Retire Sooner with Wes Moss

Our Retire Sooner Team has been researching, studying, and writing about happy retirements for years, so there aren’t many aspects we haven’t considered. But every once in a while, a new study grabs our attention. The latest, Retire Without Regrets, from the Harvard Business Review, used a longitudinal study to examine the gap between retirement expectations and real-world applications. Using life-mapping exercises to compare expectations with actual experiences, it identified four essential qualities for a happy retiree. The “Four A’s”: Alignment (personal values), Awareness (self-knowledge), Agency (active goal pursuit), and Adaptability (flexibility to handle change). Consider your own personalized retirement roadmap, and see if the “Four A’s” unlock the proactive planning and adaptability skills that might help you live a regret-free retirement life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The transition from one goal to another is often more challenging than either of the goals themselves. Once you get going, momentum can do a lot of the work, but turning the ship around or veering in a different direction takes planning, effort, discipline, and patience. If that sounds daunting, don’t worry. Today’s guest can help. Dr. Dorian Mintzer specializes in life transitions, helping both individuals and couples prepare for fulfilling retirements by exploring the non-financial aspects. She encourages people to examine past experiences to manage future expectations so they can fully understand how to adapt and foster continuous personal development. As co-author of The Couple’s Retirement Puzzle, she advocates for 10 must-have conversations between partners as they share the journey into retirement. Her array of personal and professional experiences as a therapist, coach, and teacher affords her a unique perspective to help folks not only navigate the second half of life but fully revolutionize their retirement! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Only 36% of voters still believe the American Dream is attainable, according to a 2023 Wall Street Journal/NORC survey. This figure is decidedly lower than other pollster findings in similar surveys. Those revealed that 48% of voters in 2016 and 53% in 2012 felt reasonably assured of their opportunities for a prosperous future. In other words, more than half of Americans felt optimistic in 2012, and only slightly more than one-third do now. Americans are consistently barraged with negative headlines and stressful news updates, from supersized natural disasters to political unrest to foreign wars. Despite the challenges, there is still plenty of evidence to justify a bullish attitude about the United States and the potential to reach the American Dream of financial prosperity. Five specific categories come to mind: education, demographics, geography/agriculture, energy, and the U.S. Constitution. The road to a happy retirement can be lined with hazards, but the strength of the United States was never based on smooth and gentle tidings. It’s a comprehensive coalition that can put aside differences to forge ahead together, no matter what. Take a moment to look around. The uplifting signs of The Army of American Productivity are evident. The entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well. By working together to shape an even more united set of fifty states, there’s no reason America’s best days aren’t still ahead. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Think about the day you drove your favorite car off the dealer’s lot. The engine was purring, the paint job was shining, and it ran like a dream. But as time passed, little things started to go wrong. A scratch here. An odd noise there. You took it to the shop for repairs, but eventually, you had to buy a new one. The same thing happens to our bodies. Unfortunately, we can’t just buy new ones when something breaks down, but today’s guest wants to help us keep the ride smoother and longer. Will Harlow authored the word-of-mouth bestseller Thriving Beyond Fifty and founded HT Physio, a Physiotherapy Clinic specializing in helping health-conscious, active people over fifty regain mobility and avoid surgery. We dug into the profound benefits of strength training at any age, the impact of regular exercise on conditions like arthritis, and the truth behind commonly marketed supplements. We explored his own transition from professional sports physiotherapy to a more refined aim of enhancing health span and lifespan. Whether you’re looking to stay fit into your golden years or seeking practical tips on managing pain and improving joint health, this is the episode. I can’t promise immortality for you or your favorite car, but with the right maintenance, your retirement just might be the joy ride you deserve. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Warren Buffett once said, “If a statue is ever erected to honor the person who has done the most for American investors, the hands-down choice should be Jack Bogle.” By creating index investing, the Vanguard Group founder helped to provide investors with a streamlined and low-cost way to buy broader market-tracking mutual funds. Though he died in 2019, his lessons continue to light the path toward a financially secure and happy retirement. Reviewing them is a healthy exercise for all those trying to make their hard-earned savings outpace inflation over time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Investing for the future can be daunting. And while many of us assume the key is mastering the market’s financial aspects, a persuasive argument says the behavioral side is perhaps even more critical. How we think about money can significantly impact our journey to financial freedom in retirement. But where exactly is that intersection of mind and markets? Dr. Daniel Crosby is the Chief Behavioral Officer at Orion Advisor Solutions and a leading voice in decoding market psychology. His books always seem to hit the NY Times Bestseller list or win some kind of investment award, but the truth is that his PhD isn’t in finance or economics but rather in Clinical Psychology. By applying his research and analysis to everything from financial product design to security selection, he helps others grasp economic behaviorism so they can reap the long-term benefits of making healthy, self-aware decisions. That sounds pretty compelling to me. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How will the recent Federal Reserve rate cut impact your retirement income? Are your investments at risk or ready to benefit? In today’s episode of Retire Sooner, Wes Moss breaks down the 0.5% interest rate cut announced on September 18th and what it could mean for income investors. Plus, we revisit our popular episode, “Income Investing: The Process, The Approach, and The Reward,” where Wes dives deep into the fundamentals of income investing. From understanding the emotional side of investing your retirement money to the diverse ways to approach investing, this episode covers it all. Whether you’re just starting your income investment journey or looking for a refresher, this episode is packed with actionable insights. Don’t miss this crucial discussion! Listen now and let us know your thoughts by leaving a review. Your feedback helps us create the content you care about most! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

More than one in five Americans serve as caretakers for an elderly parent or aging relative. How will we know what to do if and when that time comes? Is there someone we can ask? On today’s episode of the Retire Sooner Podcast, Wes sits down with author and Certified Caregiving Consultant Elizabeth Miller. Elizabeth’s experiences caring for her aging parents and a brother with a developmental disability while simultaneously raising children and working full-time inspired her to create Happy Health Caregiver LLC, in 2015. As host of the Happy Healthy Caregiver Podcast on The Whole Care Network and author of the Just for You Daily Self-Care Journal, she helps educate others about the big picture, the fine print, and the importance of creating self-care boundaries to ensure everyone, including you, can remain as healthy as possible. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today’s episode of the Retire Sooner Podcast, Wes takes aim at a recent Wall Street Journal article claiming the 60/40 portfolio and 4% retirement withdrawal rate could lead to ‘catastrophic’ outcomes. Wes concedes the author’s point about market unpredictability but rebuts such a gloomy hypothetical. He points to the potentially destructive consequences such an outlook can have on those fighting for retirement security and uses market history to illustrate examples of these time-honored strategies bouncing back from difficult periods. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever met a 75-year-old who seems 40? How about a 30-year-old who seems 50? Why do some folks seem to age like a fine wine while others settle like a lukewarm wine cooler? On today’s episode of the Retire Sooner Podcast, Wes sits down with Dr. Alan Castel to delve into how we might be able to improve our own aging process. A Professor in UCLA’s Psychology Department, he studies learning, memory, and aging and is particularly interested in how younger and older adults can selectively remember important information. If you can recall your son’s assist-to-turnover ratio from last year’s lacrosse season but not the name of the neighbor you’ve been waving to for the past 10 years, find out what kind of retrieval practices might enhance your memory. And if you’ve focused extensively on retirement’s financial implications but neglected the psychological side, Dr. Castel’s lessons might be what you need to increase socialization and harness the knowledge of those who have been in similar situations. Father Time is undefeated, but that doesn’t mean you have to live in fear. Take the steps necessary to increase your odds of getting better with age, and let today’s episode be the first step. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Americans have faced immense financial challenges in the past two-plus decades. The Dotcom Bubble sent stock prices down nearly 50% between 2000 and 2002, the Great Recession and Housing Crisis of 2007-2009 cratered stocks more than 55%, and theCOVID-19 Pandemic and shutdowns sent stocks tumbling 30% in a month’s span and led to massive inflation and high interest rates thereafter. In today’s episode of the Retire Sooner Podcast, Wes admits that a sensible retirement strategy while accounting for unknown future world events can feel overwhelming. However, he believes utilizing the foundational principles of the Retire Sooner community can help increase your probability of achieving the financial freedom that many happy retirees enjoy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A fulfilling job is great, but being able to do it in your pajamas? Now, we’re talking. On today’s episode, we’re joined by Kerry Hannon, author of “Great Pajama Jobs: Your Complete Guide To Working From Home.” Between that and the dozen other books she’s published, Kerry is a renowned professional on careers, entrepreneurship, and financial planning for older adults. The smoother your transition into retirement, the sooner you can find the happiness and fulfillment you deserve. Kerry points out three crucial themes to help you get there. From starting a micro-business to using your retirement savings as continuous income to navigating the inter-generational workplace dynamics, Kerry reveals how remote work is completely reshaping opportunities for older workers. It’s a Retire Sooner Pajama party; you don’t want to miss it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode of the Retire Sooner Podcast, Wes examines the recent market crash and analyzes how the Fed’s decisions may have helped lower inflation but negatively affected the housing market and unemployment rate. Wes acknowledges that the specific challenges can differ for each market downturn but reassures listeners that productive reactions often follow evergreen principles. He then discusses the importance of having enough dry powder for periods of sluggish portfolio earnings. Finally, he digs into the potential stock growth for future retirees willing to practice patience and discipline. What’s a great way to plan for outpacing inflation without extending beyond your risk tolerance? Listen and find out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s been said that loneliness is worse for our health than smoking cigarettes. Take a second to inhale that scary thought. In contrast, pro-social behavior triggers the release of oxytocin in our body. That’s the love hormone, and it’s crucial for happiness. We’ve all had that nagging feeling that we need to spend more leisure time with friends and family. But some of the options out there aren’t realistic. People with careers and families don’t have time for group yoga sessions or all-day escape room parties. In other words, we know what we need to do to be happy but don’t know how to make it happen. Dr. Mike Rucker is an organizational psychologist, behavioral scientist, and charter member of the International Positive Psychology Association. His ideas about fun and health have been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Fast Company, Forbes, and more. He currently serves as a senior leader at Active Wellness and is the author of the best-selling book The Fun Habit. Mike uses his “Rucker PLAY Model” to rank fun activities according to their level of challenge. The answers and timetables may be different for everyone, but embracing the overall need for joy and togetherness can help us avoid the unhealthy distractions that come along with isolation. The reality of modern life is that we don’t have as much free time as we might want, but with a bit of self-empathy and Mike’s creative outlook, we can find ways to dial up the fun meter and increase our happiness. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today’s episode, Wes points out that the population of mini-millionaires is growing and that society’s perception of them isn’t always very accurate. Producer Mallory Boggs joins to discuss this latest variant of what authors Thomas Stanley and Bill Danko originally coined, The Millionaire Next Door. They elaborate on five habits that this cohort tends to follow. And Wes points out that although investing is often a critical step to becoming a millionaire, it’s perhaps even more essential in the pursuit of staying a millionaire. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices