Build a cash runway for retirement so you’re not forced to sell stocks in a down market. Learn how many years you need, how to build it, where to hold it (HYSA, CDs, T-bills), and simple refill rules.

If you’re retiring early (or already retired), sequence-of-returns risk can wreck an otherwise solid plan. A cash runway is your “seatbelt” — it buys you time during bear markets so your investments can recover without you selling at the worst moment.

In this episode, I break down:

Free downloads mentioned in the episode:

📊 Free MAGI calculator Excel template: https://payhip.com/b/BsTwX - Listen to my podcast on this topic as well, titled: ACA MAGI: How to Calculate & Manage It for Big Savings!

📊2025 FPL Levels (2026 uses 2025's levels) based on household size: detailed-guidelines-2025.pdf

📊Free 12-Step Early Retirement Planning Checklist: https://payhip.com/b/IBj3q

📊Free eBook: ACA Premium Shock Fix, 10 Ways to Pay Less for Marketplace Coverage All Year Long: https://payhip.com/b/TGHts

If you have a topic you want me to cover next, email me at [email protected].

❤️ Depending on the platform you're listening on, please Like, Subscribe, Follow & Share, and leave a positive review if you found this episode helpful!

📺 When you're not on the go, check out my Early Retirement Roadmap YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/@EarlyRetirementRoadmap?sub_confirmation=1

🌐 More from me:

💼 My Favorite Retirement Planning Tool! If you’re serious about planning for retirement, you’ve got to check out Boldin. It’s a powerful tool that helps you map out your financial future—whether you’re a DIY planner or just want to stress-test your retirement strategy.

👉 Try Boldin here: https://go.boldin.com/earlyretirementroadmap

Disclosure: This is an affiliate link, which means I earn a small commission if you decide to go on the paid plan after a free 2-week trial, or you can remain on the free plan, but I highly recommend the paid plan to use all its robust features! I personally use it for my retirement planning and love it! This link doesn’t cost you anything extra and helps to support the content I create. Thank you!

☕ Support: [Buy me a coffee](https://buymeacoffee.com/mikeupland.com)

DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only and reflects my personal experience and research. It is not financial, tax, legal, or investment advice. Always consult with qualified professionals before making major retirement or financial decisions. I am not responsible for any loss or damages resulting from reliance on this information.

ACA subsidy payback at tax time? Form 8962 + 1095-A reconciliation can trigger a surprise bill when your MAGI ends up higher than expected. In this episode, I’ll you'll learn why it happens, how to fix it, and how to prevent it next year.

If you had Marketplace coverage and your tax software suddenly says you owe thousands, you’re not alone. Here’s the real reason: the ACA premium tax credit you received during the year is an *advance* based on your estimated income. At tax time, the IRS “settles up” using Form 8962 and your Form 1095-A.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

✅ Why you can owe money back (even if nothing felt “wrong” during the year)

✅ The exact forms involved (1095-A + Form 8962)

✅ The 3 most common reasons people get hit with a payback

✅ How to check for (and fix) a wrong or corrected 1095-A

✅ The two simple levers to reduce the risk of a nasty surprise next year

✅ A quick “sanity check” that catches expensive mistakes fast

Helpful official resources:

▶️ How to use / review Form 1095-A (Healthcare.gov): https://www.healthcare.gov/tax-form-1095/

▶️ IRS: About Form 8962 (Premium Tax Credit): https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-8962

▶️ IRS: Corrected / incorrect / voided Form 1095-A guidance: https://www.irs.gov/affordable-care-act/corrected-incorrect-or-voided-form-1095-a

▶️ IRS payment plan options (Online Payment Agreement): https://www.irs.gov/payments/online-payment-agreement-application

▶️ Department of Health and Human Services 2025 FPL Levels (2026 ACA uses 2025's FPL levels): https://aspe.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/documents/dd73d4f00d8a819d10b2fdb70d254f7b/detailed-guidelines-2025.pdf

Listen to these episodes next (mentioned in this episode):

▶️ “ACA MAGI: How to Calculate & Manage It for Big Savings!” 

▶️ “ACA Premium Shock? Pay Less All Year.” 

Free Resources (mentioned in this episode):

📊 Free MAGI calculator Excel template: https://payhip.com/b/BsTwX

📊Free 12-Step Early Retirement Planning Checklist: https://payhip.com/b/IBj3q

📊Free eBook: ACA Premium Shock Fix, 10 Ways to Pay Less for Marketplace Coverage All Year Long: https://payhip.com/b/TGHts

📺 When you're not on the go, check out my Early Retirement Roadmap YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/@EarlyRetirementRoadmap?sub_confirmation=1

🌐 More from me:

💼 My Favorite Retirement Planning Tool! If you’re serious about planning for retirement, you’ve got to check out Boldin. It’s a powerful tool that helps you map out your financial future—whether you’re a DIY planner or just want to stress-test your retirement strategy.

👉 Try Boldin here: https://go.boldin.com/earlyretirementroadmap

Disclosure: This is an affiliate link, which means I earn a small commission if you decide to go on the paid plan after a free 2-week trial, or you can remain on the free plan, but I highly recommend the paid plan to use all its robust features! I personally use it for my retirement planning and love it! This link doesn’t cost you anything extra and helps to support the content I create. Thank you!

☕ Support: [Buy me a coffee](https://buymeacoffee.com/mikeupland.com)

DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only and reflects my personal experience and research. It is not financial, tax, legal, or investment advice. Always consult with qualified professionals before making major retirement or financial decisions. I am not responsible for any loss or damages resulting from reliance on this information.

Market volatility and choppy markets can wreck retirement plans—if you react the wrong way. In this episode, I share a simple framework to stay calm, avoid panic selling, and protect your long-term investing plan.

If you’re investing for retirement (or already retired), the goal isn’t to predict the market. It’s to have a repeatable plan for choppy years—so you don’t make permanent mistakes in temporary fear.

In this episode, you’ll learn how to:

❤️ Depending on the platform you're listening on, please Like, Subscribe, Follow & Share, and leave a positive review if you found this episode helpful!

📊 Resources mentioned in this episode:  

- Click here for the free MAGI Calculator Template (Microsoft Excel download). Use it to estimate your MAGI for ACA plans.

📺 When you're not on the go, check out my Early Retirement Roadmap YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/@EarlyRetirementRoadmap?sub_confirmation=1

🌐 More from me:

💼 My Favorite Retirement Planning Tool! If you’re serious about planning for retirement, you’ve got to check out Boldin. It’s a powerful tool that helps you map out your financial future—whether you’re a DIY planner or just want to stress-test your retirement strategy.

👉 Try Boldin here: https://go.boldin.com/earlyretirementroadmap

Disclosure: This is an affiliate link, which means I earn a small commission if you decide to go on the paid plan after a free 2-week trial, or you can remain on the free plan, but I highly recommend the paid plan to use all its robust features! I personally use it for my retirement planning and love it! This link doesn’t cost you anything extra and helps to support the content I create. Thank you!

☕ Support: [Buy me a coffee](https://buymeacoffee.com/mikeupland.com)

DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only and reflects my personal experience and research. It is not financial, tax, legal, or investment advice. Always consult with qualified professionals before making major retirement or financial decisions. I am not responsible for any loss or damages resulting from reliance on this information.

ACA premium shock for 2026? If your Marketplace/Obamacare health insurance premium jumped, this video shows 10 practical ways to pay less all year by controlling MAGI (modified adjusted gross income) and avoiding costly income mistakes.

Health insurance is the #1 “elephant in the room” for early retirement. With enhanced ACA subsidies ending after 2025, many early retirees are seeing big premium increases — but the ACA is still income-based, not asset-based, which means you may have more control than you think.

In this episode, I break down:

Important: Even after you enroll, you can update your Marketplace income estimate during the year — this can help prevent overpaying (or owing money back at tax time).

❤️ Depending on the platform you're listening on, please Like, Subscribe, Follow & Share, and leave a positive review if you found this episode helpful!

📊 Resources mentioned in this episode:

 🎧 My Podcast episodes mentioned in this episode to listen to next: 

🌐 More from me:

💼 My Favorite Retirement Planning Tool! If you’re serious about planning for retirement, you’ve got to check out Boldin. It’s a powerful tool that helps you map out your financial future—whether you’re a DIY planner or just want to stress-test your retirement strategy.

👉 Try Boldin here: https://go.boldin.com/earlyretirementroadmap

Disclosure: This is an affiliate link, which means I earn a small commission if you decide to go on the paid plan after a free 2-week trial, or you can remain on the free plan, but I highly recommend the paid plan to use all its robust features! I personally use it for my retirement planning and love it! This link doesn’t cost you anything extra and helps to support the content I create. Thank you!

☕ Support: [Buy me a coffee](https://buymeacoffee.com/mikeupland.com)

DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only and reflects my personal experience and research. It is not financial, tax, legal, or investment advice. Always consult with qualified professionals before making major retirement or financial decisions. I am not responsible for any loss or damages resulting from reliance on this information.

2026 401(k) and IRA contribution limits are rising from 2025—but maxing out can backfire if you’re planning early retirement. In this episode I break down 3 rules to fund the right accounts in the right order.

If you’re aiming to retire before 59½, the “max everything” advice can accidentally:

In this episode you’ll learn:

❤️ Depending on the platform you're listening on, please Like, Subscribe, Follow & Share, and leave a positive review if you found this episode helpful!

👉Additional Info beyond this episode: If you retire before 59½ and don’t have enough in a taxable brokerage “bridge,” there is another tool called IRS Rule 72(t) (also called SEPP — Substantially Equal Periodic Payments). It can be a legit way to access IRA money early without the 10% penalty, but it comes with some important strings attached (it’s rigid, and mistakes can be costly). Fore more information on this, listen to my podcast episode devoted to this, titled How to Tap Your IRA or 401(k) Early —NO IRS PENALTY! | Rule 72(t) Explained, it's Season 2, Episode 9.

👉 Free Resource Mentioned:

📺 When you're not on the go, check out my Early Retirement Roadmap YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/@EarlyRetirementRoadmap?sub_confirmation=1

🌐 More from me:

💼 My Favorite Retirement Planning Tool! If you’re serious about planning for retirement, you’ve got to check out Boldin. It’s a powerful tool that helps you map out your financial future—whether you’re a DIY planner or just want to stress-test your retirement strategy.

👉 Try Boldin here: https://go.boldin.com/earlyretirementroadmap

Disclosure: This is an affiliate link, which means I earn a small commission if you decide to go on the paid plan after a free 2-week trial, or you can remain on the free plan, but I highly recommend the paid plan to use all its robust features! I personally use it for my retirement planning and love it! This link doesn’t cost you anything extra and helps to support the content I create. Thank you!

☕ Support: [Buy me a coffee](https://buymeacoffee.com/mikeupland.com)

DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only and reflects my personal experience and research. It is not financial, tax, legal, or investment advice. Always consult with qualified professionals before making major retirement or financial decisions. I am not responsible for any loss or damages resulting from reliance on this information.

Monthly Dividend ETFs for retirement income can look like a paycheck—but it’s often an illusion. In this episode, I share 3 tests to avoid costly mistakes and keep Affordable Care Act (ACA) taxes in mind.

You’ll learn:

Examples include JEPI/JEPQ/QYLD/XYLD/RYLD, SPHD/DIV/SDIV, PFF/PGX/PFFD, and BND/AGG/LQD.

❤️ Depending on the platform you're listening on, please Like, Subscribe, Follow & Share, and leave a positive review if you found this episode helpful!

👉 Free Resources Mentioned:

📺 When you're not on the go, check out my Early Retirement Roadmap YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/@EarlyRetirementRoadmap?sub_confirmation=1

🌐 More from me:

💼 My Favorite Retirement Planning Tool! If you’re serious about planning for retirement, you’ve got to check out Boldin. It’s a powerful tool that helps you map out your financial future—whether you’re a DIY planner or just want to stress-test your retirement strategy.

👉 Try Boldin here: https://go.boldin.com/earlyretirementroadmap

Disclosure: This is an affiliate link, which means I earn a small commission if you decide to go on the paid plan after a free 2-week trial, or you can remain on the free plan, but I highly recommend the paid plan to use all its robust features! I personally use it for my retirement planning and love it! This link doesn’t cost you anything extra and helps to support the content I create. Thank you!

☕ Support: [Buy me a coffee](https://buymeacoffee.com/mikeupland.com)

DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only and reflects my personal experience and research. It is not financial, tax, legal, or investment advice. Always consult with qualified professionals before making major retirement or financial decisions. I am not responsible for any loss or damages resulting from reliance on this information.

Wondering if you really have enough to retire? In this early retirement planning episode, I break down 6 levels of retirement wealth—from Survival to Fulfillment—so you can see which level you’re at and what it takes to move up.

