Retirement Starts Today – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Technical and general information from the podcast's RSS feed.

Retirement Starts Today

Benjamin Brandt CFP®, RICP®

Business

Education

Frequency: 1 episode/10d. Total Eps: 414

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

Read moreCollapse

Site

RSS

Recent rankings

Latest chart positions across Apple Podcasts and Spotify rankings.

Apple Podcasts

No recent rankings available

Spotify

No recent rankings available

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

Links found in episode descriptions and other podcasts that share them.

See all

http://retirementstartstodayradio.com/
551 shares
https://retirementstartstodayradio.com/newsletter
520 shares
https://www.iheart.com/podcast/276-Retirement-Starts-T-28854930
316 shares

https://twitter.com/retiremeasap
487 shares
https://twitter.com/profgalloway
2 shares
https://twitter.com/CPAPlanner
2 shares

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/retirement-starts-today-radio/id1052378769
318 shares
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-retirement-tax-podcast/id1586145681
4 shares

RSS feed quality and score

Technical evaluation of the podcast's RSS feed quality and structure.

See all

RSS feed quality

To improve

Score global : 48%

Publication history

Monthly episode publishing history over the past years.

Year

Latest published episodes

Recent episodes with titles, durations, and descriptions.

See all

2025: The Year of Donor Advised Funds?

Episode 427

Monday, November 17, 2025 • Duration 21:46

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"

Connect with Benjamin Brandt

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

Read moreCollapse

This Social Security Strategy Gives Retirees More to Spend

Episode 426

Monday, November 10, 2025 • Duration 20:09

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

Connect with Benjamin Brandt

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

Retirement Dreams or Retirement Nightmares? Lessons from Today's Retirees

Episode 417

Monday, September 8, 2025 • Duration 20:59

"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"

Connect with Benjamin Brandt

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, , , or

How to Pay 0% on Capital Gains [Rebroadcast]

Episode 328

Monday, December 25, 2023 • Duration 16:39

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.

Read moreCollapse

3 Tricks to Help Retirees Spend More [Rebroadcast]

Episode 327

Monday, December 18, 2023 • Duration 18:58

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.

Read moreCollapse

12 Reasons to Rent in Retirement [Rebroadcast]

Episode 326

Monday, December 11, 2023 • Duration 22:17

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.

Read moreCollapse

A Few Simple Tricks Turn Humble HSAs Into Wealth Builders [Rebroadcast]

Episode 325

Monday, December 4, 2023 • Duration 18:08

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.

Read moreCollapse

The Puzzling Gap Between How Old You Are and How Old You Think You Are [Rebroadcast]

Episode 324

Monday, November 27, 2023 • Duration 14:52

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.

Read moreCollapse

Spend Your Principal! Ep #323

Episode 323

Monday, November 20, 2023 • Duration 20:04

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.

Outline of This Episode

[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?

Resources & People Mentioned

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

Connect with Benjamin Brandt

Get the Retire-Ready Toolkit: http://retirementstartstodayradio.com/
Follow Ben on Twitter:

Boost Your Retirement Confidence by 17% with One Simple Trick, Ep #322

Episode 322

Monday, November 13, 2023 • Duration 20:27

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.

Outline of This Episode

[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?

Resources & People Mentioned

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

Connect with Benjamin Brandt

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

Retirement Starts Today – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Retirement Starts Today – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

Other99+

Twitter14

Apple Podcast7

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Similar podcasts and content

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Other99+

Twitter14

Apple Podcast7