💬 Show Notes

In this episode, we dig into fixed annuities and U.S. Treasuries—how they can bring stability and income to your retirement. We’ll also discuss Social Security risks and how to stress-test your plan so you can retire with confidence. Let’s get you one step closer to rocking retirement!

SUMMARY OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN

• (00:00) Today we talk about the basics of fixed annuities.
• (00:59) Roger continues the discussion on navigating retirement planning during uncertain times.
• (02:06) Listener, Christina, asks Roger to consider stress testing including Social Security for the average potential retiree.
• (07:17) Roger defines fixed annuities and how they fit into the retirement planning process.
• (07:54) Roger evaluates the similarities and differences between CDs and fixed annuities.
• (10:08) What are the negatives of fixed annuities?
• (12:27) How are the rates of annuities determined?
• (14:08) What are the primary uses of fixed annuities?
• (15:12) Roger goes through an example of optimization using fixed annuities.

LISTENER QUESTIONS

• (19:38) Listener, Barbara, asks Roger to educate listeners about the basics of treasuries.

SMART SPRINT

• (24:36) In the next seven days, I want you to shift the way you approach your retirement planning. Think of yourself as a scientist—you're on a mission to discover and understand. When we run these stress tests or feasibility tests, the goal is to uncover where potential risks might exist and where opportunities could be hiding.

BONUS

• (25:25) Roger reads from his grandfather’s WWII Journal

REFERENCES

• Retirement Answer Man
• Sign up for The Noodle (previously known as Six Shot Saturday)
• Social Security Administration
• TreasuryDirect
• Immediate Annuities

Books:

• The Wild Blue: The Men and Boys Who Flew the B-24s Over Germany- Stephen Ambrose

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💬 Show Notes

In this episode, Roger Whitney takes on one of the biggest challenges facing retirees today: how to plan confidently when the markets are anything but steady. He’s joined by Dr. Bobby Dubois for a thoughtful conversation about building the energy and vitality needed for a meaningful retirement. Together, they share simple, practical steps to help listeners take charge of their physical well-being—so they can show up strong, not just today, but for years to come. Plus, listeners will hear an inspiring story of someone making real progress on their retirement journey.

SUMMARY OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN

• (00:00) Retirement planning is about creating a great life.
• (01:19) Roger celebrates team members Erin and Troy today.
• (02:08) Roger reflects on the messaging surrounding the current state of the markets.
• (04:45) What should you do to cope with the turbulent markets and economy?

PRACTICAL PLANNING WITH DR. BOBBY

• (10:16) Today's practical planning is focused on building energy so you can show up for retirement.
• (11:00) Roger introduces Dr. Bobby Dubois and talks about his podcast, Live Long and Well.
• (12:10) Dr. Bobby talks about the basics of building energy.
• (13:30) The power of compounding little consistent habits over time makes a big difference.
• (15:20) Roger and Dr. Bobby discuss the importance of weight for overall health.
• (17:55) What basic things can you focus on to help with building energy?
• (18:05) Dr. Bobby talks about sleep and gives tips on how to improve sleep quality.
• (22:45) Exercise is important for building energy- focus on cardio, strength, and balance.
• (35:10) Dr. Bobby talks about optimal weight and two simple yet effective tips to maintain a healthy weight.
• (40:00) There will be links to specific episodes of Live Long and Well in our newsletter, The Noodle, this week.

ROCKIN’ RETIREMENT IN THE WILD

• (42:28) Roger reads a note from an anonymous listener about rocking retirement.

RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN LISTENER SURVEY

• (44:45) Roger shares some results from The Retirement Answer Man listener survey.

SMART SPRINT

• (47:14) In the next seven days, start by putting a few of Dr. Bobby’s ideas into action—get moving and build some momentum around your physical health. Once you’ve got a little rhythm going, shift your focus to tackling the stress that comes with market uncertainty. One step at a time—that’s how we build a more confident retirement.

BONUS

• (48:24) Roger reads an excerpt from his grandfather's WWII journal.

