Stay Wealthy Retirement Podcast

Grab your Tax Planning Cheatsheet (updated for 2025!) by clicking here. The 2-page PDF guide includes every important number you'll need for your retirement & tax planning next year. Updated federal income tax brackets, AMT annual limits, standard deductions, Social Security taxation summary, estate and gift tax annual limits…and more. 👉 Download it now.  *** In our final episode of the year, I'm taking a break from the usual nerdy retirement planning talk to share twelve (12) insightful, fun, and humourous investing statistics.  These stats cover topics such as: ➤ The McRib Effect: Can a fast-food favorite influence markets? ➤ Shiller P/E Ratio History: What does this popular valuation signal suggest for the market's future? ➤ Netflix Drawdowns: A stock’s wild history of recovery. ➤ Berkshire Hathaway: A long-term (unbelievable) investment story unfolds. ➤ Pet Spending: A surprising shift in American priorities. Whether you’re a market enthusiast or just here for the entertaining stories, you’ll love this lighthearted yet insightful end-of-year episode. Thank YOU for making this year so special by tuning in and engaging with the show. Enjoy the holidays, reflect on the year behind us, and prepare to dive into 2025 with fresh market insights and retirement planning strategies.  Here’s to "staying wealthy" next year and beyond! 🎉 *** EPISODE RESOURCES: 📊  Get Your FREE Retirement & Tax Analysis! ✏️  Grab the Episode Show Notes 📘  Check Out the Retirement Podcast Network

How do we fix the housing affordability problem in the U.S.? Will lower interest rates really improve the real estate market? How have Zillow and Airbnb contributed to the current housing challenges?   What are tariffs (+ benefits and drawbacks)? What's next for the U.S. economy?  These are just a few of the questions I'm exploring in this episode with author and economic expert, Kyla Scanlon.  *** BOOK GIVEAWAY I'm giving away 10 copies of Kyla's beautifully written and designed book, "In This Economy? How Money & Markets Actually Work." To put your name in the hat and receive a free copy, be sure you're subscribed to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter by visiting https://www.youstaywealthy.com/email. Next week, my team will randomly select 10 lucky readers to give our copies away to.  👉 Join the newsletter! *** FREE RETIREMENT PLANNING RESOURCES: As a bonus for subscribing to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter, you'll also receive three (3) of my MOST popular retirement & tax cheatsheets.  *** EPISODE RESOURCES: 📊  Get Your FREE Retirement & Tax Analysis! ✏️  Grab the Episode Show Notes 📘  Check Out the Retirement Podcast Network

Today, I’m discussing the challenges of spending money in retirement.  To help, Brian Portnoy, one of the world’s leading experts on the psychology of money, joins us to discuss three big things: ➤ Why it’s so difficult for retirement savers to transition from saving to spending ➤ What you can do to prepare for the (well-documented!) challenges of retirement spending  ➤ How to use Brian’s “Four C’s” to achieve true wealth in retirement We also delve into the meaning behind Brian’s famous quote, “Diversification always means having to say your sorry,” and how it can help you make better investing decisions. *** FREE RETIREMENT PLANNING RESOURCES: Subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter! As a thank you, you'll receive three (3) of my MOST popular retirement & tax cheatsheets.  You'll also receive my weekly retirement newsletter! 👉 Click here to subscribe and grab your cheatsheets. *** EPISODE RESOURCES: 📊  Get Your FREE Retirement & Tax Analysis! ✏️  Grab the Episode Show Notes 📘  Check Out the Retirement Podcast Network

Emerging Markets are the world’s primary drivers of global growth (and wealth accumulation). Just over 50% of the world's economic output comes from these countries. 🤯 They play a crucial role in shaping global economic trends... ...but most retirement investors don't fully understand this asset class. To help break it down for us, Emerging Markets expert and founder of Life + Liberty Indexes, Perth Tolle, stops by to discuss:  ➤ What Emerging Markets are and why retirement savers should consider investing in this asset class ➤ Why traditional, low-cost Emerging Market funds may produce lower returns ➤ The pros/cons of excluding countries like China and Russia from an Emerging Markets fund  We also discuss why "freedom" plays an important role in this asset class and how investors can (potentially) use freedom metrics to capture higher returns.  *** FREE RETIREMENT PLANNING RESOURCES: Subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter! As a thank you, you'll receive three (3) of my MOST popular retirement & tax cheatsheets.  You'll also receive my weekly retirement newsletter! 👉 Click here to subscribe and grab your cheatsheets. *** EPISODE RESOURCES: 📊  Get Your FREE Retirement & Tax Analysis! ✏️  Grab the Episode Show Notes 📘  Check Out the Retirement Podcast Network

Why are most people planning for the wrong things in retirement? What should they be planning for that they’re not? To help answer these important questions, Psychologist & Behavioral Finance Expert Dr. Daniel Crosby stops by to discuss: ➤ What our happiness is determined by ➤ Why (contrary to popular research) more money can ACTUALLY make us happier ➤ What is the “PERMA model” and how can we use it to improve retirement success We also discuss why retirees are more depressed than everyone else and what they can do to mitigate this risk. *** THE SOUL OF WEALTH:  Grab a copy of Daniel's new book, The Soul of Wealth.  The book explores what wealth really is and provides practical suggestions for how to change your thinking and your actions in small, powerful ways, for a wealthier life. *** FREE RETIREMENT PLANNING RESOURCES: Subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter! As a thank you, you'll receive three (3) of my MOST popular retirement & tax cheatsheets.  You'll also receive my weekly retirement newsletter! 👉 Click here to subscribe and grab your cheatsheets. *** EPISODE RESOURCES: 📊  Get Your FREE Retirement & Tax Analysis! ✏️  Grab the Episode Show Notes 📘  Check Out the Retirement Podcast Network

Today, I'm talking about navigating the risks of concentrated investments. Specifically, Peter Lazaroff, CIO of Plancorp, joins me to answer three BIG questions: ➤ How do you know if you have a "concentrated investment?" ➤ What are some little-known risks investors aren't considering? ➤How do you (tax-efficiently) diversify concentrated investments? I also share a specific exercise investors can follow to decide if they should sell some or all of their concentrated holding(s). *** FREE RETIREMENT PLANNING RESOURCES: Subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter! As a thank you, you'll receive three (3) of my MOST popular retirement & tax cheatsheets.  You'll also receive my weekly retirement newsletter! 👉 Click here to subscribe and grab your cheatsheets. *** EPISODE RESOURCES: 📊  Get Your FREE Retirement & Tax Analysis! ✏️  Grab the Episode Show Notes 📘  Check Out the Retirement Podcast Network

Today, I'm sharing how retirement investors can take action in this final episode of our Small Cap Value series.  Specifically, I’m discussing three things:  ➤ Why paying MORE for an investment can pay off ➤ How to easily and properly evaluate different funds  ➤ What small-cap value funds to consider  I’m also sharing two important reminders before taking action and investing in this popular asset class. *** FREE RETIREMENT PLANNING RESOURCES: Subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter! As a thank you, you'll receive three (3) of my MOST popular retirement & tax cheatsheets.  You'll also receive my weekly retirement newsletter! 👉 Click here to subscribe and grab your cheatsheets. *** EPISODE RESOURCES: 📊  Get Your FREE Retirement & Tax Analysis! ✏️  Grab the Episode Show Notes 📘  Check Out the Retirement Podcast Network

