How to Retire with Christine Benz

Update: 2024-12-04

Description

Join us for a special episode as we welcome Christine Benz to discuss her new book, "How to Retire." In a captivating conversation at the Rock Retirement Club, we dive into topics like long-term care, the 4% rule, investing strategies, and simplification. Featuring insights from Fritz Gilbert, a member of the club and contributor to Christine's book, this episode offers a holistic view of retirement planning. Discover how to balance financial and non-financial aspects for a fulfilling retirement journey.

INTERVIEW WITH CHRISTINE BENZ

(01:26 ) Rock Retirement Club welcomes Christine Benz to chat about her new book, How to Retire

(02:40 ) Roger asks about the goal for the readers of this book.

(04:00 ) Christine: The goal was to cover retirement in a really holistic way and include as much non-financial as financial information on retirement planning.

(05:09 ) Roger: I was surprised that you did the book in the interview style, I think it helped make the book more approachable.

(07:24 ) Roger: Did you have any big insights that were unexpected?

(10:18 ) Fritz: I give Christine serious kudos for the approach she took and the amount of homework she did.

(11:47 ) Christine to Fritz: I love your methodical approach to dealing with the years leading up to retirement

(13:19 ) Marla asks Christine if she would change anything if she was writing this book today to accommodate the 2024 election results and also asks about managing portfolios on Morningstar.

(17:28 ) Roger: When it comes to portfolio construction, it's easy to overcomplicate things

(20:30 ) Larry asks Christine what challenges her or confounds her most about her own retirement planning.

(22:53 ) Larry asks “Are you concerned that we may not find people to provide long term care?”

(30:11 ) Kevin Lyles asks about asset allocation when you retire

(30:47 ) Christine: My chapter on asset allocation addresses the bucket approach, which I do find very customizable.

(36:56 ) Laura asks: When you talk about high quality bond portfolios, do bond funds work?

(41:06 ) One question I have when we're talking about indexes is about broad diversification.

(43:42 ) Roger: Now someone had a comment related to some of the research on small cap value. Do you have any view on that research on having a more diversified small cap value tilt?

(47:19 ) Eric asks “what is the argument for using tips for retirees?”

(50:24 ) Roger asks Fritz if he has been simplifying his portfolio or working more on optimization since retiring in 2018.

(52:50 ) Roger: The optimization part sometimes dominates the conversation.

(53:38 ) Roger asks Christine: Have you found, even in your own life, a balance between making sure you don’t get too complicated in investments?

(56:45 ) Biranna asks after 20 interviews, what question now rests in your mind?

(57:40 ) Christine: I've been thinking more about whether the concept of retirement is flawed

(58:59 ) We're going to share a link with members offering a discount to Morningstar.

(59:55 ) Next week on the show, we're going to chat about with Michael Easter about Gear vs Stuff

BONUS

(01:00:30 ) Roger reads an excerpt from his grandfather's WWII journal

REFERENCES

Wade Pfau