REFERENCES

• Live Long and Well Podcast with Dr. Bobby
• Retirement Answer Man
• Sign up for The Noodle (previously known as Six Shot Saturday)

BOOKS:

• Tiny Habits: The Small Changes That Change Everything- BJ Fogg, PHD

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💬 Show Notes

In this episode, we break down the essentials of asset allocation and time management in retirement planning. Join us as we explore why it's crucial to focus on the basics rather than getting lost in market predictions and investment products. We also share insightful listener questions and another entry from my grandfather's World War II journal. Tune in to learn how to rock your retirement!

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN

• (00:00) This week we continue talking about the basics with asset allocation.
• (02:00) Time is your most precious resource.
• (03:36) Retirement planning is a means to an end.
• (05:45) We don’t want to waste time on trying to predict the future but on more important things like spending time on and in your life.
• (06:15) Spend time on the basic building blocks of retirement planning.
• (07:05) How does asset allocation fit into retirement planning?
• (09:10) Inflation is the natural increase in the cost of living over time.
• (13:52) What is asset allocation?
• (16:10) Part of asset allocation is a concept called diversification.
• (18:48) What is asset allocation best used for?
• (21:50) Two of the biggest determinants of where your asset allocation should be are your psychological preference and your time horizon.

LISTERNER QUESTIONS

• (24:13) Steve asks whether they should use a single vendor for all their accounts or diversify where they have their money housed in terms of investment firms.
• (26:29) The next question comes from Nick related to asset allocation.
• (32:18) Question from an RRC member about Vanguard offering a direct conversion.
• (35:48) Audio question from Leah about using IRA contributions to start building out a bond ladder or a shorter term allocation.
• (39:50) Audio question from Patty who recently retired and needs to decide what to do with her 401k assets and how to choose an advisor.

ROCKIN’ RETIREMENT IN THE WILD

• (49:01) James says he is overfunded for retirement even with a 10%-15% market correction but will aim to do better.

SMART SPRINT

• (50:47) In the next seven days, think about your asset allocation and think about it within time segments.

BONUS

• (51:33) Roger reads from his grandfather’s WWII journal.

REFERENCES

• 
  Retirement Answer Man
• Sign up for The Noodle (previously known as Six Shot Saturday)

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💬 Show Notes

In this episode, we kick off a month-long series on retirement basics, emphasizing the crucial role of partnership in planning for retirement. We discuss why it's vital for both spouses to be actively engaged in financial conversations, ensuring that neither partner feels overwhelmed or excluded. Plus, we hear inspiring stories from a couple of listeners who are thriving in their retirement journeys! Don't miss this episode!

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN

• (00:38) We're starting a month-long series on retirement basics.
• (00:56) Today we are going to talk about what every spouse should know about their retirement plan.
• (01:45) It's important for each spouse to delegate responsibilities when planning for retirement.
• (03:00) Roger talks about the pressure of being the retirement planner in a couple and the risks of being the non-planner.
• (05:00) Audio clip from our paraplanner Erin about a recent experience volunteering for Tax Aide.
• (07:40) What spousal participation should there be in retirement planner meetings? And what meetings need to happen?
• (08:07) Roger goes through the four initial meetings of building a retirement plan of record.
• (15:19) At least twice a year, the non-planner spouse should participate in a planner meeting to refresh all of these things.
• (15:30) What should the planner spouse do to help create a productive meeting?
• (17:45) What are the risks as the financial manager spouse?
• (19:29) What should non-financial manager spouses do?
• (22:50) Roger talks about what the non-financial manager spouses should know.
• (25:30) What should your advisor do if you are working with one?

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT RELATED TO SOCIAL SECURITY

• (27:50) WEP and GPO changes are causing confusion with Social Security recipients.

ROCKING RETIREMENT IN THE WILD

• (29:56) Listener shares about the challenges of decumulation and overcoming a lifetime of frugal habits.
• (32:28) Listener Kathleen talks about dog-sitting in retirement.

SMART SPRINT

• (33:53) In the next seven days, review the time sensitive action items that may apply to you when it comes to the month of April.

BONUS

• (35:19) Roger reads an excerpt from his grandfather's WWII journal.