Too many people only ask, “Do I have enough to retire?” when the better question is, “Enough for what level of retirement?” In this episode, I walk through my framework of Survival, Stability, Comfort, Security, Freedom, and Fulfillment Wealth so you can stress-test your plan, avoid white-knuckle retirement, and aim for a life that actually feels secure, free, and meaningful. We’ll also look at a real-world example couple who wants about $75,000/year in retirement spending and how different portfolio sizes can land them at very different levels.

You’ll learn:

I’ll also share why, for many people, retiring a bit earlier at Level 4 with more healthy years can be more valuable than grinding your way to Level 6 but having less time and energy to enjoy it.

❤️ Depending on the platform you're listening on, please Like, Subscribe, Follow & Share, and leave a positive review if you found this episode helpful!

👉 Free Resources Mentioned:

 📺 When you're not on the go, check out my Early Retirement Roadmap YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/@EarlyRetirementRoadmap?sub_confirmation=1

🌐 More from me:

💼 My Favorite Retirement Planning Tool! If you’re serious about planning for retirement, you’ve got to check out Boldin. It’s a powerful tool that helps you map out your financial future—whether you’re a DIY planner or just want to stress-test your retirement strategy.

👉 Try Boldin here: https://go.boldin.com/earlyretirementroadmap

Disclosure: This is an affiliate link, which means I earn a small commission if you decide to go on the paid plan after a free 2-week trial, or you can remain on the free plan, but I highly recommend the paid plan to use all its robust features! I personally use it for my retirement planning and love it! This link doesn’t cost you anything extra and helps to support the content I create. Thank you!

☕ Support: [Buy me a coffee](https://buymeacoffee.com/mikeupland.com)

DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only and reflects my personal experience and research. It is not financial, tax, legal, or investment advice. Always consult with qualified professionals before making major retirement or financial decisions. I am not responsible for any loss or damages resulting from reliance on this information.

Future-proof your retirement with habits of thriving retirees, early retirement planning tips, and simple retirement investing strategies to help you feel confident about the decades ahead. In this episode, I break down 9 practical habits I myself do and see over and over again in retirees who are not just “getting by,” but actually thriving—financially, emotionally, and health-wise.

We’ll talk about how to spend intentionally instead of fearfully, why a 2–4 year “sleep at night” cash buffer can keep you calm during market downturns, and how to treat your health like a core investment, not an afterthought. We’ll also cover purpose, simplicity, and risk management—so your retirement isn’t wiped out by one bad market, one bad policy change, or one bad life event.

What you’ll learn:

If you’re planning to retire early—or you’re already retired and want a calmer, more confident path forward—this episode will help you put simple habits in place so you can enjoy your money and your life.

Lazy retirement investing made simple: early retirement, index funds (VTI, VOO, VUG, VIG, VYM), withdrawal rate guardrails, 2–4 year cash liquidity runway, Roth conversions, MAGI/ACA & IRMAA tax strategy.

Ready for a “do less, retire better” portfolio? In this episode, I walk through my lazy retirement investing plan—built for early retirees and anyone who wants a low-maintenance, rules-based retirement approach that’s diversified, tax-smart, and actually livable. We’ll set up a 3-category index portfolio, place assets for taxes, build a 2–4 year cash runway for bear markets, and use flexible withdrawal guardrails so you can sleep at night and still enjoy life.

What you’ll learn:

Free resources mentioned in this episode:

🔗Click here for my free checklist 12 Must – Do Steps to Retire Sooner and Smarter. 

🔗 Click here for the free MAGI Calculator Template (Microsoft Excel download). Use it to estimate your MAGI for ACA plans.

🎧Listen to these episode titles I mentioned in this podcast:

 - My Lazy Retirement Investing Plan (Season 3, Episode 1)

- ACA MAGI: How to Calculate & Manage It for Big Savings! (Season 2, Episode 14)

💼 My Favorite Retirement Planning Tool! If you’re serious about planning for retirement, you’ve got to check out Boldin. It’s a powerful tool that helps you map out your financial future—whether you’re a DIY planner or just want to stress-test your retirement strategy.

👉 Try Boldin here: https://go.boldin.com/earlyretirementroadmap

Disclosure: This is an affiliate link, which means I earn a small commission if you decide to go on the paid plan after a free 2-week trial, or you can remain on the free plan, but I highly recommend the paid plan to use all its robust features! I personally use it for my retirement planning and love it! This link doesn’t cost you anything extra and helps to support the content I create. Thank you!

❤️ Depending on the platform you're listening on, please Like, Subscribe, Follow & Share, and leave a positive review if you found this episode helpful!

📺 When you're not on the go, check out my Early Retirement Roadmap YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/@EarlyRetirementRoadmap?sub_confirmation=1

🌐 Visit my website for all my media, including my blog or to contact me about sponsorship or other business opportunities: https://mikeupland.com/

☕ Support: [Buy me a coffee](https://buymeacoffee.com/mikeupland.com)

DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only and reflects my personal experience and research. It is not financial, tax, legal, or investment advice. Always consult with qualified professionals before making major retirement or financial decisions. I am not responsible for any loss or damages resulting from reliance on this information.

Lazy retirement investing made simple: early retirement, index funds (VTI, VOO, VUG, VIG, VYM), withdrawal rate guardrails, 2–4 year cash liquidity runway, Roth conversions, MAGI/ACA & IRMAA tax strategy.

Ready for a “do less, retire better” portfolio? In this episode, I walk through my lazy retirement investing plan—built for early retirees and anyone who wants a low-maintenance, rules-based retirement approach that’s diversified, tax-smart, and actually livable. We’ll set up a 3-category index portfolio, place assets for taxes, build a 2–4 year cash runway for bear markets, and use flexible withdrawal guardrails so you can sleep at night and still enjoy life.

What you’ll learn:

Free resources mentioned in this episode:

🔗Click here for my free checklist 12 Must – Do Steps to Retire Sooner and Smarter. 

🔗 Click here for the free MAGI Calculator Template (Microsoft Excel download). Use it to estimate your MAGI for ACA plans.

🎧Listen to this episode titles I mentioned in this podcast and some others that are related/may be of interest: 

💼 My Favorite Retirement Planning Tool! If you’re serious about planning for retirement, you’ve got to check out Boldin. It’s a powerful tool that helps you map out your financial future—whether you’re a DIY planner or just want to stress-test your retirement strategy.

👉 Try Boldin here: https://go.boldin.com/earlyretirementroadmap

Disclosure: This is an affiliate link, which means I earn a small commission if you decide to go on the paid plan after a free 2-week trial, or you can remain on the free plan, but I highly recommend the paid plan to use all its robust features! I personally use it for my retirement planning and love it! This link doesn’t cost you anything extra and helps to support the content I create. Thank you!

❤️ Depending on the platform you're listening on, please Like, Subscribe, Follow & Share, and leave a positive review if you found this episode helpful!

📺 When you're not on the go, check out my Early Retirement Roadmap YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/@EarlyRetirementRoadmap?sub_confirmation=1

🌐 Visit my website for all my media, including my blog or to contact me about sponsorship or other business opportunities: https://mikeupland.com/

☕ Support: [Buy me a coffee](https://buymeacoffee.com/mikeupland.com)

Does retiring early reduce Social Security? The truth—how benefits are really calculated: the 35-year rule, Average Indexed Monthly Earnings (AIME), bend points, indexing only through age 59, and why “zeros” hurt.

In this episode, I break down:

Quick checklist to get clarity:

Free resources mentioned in this episode:

🔗Click here for my free checklist 12 Must – Do Steps to Retire Sooner and Smarter. 

🔗 Click here for the free MAGI Calculator Template (Microsoft Excel download). Use it to estimate your MAGI for ACA plans.

🎧Listen to these episode titles next that I mentioned in this podcast: 

💼 My Favorite Retirement Planning Tool! If you’re serious about planning for retirement, you’ve got to check out Boldin. It’s a powerful tool that helps you map out your financial future—whether you’re a DIY planner or just want to stress-test your retirement strategy.

👉 Try Boldin here: https://go.boldin.com/earlyretirementroadmap

Disclosure: This is an affiliate link, which means I earn a small commission if you decide to go on the paid plan after a free 2-week trial, or you can remain on the free plan, but I highly recommend the paid plan to use all its robust features! I personally use it for my retirement planning and love it! This link doesn’t cost you anything extra and helps to support the content I create. Thank you!

❤️ Depending on the platform you're listening on, please Like, Subscribe, Follow & Share, and leave a positive review if you found this episode helpful!

📺 When you're not on the go, check out my Early Retirement Roadmap YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/@EarlyRetirementRoadmap?sub_confirmation=1

🌐 Visit my website for all my media, including my blog or to contact me about sponsorship or other business opportunities: https://mikeupland.com/

☕ Support: [Buy me a coffee](https://buymeacoffee.com/mikeupland.com)