement Income University
Boomer Benefits
Boomer Benefits Facebook group

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, or Spotify

Bad Timing Cost Fund Investors 17% Ep #319 Oct 23, 2023

Show notes

Would you like to make $170,000? On this episode, you'll learn what you can do to save yourself 17% in lower returns over a decade. On a million-dollar portfolio that comes to $170,000!

In the Retirement Headline segment, we'll dive into an article from Financial Advisor Magazine which explores Morningstar's annual Mind the Gap study analyzing the performance of mutual and ETFs and comparing them to the returns achieved by individual investors. Press play to hear what you can do to improve your investor performance.

Outline of This Episode

[3:12] Bad timing cost investors 17% in gains
[14:45] When does a person need a financial 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

Subscribe to Retirement Starts Today on

Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, TuneIn, Podbean, Player FM, iHeart, or Spotify

Ways to Use Home Equity in Retirement, Ep #318 Oct 16, 2023

Show notes

Have you thought about using your home's equity to help you fund a portion of your retirement?

In this episode of Retirement Starts Today, we'll explore a Morningstar article that examines ways to use this supersized emergency fund. If you are ready to start thinking about retirement outside the box, listen to this episode to hear how you can supplement your retirement by using your home equity.

Outline of This Episode

[1:22] Home equity is seen as a someday asset
[9:28] Reverse mortgages could be a valuable lifeline
[14:10] Clarifying the rules surrounding spousal Social Security

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, or Spotify

Plan on Living to 100, Ep # 317 Oct 09, 2023

Show notes

Do you remember when you were a kid and were fascinated by the thought of living to be 100? It seemed like such a far-fetched idea, but now with advances in technology, nutrition, and medicine, this far-flung notion increasingly seems like a real possibility.

As you may have guessed, today's retirement headline discusses planning to live until age 100. We'll explore what that prospect means for your retirement income, goals, and health. Share this episode with a friend so you can discuss it together!

Outline of This Episode