With all the attention given to the latest Social Security COLA, we’ve been getting lots of questions. Among the questions is about the alleged "donut hole" for Social Security inflation adjustments for individuals 60 and 61 years of age. Some in this cohort are upset that they may be missing out on significant benefits increases during this high inflation period. This is based on the observation that if all wages are indexed through age 59, and the COLAs don’t start until 62, there are two years of no inflation. Is this really how it works?

Does Social Security Have An Inflation Donut Hole?

If you are planning for, or living in, retirement…this is the show for you.

The success of your retirement may depend on how well you planned for the "big picture" and connected the dots of your legal, tax, and financial plan. In this show, we’ll dig beneath the surface and discuss how you should apply this planning with your hosts- attorney John Ross and financial planner Devin Carroll.

Business

Investing

Careers

Management & Marketing

Business News

Shopping

News

Lots of investors use the S&P; 500 index as a key part of their investment plan, thinking it spreads their money out well among America's biggest companies. But in this episode, we're going to question that idea by looking at the risks of having too much money in just a few of the index's top companies. Even though the index includes 500 stocks, a big chunk of its value comes from just a few big names like Microsoft. We'll explore how this uneven distribution can bring more risk than you might expect, and talk about what happens when too much of your investment is tied up in just a few places If you’re thinking "I love the Big Picture Retirement podcast” please consider rating and reviewing this show! This helps us support more people -- just like you -- move toward a confident retirement. Just scroll down to the “ratings and reviews” section, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let us know what you loved most about the episode! Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. We’re adding new content every week and if you’re not following there’s a good chance you’ll miss out. Follow now! Want to ask Devin or John your question? Just visit https://www.bigpictureretirement.com/ and look for the tab on the right side that says “Send A Voicemail.”  Although this show does not provide specific tax, legal, or financial advice, you can engage Devin or John through their individual firms.  Contact Devin’s team at https://www.carrolladvisory.com/  Contact John’s team at https://www.rossandshoalmire.com/ 

Too Much of a Good Thing?

Roth IRA conversions can be a powerful tool for retirement planning, offering tax-free growth and withdrawals. However, there's a fine line between optimizing and overdoing it. In this episode, we talk about the dangers of over-converting to a Roth IRA. We'll explore how converting too much can lead to higher taxes in retirement and cause missed opportunities later.  If you’re thinking "I love the Big Picture Retirement podcast” please consider rating and reviewing this show! This helps us support more people -- just like you -- move toward a confident retirement. Just scroll down to the “ratings and reviews” section, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let us know what you loved most about the episode! Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. We’re adding new content every week and if you’re not following there’s a good chance you’ll miss out. Follow now! Want to ask Devin or John your question? Just visit https://www.bigpictureretirement.com/ and look for the tab on the right side that says “Send A Voicemail.”  Although this show does not provide specific tax, legal, or financial advice, you can engage Devin or John through their individual firms.  Contact Devin’s team at https://www.carrolladvisory.com/  Contact John’s team at https://www.rossandshoalmire.com/ 

When Roth IRA Conversions Go Too Far

  Are there lessons we should learn from the comparison of the Rockefellers and the Vanderbilts? In this episode, we look at the contrasting estate planning tactics of two of America's wealthiest dynasties. While both families amassed incredible fortunes, their legacies diverged significantly due to their different approaches to wealth management and succession planning. If you’re thinking "I love the Big Picture Retirement podcast” please consider rating and reviewing this show! This helps us support more people -- just like you -- move toward a confident retirement. Just scroll down to the “ratings and reviews” section, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let us know what you loved most about the episode! Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. We’re adding new content every week and if you’re not following there’s a good chance you’ll miss out. Follow now! Want to ask Devin or John your question? Just visit https://www.bigpictureretirement.com/ and look for the tab on the right side that says “Send A Voicemail.”  Although this show does not provide specific tax, legal, or financial advice, you can engage Devin or John through their individual firms.  Contact Devin’s team at https://www.carrolladvisory.com/  Contact John’s team at https://www.rossandshoalmire.com/   

Estate Planning Lessons from the Rockefellers and Vanderbilts

  Retirement has five distinct phases and each of them have their own unique challenges and opportunities. Understanding these distinct phases is important for anyone who is approaching retirement or has retired within the past year or two. If you know what to expect on the road ahead, it should lead to a much smoother and more fulfilling transition into this new part of your life. If you’re thinking "I love the Big Picture Retirement podcast” please consider rating and reviewing this show! This helps us support more people -- just like you -- move toward a confident retirement. Just scroll down to the “ratings and reviews” section, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let us know what you loved most about the episode! Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. We’re adding new content every week and if you’re not following there’s a good chance you’ll miss out. Follow now! Want to ask Devin or John your question? Just visit https://www.bigpictureretirement.com/ and look for the tab on the right side that says “Send A Voicemail.”  Although this show does not provide specific tax, legal, or financial advice, you can engage Devin or John through their individual firms.  Contact Devin’s team at https://www.carrolladvisory.com/  Contact John’s team at https://www.rossandshoalmire.com/ 

The Five Phases of Retirement

In this episode, we dive into the concept of investment location—a tactical approach in asset allocation across various accounts like IRAs and joint accounts, which can significantly influence your tax liabilities.  If you’re thinking "I love the Big Picture Retirement podcast” please consider rating and reviewing this show! This helps us support more people -- just like you -- move toward a confident retirement. Just scroll down to the “ratings and reviews” section, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let us know what you loved most about the episode! Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. We’re adding new content every week and if you’re not following there’s a good chance you’ll miss out. Follow now! Want to ask Devin or John your question? Just visit https://www.bigpictureretirement.com/ and look for the tab on the right side that says “Send A Voicemail.”  Although this show does not provide specific tax, legal, or financial advice, you can engage Devin or John through their individual firms.  Contact Devin’s team at https://www.carrolladvisory.com/  Contact John’s team at https://www.rossandshoalmire.com/ 

Does Social Security Have An Inflation Donut Hole?

Download our free app to listen on your phone