The Retirement and IRA Show

Jim Saulnier, CFP® & Chris Stein, CFP®
  • 4.3 (734)
  • Investing
  • Updated Weekly

What do you get when you combine two knowledgeable CFP® PROFESSIONALS (one also a well-informed COLLEGE FINANCE INSTRUCTOR)? If you mix in relevant financial information and a healthy dose of humor you get the Retirement and IRA Radio Show! JIM SAULNIER, a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professional with Jim Saulnier and Associates who specializes in retirement planning for clients across the country, CHRIS STEIN, a Finance Instructor at Colorado State University who is also a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professional, offer real-world knowledge on a diverse range of topics including Social Security planning, investing for your retirement, the fundamentals of 401(k) and IRA accounts. Jim and Chris make learning about your retirement both educational and entertaining!

  1. 3d ago

    Healthspan and Retirement Planning for Longevity with Dr. Snider: Q&A #2628

    Jim and Chris welcome back returning guest Dr. Phillip Snider for a Q&A episode that plays a little differently than usual. Listener emails open a broader discussion of healthspan and lifespan, (including how wealth, genetics, and lifestyle factors shape longevity), retirement planning for longevity, and Dr. Snider’s recommendation for additional tests to help assess your health risks. (5:15) — George cautions that median longevity statistics are heavily influenced by wealth, genetics, and individual behavior, and shares CDC data showing life expectancy rises significantly once someone reaches age 65. (29:45) — A listener asks Dr. Snider to discuss the value of the cardiac calcium score in assessing longevity. She also asks about the science behind statins, including their effect on plaque stability and a possible link to reduced dementia risk. Show Notes: Dr. Snider’s list of recommended tests: CAC test (coronary artery calcium,) or heart scan – a noninvasive, low-dose CT scan that measures calcified plaque in your arteries to predict future heart attack risk. hsCRP (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein) – measures inflammation in the body related to cardiovascular disease risk. IL-6 (Interleukin-6) – elevated levels are associated with multiple conditions including cardiovascular disease, diabetes (insulin resistance), cancer, and autoimmune disorders.  The sample has to be frozen before sending to the lab for processing, so it may need to be collected at a hospital lab or free-standing lab facility rather than at a doctor’s office. MPO (Myeloperoxidase) – measures an enzyme found in white blood cells (neutrophils and macrophages). It is a key biomarker of inflammation and oxidative stress. In the bloodstream, high MPO levels indicate that immune cells are actively attacking vessel walls, making it a powerful predictor of cardiovascular disease and plaque instability. Lp-PLA2 (lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2) – measures a specialized inflammatory enzyme highly concentrated in unstable, rupture-prone fatty plaques within your arteries. Unlike general inflammatory markers (like hs-CRP), Lp-PLA2 is specifically localized to inflammation of blood vessels. The post Healthspan and Retirement Planning for Longevity with Dr. Snider: Q&A #2628 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

    1h 7m

  2. 6d ago

    Funding Essential Expenses in Retirement: EDU #2627

    Chris’s Summary Jim and I review a reader-submitted article on funding essential expenses in retirement, examining how one engineer split his portfolio into what we would call the Minimum Dignity Floor and Fun Number, using Social Security and a TIPS ladder. We compare that approach to our own income-based framework, discuss mortality credits from income annuities, and address reader emails about how long an essentials-only spending floor should realistically last. Jim’s “Pithy” Summary Chris and I get into a short piece a listener sent us, written by an engineer who approached retirement spending in a very engineer style way: building a model, gathering the data, and running the numbers. But he initially still came up short on peace of mind and ended up splitting his retirement into two portfolios, leaning on Social Security and a TIPS ladder for funding essential expenses, and landing on a lot of ground Chris and I have been covering for twenty-five years, even though he’s never heard of the show. I’ve got some thoughts on that TIPS ladder approach, particularly around mortality credits and what happens when you’re the one holding all the longevity risk yourself instead of pooling it. It ties into what I call the See Through Portfolio, our approach to positioning assets so you can actually see what each dollar is doing for you rather than treating everything as one big undifferentiated pile. I also bring back my seesaw, the younger you on one side, the older you on the other, to work through what happens with whatever’s left once the essentials are covered. We close out on a couple of relevant reader emails, including one from someone who put together twenty-five years of essential spending coverage on his own. Chris and I do some math on what that actually means for him, and I end up talking about fish schooling and birds flocking, because nature figured some of this out a long time before we did. Show Notes: Humble Dollar Article The post Funding Essential Expenses in Retirement: EDU #2627 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

    1h 12m

  3. Jul 4

    Social Security, 403b Variable Annuities, Converting Inherited IRAs: Q&A #2627

    Jim and Chris discuss listener emails on Social Security spousal benefit calculations, variable annuities in a 403(b), converting Inherited IRAs, and the Social Security child-in-care provision’s effect on spousal benefits. (10:00) — A listener asks Chris to explain why his additional high-earning years increased his own benefit so little, due to Social Security’s bend point formula, and how that translated into only a small spousal benefit adjustment for his wife. He also asks whether Social Security stops recalculating a worker’s PIA once they reach age 70. (28:00) — Georgette asks why her 403(b) funds are classified as variable annuities rather than mutual funds, and whether they function like other variable annuities sold on the open market. (54:30) — The guys field a question about a non-spouse inherited IRA, where the account holder wants to know whether the required RMD must be taken before completing a separate Roth conversion. (1:05:15) — Jim and Chris address whether the child-in-care provision removes the early-claiming reduction to a wife’s spousal benefit, in a case where she claims at 62 and her husband, the higher earner, waits until 65. The post Social Security, 403b Variable Annuities, Converting Inherited IRAs: Q&A #2627 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

    1h 14m

  4. Jul 1

    What to Know About Jointly Owned Annuities: EDU #2626

    Chris’s Summary Jim and I continue our discussion on annuity insurer failures and state guarantee fund protections before turning to jointly owned annuities, examining how they differ from other jointly titled assets. We cover credited versus uncredited interest, mortality table calculations for annuitized contracts, and how a jointly owned annuity’s death benefit passes to named beneficiaries rather than the surviving owner. Contract language varies by insurer on how the surviving joint owner is treated relative to named beneficiaries. Jim’s “Pithy” Summary Chris and I pick up where we left off last week and close out our take on that NBC article about a woman whose annuity insurer ran into serious financial trouble. I get into the timing behind a related lawsuit, why I think the agent involved should have caught the warning signs, and why the insurance company itself deserves plenty of blame too. We also break down how state guarantee funds actually work once an insurer goes under, the difference between credited and uncredited interest, and what changes once you’ve annuitized and the fund has to figure out your payments using its own mortality tables. Then we shift into jointly owned annuities, and this is the part worth paying close attention to. Most people assume a joint annuity behaves like any other jointly titled asset, where the survivor automatically ends up owning the whole thing. However, that is not always how it works. I walk through language from two different insurance contracts we have dealt with over the years, and the two companies handle a joint owner’s death in completely different ways. If you have an older jointly owned annuity with someone other than your spouse listed as primary beneficiary, this is worth looking into now, because what actually happens at the first owner’s death might not be what you expect. The post What to Know About Jointly Owned Annuities: EDU #2626 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

    1h 12m

  5. Jun 27

    Social Security, SPIA, SPIA Timing, QLAC: Q&A #2626

    Jim and Chris discuss listener emails on Social Security benefits for a disabled adult child, SPIA timing and funding, longevity assumptions, and QLAC planning. (15:15) A listener asks why Social Security appears to be paying a disabled adult child benefit and child-in-care spousal benefit as a combined 50% of the worker’s PIA rather than 50% each, and how they might address the issue. (32:45) The guys discuss whether to buy a SPIA now or wait until age 70, along with the pros and cons of purchasing one with pre-tax, Roth, or brokerage assets. They also address where a DIY investor may be able to purchase a SPIA. (1:11:00) Jim and Chris respond to a listener considering whether expected AI-driven longevity advances should factor into the timing of a future SPIA purchase. (1:19:15) A listener asks about using a QLAC to help accelerate Roth conversions and whether a special needs trust for a disabled adult child could avoid a large lump-sum tax hit if both parents pass early. The post Social Security, SPIA, SPIA Timing, QLAC: Q&A #2626 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

    1h 37m

  6. Jun 24

    Annuity Collapse: EDU #2625

    Chris’s Summary Jim and I examine an Annuity Collapse involving PHL Variable Insurance Company, a $99,000 annuity, private equity ownership, state guarantee funds, and the limits of what the article explains. We separate fixed annuities, variable annuities, general accounts, separate accounts, insurer insolvency risk, market risk, and rating history, while noting why the missing annuity details matter. Jim’s “Pithy” Summary Chris and I dig into Annuity Collapse coverage that had a lot of listeners understandably worked up, but also left out some details that matter. The headline says a woman paid $99,000 to generate retirement income for life and then the insurance company collapsed. That gets attention. It should. But before everyone runs around saying annuities are terrible and insurance companies should all be burned at the stake, we have to slow down and ask what she actually owned, because the article never clearly says whether this was fixed, variable, in payout, deferred, in the general account, or in a separate account. That distinction matters. If this was a variable annuity held in separate accounts, those assets may not be part of the insurance company’s bankruptcy estate, though market losses and access problems may still be real issues while the company is in rehabilitation or liquidation. If it was a fixed annuity or money sitting in the general account, state guarantee funds can matter, but they are not FDIC insurance, and they do not move in a few days. They can take a really long time, and the limits vary by state and product type. The larger issue is not that this woman did something wrong. I do not fault her. I fault the agent, the regulators, and the private equity games that Tom Gober has been warning about for years. PHL had weak ratings for a long time, and if it begins with a B, I think it is bad. We also talk about using AI to research insurer ratings, downgrades, ownership history, and state guarantee protections, especially before using an annuity for a lifetime income stream connected to a Minimum Dignity Floor. Link to the article: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/paid-insurance-company-99000-generate-retirement-income-life-collapsed-rcna331934 The post Annuity Collapse: EDU #2625 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

    1h 12m

  7. Jun 20

    Social Security, Annuities, Income, Annuities: Q&A #2625

    Jim and Chris discuss listener emails on delayed Social Security credits, annuity provider ratings, DIA versus QLAC income planning, and fixed indexed annuity (FIA) recommendations. (10:30) A listener shares a long delay in receiving additional Delayed Retirement Credits on their Social Security benefit and asks whether there are any further steps to take or whether patience is the best option. (26:00) Another listener passes along Kiplinger reader survey results on annuity providers and asks whether the information may be useful in a broader discussion about choosing an insurance company. (45:00) The guys are asked when a deferred income annuity (DIA) might be better than a qualified longevity annuity contract (QLAC) inside an IRA, especially given the potential RMD and tax advantages of a QLAC. (1:15:45) Jim and Chris respond to a listener nearing retirement who was advised to move TSP G Fund money into a fixed indexed annuity (FIA) and wants to understand whether that is better than keeping the funds in the TSP and using a withdrawal strategy. The post Social Security, Annuities, Income, Annuities: Q&A #2625 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

    1h 42m

  8. Jun 17

    Forced Annuitization: EDU #2624

    Chris’s Summary Jim and I continue our discussion on Forced Annuitization in a highly appreciated non-qualified variable annuity owned by a 90-year-old listener’s mother. We examine LIFO taxation, IRD, IRMAA, period certain annuitization, beneficiary options, IOVAs, and the difference between a codified annuitization approach and the less certain non-qualified stretch. The distinction between a noun annuity and a verb annuity does a lot of work here. Jim’s “Pithy” Summary Chris and I pick back up with a listener’s situation involving Forced Annuitization, a 90-year-old mother, and a non-qualified variable annuity with a tremendous amount of gain. This is not the insurance company being nefarious. These contracts have annuitization dates, and in an older contract, age 95 may once have seemed far away. Now it is an iceberg. The first question is still simple: what does mom want to do? From there, the insurance company’s actual annuitization options matter, preferably in writing, because every policy is unique. We get into the black-and-white choices and the gray area. A life with period certain option may spread payments beyond the forced annuitization point if the insurer allows it. If death occurs before annuitization, a non-spouse beneficiary generally faces two cleaner choices: annuitize within one year based on actuarially sound life expectancy, or use the five-year rule. Then we look at investment-only variable annuities, where the insurance company may provide the annuity wrapper, the assets remain in separate accounts, and one company Jim contacted allows new contracts up to age 95 with forced annuitization pushed out to age 121. The gray area is the non-qualified stretch. Jim explains why he has softened, but not flipped, on it. The SECURE Act changed Section 401, not Section 72(s), and that matters. Still, the comfort level depends on PLRs, insurance company practice, and how much uncertainty someone is willing to tolerate. One path is the verb annuity: give up access and control in exchange for a lifetime stream of income. The other keeps the noun annuity alive, with more flexibility, but less certainty. Same problem, very different wrappers. The post Forced Annuitization: EDU #2624 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

    1h 6m
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Hosts & Guests

4.3
out of 5
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About

What do you get when you combine two knowledgeable CFP® PROFESSIONALS (one also a well-informed COLLEGE FINANCE INSTRUCTOR)? If you mix in relevant financial information and a healthy dose of humor you get the Retirement and IRA Radio Show! JIM SAULNIER, a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professional with Jim Saulnier and Associates who specializes in retirement planning for clients across the country, CHRIS STEIN, a Finance Instructor at Colorado State University who is also a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professional, offer real-world knowledge on a diverse range of topics including Social Security planning, investing for your retirement, the fundamentals of 401(k) and IRA accounts. Jim and Chris make learning about your retirement both educational and entertaining!

Information

  • Creator
    Jim Saulnier, CFP® & Chris Stein, CFP®
  • Years Active
    2013 - 2026
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Show Website
    The Retirement and IRA Show

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