Emerging Markets are the world’s primary drivers of global growth (and wealth accumulation). Just over 50% of the world's economic output comes from these countries. 🤯 They play a crucial role in shaping global economic trends... ...but most retirement investors don't fully understand this asset class. To help break it down for us, Emerging Markets expert and founder of Life + Liberty Indexes, Perth Tolle, stops by to discuss:  ➤ What Emerging Markets are and why retirement savers should...

Why are most people planning for the wrong things in retirement? What should they be planning for that they’re not? To help answer these important questions, Psychologist & Behavioral Finance Expert Dr. Daniel Crosby stops by to discuss: ➤ What our happiness is determined by ➤ Why (contrary to popular research) more money can ACTUALLY make us happier ➤ What is the “PERMA model” and how can we use it to improve retirement success We also discuss why retirees are more depressed than...

Today, I'm talking about navigating the risks of concentrated investments. Specifically, Peter Lazaroff, CIO of Plancorp, joins me to answer three BIG questions: ➤ How do you know if you have a "concentrated investment?" ➤ What are some little-known risks investors aren't considering? ➤How do you (tax-efficiently) diversify concentrated investments? I also share a specific exercise investors can follow to decide if they should sell some or all of their concentrated holding(s). *** FREE...

Today, I'm sharing how retirement investors can take action in this final episode of our Small Cap Value series.  Specifically, I’m discussing three things:  ➤ Why paying MORE for an investment can pay off ➤ How to easily and properly evaluate different funds  ➤ What small-cap value funds to consider  I’m also sharing two important reminders before taking action and investing in this popular asset class. *** FREE RETIREMENT PLANNING RESOURCES: Subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement...

Today, I’m diving into part two of our Small Cap Value investing series. Specifically, I’m addressing three big questions: ➤ How do small-cap value stocks reduce risk + improve returns  ➤ What criteria does an investment need to meet to be included in a portfolio ➤ Why value investing is still alive and well While there is no shortage of research in favor of this dominant asset class... ...I’m also sharing why investors don’t necessarily need small-cap value stocks to reach their...

Today I’m kicking off a two-part series on Small Cap Value investing. Specifically, I’m addressing three big questions: ➤ What exactly are small-cap value stocks? ➤ Why have small-cap value stocks, historically, outperformed most major asset classes? ➤ Does the recent 20-year underperformance suggest that the strategy is dead and won’t work in the future?  I’m also sharing critical differences between small-cap value funds + how to take action if you want to include this asset class in...

Today, I'm sharing key takeaways from three of the BEST retirement articles I read this month. 1️⃣ The first article is about the future of taxes in this country and specifically makes a strong case for why they will be higher. 2️⃣ The second reveals why investors missed out on 15% of investment returns over the last decade. 😳 3️⃣ Lastly, the third article is a real-life account of what it actually feels like to transition from the working world into retirement. Didn’t get a chance to...

Today, I’m sharing FIVE surprising statistics about the economy, markets, and retirement. For example, one stat highlights a "stock market indicator" that has a 100% success rate 😳  Another emphasizes a growing insurance risk that everyone needs to protect against. Along with being entertaining, these stats bring important investing and planning topics to the surface.  They also serve as important reminders. If you’re ready to have some fun learning about the history of the markets and...

Are you ready to get answers to some BIG retirement questions? Questions such as: ➤ What role does the equity in my home play in my retirement plan? ➤ Why should I do Roth conversions to help mitigate taxes on my kids' inheritance? ➤ Are closed-end funds a good investment? ➤ How do I properly evaluate pension vs. lump-sum decisions? Today on the show, I’m answering these questions (and more!) with my good friend, Roger Whitney. I'm also providing an update on the Retirement Podcast...

Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) begin at age 73 for most retirement savers. These forced withdrawals can be a burden for those who don't need (or want) the taxable income. Since they are “required,” many assume that they don't have any control over their RMDs. But that’s not necessarily the case. In fact, one of the 5 strategies I'm sharing with you today allows you to delay unwanted (mandatory) distributions well past age 73 😳 Applying these strategies and gaining control of your...

In the final episode of this series, I'm answering the BEST listener questions I've received about dividend investing. Questions such as: ➤ If dividend investing is NOT a great way to create retirement income, what is?  ➤ What dividend-focused funds should investors consider if they insist on investing for yield?  ➤ What is the counterargument for stock buybacks? Why are some people against them? Tune in to hear my answers to these great questions! FREE RETIREMENT PLANNING RESOURCES: ...

In today's episode, I'm sharing everything you need to know about stock buybacks. Specifically, I'm sharing: ➤ Why stock buybacks are referred to as a "flexible" dividend ➤ What a stock buyback is (and how it works) ➤ How stock buybacks are more tax-friendly than traditional dividends If you want to learn more about this increasingly popular "flexible dividend" strategy, you'll enjoy this episode. FREE RETIREMENT PLANNING RESOURCES: Subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter! ...

