Retirement Planning Education, with Andy Panko

Andy does a deep dive into everything about "backdoor" Roth contributions, which is where you make an after-tax contribution to a traditional/pre-tax account, and then convert it to a Roth account. Looks simple on the surface, but there are a lot of angles and gotchas to watch out forLinks in this episode:IRS Form 8606 - hereCongressional meeting summary from December 2017 meeting on the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act - hereTenon Financial monthly e-newsletter - Retirement Planning InsightsFacebook group - Retirement Planning Education (formerly Taxes in Retirement)YouTube channel - Retirement Planning Education (formerly Retirement Planning Demystified)Retirement Planning Education website - www.RetirementPlanningEducation.comTo send Andy questions to be addressed on future Q&A episodes, email andy@andypanko.com

He traces a long finance journey from sales and pensions to market risk, hedge fund analysis, and private credit research. He tells how researching Social Security for his mother triggered a shift toward fee-only, planning-focused advice. He explains launching an advisory firm, early marketing flops, and growing an engaged Facebook community that fueled his educational channels.

Listeners dive into the complexities of spousal Social Security benefits and the rules surrounding them. Andy demystifies how to view pre-tax retirement accounts after taxes and discusses naming minors as beneficiaries. He shares insights on cognitive biases in investing, highlighting the most prevalent ones he encounters. The episode also covers tips for changing state tax domicile and the implications of guaranteed income like Social Security on asset allocation. Lastly, he reexamines the 4% rule for retirement withdrawals.

Kevin Lyles, a retired corporate lawyer and certified retirement coach, shares insights on navigating the non-financial aspects of retirement. He highlights six essential truths, urging listeners to focus on growth and flexibility over rigid planning. Lyles discusses the common pitfalls of obsessing over a single purpose, the dangers of over-optimizing decisions, and the importance of building a new social network post-retirement. Ultimately, he emphasizes that retirement is more about how we spend our time than how much money we have.

Andy and Cody Garrett from Measure Twice Financial share their thoughts on a handful of current events and "hot topics" relating to retirement planning. Specifically, they talk about: Affordable Care Act ("ACA") tax credits and income "cliffs" in tax planning ( 08:13 )Doing Roth conversions vs tax gain harvesting ( 22:30 )Paying taxes in retirement; estimated payments vs withholdings ( 31:33 )Rushing into Roth conversions ( 38:50 )When to start doing HSA distributions ( 51:31 )Should you be worried about tech stocks ( 58:23 )Timing Required Minimum Distributions ("RMDs"); when in the year to take them ( 1:08:26 )Retirement spending anxiety ( 1:17:37 )Links in this episode:Cody's website - https://www.measuretwicemoney.com/To send Andy questions to be addressed on future Q&A episodes, email andy@andypanko.comMy company newsletter - Retirement Planning InsightsFacebook group - Retirement Planning Education (formerly Taxes in Retirement)YouTube channel - Retirement Planning Education (formerly Retirement Planning Demystified)Retirement Planning Education website - www.RetirementPlanningEducation.com

Andy shares his thoughts and commentary about 2025 returns and events for:U.S. stocksInternational stocksU.S. bondsGold & SilverBitcoinLinks in this episode:Tenon Financial monthly e-newsletter - Retirement Planning InsightsFacebook group - Retirement Planning Education (formerly Taxes in Retirement)YouTube channel - Retirement Planning Education (formerly Retirement Planning Demystified)Retirement Planning Education website - www.RetirementPlanningEducation.comTo send Andy questions to be addressed on future Q&A episodes, email andy@andypanko.com

Listener Q&A where Andy talks about: Potential advantages or disadvantages of consolidating retirement accounts ( 4:28 )Paying taxes through IRA withholdings vs making estimated payments ( 13:08 )Whether a minister's housing allowance impacts Affordable Care Act subsidy eligibility ( 26:11 )When Qualified Longevity Annuity Contracts ("QLACs") might make sense to consider ( 30:27 )When following the 4% "rule" for distributions, can you reset your initial distribution if/when your portfolio value increases from market gains ( 37:48 )If someone has an outdated will and unused trust, but the person verbally stated their wishes to the heirs, is there a need to update will and/or trust, especially if there is currently nothing in the trust ( 49:19 )To send Andy questions to be addressed on future Q&A episodes, email andy@andypanko.comLinks in this episode:Tenon Financial August 2024 newsletter about - Retirement plan-to-IRA rollover pros and consRetirement Planning Education YouTube video - What is a QLAC (Qualified Longevity Annuity Contract)?Retirement Planning Education podcast episode - #002 - What's the 4% RuleMy company newsletter - Retirement Planning InsightsFacebook group - Retirement Planning Education (formerly Taxes in Retirement)YouTube channel - Retirement Planning Education (formerly Retirement Planning Demystified)Retirement Planning Education website - www.RetirementPlanningEducation.com

In a candid conversation, Jill shares her journey of retiring at 51 and the lessons learned along the way. She discusses the significance of balanced spending and maintaining an enjoyable lifestyle despite frugality. Jill highlights her unique savings habits, strategies for Social Security, and experiences with financial advisors. Discover her frugal yet adventurous travel tips and how she navigates healthcare before Medicare. Ultimately, Jill emphasizes the importance of friendship, health, and community in a fulfilling retirement.

Kevin Thompson, founder of 9i Capital Group and an expert in retirement planning, joins to discuss hot topics in the financial landscape. They dive into the complexities of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and its implications for tax planning, particularly for seniors. The duo examines market dynamics, cautioning against overexposure to risky investments like private credit and SPACs. They also address IRMAA strategies and the importance of protecting seniors from financial exploitation, sharing what keeps them awake at night.

Listener Q&A where Andy talks about: A correction on something incorrect I said last week regarding deciding which spouse's pre-tax account to distribute or convert from ( 3:28 )Pros and cons of using a single total global stock market fund vs multiple other funds such as just US and just international  ( 8:17 )What's in the calculation for Modified Adjusted Gross Income ("MAGI") for purposes of determining eligibility to contribute to a Roth IRA ( 14:49 )Deciding when to start a Roth account, and whether it should be a Roth IRA or Roth 401(K) (if you have the option), and whether it should be funded via conversion or contribution ( 20:40 )What to consider when deciding on which pension payment type of choose ( 27:52 )Should IRA distributions instead be converted to Roth if you don't need to use the money any time soon ( 35:50 )What to consider when retiring late (e.g. late-60s or 70s) ( 42:02 )Explaining certain "fees" on trade confirmations, such as when buying coupon-paying bonds or stocks/ETFs ( 47:21 )Why just looking at unrealized gains or losses on a position in a dividend or distribution paying security don't tell the whole story with regards to how much money you've actually made or lost in the position ( 53:45 )To send Andy questions to be addressed on future Q&A episodes, email andy@andypanko.comLinks in this episode:My company newsletter - Retirement Planning InsightsFacebook group - Retirement Planning Education (formerly Taxes in Retirement)YouTube channel - Retirement Planning Education (formerly Retirement Planning Demystified)Retirement Planning Education website - www.RetirementPlanningEducation.com