Today, I’m diving into part two of our Small Cap Value investing series. Specifically, I’m addressing three big questions: ➤ How do small-cap value stocks reduce risk + improve returns  ➤ What criteria does an investment need to meet to be included in a portfolio ➤ Why value investing is still alive and well While there is no shortage of research in favor of this dominant asset class... ...I’m also sharing why investors don’t necessarily need small-cap value stocks to reach their retirement goals. *** FREE RETIREMENT PLANNING RESOURCES: Subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter! As a thank you, you'll receive three (3) of my MOST popular retirement & tax cheatsheets.  You'll also receive my weekly retirement newsletter! 👉 Click here to subscribe and grab your cheatsheets. *** EPISODE RESOURCES: 📊  Get Your FREE Retirement & Tax Analysis! ✏️  Grab the Episode Show Notes 📘  Check Out the Retirement Podcast Network

Today I’m kicking off a two-part series on Small Cap Value investing. Specifically, I’m addressing three big questions: ➤ What exactly are small-cap value stocks? ➤ Why have small-cap value stocks, historically, outperformed most major asset classes? ➤ Does the recent 20-year underperformance suggest that the strategy is dead and won’t work in the future?  I’m also sharing critical differences between small-cap value funds + how to take action if you want to include this asset class in your portfolio. *** FREE RETIREMENT PLANNING RESOURCES: Subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter! As a thank you, you'll receive three (3) of my MOST popular retirement & tax cheatsheets.  You'll also receive my weekly retirement newsletter! 👉 Click here to subscribe and grab your cheatsheets. *** EPISODE RESOURCES: 📊  Get Your FREE Retirement & Tax Analysis! ✏️  Grab the Episode Show Notes 📘  Check Out the Retirement Podcast Network

Today, I'm sharing key takeaways from three of the BEST retirement articles I read this month. 1️⃣ The first article is about the future of taxes in this country and specifically makes a strong case for why they will be higher. 2️⃣ The second reveals why investors missed out on 15% of investment returns over the last decade. 😳 3️⃣ Lastly, the third article is a real-life account of what it actually feels like to transition from the working world into retirement. Didn’t get a chance to read everything that was published last month? Don’t worry—I’ve got you covered! *** FREE RETIREMENT PLANNING RESOURCES: Subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter! As a thank you, you'll receive three (3) of my MOST popular retirement & tax cheatsheets.  You'll also receive my weekly retirement newsletter! 👉 Click here to subscribe and grab your cheatsheets. *** EPISODE RESOURCES: 📊  Get Your FREE Retirement & Tax Analysis! ✏️  Grab the Episode Show Notes 📘  Check Out the Retirement Podcast Network

Today, I’m sharing FIVE surprising statistics about the economy, markets, and retirement. For example, one stat highlights a "stock market indicator" that has a 100% success rate 😳  Another emphasizes a growing insurance risk that everyone needs to protect against. Along with being entertaining, these stats bring important investing and planning topics to the surface.  They also serve as important reminders. If you’re ready to have some fun learning about the history of the markets and little-known investing facts, this episode is for you. *** FREE RETIREMENT PLANNING RESOURCES: Subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter! As a thank you, you'll receive three (3) of my MOST popular retirement & tax cheatsheets.  You'll also receive my weekly retirement newsletter :)  👉 Click here to subscribe and grab your cheatsheets. *** EPISODE RESOURCES: 📊  Get Your FREE Retirement & Tax Analysis! ✏️  Grab the Episode Show Notes 📘  Check Out the Retirement Podcast Network

Are you ready to get answers to some BIG retirement questions? Questions such as: ➤ What role does the equity in my home play in my retirement plan? ➤ Why should I do Roth conversions to help mitigate taxes on my kids' inheritance? ➤ Are closed-end funds a good investment? ➤ How do I properly evaluate pension vs. lump-sum decisions? Today on the show, I’m answering these questions (and more!) with my good friend, Roger Whitney. I'm also providing an update on the Retirement Podcast Network after taking a hint from 1,000+ retirement savers.   *** FREE RETIREMENT PLANNING RESOURCES: Subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter! As a thank you, you'll receive three (3) of my MOST popular retirement & tax cheatsheets.  You'll also receive my weekly retirement newsletter :)  👉 Click here to subscribe and grab your cheatsheets. *** EPISODE RESOURCES: 📊  Get Your FREE Retirement & Tax Analysis! ✏️  Grab the Episode Show Notes 📘  Check Out the Retirement Podcast Network

Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) begin at age 73 for most retirement savers. These forced withdrawals can be a burden for those who don't need (or want) the taxable income. Since they are “required,” many assume that they don't have any control over their RMDs. But that’s not necessarily the case. In fact, one of the 5 strategies I'm sharing with you today allows you to delay unwanted (mandatory) distributions well past age 73 😳 Applying these strategies and gaining control of your RMDs can potentially help you: ➤ Lower lifetime taxes ➤ Reduce catastrophic risks  ➤ Improve risk-adjusted investment returns It doesn't matter if you're still working or already taking RMDs—if you want to optimize your long-term plan, you'll enjoy today's episode. *** FREE RETIREMENT PLANNING RESOURCES: Subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter! As a thank you, you'll receive three (3) of my MOST popular retirement & tax cheatsheets.  You'll also receive my weekly retirement newsletter :)  👉 Click here to subscribe and grab your cheatsheets. *** EPISODE RESOURCES: 📊  Get Your FREE Retirement & Tax Analysis! ✏️  Grab the Episode Show Notes 📘  Check Out the Retirement Podcast Network

In the final episode of this series, I'm answering the BEST listener questions I've received about dividend investing. Questions such as: ➤ If dividend investing is NOT a great way to create retirement income, what is?  ➤ What dividend-focused funds should investors consider if they insist on investing for yield?  ➤ What is the counterargument for stock buybacks? Why are some people against them? Tune in to hear my answers to these great questions! FREE RETIREMENT PLANNING RESOURCES: Subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter! As a thank you, you'll receive three (3) of my MOST popular retirement & tax cheatsheets.  You'll also receive my weekly retirement newsletter.  👉 Click here to subscribe and grab your cheatsheets. *** EPISODE RESOURCES: 📊  Get Your FREE Retirement & Tax Analysis! ✏️  Grab the Episode Show Notes 📘  Check Out the Retirement Podcast Network

In today's episode, I'm sharing everything you need to know about stock buybacks. Specifically, I'm sharing: ➤ Why stock buybacks are referred to as a "flexible" dividend ➤ What a stock buyback is (and how it works) ➤ How stock buybacks are more tax-friendly than traditional dividends If you want to learn more about this increasingly popular "flexible dividend" strategy, you'll enjoy this episode. FREE RETIREMENT PLANNING RESOURCES: Subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter! As a thank you, you'll receive three (3) of my MOST popular retirement & tax cheatsheets.  You'll also receive my weekly retirement newsletter.  👉 Click here to subscribe and grab your cheatsheets. *** EPISODE RESOURCES: 📊  Get Your FREE Retirement & Tax Analysis! ✏️  Grab the Episode Show Notes 📘  Check Out the Retirement Podcast Network

Today I'm continuing our multi-part series on Dividend Investing. Specifically, in part two, I’m sharing: ➤ What the long-term performance has been for dividend-focused funds ➤ Why popular dividend investing charts can be incomplete (or misleading) ➤ The 3 primary reasons dividend strategies typically underperform If you want to learn more about dividend investing and why it may not be the magical solution it's often marketed as, you'll enjoy this episode.  *** FREE RETIREMENT PLANNING RESOURCES: Subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter! As a thank you, you'll receive three (3) of my MOST popular retirement & tax cheatsheets.  You'll also receive my weekly retirement newsletter.  👉 Click here to subscribe and grab your cheatsheets. *** EPISODE RESOURCES: 📊  Get Your FREE Retirement & Tax Analysis! ✏️  Grab the Episode Show Notes 📘  Check Out the Retirement Podcast Network

Today I'm kicking off a multi-part series on Dividend Investing. While dividends are a normal occurrence in the global markets, their role in a retirement portfolio is often misunderstood. ➤ What is a dividend, and why do some companies pay them?  ➤ How do they affect an investor's return? ➤ Where do dividends fit in the portfolio construction process?  ➤ What are the little-known problems with this investment strategy? ➤ And what does my upcoming birthday have to do with dividends? 🥳 I'm covering all of these questions (and more!) in this investing series.  *** FREE RETIREMENT PLANNING RESOURCES: Subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter! As a thank you, you'll receive three (3) of my MOST popular retirement & tax cheatsheets.  You'll also receive my weekly retirement newsletter :)  👉 Click here to subscribe and grab your cheatsheets. *** EPISODE RESOURCES: 📊  Get Your FREE Retirement & Tax Analysis! ✏️  Grab the Episode Show Notes 📘  Check Out the Retirement Podcast Network

Today I'm sharing a story about a couple who lost $2 million to an investment scam. I'm also sharing (new!) resources to help protect your personal data in 2024. Financial scams are getting more sophisticated and losses are skyrocketing. In fact, last year, Americans lost $10 billion to financial scams. That’s $1 billion more than 2022, and is the highest-ever reported annual loss in FTC history. Everyone is at risk. And everyone needs to regularly take proactive steps to stay safe. Tune in to learn more. *** FREE RETIREMENT PLANNING RESOURCES: Subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter! As a thank you, you'll receive three (3) of my MOST popular retirement & tax cheatsheets.  You'll also receive my weekly retirement newsletter :)  👉 Click here to subscribe and grab your cheatsheets. *** EPISODE RESOURCES: 📊  Get Your FREE Retirement & Tax Analysis! ✏️  Grab the Episode Show Notes 📘  Check Out the Retirement Podcast Network

There is no shortage of questions when it comes to navigating and planning for retirement. ➤ How much do I need to save?  ➤ How do I optimize my tax bill and avoid overpaying the IRS?  ➤ When do I take Social Security?  ➤ What should I invest in? (And what should I avoid?!) The list goes on. And while you’ve likely read (or heard) helpful answers to most of the big questions, it never hurts to revisit them or get a different perspective. In fact, some studies suggest that it can take hearing something 7 times before you retain it 🤯 Today on the show, I’m answering listener questions with the Retirement Answer Man himself, Roger Whitney. Questions like, “What account type is the best retirement account type to fund after you’ve reached your savings goals?”  And, “What’s the best process for making important changes to your investments after learning you aren't invested properly?”  If you want to hear our answers to these great questions (and more!), you’ll enjoy this episode. *** FREE RETIREMENT PLANNING RESOURCES: Subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter! As a thank you, you'll receive three (3) of my MOST popular retirement & tax cheatsheets.  You'll also receive my weekly retirement newsletter :)  👉 Click here to subscribe and grab your cheatsheets. *** EPISODE RESOURCES: 📊  Get Your FREE Retirement & Tax Analysis! ✏️  Grab the Episode Show Notes 📘  Check Out the Retirement Podcast Network

Inflation hit a 40-year high of 9.1% in June 2022. Today, inflation is hovering around 3%. If inflation is back in line with long-term historical averages, why does everything still feel so expensive? When voters were asked what they would most like to see improved in our economy... ...why did 64% of them say "lower prices?"  In this episode, I'm digging into the current state of inflation, why prices still feel high, and where inflation might be headed. I'm also sharing tactics for how to successfully navigate challenging time periods. If, like most retirement savers, things still feel outrageously expensive to you, you're going to enjoy this episode.  *** RETIREMENT & TAX PLANNING TOOLS: Join 5,000+ listeners and subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter. As a thank you, you'll receive three (3) of my MOST popular retirement & tax cheatsheets.  You'll also receive my weekly retirement newsletter :)  👉 Click here to subscribe and grab your cheatsheets. *** EPISODE RESOURCES: 📊  Get Your FREE Retirement & Tax Analysis! ✏️  Grab the Episode Show Notes 📘  Check Out the Retirement Podcast Network