Your Money, Your Wealth

YMYW friends, welcome to 2026. What actually mattered most to you in 2025? It turns out to be tax-free gains on investments, retirement timing, and claiming Social Security. Today on Your Money, Your Wealth® podcast number 563, Joe Anderson, CFP® and Big Al Clopine, CPA break down the smartest tax moves, the biggest Roth mistakes to avoid, and how real people solve real retirement problems - with the help of special guests Susan Brandeis CFP® and the IRA guru, Ed Slott, CPA. Find out when Roth conversions help or hurt, how to lower lifetime taxes for you and your heirs, what it really takes to retire confidently, even without a massive portfolio, and more. Watch or listen and steal the financial strategies that made YMYW's most popular episodes of the year.  Free Financial Tools & Resources in This Episode: https://bit.ly/ymyw-563 (full show notes & episode transcript) The Complete Roth Papers Package - 3 free downloads in one! Don't Let These 10 Risks Break Your Retirement - YMYW TV Financial Blueprint (self-guided) EASIRetirement (self-guided) Financial Assessment (Meet with an experienced professional) LISTEN to the Best of the YMYW Podcast 2021,  2022,  2023, 2024 LISTEN to the Top Funniest Moments from the YMYW Podcast Vol. 1, Vol. 2 REQUEST your Retirement Spitball Analysis DOWNLOAD more free guides READ financial blogs WATCH educational videos SUBSCRIBE to the YMYW Newsletter   Connect With Us: YouTube: Subscribe and join the conversation in the comments Podcast apps: subscribe or follow YMYW in your favorite Apple Podcasts: leave your honest reviews and ratings   Chapters: 00:00 - Intro: This Week on the YMYW Podcast 00:54 - Roth IRA is "The Greatest Account Ever" Per Ed Slott. But Why? from ep. 526: YMYW most listeners and plays in 2025 on Apple Podcasts, YMYW most downloaded in 2025 across all podcast platforms 20:46 - Is There a Point Where Roth Conversions No Longer Make Sense? (Jerry, Phoenix, AZ) from ep. 535: YMYW most views, watch time, and new subscribers in 2025 on YouTube, most engaged listeners in 2025 on Apple Podcasts 32:13 - Roth Conversions vs. Taking Advantage of Zero Percent Cap Gains (Skipper, CA) from ep. 517: YMYW most consumed episode in 2025 on Apple Podcasts 43:06 - We're in Our Early 40s with $795K Saved. Can We Retire at 55? (Mr Buckeye, OH) from ep. 546: YMYW longest average view duration in 2025 on YouTube 55:12 - Is My Husband Eligible for Spousal Social Security Benefits Now that WEP and GPO Are Gone? (Cherilyn, El Cajon, CA) from ep. 536: YMYW most plays, most listeners, and most viewers in 2025 on Spotify 59:53 - Outro: 2025 Stats and Next Week on the YMYW Podcast

Today on Your Money, Your Wealth podcast 562 (an encore of episode 513), Joe Anderson, CFP® and Big Al Clopine, CPA spitball for YMYW listeners in their 40s who are ready to call it quits at work, become financially independent, and retire early. Can they afford to do it? Peter and Joanna want to retire in the next two years. Burned Out and Ready to Retire wants out of his toxic office. If Maryland Chicken Man never earns another dollar, how much can he afford to withdraw from his retirement accounts each year? And Suzanne in Massachusetts is 69 and needs $60K a year for the next 30 years. Is she all right? (While Joe and Big Al enjoy a little seasonal downtime and Andi recovers from surgery, enjoy this encore presentation of these questions from an early 2025 episode.) Free Financial Resources in This Episode: https://bit.ly/ymyw-562 (full show notes & episode transcript) 2025 Key Financial Data Guide - free download 10 Big Retirement Regrets to Avoid (Before It's Too Late)  - YMYW TV Financial Blueprint (self-guided) Financial Assessment (Meet with an experienced professional) REQUEST your Retirement Spitball Analysis DOWNLOAD more free guides READ financial blogs WATCH educational videos SUBSCRIBE to the YMYW Newsletter   Connect With Us: YouTube: Subscribe and join the conversation in the comments Podcast apps: subscribe or follow YMYW in your favorite Apple Podcasts: leave your honest reviews and ratings   Chapters: 00:00 - Intro: This Week on the YMYW Podcast 01:30 - We're 45 and 44. Can We Retire in the Next 2 Years? (Peter & Joanna, NJ) 10:45 - Watch 10 Big Retirement Regrets to Avoid (Before It's Too Late) on YMYW TV, Calculate your Free Financial Blueprint 11:44 - I'm 42 and I Work in a Toxic Office. Can I Afford to Retire? (Burned Out and Ready to Retire, NJ) 21:53 - Download the 2025 Key Financial Data Guide for free 22:53 - I'm 69 and Need $60k/Year for the Next 30 Years. Am I All Right? (Suzanne, MA) 25:40 - I'm 45. If I Never Earn Another Dollar How Much Can I Withdraw Every Year? (Maryland Chicken Man) 35:15 - Outro: Next Week on the YMYW Podcast

Financially speaking, should Old Bear in Northern Kentucky marry his Honey? How should Sebastian in Virginia navigate the financial aspects of his separation? Plus, Famous Missourians want to know, how much is enough for retirement and when can you take your foot off the gas? Can Paul with the Big Wallet Bridge the long gap between retiring and claiming Social Security benefits? And can Aspiring Adventurer in Oregon retire single at age 58? (While Joe and Big Al enjoy a little seasonal downtime and Andi recovers from surgery, enjoy this encore presentation of these questions from an early 2025 episode.) Free Financial Resources in This Episode:  https://bit.ly/ymyw-561 (full show notes & episode transcript) DOWNLOAD The Going Solo Guide for free WATCH: Going Solo: Navigating Your Financial Future Single on YMYW TV Financial Blueprint (self-guided) Financial Assessment (Meet with an experienced professional) REQUEST your Retirement Spitball Analysis DOWNLOAD more free guides READ financial blogs WATCH educational videos SUBSCRIBE to the YMYW Newsletter   Connect With Us: YouTube: Subscribe and join the conversation in the comments Podcast apps: subscribe or follow YMYW in your favorite Apple Podcasts: leave your honest reviews and ratings   Chapters: 00:00 - Intro: This Week on the YMYW Podcast 01:01 - Financially Speaking, Should Old Bear Marry His Honey? (Northern Kentucky, near Cincinnati, OH) 08:41 - Navigating Finances When Separating from Your Spouse (Sebastian, VA) 15:13 - Watch Going Solo: Navigating Your Financial Future Single on YMYW TV, Download the Going Solo Guide for free 15:42 - How Much is Enough for Retirement? When Can We Take Our Foot Off the Gas? (JC Penney & Laura Ingalls Wilder, Kansas City, MO) 28:31 - How to Bridge the Long Gap Between Retirement and Social Security (Paul with the Big Wallet) 38:50 - Calculate your free Financial Blueprint 39:20 - Can I Retire at Age 58? Where to Save? Should I Do a Roth Conversion Ladder in Retirement? (Aspiring Adventurer, OR) 51:00 - YMYW Podcast Outro

Today on Your Money, Your Wealth® podcast 560, Joe Anderson, CFP® and Big Al Clopine, CPA spitball business development company (BDC) funds for Edward in Illinois before diving into buckets of cash, T-bills, decumulation, and Roth conversion timing for Pebbles and Bam Bam. Plus, the fellas help 34 year old Keith in Connecticut figure out if he's actually on track, whether he's taking too much risk, or just worrying too much. They also spitball on the six-figure annuity gain that Gus in Philly's 95 year old dad has amassed. Finally, why yelling "never pay an advisor" on the internet doesn't necessarily magically turn MYGAs into the perfect investment for everyone. (While Joe and Big Al enjoy a little seasonal downtime and Andi recovers from surgery, enjoy this encore presentation of these questions from a January 2025 episode.) Free Financial Resources in This Episode: https://bit.ly/ymyw-560 (full show notes & episode transcript) 10 Steps to Improve Investing Success - free download Tax-Smart Charitable Giving Guide 6 Secrets to Bigger Tax Deductions from Your Non-Profit Donations - YMYW TV Financial Blueprint (self-guided) Financial Assessment (Meet with an experienced professional) REQUEST your Retirement Spitball Analysis DOWNLOAD more free guides READ financial blogs WATCH educational videos SUBSCRIBE to the YMYW Newsletter   Connect With Us: YouTube: Subscribe and join the conversation in the comments Podcast apps: subscribe or follow YMYW in your favorite Apple Podcasts: leave your honest reviews and ratings   Chapters: 00:00 - Intro: This week on the YMYW Podcast 01:03 - What's the Risk With Business Company Development (BDC) Funds? (Edward, IL) 03:58 - T-Bills, Decumulation, IRAs, and Investing Strategies (Pebbles & Bam Bam, Kentuckystone) 12:02 - I'm 34. Are My Investments Appropriate for My Time Horizon? (Keith, CT) 17:59 - MYGA Retirement Withdrawal Strategy for Dad (Gus in Philly) 23:00 - Just Buy Multi-Year Guaranteed Annuities (MYGAs) and Bonds (comment from Ken, YouTube) 28:04 - YouTube comments: State Taxes, Pro-Rated Sale of Primary Residence, Bonds vs. Pension, and PERMA 35:27 - YMYW Podcast Outro

Today on Your Money, Your Wealth® podcast 559 with Joe Anderson, CFP®, and Big Al Clopine, CPA, David wants to know if he and his wife (ages 47 and 53) are actually on track for retirement - without realizing they're creeping toward that .01% crowd that David swears he is not part of. Mia and Jessie from Seattle want to retire and still pick up a dream lake house with a combined ten million dollars saved. Can they pull it off? Yosemite Sam from Allen, Texas, wonders if he should wipe out the lake house mortgage or keep that low-rate loan to hang on to more flexibility as he approaches retirement. Joe and Big Al also spitball on whether Todd and Margo should shift more into pre-tax accounts to leave their corporate jobs at age 50, and whether early retirement at 55 plus a $500,000 beach home is in the cards for Birdie and Bogey from Williamsburg. Free Financial Resources in This Episode: https://bit.ly/ymyw-559 (full show notes & episode transcript) Financial Blueprint (self-guided) Financial Assessment (Meet with an experienced professional) REQUEST your Retirement Spitball Analysis DOWNLOAD more free guides READ financial blogs WATCH educational videos SUBSCRIBE to the YMYW Newsletter   Connect With Us: YouTube: Subscribe and join the conversation in the comments Podcast apps: subscribe or follow YMYW in your favorite Apple Podcasts: leave your honest reviews and ratings   Chapters: 00:00 - Intro: This Week on the YMYW Podcast 00:53 - Middle Class Retirement Spitball For Those Not in the .01%: Are We On Track at Age 47? (David) 06:37 - $5 Million Roth, $5 Million Brokerage: Can We Retire and Buy a Dream Lake House? (Mia & Jessie, Seattle) 17:26 - Pay Off the Lake House or Keep the Low Rate Mortgage? (Yosemite Sam, Allen, TX) 25:23 - Should We Shift More Funds into Pre-Tax Retirement to Retire Early at 50? (Todd & Margo, TX) 38:45 - Can We Afford Early Retirement at 55 and a $500K Beach Home? (Birdie & Bogie, Williamsburg, VA) 46:27 - Outro: Next Week on the YMYW Podcast