How Private Equity, 401(k) Changes, and Emerging Trends May Be Reshaping Retirement Planning
Ready to approach retirement with clarity and confidence? In this episode of the Retire Sooner Podcast, Wes Moss and Christa DiBiase discuss how private equity, 401(k) plan developments, and evolving retirement planning trends are shaping today’s investing landscape—helping listeners stay informed and intentional about their long-term financial goals.
• Explore how private equity is being considered for inclusion in 401(k) plans, what this potential change could mean for plan sponsors, participants, and the broader retirement system, and understand how it differs from related categories like private credit and private infrastructure—including key factors to consider when evaluating these alternative investments.
• Hear Wes and Christa respond to listener questions about teaching financial values, communicating about family wealth, and encouraging healthy money discussions at home.
• Discuss the Financial Independence, Retire Early (FIRE) movement, and how reaching certain savings milestones—such as $1 million—can offer flexibility without guaranteeing financial independence or early retirement.
• Consider the reasoning behind more conservative portfolio allocations being discussed in today’s market and how they may relate to broader investment risk and retirement planning themes.
• Review how private equity funds may be structured within 401(k) plans, including their potential advantages, limitations, and regulatory considerations.
• Compare Roth and traditional 401(k) options as Wes and Christa emphasize how employers can foster education and awareness—without directing individual investment decisions.
• Learn how inherited IRAs and 401(k)s, along with community property laws, can affect Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) and estate planning outcomes.
• Examine how covered call ETFs may function within a diversified portfolio, including the potential trade-offs between income generation and growth opportunities.
This episode offers thoughtful discussions to help listeners stay educated about current financial topics without making predictions or recommendations. **Listen and subscribe to the **Retire Sooner Podcast for ongoing educational conversations that promote understanding, balance, and informed decision-making in your retirement planning journey.
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From “Set” to “Settled”: Finding Confidence and Calm in Your Financial Life | Retire Sooner Podcast
Join Wes Moss and Christa DiBiase on the Retire Sooner Podcast, where real-life financial questions meet clear, grounded discussions about retirement planning, investing, and financial wellbeing. This episode explores practical ways individuals can make informed decisions, manage uncertainty, and approach retirement with more clarity and confidence.
• Review how the current bull market compares to past market cycles and what history may suggest about long-term investment behavior.
• Reflect on the difference between being financially “set” and emotionally “settled” when preparing for retirement.
• Evaluate potential considerations when choosing to pay down a mortgage or allocate extra cash toward long-term financial goals.
• Understand how 401(k) providers record traditional and Roth contributions and maintain accurate tax reporting for participants.
• Compare UGMA/UTMA custodial accounts and 529 plans as common education savings options, each with unique features and limitations.
• Recognize that effective financial planning includes lifestyle, estate, tax, withdrawal, and healthcare considerations—not just investment management.
• Discuss common causes of retirement-related anxiety and explore approaches that can help promote greater financial peace of mind.
• Clarify how management fees appear in fund performance and why transparency matters when reviewing investment options.
• Comprehend the pros and cons of financial planners who communicate clearly, align with your comfort level, and structure their services to support your individual needs.
• Consider how consistent investing through dollar cost averaging has sometimes reduced emotional reactions to short-term market volatility.
Listen and subscribe to the Retire Sooner Podcast for thoughtful conversations about retirement planning, financial confidence, and long-term investing strategies that can help you navigate your own financial journey with purpose.
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The American Dream Reset: Retirement Costs, Inflation, and Savings Strategies
Curious how today’s costs, inflation trends, and shifting expectations are shaping the American Dream? Join Wes Moss and Christa DiBiase on the Retire Sooner Podcast as they provide context on financial headlines, explore common planning questions, and share research-informed insights for your retirement journey.
• Explore the discussion around what it may take to reach the American Dream and whether a $5 million lifetime target is a realistic benchmark.
• Review how inflation has historically influenced the stock market and why the concept of a “Goldilocks zone” may be relevant for long-term investors.
• Compare how inflation can affect different categories of stocks, including dividend-paying and growth-oriented companies.
• Discuss what pursuing a CFP designation or considering a late-stage career shift into financial planning might involve.
• Consider how high-yield bond ETFs are typically viewed in the marketplace and why “junk bonds” continue to spark debate among investors.
• Examine different ways couples might think about retirement savings benchmarks—whether by age-based charts or total household goals.
• Illustrate the role of compound growth in both saving and investing when working toward retirement readiness.
• Highlight factors to weigh when assessing whether to maintain or drop life insurance as retirement approaches, including debt, dependents, and overall assets.
• Outline new Secure 2.0 provisions that allow certain 529 plan funds to be redirected to Roth IRAs for children.
• Showcase how automation and behavioral systems can encourage consistent savings habits across different income levels and career stages.
Every financial situation is unique, but gaining context can help make more informed choices. Listen now and subscribe to the Retire Sooner Podcast for ongoing conversations that keep you engaged with today’s retirement and financial planning landscape.
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Retirement Planning Insights, TSP Education, and Family Money Conversations
Explore practical retirement planning strategies and gain clarity on key financial decisions in this engaging episode of the Retire Sooner Podcast. Wes Moss and Christa DiBiase discuss common questions and considerations for savers and soon-to-be retirees, providing perspectives on investment options and long-term planning frameworks.
• Discover how a focused 30-minute financial conversation between spouses about income, assets, and liabilities can reduce uncertainty and help families feel more organized and informed in their money matters.
• Understand why nearly half of Americans do not have a written financial plan and what this may indicate for retirement preparedness.
• Clarify retirement account protections within TSPs, along with rules for required minimum distributions (RMDs) and available investment options after age 73.
• Examine UTMA and UGMA accounts for minors, including potential tax implications, gifting considerations, and impact on financial aid eligibility.
• Consider when a financial planner may be appropriate, approaches to managing planning-related FOMO, and the features of advisory services offered by various firms.
• Explore the 0.01% Rule of thumb and how it may guide thinking about saving versus spending without implying specific outcomes.
• Review historically effective withdrawal rates, including whether a paid-off home could influence planning assumptions and evolving perspectives on the 4% rule of thumb.
• Assess strategies such as “buy, borrow, die”, including potential tax considerations, leverage, and portfolio risk factors.
• Compare keeping assets in a TSP for Roth conversions versus transferring them to another custodian, considering fees and investment options.
Gain perspective and knowledge to help support thoughtful retirement planning decisions—listen now to the Retire Sooner Podcast.
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Fed Actions, 72(t) Rules, and Investment Strategies: Retirement Planning Made Clear
Gain a clear perspective on retirement planning in this episode of the Retire Sooner Podcast, hosted by Wes Moss and Christa DiBiase, where listener questions meet the latest financial planning insights. Discover practical considerations that can help inform decisions about your long-term financial strategy.
• Examine how the Federal Reserve’s interest rate cut may influence mortgages, loans, and stock market activity.
• Understand why homeowners may appear “locked in” to current mortgage rates and explore potential shifts in housing trends.
• Explore how the Fed balances inflation with employment data and what this could mean for your financial outlook.
• Review historical stock market outcomes following Fed rate cuts near all-time highs.
• Consider strategies for small business growth, including business checking accounts and high-yield options.
• Compare dividend reinvestment with manual reallocation to assess approaches for your retirement phase.
• Navigate backdoor Roth IRA contributions, conversions, gains, and tax-efficient dollar-cost averaging.
• Address common retirement questions and explore planning steps that may provide financial clarity.
• Benchmark savings against national averages and examine actionable retirement milestones.
• Utilize spousal IRAs to maintain contributions while transitioning toward retirement.
• Understand 72(t) IRA withdrawals and evaluate flexibility for early retirement considerations.
• Assess ultra-high-yield ETFs and review the potential risks of concentrated portfolios.
Listen and subscribe to the Retire Sooner Podcast to stay informed and explore considerations that can support your financial planning and retirement goals.
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Wes Moss is on a mission: help at least 1 million Americans of any age retire sooner and find joy along the way. A seasoned finance professional, best-selling author, broadcaster, and teacher, Wes has done extensive research on the habits of the happiest retirees. On this podcast, Wes shares key lifestyle and money habits you can implement now to prepare for a secure future while not depriving yourself of happiness in the present. In addition to leveraging his 20+ years of knowledge as an investment advisor, Wes brings in guests and specialists to teach you how to set and work towards your financial and lifestyle objectives. Refreshingly-free of mind-numbing financial jargon and unrealistic money goals, Retire Sooner with Wes Moss gives listeners the tools on how to retire sooner in the real world.
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