Retirement Answer Man

Nobody wants to face life as a widow or widower. However, it is an unfortunate reality that many must face. Successfully navigating widowhood could be easier if you could prepare yourself in advance. In this Widowed in Retirement series, we aim to do just that.  Today you’ll learn how you can start life again on your own. Mark Trautman joins me again to discuss his experience moving forward after the death of your spouse. He touches on prioritizing actions to take, setting up a summarized retirement plan, and rebuilding your life as a single person.  While we didn’t have time for Listener Questions today, we have a bonus interview with Chris Bentley from Wings for Widows as well as a chat with Lori Mage in our Bring It On segment. Listen in to learn what you can do to rebuild your life and begin again. OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN PRACTICAL PLANNING SEGMENT A CHAT WITH MARK TRAUTMAN [5:16] Our time is finite - make use of it[7:42] Could people have reacted better?[10:55] What were short-term actions[18:02] A retirement plan summary document[20:39] Going forward A CHAT WITH CHRIS BENTLEY FROM WINGS FOR WIDOWS [23:04] How he decided to create Wings for Widows[31:52] Working with the financially illiterate [38:02] How to plan for widowhood BRING IT ON WITH LORI MAGE [41:02] On relationships[43:33] What Lori did to build a relationship with herself TODAY’S SMART SPRINT SEGMENT [50:30] When you mess up say it was a mis-take Resources Mentioned In This Episode Lori Mage Heroic App Wings for Widows Foundation for Financial Planning BOOK - The Leadership Challenge by James Kouzes BOOK - After the Death of Your Spouse by Mike Piper BOOK - Option B by Sheryl Sandberg Rock Retirement Club Roger’s YouTube Channel - Roger That BOOK - Rock Retirement  by Roger Whitney Roger’s Retirement Learning Center

If you are married, chances are you or your spouse will have to suffer through widowhood. The Widowed in Retirement series aims to help you navigate this difficult transition as best you can. Today, Mark Trautman joins me again to discuss how to work through the huge financial changes that result from losing a spouse.  There are myriad financial considerations to be aware of during this change, so this may be an episode that you want to bookmark to refer back to later or send to a friend in need. Press play to listen. OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN PRACTICAL PLANNING SEGMENT [3:26] A common myth of widowhood[5:11] What changes occur when you go from two to one[9:27] Expenses don’t change[16:44] Creating a new financial plan[20:20] Tax planning[25:25] Social Security benefits LISTENER QUESTIONS [36:55] A 59 ½ IRA withdrawal rule question[38:52] How to calculate the 5-year rule for a Roth IRA[40:27] How to handle the cash bucket in a down market [45:03] Healthcare before Medicare BRING IT ON WITH MARK ROSS [49:11] What is passion?[51:23] How to explore your passions[55:15] Building boundaries around your passions so they don’t become work TODAY’S SMART SPRINT SEGMENT [58:45] Put dabble on your calendar Resources Mentioned In This Episode BOOK - After the Death of Your Spouse by Mike Piper BOOK - Taking Stock by Jordan Grumet BOOK - AARP Checklist for My Family by Sally Balche Hurme BOOK - So Good They Can’t Ignore You by Cal Newport BOOK - How to Think Like Leonardo Da Vinci by Michael Gelb Everplans Episode 477 - Navigating Life Changes Rock Retirement Club Roger’s YouTube Channel - Roger That BOOK - Rock Retirement  by Roger Whitney Roger’s Retirement Learning Center

Even though it is difficult to think about it, at some point, those of us who are married will have to think about one of you transitioning from two to one.  This week we’re exploring the nonfinancial impacts of this transition with someone who has walked this journey. Rock Retirement Club member, Mark Trautman shares his personal journey through his life-changing experience.  Mark shares the challenges and the tools that have helped him get through this heartbreaking part of his life so that he can move forward and rock retirement on his own.  After the main segment, you’ll hear our listener questions and then we’ll Bring It On with Dr. Bobby Dubois. Dr. Bobby will help us understand why sleep is so important and what we can do to improve the quality of our sleep. Don’t miss out on this important episode.  OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN PRACTICAL PLANNING SEGMENT [3:27] The more open you are the more you can deal[7:58] What you lose when you lose a spouse[11:38] Redefining goals after widowhood[16:23] Dealing with grief[21:33] Building community  LISTENER QUESTIONS [31:20] My response to a scathing review on Retirement Plan Live[34:54] Another Retirement Plan Live review[37:28] How to replenish funds [44:48] A question about Rosie’s HELOC loan[46:31] Insight on huzzah! BRING IT ON WITH DR. BOBBY DUBOIS [48:41] Why is sleep so important[51:52] How to improve sleep[58:33] How to get to sleep[1:04:30] Dealing with chronic pain and sleep TODAY’S SMART SPRINT SEGMENT [1:14:59] Use Bobby’s tips to experiment with your sleep Resources Mentioned In This Episode Examine.com BOOK - Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker Leeds sleep evaluation questionnaire BOOK - Taking Stock by Jordan Grumet Rock Retirement Club Roger’s YouTube Channel - Roger That BOOK - Rock Retirement  by Roger Whitney Roger’s Retirement Learning Center

If you have been listening to this show for a while, chances are you already know how to rock your retirement. However, this can all change with the loss of a spouse. All of your best-laid plans change in an instant. That’s why this month we are focusing on going from two to one.  Learn how to navigate your mindset–transition from this sucks, to how I will work through this, to having a great life. Press play to listen. OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN PRACTICAL PLANNING SEGMENT [5:47] Announcements[6:44] Books I read in February LISTENER QUESTIONS [11:46] Roth conversions and taxes[17:31] Roth conversions or capital gains?[23:10] How to create a paycheck between ages 62-72 BRING IT ON WITH KEVIN LYLES [29:12] Finding meaning and purpose in retirement [38:52] Create a mission statement TODAY’S SMART SPRINT SEGMENT [41:05] Think about your mindset Resources Mentioned In This Episode Episode 310 - The Pie Cake Andy Panko BOOK - Traction by Gino Wickman BOOK - Be 2.0 by Jim Collins BOOK - Rethinking Positive Thinking by Gabrielle Oettingen TV SERIES - SAS Rogue Heroes on MGM streaming TV SERIES - Shrinking on Apple TV Rock Retirement Club Roger’s YouTube Channel - Roger That BOOK - Rock Retirement  by Roger Whitney Roger’s Retirement Learning Center

Life is what happens to us when we are busy making other plans. This is especially true during transitions. As I transition to adding a new segment to this show, it’s gotten a bit messy. It’s been a bumpy road and not everything has gone according to plan. Listen in to hear how this applies to retirement planning. While you’re at it you’ll hear how to decide whether to rebalance a portfolio and how to nurture relationships. Press play so that you can start rocking retirement. OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN PRACTICAL PLANNING SEGMENT [0:39] Life is happening now LISTENER QUESTIONS [5:35] Should I rebalance now?[11:52] Selling rental properties[16:13] Do I take the pension or the lump sum? BRING IT ON WITH NICK KENNEDY [21:28] The 4 quadrants of relational nutrients[29:29] Take action and be present TODAY’S SMART SPRINT SEGMENT [31:50] Get the relational nutrient card and practice it Resources Mentioned In This Episode Pension or Lump Sum on YouTube BOOK - People Fuel by John Townsend Rock Retirement Club Roger’s YouTube Channel - Roger That BOOK - Rock Retirement  by Roger Whitney Roger’s Retirement Learning Center

Do you ever feel like a curmudgeon when you hear about new technology? Listen in to find out what has me putting on my sourpuss hat this week. We have a variety of interesting listener questions this week. Listen in to learn about purchasing brokerage CDs and CDs on the secondary market, how to decide whether to take the pension or the lump sum, and how to determine whether to become a 1099 contractor rather than a W2 employee. In the Bring It On segment you’ll hear about what work looks like in retirement from Mark Ross. Spoiler alert: you can work in retirement! OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN LISTENER QUESTIONS [4:06] Brokerage CDs and CDs on the secondary market[9:34] How to decide to take the pension or the lump sum[14:38] What does huzzah mean?[15:18] How to determine whether to become a 1099 contractor rather than a W2 employee BRING IT ON WITH MARK ROSS [22:31] What work looks like in retirement[24:45] How to determine whether you should work in retirement[28:49] 3 categories of work[31:00] What you can do to help you determine your work in retirement TODAY’S SMART SPRINT SEGMENT [31:53] Download the Relational Nutrient Card Resources Mentioned In This Episode Rock Retirement Club Roger’s YouTube Channel - Roger That BOOK - Rock Retirement  by Roger Whitney Roger’s Retirement Learning Center

Recently, we had the finale of the Retirement Plan Live series, so I want to share my observations on what we can all learn from Rosie’s experience. There was a lot to unpack from Rosie’s plan. Before we get to the Listener Questions segment, I’ll share my thoughts with you.  Make sure to stick around after the listener questions to hear the Bring It On segment with Dr. Bobby Dubois. You’ll hear about building energy in retirement through your emotional, cognitive, and social well-being. Learn how to use these powerful ways to live longer and stay healthier in retirement. My observations on the latest Retirement Plan LIve with Rosie Rosie recently shared her retirement plan with all of us in our Retirement Plan Live series. This is a very public way to plan for retirement, so she was brave to put herself out there to share her situation openly. Unfortunately, Rosie’s current trajectory is not feasible and she and her husband are on track to run out of money within ten years.  Coming to this understanding while live in front of 1000+ people is incredibly difficult, but now she can correct course to get back on track. This wasn’t only a learning experience for Rosie, it was for me as well. Here are a few of my takeaways from this experience.  A plan must be feasible and resilient Rosie retired in mid-2021 in the middle of a bull market when interest rates were zero. She was working with a financial planner, so there were projections that showed her plan was feasible. However, there was nothing done to make that plan resilient in the face of challenging circumstances.  Her withdrawal rate did not match up with the assets they have and nothing was done to compensate when the sequence of return risk reared its ugly head. Without resiliency designed into the plan, it fell apart quickly. They are now in a position where they have to make some tough decisions. A feasible plan is like a lit candle. It can burn; however, a gentle breeze will blow it out. Having a resilient plan is like having a fire. When a wind comes by it won’t go out–it may even gain more strength with the added fuel. An accumulation investment strategy doesn’t work in retirement Going into retirement Rosie and Dwayne were invested in 75% equities. Since they were already constrained as they approached retirement, they needed to be a bit more conservative. Their monthly systematic withdrawals came directly from selling those equities and they had no decumulation strategy. The result is that they are now underfunded. There is a difference between a financial advisor and a retirement planner Even though Rosie and Dwayne were using a certified financial planner, they still got blown off course. A financial advisor is similar to a general practitioner in medicine. They are not retirement specialists, so they may not understand how to build resiliency into a retirement plan. A retirement planner goes deeper on how to create a decumulation plan that has resiliency built in. They also understand that selling equities to meet withdrawals doesn’t work in a constrained retirement situation.  Communication is crucial It was clear that there were communication issues between Rosie and her advisor. She assumed there was safe money set aside somewhere while there wasn’t. This incongruence between what she thought and what her advisor understood has also contributed to their current situation.  While Rosie had conversations with her advisor, they were surface-level, and she didn’t pose follow-up questions to help improve her understanding of the situation. She didn’t understand the decumulation plan to create her retirement paycheck. This vital detail was missing. One year into retirement and her retirement plan fell apart.  They didn’t analyze the opportunities to increase their social capital  Both Rosie and Dwayne took Social Security early so that they could try and preserve their assets as long as possible. This was always what they had planned, so they never considered anything else. Had they carefully considered a different strategy for filing for Social Security, it may have made a difference in their trajectory.  Have you listened to the latest Retirement Plan Live series? Did you attend the results webinar? If you missed it check out the replay.  OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN PRACTICAL PLANNING SEGMENT [2:05] My observations from the Retirement Plan Live webinar LISTENER QUESTIONS [11:40] Is deferred compensation considered earned income during the distribution period?[14:17] When can someone collect Social Security survivor benefits?[17:13] On setting aside a 5-year fund as the basis to building the pie cake[25:51] On spending psychology during the go-go years BRING IT ON  [30:43] On building energy in retirement through emotional, cognitive, and social well being[32:15] Your sleep, social, mind-body connection, and exposure to extreme climate can greatly affect your well-being in retirement[35:55] Why is sleep so important?[39:10] How social interaction affects your health[42:02] What do we mean by mind-body connection?[43:03] How does exposure help improve energy? TODAY’S SMART SPRINT SEGMENT [47:33] Choose one thing to start doing to improve your energy Resources Mentioned In This Episode The Retirement Plan Live replay Rock Retirement Club Roger’s YouTube Channel - Roger That BOOK - Rock Retirement  by Roger Whitney Roger’s Retirement Learning Center

