Jim and Chris sit down to discuss listener questions relating to Social Security Disability, Spousal Benefits, SPIAs, Equities, and Roth 401ks. (6:30) George hopes Chris can confirm his Social Security math and give some input on when his wife should claim her benefits. (17:30) A listener looks for clarification on whether his wife can claim […]

The post Social Security Disability, Spousal Benefits, SPIAs, Equities, and Roth 401ks : Q&A #2435 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

With Jim out sick, one of the other planners at Jim Saulnier & Associates, Jake Turner, joins Chris to discuss some questions that have come in about the retirement planning process.

The post Our Retirement Planning Process Questions Answered: EDU #2435 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

Jim and Chris discuss listeners questions relating to Social Security, Roth IRAs, buffered products, and inherited IRAs. (13:45) A listener looks for clarification on claiming a “child-in-care” Social Security benefit. (25:00) A listener asks what happens to a spouse’s child-in-care benefit if the person passes away. (28:30) A listener wonders about any repercussions for not […]

The post Social Security, Child-In-Care Benefits, Roth IRAs, Buffered Products, and Inherited IRAs: Q&A #2430 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

Jim and Chris welcome special guest Matt Kaufman from Calamos Investments. Together they take an in-depth look at the development, brief history (including structured notes, fixed indexed annuities, and new exchange traded funds), function, and options trades in the background of Principal Protected Structured ETFs.

The post In-Depth Principal Protected Structured ETFs: EDU #2430 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

Jim and Chris sit down to discuss listeners questions relating to Social Security delayed benefits, rolling a pension excess to an IRA, HSAs, and when to turn on an annuity’s living benefit.   (15:00) A listener wonders if Chris can clear up why his Social Security delayed benefits calculations don’t match the what the SSA […]

The post Delayed Retirement Credits, Pensions, HSAs and Annuities: Q&A #2429 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

Jim and Chris welcome Estate Planning Attorney, Shelly Thompson to discuss the basics of estate planning.

The post Estate Planning 101: EDU #2429 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

In this episode Chris and guest Paul Neiffer, CPA will tackle listener tax questions. (3:45) A listener’s conversation with their sister has them wondering what strategies are recommended for the last high-earning year before retirement. (19:00) George plans to sell his rental property and is trying to understand what tax forms he needs as well […]

The post Tax Questions Answered: Q&A #2428 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

Jim and Chris discuss listener submissions with advice on how we can describe our retirement planning approach in 10 minutes or less.

The post Our Retirement Philosophy/Approach In 10 Minutes Or Less: EDU #2428 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

Jim and Chris sit down to discuss listener questions relating to COLA, WEP, the Roth Conversion Pro Rata Rule, and Inherited Roth IRAs. (15:30) In part 1 of George’s 3 email questions Chris goes into how to properly apply COLA to your Social Security calculations. (24:00) Chris talks about determining whether you are subject to […]

The post COLA Calculations, WEP, Annuitizing, Roth Pro Rata Rule, and Inherited Roth IRAs: Q&A #2427 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

Jim and Chris say goodbye to their Annuity Awareness Month and pick up where they left off discussing their process. In this episode they respond to an email from a listener who feels they might be overcomplicating it. The guys discuss his simplified retirement planning approach and how people’s spending strategy may change throughout the […]

The post Is There a Simpler Approach to Retirement Planning?: EDU #2427 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

Jim and Chris sit down to discuss listeners questions relating to Social Security, Roth withdrawals, and IRAs. (13:00) Georgette has been getting mixed messages about her survivor and spousal benefit options. (26:30) A couple reevaluates when to begin taking Social Security. (42:00) A listener looks for clarification on Roth Conversion rules. (58:30) Jim and Chris […]

The post Social Security, Roth Withdrawals, and IRAs: Q&A #2426 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

Jim and Chris wind down national annuity awareness month by discussing covering MDF with lifetime secure income via an annuity.

