Retire Sooner with Wes Moss

Kickstart your journey to a happier, earlier retirement with this high-energy episode of the Retire Sooner Podcast, where Wes Moss and Christa DiBiase tackle real listener questions and spotlight flexible strategies that could help you build a more confident retirement plan. Whether you're in your 40s, 50s, or beyond, get motivated to consider meaningful actions—starting now. • Jump-start your savings approach in your 40s and 50s, even if you're just beginning to focus on retirement. • Unlock the “50+ Retirement Catch-Up Toolbox” with tools like Roth conversions, HSAs, and enhanced contribution limits. • Discover what’s ahead with new “super catch-up” contribution rules and upcoming IRS changes that may impact your planning. • Maximize your Social Security outlook by understanding how the timing of withdrawals could influence your benefits. • Hear how annuities and home equity were discussed as potential components in long-term financial planning. • Tune in to real-world stories from listeners managing late-in-life parenting, mortgages, and the pursuit of financial independence. • Reconsider the risks and rewards of penny stocks with a balanced conversation about their place in a retirement portfolio. • Weigh the role of pensions in your overall asset allocation for a more personalized investment approach. • Rethink your withdrawal game plan with a closer look at the 4% rule—its origins and relevance today. • Confront concerns around global exposure by reviewing how emerging markets and China-related investments might affect your portfolio. • Strengthen your retirement mindset with income-focused planning designed to help support a more stable financial future. Get energized with actionable ideas and relatable stories that help make retirement planning feel more approachable. 🎧 Listen and subscribe to the Retire Sooner Podcast to join a community focused on financial clarity and living a purpose-filled retirement. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Think you might be richer than you realize? In this episode of the Retire Sooner Podcast, Wes Moss and Christa DiBiase examine realistic benchmarks and practical frameworks for retirement planning. • Define what the “rich ratio” means and consider how it may reframe your retirement outlook. • Compare your savings habits to U.S. medians to understand the broader landscape. • Acknowledge that building wealth typically occurs over long periods and that consistency can be meaningful. • Discuss research on how happiness and financial confidence often plateau beyond certain savings levels. • Evaluate the roles of traditional and Roth IRAs, 457(b)s, pensions, and brokerage accounts to support flexibility. • Identify scenarios where a standalone brokerage account may be unnecessary for certain savers. • Consider a target date fund allocation approach that may better align with your stated risk tolerance. • Weigh convenience, costs, and tax features of index mutual funds versus ETFs, including changes following a major fund industry patent expiration. • Clarify how the Net Unrealized Appreciation (NUA) rule for company stock in 401(k)s works and where tax treatment can differ. • Review key factors when choosing between a state pension plan and a self directed plan for teachers and public employees. • Position specialized pension income, including Railroad Retirement, as part of a base income layer within an overall plan, subject to program rules. • Incorporate year round tax planning as a component of a well documented retirement strategy, noting that individual circumstances vary. Listen and SUBSCRIBE to the Retire Sooner Podcast for weekly educational conversations that can inform more confident financial decision making. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Think you know the rules of thumb for retirement and investing? Think again. On this episode of the Retire Sooner Podcast, Wes Moss and Christa DiBiase examine common money myths and respond to listener questions that may reshape how you approach your financial future. What you'll explore in this episode: • Begin investing at any income level by seeing how access to markets has evolved. • Focus on long-term participation instead of trying to perfectly time the market. • Revisit the role of cash in your strategy and reflect on whether “cash is king” still holds. • Understand why not all bonds carry the same level of risk, despite common assumptions. • Consider how long-term investing differs from gambling based on historical probabilities. • Explore modern tools and AI platforms that can support your portfolio analysis. • Avoid the comparison trap by staying grounded in your personal financial goals. • Compare the potential uses of whole life insurance versus long-term investing in special needs planning. • Remember that market declines only become losses when assets are sold. • Recognize the limitations of using past performance to estimate future outcomes. • Examine whether real estate consistently appreciates by looking at real-life exceptions and patterns. • Shift your perspective from outperforming the market to maintaining a long-term plan. • Emphasize the importance of hobbies and social connections alongside financial readiness in retirement. • Track your accounts and consider when changes to a managed portfolio may be appropriate. • Reassess how supplemental funds—like vacation accounts—fit into your broader plan and tax picture. • Simplify charitable giving by analyzing options such as donor-advised funds and intentional planning. 