Stay Wealthy

"I planned for 30 years of expenses—but zero years of purpose." This was a recent client's confession, and she's not alone. In fact, nearly 40% of retirees say they wish they had waited longer to retire (and it's not about money).  In this episode, I'm revealing why even the most financially prepared retirees fall into identity crises and regret. I'm also sharing my 5-step "Bridge Strategy" to help you retire with clarity and purpose, not just a seven-figure portfolio.  If you're planning FOR retirement but haven't considered what you're retiring TO, this episode is for you. *** SCHEDULE A COMPLIMENTARY DISCOVERY CALL: Need professional retirement & tax planning help?  We help 100+ families across the country navigate retirement, optimize investments, and reduce taxes.

"Cash is king" has guided investors since the 1987 market crash. But what if this so-called "king" is actually putting your retirement plan at risk? Millions of retirees are lured by today's enticing cash yields, confusing safety nets for sound investment strategies. In this episode, I'm revealing why cash (even at 4-5%) is a deceptive long-term investment. I'm also sharing details about a critical investment performance metric to help you make more informed portfolio decisions. If you're wondering how to balance safety and growth in today's uncertain market, this episode is for you.  *** 2025 TAX CHEATSHEET Subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter! As a thank you,  you'll receive my recently updated 2025 Tax Cheatsheet (PDF).  You'll also receive weekly retirement and investing tips from yours truly.

You've finally made it to retirement! But what if some of the choices you're making right now are quietly pulling you back to work? Every year, countless retirees are forced back into the workplace. Not because they were reckless, but because they followed advice that sounded smart and safe. In this episode, I'm sharing 7 of the most common retirement pitfalls that can derail even the best-laid plans. I'm also sharing our Total Retirement System™—a comprehensive framework to ensure you retire once and never look back.  If you're approaching retirement (or already there) and want to avoid mistakes that force people back to work, this episode is for you. *** 2025 TAX CHEATSHEET Subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter! As a thank you,  you'll receive my recently updated 2025 Tax Cheatsheet (PDF).  You'll also receive weekly retirement and investing tips from yours truly.

"I'll just work a few more years." It's the retirement safety net millions of Americans often count on. In large part because the financial industry has convinced everyone that retiring later is the most sensible backup plan if your savings fall short. But what if this common advice is actually setting you up for one of the most costly mistakes of your life? In this episode, I'm sharing why the real danger may not be running out of money in retirement, but rather working too long. I'm also sharing why choosing the right withdrawal strategy may help you retire sooner AND give you more confidence to spend in retirement.  *** 2025 TAX CHEATSHEET Subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter! As a thank you,  you'll receive my recently updated 2025 Tax Cheatsheet (PDF).  You'll also receive weekly retirement and investing tips from yours truly.

Today I'm diving into the tariff-induced market mania that has been dominating every news headline. Specifically, I'm joined by Cullen Roche, monetary economics expert and founder of Discipline Funds, to discuss three important things: ► How tariffs actually work and why economists across the political spectrum overwhelmingly agree they are bad ► What the recent tariff proposal means for the economy (and American consumers) ► What yesterday's "90-day pause" means for the markets going forward We also discuss how retirement investors should approach their portfolios during this period of economic uncertainty + what changes are prudent to make. *** 2025 TAX CHEATSHEET Subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter! As a thank you,  you'll receive my recently updated 2025 Tax Cheatsheet (PDF).  You'll also receive weekly retirement and investing tips from yours truly.

ESG investing is exploding in popularity—but it's also a giant, confusing mess. Over $35 trillion in global assets now follow ESG guidelines.

Morningstar recently published its annual "State of Retirement Income" research report. This year's report finds the highest 30-year safe withdrawal rate for retirees is... 3.7%

Today I'm discussing "tail risk."  As Morgan Housel put it, "It's the hardest risk for people to understand...  ...and it's the only one that really matters." In this episode, you'll learn: ► What the three sides of risk are ► Why tail risk is all that matters ► How to mitigate this risk in your retirement plan You'll also learn why most investors should (probably) stay away from complex "tail-hedging" investment products.  *** 2025 TAX CHEATSHEET Subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter! As a thank you,  you'll receive my recently updated 2025 Tax Cheatsheet (PDF).  You'll also receive weekly retirement and investing tips from yours truly.

Worried about Medicare IRMAA eating into your retirement savings?  Whether you're 10+ years away from Medicare or already enrolled, this episode will help you navigate this pesky surcharge and protect your retirement savings. Key topics covered: ► Updated 2025 IRMAA brackets  ► Answers to common planning questions  ► 3 strategies to minimize (or avoid) IRMAA You'll also learn how to project future IRMAA brackets for better planning. If you want a clear roadmap for making informed decisions about your future healthcare costs, you'll enjoy today's episode. *** RETIREMENT & TAX PLANNING: Looking to hire a financial planner with retirement & tax planning expertise? My team and I only have a few more openings for Discovery Meetings with new clients.  If you're seeking professional help, we would love to have a conversation!

Markets tend to operate in cycles—yesterday's winners often become tomorrow's losers (and vice versa).  The most unloved asset classes can quietly become the best performers, while the most popular ones frequently disappoint. Yet, many investors fall into the trap of assuming recent trends will continue indefinitely. But markets don't work that way. No asset class outperforms or underperforms forever. To help you avoid falling into this trap (and make more informed portfolio decisions), I'm sharing key takeaways from Vanguard's 2025 Market & Economic Report in this episode.  I'm also sharing 5 actions retirement savers can take right now to prepare for success over the next decade and beyond. *** Looking to hire a financial planner with retirement & tax planning expertise? My team and I only have a few more openings for Discovery Meetings with new clients.  If you're seeking professional help, we would love to have a conversation!

Looking to hire a financial planner with retirement & tax planning expertise? My team and I have availability for 25 Discovery Meetings over the next 8 weeks. If you're seeking professional retirement planning help, we would love to have a conversation!

Grab your Tax Planning Cheatsheet (updated for 2025!) by clicking here. The 2-page PDF guide includes every important number you'll need for your retirement & tax planning next year. Updated federal income tax brackets, AMT annual limits, standard deductions, Social Security taxation summary, estate and gift tax annual limits…and more.

How do we fix the housing affordability problem in the U.S.? Will lower interest rates really improve the real estate market? How have Zillow and Airbnb contributed to the current housing challenges?   What are tariffs (+ benefits and drawbacks)? What's next for the U.S. economy?  These are just a few of the questions I'm exploring in this episode with author and economic expert, Kyla Scanlon.  *** BOOK GIVEAWAY I'm giving away 10 copies of Kyla's beautifully written and designed book, "In This Economy? How Money & Markets Actually Work." To put your name in the hat and receive a free copy, be sure you're subscribed to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter by visiting https://www.youstaywealthy.com/email. Next week, my team will randomly select 10 lucky readers to give our copies away to. 

Today, I'm discussing the challenges of spending money in retirement.  To help, Brian Portnoy, one of the world's leading experts on the psychology of money, joins us to discuss three big things: ➤ Why it's so difficult for retirement savers to transition from saving to spending ➤ What you can do to prepare for the (well-documented!) challenges of retirement spending  ➤ How to use Brian's “Four C's” to achieve true wealth in retirement We also delve into the meaning behind Brian's famous quote, “Diversification always means having to say your sorry,” and how it can help you make better investing decisions. *** FREE RETIREMENT PLANNING RESOURCES: Subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter! As a thank you, you'll receive three (3) of my MOST popular retirement & tax cheatsheets.  You'll also receive my weekly retirement newsletter!

Emerging Markets are the world's primary drivers of global growth (and wealth accumulation). Just over 50% of the world's economic output comes from these countries.

