Retire Sooner with Wes Moss

Probe America’s "mini-millionaires"—how they earn, invest, and build wealth through hard work, not luck. Dive into the potential for owning stocks and buying a home with a focus on financial independence, not flash.Wes and Christa take listener questions to tackle substantial inheritance management, debate bonds vs. money markets for long-term gains, examine Robo-advisors hoarding cash, and the idea of doubling down on security to thwart hackers.Wes wraps with John Bogle’s playbook: invest rather than speculate, slash expenses, and don’t let perfectionism ruin a solid financial plan. By taking action and investing with purpose, you may be able to retire sooner than you think. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Should you take a lump sum or pension payout? Use the 6% Test to help you decide. With markets hitting record highs, is it the right time to invest, or should you wait? History suggests some clues that retirement planning should not be left to chance. Wes Moss and Christa DiBiase provide crucial context by answering listener questions about 401(k) target date funds, beta vs. volatility, selling a business for retirement, mega backdoor Roth IRAs, and inherited IRAs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover 5 powerful portfolio diversification strategies to help reduce market anxiety and boost financial security. Learn how these strategies can apply to kids, retirees, and folks in between, with actionable ways to set up a custodial Roth IRA for young entrepreneurs, maximize retirement savings, and choose an investment approach that fits your needs.Find out why kids earning money from small businesses, like selling roadside squash, could qualify for a Roth IRA. Avoid common mistakes like investing in a target date fund too soon. Looking for a fee-only fiduciary? Learn the real costs of hourly financial planning and how some people find trusted guidance.Thinking of ditching bonds for cash? Wes and Christa explain why bonds have historically outperformed money markets and why a balanced portfolio is key for long-term growth. Plus, dive into the Army of American productivity and how it impacts financial strategies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New changes in Social Security policies, particularly the elimination of the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO), may have significant implications for roughly 3 million Americans. Teachers, nurses, firefighters, police officers, and other public-sector workers who previously saw their Social Security benefits slashed may now receive the full benefits they’ve earned. This shift is reshaping retirement planning for many Americans, making it more critical than ever to have a solid financial strategy and for couples to be on the same page to help avoid future stress and regret.On today’s episode, Wes is joined again by Christa DiBiase, the COO of Clark Howard, Inc. By answering listener questions and sharing informed analysis, Wes points out the essential distinctions between fiduciaries vs. non-fiduciary advisors, reminds listeners about diversifying portfolios into broad market indices to help to minimize risk, and explains how a money market account is typically a higher-yield alternative to a standard low-interest savings account. Finally, he examines the power of starting to save for retirement at any age, even in your 50s, emphasizing that consistent saving and wise investing can lead to more financial flexibility than many might think. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Unpack the keys to investing for a happy retirement by highlighting foundational principles like prioritizing stocks to combat inflation and the strategic use of diversified "dry powder" assets for stability. Tackle listener questions, exploring international investments, mortgage payoff strategies, long-term healthcare costs, and tax-efficient withdrawals. On today’s episode, Wes is joined again by Christa DiBiase, the COO of Clark Howard, Inc.Wes zooms in on the need for patience and persistence in investing, advising against the pitfalls of impulsive decisions and ill-advised “perfection-chasing” behavior. Together, Wes and Christa attempt to equip listeners with strategies to navigate financial challenges, stay resilient, and retire sooner with confidence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode, Wes looks at 2024’s obstacles to see what might serve as clues for success in 2025. The resilient U.S. economy closed 2024 with a 25% S&P 500 gain, defying inflation fears, international turmoil, and political upheaval. While consumer spending remains a vital economic driver, boosted by low unemployment and rising wages, renewed productivity fueled by AI and innovation could spark another boom.With the current bull market still young and some earnings forecasts showing a robust 13% growth, optimism abounds. However, investors should prepare for the possible return of market volatility after two unusually stable years. Bonds are regaining appeal as yields climb, and income strategies like dividends offer a steadying force amid market swings.Overall, Wes celebrates 2025’s potential for growth but reminds listeners that it will only benefit those disciplined folks who stay invested.And he takes some listener questions! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode of the Retire Sooner Podcast, we dive into the essential pillars for seeking to achieve financial freedom and a fulfilling retirement. Wes outlines five key strategies that may contribute to long-term success: prioritizing stocks, embracing massive diversification, practicing patience and longevity, navigating today's investing challenges, and creating a robust financial plan.Wes is also joined by Christa DiBiase, COO of Clark Howard, Inc., to answer questions from across the country, offering insights on managing high investment fees, planning for retirement without Social Security, and balancing risk in portfolios. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’ve all met that one guy who pontificates endlessly about the “fantastic” investments he’s made that year. He always seems drawn to the hottest and latest trends. You don’t fully believe him, but it still makes you feel a bit of dread at the thought of being left behind.On this episode of the Retire Sooner Podcast, Producer Mallory joins Wes in the studio to explain why a fear of missing out on the FOMO Freddies of the world is typically not worth the energy. Though his bluster may temporarily cloud your judgment, it doesn’t change the reality that consistently and patiently following the five key principles for successful investing can often provide a significant opportunity for you to achieve the financial freedom you seek.Wes and Mallory discuss the probability of similar long-term returns for different investment styles, such as value, growth, quality, and minimum volatility, when investors incorporate diversification, patience, and discipline into those financial strategies. They underline the importance of understanding your risk tolerance and finding an investment style that fits your temperament so that you can endure for the long haul, no matter how “spectacular” FOMO Freddy claims the current craze to be. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Most people have a vague idea of what it takes to stay healthy as we age—some combination of cutting out the delicious, irresponsible activities while adding in more nutritious, boring ones. While it never seemed overly complicated, it also didn’t sound very fun. Today’s guest flipped that script. According to Maddy Dychtwald, a healthy mindset can lower stress, which can actually make it easier and more enjoyable to exercise and socialize. In other words, you don’t have to white knuckle the tedious tasks. You might even look forward to them!For nearly 40 years, Maddy has been exploring all aspects of the Age Wave, and she’s contributed to researching how an aging population can have profound business, social, healthcare, financial, workforce, and cultural implications. She’s a national best-selling author, including her latest, Ageless Aging, an acclaimed public speaker, and an overall thought leader on longevity, aging, and the new retirement. Her insights and research have been featured in Bloomberg Businessweek, Forbes, Newsweek, Time, Fox Business News, CNBC, and NPR.For years, a common belief was that genetics predetermined much of our destiny, but Maddy says that may not be true. New research suggests that up to 90% of our health and well-being is related to our lifestyle and environment.I grilled her on the questions people want answers to. Are trends like intermittent fasting dubious, or can they help? Is walking 30 minutes per day enough, or do you need to add strength training? What’s the latest you should eat before bedtime? Can adopting a pet add purpose to your life? Are men or women more likely to suffer from Alzheimer’s?Maddy’s answers and wisdom shed so much light on what people can do to stack their heart and brain health to increase both the span and quality of life in later years. We all want to live longer, better lives. Maddy might be able to help us enjoy the process along the way. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Everyone wants a good life, but what does that mean, and how can you make it happen? On today’s show, Wes combines analysis from a neuroscientist, a bank CEO, and two very different retirees to find the overlapping characteristics of each.According to Dr. Wendy Suzuki, professor of Neural Science and Psychology at New York University, the unifying theme is some sort of fulfillment. In a discussion with Annabel Spring, CEO of HSBC Global Private Banking and Wealth, the two explored how 11,000 bankers defined well-being. Some of the answers may surprise you.According to two retirees to whom Wes recently spoke, retirement can look very different for each person. One felt retirement was everything he’d ever dreamed it could be and recommended people do it sooner, whereas the other thought it was overrated and missed working. Examining their feelings through the prism of Dr. Suzuki’s outlook, Wes determines that both are correct and gives specific reasons why that revelation is more uplifting than many might think.From life mapping to learning how to sail, Wes identifies what people seem to need from a happy retirement and how the timing and execution might be unique for each. By self-examining what makes a great day, you can take the first step toward finding your own purpose-filled retirement and ultimately put in the work it takes to get there. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices