Tariffs killed Carl’s investment portfolio and left him wondering if he should claim Social Security early. Joe Anderson, CFP® and Big Al Clopine, CPA spitball for him today on Your Money, Your Wealth® podcast number 531. Kelly and Steve in Pennsylvania ask for a three-fer spitball - when to claim their Social Security, whether they should contribute to Roth or convert to Roth for that lifetime tax-free growth on their investments, and if they’re on track for Kelly to retire in three years.

Free financial resources & episode transcript: https://bit.ly/ymyw-531

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Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro: This Week on the YMYW Podcast

01:21 - Tariffs Killed My Portfolio. Should I Claim Social Security Early? (Carl)

10:14 - Watch The Retirement Course: Can You Hit a Hole in One? on YMYW TV, Calculate your free Financial Blueprint

11:13 - When Should We Claim Social Security? Roth Contributions or Conversions? Are We On Track for Retirement? (Kelly & Steve)

25:00 - Download the Key Financial Data Guide, YMYW Podcast Outro

What should you do when the asset allocation of your retirement portfolio drifts? Joe Anderson, CFP® and Big Al Clopine, CPA spitball on rebalancing for DJ in St. Louis, today on Your Money, Your Wealth® podcast number 530. Plus, Coach Dobber in Minnesota is curious about municipal bonds in a brokerage account, and Daniel in Stevensville, Michigan needs details on emergency funds. Also, can Tim the Enchanter do a Roth conversion and avoid the nasty big pointy teeth of capital gains tax? And, Duke in upstate New York told his wife they need 6 million dollars in retirement, and she said he was silly. What say Joe and Al? We’ll find out.

Free financial resources & episode transcript: https://bit.ly/ymyw-530

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Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro: This Week on the YMYW Podcast 00:47 - Rebalancing Asset Allocation of US Stocks, International Stocks, and Bonds (DJ in St Louis) 07:21 - Can I Do a Roth Conversion and Have No Cap Gains Tax? (Tim the Enchanter, FL) 15:44 - Watch Financial Planning at Every Age on YMYW TV, Download the Retirement Readiness Guide for free 16:41 - Municipal Bonds in a Brokerage Account: Good Idea? (Coach Dobber, MN) 22:48 - Told My Wife We Need $6M to Retire in 20 Years. She Say's I'm Silly. (Duke, upstate NY) 27:09 - Calculate your Free Financial Blueprint, Schedule your Free Financial Assessment 28:54 - What Is an Emergency Fund and How Much Should I Have in It? (Daniel, Stevensville, MI) 36:00 - YMYW Podcast Outro

John in Boston is in the 32% tax bracket. Should he do Roth conversions? Flight Deck Dad and Irish Girl in Pensacola have a lot of tax-free pension income. Should they do Roth conversions? Bert and Ernie in New Jersey wonder if they should convert to Roth or take advantage of zero percent capital gains tax rates. Joe Anderson, CFP® and Big Al Clopine, CPA spitball for all of them today on Your Money, Your Wealth® podcast number 529. Plus, Michael and his wife in Bellevue are 34, in the 24% tax bracket and wonder if they should contribute to tax-free or tax-deferred accounts, and if they should slow down on retirement savings and start a bridging account for the years between when they want to punch the clock in their early to mid-50s, and when they can access their retirement savings. Then, for something completely different, Frenchie from Maine writes back in: What are the disadvantages to paying off her mortgage ASAP, and what’s the tax efficiency of a money market compared to bond funds?

Free financial resources & episode transcript: https://bit.ly/ymyw-529

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Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro: This Week on the YMYW Podcast

01:00 - We’re in the 32% Tax Bracket. Should We Do Roth Conversions? (John, Boston, MA)

06:19 - We Have Large Tax-Free Pension Income. Should We Do Roth Conversions? (Flight Deck Dad & Irish Girl, Pensacola, FL)

16:03 - Watch How to Break Through Retirement Barriers on YMYW TV, Calculate your free Financial Blueprint

16:52 - Should We Do Roth Conversions or Take Advantage of 0% Capital Gains Tax? (Bert & Ernie, NJ)

25:53 - In the 24% Bracket. Should We Contribute to Tax-Free or Tax Deferred Accounts? (Michael, Bellevue, WA)

29:49 - Schedule a Free Financial Assessment at any of Pure Financial Advisors' 12 nationwide locations or online

31:04 - Disadvantages to Paying Off the Mortgage ASAP? Tax Efficiency of Money Market vs. Bond Funds? (Frenchie, ME)

36:23 - Outro: Next Week on the YMYW Podcast

You’ve been jamming money into your retirement accounts for years now. When is it okay to slow down? Joe Anderson, CFP®® and Big Al Clopine, CPA spitball for Ron and Veronica in Indiana today on Your Money, Your Wealth® podcast 528. Plus, how can Scott in Illinois bridge the gap from age 55 to retirement income at 57? How should Big Juan in Texas pay for college? Should he convert his TSP to Roth? Can he retire at 55 And finally, Frank and Jane Drebin in Wisconsin are 46 and 47 and wondering if their plan for retirement in 5 years is just a pipe dream.

Free financial resources & episode transcript: https://bit.ly/ymyw-528

DOWNLOAD The Retirement Readiness Guide for free

WATCH What Happens to Your 401(k) & IRA at Retirement? On YMYW TV

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ASK Joe & Big Al for your Retirement Spitball Analysis

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Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro: This Week on the YMYW Podcast

01:13 - Can I Take My Foot Off the Gas on Saving for Retirement? (Ron and Veronica, IN)

09:48 - Watch What Happens to Your 401(k) & IRA at Retirement? On YMYW TV and Download The Retirement Readiness Guide

10:43 - How to Bridge the Gap from Age 55 to Retirement Income at 57? (Scott, IL)

20:04 - How to Fund College? TSP to Roth Conversions? Retirement at 55? (Big Juan, TX)

24:45 - Calculate Your Free Financial Blueprint

25:45 - We're 46 and 47, Is Our Retirement Plan a Pipe Dream? (Frank and Jane Drebin, WI)

32:26 - Next Week on the YMYW Podcast

What are the pros and cons if Chip uses the money in his taxable brokerage account for early retirement income? Jack and Sally ask Joe and Big Al to spitball on whether they can retire around age 55 or 60, and whether they should max out their Roth or convert to Roth, today on Your Money, Your Wealth® podcast 527 with Joe Anderson, CFP®, and Big Al Clopine, CPA. Plus, April and Andy ask the fellas to spitball on their dividend investing strategy, and Don wonders if a separately managed account (SMA) makes sense for his taxable account. (We’ll also find out what an SMA is.)

Free financial resources & episode transcript: https://bit.ly/ymyw-527

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WATCH Your 11-Step Path to Financial Freedom on YMYW TV

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Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro: This Week on the YMYW Podcast

00:52 - Pros and Cons of Using a Taxable Brokerage Account for Early Retirement Income? (Chip Skylark, Dimsdale)

13:24 - Watch Your 11-Step Path to Financial Freedom on YMYW TV, Calculate Your Free Financial Blueprint

14:27 - Is My Dividend Investing Strategy Missing Anything? (Andy & April, Knoxville, TN)

25:02 - Can I Retire Between Ages 55-60? Should I Max Out Roth Contributions, or Convert to Roth? (Jack & Sally, NC)

31:18 - Download the Withdrawal Strategy Guide and 10 Steps to Improve Investing Success for Free

32:03 - Does a Separately Managed Account (SMA) Make Sense for My Taxable Account? (Don, IA)

40:46 - Next Week on the YMYW Podcast

Just about every week here on YMYW, Joe and Big Al talk about converting your retirement savings to Roth accounts. But why? What’s the big deal? Today the “IRA guru” Ed Slott, CPA returns to Your Money, Your Wealth® in podcast number 526 with Joe Anderson, CFP® and Big Al Clopine, CPA to tell us why he calls the Roth IRA “the greatest account ever created.” (Here’s a hint: it’s all about having tax-free income in retirement - and beyond.) Plus, where to prioritize saving for retirement? Jerry Tom in St. Louis wants to know. Are Christian and Tiffany in Montana on track for retirement, and should they rebalance their ETFs? Should Frank in Lake Wobegon’s wife take her teachers’ salary over 9 months or 12 months? And finally, Jon thinks the target retirement withdrawal rates Joe and Big Al use to spitball are too low - we’ll see what they think.

