Retirement Starts Today

We've all heard the saying, "Money can't buy happiness." However, research suggests that while money may not buy lasting joy, it can certainly enhance our lives if spent wisely. The key lies in how we spend our money.

On this episode of Retirement Starts Today, we'll explore a recent article on spending money to maximize your happiness.

Stick around for the latest book update and sign up for the newsletter to learn how to preorder and stay up to date on book giveaways!

Outline of This Episode

• [1:22] How we spend our money
• [5:18] Consider purchases you make
• [8:05] How to get more from your financial independence
• [10:25] Explaining inherited IRA rules

Resources & People Mentioned

• The Retirement Podcast Network
• BOOK - The Myth of Happiness by Sonja Lyubomirsky
• BOOK - Happy Money by Ken Honda
• BOOK - If Money Doesn't Make You Happy Then You Probably Aren't Spending It Right by Daniel Gilbert
• Money happiness article

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• Get the Retire-Ready Toolkit:http://retirementstartstodayradio.com/
• Follow Ben on Twitter:https://twitter.com/retiremeasap
• Join the newsletter: https://retirementstartstodayradio.com/newsletter
• Dive deeper into retirement planning with Ben at www.RetirementIncome.University

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By now, we've all heard of AI, but many people still have mixed feelings about this revolutionary tool. Since I've been using it in my life on a daily basis, I have been wanting to share how you all can use AI to help with retirement planning.

When I came across this article from Business Insider, I knew I found my opportunity. Even if you've never used AI before, you'll want to listen in to hear how you can use this versatile tool to help you plan your retirement.

Outline of This Episode

• [1:52] How AI is changing the way we work
• [4:04] Comparing AI advice with a human financial advisor
• [6:34] How I would use AI in retirement planning
• [16:22] How to set up an AI prompt

Resources & People Mentioned

• The Retirement Podcast Network
• Business Insider article

Connect with Benjamin Brandt

• Get the Retire-Ready Toolkit:http://retirementstartstodayradio.com/
• Follow Ben on Twitter:https://twitter.com/retiremeasap
• Join the newsletter: https://retirementstartstodayradio.com/newsletter
• Dive deeper into retirement planning with Ben at www.RetirementIncome.University

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Many factors should come into play when deciding when to take your Social Security benefit but doomsday headlines shouldn't be one of them.

On this episode, you'll hear how Social Security's biggest myth is costing retirees a lot of money.

Don't get caught unaware! Make sure to stick around until the end to hear about a jury duty scam that even I had never heard of.

Outline of This Episode

• [1:42] Social Security's biggest myth
• [8:35] My thoughts
• [11:09] Why buy bonds if they always go down in value?
• [18:27] The jury duty scam

Resources & People Mentioned

• The Retirement Podcast Network
• Episode 142 - Are You a Prudent Pessimist?
• The Jury Duty Scam
• CNBC article

Connect with Benjamin Brandt

• Get the Retire-Ready Toolkit:http://retirementstartstodayradio.com/
• Follow Ben on Twitter:https://twitter.com/retiremeasap
• Join the newsletter: https://retirementstartstodayradio.com/newsletter
• Dive deeper into retirement planning with Ben at www.RetirementIncome.University

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The 4% rule is the "golden rule" of retirement planning. Everyone is familiar with it and it's easy to work out for some quick, back-of-the-napkin math.

Since it is so easy to calculate and implement, many use it as their retirement withdrawal rule. However, this approach may be overly conservative. While using a significantly higher withdrawal rate may go too far, the 4% rule may be too cautious.

Listen in to hear the limitations of sticking with this overly simplistic rule of thumb.

Outline of This Episode

• [2:02] Is the 4% rule too safe?
• [10:50] Does it make sense to spend more in the early years while awaiting full retirement age?

Resources & People Mentioned

• The Retirement Podcast Network
• Think Advisor article

Connect with Benjamin Brandt

• Get the Retire-Ready Toolkit:http://retirementstartstodayradio.com/
• Follow Ben on Twitter:https://twitter.com/retiremeasap
• Join the newsletter: https://retirementstartstodayradio.com/newsletter
• Dive deeper into retirement planning with Ben at www.RetirementIncome.University

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Did you know that you can buy gold at your local Costco?

However, just because it's easy to buy doesn't mean it's easy to sell.

In this episode of Retirement Starts Today, we're exploring gold and its role in your retirement portfolio. To do that, we'll take a look at a retirement headline from WSJ and i'll share my thoughts on the latest gold rush.

Make sure to stick around until the end for Kevin's question about the key difference between accumulation and decumulation.

Outline of This Episode

• [1:12] Gold and groceries
• [5:08] My thoughts on buying gold
• [11:03] Accumulation vs. decumulation

Resources & People Mentioned

• The Retirement Podcast Network
• WSJ article

Connect with Benjamin Brandt

• Get the Retire-Ready Toolkit:http://retirementstartstodayradio.com/
• Follow Ben on Twitter:https://twitter.com/retiremeasap
• Join the newsletter: https://retirementstartstodayradio.com/newsletter
• Dive deeper into retirement planning with Ben at www.RetirementIncome.University

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Risk is what is left over after you think you've thought of everything. – Carl Richards

Getting to financial independence is job #1, but staying financially independent comes a close second.

