Retirement Starts Today Radio

What do you do with RMDs you don’t actually need?

If you’re retired and over age 73 — or 75 if you were born in 1960 or later — you know the IRS requires you to start taking Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) from your traditional IRAs and workplace retirement accounts.

Even if you don’t need that money for living expenses, you still have to take it - which means more taxable income, higher Medicare premiums, and a bigger chunk ...

What happens when your emergency cash runs dry—and life keeps happening? 

A recent article lays out a ranked list of ten ways to access emergency cash, starting with the best options and ending with the ones you’ll want to avoid unless it’s truly a last resort:

1. Emergency Fund / Short-Term Securities
2. Low-Risk Assets in Taxable Accounts
3. Roth IRA Contributions
4. Life Insurance Cash Values
5. 401(k) Loan
6. Home Equity Line of Credit (HEL...

“By the time your child turns 18, you’ve spent 95% of the time you’ll ever spend with them in your lifetime.”

This comes from research by the American Time Use Survey, highlighted by Our World in Data. And let’s be honest, when you first hear that, it stings a little. Especially as a parent. You can’t help but wonder, “Have I been a good steward of that precious time?” 

But here’s the twist: this isn’t about guilt. It’s about aware...

We’re talking about rebalancing! Rebalancing is key to any retirement plan, but how often should we do it? That’s the topic of today’s retirement headlines segment, where we’re going to look at an article by by Jennifer Reed

Key discussion points:

💵 Financial Considerations
💔 Emotional Considerations
🧩 Relational Considerations
📊 A Look at the Numbers

Resource:
Article by Jennifer Reed: Is The Optimal Rebalancing Strategy To No...

What are the perceived benefits of moving to a low-tax state in retirement? Is it all it’s cracked up to be? 

We’re gonna cover a Wall Street Journal article by Debbie Carlson that delivers an important dose of nuance: “Don’t let the income-tax tail wag the total-spending dog.”

I also answer a very thoughtful question from Lynn about sequence of returns risk, as well as average returns vs order of returns. 

Key topics from the arti...

How do you stay calm and confident when the markets get messy? In today's Retirement Headlines we go through Cullen Roche's article from Discipline Funds - "Finding Certainty in a Sea of Uncertainty".

With tariffs, global uncertainty, and market volatility making headlines again offers nine practical steps to help you stay grounded, focused, and on track with your retirement plan. 

The 9 Calming, Confidence-boosting steps the artic...

One of the biggest and often overlooked risks facing retirees is sequence-of-returns risk. The risk of experiencing investment losses early in retirement can have an impact on the sustainability of savings over the long term. 

Morningstar researchers dug into this in their latest State of Retirement Income study. Their findings confirm what many retirement planners already suspect: the first five years of retirement are make-or-bre...

It’s no secret that market volatility can feel especially nerve-wracking when you’re no longer earning a paycheck. 

But what if I told you that, historically, every single crash has ended the same way—with a recovery?

That's what happened after the Covid-19 market crash, the 2021 downturn, and even the Great Depression.

We're going to discuss an article titled "What We’ve Learned From 150 Years of Stock Market Crashes" by Emelia Fr...

Is your 401(k) prepared for a market crash? With market volatility on the rise, many investors are wondering how to protect their portfolios. 

In this episode, I share an article from Go Banking Rates on how to safeguard your retirement savings during turbulent times. I’ll highlight key takeaways from the article, share my own insights on where I agree or disagree, and explain why certain strategies may be more effective than other...

Most people assume their tax burden lightens in retirement, but what if I told you that some taxes are actually designed to creep up on you year after year—without Congress passing a single new law? In this episode, we expose the sneaky taxes that can quietly erode your retirement income, from Social Security taxation to Medicare IRMAA surcharges. These hidden costs don’t just affect the ultra-wealthy anymore; thanks to outdated ru...

Most people focus on saving for retirement, but what happens when you actually get there? Retirement isn’t just about having enough money—it’s about managing risks that can threaten your financial security and lifestyle. 

In this episode, we explore Five Key Retirement Challenges (and Solutions), inspired by a Kiplinger’s Personal Finance article by Walt West. From unexpected market downturns to rising hea...

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Most people plan for retirement by focusing on their savings and investment returns—but what if some of the most important decisions happen after you stop working? 

In this episode, I sit down with Jeremy Keil, also known as Mr. Retirement, to discuss the three biggest mistakes retirees make—mistakes that can cost them financial security, tax savings, and peace of mind. 

From misunderstanding the best ti...

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Many retirees enter their golden years with the goal of financial security, but what if the biggest risk isn’t running out of money—it’s not spending enough of it? A surprising new study reveals that retirees are withdrawing just 2% a year from their savings—barely half of what’s traditionally considered safe.

This cautious approach might seem responsible, but it often leads to unnecessary frugality, mis...

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For decades, you've been focused on saving—watching your retirement accounts grow, sticking to a budget, and making smart financial decisions to ensure a secure future. But now that the time has come to actually enjoy your hard-earned money, spending it feels... unsettling. 

You’re not alone. Many retirees struggle with the mental shift from accumulation to decumulation, even when their financial plans s...

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A lot of retirees assume their tax situation gets simpler once they stop working, but that’s not always the case. There are plenty of ways high-net-worth retirees end up paying more than they need to—sometimes without even realizing it. 

Maybe it’s interest and dividend income getting taxed at higher rates, or IRA withdrawals happening earlier than necessary. Maybe it’s something as simple as missing the...

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Most people plan for retirement by focusing on their finances—building up a nest egg, securing passive income, and minimizing taxes. But what if that’s only part of the equation? Many retirees find themselves financially secure yet feeling unexpectedly lost, disengaged, or even unhappy. The truth is, money alone doesn’t guarantee a fulfilling retirement.

Dr. Daniel Crosby explains how work naturally prov...

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Many people fear running out of money in retirement, assuming they'll struggle financially once they stop working. But a recent Gallup poll shows 80% of retirees have enough to live comfortably, despite concerns about Social Security, longevity risk, and pension declines.

Why the difference between expectation and reality? Many retirees find their expenses drop, Medicare covers more than expected, and So...

Listen in to this BONUS episode as Canadian CFP and host of the Your Retirement Planning Simplified Podcast, Joe Curry, interviews me (Benjamin) about:

• The non-financial aspects of retirement planning
• Shifting from a scarcity to an abundance mindset
• Retiring to something rather than from something
• and embracing creativity to design a fulfilling post-career life

Key insights include overcoming spending anxiety, identifyin...

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Employee benefits are one of the most overlooked aspects of financial planning. We often check a few boxes during open enrollment and move on—but are we truly maximizing what’s available to us? 

This week, we sit down with Joe Saul-Sehy, host of Stacking Benjamins, to uncover the hidden value in workplace benefits. From disability insurance pitfalls to term vs. whole life insurance, Joe walks us through ...