The post Covering MDF With Lifetime Secure Income: EDU #2426 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

Chris discusses listener questions relating to Social Security, long-term care, child-in-care benefits, annuities, and tax credits. (5:00) Chris chats about a Social Security press release regarding the overpayment burden for Social Security beneficiaries. (12:15) A listener looks for clarification on how much long-term care (LTC) coverage we’d recommend based on their situation. (18:00) George asks […]

The post Social Security, Long-Term Care, Child-In Care Benefits, Annuities, and Tax Credits: Q&A #2434 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

Jim and Chris sit down to discuss listeners questions relating to Social Security, IRMAA, Roth conversions, and IRAs. (3:45) A listener asks if her pension benefit will reduce her spouse’s Social Security benefit. (14:30) A listener wonders if there’s anything they need to be aware of when considering IRMAA and Roth conversions. (24:00) George asks […]

The post Social Security, IRMAA, Roth Conversions, and IRAs: Q&A #2425 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

Jim and Chris sit down to continue their annuity discussion focusing on the insurance companies that sell annuities. Click here for article #1. Click here for article #2.

The post Insurance Companies and Annuities: EDU #2425 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

Jim and Chris sit down to discuss listener questions relating to Social Security, 529 Roth conversions, and fixed index annuities (FIAs). (4:45) A listener wonders if his children’s Social Security benefits will be reduced by him working longer. (15:45) A listener looks for clarification on calculating spousal Social Security benefits and what happens when you […]

The post Social Security, 529 Conversions, FIAs, and RMDs: Q&A #2424 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

Jim and Chris continue their discussion from last weeks QA show regarding the income benefits of a non annuitized annuity.

The post Income Benefits Of Non-Annuitized Annuities: EDU #2424 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

Jim and Chris take a deep dive on a listener question relating to a problem with a rollover and provide their thoughts on purchasing a Deferred Income Annuity (DIA).

The post Rollover Issues and Income Annuities: Q&A #2423 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

Jim and Chris kick off annuity awareness month in 2024 by chatting about annuities, where they fit into retirement and retirement planning.

The post Kicking Off Annuity Awareness Month: EDU #2423 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

June kicks off annuity awareness month! Jim and Chris sit down to discuss and take a deep dive on listener questions relating to annuities. (21:30) A fellow advisor and listener looks for clarification on a clients Social Security benefit statement. (49:00) George wonders, if more people think of annuities like pensions, would they be a […]

The post Annuities, Pensions, and Social Security: Q&A #2422 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

Jim and Chris continue their walk through of our philosophy and approach to retirement planning while sharing details on elements like the Minimum Dignity Floor, Secure Income, See-Through Portfolios, Asset Positioning and the ever-popular Fun Number.

The post Our Retirement Planning Process and Philosophy Part 6: EDU #2422 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

Jim and Chris sit down to discuss listener questions relating to Social Security, WEP, Lifecycle funds, and retirement planning. (8:30) A listener looks for clarification on when WEP will be applied to his Social Security benefit. (25:30) A listener looks for thoughts on his Social Security claiming strategy. (35:30) The same listener as above asks […]

The post Social Security, WEP, Lifecycle Funds, and Retirement Planning: Q&A #2421 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

Jim and Chris continue their walk through of their philosophy and approach to retirement planning while sharing details on elements like the Minimum Dignity Floor, Secure Income, See-Through Portfolios, Asset Positioning and the ever-popular Fun Number.

The post Our Retirement Planning Process and Philosophy Part 5: EDU #2421 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

Jim and Chris continue their recent series on our philosophy/approach and discuss potentially using home equity to fund Aging/LTC needs.

The post Our Retirement Planning Process and Philosophy Part 10: EDU #2434 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

Jim and Chris sit down to discuss listener questions relating to child-in-care benefits, delayed retirement benefits, Inherited IRA RMDs, and timing RMDs and QCDs. (4:30) A listener wonders if she should have been collecting child-in-care benefits over the last 20 years of caring for her disabled son. (11:00) Georgette recalls Chris speaking about delayed retirements […]

The post Social Security Benefits, Inherited IRA RMDs, Timing RMDs with QCDs: Q&A #2433 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

Jim and Chris continue their discussion of “seesaw assets” and leveraging a long-term care insurance policy to increase your Aging/LTC reserve.

The post Our Retirement Planning Process and Philosophy Part 9: EDU #2433 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

Jim and Chris sit down to discuss listener questions relating to Social Security benefits, WEP, HSAs, MYGAs, and their retirement planning process. (9:15) Chris begins the show by describing a current situation where he is trying to help someone with filing for Social Security and Medicare after spending most of their life going by a […]

The post SS Benefits, WEP, HSAs, MYGAs, and Retirement Planning: Q&A #2432 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

Jim and Chris continue their discussion of “seesaw assets” and balancing fun spending during the “go-go” years while keeping some reserves for aging expenses later in life.