🎧 Listen today and subscribe to the Retire Sooner Podcast for thoughtful insights to help guide your retirement journey._ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Take the next step in your retirement planning. Tune in to the latest episode of the Retire Sooner Podcast with Wes Moss and Christa DiBiase, where you'll hear thoughtful, real-world insights designed to help you make informed financial decisions and pursue a more confident, purposeful retirement. • Explore ways to optimize Social Security benefits, including timing strategies, spousal considerations, and personalized withdrawal approaches. • Understand common sources of retirement anxiety, even among high-net-worth individuals, and consider approaches for managing emotional and financial uncertainty. • Learn how trusts can support estate planning goals, from avoiding probate to managing real estate assets within your long-term financial plan. • Consider retirement account strategies such as the Rule of 55, Roth conversion timing, and prioritizing tax-efficient cash flow. Review your investment mix by comparing target date funds and balanced funds, and evaluate which may better align with your risk tolerance and retirement timeline. • Weigh different withdrawal strategies by comparing the timing of distributions from retirement accounts versus claiming Social Security. • Examine how 529 plans and Roth IRAs may fit into your education and retirement planning—especially if you’re part of a high-income household navigating recent tax law changes. Compare the structure and features of S&P 500 mutual funds and ETFs to help determine which may be more appropriate for your investment preferences. 🎙️ Subscribe** and listen to the Retire Sooner Podcast today** for thoughtful conversations that can support your journey toward long-term financial well-being. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of the Retire Sooner podcast, Wes Moss and Christa DiBiase respond to listener questions and explore practical approaches to navigating retirement, investing, and financial planning. • Discover a common Roth IRA misstep that can lead to unexpected taxes in retirement and learn how to approach it with more clarity. • Explore the process of rolling over a Roth 401(k) into a Roth IRA and how the five-year rule of thumb might impact your withdrawal timeline. • Hear real-world scenarios that highlight different outcomes based on how long your Roth accounts have been in place. • Understand how to approach IRA rebalancing, including what to consider when dealing with concentrated stock positions and market changes. • Compare Social Security and police pension benefits while examining updates to the Social Security Fairness Act and what it could mean for spousal coverage. • Consider the use of retirement income projection tools and how applying more conservative assumptions may help you plan with greater confidence. • Reflect on a “retirement love letter” that reveals three powerful themes behind a fulfilling retirement: financial flexibility, lifestyle design, and intentional planning. • Follow the story of a couple who built a $6 million net worth, established six income streams, and prioritized meaningful pursuits and family in retirement. • Explore why consistent movement and a sense of adventure are strongly connected to retirement satisfaction—and how shared community living can sometimes support both. • Examine how changing family dynamics may shift your highest spending years later in life and why it matters for long-term planning. • Get a clearer understanding of buffered index-linked notes, including their structure, potential costs, and how they differ from ETFs and other options. • Learn how to calculate the present value of a pension using basic inputs such as years of service and average salary. • Hear answers to more listener questions, including how stay-at-home spouses may qualify for Social Security and what pensions might mean for younger professionals. Listen now to explore thoughtful planning strategies, real retirement stories, and insights that can help you design a future with more purpose and peace of mind. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of the Retire Sooner Podcast, Wes Moss and Christa DiBiase explore the role of dry powder assets in retirement planning and revisit “FOMO Freddie”—a cautionary character representing the risks of chasing investment trends without a long-term strategy. 🚀 They discuss why trend-chasing can be detrimental and how aligning with a consistent investment approach may help support long-term outcomes. You’ll hear comparisons of various investment styles—index, value, growth, momentum, and minimum volatility—and the potential drawbacks of “style timing” versus maintaining a steady allocation. The episode also covers listener questions around portfolio transitions, including strategies for minimizing market disruption when moving IRAs or 401(k)s. Additional topics include: • Understanding TreasuryDirect accounts like I Bonds and EE Bonds • Key risks of Market Linked Notes, including credit and liquidity concerns • The “three-year dry powder” rule of thumb as a retirement buffer • Age-based asset allocation considerations, including I Bonds as a potential emergency fund component for younger investors • Considerations around high-yield municipal bond funds, especially for tax-conscious, high-net-worth retirees • Factors to weigh when deciding whether to work with a financial advisor, including costs and allocation structure Looking for help to strengthen your financial plan? Tune in for thoughtful insights to help you navigate market decisions with clarity and caution. For additional resources, visit yourwealth.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dreaming about retiring early, but worried you’ll never have enough? On this episode of Retire Sooner with Wes Moss, Wes and Christa DiBiase break down powerful strategies and mindset shifts that could help folks retire sooner and happier, including: • Tap Your IRA Early—Penalty-Free: Learn how Rule 72(t) and SEPPs can sometimes unlock your IRA before many expect and how that might help customize an early retirement plan. • Rule of 55 vs. Rule 72(t): Compare two powerful early withdrawal strategies and discover which one could work for your retirement timeline. • Smart Rollover and Roth Moves: Wes tackles listener questions on IRAs, dry powder strategy, and recovering from past investing mistakes. • S&P 500 or Total Market Index? Find out which fund could fit your growth goals—and why broad diversification is often a winning strategy. • The Real Source of Retirement Happiness: New research reveals it’s not just money—core pursuits like travel, hobbies, and connection can fuel lasting joy. • Annuities & Life Insurance—Worth It? Explore the pros, cons, and ideal timing for annuities and whole life policies in your retirement plan. Let years of retirement planning, actionable anecdotes, relatable listener questions, and eye-opening research fine-tune your investment and happiness game plan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Explore powerful, often-overlooked retirement tactics—like the Rule of 55 and the 62/70 Social Security strategy—and hear listener questions answered by Wes and Christa to help you build an effective, income-focused financial future. 