Retirement Starts Today – Details, episodes & analysis

Major charitable-giving changes are set to take effect next year under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. As a result, 2025 may be the best—and possibly last—great year to make a big charitable gift and get the full tax benefit in the same year. 

Listen in to hear the changes that take place in 2026 that could make 2025 the best year to use donor advised funds.

In our listener question segment, Christie inquires about buying a home in retirement: "Should we withdraw from investments, or use a mortgage?"

Resource:

Article by Ben Mattlin in Financial Advisor Magazine: "Why Some Advisors Are Daffy For Donor-Advised Funds"

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

A new report says retirees who use a so-called "bridge strategy" can actually spend more and need fewer assets to retire securely.

That's right. By delaying Social Security and using other savings to "bridge the gap," you could improve your lifetime income, reduce longevity risk, and build more peace of mind into your plan. 

We will break down the research and find ways to make Social Security work harder for you.

After that, I'll answer a listener question: What's the difference between a 5 year MYGA and a 5 year SPIA? 

Resource:

Article by John Manganaro on ThinkAdvisor: This Social Security Strategy Gives Retirees More to Spend

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

"Only 5% of retirees say they're living the dream and 19% are living the nightmare." says Deb Boyden in an article from Yahoo Finance. Deb provides three lessons to protect your future, which we dig into to see how it applies to your retirement:

Lesson 1: You're Probably Not Saving Enough
Lesson 2: Expect the Unexpected
Lesson 3: Winging It Won't Get You There

In our Listener Question segment, we talk about the pro rata rule and Roth conversions. It's one of those areas that seems simple on the surface but trips a lot of people up once you start digging in, so we unpack what the pro rata rule really means and why, in most cases, an extra step at the point of retirement, and a bit of double-checking will keep things as clean and simple as possible. 

Resource:

Article on Yahoo Finance from Deb Boyden: "Only 5% of retirees say they're 'living the dream' and 19% are 'living the nightmare.' Here are 3 lessons to protect your future"

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

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

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

Would a 0% tax rate help you live an even better retirement? In this week's Retirement Headline, we'll explore a WSJ article titled How You Can Grab a 0% Tax Rate. If that doesn't pique your interest, I don't know what will!

Listen in to hear how you can learn to plan so that you can take advantage of a 0% tax rate on capital gains income.

This episode originally aired in August 2023.

If you have diligently saved throughout your career, you may be ready to retire, yet still feel uncertain about spending your savings.

To truly live your best life in retirement you need to learn how to shift from a saving mindset to a spending mindset. In this episode of Retirement Starts Today, we'll help you do just that.

This episode was first broadcast in July 2023.

One of the greatest financial assumptions is that it's always better to own than to rent. However, in retirement, this may not be true. Once you are financially independent it is important to realize that not every dollar you spend needs to yield a return.

Join me for this episode of Retirement Starts Today to question traditional thinking and to see how you can improve your life, spend more money, and have more fun in retirement.

This episode was first broadcast in June 2023.

Do you have an HSA? If so, do you simply use it to pay for your medical expenses? Or do you use it as a way to build your wealth? Today we'll look at an article from Financial Advisor Magazine that will help us identify opportunities for wealth creation.

Listen in to learn how to maximize the triple benefit of the humble HSA.

This episode was first broadcast in March 2023.

We are spending some extra time off from the podcast over this holiday season to spend time with family. I hope you're using this opportunity to spend some time with family as well.

I've gone through my favorite episodes of 2023 to bring you some fantastic rebroadcasts. So here's one and I hope you enjoy it!

The Puzzling Gap Between How Old You Are and How Old You Think You Are, first broadcast in May 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.

Most people are worried about spending too much and running out of money in retirement. However, few people worry about spending too little. 

In this week's episode of Retirement Starts Today, you'll learn why you should spend your principal in retirement. Our retirement headline comes from Dr. Jim Dahle at the Whitecoat Investor and shows us why many people don't spend enough of their money and how you can take a practical approach to spending more.

If you are like most people, one of your main worries about retirement is that you'll end up running out of money. While this is a well-founded fear for many underfunded Americans, chances are, if you are listening to this show, you aren't an underfunded retiree. 

While the current state of retirement savings is quite shocking, if you have a healthy retirement portfolio, you don't have to lump yourself in with the majority of Americans. 

• [1:52] Many people have a fear of running out of money in retirement
• [3:40] The state of retirement savings
• [7:02] Why some people don't spend their principal
• [13:19] What should you do with excess RMD dollars?

• Spend Your Principal
• The Extraordinary Upside Potential Of Sequence Of Return Risk In Retirement
• Boomer Benefits
• Boomer Benefits on Facebook

• 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

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Would you like to have more confidence in your retirement plan? In the retirement headlines segment, you'll learn one simple way to increase your certainty about what you can accomplish in retirement. 

In the listener questions segment, Bret helps answer what the essential aspects of an estate plan include. 

If you are ready to get serious about retirement planning press play to get started. 

• [2:26] A written retirement retirement plan boosts your confidence
• [4:11] 4 areas to consider in your plan
• [11:15] What do you need to create an estate plan?

• Boomer Benefits
• Boomer Benefits Facebook Group
• Here's One Surefire Way to Boost Retirement Confidence
• The link to the video and schedule

• 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, orSpotify