It’s no secret that market volatility can feel especially nerve-wracking when you’re no longer earning a paycheck.

But what if I told you that, historically, every single crash has ended the same way—with a recovery?

That's what happened after the Covid-19 market crash, the 2021 downturn, and even the Great Depression.

We're going to discuss an article titled "What We’ve Learned From 150 Years of Stock Market Crashes" by Emelia Fredlick. The article highlights some of the worst market downturns in history and, more importantly, the lessons they offer for long-term investors like you.

Takeaways:

Lesson #1: We Can’t Predict Recovery Times
Lesson #2: Every Decade Brings a Market Crash
Lesson #3: Staying Invested is the Only Winning Strategy

Then I answer question sent in from a listener: "What are some good ways to gift money to my children while I'm still living?"

All of this in less than 20 minutes.

Resources:

• MorningStar article by Emelia Fredlick: What We’ve Learned From 150 Years of Stock Market Crashes
• Book by Bill Perkins: Die With Zero
• How many annual exclusions are available? IRS website on Gift Taxes

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• Subscribe to the newsletter: https://retirementstartstodayradio.com/newsletter
• Work with Benjamin: https://retirementstartstoday.com/start

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Retirement Starts Today: Your Non-financial Guide to an Even Better Retirement

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Is your 401(k) prepared for a market crash? With market volatility on the rise, many investors are wondering how to protect their portfolios.

In this episode, I share an article from Go Banking Rates on how to safeguard your retirement savings during turbulent times. I’ll highlight key takeaways from the article, share my own insights on where I agree or disagree, and explain why certain strategies may be more effective than others.

After that, I answer a listener’s question about long-term care (LTC) insurance. We’ll explore different types of LTC policies, discuss the ideal time to purchase coverage (such as around age 50), and consider whether self-funding might be a smarter financial strategy.

Key takeaways:

• Diversify, Diversify, Diversify
• Shift Toward Conservative Investments as You Near Retirement
• Rebalance Regularly—Not Just After a Crash
• Consider a 401(k) Rollover for More Flexibility
• Stay the Course—Don't Panic Sell

Resources:

Go Banking Rates article: How To Protect Your 401(k) from a Stock Market Crash

• Get the Retire-Ready Toolkit: http://retirementstartstodayradio.com
• Subscribe to the newsletter: https://retirementstartstodayradio.com/newsletter
• Work with Benjamin: https://retirementstartstoday.com/start

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Retirement Starts Today: Your Non-financial Guide to an Even Better Retirement

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Most people assume their tax burden lightens in retirement, but what if I told you that some taxes are actually designed to creep up on you year after year—without Congress passing a single new law? In this episode, we expose the sneaky taxes that can quietly erode your retirement income, from Social Security taxation to Medicare IRMAA surcharges. These hidden costs don’t just affect the ultra-wealthy anymore; thanks to outdated rules and inflation, they’re hitting everyday retirees harder than ever.

If you're relying on Social Security, investment income, or Medicare in retirement, you may already be on the IRS’s radar—without realizing it. We break down the four biggest tax traps, explain how they’ve changed over time, and why they’re pulling more retirees into the tax net each year. Whether it's the frozen thresholds for Social Security taxes or the stealthy Medicare penalties that kick in just because you had a good income two years ago, these sneaky policies can add up fast.

By the end of this episode, you’ll have a clearer picture of how these taxes work, why they exist, and what—if anything—you can do to soften the blow. If avoiding unnecessary taxes in retirement sounds like a smart move, you won’t want to miss this one!

• (0:00) Sneaky Retirement Taxes
• (3:20) Sneaky Tax #1: Social Security taxation (how frozen thresholds trap retirees)
• (5:10) Sneaky Tax #2: Capital loss deduction limit (unchanged since 1978!)
• (6:55) Sneaky Tax #3: Medicare IRMAA (tracking your income before you even retire)
• (08:45) Sneaky Tax #4: Net Investment Income Tax (how it quietly pulls in more taxpayers)
• (09:40) Wrap-up – Why these taxes persist & what you can do about them

• The Retirement Podcast Network
• Social Security Administration’s Taxation of Benefits
• IRS Q&A on Net Investment Income Tax

• Get the Retire-Ready Toolkit: http://retirementstartstodayradio.com
• Subscribe to the newsletter: https://retirementstartstodayradio.com/newsletter
• Work with Benjamin: https://retirementstartstoday.com/start

Get the book - out now!
Retirement Starts Today: Your Non-financial Guide to an Even Better Retirement

Follow Retirement Starts Today in
Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Amazon Music, or iHeart