I’m excited about our newest segment, Bring It On with Kevin Lyles. The Bring It On segment will discuss mindset and other non-financial aspects of retirement.  In addition to our newest segment, today you’ll hear about the books I read in January and listener questions.  Learn how to calculate a decreased benefit when retiring early, which accounts to draw from to minimize taxes, how to manage 401Ks through a company transition, and what to consider when choosing a financial advisor.  Join me for this episode of Retirement Answer Man to explore the latest issues in retirement and beyond so that you can get ready to rock retirement.  The latest books I’ve been reading In January I had the opportunity to finish reading four books. Most are nonfiction, but I threw a fiction book in for good measure. How to Think Like a Roman Emperor by Donald Robertson - This book is on stoicism and discusses the qualms we have when contemplating our own death and aging. The fear of death and aging can make us fearful, so by bringing that touchy subject out of the shadows, we can embrace the inevitable and live more fully in the moment. Never Finished by David Goggins - Since this book was written by a Navy SEAL, it has some salty language. However, David is a living example of what you people can endure and do. We have capabilities far beyond what we can imagine. The Boys from Biloxi by John Grisham - John Grisham writes formulaic legal thrillers, but his formula works. I enjoyed the history and background that he included of Biloxi, Mississippi. The Comfort Crisis by Michael Easter - This is another book about getting outside your comfort zone. Michael Easter completed a monthlong hunt in the Arctic–far outside of his comfort zone. This book was my favorite this month–it will challenge your thinking. Michael explores the idea of stretching yourself by doing something you think may not be possible.  If you have any book recommendations for me reply to the 6-Shot Saturday newsletter.  Why mindset is so important Mindset is the attitude that you bring to your life and retirement. It drives how you respond to the challenges you face when you’re transitioning and living your life. The mindset you bring to those challenges will make all the difference in the world. There is now more data regarding mindset with the science of positive psychology. Science shows that mindset matters and affects not only how you feel but outcomes. People who seek out the bad see more bad things, those who look for the good in the world see things in a more positive light.  What to expect from the Bring It On segment In our newest nonfinancial segment, we’ll discuss several nonfinancial issues related to retirement: dealing with boredom, losing status, mindset, attitude, aging, identity, gratitude and so much more.  Think about your own attitude about retirement and aging. What are the top five words that come to your mind? Discuss your thoughts with your loved ones. Could your thoughts be improved? Do you need to change your mindset? OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN PRACTICAL PLANNING SEGMENT [1:06] The books I’ve been reading LISTENER QUESTIONS [7:42] Addressing feedback on the show[9:32] Feedback from the past Retirement Plan Live[10:36] How to calculate a decreased benefit when retiring early[15:04] Which accounts to draw from to minimize taxes[20:42] How to manage 401Ks through a company transition[22:03] What to think about when choosing a financial advisor BRING IT ON WITH KEVIN LYLES [27:15] Why mindset is so important[32:04] How important a social network is TODAY’S SMART SPRINT SEGMENT [35:50] Write down what comes to mind when you think of aging and death Resources Mentioned In This Episode BOOK - Flourish by Martin Seligman BOOK - How to Think Like a Roman Emperor by Donald Robertson BOOK - Never Finished by David Goggins BOOK - The Boys from Biloxi by John Grisham BOOK - The Comfort Crisis by Michael Easter GoRuck.com Social Security Detailed Calculator Rock Retirement Club Roger’s YouTube Channel - Roger That BOOK - Rock Retirement  by Roger Whitney Roger’s Retirement Learning Center

Retirement can be tricky. There are so many unknowns, so preparing yourself mentally can be a challenge.  Mental toughness is the ability to remain positive and proactive in the most adverse situations. Our Retirement Plan Live volunteer, Rosie, is having to rely on mental toughness to stay on target through an extra challenging early retirement. Join Rosie and me today as we discuss the impact that the bear market had on her finances at the start of her retirement.  Rosie is trying to get her retirement back on track Rosie and her husband Dwayne didn’t retire in the best circumstances. Inflation and market fluctuations haven’t been on their side. This sequence of returns at the beginning of their retirement is not faring well for their portfolio. Now they are trying to assess whether they are on a feasible path or whether they’ll need to make some adjustments.  Simply by walking through this process they are already being proactive. They are assessing the damage and seeing how they can shape a plan for the future to get back on track.  It’s challenging to enjoy the go-go years without a safety net While Rosie is more risk-averse, her husband Dwayne enjoys researching and investing in individual stocks. He uses about 10% of their total savings to play around in the market investing in his favorite publicly traded companies.  Rosie estimates that about 75% of their total portfolio is in stocks and this makes her feel a bit anxious especially since their portfolio is down about 20% from last year.  She would like to be enjoying her go-go years, however, without a healthy cash reserve in place, or a long-term care plan, she doesn’t have the security in place to let loose and rock retirement. Without a cash bucket set up, their $8,500 per month is coming from a systematic selling of their investments, but she’s not sure where they should go from here.  Don’t miss the culmination of the past four episodes If your retirement isn’t going to plan, it is important to acknowledge where you are now so that you can mitigate the damages and reset your course. You can’t simply ignore the situation and wait for someone to tell you that everything is going to be okay. You’ll need to understand the nuances of your financial situation to determine the best way forward.  Join us on February 2 at 7 pm CST for the grand finale of this year’s Retirement Plan Live. I’ll walk Rosie through her retirement plan and we’ll determine whether or not it is feasible. Then we’ll look for risks and opportunities. As a participant, you’ll have the opportunity to ask questions and see how the process plays out.  After the live meetup, consider joining the Rock Retirement Club. The Club was created to give new retirees a solid framework and trusted tools to use to build a feasible, resilient retirement plan that will give members the confidence to rock retirement. In addition, RRC members have created an amazing, inviting community filled with people on the same journey. Learn more by joining the live meetup.  OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN RETIREMENT PLAN LIVE [4:47] Rosie’s questions[7:12] Understanding Rosie’s annuity[16:52] Understanding the software we use[18:32] Understanding the sequence of returns risk[27:07] Rosie’s experience with advisors LISTENER QUESTIONS [36:36] Do you calculate using tax-deferred dollars to create a paycheck in retirement?[44:32] Using a draw-down strategy for a 401K[47:57] How to get a better interest rate from cash TODAY’S SMART SPRINT SEGMENT [50:40] Reassess your trajectory to achieving your goals Resources Mentioned In This Episode Join the live meetup on February 2 at LiveWithRoger.com Money Guide Pro Elite retirement tool New Retirement Calculator Rock Retirement Club Roger’s YouTube Channel - Roger That BOOK - Rock Retirement  by Roger Whitney Roger’s Retirement Learning Center

Take a breath, check yourself, and then observe where things are at.  That’s what Rosie and I are doing on this episode of Retirement Plan Live. After the last episode in which Rosie planned out all her hopes and dreams for retirement, today we’re taking a look at her financial picture. We’ll walk through the sources of her social, human, and financial capital to see where she and her husband stand financially.  Listen in and create your own plan as we go. Make sure to sign up for 6-Shot Saturday to ensure that you get all the worksheets to work through your own retirement plan with me and Rosie. Sign up for the grand finale on Feb 2, 2023 Have you signed up for the live webinar on February 2? This will be the grand finale to this year’s Retirement Plan Live. We’ll see if Rosie’s dream retirement is feasible with her resources. We’ll also identify potential risks and opportunities that she should watch out for. Head on over to LiveWithRoger to register.  How will Rosie pay for those retirement dreams? We can never know anything for certain, about our financial future, but we can build a solid framework to build up our confidence in our plan. Last week, Rosie laid out her retirement goals and as she did so she tied those into her values. Our goals are really just a representation of our values.  As we walk through Rosie’s finances we analyze three different types of capital: social, human, and financial. Social capital includes guaranteed payment sources. The most familiar example of social capital is Social Security. Rosie and Dwayne don’t have any pensions, but Rosie is collecting $2200 per month from Social Security. Soon Dwayne will also receive $1800 per month from Social Security as well. In about six years they will begin to receive a small annuity payment.  Dwayne is the one providing human capital with his flexible part-time work online. This work contributes between $15-20,000 per year. He plans to continue working part-time for about six more years.  Their financial capital includes $30,000 in after-tax assets, $680,000 in pre-tax assets, and $55,000 in tax-free assets.  Build your net worth statement as you listen Listen in to hear what other kinds of assets Rosie and Dwayne have as we walk through building a net worth statement. When was the last time you updated your net worth statement?  January is a great time to observe where you are financially so that you can marshall your resources to ensure that you can achieve your goals. As Rosie and I build her net worth statement you can too.  OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN RETIREMENT PLAN LIVE [4:20] Their social capital[6:30] Their human capital[7:35] Their financial capital[9:02] Their other assets LISTENER QUESTIONS [15:54] A Social Security error - who to call?[19:36] What can Beth do to get closer to retirement under less than ideal circumstances?[24:00] How to know if benefits will continue to increase TODAY’S SMART SPRINT SEGMENT [26:56] Update your net worth statement Resources Mentioned In This Episode SSA.gov - overpayment Social Security episodes 228, 229, 230, 231, 232 Rock Retirement Club Roger’s YouTube Channel - Roger That BOOK - Rock Retirement  by Roger Whitney Roger’s Retirement Learning Center

Setting big goals is great, but they have to be the right goals or else they could become a trap. Rosie joins us again today to set her retirement goals. In this episode, you’ll hear her financial goals for her needs, wants, and wishes. We’ll discuss her financial expectations for each of these categories and how her goals fit into her values.  Don’t miss out on this second episode of Retirement Plan Live. When you finish listening, head on over to LiveWithRoger.com to register for the live meet-up on February 2 where we will break down Rosie’s plan in detail and decide whether or not she’ll be able to live out her retirement dreams.  Goals must be driven by values In the previous episode, you met Rosie and learned about her situation and her values. We start each Retirement Plan Live series with values because values are what drive our goals. If you set your goals up too rigidly or shoot for the wrong goals then you are working toward something without really desiring it. Goals are important to have because they framework of what you are trying to achieve. Listen in to learn how Rosie uses her values to drive her goals.  What makes a base great life?  What does it take to build a base great life? The base great life is the line in the sand that you can’t cross. It is what you need to have in place to secure a basic life worth living.  Rosie estimates that it would take about $5000 per month (excluding healthcare costs) to live her base great life. Listen in to hear what she includes in her base great life and why this doesn’t mean eating rice and beans every day.  Rosie’s wants and wishes Rosie values travel and would love to spend about $24,000 per year for the next 5 years on travel expenses. After that, she estimates that she would continue to travel but would slow down on spending but still spend around $15,000 per year for the following 8 years.  Other discretionary expenses would include $10,000 per year on eating out more frequently and spending on loved ones. Adding in these extra wants and wishes would take Rosie and her husband about $117,000 per year. Follow along and create your own agile retirement plan  This week, I encourage you to look at your retirement goals with fresh eyes so as not to limit your thinking. Really hone in on what it takes to build your base great life, then add in the layers that build up your wants and wishes. Shed away your inhibitions as you consider your wishes category. As you listen to Rosie’s journey, why not follow along for yourself? Make sure you are signed up for the 6-Shot Saturday newsletter to receive the corresponding worksheets for each episode. Every week during the Retirement Plan Live series we’ll send out a worksheet to help you work through each stage in the agile retirement planning process.  OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN RETIREMENT PLAN LIVE [4:03] What is a base great life?[10:45] Discretionary spending LISTENER QUESTIONS [25:33] Can Tim’s wife retire?[32:37] Can Crimaud collect Social Security without a green card?[35:25] How to work in tithing in retirement TODAY’S SMART SPRINT SEGMENT [40:38] Revisit your needs, wants, and wishes Resources Mentioned In This Episode Collecting Social Security in Canada Rock Retirement Club Roger’s YouTube Channel - Roger That BOOK - Rock Retirement  by Roger Whitney Roger’s Retirement Learning Center

Rosie and Dwayne retired in a bear market and now they wonder if they will have enough money to rock retirement. We will explore that question all month long in this Retirement Plan Live.  Over the course of the next few weeks, you’ll learn about Rosie and Dwayne and their journey, their goals, their resources, and their investment strategy. Then we’ll wrap up this series together with a live webinar on February 2. Don’t miss out on the exciting finale, sign up at LiveWithRoger.com. Meet Rosie and Dwayne Rosie and Dwayne live a fairly simple lifestyle. They don’t own a big house or drive flashy cars. They don’t take lavish vacations or eat at fancy restaurants. Although they live simply they do have their own retirement dreams. When Rosie retired a year and a half ago she figured the worst of the Covid debacle was behind her. She had seen the flash bear market, but since then, the markets seemed to be doing well. Unfortunately, within a year of retiring, she watched her assets decrease by 25%. Now she is left wondering if she’ll ever be able to live out her retirement dreams.  Rosie and Dwayne both worked in the IT sector before Covid hit. While Rosie was able to work from home, Dwayne was laid off and has since begun flexible part-time work. Working from home simply enticed Rosie to fully dive into retirement.  What Rosie loves about retirement Rosie loves the time freedom that retirement brings. She has plenty to do to keep busy: spending her days with her grandkids, at the pickleball court, going to exercise classes, and cooking. Rosie is a natural organizer and creates a weekly plan complete with to-do lists.  Enjoying the love of family and friends and traveling are what brings her joy and how she desires to spend her time in retirement.  Rosie’s fears about retirement With Covid and the subsequent bear market, Rosie feels that she is missing out on fully enjoying retirement. She is very aware of the passing years and understands that time is precious. She feels frustrated that she may not have enough time to do all the things that she wants to do and go to all the places she wants to go.  Her financial situation is much different than it was a year ago although that hasn’t caused her to change her spending habits. She’s trying not to let her emotions drive her decision-making.  Rosie understands that she needs a clear mind and that she should stay the course that she and her husband laid out with their financial advisor. While she understands that logically, she is still concerned about their future. Over the course of this series, Rosie is looking for more input and a better understanding of what changes she needs to make to ensure that she can live out her retirement dreams. You can follow along with Rosie by using the Agile Retirement Planning process Follow along over the next four episodes to hear how we use the Agile Retirement Planning process to discover if she and Dwayne are really ready to live out their retirement dreams. As we work through this Retirement Plan Live series you can follow along and participate in your own retirement plan with the same helpful worksheets that Rosie is using to guide you on your way. Make sure that you are signed up for the 6 Shot Saturday email newsletter to get each week’s worksheet delivered to your inbox.  OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN PRACTICAL PLANNING SEGMENT [1:35] Just say no to New Year’s resolutions RETIREMENT PLAN LIVE [6:05] Let’s meet Rosie[15:17] What Rosie thinks about retirement so far[23:56] What makes her most frustrated[26:54] How retirement has been financially[30:45] Rosie’s top ten values LISTENER QUESTIONS [38:44] Is there an optimal balance among the allocation between tax categories[43:43] How to factor a whole life insurance policy into your retirement plan[47:51] The max limits to a 457 and 403B[50:42] Is it ever better to take Social Security at 62? TODAY’S SMART SPRINT SEGMENT [54:33] Make daily resolutions to improve your energy, work, and relationships Resources Mentioned In This Episode Morningstar The Long View podcast #186 - Roger Whitney: Retirement Planning Is Not Financial Planning Rock Retirement Club Roger’s YouTube Channel - Roger That BOOK - Rock Retirement  by Roger Whitney Roger’s Retirement Learning Center

This is our last episode of 2022, so naturally, there will be a bit of reflection alongside the practical planning and your listener questions. Kevin Lyles also joins me in the Coach’s Corner to discuss living your best life in retirement.  Let’s noodle on what it means to live authentically and discover the answers to some fantastic questions that will help guide you on your retirement journey. Stick around until the end of the episode to hear my word for 2023 and how I plan to review my year.  Be the author of your hero’s journey To be authentic literally means to be your own author. That’s what planning your retirement journey is all about. By building a framework to rock retirement you are writing your own story.  I’m excited to wake up each day and help give you ideas to write your retirement story. By being the author of your own life you will be authentic and live without regret. To start the new chapter of your life consider where you are on your journey. The hero’s journey framework can help you navigate so that you can figure out what is important to you.  Don’t miss the call to adventure The hero’s journey is a cycle of constant death, rebirth, and renewal. Some version of you has to die before you can become reborn into your new self.  If you haven’t retired yet then you are still in Act One of the hero’s journey. In this first act you are being called to something other than your full-time career. Being called to an adventure can be a powerful force. It is a force so powerful that oftentimes our first response is to resist the call.  However, if you embrace the call you can find mentors to help you along the way. These mentors can come in the form of books and podcasts and they can be people who are further along in their journey that you can look to answer questions along the way. Act Two requires a leap of faith To step into Act Two you must take the leap of faith. As you journey into retirement this means stepping away from your old life and into the unknown. Along the way, you’ll face allies and enemies, but you cannot know the trials and ordeals you will encounter throughout this adventure.  You’ll need a framework to help you navigate Act Three  In our Third Act of your hero’s journey, you will overcome the trials and ordeals, but only if you have a framework to help us along the way. This is where I come in. Building that framework to help you through the trials and tribulations of retirement is what this show is designed to help you do. I aim to be your mentor and ally along the way. Some version of this journey plays out in different ways throughout our lives. I’m excited to begin this new chapter with you. We’ll be focusing on building out the financial plan, but as you know, a financial plan alone isn’t the only thing you need to conquer this journey and rock retirement. I look forward to helping you build your retirement in the new year and beyond.  OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN PRACTICAL PLANNING SEGMENT [3:24] The hero’s journey COACH’S CORNER WITH KEVIN LYLES [9:01] How to live your best life in retirement LISTENER QUESTIONS [19:07] What a yield curve is and why it matters[20:42] Should I take my pension lump sum now or later?[26:35] Ron’s experience living overseas[29:56] Use the Social Security website to help optimize[31:07] Can I take outside IRAs and roll them into my 401K?[35:22] What should Doug do to help his spouse handle finances when he passes[37:51] Whether to take small pensions now or later TODAY’S SMART SPRINT SEGMENT [41:08] Choose your word for 2023 Resources Mentioned In This Episode Joseph Campbell  The Heroic App Rock Retirement Club Roger’s YouTube Channel - Roger That BOOK - Rock Retirement  by Roger Whitney Roger’s Retirement Learning Center

Do you wonder what you’ll do with all your free time in retirement? Planning your time by filling your days with purpose and passion can help ease the stress that comes with the sudden emptiness of leaving behind a full-time career.  On this episode of Retirement Answer Man, we’ll discuss how dabbling in a few different activities can help you find your purpose. You’ll also hear the answers to questions posed by listeners like you. Coming soon to a podcast app near you: Retirement Plan Live! Are you ready for the next Retirement Plan Live? Beginning January 4, we’ll return to our most awaited annual series. The next RPL will feature Rosie and Dwayne, a couple that retired with already constrained assets during a bear market. While helping Rosie create her feasible plan of record, I’ll also help her understand how to handle retirement in a bear market and what she can do next to help her through this challenge.  If this will be your first Retirement Plan Live series, or even if you are a veteran RPL listener, I encourage you to listen to the entire series and join us for the live webinar at the end of January so that you can get a true sense of how the agile retirement planning process works.  Filling your suddenly empty itinerary in retirement can feel daunting I recently had a conversation with someone who was considering holding off on retirement because they didn’t know what they would do without the routine of work in their lives.  We begin our social conditioning from the time we start school. School helps to begin to define the external structures of our lives by giving us a place to go, a reward system, a social network, and a vacation structure. This system continues as we enter our working years which makes it a challenge to suddenly leave this lifelong system and venture into the unknown.  Try dabbling in something new Since retirement completely blows up the structure and rhythm of life, it can be intimidating to step out into the unknown and venture forth without a plan.  Having a purpose in retirement can help you transition into something new. However, not everyone knows what their purpose will be.  Dabbling in a few areas can be one way to try out new interests. In the way that many kids dabble in various sports and artistic activities when they are young, we can do so as well as we approach retirement. By dabbling in a few different activities you can see what fits without becoming overly invested in one particular area.  Should Suzy buy out her husband’s portion of their shared rental property? Suzy has been going through a divorce for the past several years and is ready to finally financially settle. One of their shared assets is a $4 million property that could be used as a short-term or long-term rental. The property needs about $500,000 worth of work and it would require a $2 million loan to buy her husband out, so she is trying to decide whether it makes sense financially to take on such a mortgage at this stage in her life.  To ensure that Suzy makes the best decision she can, it is important for her to consider what she wants her life to be like in the future. There are multiple pathways we can take in life so it is important to envision your future before jumping into any permanent decisions.  OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN PRACTICAL PLANNING SEGMENT [3:18] How to rock life outside the financial realm[11:03] What to do to set yourself up for some structure LISTENER QUESTIONS [13:25] What to do with Suzy’s rental property in her divorce[20:24] How the widow’s Social Security works[22:13] If I delay Social Security will I get the COLA increase as well?[23:55] Should I stop contributing to my 401K? TODAY’S SMART SPRINT SEGMENT [30:10] Dabble with something Resources Mentioned In This Episode Rock Retirement Club Roger’s YouTube Channel - Roger That BOOK - Rock Retirement  by Roger Whitney Roger’s Retirement Learning Center

Are you curious about the changes that are coming next year on the Retirement Answer Man show? Today, you’ll have a sneak peek at one of our new segments: the Rock Life segment. Bobby Dubois joins me to discuss how to ensure that you have enough energy so that you can rock retirement.  On this episode, you’ll also hear my holiday gift-buying suggestions as well as the listener questions segment. Don’t miss out on hearing what to do with a settlement, whether to file for Social Security if you are still working, and whether you should simplify your investments in retirement.  Don’t miss this episode to hear the answers to these listener questions, get a preview of what’s to come next year, and to get some fantastic gift ideas.  My holiday gift guide Buying and receiving gifts later in life can be challenging since many of us already have so much. I prefer to give experiences over anything else, but when an experience isn’t appropriate a game is my go-to gift. These are some of the games that I enjoy playing or might make great gifts for someone you love Sequence - easy enough for the whole family to enjoy Quix - a fast-paced dice game Euchre - a midwesterner’s favorite Left Center Right - this can actually be played with dice or cards Ticket to Ride - a longer board game that’s worth learning Pictionary - great for parties Scattergories - another classic party game Kids Against Maturity - a twist on Cards Against Humanity that might be more appropriate for the family Play Nine - when golf meets cards Tri-Ominos - a triangular domino game Listen in to hear what our listeners recommend. One listener has a fantastic tip for learning new games.  Should James apply for Social Security while still working full-time? James is still working and approaching full retirement age. He would like to apply for Social Security but continue to work yet he is confused by the whole process. There isn’t much information about collecting Social Security while working full time.  An added complication is that signing up for Social Security will automatically enroll him in Medicare. However, he still has healthcare coverage through his employer and would like to continue his employer’s coverage.  James is right. There isn’t much information about collecting Social Security and enrolling in Medicare while still employed full-time. And what is out there is really confusing.  You can collect Social Security at full retirement age while still working. The financial ramifications may push you into a higher tax bracket.  Boomer Benefits can help you navigate Medicare’s complexities One aspect of choosing to collect Social Security at full retirement age is that it will automatically enroll you in Medicare part A. Parts B and D can be delayed, but they must be turned on within eight months of leaving your employer-sponsored health plan. The good news is that Medicare part A will coordinate with your health insurance if you end up hospitalized.  Since there are so many difficulties in navigating this question, I recommend that anyone in this situation contact a Medicare navigator like Boomer Benefits. Boomer Benefits is a company that deeply understands Medicare and the entire enrollment process. They don’t charge the consumer and aren’t trying to sell you anything–they are simply trusted advisors. They have numerous educational resources both on their website and on YouTube. OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN GIFT BUYING GUIDE [1:34] Roger’s holiday gift buying guide LISTENER QUESTIONS [10:30] Should James file for Social Security if he is still working?[14:10] What to do with a settlement[23:10] Whether to simplify investments[29:20] If I just retired can I still make a Roth contribution? ROCK LIFE SEGMENT WITH DR. BOBBY DUBOIS [30:37] The 3 pillars to building energy in our lives[34:32] Intentionally observe what works for you TODAY’S SMART SPRINT SEGMENT [45:00] Go buy a game or experiment on yourself Resources Mentioned In This Episode Cozy Earth - enter RAM at checkout to receive a 35% discount! Boomer Benefits Boomer Benefits on YouTube Whoop Oura Ring Stacking Benjamins Rock Retirement Club Roger’s YouTube Channel - Roger That BOOK - Rock Retirement  by Roger Whitney Roger’s Retirement Learning Center

