Retire With Style

In this episode of Retire with Style, Wade and Alex continue the breakdown of the  Retirement Planning Guidebook Third Edition. Focusing on one of the most overlooked but impactful retirement decisions: housing. Wade and Alex challenge the common assumption that retirees will downsize or relocate, showing that most people actually stay put and often even move into larger homes. The conversation then shifts to how to evaluate where ...

This episode continues the long-term care discussion by breaking down how long-term care insurance actually works, including benefit structures, coverage limits, and key policy levers like waiting periods and inflation adjustments. Wade and Alex explore why traditional policies have declined in popularity, how hybrid options and annuities can serve as alternatives, and why long-term care planning ultimately requires balancing trade...

In this episode of Retire With Style, Wade Pfau and Alex Murguia introduce the fundamentals of long-term care planning as part of their ongoing walkthrough of the Retirement Planning Guidebook. They clarify what long-term care actually is, how it differs from traditional healthcare, and why it represents one of the largest and most unpredictable financial risks in retirement. The conversation explores how long-term care is defined,...

In this episode of Retire With Style, Wade Pfau and Alex Murguia walk through what actually happens when you enroll in Medicare and where people tend to make costly mistakes. They break down the enrollment timeline, clarify how Medicare interacts with Social Security, and explain why failing to enroll can leave you unexpectedly exposed to major healthcare costs. The conversation also explores how Medicare decisions fit into broader...

Medicare is one of the most confusing parts of retirement planning. In this episode, Alex and Wade break down the basics, including the difference between Medicare Parts and Plans and the key choice retirees face between Original Medicare (Parts A, B, and usually D with a supplement) and Medicare Advantage (Part C). They discuss the tradeoffs between lower premiums and provider flexibility, how Medigap supplements like Plan G can r...

In this episode of Retire with Style, Alex and Wade explore the role of Social Security in retirement planning. They examine when to claim benefits, the tradeoffs between early and delayed claiming, and ongoing concerns about the program’s long term funding. The discussion highlights how Social Security fits into a broader retirement income strategy and why understanding its value is essential for making informed financial decision...

This episode of Retire with Style features Alex Murguia and Wade Pfau discussing the role of annuities in retirement planning, drawing from Wade’s Retirement Planning Guidebook. They examine the purpose of annuities, the primary arguments for and against their use, and the key types available. The conversation also emphasizes how annuities align with different retirement income styles and broader income strategies. Wade explains co...

In this episode of Retire With Style, Wade and Alex discuss key retirement tax planning strategies, including Roth conversions, effective marginal tax rates, and the role of income tracking in decision-making. They examine long-term capital gains treatment, IRMAA surcharges, and the structural design of retirement accounts. The conversation also highlights the complexity of the tax code, the value of automated tax-mapping tools, an...

In this episode of Retire with Style, hosts Alex Murguia and Wade Pfau discuss the launch of the third edition of the Retirement Planning Guidebook and respond to audience questions on tax planning and retirement strategy. They explain what’s new in the latest edition, explore tax-efficient planning concepts including Roth conversions, and unpack key issues such as drawdown strategies and preferential income stacking. The conversat...

In this episode of Retire With Style, Alex and Wade discuss the nuances of the 4% rule and why it may be either too high or too low depending on factors such as inflation, portfolio diversification, market conditions, and individual circumstances. They explore how withdrawal rates work in practice, including the role of variable spending strategies and buffer assets in managing risk and improving retirement outcomes. The conversati...

In this conversation, Wade discusses the essential financial goals of retirement, encapsulated in the concept of the four L's: longevity, lifestyle, legacy, and liquidity. He emphasizes the importance of assessing financial preparedness through the funded ratio, which compares assets to liabilities. The discussion also covers safe withdrawal rates, suggesting a rate of 4.5% based on the funded ratio approach. Finally, Wade highligh...

Audio Quality Notice: Please note that this episode contains some technical audio issues affecting portions of the recording. While we’ve made every effort to improve the sound quality, some disruptions may remain. For clarity, full transcripts and closed captions are available and linked here for your reference. https://retirewithstyle.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Episode-212-There-Is-No-Best-Retirement-Plan-How-to-Choose-What-A...

In this episode of Retire with Style, Wade Pfau and Alex Murguia break down key concepts in retirement income planning, including present value, discount rates, and internal rates of return. They explain how these tools apply to real-world decisions such as Social Security claiming and choosing between a pension and a lump sum. The conversation highlights the importance of understanding cash flows and using sound mathematical analy...

In this episode of Retire with Style, Alex and Wade break down the key tax changes coming in 2026, including the return of standard ACA subsidies, the extension of current tax rates, and updates to standard deductions. They cover inflation-related adjustments, itemized deductions, charitable giving rules, estate tax exemptions, and what the alternative minimum tax means for retirees. The conversation also explores the new Trump acc...

As we close out 2025 and head into the New Year, we’re sharing one final Best of episode before returning with new conversations in January. This week’s replay is Alex’s top pick from the year, a conversation that stood out for its relevance, insight, and the questions it generated from listeners.

We’ll be back soon with brand new episodes in 2026. Until then, Happy New Year, and thank you for being part of the Retire With Style co...

As the year comes to a close, we’re taking a moment to revisit a few of our favorite Retire With Style episodes from 2025. This week, we’re replaying one episode that stood out in particular as Wade’s favorite conversation of the year, based on both the discussion and the questions it sparked from listeners.

We’ll be back with brand new episodes after the holiday break. Thanks for listening this year, and we look forward to continu...

In this episode of Retire with Style, Wade Pfau and Alex Murguia explore how Treasury Inflation Protected Securities, or TIPS, fit into a retirement income plan. They discuss when it may make sense to build a TIPS ladder, the challenge of predicting interest rates, and how TIPS compare with equities as tools for managing inflation risk. The conversation also addresses strategies for creating inflation-adjusted income, the role TIPS...

In this episode of Retire With Style, Alex Murguia and Wade Pfau explore core themes in retirement planning, including the 4 percent rule, sequence of returns risk, and how to balance discretionary and essential spending. They discuss how these factors shape retirement income strategies, the role of reliable income sources, and when a rising equity glide path can be beneficial. The conversation highlights why retirees may need a mo...

In this episode of Retire With Style, Alex and Wade answer listener questions on key retirement planning topics. They discuss penalty-free withdrawals from 401(k)s, the role of Roth conversions for both younger savers and retirees, and the distinctions between qualified and non-qualified accounts. They also examine how long-term demographic trends may influence market expectations and investment strategies in the decades ahead.

T...