To do so you'll need to be aware of the risks that could empty your accounts. Being vigilant of these risks and having a plan to work through or avoid them could save you hundreds of thousands of dollars. Listen in to hear how you can save your financial independence.

Outline of This Episode

• [1:22] 3 big risks to look out for in retirement
• [5:01] Long-term care
• [13:55] Getting scared out of the market
• [20:12] Getting scammed

Resources & People Mentioned

• The Retirement Podcast Network

Connect with Benjamin Brandt

• Get the Retire-Ready Toolkit:http://retirementstartstodayradio.com/
• Follow Ben on Twitter:https://twitter.com/retiremeasap
• Join the newsletter: https://retirementstartstodayradio.com/newsletter
• Dive deeper into retirement planning with Ben at www.RetirementIncome.University

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There are two ways you can ruin your retirement: running out of money and dying with regret.

If you are listening to this podcast, chances are, you've been a diligent saver and probably aren't in danger of the first one.

That's why, today, we're exploring an article from the White Coat Investor on ways to spend more money.

Don't risk ending your days with regret. Listen in to find out how you can enjoy all that you have worked for.

Outline of This Episode

• [1:22] Two ways to ruin retirement
• [5:13] Strategies for spending more money
• [12:47] How to spend your HSA

Resources & People Mentioned

• The Retirement Podcast Network
• BOOK - Die with Zero by Bill Perkins
• 8 Ways to Spend More Money

Connect with Benjamin Brandt

• Get the Retire-Ready Toolkit:http://retirementstartstodayradio.com/
• Follow Ben on Twitter:https://twitter.com/retiremeasap
• Join the newsletter: https://retirementstartstodayradio.com/newsletter
• Dive deeper into retirement planning with Ben at www.RetirementIncome.University

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It can be easy to forget your age as the birthdays roll around. However, when you're about to turn 65 you'll know. Medicare and all of their relevant service providers won't let you forget.

You may feel inundated with the amount of mail, emails, and even phone calls and text messages, but rather than ignoring all the excess information, it's important to dig in and learn so tha you can make the best decision for your healthcare.

To help you avoid potentially expensive and health-altering mistakes, today we'll review 5 of the biggest Medicare mistakes you can make by reviewing an article by Rick Fine from The Sensible Financial Planning blog.

Outline of This Episode

• [1:36] The 5 biggest Medicare mistakes
• [14:05] A rule of 55 question

Resources & People Mentioned

• The Retirement Podcast Network
• Sensible Financial Planning blog
• Medicare Basics: What to Expect as You Approach Age 65 with Danielle Roberts

Connect with Benjamin Brandt

• Get the Retire-Ready Toolkit:http://retirementstartstodayradio.com/
• Follow Ben on Twitter:https://twitter.com/retiremeasap
• Join the newsletter: https://retirementstartstodayradio.com/newsletter
• Dive deeper into retirement planning with Ben at www.RetirementIncome.University

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You've been accumulating your savings your entire life, but when the time comes to draw down your investments, there are new risks. In this episode, we'll discuss four risks that come with the decumulation phase of retirement.

Press play to learn how to avoid these risks in retirement.

Are you looking for a new advisor? One of our listeners is looking for a checklist to help him hire a retirement advisor. While answering that question I went ahead and made my advisor checklist available to all of you to download here.

Outline of This Episode

• [1:47] Understand effective strategies for the decumulation phase
• [11:20] Do I have a checklist to use to hire a retirement advisor?

Resources & People Mentioned

• The Retirement Podcast Network
• Questions to ask a retirement advisor

Connect with Benjamin Brandt

• Get the Retire-Ready Toolkit:http://retirementstartstodayradio.com/
• Follow Ben on Twitter:https://twitter.com/retiremeasap
• Join the newsletter: https://retirementstartstodayradio.com/newsletter
• Dive deeper into retirement planning with Ben at www.RetirementIncome.University

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A lot of us are looking to get in shape in retirement. This is a good thing since part of living an even better retirement is looking after your health and muscle mass. Staying healthier and more active longer will ensure that you are making the most out of your retirement. In addition, maintaining a healthy muscle mass is a huge part of keeping your health as you age.

In this episode, we'll explore a Scientific American article on keeping your muscles strong as you age. Make sure to listen in to discover some tools that I use to track my health and wellness as I enter the second half of my life.

Outline of This Episode

• [1:12] Keeping up your muscles
• [5:23] What I'm doing to stay healthy
• [10:01] How can two opposite approaches achieve the same goal?

Resources & People Mentioned

• The Retirement Podcast Network
• Scientific American article
• Dexa Scan
• InBody Scan
• My Fitness Pal
• Whoop Band

Connect with Benjamin Brandt

• Get the Retire-Ready Toolkit:http://retirementstartstodayradio.com/
• Follow Ben on Twitter:https://twitter.com/retiremeasap
• Join the newsletter: https://retirementstartstodayradio.com/newsletter
• Dive deeper into retirement planning with Ben at www.RetirementIncome.University

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