Today I'm continuing our multi-part series on Dividend Investing. Specifically, in part two, I’m sharing: ➤ What the long-term performance has been for dividend-focused funds ➤ Why popular dividend investing charts can be incomplete (or misleading) ➤ The 3 primary reasons dividend strategies typically underperform If you want to learn more about dividend investing and why it may not be the magical solution it's often marketed as, you'll enjoy this episode.  *** FREE RETIREMENT PLANNING...

Today I'm kicking off a multi-part series on Dividend Investing. While dividends are a normal occurrence in the global markets, their role in a retirement portfolio is often misunderstood. ➤ What is a dividend, and why do some companies pay them?  ➤ How do they affect an investor's return? ➤ Where do dividends fit in the portfolio construction process?  ➤ What are the little-known problems with this investment strategy? ➤ And what does my upcoming birthday have to do with dividends? 🥳 ...

Today I'm sharing a story about a couple who lost $2 million to an investment scam. I'm also sharing (new!) resources to help protect your personal data in 2024. Financial scams are getting more sophisticated and losses are skyrocketing. In fact, last year, Americans lost $10 billion to financial scams. That’s $1 billion more than 2022, and is the highest-ever reported annual loss in FTC history. Everyone is at risk. And everyone needs to regularly take proactive steps to stay safe. ...

There is no shortage of questions when it comes to navigating and planning for retirement. ➤ How much do I need to save?  ➤ How do I optimize my tax bill and avoid overpaying the IRS?  ➤ When do I take Social Security?  ➤ What should I invest in? (And what should I avoid?!) The list goes on. And while you’ve likely read (or heard) helpful answers to most of the big questions, it never hurts to revisit them or get a different perspective. In fact, some studies suggest that it can take...

Inflation hit a 40-year high of 9.1% in June 2022. Today, inflation is hovering around 3%. If inflation is back in line with long-term historical averages, why does everything still feel so expensive? When voters were asked what they would most like to see improved in our economy... ...why did 64% of them say "lower prices?"  In this episode, I'm digging into the current state of inflation, why prices still feel high, and where inflation might be headed. I'm also sharing tactics for how...

Want an easy way to learn how the "Roth 5-Year Rule" affects your unique situation?  Subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter. As a thank you, you'll receive my one-page flowchart (PDF) for navigating this confusing rule. 👉 Click here to join the newsletter! *** TODAY'S EPISODE: The "Trump-era tax cuts" are set to expire in 2026. In other words, retirement savers only have two more years to take advantage of today's lower tax rates. One of the popular strategies to do this...

Today I'm talking through four (rarely-discussed) retirement planning misconceptions. In fact, some of these misconceptions might not be misconceptions at all... ...they might be concepts that you've never even considered! For example, is retirement planning a complex problem OR a complicated problem? (And why does it matter?)  And, should you develop a retirement plan from the outside in OR the inside out? To help answer these important questions, I'm joined by Roger Whitney, host of...

It's an election year. As a result, many retirement investors believe that the market MUST be in for a wild ride. But is that true?  Over the last 100 years, how have markets behaved during election years? What have been the best and worst returns?  How has the market performed during every 4-year presidential term since 1929? And is it "different this time?"  To help retirement savers invest wisely during this period of heightened uncertainty, I'm answering these questions (and...

The U.S. national debt recently crossed $34 trillion. Without causing some serious pain, paying off this debt is nearly impossible to do. We would have to dramatically cut spending in some VERY important areas, increase taxes, or both. This debacle has led many to label this situation as catastrophic... ...as a "building that we’re stuck in that will need to collapse on us before we can leave." But is it really as bad as some make it out to be? Is $34 trillion of debt truly an issue?  ...

With over 300,000 in the U.S., finding a financial advisor is easy. On the other hand, properly evaluating an advisor AND choosing the right expert to help with your unique needs is a challenging task. To help, I'm providing an actionable framework for evaluating financial advisors in this episode. I'm also sharing 3 critical things everyone should consider before entering into a new advisory relationship. It doesn’t matter if you are looking for short-term help or a long-term...

Today I'm talking about stock market predictions. Specifically, I'm sharing: ‣ What happened in the markets in 2023 ‣ What may lie ahead for us in 2024 ‣ Why we should prepare for the biggest crash of our lifetime I'm also sharing an exciting announcement that will directly benefit you! 😊 WANT MORE RETIREMENT PLANNING TIPS? Join 5,000+ listeners and subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter. As a thank you, you'll receive a copy of my 2024 Tax Planning Cheatsheet. 👉 Click...

Today I’m sharing 4 (important!) retirement and tax planning updates for 2024. I'm also sharing my freshly updated two-page tax cheatsheet 😊 One listener recently said: "This is the best two-page cheat sheet that I've seen! I do a lot of planning around taxes, IRMAA's, etc., and it is very helpful."  If you’re wrapping up your year-end planning + starting to think about 2024 and beyond, you’ll enjoy today’s episode. RETIREMENT & TAX PLANNING RESOURCES: ‣ Grab Your 2024 Tax...