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Before she retires next month at age 52, Rowan in Georgia wonders how to maximize growth in her IRA, which will be funded with 72(t) early retirement withdrawals. What do Joe Anderson, CFP® and Big Al Clopine, CPA think of her substantially equal periodic payment plan? And how should she allocate it? Michael in Virginia isn’t interested in any international investments and is instead invested in stocks like Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, and Berkshire. What adjustments would the fellas make to his portfolio for long-term growth? That’s today on Your Money, Your Wealth® podcast 533. Plus, our friend Will, who is not a gas siphoner, wants Joe and Big Al’s opinion on “backdoor Rothing” his solo 401(k) instead of having an emergency fund, and on what he should do with his annuity. Also, the fellas explain ESOP and NUA – that is, employee stock ownership plans and net unrealized appreciation – for Tess and Finn in Texas.
What should you do when the asset allocation of your retirement portfolio drifts? Joe and Big Al spitball on rebalancing for DJ in St. Louis. Plus, Coach Dobber in Minnesota is curious about municipal bonds in a brokerage account, and Daniel in Stevensville, Michigan needs details on emergency funds. Also, can Tim the Enchanter do a Roth conversion and avoid the “nasty, big pointy teeth” of capital gains tax? Duke in upstate New York told his wife they need 6 million dollars in retirement, and she said he was silly. What say Joe and Al? We’ll find out.
With the recent political transition, as well as questions around what’s next for the Federal Reserve and the economy, we wanted to take this opportunity to address some of the more common items we are discussing with clients. We also wanted to provide some context for long-term investors and help them keep perspective on current […]
Updated for 2025: How investment savvy are you? Do you know the difference between asset allocation and asset location? Many Americans don’t have a solid understanding of basic investing terms and concepts, and their lack of financial literacy can cost them! It can be difficult to grow your wealth if you don’t know what tools […]
Sunshine in Orange County has been waiting patiently since January for a full Retirement Spitball Analysis: how are her assumptions for rates of return and inflation, her plans for Roth conversions, her asset allocation and asset location, her tax planning, her retirement income and retirement spending plans, and so much more? What missed opportunities is she overlooking?
So many excellent Retirement Spitball requests have come in that Your Money, Your Wealth® hosts, Joe Anderson CFP®, and Big Al Clopine CPA can’t handle them all.
On these bonus episodes, called YMYW Extra, producer Andi Last enlists the help of the experienced professionals on Joe and Big Al’s team at Pure Financial Advisors. In today’s YMYW Extra number 1, thanks to David Cook, CFP® from Pure Financial’s San Diego headquarters, Sunshine finally gets her Retirement Spitball Analysis.
So you won the lottery – congratulations! After you celebrate, should you rip off the band-aid and convert the entire lump sum payment to a Roth IRA? Also, Bucky in WA is required to have the same asset allocation in his traditional and Roth 401(k). Joe and Big Al spitball on his options, along with the pros and cons of consolidating retirement accounts for Scott in NC, and they explain the spousal Roth IRA for Rock Rochester in Manistique, MI. Plus, should Scott in Jackson, MS sign up for the state public employees’ retirement system or a traditional retirement plan? Can Driving Fast, Loving Life in TX speed away in her Porsche from RSU capital gains? And should she and her hubbs retire abroad? Finally, can Sean in Reno, NV buy a million-dollar vacation home in 10 years, and can Jennifer in La Mirada, CA afford to retire after being forced out of a 21-year career?
Will Duke and Daisy’s retirement spending plan work? If you’re a fan of hearing Joe and Big Al debate, you’re in luck, as they disagree on assumptions when it comes to retirement planning and withdrawals. The EASIretirement.com calculator says Chuck in South Carolina could convert even more to Roth, and the fellas spitball on the pros and cons. Plus, what should Chuck’s asset allocation be for his daughters, and how should Scott in Kansas City’s parents allocate their assets? Can Rothaholic undo his Roth conversion? Brian Fantana and his wife are in their 30s and want to retire at 60. Are they on track? Ricky in Alabama wants to avoid Medicare’s IRMAA, or income-related monthly adjustment amount. Should he spend from his IRA or from his Roth? Daniel in Whittier wants to know what exactly counts for IRMAA income, anyway? And finally, Elisa in Fremont wants to know, with the new SECURE Act 2.0 rules, when can you transfer 529 college savings funds to Roth?
