Retire Sooner with Wes Moss

Retirement planning is often about more than reaching a number; it’s also about what life looks like once you get there. On this episode of the Retire Sooner Podcast, Wes Moss and Christa DiBiase explore the financial decisions, relationships, and sense of purpose that may factor into retirement life.

Explore research on retirement happiness and the factors often associated with well-being as we age.

Examine sobering trends involving suicide, overdose deaths, and social isolation among older Americans.

Discover how purpose, community, and meaningful connections may relate to retirement well-being.

Consider the “friendship recession” and what shrinking social circles may mean for life after work.

Start meaningful conversations with loved ones about some of the tougher realities of aging and retirement.

Compare the financial considerations of upsizing in retirement versus staying put.

Weigh renting versus buying and the financial trade-offs that may come with each option.

Review concentrated stock positions, step-up in basis, capital gains, and inheritance considerations.

Clarify factors to consider when consolidating multiple 401(k) accounts after changing jobs.

Evaluate pension lump sums versus monthly payments, including the 6% test as one way to compare the options.

Explore factors to consider when deciding whether to invest HSA assets for potential long-term healthcare expenses.

Balance retirement account contributions against the financial trade-offs of paying down a mortgage.

Compare target-date funds with customized portfolios during the retirement accumulation and distribution phases.

Read Wes’s new book, The Retire Sooner Method, and explore the research behind the financial and lifestyle characteristics often associated with a happier retirement.

Listen and subscribe to the Retire Sooner Podcast for an engaging, educational conversation about retirement planning, financial independence, and life beyond the paycheck.
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What might everyday millionaires, Coast FI, and skilled trades teach us about building wealth and planning for retirement? On this episode of the Retire Sooner Podcast, Wes Moss and Christa DiBiase explore the money decisions, tradeoffs, and strategies that may help shape the road to financial independence.

· Discover how “everywhere millionaires” are building wealth through hands-on businesses far beyond the Silicon Valley spotlight.

· Explore the appeal of Coast FI and why life’s financial curveballs may complicate even a carefully designed plan.

· Examine how skilled trades such as plumbing and electrical work may fit into the conversation around careers, income, and wealth building.

· Assess how risk tolerance, time horizon, and market swings may help shape a retirement investment mix.

· Consider how young, high-earning professionals might weigh taxes, student loans, and workplace retirement plansas their incomes grow.

· Compare lump-sum and monthly pension options while factoring in inflation, COLAs, longevity, and income needs.

· Evaluate securities-backed lines of credit, including their potential benefits and risks, and how they differ from traditional mortgages.

· Learn how realizing investment gains may affect reportable income and eligibility for ACA health insurance subsidies.

· Understand the tax and eligibility considerations surrounding custodial accounts and Roth IRAs for young adults.

· Explore Wes’s new book, The Retire Sooner Method, and the research behind his approach to the financial and lifestyle characteristics associated with a happier retirement.

Listen and subscribe to the Retire Sooner Podcast for more conversations about retirement planning, investing, financial independence, building wealth, and the financial and lifestyle decisions that may come into play on the road to financial independence.
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Is the economy really K-shaped, or are we looking at a different letter entirely? On this episode of the Retire Sooner Podcast, Wes Moss and Christa DiBiase tackle the “E-shaped economy,” interest rates, retirement planning, AI, dry powder, and the pursuit of a happier retirement.

· Rethink the K-shaped economy as Wes considers whether an “E-shaped economy” is more associated with today’s financial landscape.

· Connect the dots between interest rates, housing, bonds, 401(k)s, consumer sentiment, and spending.

· Discover how “dry powder” may fit into a retirement income strategy and how cash reserves may be used and replenished over time.

· Consider the role dry powder may play within a diversified retirement portfolio.

· Navigate a familiar retirement dilemma: What happens when one spouse wants to make a big purchase and the other would rather save?

· Examine the relationship between liquid assets and total net worth and why that balance may matter in retirement.

· Question whether AI can handle financial planning on its own, and where human judgment may still play a role.

· Explore retirement planning considerations for those who may feel like they’re getting a late start.

· Consider cash-management approaches for loved ones who prioritize financial security and leaving a legacy over spending.

· **Meet **The Retire Sooner Method, Wes’s new book exploring five lifestyle and financial characteristics his research found among some of America’s happiest retirees.

· Compare two factors that may contribute to a happier retirement: meaningful core pursuits and a good night’s sleep.

Listen to the Retire Sooner Podcast for a lively and educational conversation about retirement planning, investing, the economy, and the pursuit of a happier retirement.
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When should you retire, and what might shape the years that follow? On this episode of the Retire Sooner Podcast, Wes Moss and Christa DiBiase tackle listener questions about retirement planning, investing, retirement income, and the surprises life may throw your way.

· Consider why retiring sooner may provide more time to enjoy healthy, active retirement years.

· See what certain retirement stories may reveal about health, longevity, and planning for the unexpected.

· Explore Wes’s new book, The Retire Sooner Method, and his latest research on happy retirees.

· Examine how rental property income may factor into retirement cash flow and diversification, along with the risks and responsibilities of owning real estate.

· Weigh paying down the mortgage against keeping cash available for a future home or land purchase.

· Meet what some refer to as the “boomer candy” of investing—buffered ETFs—and learn how their potential benefits, limitations, and risks may function.

· See why sequence of returns risk may matter when you start withdrawing money in retirement.

· Untangle the tax, diversification, and emotional considerations that may come with selling a concentrated stock position.

· Navigate the investing, tax, and financial questions that may come with retiring abroad.

Join Wes and Christa for real questions, relatable stories, and an educational look at the decisions that may shape retirement planning. **Listen and subscribe to the **Retire Sooner Podcast for more conversations about investing, retirement income, and the pursuit of an earlier, happier retirement.
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Got retirement questions? Wes Moss and Christa DiBiase tackle them in this rapid-fire episode of Retire Sooner Podcast. Take an educational look at retirement planning, investing, Roth accounts, college savings, bonds, and more.

· Explore considerations for when high-yield savings account rates start heading south, including evaluating brokerage money market funds.

· Balance daycare bills, taxable investing, and 529 college savings when there never seems to be enough room in the budget for every goal at once.

· Understand how backdoor Roth and mega backdoor Roth strategies work and factors to consider.

· Consider the tricky question of whether a potential inheritance belongs in a retirement plan.

· Look beyond the higher distributions of high-yield ETFs to the potential risks hiding underneath.

· See what it’s like for financial advisors to juggle client concerns, annual planning, and a steady stream of market and economic news.

· Review The Retire Sooner Method, from getting the financial pieces in place to finding purpose, nurturing friendships, and getting better sleep.

· Compare individual bonds, bond funds, and bond ETFs when weighing income characteristics, diversification, and simplicity.

· Evaluate whether boosting Roth or after-tax contributions may make sense as retirement gets closer.

Hear Wes and Christa take on the retirement questions that may be on your mind, too. **Listen and subscribe to the **Retire Sooner Podcast for more educational conversations about money, retirement, and building toward a happy retirement.
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