Retire With Style

In this episode of Retire with Style, Alex Murguia and Wade Pfau explore how buffer assets can help manage sequence risk in retirement. They discuss different types of buffer assets—including cash, home equity lines of credit (HELOCs), multi-year guaranteed annuities (MYGAs), and whole life insurance—and examine the trade-offs involved with each. Wade also shares insights on the evolving role of reverse mortgages in retirement plan...

In this episode of Retire with Style, hosts Alex Murguia and Wade Pfau explore how to manage sequence of returns risk in retirement. They break down four key strategies: spending conservatively, staying flexible with spending, reducing investment volatility, and using buffer assets. The discussion also touches on how sequence risk can arise more than once—especially for early retirees—and how having a pension can affect your overal...

In this episode of Retire with Style, Wade Pfau and Alex Murguia tackle listener questions on a range of financial topics, including gold’s volatility, alternative investments, and how to measure retirement success. They discuss the realities of investment returns, the impact of recent U.S. bond downgrades, and the importance of understanding risk, using historical data, and maintaining a solid investment strategy in retirement.

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In this episode of Retire with Style, Alex Murguia and Wade Pfau explore Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) and their role in retirement planning. They cover the history of TIPS, their tax implications, and how they help protect against inflation. The conversation also addresses the drawbacks of TIPS, current market conditions, and the importance of clear communication- especially for couples where one partner is less e...

In this episode of Retire with Style, Alex Murguia and Wade Pfau explore key retirement planning strategies, including how couples can optimize Social Security benefits, what to do with surplus funds from bond ladders, and the potential benefits of purchasing single premium immediate annuities (SPIAs) from Roth IRAs. They highlight the importance of maintaining flexibility and tailoring strategies to each retiree’s unique circumsta...

In this episode of Retire with Style, Alex Murguia and Wade Pfau answer listener questions on retirement planning for high earners. They explore tax strategies like Roth conversions and qualified charitable distributions, and discuss how tools like life insurance and annuities can help hedge longevity risk and support a stable retirement income.

Takeaways

• The importance of community engagement in retiremen...

In this live Q&A session, Alex Murguia and Wade Pfau answer questions on key aspects of retirement income planning, including withdrawal strategies, the 4% rule, tax considerations, and the role of financial advisors. They discuss how age and financial circumstances can influence withdrawal rates and highlight the importance of using guardrails to manage risk. The conversation also touches on Medicare, ACA subsidies, gifting st...

In this episode of Retire with Style, Wade Pfau and Alex Murguia talk with John Manganaro, senior reporter at ThinkAdvisor, about the shifting landscape of retirement income planning. They explore how technology is reshaping financial planning, the growing need for holistic advice, and the challenges both advisors and consumers face in finding effective tools. John offers insights into the future of financial software, the value of...

In this episode of Retire with Style, Alex Murguia and Wade Pfau explore the key elements of comprehensive retirement planning. They discuss the importance of understanding your financial goals, working with a financial advisor, and managing risks like health insurance and long-term care costs. Drawing on listener questions and case studies, they examine strategies for transitioning from business ownership to retirement income, opt...

In this episode of Retire with Style, Wade Pfau and Alex Murguia explore alternative investments with a focus on natural resources, commodities, and catastrophe bonds. They break down the strategies and risks behind these asset classes and examine how they can fit into a diversified retirement portfolio. The conversation offers insights into the potential advantages and challenges of these investments for retirement planning.

Tak...

In this episode of Retire with Style, Wade Pfau and Alex Murguia explore real assets- focusing on real estate and infrastructure- and their role in retirement portfolios. They discuss the pros and cons of residential and commercial property ownership, the value of REITs, and the potential of infrastructure investments. The conversation highlights the importance of diversification and understanding the risk-return tradeoffs of these...

In this episode of Retire with Style, Wade Pfau and Alex Murguia explore the world of alternative investments, with a focus on private equity and private credit. They discuss what it means to be an accredited investor, the different types of private equity investments, and the typical life cycle and structure of private equity funds—including the roles of general and limited partners.

The conversation also covers key risks, such as...

In this episode of Retire with Style, Wade Pfau and Alex Murguia explore the complex world of hedge funds, focusing on strategies like global macro, event-driven, and managed futures. They explain the role of derivatives, the impact of forecasting, and how these approaches can complement a broader investment portfolio, especially in the context of retirement planning.

Takeaways

• Derivatives are contracts whose value depends o...

In this episode, Wade and Alex explore the world of hedge funds—what they are, how they’re structured, and how they’ve evolved from simple hedging tools into complex investment vehicles. They break down common fee models, challenges in measuring performance, and the impact of data biases. The conversation also covers key hedge fund strategies—including long-short, market neutral, arbitrage, and quantitative approaches—highlighting ...

In this episode of Retire with Style, Dr. Wade Pfau and Dr. Alex Murguia explore the evolving world of alternative investments and their potential role in retirement planning. They discuss the concept of "Winning the Loser’s Game"—emphasizing the value of steady, disciplined strategies over high-risk maneuvers—and examine how alternatives like cryptocurrencies, private equity, and hedge funds may fit into a well-structured retireme...

In this episode of Retire with Style, hosts Alex Murguia and Wade Pfau tackle a range of financial planning questions in a lively Q&A session. They explore Social Security strategies, the role of single premium immediate annuities (SPIAs) in retirement income, and investment approaches for managing required minimum distributions (RMDs). The discussion also covers the pros and cons of bond ladders versus Treasury bonds, along wi...

In this episode of Retire With Style, Dr. Wade Pfau and Dr. Alex Murguia are joined by behavioral finance expert Dr. Daniel Crosby to explore the intersection of wealth, values, and happiness in retirement.

Together, they unpack why aligning your spending with your personal values can lead to a more fulfilling life—and how money, when used thoughtfully, can buy happiness. The conversation dives into the psychology of financial deci...

In this episode of Retire with Style, Wade Pfau and Alex Murguia sit down with Dr. Daniel Crosby, a leading voice in behavioral finance, to unpack the psychological side of investing in today’s volatile markets. Together, they examine how market swings and media noise shape investor behavior—and why having a thoughtful media diet and disciplined decision-making framework is more important than ever. This conversation lays the found...

In this episode of Retire with Style, Wade Pfau and Alex Murguia dive into the current market landscape and what it means for retirement planning. They highlight the importance of staying grounded during periods of volatility and how emotions can cloud financial judgment.

Alex introduces the RAIN model—a practical framework to recognize and manage emotional responses—to help investors approach market uncertainty with mindfulness. T...