🎯 • Are corporate earnings the #1 financial metric for long-term investors to track when making better investment decisions? • Learn how to evaluate earnings per share (EPS) and earnings growth when investing in individual stocks or index funds. • Should retail investors join earnings calls—or is it better to focus on broader S&P 500 earnings trends? • Understand how proxy voting works and whether your shareholder vote might impact company decisions. • Get insight on the “62/70” Social Security strategy—why one spouse claiming early while the other waits may optimize retirement income and possibly protect surviving spouses. • Explore the Rule of 55, which lets you withdraw from your 401(k) without penalties starting at age 55, years earlier than the standard 59½ rule. Learn the critical conditions and employer plan requirements that determine Rule of 55 eligibility. • Discover how a “reverse rollover,” for those who choose it, could unlock penalty-free access to retirement savings by shifting IRA funds into a qualifying 401(k). • Understand the pros and cons of rules-based ETFs and factor investing versus traditional low-cost index funds. • Hear Wes’s take on expense ratios, investment screening methods, and how to align your portfolio with your beliefs, without overpaying on fees. • Dive into the mechanics of backdoor Roth IRAs and how those who choose to roll over traditional IRAs might be able to simplify the Roth conversion strategy. • Learn how to optimize Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) when changing jobs or insurance plans. Start creating your path toward financial freedom and retirement happiness with these topics and more on this episode of the Retire Sooner Podcast! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Looking for retirement guidance and insights on navigating gold investments, market volatility, and the impact of AI on jobs? In this episode of the Retire Sooner Podcast, Wes Moss and Christa DiBiase address essential topics and answer listener questions on financial planning, investment returns, and preparing for the future of work. • Gold as an Investment: Discuss the pros and cons of investing in gold, including historical performance and volatility. What’s an effective percentage to hold in a portfolio? • Gold’s Performance Over Time: Gold has shown a respectable average annual return in recent decades; however, can it also be highly volatile? • Gold in Times of Crisis: How does gold perform during a recession? • Physical Gold vs. Gold ETFs: Both are options, but which offers greater ease of access and lower logistical risk? • 401(k) Rollover Strategy: For retirees who choose to rollover 401k assets to an IRA, can dollar-cost averaging reduce emotional stress? • Seeking Steady 7% Returns: Investors looking for steady 7% returns may be compelled to take on significant risk, such as high-yield junk bonds or illiquid private real estate. Does this make balanced portfolios more strategic long-term options? • AI’s Impact on White Collar Jobs: Is there credence to the claims that AI could eliminate many entry-level white-collar positions in the next five years? Are there ways to assess job vulnerability and anticipate how new opportunities and industries will emerge in response to technological change? • Investing in an AI-Transformed World: Rather than chasing individual AI stocks, can broad, diversified index investing capture overall market growth and the success of future industry leaders? • Weighing Rental Properties vs. Selling: When considering whether to keep or sell a paid-off home, consider balancing the potential for appreciation and rental income against the additional management work and risk. • Equal Weight vs. Cap Weight Indexes: Is there potential for ETF bubbles due to mega-cap stock concentration? Can equal-weighted ETFs mitigate some risk? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wes and Christa delve into essential topics to help get you ready to retire sooner and happier, including: • Review the Wes Moss 10-point retirement readiness checklist. • Understand how to transition from saving to spending. It sounds simple, but there can be more to it than meets the eye. • Explore the emotional and strategic importance of spending in retirement: What are productive ways to prioritize? • Reassess your estate, insurance, and healthcare coverage before retirement—procrastination can add unnecessary stress. • Be aware of advisor fees vs. value: you're not paying to beat the market, but to build and protect a sustainable plan. • Embrace the importance of financial confidence: the #1 worry in retirement is outliving your money—face it with planning. • Enjoy a lighter segment of “Wes Stinks” regarding Wes’s favorite type of apple vs. listener favorites. • Follow real-life financial questions from listeners: o With a significant chunk of assets and kids still in college, analyze early retirement readiness and weigh the pros and cons of hiring a financial advisor versus staying with index funds. o How to shift from aggressive stocks to conservative holdings while attempting to minimize capital gains tax. o Dissect a high withdrawal rate strategy using dividends and bond funds. Consider the trade-offs of control and structured income. o Evaluate municipal bond funds for tax efficiency; can you balance credit quality and yields using a tax-equivalent yield comparison? o Weigh traditional vs. Roth 401(k) contributions based on your current tax bracket. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices