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Retirement Starts Today

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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Now displaying: May, 2023
May 29, 2023

Have you ever thought about how much money you need to be truly happy? If so, you’re not alone. And chances are that number is elusive. 

In today’s Retirement Headline segment, we’ll check out an article from The Atlantic called “The Reason Many Ultrarich People Aren’t Satisfied With Their Wealth.” In doing so, we’ll explore human nature and how to know when enough is enough.

In the Listener Questions segment, one listener asks how to withdraw funds from a taxable account during early retirement. Don’t miss out on discovering the logistics of how to access your money in retirement. Press play to find out. 

Outline of This Episode

  • [1:42] What inspires the ultra-rich to keep spending?
  • [5:55] What can this teach us about retirement?
  • [8:16] How to withdraw funds from a taxable account in retirement

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May 22, 2023

If you have found this podcast you’re probably interested in spending more money, spending less in taxes, and making life even better in retirement. 

On this episode of Retirement Starts Today, we’re taking a look at how to spend more money in retirement by assessing a two-part article from AdvisorPerspectives.com called A Framework for Assessing Variable Spending Strategies. 

If you are trying to figure out how to maintain your desired standard of living throughout retirement, you won’t want to miss hearing the authors’ findings. Press play to listen.

Outline of This Episode

  • [1:28] A variable spending strategy is better than a fixed withdrawal strategy
  • [6:40] Different types of spending strategies
  • [8:35] My thoughts
  • [11:45] How employee stock option plans work

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May 15, 2023

Welcome back to the second part of our lessons in estate planning. Bret and I recently reviewed all of our clients’ estate plans and in doing so, we learned a lot from this exercise that could help you and your heirs.

If you haven’t listened to last week’s episode make sure to go back and listen–especially if you have stepchildren or blended families. In this episode, you’ll learn why you might want to disclaim some assets, how to specifically disinherit a child, and why it is so important to clearly state your medical wishes to all of your kids. 

Outline of This Episode

  • [1:22] Why you may want to disclaim assets
  • [6:00] What to do if you want to specifically disinherit one of your children
  • [8:07] Common
  • [11:22] Make sure your medical wishes are clear to all your children
  • [13:53] Surprising things we learned from our clients

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May 8, 2023

Bret and I recently reviewed all of our clients’ estate plans this spring and, as a result, we have so much to share with you about what we learned. It was so much that we had to break it into multiple episodes!

If you are curious about how this sort of meeting goes and wish that you could be a fly on the wall, you won’t want to miss this episode. 

Today we’ll discuss why you need to ask yourself what could go wrong, why it’s so important to consider where your documents are located, why you may want to consider having your medical power of attorney or living will a digital document, and how an executor is a mini dictator. 

Everyone needs an estate plan. Listen in to hear what you need to consider when you create or update yours.

Outline of This Episode

  • [2:02] Having your estate planning docs in order can help you sleep better
  • [4:14] Don’t create complexity by trying to keep things simple
  • [9:17] Where are your documents located?
  • [12:38] How can your kids prove to a hospital that they can make medical decisions on your behalf?
  • [14:24] Commonly misunderstood ideas about estate planning
  • [25:01] The pros and cons of having co-powers of attorney or individual powers of attorney

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May 1, 2023

Do you ever get together with your friends from high school and wonder why they all look so old? Are you surprised by the image that you see in the mirror each morning? If so, you’re not alone. 

In today’s retirement headline segment, we’ll explore an article from Jennifer Senior at MSN.com that examines the abstract concept of feeling a different age in your head than you physically are in years. 

Related to the retirement headline, today’s listener question is about how to understand when you are mentally ready to retire. Learn how important purpose is in your decision to retire.

Outline of This Episode

  • [1:02] Subjective age is feeling a different age in your head
  • [6:37] What can this teach us about retirement?
  • [8:50] Understanding the mental aspect of deciding when to retire

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