Retire Sooner with Wes Moss

Have you ever met a 75-year-old who seems 40? How about a 30-year-old who seems 50? Why do some folks seem to age like a fine wine while others settle like a lukewarm wine cooler?On today’s episode of the Retire Sooner Podcast, Wes sits down with Dr. Alan Castel to delve into how we might be able to improve our own aging process. A Professor in UCLA’s Psychology Department, he studies learning, memory, and aging and is particularly interested in how younger and older adults can selectively remember important information.If you can recall your son’s assist-to-turnover ratio from last year’s lacrosse season but not the name of the neighbor you’ve been waving to for the past 10 years, find out what kind of retrieval practices might enhance your memory. And if you’ve focused extensively on retirement’s financial implications but neglected the psychological side, Dr. Castel’s lessons might be what you need to increase socialization and harness the knowledge of those who have been in similar situations.Father Time is undefeated, but that doesn’t mean you have to live in fear. Take the steps necessary to increase your odds of getting better with age, and let today’s episode be the first step. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Americans have faced immense financial challenges in the past two-plus decades. The Dotcom Bubble sent stock prices down nearly 50% between 2000 and 2002, the Great Recession and Housing Crisis of 2007-2009 cratered stocks more than 55%, and theCOVID-19 Pandemic and shutdowns sent stocks tumbling 30% in a month’s span and led to massive inflation and high interest rates thereafter. In today’s episode of the Retire Sooner Podcast, Wes admits that a sensible retirement strategy while accounting for unknown future world events can feel overwhelming. However, he believes utilizing the foundational principles of the Retire Sooner community can help increase your probability of achieving the financial freedom that many happy retirees enjoy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A fulfilling job is great, but being able to do it in your pajamas? Now, we’re talking. On today’s episode, we’re joined by Kerry Hannon, author of “Great Pajama Jobs: Your Complete Guide To Working From Home.” Between that and the dozen other books she’s published, Kerry is a renowned professional on careers, entrepreneurship, and financial planning for older adults.The smoother your transition into retirement, the sooner you can find the happiness and fulfillment you deserve. Kerry points out three crucial themes to help you get there. From starting a micro-business to using your retirement savings as continuous income to navigating the inter-generational workplace dynamics, Kerry reveals how remote work is completely reshaping opportunities for older workers.It’s a Retire Sooner Pajama party; you don’t want to miss it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode of the Retire Sooner Podcast, Wes examines the recent market crash and analyzes how the Fed’s decisions may have helped lower inflation but negatively affected the housing market and unemployment rate.Wes acknowledges that the specific challenges can differ for each market downturn but reassures listeners that productive reactions often follow evergreen principles. He then discusses the importance of having enough dry powder for periods of sluggish portfolio earnings. Finally, he digs into the potential stock growth for future retirees willing to practice patience and discipline. What’s a great way to plan for outpacing inflation without extending beyond your risk tolerance? Listen and find out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s been said that loneliness is worse for our health than smoking cigarettes. Take a second to inhale that scary thought. In contrast, pro-social behavior triggers the release of oxytocin in our body. That’s the love hormone, and it’s crucial for happiness.We’ve all had that nagging feeling that we need to spend more leisure time with friends and family. But some of the options out there aren’t realistic. People with careers and families don’t have time for group yoga sessions or all-day escape room parties. In other words, we know what we need to do to be happy but don’t know how to make it happen.Dr. Mike Rucker is an organizational psychologist, behavioral scientist, and charter member of the International Positive Psychology Association. His ideas about fun and health have been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Fast Company, Forbes, and more. He currently serves as a senior leader at Active Wellness and is the author of the best-selling book The Fun Habit.Mike uses his “Rucker PLAY Model” to rank fun activities according to their level of challenge. The answers and timetables may be different for everyone, but embracing the overall need for joy and togetherness can help us avoid the unhealthy distractions that come along with isolation.The reality of modern life is that we don’t have as much free time as we might want, but with a bit of self-empathy and Mike’s creative outlook, we can find ways to dial up the fun meter and increase our happiness. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mallory Boggs, a producer and financial enthusiast, dives into the intriguing insights from "The Millionaire Next Door." The conversation highlights the rising number of millionaires in America, now at 16 million families, and explores effective wealth-building habits these individuals embrace. Mallory discusses the critical role of balanced investing for maintaining millionaire status and underscores five essential principles for achieving financial independence. They also touch on the importance of financial education and fostering a wealth mindset from a young age.

In this actionable episode of Retire Sooner, Wes Moss sits down with Erin Eleuterio to explore the importance of physical activity for older adults. Erin shares her unique techniques, like parkour-based fall resiliency training, to help people in their 70s and 80s stay strong and recover from falls. They discuss the benefits of programs such as SilverSneakers, which offers resources for seniors to stay fit. Erin emphasizes the joy and social aspects of movement, rather than just focusing on exercise. She also talks about the growing trend of older adults taking up new activities, like weightlifting and even low-flying trapeze, challenging stereotypes about aging. With practical tips and inspiring stories, this episode highlights how staying active can lead to a healthier, happier retirement.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode, we ponder the question, “Can money buy happiness?” The answer might surprise listeners, and Wes borrows the words of best-selling author Morgan Housel to help discuss the positive and negative psychological effects money can have on retirees. Wes then uses his own “Bucket System” analogy to explain income investing and how three keys can help folks sleep well at night. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Morgan Housel’s eye-opening book amplified the idea that the intersection of psychology and money is bigger and more bustling than most of us know. Today’s guest, Christine Moriarty, has dedicated her life to finding harmony between the two.Christine isn’t the typical CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™. Despite her finance degree and MBA in Entrepreneurship, she was never even remotely interested in finances. She was always more interested in the people behind them.Money is just an object. Yet, it has the power to trigger our deepest fears and anxieties. Her mission, as the founder of MoneyPeace, is to help individuals recognize and overcome these emotional barriers, empowering them to achieve peace and prosperity in their financial and personal lives.She also discusses money and memory and wants to help families plan for the implications the aging process can have on financial situations.Having worked with thousands of people and shared her insights with publications such as USA Today, Good Housekeeping, Fidelity Focus Magazine, and more, she has often been referred to by her clients as “the cash counselor” or “financial therapist.”Whether between a husband and wife, a mother and a son, two friends, or even a personal connection with money, relationships can be fraught and complicated. Listening to Christine can help us see the approach needed to improve that dynamic and positively impact our overall quality of life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Despite the continued popularity of retiring at 65, many folks are drawn to the allure of an early exit. The promise of more time for family, travel, and core pursuits can be hard to resist—the very mission of this podcast is to help people retire sooner than they ever thought possible.But as wonderful as an early retirement can be if you can afford it, there are potential hazards for people who don’t take the time to plan. On today’s episode, Wes dives into five common missteps that risk sabotaging the happiness you’ve worked so hard to achieve. With diligent and strategic planning, you can run down the list and make sure all of your ducks are in a row before making your decision.The right lifestyle and money habits can help you prepare for a secure future so that you can decide the right time to make that future your present. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices