Retire Sooner with Wes Moss

If Hollywood made a movie about your life, who would they cast to play you? Today's Retire Sooner guest is Los Angeles Times columnist and four-time Pulitzer Prize finalist, Steve Lopez. In Steve's case, Iron Man himself, Robert Downey Jr., plays Steve in the film adaptation of his best-selling nonfiction book, The Soloist. Wes and Steve talk about the story behind the story, as well as how Steve fell in love with Los Angeles and the fateful accident that got Steve thinking about retirement for his latest book, Independence Day.As they dig deeper into the book and discussion around retirement, Steve addresses the importance of structure and planning in retirement, six classifications of happy retirees, and why women can be better at retirement planning than men. Steve later relates advice Mel Brooks and Norman Lear gave him about purpose and passion. Finally, Wes wraps up the episode by asking Steve about his future plans for retirement and core pursuits. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can there be progress without pain? The last 50 years have been a rollercoaster in the financial world and the world at large.In this episode, Wes gives a snapshot of key events from decades passed that had a significant impact on both the financial and cultural zeitgeist, including the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, despite every war, conflict, or struggle, Wes emphasizes the positive developments that keep him (and happy retirees) rationally optimistic. "Tomorrow" can always be somewhere good and great! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This Valentine's Day, let's talk about something near and dear to Wes's heart: Dividends!What does it take to be wealthy in America? In this episode, Wes and Retire Sooner producer Mallory Boggs take a look at statistics from a new wealth survey showing what level of earner is considered "wealthy" in this day and age. They also discuss dividend investing, show what a balanced portfolio could look like, and the possibility of enjoying dividend returns in retirement. Wes and Mallory wrap up this episode sharing what they love about Valentine's Day!This information is provided to you as a resource for informational purposes only and is not to be viewed as investment advice or recommendations. Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. There is no guarantee offered that investment return, yield, or performance will be achieved. Stock prices fluctuate, sometimes rapidly and dramatically, due to factors affecting individual companies, particular industries or sectors, or general market conditions. For stocks paying dividends, dividends are not guaranteed, and can increase, decrease, or be eliminated without notice. Fixed-income securities involve interest rate, credit, inflation, and reinvestment risks; and possible loss of principal. As interest rates rise, the value of fixed-income securities falls. Past performance is not indicative of future results when considering any investment vehicle. This information is being presented without consideration of the investment objectives, risk tolerance, or financial circumstances of any specific investor and might not be suitable for all investors. There are many aspects and criteria that must be examined and considered before investing. Investment decisions should not be made solely based on information contained in this article. This information is not intended to, and should not, form a primary basis for any investment decision that you may make. Always consult your own legal, tax, or investment advisor before making any investment/tax/estate/financial planning considerations or decisions. The information contained in the article is strictly an opinion and it is not known whether the strategies will be successful. The views and opinions expressed are for educational purposes only as of the date of production/writing and may change without notice at any time based on numerous factors, such as market or other conditions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, guest Kathleen Rehl shares her expertise and experience with widowdom. Widely featured writer and author of the multi-award-winning book, Moving Forward on Your Own: A Financial Guidebook for Widows, Kathleen is a leading authority on financial challenges that widows face with over 17 years of personal finance advice.Wes and Kathleen discuss grief, growth, and grace in widowhood, including how it affects retirement, investing decisions, and getting back into the dating pool. And, in a Retire Sooner first, you can also listen to a little bit of poetry! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Find out what helps Wes sleep well at night! In this episode, Wes and Retire Sooner producer Mallory Boggs offer some of their top tips for retirement life. They discuss ideal timeframes to claim Social Security benefits, the advantages of not overspending on your kids and grandkids, a quick way to determine if your pension passes the 6% test, and it never being too late to be a rockstar (or star of whatever side hustle works for you).Aside from sharing the importance of having multiple income streams in retirement, they also address how essential it is to have core pursuits, also known as hobbies on steroids, that can help make you the happiest retiree on the block.The episode wraps up with Wes sharing his core pursuit of snowboarding, rediscovering skiing with his wife, and discussing how trying new things sooner makes having core pursuits easier.For more tips, check out the Tools page on wesmoss.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this podcast episode, Wes is joined by Emily Esfahani Smith, she is the author of the book, ”The Power of Meaning”, and she delivered a TED talk called “There’s More to Life Than Being Happy”. Emily introduces her approach to finding meaning in life which she argues is more important than happiness. She suggests everyone examine and strengthen 4 pillars in their life: belonging, purpose, transcendence, and storytelling. She also shares how growing up in Sufism impacted her study of this philosophy, the rising tide of despair the world faces today, and how we can all find ways to enjoy a full and meaningful life.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is your new year resolution to retire a little sooner? If so, this episode might be for you. In today's episode, Wes Moss and Retire Sooner podcast producer Mallory Boggs discuss their personal financial resolutions for 2023, Wes's favorite financial advice from 2022, what investors may expect from the markets this year, and why now is the time to reassess your retirement goals.Wes shares his thoughts on some of the biggest stock market challenges in 2022. He discusses why he's optimistic for investors in 2023, what he likes about what he sees with value stocks this year, and how shifts in the bond market, cryptocurrencies, and interest rates may shape the market in 2023. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you live in a great home, why move out of it into a lesser one? Currently working on her eleventh flip, Mindy Jensen is a mom, works her day job at biggerpockets.com, and has bought and sold houses live-and-flip style for over two decades.In this episode, Mindy discusses the process of moving into an ugly house and turning it into a beautiful one through do-it-yourself construction and eye-grabbing kitchens. She also addresses some of the perks of the live-and-flip lifestyle, such as advantageous tax exclusions. Wes and Mindy dig into why real estate is an excellent investment class and cautionary areas for inexperienced buyers, such as overpaying property taxes. They also address loan rates, reverse mortgages, second homes through COVID, and Mindy's preference for local lenders. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is money really the greatest need for retirement, or is there something more important to start with that we should all consider? In this episode, Wes is joined by popular newspaper columnist, award-winning college professor, and bestselling author Mike Bellah. Mike makes us think twice about our greatest needs for retirement as he shares his personal experiences with core pursuits that drive this stage of his life and enable him to be one of the happiest retirees on the block. Mike and Wes also address the importance of learning from grandkids and cultivating multiple income streams. They also discuss the need to rebalance, some physical challenges that many retirees encounter during the latter phase of retirement, and the importance of curiosity to keep growing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tune in to this episode as Wes Moss uncovers why demographics play an impactful role in shaping your retirement destiny along with his review of population history and statistics of multiple countries. He walks through recent financial headlines and news, reveals what would happen if everyone bought stocks and never sold them, dives into market liquidity, and what adds up to more longevity. Additionally, he addresses market trends and the silent and powerful march forward of economic demand across the globe.Wes wraps up this episode talking about the increasing popularity of pickleball, predictions for the ever-growing population, and unveils two of the most populous regions in the world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices