Episodes
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...
Published 11/16/23
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...
Published 11/09/23
The term “Unretirement” is popping up more and more these days, and Chris Farrell literally wrote the book on it. After years of studying and reporting on the economy for PBS Next Avenue and Bloomberg Businessweek, Chris’ latest book, Purpose and Paycheck, further drives home the point that, at our core, humans have a deep need to be useful. A leading voice of the Unretirement movement, Chris joins Wes to share his thoughts on why so many Baby Boomers have decided to embrace the Unretirement...
Published 11/02/23
Change is a natural part of life. The more we lean in to that change, the better we can plan for and adjust to its consequences. On today’s episode, Wes points out some of the common catalysts for that change, and how we can ultimately make them work for our own retirement happiness. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Published 10/26/23
How do banks calculate the amount due on your monthly mortgage payment? Here’s a hint: it’s not based on an intrinsic desire to benefit you. Banks are in business to make money; you are their compound interest vehicle. In part two of our interview with Adam Carroll, he tells Wes about the Shred Method: a step-by-step guide to optimize your income, eliminate debt, and build real wealth and home equity in a much faster way than the typical 30-year mortgage. He also shares tips for building...
Published 10/19/23
On today’s show, Wes takes some time to answer listener questions. He covers the different phases of retirement, the pros and cons of keeping more than one property at a time, and why some folks have been apprehensive about the recent bond market. If you have a question for Wes, call 800-805-6301 to leave a voicemail or head to our Facebook group and write a comment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Published 10/12/23
Imagine playing Monopoly with actual money. Adam Carroll put $10,000 cash on the board and made his kids roll the dice. He wanted them to learn money's true value before entering the real world. From virtual tokens to Apple Pay to mom and dad’s wallet, kids aren’t often exposed to the concept that there is a literal price to pay for the goods and services we need and desire. On today’s episode he’ll explain that and his methodology for paying college tuition without incurring massive...
Published 10/05/23
Today, Wes wades into the concept of Unretirement. Multiple studies suggest that some Americans return to work six months or a year after retiring. There are several reasons for the trend. Wes explains the potential motivations and lists essential factors folks need to consider when making this decision. Whether you’re looking for a renewed sense of purpose or a change to your financial situation, you don’t want to miss this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Published 09/28/23
On today’s episode, Wes sits down with Ryan Doolittle, host of the Retire Sooner Team’s brand new podcast: Happiest Retirees. Ryan tells Wes that he originally came up with the idea as a way to talk less about philosophy and more about the actual people on the ground, living happy lives in retirement. How did they discover the core pursuits that gave them purpose and passion and how did they make them a reality? By going straight to the source, Ryan hopes the show will shine a light on the...
Published 09/21/23
On today’s show, Wes talks about what Warren Buffett called the “rising tide.” Wes feels the bad news about higher interest rates is good news for income investors. By combining the rising stock dividends, the concept of yield at cost over time, and higher interest rates paying more income, Wes has seen the typically diversified growth/income portfolio looking more robust than it has in a long time. The mention of any company is provided to you for informational purposes and as an example...
Published 09/14/23
What does your digital footprint say about what you want? Data scientist, author of best-seller "Everybody Lies," and speaker Seth Stephens-Davidowitz sits down with Wes Moss to talk about how data can reveal societal and personal trends in desires, psychology, wealth building, and more. This includes when you become a sports fan, who you seek out for romantic partners and how you present yourself to them, and what activities are ranked as the happiest to do. Seth explains how he went from...
Published 09/07/23
Suze Orman recently called the 4 Percent Rule “very dangerous” and said, “It doesn’t work anymore.” In today’s episode, Wes joins forces with Connor Miller, Co-Chief Investment Officer for Capital Investment Advisors, to fight against those statements. Using market history, they defend the legitimacy of what they feel has been a solid retirement strategy since William Bengen discovered it in the mid-1990s. Giving specific examples, they lay out the case for this dynamic, flexible rule of...
Published 08/31/23
We’re revisiting a listener favorite this week that was originally released in March of 2022. The Retire Sooner Team believes this message from Carl Honore about slowing down is more relevant than ever. Our world is built on speed. From our lives to the stock market, even retirement, we aim to tackle every task as quickly as possible; but when is it time to reduce speed and pump the brakes? While our first instinct is to hurry, as humans, we must remind ourselves that being slow is not about...
Published 08/24/23
In this episode of Retire Sooner, Wes conveys his dismay at the abundance of scary headlines bombarding Americans these days. With unsettling bylines flooding our news feeds, he says it’s understandable for people to consider pulling money out of the market. But is that productive? Using a lesson he learned from Tom Cruise’s 1990 racing film Days of Thunder, Wes points to the statistical advantage of staying the course even when your survival instincts tell you otherwise. Pointing to specific...
Published 08/17/23
Medicines help to treat illness within the body, but what if we replaced filling a prescription with filling our bags at the farmer’s market with foods that can heal our bodies from the inside out? Dr. William Li, world-renowned physician, scientist, TED speaker, and author of “Eat To Beat Disease," joins this episode to share just how much food can impact our health. Dr. William Li provides his definition of being healthy, tips for kickstarting your health journey, and how there are five...
Published 08/10/23
Today on Retire Sooner, Wes Moss revisits one of his favorite interviews from his radio show, Money Matters. He talked about Blue Zones - areas in the world where people live exceptionally long and healthy lives - with renowned explorer, educator, and expert on longevity from National Geographic, Dan Buettner. From diet to social connections to DNA, they explore many factors that impact our well-being. This includes the benefits of having a sense of purpose and passion, a key tenant of the...
Published 08/03/23
For a lot of people, what they want and what they expect can be two very different things. This may include those in their 30s and 40s who want to be able to retire but don't expect they'll be able to.   Dr. Jennice Vilhauer is a psychologist, author, and the developer of Future Directed Therapy. On today's Retire Sooner, she lends her expertise around activating a future-connected mindset to explain ways people can help themselves work toward what they want in life. Wes and Dr. Vilhauer go...
Published 07/27/23
Today on Retire Sooner, we're revisiting one of our most popular topics of the year: five reasons why someone may want to retire as soon as they can! Wes talks through catalysts for retiring, dives into the retirement transition, and shares comments from listeners regarding their retirement. He also reveals financial checkpoints of happy retirees and provides his insights on retiring happy. Disclosure: This is provided as a resource for informational purposes and is not to be viewed as...
Published 07/20/23
One of the top real estate agents in the US, best-selling author, entrepreneur, and Georgia Bulldog, Bonneau Ansley does it all. On Retire Sooner, he sits down with Wes Moss to tell his story of success. From building houses and developing to becoming an agent and buying an international luxury real estate network, Ansley has followed his passion to achieve massive success. Along the way he's weathered literal fire, overcome the 2008 economic crisis, turned his dyslexia and attention-deficit...
Published 07/13/23
The Retire Sooner Team is taking a break this week to celebrate the Independence Day holiday. Next week Wes will be talking real estate with one of the top agents in the country, Bonneau Ansley. In the meantime, listen to your favorite Retire Sooner episodes at wesmoss.com/podcast or your favorite podcast platform. Stay tuned for more episodes with tips on living a happy and fulfilling retirement. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Published 07/06/23
In the field of neuroscience, it’s easy to ask questions. This week's Retire Sooner guest, Michael Platt, is known for developing innovative ways to find the answers. A professor of Brain Science for Business at the esteemed Wharton School, Platt joins Wes Moss to talk about the brain science of loneliness and some ways one can improve the health of your personal connections to help nurture your happiness later in life. They look at what types of data trigger our brains for marketing,...
Published 06/29/23
On this special episode of Retire Sooner, Wes Moss shares ten of his favorite lessons learned from previous Retire Sooner podcast guests! He recaps topics such as second-act careers, wealth accumulation, and legacy planning. Wes also delves into what he learned from previous Retire Sooner guests about the importance of belonging to a community, finding purpose, and trying new things as adults. He digs into insights from guests such as travel writer Don George, author Mitch Albom, and...
Published 06/22/23
In difficult conversations, do you notice you or your conversant trying to "win" the discussion instead of listening to each other's perspectives? Today on Retire Sooner, Wes Moss is joined by Douglas Stone, author, speaker, and lecturer on negotiation at Harvard Law School, to talk about navigating difficult conversations. Whether the subject of the conversation is financial, medical, or an interpersonal conflict, there are some discussions that can feel awkward, tense, or become...
Published 06/15/23
A-list actor Matthew McConaughey is not only a beloved American talent, but an excellent speaker. His 2015 speech to University of Texas graduates is a prime and popular example, and one that Wes Moss found especially inspiring. While McConaughey's speech was targeted to fresh graduates starting their life and career journeys, Wes found much of the advice applicable to prepping for an early retirement, planning for your financial future, and being a better investor. So, in today's episode of...
Published 06/08/23
If there's ever a concern about whether a partner is financially cheating or fudging the numbers on finances, you better hope Tracy Coenen is busy doing something else! Author of three books on fraud and embezzlement with more than 500 forensic accounting engagements completed, Tracy Coenen has spent more than 25 years investigating fraud. In this Retire Sooner episode, she joins Wes Moss to discuss forensic accounting and dig into signs that your spouse may be financially cheating on you....
Published 06/01/23