Free financial resources & episode transcript: https://bit.ly/ymyw-526

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Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro

00:59 - Ed Slott, CPA on the Roth IRA, the Future of Taxes, the Death of the Stretch IRA, and Naming a Trust as Your Retirement Account Beneficiary

19:44 - Download The Complete Roth Papers Package for free

20:37 - Where to Prioritize Saving for Retirement? (Jerry Tom, St. Louis)

28:57 - Are We on Track for Retirement? Should We Rebalance Our ETFs? (Christian & Tiffany, Montana)

40:43 - Watch Don't Let These 10 Risks Break Your Retirement on YMYW TV, Calculate Your Free Financial Blueprint

41:44 - Is It Better to Take Teachers' Salary Over 9 Months or 12? (Frank, Lake Wobegon - voice)

45:32 - Withdrawal Rates Are Very Low on YMYW (Jon, Twitter & Apple Podcasts)

49:46 - YMYW Podcast Outro

Tariffs, inflation, healthcare costs... how do you shift from saving to spending in retirement while managing risks like these? Jamie Hopkins is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional, an attorney, and best-selling author of Find Your Freedom and Rewirement: Rewiring the Way You Think About Retirement. He returns to the show today on Your Money, Your Wealth® podcast 525 with Joe Anderson, CFP® and Big Al Clopine, CPA, to share insights on how to rewire your retirement plans. Plus, how should Fred and Ginger in Huntington Beach, California, pay for repairs on their rental properties? How can Peter Lemonjello manage taxes in his early retirement with 72(t) elections, rental income, and an installment sale? Can Calvin and Susie in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, buy an $800,000 beach house - and should they?

Free financial resources & episode transcript: https://bit.ly/ymyw-525

DOWNLOAD The Recession Protection Guide

WATCH the Market Volatility webinar with Joe Anderson, CFP® and Brian Perry, CFP®, CFA from Pure Financial Advisors on demand 

DOWNLOAD 10 Tips for Real Estate Investors

WATCH How Your Home Can Create Retirement Income on YMYW TV

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Thanks to Million Podcasts for ranking YMYW in several of their "Best of" lists! Read more.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro

00:59 - Rewiring Spending and Managing Risk in Retirement with Jamie Hopkins Esq., LLM, CFP®, ChFC®, CLU®, RICP®

24:07 - Watch the Market Volatility Webinar On Demand, Download the Recession Protection Guide

24:52 - How Should We Pay for Repairs on Rental Properties? (Fred & Ginger, Huntington Beach, CA)

33:06 - Early Retirement Taxes: 72(t) Timing, Installment Sale, and Rental Income (Peter LemonJello, FL)

44:02 - Watch How Your Home Can Create Retirement Income on YMYW TV, Download 10 Tips for Real Estate Investors

44:33 - Can and Should We Buy an $800K Beach House? (Calvin and Susie, Lancaster, PA)

53:33 - YMYW Podcast Outro

Will your taxes go up? Stay the same? Go down, even? Jeffrey Levine is Chief Planning Officer at Focus Partners, Professor of Practice in Taxation at the American College of Financial Services, and the Lead Financial Planning Nerd at Kitces.com. In other words, he’s one of the savviest tax minds in the country. Jeff returns to the show today on Your Money, Your Wealth® podcast number 524 with Joe Anderson, CFP® and Big Al Clopine, CPA, with his thoughts on what will happen to taxes under the new administration, saving for retirement in a Roth IRA vs. a traditional IRA, managing inherited retirement accounts, and the future viability of Social Security. Plus, what should you do with required minimum distributions when you don't need the money to live on? How do you calculate the maximum amount you should convert from your retirement account to a tax-free Roth account, and how much should you convert - or not - to keep RMDs under control? Finally, how can minor beneficiaries avoid probate?

Free financial resources & episode transcript: https://bit.ly/ymyw-524

LIMITED TIME SPECIAL OFFER: DOWNLOAD The DIY Retirement Guide by Friday April 11, 2025!

WATCH Take Control of Your Retirement Plan on YMYW TV

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Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro: This Week on the YMYW Podcast

01:05 - Will These Historic Low Tax Rates Be Extended? Insight from Jeff Levine, CFP®, CPA/PFS, ChFC®, RICP®, CWS, AIF, BFA™, MSA

19:54 - Make These 3 Investments for a Happy Retirement and Watch Take Control of Your Retirement Plan on YMYW TV

21:06 - What to Do With Required Minimum Distributions When You Don't Need the Money to Live On? (Judi, San Diego)

24:40 - How Much NOT to Convert to Roth to Keep RMDs Under Control? (DH from SoCal)

32:26 - LIMITED TIME SPECIAL OFFER: Download the DIY Retirement Guide by Friday, April 11, 2025!

33:39 - How to Calculate How Much Roth Conversion I Should Do? (Joe, voice)

38:42 - How Can I Reduce My Required Minimum Distributions? (Joel, CA)

40:18 - How Can Minor Beneficiaries Avoid Probate? (Esther, San Francisco)

46:04 - YMYW Podcast Outro

What are the three predictors of retirement happiness? Dr. Michael Finke, CFP® from the American College of Financial Services tells us what his research shows. He also shares his insights on the four percent rule for retirement withdrawals and whether there is anything we can do to stave off the effects of aging on our cognitive abilities. That’s today on Your Money, Your Wealth podcast number 523 with Joe Anderson, CFP® and Big Al Clopine, CPA. Plus, Joe and Big Al do some retirement spitballing: can Jon in Pennsylvania retire early at age 56, and would it be better for him to take his pension monthly or as a lump sum? Steve and his wife in Colorado are 48 and 54 and have $3 million saved. When can they retire? Eager Eagle and his wife in Washington state have $2 million saved at ages 61 and 63. Can they retire next year?

Free financial resources & episode transcript: https://bit.ly/ymyw-523

DOWNLOAD The Retirement Lifestyles Guide 

DOWNLOAD The Social Security Handbook

WATCH: Social Security Basics You Need to Know: Common Social Security Questions Answered on YMYW TV 

WATCH/LISTEN: What’s Your Retirement Income Style? 

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What is your retirement income style? Dr. Wade Pfau, CFA, RICP®, is the co-founder of RISAprofile.com, providing investors with retirement income style awareness. He returns to Your Money, Your Wealth® today on podcast number 522 to talk about four different styles of retirement income, distribution planning and the four percent rule. Plus, what does Dr. Pfau think will happen with President Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, scheduled to sunset at the end of this year? What are Dr. Pfau’s thoughts on annuities as part of your retirement plan? Next, "Joe Anderson’s Top 5 Things" to help you manage the impact of all this market volatility on your portfolio. Also, Joe Anderson CFP® and Big Al Clopine, CPA spitball for "Al Bundy" in St. Louis: what withdrawal strategy makes sense for him, and what he should do with his IRA and 401(k) money?

Free financial resources & episode transcript: https://bit.ly/ymyw-522

DOWNLOAD the Recession Protection Guide

DOWNLOAD The Tax Planning Guide

WATCH Escape These 11 Tax Traps and You'll Save in Retirement on YMYW TV

ASK Joe & Big Al for your Retirement Spitball Analysis

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Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro: This Week on the YMYW Podcast

01:00 - Retirement Income Style, Tax Laws, and Annuities with Dr. Wade Pfau

16:39 - What's the Future of Your Social Security? Watch Last Week's YMYW Podcast & Subscribe on YouTube

17:08 - Joe Anderson’s Top 5 Things: How to Manage Market Volatility

26:27 - Learn to Escape These 11 Tax Traps and You'll Save in Retirement on YMYW TV, Download the Tax Planning Guide

27:13 - What Should I Do With My IRA and 401(k)? I'm 61 and Have $10M. (Al Bundy, St. Louis)

00:00 - YMYW Podcast Outro