The post Our Retirement Planning Process and Philosophy Part 8: EDU #2432 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

Jim and Chris sit down to discuss listener questions relating to Social Security, annuities, and inherited Roth IRAs. (5:30) George asks about how he can determine the best time for his wife to claim her Social Security benefit. (16:45) George wonders how his mother-in-law can get the Social Security Administration to use the monthly earnings […]

The post Social Security, Annuities, and Inherited Roth IRAs: Q&A #2431 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

Jim and Chris pick up where they left off discussing their retirement planning philosophy with fun money and the seesaw analogy. In this episode the guys talk about how and why Jim changed his positioning strategy to better adapt to their retirement spending philosophy.

The post Our Retirement Planning Process and Philosophy Part 7: EDU #2431 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

Jim and Chris are joined by Jake to discuss listener questions related to IRA contributions from self-employment income, special needs trusts, year-of-death Roth conversions, Cost Basis, and IRMAA. (9:00) George asks how QBI and self-employed health insurance deductions affect how much he can contribute to a traditional IRA.(20:00) Jim, Chris, and Jake respond to a […]

The post IRA Contributions, Special Needs Trusts, Roth Conversions, and Cost Basis: Q&A #2518 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

Chris’s Summary:Jim and I are joined once again by Jacob for the third and final part of our series on transition period strategy. This time, we focus on the practical side of asset positioning: how near-retirees can begin structuring spending reserves without overreacting to short-term volatility. We use an example case study to explain how […]

The post Transition Period Strategy Part 3 – A Case Study: EDU #2518 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

Jim and Chris discuss listener questions relating to spousal Social Security benefits, RMD tax withholding, IRA withdrawals, and 401(k) contribution limits. Jim also shares a PSA about a recent attempt at identity theft. (20:15) Jim shares a PSA about a fraudulent payday loan application attempted in his name and what he learned about credit freezes […]

The post Identity Theft, Spousal Benefits, RMD Taxes, IRA Withdrawals, and 401(k) Contribution Limits: Q&A #2513 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

Chris’s SummaryJim and I continue our review of interesting and sometimes confusing retirement planning facts, mostly drawn from Jim’s recent Ed Slott conference. We focus on the two Roth five-year rules and how they apply to Roth IRAs versus Roth 401(k)s. I explain the key distinctions between tax-free earnings and penalty-free access. Jim goes further […]

The post Roth 5-Year Rules and the Tax Planning Window: EDU #2513 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

Jim and Chris discuss listener questions relating to Social Security strategies, spousal benefits, Roth conversions, and annuities. (8:15) George asks whether a widow who was widowed before age 60 has two Social Security claiming strategies available based on the FRA benefit of each spouse.(20:30) The guys address a question about how spousal benefits are calculated […]

The post Social Security Benefits, Roth Conversions, and Annuities: Q&A #2512 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

Chris’s Summary:This week’s EDU show is a throwback to an old favorite—things that make you go “hmm.” Jim brought back a list of oddities from the latest Ed Slott training, covering everything from RMD rules the IRS only recently addressed to real-world court cases involving bankruptcy, lottery tickets, and IRA self-dealing gone wrong. Turns out, […]

The post Things That Make You Go Hmm – RMD Rules, IRA Mistakes, and Tax Court Surprises: EDU #2512 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

Jim and Chris answer listener questions on Social Security records, GPO, QCD timing, annuity costs, and excess IRA contributions. (10:30) Georgette asks about fixing gaps in her Social Security record. (19:30) The guys discuss how a listener’s spousal Social Security benefits work after the repeal of GPO. (28:30) George seeks clarification on the timing of […]

The post Social Security records, GPO, QCD Timing, Annuity Costs, and Excess IRA Contributions: Q&A #2511 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

Chris’s Summary: Jim’s back from his conference and Jake joined the show again this week as we tackled the latest Ed Slott quiz. Unlike last time, Jim didn’t give us the book to reference—so Jake and I were going in cold. Jim also decided to test ChatGPT by giving it the entire quiz and the […]

The post IRA Rules Quiz: EDU #2511 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

Jim and Chris are joined by Paul Neiffer, CPA to answer listener questions on qualified dividends, gifting strategies, Roth conversions, and trust taxation. (09:00) George wonders if frequent rebalancing in his taxable brokerage account is causing more of his dividends to be classified as unqualified. (21:30) A listener asks for guidance on which accounts to […]

The post Qualified Dividends, Gifting Strategies, Roth Conversions, and Trust Taxation: Q&A #2510 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

Chris’s Summary: Jim is at yet another industry conference, so Jake is stepping in to join me this week. We pick up where Jim and I left off last time, discussing misleading financial articles. This time, we take a critical look at an article from Moneywise that claims to lay out the “standard” order for […]

The post Setting the Record Straight on Clickbait vs Reality: EDU #2510 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

Jim and Chris sit down to discuss listener questions relating to Social Security, 529 plans, Fun Vision, and Annuities. (Intro – 12:00) Chris provides a Social Security PSA. (19:00) A listener wonders whether her husbands Social Security benefits have been getting a COLA since his passing or if they’ve been frozen. (26:00) A listener wonders […]

The post Social Security, 529 Plans, Fun Vision, and Annuities: Q&A #2509 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

Chris’s Concise Summary: Jim and Chris examine a recent Suze Orman article on inherited IRA rules, identifying key errors that could mislead readers. They clarify the nuances of the 10-year rule, explain how the required beginning date determines whether annual RMDs are necessary and why Roth IRAs don’t have required minimum distributions. The guys also […]

The post False Facts and Real Consequences: EDU #2509 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

Jim and Chris discuss listener questions relating to Social Security spousal benefits, IRMAA relief, suspending Social Security for tax planning, and QCD timing with RMDs. (3:00) A listener enquires whether her 85-year-old mother, who recently remarried, must remain on her ex-spouse’s record for one year before switching to spousal benefits on her new husband’s record.(12:15) […]

The post Social Security Benefits, IRMAA, and QCD Timing: Q&A #2517 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

While Jim is attending a conference, Chris is joined by Jake to discuss listener questions relating to Social Security benefits, RMD taxes, IRMAA, and taxability considerations for claiming Social Security. (5:00) Georgette asks whether her survivor benefit will be reduced since her husband passed away at age 71. (13:30) The guys address whether claiming early […]

The post Social Security Benefits, RMD Taxes, IRMAA, and Social Security Taxation: Q&A #2508 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

Chris flies solo for this long promised, very special, EDU episode where he describes our retirement planning philosophy and approach in just 30 minutes.

The post Our Retirement Planning Philosophy and Approach, Condensed Version: EDU #2508 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

Jim and Chris discuss listener questions relating to Social Security benefits, IRMAA, IRA distributions, Roth contributions, catch-up contributions, and inherited IRA RMDs. (6:30) George asks how inflation adjustments apply when a reduced Social Security benefit converts to a spousal benefit. (13:45) The guys address whether the end of non-qualified deferred compensation qualifies as a life-changing […]

The post Social Security, IRMAA, IRA Distributions, Roth Contributions, Catch-up Contributions, and Inherited IRA RMDs: Q&A #2507 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

In this EDU episode Jim and Chris review and discuss an article sent in by a listener after their critique of the safe withdrawal rate approach to retirement. Some of the points made in the article should sound familiar to listeners… Nobel laureates William F. Sharpe and Robert C. Merton argue that traditional retirement withdrawal […]

The post A Smart Approach to Retirement: EDU #2507 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

Jim and Chris discuss listener questions relating to Survivor Benefits, Social Security Disability Insurance, and Donor Advised Funds. Before diving into listener questions, Jim shares insights from his recent trip to an industry conference, where he investigated financial planning software options that might align with their Secure Retirement Income Process™ and Fun Number™. The guys […]

The post Survivor Benefits, Social Security Disability, and Donor Advised Funds: Q&A #2506 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

While Jim is at a conference, Jake joins Chris to discuss a listener’s simplified retirement planning approach. They examine their straightforward strategy, focusing on key points like living within your means, how finances often simplify in the mid-70s after covering the Minimum Dignity Floor™, and the impact of passing the delay period for larger withdrawals. […]

The post A Discussion on Simplified Retirement Planning: EDU #2506 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

Jim and Chris discuss listener questions relating to Social Security, QLACs, TIPS ETFs, and buffered ETFs. (9:00) A listener who worked in Australia in the late 1980s asks how the U.S.-Australia Totalization Agreement might affect their Social Security benefits. Jim and Chris discuss whether their earnings record can be adjusted and what steps to take. […]

The post Social Security, QLACs, and ETFs: Q&A #2505 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.