We live in a 21st-century world, and our brains haven’t quite caught up. They’re designed to look out for the Saber-toothed tiger, not a million dings and beeps from smartphones. It’s no surprise that anxiety is a massive problem in modern-day life. But Dr. John Delony says anxiety isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It’s just an alarm system to keep us safe, and we can learn to tweak the settings. John is a two-time bestselling author, holds two PhDs, spent over twenty years working in crisis...

On today's episode, Wes is joined by Producer Mallory Boggs. They brainstorm the idea of holding a “Retire Sooner Conference” and answer some of the questions the attendees might ask the panel. Using his retirement calculator, Wes explores what constitutes a solid retirement plan and how much inflation needs to be considered. Then, combining his Retire Sooner Team’s research with analysis from The Ramsey Network’sDr. John Delony about the burden of debt, Wes answers whether people should or...

Edd and Cynthia Staton’s retirement plans were on track. Then, the 2008 Financial Crisis hit. Their careers disappeared, their home lost its value, and their savings plummeted. Realizing recovery was unlikely, they needed to come up with a Plan B. And boy, did they ever. In 2010, they moved to Cuenca, Ecuador. Don’t worry, they didn’t know where that was, either. But now they love it! They live in a 3,000-square-foot penthouse apartment, have a housekeeper, eat out frequently, never worry...

On today’s show, Wes is joined by Producer Mallory to elaborate on the pitfalls of fleeing the market during turbulent times. They comment on the shell shock of the Covid-19 lockdowns back in 2020 and how tempting it was for fearful investors to yank their money out of the market. Wes empathizes with the temptation but explains that letting the dog chase the tail rather than trusting in a balanced, diversified portfolio can have disastrous ramifications. Wes reveals that time in the market...

We all know aging comes with cognitive challenges, but how early do they start? Sometimes, I forget my email password or where I put my car keys. Should I be worried? Dr. Nicole Byers came by to give us some fascinating answers, including the magical age when it can be beneficial to consume MORE calories. With a Ph.D. in clinical psychology and a dissertation focused on the aging brain, she’s written extensively about brain health for Psychology Today. A neuropsychologist, TEDx speaker, and...

In part two of Wes’ favorite takeaways from Morgan Housel’s bestselling book, The Psychology of Money, he teams up with Producer Mallory to discuss the power of tail events, the misconception of money and respect, the illusion of wealth, the simple act of saving, how reasonable is greater than rational, expecting the unexpected, leaving room for error, financial bubbles, the seduction of pessimism, the lure of appealing fiction, and money confessions. They wrap it all into a profound...

You can’t say the word “midlife” without imagining a crisis. An aging bald guy who cheats on his wife and buys a sports car to fill the void. But Chip Conley says we’re looking at it all wrong. The midlife age range has been unfairly branded, and he’s on a mission to change it. He co-founded MEA, the Modern Elder Academy, in 2018. The world's first ‘midlife wisdom school’ has a campus in Baja, California, and a new one is opening in Santa Fe, New Mexico. They help folks navigate midlife with...

On today’s episode, Wes is joined by producer Mallory for part one of their discussion about the biggest takeaways from Morgan Housel’s bestselling book The Psychology of Money. They cover concepts such as the influence of personal history, the freedom money can offer, luck and risk, knowing how much is enough, the power of compounding, getting wealthy vs. staying wealthy, and unexpected outcomes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode, Wes explains the generosity component of the Retire Sooner podcast and welcomes Chris Anderson to the show. Chris is the curator of TED, a nonprofit media organization that leverages the power of ideas to make a better future, perhaps more well-known for its TED Talks Series. He is the author of the New York Times bestseller TED Talks and has overseen the introduction of TEDx, TED-Ed, TED Fellows, and the Audacious Project, a new form of collaborative philanthropy. Chris...

On today’s episode, we ponder the question, “Can money buy happiness?” The answer might surprise listeners, and Wes borrows the words of best-selling author Morgan Housel to help discuss the positive and negative psychological effects money can have on retirees. Wes then uses his own “Bucket System” analogy to explain income investing and how three keys can help folks sleep well at night. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode, Wes sits down with Steve Tarr, a Fellow at the Drucker School of Management, to discuss how difficult the retirement transition can be for busy and successful people. Using the SOAR Program as a guide, they analyze the positive effects of discovering new pathways to meaning, community, and purpose and how they can lead to retirement happiness. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Capital Investments Advisors Wealth Analyst Jeff Lloyd joins Wes to discuss the excitement around the market finally recouping its 2022 losses and forging into bull market territory. Then, they delve into the hidden market strength of dividends and what retirees need to know about the opportunities they can provide. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode of the Retire Sooner podcast, Wes welcomes back Mary Beth Franklin. This time, she takes on the herculean task of simplifying Medicare. They get into the differences between Medicare A, B, C, D, Advantage Plans, Gap Plans, and Supplemental Coverage. Mary Beth lays out which options might suit which people, depending on their lifestyles. She flags when it could be ideal to pay for the more expensive plan and when the cheaper selection could suffice. She gets into the weeds...

On today’s episode of Retire Sooner, Wes welcomes Happiest Retirees podcast host Ryan Doolittle to discuss college football legend Nick Saban’s recent retirement. They delve into his famous coaching process, looking for helpful financial and life-planning tips. Using Saban’s specific principles, they lay out the case for focusing on the process rather than the outcome to achieve a happy retirement. What are Coach Saban’s own chances for a happy retirement? Listen and find out. Learn more...

Social Security can be an essential stream of income for retirees on a fixed income. Unfortunately, the seemingly endless rules and regulations can overwhelm even the most informed applicants. In today’s Retire Sooner episode, Social Security ace Mary Beth Franklin joins Wes to bring listeners the most up-to-date information and context about avoiding pitfalls and maximizing benefits. In a dynamic conversation, Wes channels the questions of many Americans. He even puts Mary on the hot seat...

In today’s episode of the Retire Sooner podcast, Wes is joined by Capital Investment Advisors Co-Chief Investment Officer Connor Miller. They discuss the possibility of 2024 ushering in “A Whole New World” for markets, investors, and retirees. They reiterate that purchasing power is a perennial goal for the happy retiree. Inflation lay nearly dormant from 2009 to 2020 as if it were a prehistoric beast frozen deep inside an Arctic glacier. Unfortunately, the government’s post-pandemic monetary...

Anyone in the Retire Sooner family knows how passionate Wes is about the 4 Percent Rule—William Bengen’s rule of thumb that originally discovered retirees who draw down 4 percent of their portfolio in the first year of retirement and then adjust this amount yearly for inflation would likely see their money outlive them, assuming a 50 to 75 percent allocation in stocks. On today’s episode, Wes discusses Dave Ramsey’s recent controversial statements about doubling the number to 8 percent. You...

Happy holidays to my favorite happy retirees and aspiring retirees! The Retire Sooner Team is taking a little time off to step away from the office and connect with friends and family. We'll be back with a new season in January with more fun episodes that I hope will help push you to retire that much sooner and happier. If you have any ideas on topics you'd like for us to cover in the near year, please let us know! Visit the Contact page on RetireSoonerTeam.com. Those messages come straight...

Arguably the most recognized male figure skater in the world, Scott Hamilton has won seventy titles, awards, and honors, including an Emmy nomination, induction into the United States Olympic Hall of Fame, and the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame. He later became a fan-favorite analyst/commentator, performer, producer, and best-selling author. He even shared the big screen with Will Ferrell and Amy Poehler in the classic comedy Blades of Glory. As fierce as the competition was in the skating...

In today’s episode, Wes points out that the population of mini-millionaires is growing and that society’s perception of them isn’t always very accurate. Producer Mallory Boggs joins to discuss this latest variant of what authors Thomas Stanley and Bill Danko originally coined, The Millionaire Next Door. They elaborate on five habits that this cohort tends to follow. And Wes points out that although investing is often a critical step to becoming a millionaire, it’s perhaps even more essential...

On today’s episode, Wes sits down with a woman who has dedicated her life to finding ways to protect retirement assets. As the director of victim support for the AARP Fraud Watch Network, Amy Nofziger has nearly two decades of experience in fraud prevention and victim support. A certified fraud examiner, she’s worked with the Wall Street Journal, Live with Kelly and Ryan, and Dr. Phil, among others, to shed light on consumer exploitation. The heinous nature of fraudsters is matched only by...

Is your relationship with money holding you back from finding financial success? Many of us have a rocky relationship with money, but if we looked at our capital from a different perspective, this could possibly change our outlook and relationship with money. To aid us in improving our connection with our funds and uncover the trick we need to change our relationship with money, Wes sits down with Ken Honda, a worldwide, well-known author whose books have sold more than 8 million copies,...

When Betty White died in 2021, we were somehow surprised. Even at 99-years-old, it felt like she was gone too soon. Smokey Robinson just released a new album at 83 years of age. Martha Stewart posed in a bathing suit on the cover of Sports Illustrated at 81.   How we think about aging is much different than it used to be, and Ken Dychtwald is one of the foremost authorities on these changing perceptions. For more than 45 years, he’s been an original thinker on the lifestyle, marketing, health...

Although numerous habits make up the structure of a happy retiree, financial habits play a large part in creating the fulfilling retirement you’ve always dreamed of and being able to fund your additional interests. In this episode, Wes breaks down the five financial secrets of the happiest retirees based on research from his latest book, What The Happiest Retirees Know, and reveals how these patterns are fundamental to building wealth and living a comfortable retirement. Learn more about your...