In this episode of the Baird Retirement Management Show, hosts Scott Bartosh and Greg Ashcroft dive into one of the most pressing financial topics for retirees: managing debt in retirement. From the age-old question of whether to pay off your mortgage to navigating car loans and high-interest credit card debt, this episode is packed with practical advice and empathetic insights.

Scott and Greg discuss the psychological and financial factors at play, the importance of maintaining liquidity, and why a one-size-fits-all approach doesn't work when it comes to retirement planning. Whether you're wrestling with decisions about a second home, considering leasing a car, or feeling burdened by credit card debt, this conversation will provide actionable takeaways to help you enjoy a more secure and fulfilling retirement.

Tune in to learn how to make smart financial decisions and embrace the freedom you've worked so hard to achieve.

In this episode of Baird Retirement Management, Scott Bartosh and Greg Ashcroft explore how retirees can prepare for inflation in an uncertain economic environment. With recent interest rate hikes, strong jobs reports, and shifting market dynamics, they discuss strategies for safeguarding your financial future.

Key topics include:

• Diversifying investments beyond the traditional 60/40 portfolio.
• The risks and rewards of fixed income investments in a rising rate environment.
• Why traditional inflation hedges like gold and commodities might not be as effective as you think.
• The importance of real estate, asset location, and maintaining flexibility in spending during retirement.
• Practical advice for rebalancing portfolios and planning for 2025.

Whether you're nearing retirement or already there, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you navigate inflationary pressures and protect your portfolio. Tune in for expert advice tailored to the unique challenges of today's retirees!

In this episode of Baird Retirement Management, Scott Bartosh and Greg Ashcroft tackle the burning question: Is the 60/40 portfolio dead? Together, they dive into the history, evolution, and current relevance of this iconic investment strategy. From its academic origins in mean-variance optimization to its behavioral appeal for investors, the team explores why the 60/40 portfolio remains a reliable, if imperfect, tool for many retirees.

They also break down the challenges it faced in 2022, the shifting dynamics of interest rates, and the pitfalls of oversimplifying allocation strategies. Learn why "it's not dead, just evolving," and how modern tweaks—like adjusting bond durations and diversifying beyond traditional indexes—can better align portfolios with today's financial environment.

Whether you're a long-time investor or just beginning to think about retirement, this episode will help you understand the nuances of portfolio construction and how to avoid common mistakes. Tune in for practical insights, a touch of humor, and a definitive answer to the 60/40 debate.

In this episode of the Baird Retirement Management Podcast, we dive into The Invisible Gorilla: How Our Intuitions Deceive Us by Christopher Chabris and Daniel Simons. This fascinating book reveals how six cognitive illusions influence the way we perceive, remember, and navigate the world around us.

We explore the famous "gorilla experiment" that demonstrates the illusion of attention, the surprising flaws in our memory, and how overconfidence often leads us astray. You'll hear engaging anecdotes, from Ben Roethlisberger's motorcycle accident to the myths surrounding Mozart's effect on intelligence, as we dissect the illusions of knowledge, cause, and potential.

Key takeaways include:

• Why we don't notice things that are right in front of us.
• How our memories may not be as reliable as we believe.
• The pitfalls of mistaking confidence for competence.
• Why the belief in hidden brain potential might just be a myth.

Discover how understanding these illusions can help you make better decisions, avoid common cognitive traps, and see the world more clearly. Whether you're looking to improve your financial planning, enhance your professional decision-making, or simply understand your mind better, this episode offers actionable insights and a fresh perspective.

Don't miss this thought-provoking discussion and stay tuned for our next book club episode!

In this episode of the Baird Retirement Management Show, Scott Bartosh and Greg Ashcroft unravel the complexities surrounding inherited IRAs in the wake of the SECURE Act. Together, they explore how the new rules impact beneficiaries, from spouses to adult children, and what it means for your estate plan.

Tune in as they discuss:

• Key changes introduced by the SECURE Act, including the elimination of the lifetime "stretch" for most beneficiaries.
• The three classes of IRA beneficiaries—eligible designated, non-eligible designated, and non-designated—and the unique rules for each.
• Why Roth IRAs remain a powerful tool for tax-free growth and how to optimize inherited Roth accounts.
• The role of trusts in estate planning post-SECURE Act and the tax implications for different trust structures.
• Practical tax strategies, including charitable giving, to minimize the burden on heirs.

Whether you're planning your estate or dealing with the complexities of inheriting an IRA, this episode provides actionable insights and expert guidance to help you navigate these challenging scenarios with confidence. Don't miss this deep dive into one of the most impactful changes to retirement planning in recent years!

In this episode of the Baird Retirement Management Show, Greg Ashcroft dives into the flashy world of social media influencers claiming tax write-offs for private jets, luxury vacations, and extravagant dinners. Are these claims legit, or just a recipe for an IRS audit?

Join us as we uncover:

• What a tax write-off really means (hint: it's not free).
• The critical differences between hobbies and legitimate businesses in the eyes of the IRS.
• Safe Harbor rules for proving your business's profit motives.
• Strict requirements for deducting business-related travel expenses, both domestic and international.
• Why those viral influencer videos leave out the grueling record-keeping and IRS scrutiny.

Whether you're a small business owner, aspiring influencer, or just curious about the truth behind the hype, this episode provides a practical and eye-opening look at the reality of tax write-offs. Learn how to avoid costly mistakes and navigate tax rules with confidence. Don't miss this myth-busting deep dive!

In this episode of the Baird Retirement Management Show, hosts Greg Ashcroft and Scott Bartosh dive into the market and economic implications following the 2024 presidential election. With the dust settling, they discuss how sectors like banking, small caps, and tech initially reacted and why caution is still warranted.

Key topics include the Federal Reserve's handling of inflation, the outlook on interest rates, and the challenges of navigating an environment with stretched market valuations. They also explore how AI is shaping market dynamics and whether it's driving innovation or speculative bubbles. Greg and Scott share their thoughts on the new administration's potential impacts on tax policy, deregulation, and government reform, highlighting the need for pragmatic and balanced investment strategies, especially for retirees.

If you've been wondering how the election results could influence your portfolio or where markets might be headed, this episode is packed with actionable insights and candid discussions to guide your financial decisions in a post-election world.

Tune in to hear why "I don't know" might be the most valuable answer in uncertain times and how staying grounded can help you weather the markets ahead.

This week, Greg explores a book that's changing the way people think about money and life: Bill Perkins' "Die With Zero." This isn't your typical personal finance guide; it's a philosophical exploration of how to maximize life satisfaction by strategically allocating your resources. We break down the book's core principles, including:

• Optimizing Your Life: Balancing time, health, and money for maximum fulfillment.
• Investing in Experiences: Creating lasting "memory dividends" rather than accumulating material possessions.
• Consumption Smoothing: Distributing spending on experiences throughout your life, rather than deferring them all to later years.
• Confronting Mortality: Acknowledging the finite nature of life and planning accordingly.
• Giving While Living: Considering gifting assets to loved ones while you're still alive to witness the impact.

We also discuss the "annuity puzzle," exploring the potential benefits of these financial tools, and address the challenges faced by those who struggle to "switch off" in retirement. Join us for a practical and thought-provoking discussion about how to apply these principles to your own life and create a more meaningful existence.

Retirement isn't just a financial milestone—it's a complete life transition. In this episode of the Baird Retirement Management Show, Greg, Scott, and guest Moe Allain, a seasoned advisor with 25 years of experience, dive into the complexities of shifting from the accumulation phase to the distribution phase in retirement.

Together, they explore:

• The mindset shift required to move from saving mode to spending mode.
• Key risks like sequence risk and how to mitigate them.
• The four essential pillars of retirement: health, social connections, purpose, and finances.

Moe shares actionable strategies for maximizing financial flexibility, maintaining control in a volatile environment, and finding purpose in retirement. Plus, he introduces a simple yet transformative exercise to help retirees focus on what truly matters.

Whether you're a retiree, pre-retiree, or advisor, this episode offers valuable insights to help you navigate one of life's most significant transitions.

In this episode of the Baird Retirement Management Show, we're diving into another round of financial myth-busting! Greg, Scott, and the team tackle a popular piece of advice circulating in the personal finance world: the idea that you should claim Social Security benefits at age 62 and invest them to outpace the 8% annual increase you'd receive by waiting.

Join us as we explore why this strategy is fundamentally flawed, highlighting key factors like risk versus reward, the challenges of behavioral discipline, and the critical role Social Security plays in longevity planning. We also discuss the break-even age, real-life use cases for taking benefits early or delaying them, and the importance of aligning your Social Security claiming strategy with your unique retirement goals.

Whether you're gearing up to retire or just curious about optimizing your benefits, this episode delivers actionable insights and a clear takeaway: don't fall for oversimplified advice—work with a professional to craft a strategy that works for you.

Tune in now to learn why a personalized approach always wins!