Retirement Starts Today

Latest Episodes:

Planning for a Sabbatical Without Wrecking Your Retirement, Ep #258 Aug 22, 2022

Show notes

Have you ever considered taking a sabbatical from work? If you did take one, would it ruin your career and financial goals? Most companies in the United States don't offer paid sabbaticals like some in Europe, so doing so would require extensive planning. Jake Northrup at Kitces.com recently wrote an article that could help financial planners and DIYers plan how to take a sabbatical without destroying their financial future.

If taking a mini-retirement appeals to you, make sure to listen in to hear how it could affect your financial goals. You'll also discover loads of resources that could help you make the most of your financial planning for such an endeavor. Make sure to stick around until the end of the episode to hear my response to whether I think Social Security is doomed.

Outline of This Episode

[2:22] The idea of traditional retirement is being challenged
[6:02] An example of how one couple planned their sabbatical
[9:20] How taking time off could affect your long-term goals
[13:26] Will Social Security be eliminated by the Supreme Court?
[17:04] How to secure your benefit against possible reductions in 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
Subscribe to the newsletter: https://retirementstartstodayradio.com/newsletter

Subscribe to Retirement Starts Today on

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

Cities That Will Pay You to Leave Town, Ep #257 Aug 15, 2022

Show notes

Have you considered moving to a new city in retirement? If you work in the tech industry you may find a city willing to pay you to move there.

In today's retirement headline segment, we'll dive into an article written by Christopher Mims at The Wall Street Journal which explores towns that provide incentives to lure highly paid tech workers away from Silicon Valley.

Don't miss out on the listener question segment especially if you have or are considering an annuity. I'll explain the various fees, benefits, and drawbacks to these insurance investment products.

This is the last week to complete our annual listener survey, so if you haven't filled it out yet, then please do so that you can voice your opinions and help direct the future of this show.

Outline of This Episode

[1:22] Some towns are offering moving incentives to remote tech workers
[5:14] How could this improve your retirement?
[6:34] How variable annuity fees are calculated
[8:40] Annuities can provide many options
[12:56] My thoughts on annuities
[16:30] Don't forget to fill out our annual listener survey

Resources & People Mentioned

WSJ article - 71 Cities and Towns Are Paying Tech Workers to Abandon Silicon Valley
Annuity.org article
Investopedia on annuities
Capital One article on market risk
BOOK - Be Your Future Self Now by Dr. Benjamin Hardy
BOOK - Raise Your Healthy Deserve Level by Gary Kadi
Annual Listener Survey

Connect with Benjamin Brandt

Get the Retire-Ready Toolkit: http://retirementstartstodayradio.com
Follow Ben on Twitter: https://twitter.com/retiremeasap
Subscribe to the newsletter: https://retirementstartstodayradio.com/newsletter

Subscribe to Retirement Starts Today on

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

How to Pass On Your Passwords When You Die, Ep #255 Aug 01, 2022

Show notes

Nobody likes to think about their own death but to save your loved ones from the headache of trying to navigate your digital accounts without your passwords, you'll need to set them up for success now. If you don't take steps to share your accounts after your death, gaining access to your data could be a lengthy and challenging process.

I recently found an excellent article from Dalvin Brown at The Wall Street Journal which discusses How to Pass On Your Passwords When You Die. This article gives tips on what to do with our digital lives when we pass away.

Make sure to stick around until the end of the episode to hear a question about Roth conversions and taxes. And if you haven't done so yet, please take 3 minutes and fill out our 5th Annual Listener Survey to help me improve the show for you.

Outline of This Episode

[2:52] How to pass on your passwords
[7:35] Using a password manager
[10:15] Using passkeys makes sharing challenging
[13:42] Roth conversions and taxes

Resources & People Mentioned

Connect with Benjamin Brandt

Get the Retire-Ready Toolkit: http://retirementstartstodayradio.com/
Follow Ben on Twitter: https://twitter.com/retiremeasap
Subscribe to the newsletter: https://retirementstartstodayradio.com/newsletter

Subscribe to Retirement Starts Today on

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

Supporting Loved Ones Without Derailing Your Retirement, Ep # 254 Jul 25, 2022

Show notes

Many of us have financial goals that extend beyond ourselves to include friends and family. Doing so can be an enormous help to those you love, but it is important to consider your own financial well-being in conjunction with that of the ones you want to help. Today, we'll look at an article that explores how to intentionally offer financial support to your loved ones without deviating from your financial goals.

The article that we'll look at comes from Sophia Bera at GenYPlanning.com and it takes a different approach to a timeless topic. Approaching issues from a different angle can give you a new perspective.

In the listener questions segment, we'll discuss two questions: one about inverse ETFs and another about the specific mechanics of doing a Roth conversion. Make your voice heard by completing our annual listener survey!

Outline of This Episode

[3:12] Money is a team sport
[10:54] Create healthy boundaries
[13:24] My thoughts on inverse ETFs in a declining market
[16:54] Should Dave rebalance first before making a Roth conversion?

Resources & People Mentioned

Connect with Benjamin Brandt

Get the Retire-Ready Toolkit: http://retirementstartstodayradio.com/
Follow Ben on Twitter: https://twitter.com/retiremeasap
Subscribe to the newsletter: https://retirementstartstodayradio.com/newsletter

Subscribe to Retirement Starts Today on

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

7 Tips for Tax Loss Harvesting, Ep # 253 Jul 18, 2022

Show notes

Have you ever tried tax loss harvesting? With the markets down across the board, now is a good time to learn to utilize this tax-saving tool. I found a great article about this from Barrons.com that I share in the retirement headline segment. The article explores the traps that can befall someone trying to use this strategy.

Afterward, in the listener questions segment, we'll dive into the question: do I need life insurance in retirement? You may be surprised to learn that there is no one size fits all answer to this question.

If you have been a long-time listener of Retirement Starts Today, you may remember that I use our annual listener survey to improve the show each year. Now is the time to make your voice heard. Please take a few minutes to fill out this mostly multiple-choice survey so that we can ensure that we are bringing you the most relevant content to help guide you on your retirement journey.

Outline of This Episode

[2:17] Tax loss harvesting can be more sizzle than steak
[3:44] 7 Tips for tax loss harvesting
[15:29] How much life insurance does Jim need in retirement?

Resources & People Mentioned

Connect with Benjamin Brandt

Don't forget to fill out our annual listener survey: https://retirementstartstodayradio.com/Survey
Get the Retire-Ready Toolkit: http://retirementstartstodayradio.com/
Follow Ben on Twitter: https://twitter.com/retiremeasap
Subscribe to the newsletter: https://retirementstartstodayradio.com/newsletter

Subscribe to Retirement Starts Today on

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

Is it Time to Invest in Commodities? Ep # 252 Jul 11, 2022

Show notes

If you are like many retirees and soon-to-be retirees, you may be rethinking your entire investing strategy. Stocks are down, interest rates are up, and inflation is eating away at your purchasing power.

One listener wonders, with everything going on in the world, should they shift their investments into commodities? In the listener question segment, I discuss what commodities are, how to invest in them, and share my thoughts on whether investing in commodities is a good idea.

Before the listener questions, we'll explore a retirement headline written by Eleanor O'Sullivan at Rethinking65.com which examines what life might look like if more people live to age 114.

Join me on this episode of Retirement Starts Today as we explore the effects of technology on longevity and whether you should jump ship from your sinking stock portfolio to invest in commodities.

Outline of This Episode

[1:32] Planning to live to 114?
[3:15] Cell phones improve access and democratize healthcare
[7:53] Technology can help in every aspect of our lives
[11:03] Is it time to invest in commodities?
[13:08] How to invest in commodities
[17:55] My thoughts on investing in commodities

Resources & People Mentioned

Connect with Benjamin Brandt

Get the Retire-Ready Toolkit: http://retirementstartstodayradio.com/
Follow Ben on Twitter: https://twitter.com/retiremeasap
Subscribe to the newsletter: https://retirementstartstodayradio.com/newsletter

Subscribe to Retirement Starts Today on

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

Five Things to Keep in Mind During Bear Markets, Ep #251 Jul 04, 2022

Show notes

Nobody likes to experience the uncertainty that a bear market brings, but it's an even more challenging experience to weather when you are a recent retiree. It's easy to lose sight of your goals in a bear market which is why I found an article outlining some lessons that you can remember during a bear market.

Listen to this episode to hear some wise words of wisdom that may help you keep your wits about you during this bear market. Stick around until the end to hear my thoughts on tax-loss harvesting.

Outline of This Episode

[1:42] 5 lessons to remember in bear markets
[9:20] How to use tax-loss harvesting

Resources & People Mentioned

Five Things to Keep in Mind During Bear Markets by Jack Forehand
The Retirement Tax Podcast - Listen to CPA, Steven Jarvis' answer to the same listener question

Connect with Benjamin Brandt

Get the Retire-Ready Toolkit: http://retirementstartstodayradio.com/
Follow Ben on Twitter: https://twitter.com/retiremeasap
Subscribe to the newsletter: https://retirementstartstodayradio.com/newsletter

Subscribe to Retirement Starts Today on

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

The 4 Stages of Retirement, Ep # 250 Jun 27, 2022

Show notes

It's no secret that we're living longer than ever. People are living so long that we may soon be seeing 6 generations in a single-family.

With people living such a long time it makes retirement planning even more challenging than ever before. Understanding the 4 stages of retirement can help understand the different approaches to money management in each stage. Listen in to learn the 4 stages of retirement and how they can help you plan your retirement.

Outline of This Episode

[1:42] There may soon be 6 generations in a single family
[2:52] You may be in the anticipation stage of retirement
[4:23] The reinvention stage is perhaps the most challenging stage
[6:52] The reflection stage leads to thoughts on legacy
[9:49] Renting vs. owning in retirement

Resources & People Mentioned

Ken Dychtwald Breaks Down the Four Stages of Retirement

Connect with Benjamin Brandt

Get the Retire-Ready Toolkit: http://retirementstartstodayradio.com/
Follow Ben on Twitter: https://twitter.com/retiremeasap
Subscribe to the newsletter: https://retirementstartstodayradio.com/newsletter

Subscribe to Retirement Starts Today on

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

15 Ways Consumers Can Deal With (and Even Benefit From) Rising Inflation, Ep #249 Jun 20, 2022

Show notes

Inflation is weighing heavy on the minds of retirees right now, so when I came across this article on WSJ.com from Cristin Lourosa-Ricardo, I knew I had to share it with you. Listen in to try and find the silver lining of inflation.

If you are a financial advisor fan of this show, make sure to stick around until the very end for a special announcement.

Outline of This Episode

[1:38] How to lessen the impacts of inflation
[5:19] Why you should buy the car you're leasing
[9:00] Control lifestyle creep
[14:34] How to balance a portfolio in this economic climate

Resources & People Mentioned

Connect with Benjamin Brandt

Get the Retire-Ready Toolkit: http://retirementstartstodayradio.com/
Follow Ben on Twitter: https://twitter.com/retiremeasap
Subscribe to the newsletter: https://retirementstartstodayradio.com/newsletter

Subscribe to Retirement Starts Today on

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

Money Can't Buy Happiness - Or Can It? [Rebroadcast] Jun 13, 2022

Show notes

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 multifaceted question from a listener who just accepted an early retirement package. We'll help her consider whether to rollover funds into an IRA and figure out what to do with her target-date funds. Listen in to hear the answers to this question and to consider whether money could actually buy happiness.

For more information, visit the show notes at https://retirementstartstodayradio.com/money-cant-buy-happiness-or-can-it-ep-148/

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected