Retirement Starts Today Benjamin Brandt CFP®, RICP®

There are two ways you can ruin your retirement: running out of money and dying with regret. 
If you are listening to this podcast, chances are, you’ve been a diligent saver and probably aren’t in danger of the first one. 
That’s why, today, we’re exploring an article from the White Coat Investor on ways to spend more money. 
Don’t risk ending your days with regret. Listen in to find out how you can enjoy all that you have worked for.
Outline of This Episode [1:22] Two ways to ruin retirement [5:13] Strategies for spending more money [12:47] How to spend your HSA Resources & People Mentioned The Retirement Podcast Network BOOK - Die with Zero by Bill Perkins 8 Ways to Spend More Money Connect with Benjamin Brandt Get the Retire-Ready Toolkit:http://retirementstartstodayradio.com/ Follow Ben on Twitter:https://twitter.com/retiremeasap Join the newsletter: https://retirementstartstodayradio.com/newsletter Dive deeper into retirement planning with Ben at www.RetirementIncome.University Subscribe to Retirement Starts Today on
Apple Podcasts,Stitcher,TuneIn,Podbean,Player FM,iHeart, orSpotify

It can be easy to forget your age as the birthdays roll around. However, when you’re about to turn 65 you’ll know. Medicare and all of their relevant service providers won’t let you forget. 
You may feel inundated with the amount of mail, emails, and even phone calls and text messages, but rather than ignoring all the excess information, it’s important to dig in and learn so tha you can make the best decision for your healthcare. 
To help you avoid potentially expensive and health-altering mistakes, today we’ll review 5 of the biggest Medicare mistakes you can make by reviewing an article by Rick Fine from The Sensible Financial Planning blog.
Outline of This Episode [1:36] The 5 biggest Medicare mistakes [14:05] A rule of 55 question Resources & People Mentioned The Retirement Podcast Network Sensible Financial Planning blog Medicare Basics: What to Expect as You Approach Age 65 with Danielle Roberts Connect with Benjamin Brandt Get the Retire-Ready Toolkit:http://retirementstartstodayradio.com/ Follow Ben on Twitter:https://twitter.com/retiremeasap Join the newsletter: https://retirementstartstodayradio.com/newsletter Dive deeper into retirement planning with Ben at www.RetirementIncome.University Subscribe to Retirement Starts Today on
Apple Podcasts,Stitcher,TuneIn,Podbean,Player FM,iHeart, orSpotify
 

You’ve been accumulating your savings your entire life, but when the time comes to draw down your investments, there are new risks. In this episode, we’ll discuss four risks that come with the decumulation phase of retirement. 
Press play to learn how to avoid these risks in retirement. 
Are you looking for a new advisor? One of our listeners is looking for a checklist to help him hire a retirement advisor. While answering that question I went ahead and made my advisor checklist available to all of you to download here.
Outline of This Episode [1:47] Understand effective strategies for the decumulation phase [11:20] Do I have a checklist to use to hire a retirement advisor?  Resources & People Mentioned The Retirement Podcast Network Questions to ask a retirement advisor Connect with Benjamin Brandt Get the Retire-Ready Toolkit:http://retirementstartstodayradio.com/ Follow Ben on Twitter:https://twitter.com/retiremeasap Join the newsletter: https://retirementstartstodayradio.com/newsletter Dive deeper into retirement planning with Ben at www.RetirementIncome.University Subscribe to Retirement Starts Today on
Apple Podcasts,Stitcher,TuneIn,Podbean,Player FM,iHeart, orSpotify
 

A lot of us are looking to get in shape in retirement. This is a good thing since part of living an even better retirement is looking after your health and muscle mass. Staying healthier and more active longer will ensure that you are making the most out of your retirement. In addition, maintaining a healthy muscle mass is a huge part of keeping your health as you age.
In this episode, we’ll explore a Scientific American article on keeping your muscles strong as you age. Make sure to listen in to discover some tools that I use to track my health and wellness as I enter the second half of my life.
Outline of This Episode [1:12] Keeping up your muscles [5:23] What I’m doing to stay healthy [10:01] How can two opposite approaches achieve the same goal? Resources & People Mentioned The Retirement Podcast Network Scientific American article Dexa Scan InBody Scan My Fitness Pal Whoop Band Connect with Benjamin Brandt Get the Retire-Ready Toolkit:http://retirementstartstodayradio.com/ Follow Ben on Twitter:https://twitter.com/retiremeasap Join the newsletter: https://retirementstartstodayradio.com/newsletter Dive deeper into retirement planning with Ben at www.RetirementIncome.University Subscribe to Retirement Starts Today on
Apple Podcasts,Stitcher,TuneIn,Podbean,Player FM,iHeart, orSpotify
 

Do you have index funds in your portfolio? Chances are you do! 
Our retirement headline today describes the rise of index funds over active funds and why that’s important. Discover how index funds connect with my investment philosophy by pressing play now. 
Outline of This Episode [1:22] Index funds have grown exponentially over the years [2:23] What are index funds [5:58] How index funds fit into my investment philosophy [10:04] Will my estimated Social Security benefit decrease if I retire before full retirement age? Resources & People Mentioned The Retirement Podcast Network Morning Star article Connect with Benjamin Brandt Get the Retire-Ready Toolkit:http://retirementstartstodayradio.com/ Follow Ben on Twitter:https://twitter.com/retiremeasap Join the newsletter: https://retirementstartstodayradio.com/newsletter Dive deeper into retirement planning with Ben at www.RetirementIncome.University Subscribe to Retirement Starts Today on
Apple Podcasts,Stitcher,TuneIn,Podbean,Player FM,iHeart, orSpotify

Recent legislation has made everyone’s favorite college savings plan a little more flexible. Funds in a 529 plan aren’t as locked up as they used to be now that your children’s unused college funds can be rolled into a retirement account.
In this episode, we’ll discuss an article from the White Coat Investor which explores how the 529 can be rolled into a retirement account. We’ll discover the benefits and drawbacks of using a 529 to save for retirement. Listen in to hear whether the 529 rollover could help you in your retirement. 
Outline of This Episode [2:12] Using unused 529 funds [9:30] Utilizing spend-down strategies Resources & People Mentioned The Retirement Podcast Network The 529 to Roth IRA Rollover Connect with Benjamin Brandt Get the Retire-Ready Toolkit:http://retirementstartstodayradio.com/ Follow Ben on Twitter:https://twitter.com/retiremeasap Join the newsletter: https://retirementstartstodayradio.com/newsletter Dive deeper into retirement planning with Ben at www.RetirementIncome.University Subscribe to Retirement Starts Today on
Apple Podcasts,Stitcher,TuneIn,Podbean,Player FM,iHeart, or Spotify