Retirement Starts Today

Nick Maggiulli's latest article in Of Dollars & Data challenges one of the core ideas that drives personal finance blogs, podcasts, and even some of our own thinking — the belief that financial independence should be the ultimate goal.

We explore the surprising downsides of chasing early retirement, the difference between financial independence and financial freedom, and why something called "Coast FIRE" might be the real goal worth aiming for.

I also answer a listener question: What can retirees do to fight back against inflation? One listener asks how to protect their buying power as costs keep rising. We go over several practical, actionable ways to stretch your dollars and build an inflation-resistant retirement.

Resource:

Article by Nick Maggiulli in Of Dollars & Data: Why Financial Independence is Overrated

• Get the Retire-Ready Toolkit: http://retirementstartstodayradio.com
• Subscribe to the newsletter: https://retirementstartstodayradio.com/newsletter
• Work with Benjamin: https://retirementstartstoday.com/start

Follow Retirement Starts Today in:Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Amazon Music, or iHeart

Get the book!Retirement Starts Today: Your Non-financial Guide to an Even Better Retirement

The (f)law of averages challenges a dangerous assumption we see far too often in retirement planning: The use of average life expectancy as a reliable planning target.

The question is: If you make it to retirement - are you already above average - and if that's true, how do we use that in our planning?

I share six key takeaways from the article:

1. Life expectancy is an average, not a prediction
2. The mode — not the mean — may be more useful for planning
3. Life isn't neat and tidy
4. Even "complete" life expectancy isn't safe to use
5. Relying on life expectancy is a planning shortcut — and not a good one
6. The better tool is the survival curve

After that, I answer a listener question: Can you really self-insure for long-term care and use the tax code to make your dollars go further? One listener heard about using the medical expense deduction to offset the cost of care — and wants to know which types of care actually qualify. So, what does qualify?

Resource:

Article by Jeffrey Dellinger in Advisor Perspectives: Life Expectancy: The (F)Law of Averages

• Get the Retire-Ready Toolkit: http://retirementstartstodayradio.com
• Subscribe to the newsletter: https://retirementstartstodayradio.com/newsletter
• Work with Benjamin: https://retirementstartstoday.com/start

Follow Retirement Starts Today in:Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Amazon Music, or iHeart

Get the book!Retirement Starts Today: Your Non-financial Guide to an Even Better Retirement

Could heaven be an RV in a state park?

It is for Marian Barry, who became a traveling nurse after working in hospitals during the pandemic.

We share this story from a Business Insider article, pointing out that she lives on $2,972 a month in Social Security and is lovig life. "I literally live in heaven."

Key takeaways:

• Low-cost retirement living
• Lifestyle vs. possessions
• Community and mental well-being
• Flexibility in retirement
• Pursuit of happiness
• If any of this interests you - practice it first!

Then I share some of my thoughts from our Spring client meetings. I found some common threads from some our clients that seemed the most at peace - even during the reported "market turmoil".

Resource:

Article by Eliza Relman from Business Insider

• Get the Retire-Ready Toolkit: http://retirementstartstodayradio.com
• Subscribe to the newsletter: https://retirementstartstodayradio.com/newsletter
• Work with Benjamin: https://retirementstartstoday.com/start

Follow Retirement Starts Today in:Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Amazon Music, or iHeart

Get the book!Retirement Starts Today: Your Non-financial Guide to an Even Better Retirement

New research from David Blanchett, head of retirement research at PGIM, challenges one of the biggest assumptions in retirement planning: that happiness in retirement depends on maintaining a constant—or even increasing—level of spending.

⬇️ Upon entering retirement, households experience a median consumption decline of about 20%.

This drop is often viewed as a red flag in traditional financial planning models.

However, Blanchett argues that this decline is not necessarily problematic, especially when you look at how financial well-being changes over time.

☎️ Then on our listener question, we hear from a 34-year-old investor who's been all-in on stocks since taking Dave Ramsey's advice early in their career. Now, they're wondering how and when to start easing into a more balanced portfolio with bonds.

We'll talk strategy, psychology, and sprinkle in some data on market highs that might surprise you.

Resource:

Article by John Manganaro from ThinkAdvisor: Spending Drops in Retirement, but Satisfaction Doesn't: Blanchett

• Get the Retire-Ready Toolkit: http://retirementstartstodayradio.com
• Subscribe to the newsletter: https://retirementstartstodayradio.com/newsletter
• Work with Benjamin: https://retirementstartstoday.com/start

Follow Retirement Starts Today in:Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Amazon Music, or iHeart

Get the book!Retirement Starts Today: Your Non-financial Guide to an Even Better Retirement

There is a lot to cover in this episode, including new legislation that could impact your retirement.

Plus, 6 More Retirement Financial Myths to Avoid, and a listener with substantial assets who wants to know how to pay for a new car.

The OBBB

The One Big Beautiful Bill became public law on July 4, 2025. Included are:

• Lower Tax Brackets Are Now Permanent
• Larger Standard Deduction
• New Senior Bonus Deduction (2025–2028)
• Above-the-Line Charitable Deduction (2026–2028)
• Expanded SALT Deduction
• ACA Subsidy Planning Alert
• New Car Deduction

If you're a client of ours - we'll go into these changes in detail during our year-end appointments. If you really like the numbers, we'll do a before & after to calculate your specific tax savings impacted by these changes.

Article: 6 More Retirement Financial Myths to Avoid

This article by Sheryl Rowling from Morningstar addresses these six myths:

1. You Should Never Make a Big Splurge in Retirement 2. It's Best to Give to Charity After You Die 3. Spending Less Is Always Better 4. You Must Pay Off Your Mortgage Before Retiring 5. Reverse Mortgages Are a Last Resort 6. Your Biggest Financial Risk Is a Market Crash

Resource:6 More Retirement Financial Myths to Avoid by Sheryl Rowling

• Get the Retire-Ready Toolkit: http://retirementstartstodayradio.com
• Subscribe to the newsletter: https://retirementstartstodayradio.com/newsletter
• Work with Benjamin: https://retirementstartstoday.com/start

Follow Retirement Starts Today in:Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Amazon Music, or iHeart

Get the book!Retirement Starts Today: Your Non-financial Guide to an Even Better Retirement

This week's headline reads like a financial horror story — and unfortunately, it's a true one. 😱

33-year-old Mr. Handy changed jobs and did what millions of Americans do every year: he requested a rollover of his 401(k).

Paychex, the provider managing his old employer's plan mailed him two paper checks: one for his traditional 401(k), and one for his Roth 401(k). They were intercepted in the mail, and over $114,000 vanished. Gone. Just like that.

This situation raises some serious questions. According to a recent report from Capitalize, 43% of people doing rollovers are still being sent paper checks. Why are we still using paper checks to transfer life savings?

We'll cover that through an article written by Ron Lieber of the New York Times.

📬 Then we will answer a listener question, "I invested in Vanguards 2035 Target fund a long time ago. Not a bad move. BUT, I did so in a brokerage account and not an IRA. Now I have over $100k in it. Oops. Should I leave it there or try to shift to a more flexible fund before a I retire in 5 year or so?"

Resource:

Article by Ron Lieber: His Life Savings Were Mailed to Him by Paper Check. Now, It's Gone.

• Get the Retire-Ready Toolkit: http://retirementstartstodayradio.com
• Subscribe to the newsletter: https://retirementstartstodayradio.com/newsletter
• Work with Benjamin: https://retirementstartstoday.com/start

Follow Retirement Starts Today in:Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Amazon Music, or iHeart

Get the book!Retirement Starts Today: Your Non-financial Guide to an Even Better Retirement

According to BankRate, 23% of Americans 60-78 have a side-hustle. Maurie Backman says in an article by Kiplinger that this would help with two key areas in retirement planning: It provides us with something fulfilling to do after our primary career and provide a little extra cash in retirement.

The benefits of a side hustle:

• Mental Engagement
• Extra Income
• Social Connection
• Sense of Purpose

The Pitfalls of a side hustle:

• Tax Complications
• Outspending your retirement budget in search of business profits
• Medicare Premium Creep (IRMAA)
• Lifestyle Clash
• Time Commitment

Also in this episode, we discuss a listener's question about global stock allocations - and asks if I think it's better to own a global fund or to own US & international equity separately. How can one balance simplicity and effectiveness in their plan?

Resource: Article by Maurie Backman: Monetizing a Hobby in Retirement: The Benefits and Pitfalls Article by Bankrate: https://www.bankrate.com/credit-cards/news/side-hustles-survey/

• Get the Retire-Ready Toolkit: http://retirementstartstodayradio.com
• Subscribe to the newsletter: https://retirementstartstodayradio.com/newsletter
• Work with Benjamin: https://retirementstartstoday.com/start

Follow Retirement Starts Today in:Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Amazon Music, or iHeart

Get the book!Retirement Starts Today: Your Non-financial Guide to an Even Better Retirement

If you've been anywhere close to a retirement podcast over the last 10-20 years, you've heard of the 4% rule. And like many people, you might have questions about it.

We're going to hear about it directly from the horse's mouth as we talk to Bill Bengen, who first articulated the 4% withdrawal rate as a rule of thumb for withdrawal rates from retirement accounts.

The 4% rule is not a rigid rule but a guideline. Its application requires careful consideration of individual factors, including health, life expectancy, and specific financial circumstances. Bengen encourages retirees to tailor their withdrawal strategies based on their unique situations. Our discussion also explored required minimum distributions (RMDs), which may necessitate higher withdrawals in later years of retirement. However, Bengen suggests that for most people, RMDs would not exceed the calculated withdrawal rates until a very advanced age, making the two compatible.

Core Points:

• The 4% rule, initially a worst-case scenario calculation, suggests a 4% annual withdrawal from retirement savings. This has since been refined
• Research indicates a more generous 4.7% withdrawal rate is now possible due to portfolio diversification and lower investment costs
• Higher withdrawal rates might be feasible (5-5.5%), depending on market valuations and inflation
• Early retirement withdrawal timing significantly impacts long-term success
• Consider individual circumstances, market conditions, and inflation when adjusting withdrawal strategies

Resource: Bill Bengen's book, "A Richer Retirement: Supercharging the 4% Rule to Spend More and Enjoy More" https://www.bengenfs.com/order-my-book

• Get the Retire-Ready Toolkit: http://retirementstartstodayradio.com
• Subscribe to the newsletter: https://retirementstartstodayradio.com/newsletter
• Work with Benjamin: https://retirementstartstoday.com/start

Get the book!Retirement Starts Today: Your Non-financial Guide to an Even Better Retirement

Follow Retirement Starts Today inApple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Amazon Music, or iHeart

Only 3% of Americans have saved $1 million for retirement. according to 24/7 Wall St. & AOL. I'll break down what that means—and why your personal number might be more important than any national average.

After that, I answer a listener question where we tackle how to cover healthcare costs in early retirement—specifically for a 58-year-old retiree with a non-working spouse and three adult kids under 26 still on the family plan. We'll explore ACA strategies, income planning, and a clever way to help the kids get their own coverage at a big discount.

Resource:

AOL article by David Beren: A Look at U.S. Workers Who've Accumulated $1M in Retirement Funds

• Get the Retire-Ready Toolkit: http://retirementstartstodayradio.com
• Subscribe to the newsletter: https://retirementstartstodayradio.com/newsletter
• Work with Benjamin: https://retirementstartstoday.com/start

Get the book!Retirement Starts Today: Your Non-financial Guide to an Even Better Retirement

Follow Retirement Starts Today inApple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Amazon Music, or iHeart