Why are most people planning for the wrong things in retirement? What should they be planning for that they're not? To help answer these important questions, Psychologist & Behavioral Finance Expert Dr. Daniel Crosby stops by to discuss: ➤ What our happiness is determined by ➤ Why (contrary to popular research) more money can ACTUALLY make us happier ➤ What is the “PERMA model” and how can we use it to improve retirement success We also discuss why retirees are more depressed than everyone else and what they can do to mitigate this risk. *** THE SOUL OF WEALTH:  Grab a copy of Daniel's new book, The Soul of Wealth.  The book explores what wealth really is and provides practical suggestions for how to change your thinking and your actions in small, powerful ways, for a wealthier life. *** FREE RETIREMENT PLANNING RESOURCES: Subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter! As a thank you, you'll receive three (3) of my MOST popular retirement & tax cheatsheets.  You'll also receive my weekly retirement newsletter!

Today, I'm talking about navigating the risks of concentrated investments. Specifically, Peter Lazaroff, CIO of Plancorp, joins me to answer three BIG questions: ➤ How do you know if you have a "concentrated investment?" ➤ What are some little-known risks investors aren't considering? ➤How do you (tax-efficiently) diversify concentrated investments? I also share a specific exercise investors can follow to decide if they should sell some or all of their concentrated holding(s). *** FREE RETIREMENT PLANNING RESOURCES: Subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter! As a thank you, you'll receive three (3) of my MOST popular retirement & tax cheatsheets.  You'll also receive my weekly retirement newsletter!

Today, I'm sharing how retirement investors can take action in this final episode of our Small Cap Value series.  Specifically, I'm discussing three things:  ➤ Why paying MORE for an investment can pay off ➤ How to easily and properly evaluate different funds  ➤ What small-cap value funds to consider  I'm also sharing two important reminders before taking action and investing in this popular asset class. *** FREE RETIREMENT PLANNING RESOURCES: Subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter! As a thank you, you'll receive three (3) of my MOST popular retirement & tax cheatsheets.  You'll also receive my weekly retirement newsletter!

Today, I'm diving into part two of our Small Cap Value investing series. Specifically, I'm addressing three big questions: ➤ How do small-cap value stocks reduce risk + improve returns  ➤ What criteria does an investment need to meet to be included in a portfolio ➤ Why value investing is still alive and well While there is no shortage of research in favor of this dominant asset class... ...I'm also sharing why investors don't necessarily need small-cap value stocks to reach their retirement goals. *** FREE RETIREMENT PLANNING RESOURCES: Subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter! As a thank you, you'll receive three (3) of my MOST popular retirement & tax cheatsheets.  You'll also receive my weekly retirement newsletter!

Today I'm kicking off a two-part series on Small Cap Value investing. Specifically, I'm addressing three big questions: ➤ What exactly are small-cap value stocks? ➤ Why have small-cap value stocks, historically, outperformed most major asset classes? ➤ Does the recent 20-year underperformance suggest that the strategy is dead and won't work in the future?  I'm also sharing critical differences between small-cap value funds + how to take action if you want to include this asset class in your portfolio. *** FREE RETIREMENT PLANNING RESOURCES: Subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter! As a thank you, you'll receive three (3) of my MOST popular retirement & tax cheatsheets.  You'll also receive my weekly retirement newsletter!

Today, I'm sharing key takeaways from three of the BEST retirement articles I read this month. 1️⃣ The first article is about the future of taxes in this country and specifically makes a strong case for why they will be higher. 2️⃣ The second reveals why investors missed out on 15% of investment returns over the last decade.

