Retirement Starts Today

By: Benjamin Brandt CFP® RICP®
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  • Summary

  • Do you want to spend more money in retirement, while paying less taxes? Great news, you're in the right place! I'll also teach you the benefits of retiring TO something, while most retirees only solve half the equation by retiring FROM something. Tune in every Monday morning - hosted by Benjamin Brandt CFP, RICP. Join my "Every Day is Saturday" weekly newsletter for show notes, free book giveaways and other great retirement content: www.retirementstartstodayradio.com/newsletter
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Episodes
  • The Closest Thing to a Sure Thing, Ep 368

    The Closest Thing to a Sure Thing, Ep 368
    Sep 30 2024
    Are index funds really the "sure thing" in investing, or do our emotions get in the way? To help answer that question, we’re going to talk about a Wall Street Journal article by Jason Zweig, which demonstrates the simplicity and challenges that come with investing in index funds. While these funds are designed to replicate the market at a low cost, actual investor behavior is what can lead to underperformance. We’ll talk about why sticking to this seemingly easy strategy is harder than it looks and explore how to avoid the "behavior gap" that keeps investors from reaching their full potential. Next, Brett and I team up to tackle a listener question about estate planning. If you’ve already got a financial plan in place but need help with wills, trusts, and powers of attorney, this segment is for you. We break down what estate planning tools you need to protect your family and your assets, and we’ll also get deep into when it's time to involve an attorney. Estate planning may not be fun, but having a plan in place can prevent huge headaches down the road. Outline of This Episode [0:20] Index funds are a sure thing...right?[2:51] Understanding the behavior gap[4:00] The temptation to sell[7:00] Boring but effective[13:17] A real-life coffee conversation[17:42] Estate planning essentials[19:50] Powers of Attorney: Why you need them now[21:47] Don't forget your parent’s estate plan[23:50] Navigating health care directives[25:00] Final thoughts: Simple, yet hard to do Resources & People Mentioned Messing Up the Closest Thing to a Sure Thing in the Stock Market, by Jason ZweigMind the Gap 2024: A Report on Investor Returns in the USThe Retirement Podcast Network Connect with Wall Street Journal contributor Jason Zweig Jason Zweig, Wall Street Journal profile Connect with Benjamin Brandt Become a Client: www.retirementstartstoday.com/startGet the Retire-Ready Toolkit: http://retirementstartstodayradio.com/Follow Ben on Twitter: https://twitter.com/retiremeasapJoin the newsletter: https://retirementstartstodayradio.com/newsletterDive 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
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    27 mins
  • Lessons From Another ‘Faux-tirement’, Ep #367

    Lessons From Another ‘Faux-tirement’, Ep #367
    Sep 23 2024
    How can we better prepare for a successful retirement? We’re exploring the lessons from a recent article by Christine Benz of Morningstar, where she reflects on her six-week sabbatical and how "mini-retirements" can help us test the waters before we fully retire. We talk about how the luxury of unscheduled time, balancing purpose, and the importance of finding joy in small moments can shape our ideal retirement experience. I also have a listener-inspired segment on protecting personal data in the age of cyber threats and data breaches. Outline of This Episode [00:58] How should we handle data breaches and protect our information in retirement?[03:02] Lesson 1: Why is unscheduled time an underrated luxury?[05:15] Lesson 2: Why having a sense of purpose is crucial in retirement[06:49] Lesson 3: How hard is it to balance leisure and obligations in retirement?[08:47] Lesson 4: What joy can we discover in small moments during retirement?[10:26] Brett Mulvaney shares how he got started in financial planning[14:08] Steps for protecting your Social Security and tax data after a breach Resources & People Mentioned The Retirement Podcast NetworkChristine Benz’s Lessons From Another ‘Faux-tirement’Christine Benz, How to Retire (Morningstar)IRS Identity Protection PINSocial Security Online Services Connect with Benjamin Brandt Become a Client: www.retirementstartstoday.com/startGet the Retire-Ready Toolkit: http://retirementstartstodayradio.com/Follow Ben on Twitter: https://twitter.com/retiremeasapJoin the newsletter: https://retirementstartstodayradio.com/newsletterDive 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
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    22 mins
  • Six Lessons From Six Years of Retirement (from Fritz Gilbert’s Retirement Manifesto), Ep # 366

    Six Lessons From Six Years of Retirement (from Fritz Gilbert’s Retirement Manifesto), Ep # 366
    Sep 16 2024

    Are you actually prepared to navigate the complexities of retirement? We’re exploring Fritz Gilbert’s Six Lessons From Six Years of Retirement, shared from his blog The Retirement Manifesto.

    One by one, we’ll walk through these lessons, keeping in mind that retirement is an evolving journey, not a static experience. For those who still need to optimize their post-work life, these lessons will show you a roadmap.

    We then talk about a listener question about portfolio management—whether to prioritize Roth conversions or refilling cash buckets when your investments outperform expectations. We get deep into the importance of tax diversification and flexibility in retirement, especially why having options—whether it’s a Roth, brokerage, or IRA—is absolutely crucial when facing financial uncertainties.

    If you’re preparing for or already navigating retirement, today is an excellent lesson from the ‘upperclassmen’—those a few years ahead of us in the retirement game.

    Resources & People Mentioned
    • The Retirement Podcast Network
    • Original Six Lessons article by Fritz Gilbert (and The Retirement Reality Series)
    • Dan Sullivan’s The Strategic Coach program
    Connect with The Retirement Manifesto Author Fritz Gilbert
    • Fritz Gilbert’s The Retirement Manifesto
    Connect with Benjamin Brandt
    • Become a Client: www.retirementstartstoday.com/start
    • 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
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    18 mins
Economics Personal Finance Politics & Government
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