REFERENCES

• Retirement Answer Man
• Sign up for The Noodle (previously known as Six Shot Saturday)

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💬 Show Notes

In this episode, we embark on a journey of navigating retirement amidst uncertainty. Join us as we explore the importance of taking action, building confidence, and reframing our approach to financial security. Listen in as we share practical steps to manage risks, reassess spending, and make informed decisions in these unpredictable times. With insights drawn from real-life experiences and the wisdom of past challenges, this episode aims to empower you to build a resilient retirement, step by step.

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN

• (00:35) This week’s show stems from a number of conversations I have had with listeners to the show.
• (02:35) Today, we’re diving into the challenges of retiring in uncertain times, exploring common concerns, potential risks, and the essential steps you should take to secure your future.
• (03:12) **Political disclaimer** Today we are going to talk about what is going on in the political world today and how it relates to us in retirement planning.
• (04:45) Retirement planning should remain as independent as possible from political strategies or opinions.
• (08:28) What are the dangers that happen during this type of environment?
• (14:50) The risk lies in how we respond to these dangers and act on our worries.
• (16:00) We start to let our convictions and opinions about the future bleed into the retirement planning realm and act on the worst fears that we have.
• (18:00) At the end of the day the questions are: Am I okay? What should I do?
• (18:55) What you should focus on is what you can do right now to improve your situation.
• (19:59) First, I’ll chat with those who already have a retirement plan in place, then I’ll turn to those who haven’t gotten around to it yet and share some tips for both groups moving forward.
• (27:06) Now let's switch gears to listeners who don’t have a plan yet.
• (32:05) None of these paths that we walked through have anything to do with what the government is doing.

RETIREMENT IN THE WILD

• (33:04) An anonymous listener shared their retirement journey, thanking the podcast for inspiring positive steps.
• (34:40) New listener says he started listening to your podcast about a year ago and says Roger’s philosophy from 10 years ago still rings true today
• (35:40) Listener asks if there is an index of episodes he can search.

SMART SPRINT

(36:52) In the next seven days, take some of the action steps we talked about today.

BACKGROUND ON ROGER

(37:30) Roger talks about his origin story and financial experience background.

(39:25) Roger goes over his practical experience in the industry.

BONUS

(43:44) Roger reads another excerpt from his grandfather’s WWII journals.

REFERENCES

• Retirement Answer Man
• Sign up for The Noodle (previously known as Six Shot Saturday)

BOOK

• The Power of Agency: The 7 Principles to Conquer Obstacles, Make Effective Decisions, and Create a Life on Your Own Terms- Paul Napper, Psy. D and Anthony Roo, Ph. D

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💬 Show Notes

In this episode, we explore the importance of cultivating curiosity as a part of the non-financial pillar of retirement planning- mindset. Join us as we discuss how curiosity can enhance your mindset and well-being in retirement, along with practical tools to foster this trait. We also address listener questions about retirement strategies amidst economic uncertainty. Don't miss this insightful episode packed with actionable advice!

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN

• (01:11) Today, we're going to answer some listener questions related to building a retirement plan and focus on one of the nonfinancial pillars- mindset.
• (02:10) Roger says he has been doing financial planning for over 35 years and noticed that it seems that the happiest and well adjusted people have a healthy sense of curiosity.
• (02:55) What is curiosity?
• (04:50) It is easy as we age to naturally fall into indifference, apathy, and close-mindedness.
• (06:06) Curiosity drives learning, learning creates cognitive resilience, and cognitive resilience enables further curiosity.
• (07:05) Let's look at some examples of curiosity and recommend some books.
• (10:17) How do you build curiosity?

LISTENER QUESTIONS

• (19:19) Drew asks a question about gifting.
• (21:51) Tom asks about permissible investments in ROTH IRAS.
• (26:55) The next question comes from John related to building a retirement allocation for retirement using the pie cake.
• (32:16) Mary asks about putting money in an HSA or money market account.
• (37:22) Our next email is from Nick related to target date portfolios for retirement

SMART SPRINT

• (43:05) In the next seven days, work on cultivating curiosity.

BONUS

• (43:57) Roger reads from his grandfather's WWII journal.

REFERENCES

• Retirement Answer Man
• Sign up for The Noodle (previously known as Six Shot Saturday)

Books

• “Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynman!”: Adventures of a Curious Character- Richard Feynman

• How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci: Seven Steps to Genius Every Day- Michael Gelb

• The Gifts of Imperfection- Brene Brown

Blog

• Rajib Roy- The History of my Future! (First Draft!)

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💬 Show Notes

In this episode, we explore the essential steps to setting up your retirement paycheck to ensure financial stability and confidence in your retirement years. Join us as we discuss the importance of tracking your cash flow, identifying spending trends, and creating a structured paycheck system that mimics the rhythm of a traditional paycheck. We also dive into listener questions about MYGAs, private equity, and inheritance planning, providing valuable insights to help you navigate your retirement journey.

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN

• (00:00) This show is dedicated to helping you not go bankrupt in retirement!
• (00:25) Today we'll talk about how to set up your paycheck ahead of retirement
• (01:16) Sign up for my weekly newsletter- The Noodle.
• (01:44) In retirement, you lose the natural pulse of income coming into your checking account so it is important to have a system setup.
• (03:05) What is the intent in setting up a paycheck in retirement?
• (07:35) Roger talks about a default paycheck structure and how to set it up.
• (12:30) What should you do about extraordinary expenditures?
• (13:14) How should you have your pretax account set up for a retirement paycheck?
• (17:45) Setting up a retirement paycheck helps identify trends in spending or saving.
• (19:22) There will be an explainer video exclusive in our weekly newsletter- The Noodle

LISTENER QUESTIONS

• (20:00) I got an email from Bill, a demographer, giving me more insight about the question- “how long should we plan to live?”
• (24:00) Adam sent in a question about MYGAs- Multi-Year Guaranteed Annuities.
• (28:43) John sends feedback on our private equity episode.
• (30:32) David asks how to factor a substantial inheritance into his retirement plan.

SMART SPRINT

• (39:35) In the next seven days, look at your payroll system and how you construct it.

BONUS

• (40:25) Roger reads an excerpt from his grandfather’s WWII journal.

REFERENCES

• Retirement Answer Man
• Sign up for The Noodle (previously known as Six Shot Saturday)
• The Retirement Answer Man Free Worksheet Library
  
  

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💬 Show Notes

In this episode, Roger Whitney tackles the critical question of life expectancy in retirement planning. With statistics from the CDC, he guides listeners through the complexities of determining how long they should plan for their retirement. Roger addresses the cognitive bias known as the "curse of knowledge," providing clarity on how to approach life expectancy assumptions. He also shares insights on the importance of using personalized data rather than general averages, and discusses practical tools for assessing longevity. Tune in for valuable advice that can help you plan confidently for your future!

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN

• (00:00) What life expectancy should you use in your retirement plan?
• (00:39) We have a change happening to our Six Shot Saturday email.
• (02:18) Roger discusses the concept of ‘The Curse of Knowledge.’
• (03:38) Listener, D.S., sends in a question about life expectancy in retirement.
• (05:58) Roger discusses how to interpret the data from the Social Security Administration life expectancy calculator.
• (9:30) Roger uses age 92 for a male and 94 for a female for a base assumption in retirement planning.

LISTENER QUESTIONS

• (11:26) Thrift savings plans will allow Roth conversion starting in 2026.
• (12:13) Karen asks about the pie-cake and the purpose of a 6 month emergency fund.
• (15:35) Karen asks a second question about suggestions for saving vehicles that are not US treasury bonds.
• (17:27) Evan asks “How does a pension figure into a net worth statement?”
• (22:00) Gene asks how to look at the total allocation of your retirement portfolio.
• (25:00) Roger reads feedback from listener Scott about last week’s episode.

ROCKING RETIREMENT IN THE WILD

• (27:01) Scott has been helping federal employees think through their retirement plans.

SMART SPRINT

• (30:42) In the next seven days, revisit the age you are going to use in your retirement plan.

BONUS

• (31:12) Roger reads an entry from his grandfather’s WWII journal.

REFERENCES

• Retirement Answer Man
• Sign up for The Noodle (previously known as Six Shot Saturday)
• The Retirement Answer Man Free Worksheet Library
• Social Security Life Expectancy Calculator
• The Retirement Researcher
  
  

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