Today, I'm sharing FIVE surprising statistics about the economy, markets, and retirement. For example, one stat highlights a "stock market indicator" that has a 100% success rate

Are you ready to get answers to some BIG retirement questions? Questions such as: ➤ What role does the equity in my home play in my retirement plan? ➤ Why should I do Roth conversions to help mitigate taxes on my kids' inheritance? ➤ Are closed-end funds a good investment? ➤ How do I properly evaluate pension vs. lump-sum decisions? Today on the show, I'm answering these questions (and more!) with my good friend, Roger Whitney. I'm also providing an update on the Retirement Podcast Network after taking a hint from 1,000+ retirement savers.   *** FREE RETIREMENT PLANNING RESOURCES: Subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter! As a thank you, you'll receive three (3) of my MOST popular retirement & tax cheatsheets.  You'll also receive my weekly retirement newsletter :) 

Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) begin at age 73 for most retirement savers. These forced withdrawals can be a burden for those who don't need (or want) the taxable income. Since they are “required,” many assume that they don't have any control over their RMDs. But that's not necessarily the case. In fact, one of the 5 strategies I'm sharing with you today allows you to delay unwanted (mandatory) distributions well past age 73

In the final episode of this series, I'm answering the BEST listener questions I've received about dividend investing. Questions such as: ➤ If dividend investing is NOT a great way to create retirement income, what is?  ➤ What dividend-focused funds should investors consider if they insist on investing for yield?  ➤ What is the counterargument for stock buybacks? Why are some people against them? Tune in to hear my answers to these great questions! FREE RETIREMENT PLANNING RESOURCES: Subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter! As a thank you, you'll receive three (3) of my MOST popular retirement & tax cheatsheets.  You'll also receive my weekly retirement newsletter. 

In today's episode, I'm sharing everything you need to know about stock buybacks. Specifically, I'm sharing: ➤ Why stock buybacks are referred to as a "flexible" dividend ➤ What a stock buyback is (and how it works) ➤ How stock buybacks are more tax-friendly than traditional dividends If you want to learn more about this increasingly popular "flexible dividend" strategy, you'll enjoy this episode. FREE RETIREMENT PLANNING RESOURCES: Subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter! As a thank you, you'll receive three (3) of my MOST popular retirement & tax cheatsheets.  You'll also receive my weekly retirement newsletter. 

Today I'm continuing our multi-part series on Dividend Investing. Specifically, in part two, I'm sharing: ➤ What the long-term performance has been for dividend-focused funds ➤ Why popular dividend investing charts can be incomplete (or misleading) ➤ The 3 primary reasons dividend strategies typically underperform If you want to learn more about dividend investing and why it may not be the magical solution it's often marketed as, you'll enjoy this episode.  *** FREE RETIREMENT PLANNING RESOURCES: Subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter! As a thank you, you'll receive three (3) of my MOST popular retirement & tax cheatsheets.  You'll also receive my weekly retirement newsletter. 

Today I'm kicking off a multi-part series on Dividend Investing. While dividends are a normal occurrence in the global markets, their role in a retirement portfolio is often misunderstood. ➤ What is a dividend, and why do some companies pay them?  ➤ How do they affect an investor's return? ➤ Where do dividends fit in the portfolio construction process?  ➤ What are the little-known problems with this investment strategy? ➤ And what does my upcoming birthday have to do with dividends?

Today I'm sharing a story about a couple who lost $2 million to an investment scam. I'm also sharing (new!) resources to help protect your personal data in 2024. Financial scams are getting more sophisticated and losses are skyrocketing. In fact, last year, Americans lost $10 billion to financial scams. That's $1 billion more than 2022, and is the highest-ever reported annual loss in FTC history. Everyone is at risk. And everyone needs to regularly take proactive steps to stay safe. Tune in to learn more. *** FREE RETIREMENT PLANNING RESOURCES: Subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter! As a thank you, you'll receive three (3) of my MOST popular retirement & tax cheatsheets.  You'll also receive my weekly retirement newsletter :) 

There is no shortage of questions when it comes to navigating and planning for retirement. ➤ How much do I need to save?  ➤ How do I optimize my tax bill and avoid overpaying the IRS?  ➤ When do I take Social Security?  ➤ What should I invest in? (And what should I avoid?!) The list goes on. And while you've likely read (or heard) helpful answers to most of the big questions, it never hurts to revisit them or get a different perspective. In fact, some studies suggest that it can take hearing something 7 times before you retain it