Why would a financial advisor suggest that Frank in Lake Wobegon sell a piece of inherited property, pay 25% tax, and invest the lump sum? Mark in Florida is 72 and invested in CDs. Should he go back to his financial advisor, or just buy more CDs? Plus, Adam in Tennessee will have deferred income in 5 years. Should his asset allocation be more conservative? And in order to retire early at age 55, should Lewis in Arkansas delay starting Roth conversions? But first, if Mike’s wife outlives him, how can he keep her in a similar tax bracket?
Are there general guidelines on what percentages of your investment portfolio should be in tax-free accounts like your Roth, tax-deferred accounts like your 401(k), and taxable accounts like your brokerage? Joe Anderson, CFP® and Big Al Clopine, CPA spitball on tax diversification today on Your Money, Your Wealth® podcast 468 for Brian in Naperville, IL. William in NH also wants to be tax-diversified. Is his Roth conversion strategy a mistake? Should he be converting much more to Roth? The fellas also do a retirement spitball analysis for Tom in Spokane, WA, and for Claire in CO, who wants to retire next year. Plus, how does Matthew in CT calculate excess Roth contributions, and how should Thomas in IA reallocate assets he over-contributed to his brokerage account? Now that Sean in FL no longer has a traditional IRA, can he use the backdoor Roth strategy? We kick things off with a question from Joe in Dallas on how to account for taxes on the money you’ll be spending in retirement.
Are you thinking about boosting your financial situation in 2024? Pure’s Financial Planner, Bill Hodapp, CFP®, CPA, AIF®, discusses strategies aimed at refining your budgeting, optimizing tax management, and elevating your investment approach for the year. Outline 0:07 – Intro 1:45 – Personal Finance Goals 3:15 – Creating a Budget 5:21 – 50/30/20 Strategy 6:03 […]
Should Peter LemonJello, who has high income, and his wife, who is retired with zero income, file their taxes as married filing separately so they can start Roth conversions? What are the tax implications of Roth conversions for Randy in Chi-town, an early retiree in the 32% tax bracket? Caity (with a C) in SLC is self-employed and over the income max to contribute to a Roth, so now what? And Ben in Oceanside, CA wants to know what impact Roth conversions will have on required minimum distributions after age 73? Joe and Big Al spitball on all these Roth conversion tax reduction strategies, plus, does the math make sense on a company-matched Kai-Zen indexed universal life insurance policy for Kickass Seabass in New Jersey? Ed in Virginia wants to know the earnings limits for family Social Security benefits. But first, can JJ in Florida’s retirement portfolio handle withdrawals of $150,000 per year? And from the banks of the Mighty Mississippi, what should midwestfabs’ post-employment asset allocation be?
Can Sven and Olga in Minnesota shorten their working years? Should PJ in Michigan take his pension lump sum or the annuity payments, and should he maintain an aggressive asset allocation in retirement? Plus, the fellas spitball early retirement strategies for Joe in Massachusetts and Nick in California, and they discuss how to tell the difference between post-tax contributions and pre-tax funds converted to Roth at tax time for Victor.
If you are like the majority of Americans, your financial health barely has a pulse, and the condition is worsening rather than getting better. With the money you have saved right now, at what age would you be able to retire? 65? 70? NEVER?! The doctors are in the house: Joe Anderson and Alan Clopine […]
Do you need to pull over and ask for directions on the road to retirement? Mile Markers along the highway let you know how much you’ve traveled and how much more you’ve got to go. When it comes to retirement, those Mile Markers can let you know if you are on track to retire comfortably… […]
Your asset allocation will evolve as your financial life, timeframes, and comfort with investing changes. Pure’s Financial Planner, Nick Rose, CFP®, AIF®, talks about the importance of having the proper mix of investments in your portfolio to optimize your money’s growth regardless of age and economic circumstances. FREE GUIDE | Retirement Reality Checklist Transcript Asset […]
