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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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There is a lot to cover in this episode, including new legislation that could impact your retirement. Plus, 6 More Retirement Financial Myths to Avoid, and a listener with substantial assets who wants to know how to pay for a new car. The OBBB The One Big Beautiful Bill became public law on July 4, 2025. Included are: Lower Tax Brackets Are Now Per…
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Mailed, Stolen and Cashed: a $114,000 Retirement Check
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This week’s headline reads like a financial horror story — and unfortunately, it’s a true one. 😱 33-year-old Mr. Handy changed jobs and did what millions of Americans do every year: he requested a rollover of his 401(k). Paychex, the provider managing his old employer's plan mailed him two paper checks: one for his traditional 401(k), and one for h…
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According to BankRate, 23% of Americans 60-78 have a side-hustle. Maurie Backman says in an article by Kiplinger that this would help with two key areas in retirement planning: It provides us with something fulfilling to do after our primary career and provide a little extra cash in retirement. The benefits of a side hustle: Mental Engagement Extra…
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Why Are So Many Retirees Filing for Social Security Early?
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The Father of the 4% Rule - an Interview with Bill Bengen
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If you've been anywhere close to a retirement podcast over the last 10-20 years, you've heard of the 4% rule. And like many people, you might have questions about it. We're going to hear about it directly from the horse's mouth as we talk to Bill Bengen, who first articulated the 4% withdrawal rate as a rule of thumb for withdrawal rates from retir…
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Who Has Actually Saved $1 Million for Retirement?
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Only 3% of Americans have saved $1 million for retirement. according to 24/7 Wall St. & AOL. I’ll break down what that means—and why your personal number might be more important than any national average. After that, I answer a listener question where we tackle how to cover healthcare costs in early retirement—specifically for a 58-year-old retiree…
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What do you do with RMDs you don’t actually need? If you’re retired and over age 73 — or 75 if you were born in 1960 or later — you know the IRS requires you to start taking Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) from your traditional IRAs and workplace retirement accounts. Even if you don’t need that money for living expenses, you still have to tak…
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10 Sources of Emergency Cash, Ranked From Best to Worst
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What happens when your emergency cash runs dry—and life keeps happening? A recent article lays out a ranked list of ten ways to access emergency cash, starting with the best options and ending with the ones you’ll want to avoid unless it’s truly a last resort: Emergency Fund / Short-Term Securities Low-Risk Assets in Taxable Accounts Roth IRA Contr…
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“By the time your child turns 18, you’ve spent 95% of the time you’ll ever spend with them in your lifetime.” This comes from research by the American Time Use Survey, highlighted by Our World in Data. And let’s be honest, when you first hear that, it stings a little. Especially as a parent. You can’t help but wonder, “Have I been a good steward of…
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How Often Should I Rebalance in Retirement?
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We’re talking about rebalancing! Rebalancing is key to any retirement plan, but how often should we do it? That’s the topic of today’s retirement headlines segment, where we’re going to look at an article by by Jennifer Reed Key discussion points: 💵 Financial Considerations 💔 Emotional Considerations 🧩 Relational Considerations 📊 A Look at the Numb…
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What are the perceived benefits of moving to a low-tax state in retirement? Is it all it’s cracked up to be? We’re gonna cover a Wall Street Journal article by Debbie Carlson that delivers an important dose of nuance: “Don’t let the income-tax tail wag the total-spending dog.” I also answer a very thoughtful question from Lynn about sequence of ret…
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9 Smart Moves to Make During Market Volatility
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How do you stay calm and confident when the markets get messy? In today's Retirement Headlines we go through Cullen Roche's article from Discipline Funds - "Finding Certainty in a Sea of Uncertainty". With tariffs, global uncertainty, and market volatility making headlines again offers nine practical steps to help you stay grounded, focused, and on…
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When Does Sequence of Return Risk Go Away?
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One of the biggest and often overlooked risks facing retirees is sequence-of-returns risk. The risk of experiencing investment losses early in retirement can have an impact on the sustainability of savings over the long term. Morningstar researchers dug into this in their latest State of Retirement Income study. Their findings confirm what many ret…
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What We’ve Learned From 150 Years of Stock Market Crashes
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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 art…
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How To Protect Your 401(k) from a Stock Market Crash
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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 ag…
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Sneaky Retirement Taxes (The Tax Traps You Never Saw Coming), Ep #394
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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. …
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Five Key Retirement Challenges (and Solutions), Ep #393
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Most people focus on saving for retirement, but what happens when you actually get there? Retirement isn’t just about having enough money—it’s about managing risks that can threaten your financial security and lifestyle. In this episode, we explore Five Key Retirement Challenges (and Solutions), inspired by a Kiplinger’s Personal Finance article by…
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Top 3 Retirement Mistakes - An Interview with Mr Retirement, Ep #392
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Click here to work with us! Most people plan for retirement by focusing on their savings and investment returns—but what if some of the most important decisions happen after you stop working? In this episode, I sit down with Jeremy Keil, also known as Mr. Retirement, to discuss the three biggest mistakes retirees make—mistakes that can cost them fi…
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The 2% Trap: Why Retirees Spend Far Less Than They Could, Ep #391
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Click here to work with us! Many retirees enter their golden years with the goal of financial security, but what if the biggest risk isn’t running out of money—it’s not spending enough of it? A surprising new study reveals that retirees are withdrawing just 2% a year from their savings—barely half of what’s traditionally considered safe. This cauti…
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From Saver to Spender: How to Confidently Use Your Nest Egg, Ep 390
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Click here to work with us! For decades, you've been focused on saving—watching your retirement accounts grow, sticking to a budget, and making smart financial decisions to ensure a secure future. But now that the time has come to actually enjoy your hard-earned money, spending it feels... unsettling. You’re not alone. Many retirees struggle with t…
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7 Inefficiencies on Rich Retirees' Tax Returns, Ep #389
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Click here to work with us! A lot of retirees assume their tax situation gets simpler once they stop working, but that’s not always the case. There are plenty of ways high-net-worth retirees end up paying more than they need to—sometimes without even realizing it. Maybe it’s interest and dividend income getting taxed at higher rates, or IRA withdra…
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The 5 Pillars of a Fulfilling Retirement (That Nobody Talks About) with Dr. Daniel Crosby, Ep #388
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Click here to work with us! Most people plan for retirement by focusing on their finances—building up a nest egg, securing passive income, and minimizing taxes. But what if that’s only part of the equation? Many retirees find themselves financially secure yet feeling unexpectedly lost, disengaged, or even unhappy. The truth is, money alone doesn’t …
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Are Retirement Income Worries Overblown? Ep 387
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Click here to work with us! Many people fear running out of money in retirement, assuming they'll struggle financially once they stop working. But a recent Gallup poll shows 80% of retirees have enough to live comfortably, despite concerns about Social Security, longevity risk, and pension declines. Why the difference between expectation and realit…
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Listen in to this BONUS episode as Canadian CFP and host of the Your Retirement Planning Simplified Podcast, Joe Curry, interviews me (Benjamin) about: The non-financial aspects of retirement planning Shifting from a scarcity to an abundance mindset Retiring to something rather than from something and embracing creativity to design a fulfilling pos…
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Joe Saul-Sehy Shares How to Get the Most from Your Employee Benefits, Ep 386
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Click here to work with us! Employee benefits are one of the most overlooked aspects of financial planning. We often check a few boxes during open enrollment and move on—but are we truly maximizing what’s available to us? This week, we sit down with Joe Saul-Sehy, host of Stacking Benjamins, to uncover the hidden value in workplace benefits. From d…
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