Is it worth investing in individual stocks or should you simply go with ETFs? Joe has recently parted ways with his financial planner and is beginning to manage his portfolio himself and was wondering about the benefits of these choices.  Tanya Nichols and I will explore Joe’s questions as well as others on this episode of Retirement Answer Man. Listen in to hear the benefits of owning ETFs vs individual stocks, how to structure your Roth conversions, and what to do about health insurance before Medicare.  Making decisions is rarely a cut-and-dry process When making decisions, we usually look for a clear answer: yes or no, do it or don’t do it, jump or don’t jump. However, judgment calls are rarely so simple. Usually, we are operating without all of the pertinent information, so we have to make assumptions about how the future will look.  The process of brainstorming is messy. There is no crystal clear way to go about making decisions, and once you do you probably won’t know if you chose correctly.  When confronted with choices you’ll want to have a framework to explore decisions in an organized way. Then you’ll want to relax and consider all the options. When you take the pressure off you’ll have more opportunities to come to a good decision. Next, dive into the process and see what comes. You may explore several different scenarios before coming upon your final decision. What I’m reading My strategy for reading this year has been to make reading my default activity. Reading is what I go to when I’m waiting in line, have spare time at home, or when I’m taking a walk (via audiobooks, of course!). This new mindset has led me to read 33 books so far this year. Today I wanted to share with you the most recent books I have read and my thoughts on them.  Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown is an inspiring book that I highly recommend. It chronicles a member of a crew team in the 1920s and 30s and his life journey from childhood and then on to the 1936 Olympics.  Quit was written by Annie Duke the author of Thinking in Bets. Annie was a professional poker player turned decision-making expert. In this volume, she examines how hard it is to quit something once you have started. Put Your Ass Where Your Heart Wants to Be by Steven Pressfield is a fast read–you could finish it in a day. This is a great book that helps people work on challenging goals. This book will help you get past the resistance.  Courage Is Calling by Ryan Holiday is a book that will enrich your soul.  It Takes What It Takes was written by Trevor Moawad who was a performance coach for elite athletes. This book on mental conditioning promotes the thesis that if you want to be great at something you have to make a choice to do the things to make you great. Making the choice to be exceptional clears the path to greatness because it takes everything else off the table.  The Dichotomy of Leadership by Jocko Willink was written for leaders on the aspects of finding the virtuous mean.  If you have any great book recommendations I’d be happy to hear them. Just head on over the Ask Roger page and leave an audio suggestion or write it in.  OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN PRACTICAL PLANNING SEGMENT [1:23] On making decisions[4:11] What I’ve been reading LISTENER QUESTIONS WITH TANYA NICHOLS [19:33] Should Joe invest in individual stocks or ETFs[27:36] What to put in Roth conversions[32:45] What should Todd do about insurance between the ages of 58 and Medicare?[42:22] Looking for resources on the ex-pat life TODAY’S SMART SPRINT SEGMENT [44:38] Treat people as they could be Resources Mentioned In This Episode Align Financial BOOK - Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown BOOK - Quit by Annie Duke BOOK - Put Your Ass Where Your Heart Wants to Be by Steven Pressfield BOOK - Courage Is Calling by Ryan Holiday BOOK - It Takes What It Takes by Trevor Moawad BOOK - The Dichotomy of Leadership by Jocko Willink Phil Stutz Rock Retirement Club Roger’s YouTube Channel - Roger That BOOK - Rock Retirement  by Roger Whitney Roger’s Retirement Learning Center

There comes a time when retirement planning becomes retirement doing. Many people get stuck in that gap between knowing vs. doing. While it is important to learn what you can so that you can make educated decisions, you’ll want to build a foundation to give you the confidence to act. My goal is not only to teach you information but also to help you build the structure you need to go out and rock retirement. On this episode, we’ll discuss how to close the knowing vs. doing gap, answer listener questions, and check out what Kevin has to say in the Coach’s Corner. Listen in to hear a clarification on Social Security and COLA, a new perspective on whether to purchase long-term care insurance and how to find a financial advisor who will simply answer questions. Stick around until the end to hear the Coach’s Corner segment with Kevin Lyles.  David is still in the wealth accumulation phase David sounds like a younger listener since he has young children. He’s still in the wealth accumulation stage of life and has a healthy $120,000 emergency fund. He is considering whether he should use that emergency fund to go ahead and pay off his mortgage. The extra money each month could then be used to purchase a rental property or to invest.  Consider the big picture Since David still has a long financial journey ahead, it is important to step away from focusing on the financial aspect of this picture for a moment and envision what he wants his life to look like. What is he trying to accomplish? Does he want more financial flexibility? Does he want more time with his young children? Any financial question should be framed with your goals in mind. You want your goals to shape the outcome of your decision rather than the other way around.  How important is financial flexibility? By dipping into the emergency fund he takes away the financial flexibility. Having an emergency fund in place limits the number of choices a person has. Another option could be to pay the mortgage off by adding a bit extra each month to the mortgage payment over time. Paying off the mortgage early will improve the monthly cash flow, but at what cost? David needs to assess how he will pay off the mortgage and whether that increased cash flow is important enough to justify the decreased financial flexibility. Once David pays off the mortgage, then he can decide whether rentals or traditional investments would be the best option based on the financial goals he has for the future. Framing these choices within the context of the bigger picture is so important when making these types of decisions.  Ask your own question If you would like to have your questions answered go on over to the Ask Roger tab on RogerWhitney.com where you can either submit a written question or an audio question. We love to play audio questions on the show, so if you would like your question answered sooner press record to submit. OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN PRACTICAL PLANNING SEGMENT [5:38] Be wary of suspicious text messages and emails LISTENER QUESTIONS [7:34] Should David pay off his mortgage?[15:00] How does Social Security COLA work?[19:52] Beth’s perspective on long-term care insurance[23:31] How to find a financial advisor who will simply answer questions COACH’S CORNER [26:22] On categorizing retirement plans TODAY’S SMART SPRINT SEGMENT [33:50] Set a benchmark for things you want to accomplish in 2023 Resources Mentioned In This Episode NAPFA.org Episode 444 - Will My Social Security Benefit Be Impacted By My Divorce?  CozyEarth.com - use the code RAM to get 35% off! Rock Retirement Club Roger’s YouTube Channel - Roger That BOOK - Rock Retirement  by Roger Whitney Roger’s Retirement Learning Center

Curiosity is an important quality to nurture as you get older; it can even help you find your purpose in retirement. Today, I’ll help you explore how to use your curiosity to discover your purpose as you embark on the next phase of your life.  This episode is packed with questions that could help you rock retirement. Listen in to learn how to know if an annuity is right for you in retirement, how to apply for social security, whether you can contribute to a Roth IRA if you are an independent contractor, how to choose healthcare alternatives before Medicare, and 401K alternatives for the highly compensated employee.  Curiosity can help lead you to your purpose in retirement Finding your purpose in retirement can be one of the most daunting tasks that you undertake in your retirement planning. Going from a career and a life that is essentially planned out for you to one that is completely open-ended can even bring on a bit of anxiety. However, if you let it, your purpose will come to you. It simply takes a bit of curiosity. Pulling on the threads of curiosity will lead you down the rabbit hole to the crux of what is essential to you. Listen in to hear how you can use your curiosity to ignite your passions. There is no way to completely remove the uncertainty of retirement Annuities are guaranteed income sources that can remove some of the uncertainty that comes with retirement planning. However, they are not without their downfalls.  Using an annuity as a guaranteed income source early on in retirement will help to smooth out sequence of return risk, but it will enhance your inflation risk later on. Buying an annuity to turn on later in life will help with longevity protection, but what if you don’t need it?  There is no way to completely remove the uncertainty that comes with retirement–there will always be the element of the unknown. How to know if an annuity is right for you in retirement There are two ways to consider an annuity to help fund retirement: qualitative or quantitative. On the quantitative side, it is easy to use calculators like the Schwab Annuity Calculator. While this can help you predict the math, it is important to remember that the best way to maximize guaranteed inflation-proof income is to fully delay claiming Social Security. To ensure that you are making a decision that is right for you, you’ll want to build a feasible, resilient plan of record that does not include an annuity. Then build out a what-if scenario and compare the two plans side by side. This will give you the context to make the judgment call. Although you will never have a crystal clear answer, this is the best way to work through this kind of question. By using an organized process, you’ll understand what it takes to build a base great life and have the confidence to spend your money and rock retirement.  Consider when to turn on the annuity Next, comes the question of when you want to turn on the annuity. Will you want it today or later in life? Giving yourself optionality is important. As you age your priorities will change. It is important to do the research. First consider the quantitative aspects by using calculators and considering the rules, then consider the qualitative side of this decision. Then consider how much you want to go with a safety-first approach.  OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN LISTENER QUESTIONS [6:10] How to know if an annuity is right for you in retirement[13:50] How to apply for social security[14:55] Can you contribute to a Roth IRA if you are an independent contractor?[16:17] A backdoor Roth contribution clarification[18:11] Healthcare before Medicare[23:15] 401K alternatives for the highly compensated employee TODAY’S SMART SPRINT SEGMENT [26:37] Pull the thread and follow your curiosity Resources Mentioned In This Episode SSA.gov Schwab Annuity Calculator Rock Retirement Club Roger’s YouTube Channel - Roger That BOOK - Rock Retirement  by Roger Whitney Roger’s Retirement Learning Center

The good life is a direction, not a destination. This is why we are so focused on the process of retirement planning. Rocking retirement is all about having an adaptable process to work through.  On this episode of Retirement Answer Man, I answer a few process-based questions. You’ll learn how to work through the steps to rebalance a bond ladder and how to analyze whether you have enough to create a sound retirement. How retirement planning is like meditation Retirement planning has a lot in common with meditation. With meditation, the idea is to sit quietly and focus on one particular mantra or the breath. While this seems like an easy thing to do, the mind constantly wanders to other places, so the meditator has to bring the mind back to the primary focus.  Just like with meditation, retirement planning has its own primary focus. The focus of process-based retirement planning is your goals. When you get distracted by the latest problem that you heard on the news, poor market returns, or whichever new, shiny thing comes along it is important to bring your attention back to the plan. We all want to optimize our retirement to achieve the best possible outcome, but we must first see how it all fits within our process. What is a bond ladder? A bond ladder is a great way to prefund consumption over the years. It is created by purchasing a bond portfolio with individual bonds that come to maturity over a period of time. There may be bonds that mature each year over several years. This creates an income floor in a type of stair-step fashion. As each bond comes due then you build out the next step of the bond ladder.  How to rebalance a bond ladder As each bond in the ladder comes due you may wonder how and when to reallocate your portfolio. The bond portion of the portfolio is there to help you weather poor markets, so should you sell stocks while they are down to build your bond ladder back up? That kind of defeats the point of building up the bond safety net. Creating an income floor with a bond ladder ensures that you have time to allow your stock portfolio to be successful. There are several ways that you can make this happen.  You can moderate your spending so that you lengthen the time period of the bond ladder so that it burns down more slowly or you can choose to only partly replenish it.  There is no right or wrong way to work through this. By using a process-based strategy you can create several scenarios to navigate the situation. The benefit of having a structured process is that you can test it to see what works best for you.  Think about your own retirement planning process. Do you return back to it when faced with a question or problem? Consider how you can use your planning process to help you reframe questions. You may find that answering those questions gets easier when you use your process.  OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN LISTENER QUESTIONS [6:33] How bond ladders work[12:29] Should Rich live on dividends and interest or sell?[14:17] How to systematically analyze variables[18:40] Is there a specific set of tests to determine whether a retirement plan is sound? TODAY’S SMART SPRINT SEGMENT [23:46] What is your mantra? Resources Mentioned In This Episode New Retirement Planning Cozy Earth use code RAM to get 35% off anything on the site! Rock Retirement Club Roger’s YouTube Channel - Roger That BOOK - Rock Retirement  by Roger Whitney Roger’s Retirement Learning Center