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Retirement Starts Today

Benjamin Brandt CFP®, RICP®
Retirement Starts Today
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  • Mailed, Stolen and Cashed: a $114,000 Retirement Check
    This week’s headline reads like a financial horror story — and unfortunately, it’s a true one. 😱 33-year-old Mr. Handy changed jobs and did what millions of Americans do every year: he requested a rollover of his 401(k). Paychex, the provider managing his old employer's plan mailed him two paper checks: one for his traditional 401(k), and one for his Roth 401(k). They were intercepted in the mail, and over $114,000 vanished. Gone. Just like that. This situation raises some serious questions. According to a recent report from Capitalize, 43% of people doing rollovers are still being sent paper checks. Why are we still using paper checks to transfer life savings? We'll cover that through an article written by Ron Lieber of the New York Times. 📬 Then we will answer a listener question, "I invested in Vanguards 2035 Target fund a long time ago. Not a bad move. BUT, I did so in a brokerage account and not an IRA. Now I have over $100k in it. Oops. Should I leave it there or try to shift to a more flexible fund before a I retire in 5 year or so?" Resource: Article by Ron Lieber: His Life Savings Were Mailed to Him by Paper Check. Now, It’s Gone.   Connect with Benjamin Brandt Get the Retire-Ready Toolkit: http://retirementstartstodayradio.com Subscribe to the newsletter: https://retirementstartstodayradio.com/newsletter Work with Benjamin: https://retirementstartstoday.com/start Follow Retirement Starts Today in:Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Amazon Music, or iHeart  Get the book!Retirement Starts Today: Your Non-financial Guide to an Even Better Retirement  
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  • Monetizing a Hobby in Retirement
    According to BankRate, 23% of Americans 60-78 have a side-hustle. Maurie Backman says in an article by Kiplinger that this would help with two key areas in retirement planning: It provides us with something fulfilling to do after our primary career and provide a little extra cash in retirement.   The benefits of a side hustle: Mental Engagement Extra Income Social Connection Sense of Purpose The Pitfalls of a side hustle: Tax Complications Outspending your retirement budget in search of business profits Medicare Premium Creep (IRMAA) Lifestyle Clash Time Commitment Also in this episode, we discuss a listener's question about global stock allocations - and asks if I think it's better to own a global fund or to own US & international equity separately. How can one balance simplicity and effectiveness in their plan?  Resource:  Article by Maurie Backman: Monetizing a Hobby in Retirement: The Benefits and Pitfalls Article by Bankrate: https://www.bankrate.com/credit-cards/news/side-hustles-survey/   Connect with Benjamin Brandt Get the Retire-Ready Toolkit: http://retirementstartstodayradio.com Subscribe to the newsletter: https://retirementstartstodayradio.com/newsletter Work with Benjamin: https://retirementstartstoday.com/start Follow Retirement Starts Today in:Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Amazon Music, or iHeart  Get the book!Retirement Starts Today: Your Non-financial Guide to an Even Better Retirement
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  • Why Are So Many Retirees Filing for Social Security Early?
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  • The Father of the 4% Rule - an Interview with Bill Bengen
    If you've been anywhere close to a retirement podcast over the last 10-20 years, you've heard of the 4% rule. And like many people, you might have questions about it. We're going to hear about it directly from the horse's mouth as we talk to Bill Bengen, who first articulated the 4% withdrawal rate as a rule of thumb for withdrawal rates from retirement accounts. The 4% rule is not a rigid rule but a guideline. Its application requires careful consideration of individual factors, including health, life expectancy, and specific financial circumstances. Bengen encourages retirees to tailor their withdrawal strategies based on their unique situations. Our discussion also explored required minimum distributions (RMDs), which may necessitate higher withdrawals in later years of retirement. However, Bengen suggests that for most people, RMDs would not exceed the calculated withdrawal rates until a very advanced age, making the two compatible. Core Points: The 4% rule, initially a worst-case scenario calculation, suggests a 4% annual withdrawal from retirement savings. This has since been refined Research indicates a more generous 4.7% withdrawal rate is now possible due to portfolio diversification and lower investment costs Higher withdrawal rates might be feasible (5-5.5%), depending on market valuations and inflation Early retirement withdrawal timing significantly impacts long-term success Consider individual circumstances, market conditions, and inflation when adjusting withdrawal strategies Resource: Pre-order Bill Bengen’s new book, "A Richer Retirement: Supercharging the 4% Rule to Spend More and Enjoy More" https://www.bengenfs.com/order-my-book Connect with Benjamin Brandt Get the Retire-Ready Toolkit: http://retirementstartstodayradio.com Subscribe to the newsletter: https://retirementstartstodayradio.com/newsletter Work with Benjamin: https://retirementstartstoday.com/start Get the book!Retirement Starts Today: Your Non-financial Guide to an Even Better Retirement Follow Retirement Starts Today inApple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Amazon Music, or iHeart  
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  • Who Has Actually Saved $1 Million for Retirement?
    Only 3% of Americans have saved $1 million for retirement. according to 24/7 Wall St. & AOL. I’ll break down what that means—and why your personal number might be more important than any national average. After that, I answer a listener question where we tackle how to cover healthcare costs in early retirement—specifically for a 58-year-old retiree with a non-working spouse and three adult kids under 26 still on the family plan. We’ll explore ACA strategies, income planning, and a clever way to help the kids get their own coverage at a big discount. Resource:  AOL article by David Beren: A Look at U.S. Workers Who’ve Accumulated $1M in Retirement Funds   Connect with Benjamin Brandt Get the Retire-Ready Toolkit: http://retirementstartstodayradio.com Subscribe to the newsletter: https://retirementstartstodayradio.com/newsletter Work with Benjamin: https://retirementstartstoday.com/start Get the book!Retirement Starts Today: Your Non-financial Guide to an Even Better Retirement Follow Retirement Starts Today inApple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Amazon Music, or iHeart  
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About Retirement Starts Today

Do you want to spend more money in retirement, while paying less taxes? Great news, you're in the right place! I'll also teach you the benefits of retiring TO something, while most retirees only solve half the equation by retiring FROM something. Tune in every Monday morning - hosted by Benjamin Brandt CFP, RICP. Join my "Every Day is Saturday" weekly newsletter for show notes, free book giveaways and other great retirement content: www.retirementstartstodayradio.com/newsletter
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