💬 Show Notes

In this episode, we tackle the pressing question, "Is this time different?" as we navigate the complexities of today's political and economic landscape. Join us as we explore the importance of perspective in retirement planning and discuss the basics of structured notes. We'll also introduce our upcoming events and share insights from renowned experts in the field. Don't miss this enlightening discussion that aims to help you not just survive retirement, but thrive!

SUMMARY OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN

• (00:00) The narratives that you consume and ultimately create for yourself define your reality
• (00:45) Today we are going to finish up our basics with the basics of structured notes and also talk about “process over panic” regarding the current state of affairs.

IS THIS TIME DIFFERENT?

• (04:10) Roger discusses whether the issues in the economy are different this time around then in times past.
• (07:40) The point of this discussion is to identify what is happening and how to respond to it.
• (08:40) A better question when it comes to planning is “Is this time permanent?”
• (10:58) Roger talks about the current markets versus historical markets.
• (11:46) Since 1928, there have been around 26–28 bear markets, averaging a 35% drop and lasting about 9.6 months. They tend to come around every five years—and they’ve never been permanent.
• (12:47) From presidential elections to battles with the Fed, these cycles may feel chaotic—but they’re nothing new and they’re not permanent.
• (14:31) Roger talks about “process over panic”

STRUCTURED NOTES

• (21:34) Roger goes over the basics of structured notes.
• (22:17) Roger uses food as a metaphor to break down investments—organic options like stocks and bonds are simple and transparent. But structured notes? They're the Twinkies of the investment world.
• (25:50) Structured notes at their core are debt.
• (26:57) Roger compares structured notes to wine—different types, different flavor profiles, and even the same variety can vary from year to year or region to region.
• (28:31) What are some types of structured notes?
• (29:22) What should you know about your structured notes?
• (32:00) Each structured note has a prospectus, a legal document that investment managers are required to create, but they are very difficult to understand
• (34:21) Roger sees structured notes as a potential building block for a retirement portfolio but avoids them due to their complexity.

SMART SPRINT

• (36:35) In the next seven days, take five or ten minutes to write out your process for retirement planning.

BONUS

• (37:44) Roger reads from his grandfather’s WWII journal.

REFERENCES

• Retirement Answer Man
• Sign up for The Noodle (previously known as Six Shot Saturday)
• Thomas Sowell
• Wall Street Journal
• Claude AI
• ChatGPT
  
  

💬 Show Notes

In this episode, we dig into fixed annuities and U.S. Treasuries—how they can bring stability and income to your retirement. We’ll also discuss Social Security risks and how to stress-test your plan so you can retire with confidence. Let’s get you one step closer to rocking retirement!

SUMMARY OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN

• (00:00) Today we talk about the basics of fixed annuities.
• (00:59) Roger continues the discussion on navigating retirement planning during uncertain times.
• (02:06) Listener, Christina, asks Roger to consider stress testing including Social Security for the average potential retiree.
• (07:17) Roger defines fixed annuities and how they fit into the retirement planning process.
• (07:54) Roger evaluates the similarities and differences between CDs and fixed annuities.
• (10:08) What are the negatives of fixed annuities?
• (12:27) How are the rates of annuities determined?
• (14:08) What are the primary uses of fixed annuities?
• (15:12) Roger goes through an example of optimization using fixed annuities.

LISTENER QUESTIONS

• (19:38) Listener, Barbara, asks Roger to educate listeners about the basics of treasuries.

SMART SPRINT

• (24:36) In the next seven days, I want you to shift the way you approach your retirement planning. Think of yourself as a scientist—you're on a mission to discover and understand. When we run these stress tests or feasibility tests, the goal is to uncover where potential risks might exist and where opportunities could be hiding.

BONUS

• (25:25) Roger reads from his grandfather’s WWII Journal

REFERENCES

• Retirement Answer Man
• Sign up for The Noodle (previously known as Six Shot Saturday)
• Social Security Administration
• TreasuryDirect
• Immediate Annuities

Books:

• The Wild Blue: The Men and Boys Who Flew the B-24s Over Germany- Stephen Ambrose

Show notes created by https://headliner.app

💬 Show Notes

In this episode, Roger Whitney takes on one of the biggest challenges facing retirees today: how to plan confidently when the markets are anything but steady. He’s joined by Dr. Bobby Dubois for a thoughtful conversation about building the energy and vitality needed for a meaningful retirement. Together, they share simple, practical steps to help listeners take charge of their physical well-being—so they can show up strong, not just today, but for years to come. Plus, listeners will hear an inspiring story of someone making real progress on their retirement journey.

SUMMARY OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN

• (00:00) Retirement planning is about creating a great life.
• (01:19) Roger celebrates team members Erin and Troy today.
• (02:08) Roger reflects on the messaging surrounding the current state of the markets.
• (04:45) What should you do to cope with the turbulent markets and economy?

PRACTICAL PLANNING WITH DR. BOBBY

• (10:16) Today's practical planning is focused on building energy so you can show up for retirement.
• (11:00) Roger introduces Dr. Bobby Dubois and talks about his podcast, Live Long and Well.
• (12:10) Dr. Bobby talks about the basics of building energy.
• (13:30) The power of compounding little consistent habits over time makes a big difference.
• (15:20) Roger and Dr. Bobby discuss the importance of weight for overall health.
• (17:55) What basic things can you focus on to help with building energy?
• (18:05) Dr. Bobby talks about sleep and gives tips on how to improve sleep quality.
• (22:45) Exercise is important for building energy- focus on cardio, strength, and balance.
• (35:10) Dr. Bobby talks about optimal weight and two simple yet effective tips to maintain a healthy weight.
• (40:00) There will be links to specific episodes of Live Long and Well in our newsletter, The Noodle, this week.

ROCKIN’ RETIREMENT IN THE WILD

• (42:28) Roger reads a note from an anonymous listener about rocking retirement.

RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN LISTENER SURVEY

• (44:45) Roger shares some results from The Retirement Answer Man listener survey.

SMART SPRINT

• (47:14) In the next seven days, start by putting a few of Dr. Bobby’s ideas into action—get moving and build some momentum around your physical health. Once you’ve got a little rhythm going, shift your focus to tackling the stress that comes with market uncertainty. One step at a time—that’s how we build a more confident retirement.

BONUS

• (48:24) Roger reads an excerpt from his grandfather's WWII journal.

REFERENCES

• Live Long and Well Podcast with Dr. Bobby
• Retirement Answer Man
• Sign up for The Noodle (previously known as Six Shot Saturday)

BOOKS:

• Tiny Habits: The Small Changes That Change Everything- BJ Fogg, PHD

Show notes created by https://headliner.app