More Posts
Can you convert your health savings account (HSA) to Roth, and do the five-year Roth withdrawal clocks apply? What should you do with money you’d been putting to your student loan debt if you’re part of the student loan forgiveness program? What’s the best way to invest your RMDs, or required minimum distributions? How does IRMAA, the income-related monthly adjustment amount for Medicare, apply to zero-coupon municipal bonds? And finally, strategies for collecting survivor Social Security benefits.
2023
If you knew exactly when you were going to die, so many financial decisions would be simple. But generally, we don’t, so today Joe and Big Al spitball on death, taxes, and trust issues – of the estate planning variety. Fair warning, it’s “the dark show” today on YMYW, as the fellas discuss cancer trust funds, making your trust the beneficiary on your retirement accounts, when and how to take Social Security benefits and pension options, and a few different Roth conversion strategies taking into account the 5-year rules for withdrawals, and potentially donating required minimum distributions to charity rather than doing conversions.
2023
How do you protect your nest egg when you’re really risk-averse and want safe, low-risk investments – should you invest in annuities, CDs? When choosing a money market fund, should you just invest in the one with the highest post-tax return? How do you go about replenishing cash, or rebalancing your portfolio, when the stock market is up? Plus, the widow’s penalty in relation to Roth conversions, and switching from survivor Social Security benefits to your own. Also – withdrawing from your portfolio before RMD age? One listener says nobody should ever need to do it!
2023
If you have some savings but can’t contribute any more, will you ever be able to retire? Joe and Big Al have three simple strategies to help you get there. Plus, how long does it take to get off of Medicare’s monthly income adjustment amount (IRMAA) after your income decreases at retirement, and how do you take unknown future IRMAA income limits into account when setting up your financial plan? Can you “re-do” Social Security and stop taking benefits after claiming Social Security early? Do spousal benefits change after one spouse files for Social Security? And finally, the fellas address a few corrections they’ve received recently regarding Medicare and safe harbor 401(k) plans. What exactly is “top-heavy” anyway?
2023
Is your retirement plan turbocharged? Do you know how to make the most of the money that you’ve worked so hard to save? Joe Anderson, CFP®, and Big Al Clopine, CPA are here to tell you how to turbocharge your wealth. Whether you are in the slow lane with your savings benchmarks or stalled out […]
2023
Joe and Big Al spitball on set-and-forget brokerage investments for 30-something investors, real estate as a substitute for bonds in a diversified portfolio, and options for taking a state pension with or without sick time pay. The fellas also discuss how to bridge the gap until collecting Social Security, strategies for claiming spousal Social Security benefits, and whether you need to sign up for Medicare if you’d rather keep the healthcare you already have.
2023
Joe and Big Al are back with a SECURE Act 2.0 recap and a proposed backdoor 529 plan strategy from the new law. Plus, is there a scenario where it makes sense to not max retirement accounts, to avoid being retirement rich and cash poor? Also, the fellas’ thoughts on a break-even point for Social Security, required minimum distributions (RMD) from inherited IRAs, and of course, Roth IRA strategies: as in, the 5-year rules for Roth withdrawals, preserving Roth money and avoiding early withdrawal penalties, and Roth conversions to offset brokerage account losses.
2023
When you read the headlines each day do you feel like you are less and less in control of your finances and what will happen to your money in the long term? You are not alone. The fear of the unknown can lead to stress and anxiety. In a recent survey, more people reported fearing […]
2022
We’re hearing more about fixed indexed annuities with these volatile financial markets. Is it time to reconsider? Plus, clarification on required minimum distributions being waived for non-spouse IRA beneficiaries in 2021 and 2022, taxation on trusts, and suggestions for a 40-year-old considering an early mini-retirement. Also, can a 62-year-old immediately withdraw Roth conversion money? Finally, a strategy to claim Social Security early while working and invest the difference in a Roth, and Joe and Big Al attempt to explain family Social Security benefits without phoning it in.
Subscribe to the YMYW podcast Subscribe to the YMYW newsletter
LISTEN on Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Player FM
2022
What will you actually need to spend in retirement? Joe and Big Al explain how to really think about and calculate your retirement expenses. Plus, if you want to reduce your tax-deferred account balances, does it make more sense to do Roth conversions or reinvest? What about doing Roth conversions to a higher tax bracket than the one you’ll be in during retirement? Also, the fellas explain the alternative minimum tax, how Social Security spousal benefits work, and when in the year you turn 72 you must take required minimum distributions from your retirement accounts. And finally, what should someone with no credit history, who hasn’t paid taxes, do with a sudden $100,000 windfall?
Subscribe to the YMYW podcast Subscribe to the YMYW newsletter
2022
Growing your wealth and crafting the lifestyle you want in retirement begins with some basic assumptions. Are you basing your entire financial plan on facts or fiction? Many people don’t even know where to start, much less what is true or false. In many cases, the misconceptions are largely considered facts! In this episode, Joe […]
2022
Are you behind on your retirement savings? What do you need to do to catch up? If you retire in just a few years, will your money last until age 90? Based on the 5-year Roth withdrawal rules, do you need to open a new Roth IRA for each Roth conversion? Plus, Joe and Big Al spitball a health insurance, capital gains, and real estate strategy to save more money and have more wealth in retirement. Finally, they revisit the SECURE Act rules for withdrawing money from an inherited IRA, and Social Security income limits.
Subscribe to the YMYW podcast Subscribe to the YMYW newsletter
LISTEN on Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Player FM
2022
Joe and Big Al explain when and how to claim Social Security survivor benefits, and how earning income impacts your benefit if you collect Social Security before full retirement age. Plus, how much should you withdraw in retirement from tax-free, taxable, and tax-deferred accounts? Also, RMDs, deciding whether to keep a life insurance policy, and of course, Roth conversion strategies – is the backdoor Roth better for long-term portfolio growth?
Subscribe to the YMYW podcast Subscribe to the YMYW newsletter
LISTEN on Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Player FM
2022
Answers to your questions on, of course, backdoor Roth strategies. Y’know, to get as much lifetime tax-free growth on your investments as possible. Plus, investing strategies: does it make sense to buy a property now and rent it out until retirement? How much of a single stock in your investment portfolio can you sell and pay no capital gains tax? The fellas also explain capital loss carryovers, inherited IRAs, spousal Social Security and delayed retirement credits, required minimum distributions, and they spitball on an appropriate allocation of bonds, domestic stocks, and international stocks.
Subscribe to the YMYW podcast Subscribe to the YMYW newsletter
LISTEN on Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Player FM
2022
Avoid costly mistakes when collecting Social Security. During this webinar, Dan Goldstein, CFP®, MBA provides insight into the history of Social Security, Social Security eligibility, how Social Security works, and how to make the most of your Social Security payments. Dan answers questions from the audience on spousal and survivor benefits, tax on Social Security, […]
2022