Successfully Retired

Many couples are blessed to enjoy decades together in retirement enjoying life's golden years.

But what happens if one spouse concludes their retirement much sooner than the other?

Tune in as Rick Luchini and I talk about how this affects tax, investment and income plans, as well as how people can be prepared for the worst, which has the effect of helping us actually think about worst-case scenarios less and enjoy guilt-free th...

Recently I came across a retirement study that found that American's fear running out of money in retirement even more than death. 

Looks like Public Speaking has been unseated as a #2 spot, at least for now.

In today's episode I talk about 3 steps that families in or near retirement should take now to ensure that they do not run out of money in retirement, and how I use these steps in my practice. 

If you follow these steps ...

One of the big "aha" moments for many families planning for their retirement is when they see how much they specifically are able to spend and withdraw from investments in retirement.

A big shock to many is that when you study the spending habits of retirees, you see that retirement spending is seldom flat or linear.

Instead, retirees often want to (and do) front-load spending and consume more in their first 10 years of retirem...

Today's episode is a little more topical to the time.

I'm walking through a few parts of my down-market playbook, for 7 things I am doing at work when the market is down, and 3 things I am not doing.

My business is obsessed with pushing "risk tolerance questionnaires" in front of client's faces. I personally can't stand that. I don't think there's any way to actually prepare yourself for how you're going to feel when your invest...

When families get close to retiring they start going through all the checklists:

• Get investments in orer
• Do the will
• Etc., etc...

However, getting your financial house in order before evaluating your retirement's priorities and activities is like getting cart before the horse.

Today Rick Luchini and I chat about some of the top things we would do that are not related to our money if we wer...

Today I talk about what I think is the most unappreciated retirement savings account:  The taxable brokerage account.

While most people have heard the benefits of the Roth IRA or the 401(k), far too few retirees I've met saved as much as they'd benefit from in a taxable brokerage account.

Listen in as Rick and I discuss:

• What a taxable brokerage account is
• How they work
• How (when used right) they can help retirees take ad...

In today's episode Rick Luchini and I interview William Bengen - the financial planner who discovered the "4% Safe withdrawal rule" that answered the question "How much can I withdraw from my investments without running out of money?" based on historical research.

In our chat we talk about what the retirement landscape was like when Bill first pioneered his research, the biggest risks Bill sees retirees facing today, and how he's...

What type of account should I choose for my kid's or grandkid's college expenses?

What happens if they don't use all the money in their 529?

This is a question I get pretty often, from clients as well as from friends at dinner and other parents at the playground.

In today's episode I walk through the 3 most popular account types I see in my practice for saving for your kid's education, as well as some of the pros, cons and trad...

Today I join my friend and fellow financial advisor Rick Luchini as we talk about the 3 most common questions we get from people who want to pull the trigger on retirement. 

Join us as we dig into:

- Strategies for bridging the Medicare gap if you retire under 65

- How we like to frame the conversation around "How much can I take out of my investments?"

- A controversial approach to Social Security Claiming

As well as a bonus, ...

Have you ever hit a brick wall discussing money with your significant other? Have you ever noticed your own financial behavior patterns and wondered why you repeat the same actions over and over again, despite trying not to?

In this episode of Successfully Retired, Hamilton interviews Joy Slabaugh, a former financial planner turned therapist specializing in financial therapy. They discuss how emotions and psychology play a crucia...

Today I chat with fellow Financial Advisor Rick Luchini on the 2000 lb gorilla for large IRA owners: Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) and Taxes.

Listen in as we discuss:

1. What RMDs are 2. How they can drive up taxes if not planned for

3. The ecosystem of other parts of retirement they affect

4. How to give money to charity from your IRA tax-free

5. How Roth Conversions work, and how to determine how much ...

Have you completed your will and find the binder of legal documents an overwhelming mystery? Then today's episode is for you.

In this episode, I interview Estate Planning Attorney Jeff Bowers of the Bowers law firm. Jeff has nearly 30 years of experience practicing law and has seen just about every situation imaginable come through his office.

In our episode we dive into:

1. The essentials of estate planning, covering the mus...

In this episode, my guest and fellow financial planner Rick Luchini and I dive into the common—and often costly—mistakes people make when it comes to estate planning.

From forgotten beneficiary updates on life insurance and 401(k)s to the crucial step of funding a trust, we share real-world examples of how a small oversight can create big problems for your loved ones.

Plus, we discuss why your estate plan needs to evolve as you...

In today's episode I host fellow financial planner Thomas Cook CFP®, EA as we discuss why retirement planning is about so much more than just getting the numbers right.

Listen in as we discuss why we think it's so valuable for retirees to have meaningful money conversations before implementing investment or tax plans, and be sure to stay tuned to the end as Thomas and I also discuss what questions we would ask if we were hiring a f...