Inflation hit a 40-year high of 9.1% in June 2022. Today, inflation is hovering around 3%. If inflation is back in line with long-term historical averages, why does everything still feel so expensive? When voters were asked what they would most like to see improved in our economy... ...why did 64% of them say "lower prices?"  In this episode, I'm digging into the current state of inflation, why prices still feel high, and where inflation might be headed. I'm also sharing tactics for how to successfully navigate challenging time periods. If, like most retirement savers, things still feel outrageously expensive to you, you're going to enjoy this episode.  *** RETIREMENT & TAX PLANNING TOOLS: Join 5,000+ listeners and subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter. As a thank you, you'll receive three (3) of my MOST popular retirement & tax cheatsheets.  You'll also receive my weekly retirement newsletter :) 

Want an easy way to learn how the "Roth 5-Year Rule" affects your unique situation?  Subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter. As a thank you, you'll receive my one-page flowchart (PDF) for navigating this confusing rule.

Today I'm talking through four (rarely-discussed) retirement planning misconceptions. In fact, some of these misconceptions might not be misconceptions at all... ...they might be concepts that you've never even considered! For example, is retirement planning a complex problem OR a complicated problem? (And why does it matter?)  And, should you develop a retirement plan from the outside in OR the inside out? To help answer these important questions, I'm joined by Roger Whitney, host of the Retirement Answer Man podcast.  Along with being a great person and expert retirement planner, Roger is also a deep, critical thinker who will definitely get your wheels turning in this episode. WANT MORE RETIREMENT PLANNING TIPS? Join 5,000+ listeners and subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter. As a thank you, you'll receive a copy of my 2024 Tax Planning Cheatsheet.

It's an election year. As a result, many retirement investors believe that the market MUST be in for a wild ride. But is that true?  Over the last 100 years, how have markets behaved during election years? What have been the best and worst returns?  How has the market performed during every 4-year presidential term since 1929? And is it "different this time?"  To help retirement savers invest wisely during this period of heightened uncertainty, I'm answering these questions (and more). --- WANT THE CHARTS & DATA REFERENCED IN TODAY'S EPISODE? Join the Stay Wealthy Newsletter by clicking here. I'll be sending the 12-page PDF to all newsletter readers this week and next

The U.S. national debt recently crossed $34 trillion. Without causing some serious pain, paying off this debt is nearly impossible to do. We would have to dramatically cut spending in some VERY important areas, increase taxes, or both. This debacle has led many to label this situation as catastrophic... ...as a "building that we're stuck in that will need to collapse on us before we can leave." But is it really as bad as some make it out to be? Is $34 trillion of debt truly an issue?  Should we really be focused on paying down (or paying off) this debt?  To help answer these questions and shed light on this complex topic, I'm joined today by Cullen Roche, monetary economic expert and CIO of Discipline Funds. ----- WANT MORE RETIREMENT PLANNING TIPS? Join 5,000+ listeners and subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter. As a thank you, you'll receive a copy of my 2024 Tax Planning Cheatsheet.

With over 300,000 in the U.S., finding a financial advisor is easy. On the other hand, properly evaluating an advisor AND choosing the right expert to help with your unique needs is a challenging task. To help, I'm providing an actionable framework for evaluating financial advisors in this episode. I'm also sharing 3 critical things everyone should consider before entering into a new advisory relationship. It doesn't matter if you are looking for short-term help or a long-term relationship...if you're considering a financial advisor this year, you'll enjoy this episode. WANT MORE RETIREMENT PLANNING TIPS? Join 5,000+ listeners and subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter. As a thank you, you'll receive a copy of my 2024 Tax Planning Cheatsheet.

Today I'm talking about stock market predictions. Specifically, I'm sharing: ‣ What happened in the markets in 2023 ‣ What may lie ahead for us in 2024 ‣ Why we should prepare for the biggest crash of our lifetime I'm also sharing an exciting announcement that will directly benefit you!

Today I'm sharing 4 (important!) retirement and tax planning updates for 2024. I'm also sharing my freshly updated two-page tax cheatsheet

Year-end is a popular time for tax planning strategies. Roth conversions. Charitable gifts. Squeezing in those final tax-deductible contributions. And, of course, the crowd favorite...good ol' tax-loss harvesting! ‣ Who should consider tax-loss harvesting (and who should stay away from it)? ‣ How can you increase the benefit of tax-loss harvesting? ‣ When can harvesting losses backfire? If you're a retirement saver wanting to learn more about this popular tax strategy, you'll love today's episode.  *** ✏️  Grab the Episode Show Notes

Navigating the Medicare world is confusing and challenging.  As a result, many retirees make Medicare decisions without clearly understanding the long-term implications. Long-term implications that, in worst-case scenarios, can put a retirement plan in jeopardy. To help you avoid making costly Medicare mistakes, I'm sharing three (3) big pitfalls to avoid in this episode. If you want to brush up on your Medicare knowledge before turning 65—or you're looking to change your current Medicare plan—you'll love today's episode. *** NAVIGATING IRMAA (2024 UPDATED) Click here to view the 2024 IRMAA brackets and learn how to avoid this surcharge.  *** WANT MORE RETIREMENT PLANNING TIPS? Join 5,000+ listeners and subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter. As a thank you, you'll receive a copy of my 2023 Tax Planning Cheatsheet.

In part two of my series on bonds, I'm tackling three BIG questions: 1.) With cash yielding 5%, does it make sense to use money market funds (or t-bill) as a bond alternative? 2.) What should investors do if they own the wrong bonds and need to make changes? 3.) Does the current landscape shift how retirement investors should approach bonds going forward? If you're ready to dive deep into the research to understand this asset class better, you'll love this episode. ----- WANT MORE RETIREMENT PLANNING TIPS? Join 5,000+ listeners and subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter. As a thank you, you'll receive a copy of my 2023 Tax Planning Cheatsheet.

Bonds are down 20%+ over the past three years.  Meanwhile, riskier asset classes (like U.S. stocks) are UP ~30% during the same period. ‣ What the %@#! is happening to bonds right now? ‣ Why are safe asset classes down double digits while risky asset classes scream upward? ‣ Should retirement investors consider changes? ‣ Are money market funds and CDs a better solution than bond funds?  ‣ And what might all of this mean for the future of bond investing? I'm answering these questions (and more!) in this 2-part series on bonds. --- WANT MORE RETIREMENT PLANNING TIPS? Join 5,000+ listeners and subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter. As a thank you, you'll receive a copy of my 2023 Tax Planning Cheatsheet.

Today I'm sharing nine fun facts about the economy, markets, and retirement.  Along with being entertaining, these facts bring important planning topics to the surface. They also help to address and answer common questions. For example: ‣ How correlated is the economy to the stock market? ‣ What are the actual odds of a catastrophic long-term care event? ‣ Should average life expectancy assumptions be used in retirement projections? If you're ready to have some fun learning about the history of the markets and little-known facts about investing, this episode is for you. --- WANT MORE RETIREMENT PLANNING TIPS? Join thousands of listeners and subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter. As a thank you, you'll receive a copy of my 2023 Tax Planning Cheatsheet.

Everyone should freeze their credit. But most retirement savers I talk to have not tackled this simple (and free!) task. After commenting briefly about credit freezes in an episode last month, I've received dozens of GREAT questions from listeners. Questions like... ‣ Should minor children freeze their credit even if they don't have a credit score? ‣ After freezing with the "big three" (Equifax, Transunion, Experian), what other agencies should I freeze my credit with? ‣ How will freezing my credit affect my credit score? ...and more! Tune in to get answers to these questions and learn more about this critical financial planning task that continues to be overlooked. --- WANT MORE RETIREMENT PLANNING TIPS? Join thousands of listeners and subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter. As a thank you, you'll receive a copy of my 2023 Tax Planning Cheatsheet.

Last June, inflation hit a 40-year high of 9.1%. Since then, it's been falling month over month, hitting 3.2% in July of this year. The Fed's aggressive rate hikes seemed to be doing their job, and their 2% inflation target appeared to be in sight. But then, the August CPI report came out a few weeks ago... ...and we saw inflation spike, jumping up to 3.7%. What happened? Where does inflation go from here? And should we be worried about this recent uptick? --- WANT MORE RETIREMENT PLANNING TIPS? Join thousands of listeners and subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter. As a thank you, you'll receive a copy of my 2023 Tax Planning Cheatsheet.

Year after year, investors underperform the funds they invest in by almost 2%.

Consumers reported losing nearly $9 billion to fraud in 2022 — a 30% increase from the year prior. And those are just the incidents that are reported. In fact, some reports suggest that the ACTUAL amount is closer to $40 billion! One thing every report seems to agree on is that scams are becoming more prevalent and more sophisticated. So to help protect retirement investors from becoming victims, today I'm sharing the three financial scams to watch out for. I'm also sharing how you can protect yourself (and your loved ones) from each scam. --- WANT MORE RETIREMENT PLANNING TIPS? Join thousands of listeners and subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter. As a thank you, you'll receive a copy of my 2023 Tax Planning Cheatsheet.

In this episode, we're answering listener questions! Specifically, guest host Jeremy Schneider is answering questions like: What are the best index funds to invest in How do you access retirement money early What are the little-known pitfalls of early retirement Jeremy also shares important tips on transferring money from old investment accounts.  If you want to get answers to these great questions (and hear from a surprise guest who snuck their way in!), this episode is for you.  --- WANT MORE RETIREMENT PLANNING TIPS? Join thousands of listeners and subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter. As a thank you, you'll receive a copy of my 2023 Tax Planning Cheatsheet.

Almost every day, I (guest host Jeremy Schneider) hear someone mention their credit score. After being in school our entire young lives, we must all crave for someone to give us another grade. And when the ol' FICO corporation is slapping a big number on all of us... ...we excitedly spend every waking moment trying to improve (or maintain) it. But here's the problem: Focusing on your credit score is a TERRIBLE way to win with money. You're putting your energy towards precisely the wrong thing. In today's episode, I'm sharing why you shouldn't care about your credit score + what you should be focusing on instead! WANT MORE RETIREMENT PLANNING TIPS? Join thousands of listeners around the country and subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter. As a thank you, you'll receive a copy of my 2023 Tax Planning Cheatsheet.

Today we're talking about the Backdoor Roth IRA. Specifically, guest host Jeremy Schneider is sharing: What the Backdoor Roth IRA strategy is Why you should (or shouldn't) pursue it How to execute it the right way If you're interested in learning more about this unique strategy for getting more money into a Roth IRA, this episode is for you. *** WANT MORE RETIREMENT PLANNING TIPS? Join thousands of listeners and subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter. As a thank you, you'll receive a copy of my 2023 Tax Planning Cheatsheet.

If YOU were to unexpectedly die tomorrow, would your loved ones know how to access your information?  Your bank accounts? Insurance policies? Debts? Access to your home and car? Your devices? Approximately 2/3 of Americans don't have any estate planning documents! To help you avoid leaving a financial mess behind, guest host Jeremy Schneider is sharing how he's PERSONALLY prepared his family for an untimely death. Specifically, he's sharing: ➡ What information and documents he has gathered  ➡ Where and how he (securely) stores it ➡ His process for keeping everything updated If you need actionable ideas (and motivation!) to tackle this critical planning task, today's episode is for you. WANT MORE RETIREMENT PLANNING TIPS? Join thousands of listeners and subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter. As a thank you, you'll receive a copy of my 2023 Tax Planning Cheatsheet.