Ready For Retirement

Our topic on this episode of the Ready for Retirement podcast is about understanding how to plan for an early retirement if you want to retire before your full retirement age. Questions to ask yourself: Why do you want to retire early? Do you not want to work at all? Do you want to work part-time or change careers? What does retirement really look like if everything were to stop today?Are you ready to start focusing on the things that truly matter when it comes to your financial future?LET'S CONNECT!FacebookLinkedInWebsiteENJOY THE SHOW?Don't miss an episode, subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or Google PlayHave a question you want answered on a future episode? Submit it hereCreate Your Custom Strategy ⬇️ Get Started Here.Join the new Root Collective HERE!

Our topic on this episode of the Ready for Retirement podcast is about understanding where you should pull funds from first in retirement.How much of my retirement expenses are covered by fixed income sources and how much income do I need my portfolio to generate?When it comes to pulling funds in retirement, identifying how to create the most income is important, but arguably less so than the tax implications of how those funds are withdrawn, and not just the for the first few years, but throughout the entirety of retirement.Are you ready to start focusing on the things that truly matter when it comes to your financial future?LET'S CONNECT!FacebookLinkedInWebsiteENJOY THE SHOW?Don't miss an episode, subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or Google PlayHave a question you want answered on a future episode? Submit it hereCreate Your Custom Strategy ⬇️ Get Started Here.Join the new Root Collective HERE!

Our topic on this episode of the Ready for Retirement podcast is about understanding when it's best to collect Social Security for your specific situation. This week, we have a listener question:My question regards the date for a single person to collect social security. My thinking is the main benefit to wait is to obtain larger monthly benefit and also survivor benefit. I have no one who will receive SS survivor benefit, but fear if I pass away prior to collecting, my estate would have less for beneficiaries. So, now I believe it best to just collect shortly after FRA and bank it or invest it. I do not believe I will need a larger monthly amount to protect longevity, but who really knows. Am I framing this correctly? Thank you.Question to ask ourselves: How much income can be generated from Social Security and how does Social Security play into your overall financial plan?Are you ready to start focusing on the things that truly matter when it comes to your financial future?LET'S CONNECT!FacebookLinkedInWebsiteENJOY THE SHOW?Don't miss an episode, subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or Google PlayHave a question you want answered on a future episode? Submit it hereCreate Your Custom Strategy ⬇️ Get Started Here.Join the new Root Collective HERE!

Our topic on this episode of the Ready for Retirement podcast is about how Biden’s new tax plan may impact your financial goals. Biden’s proposed tax plans come with many changes and knowing the right questions to ask ourselves can help us navigate the changes so we can stay on course with our financial plan. Questions to ask ourselves include: Should I think about realizing capital gains if I am in a higher income bracket? Should I pay more medical expenses now if I know I will be having a major medical expense in upcoming years? Should I front-load charitable expenses? Should I do a Roth conversion? All of these questions are discussed below with answers to help you stay on track and in control of your financial future.LET'S CONNECT!FacebookLinkedInWebsiteENJOY THE SHOW?Don't miss an episode, subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or Google PlayHave a question you want answered on a future episode? Submit it hereCreate Your Custom Strategy ⬇️ Get Started Here.Join the new Root Collective HERE!

Our topic on this episode of the Ready for Retirement podcast is about how to invest when the stock market is at all time highs.Investing in the market can come with drastic increases and/or decreases in a short amount of time, and it can often take years to recover. It’s important to ensure you have a portfolio that provides stability when stocks take a turn for the worst.Over the past 10 years there have been extremely negative headlines such as: economic and political outcomes surrounding the U.S. Election, Ebola virus, Dow Jones Industrial Average falling 1,000 points in one day for the first time, COVID-19 pandemic, and the media is constantly telling us not to invest. If you were invested in the past 10 years, despite all of these negative headlines, you would have made around ~ 500%. So, how should I invest during all-time highs? Are you ready to start focusing on the things that truly matter when it comes to your financial future?LET'S CONNECT!FacebookLinkedInWebsiteENJOY THE SHOW?Don't miss an episode, subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or Google PlayHave a question you want answered on a future episode? Submit it hereCreate Your Custom Strategy ⬇️ Get Started Here.Join the new Root Collective HERE!

Our topic on this episode of the Ready for Retirement podcast is “6 "Hidden" Tax Savings Opportunities Before Year End”.Maximizing tax savings can be one the greatest ways to save money; James gives a checklist of six things we should review for tax savings before 2020 comes to a close. Should I take an itemized deduction or standard deduction? When is it best to do charitable giving? How can I lower my future taxable income with a Roth conversion? Is my stimulus check taxable? Listen to find out all of this and more to best take advantage of your tax situation and ensure you’re on track to meet your financial goals.Are you ready to start focusing on the things that truly matter when it comes to your financial future?LET'S CONNECT!FacebookLinkedInWebsiteENJOY THE SHOW?Don't miss an episode, subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or Google PlayHave a question you want answered on a future episode? Submit it hereCreate Your Custom Strategy ⬇️ Get Started Here.Join the new Root Collective HERE!

Our topic on this episode of the Ready for Retirement podcast is “Don't Focus on These 5 Wrong Things”. With so much information, it can be difficult to know what’s truly worth spending our time on. James gives examples in this episode of five things we shouldn’t focus on and four things we should focus on. Active vs. passive management, fee’s, small impact decisions, recent performance & the news can all be things we focus far too much attention on that won’t greatly impact whether or not we achieve our financial goals. Focusing on consistent saving, creating portfolios that match our objectives, personal goals, and high impact decisions are all things that are extremely important when it comes to reaching your financial goals. Are you ready to start focusing on the things that truly matter when it comes to your financial future?LET'S CONNECT!FacebookLinkedInWebsiteENJOY THE SHOW?Don't miss an episode, subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or Google PlayHave a question you want answered on a future episode? Submit it hereCreate Your Custom Strategy ⬇️ Get Started Here.Join the new Root Collective HERE!

Our topic on this episode of the Ready for Retirement podcast is thinking through the question, “Should you Have a 100% Stock Portfolio in Retirement?” James discusses the statistical and practical standpoints on this topic to help listeners understand that when you are investing, there are thousands of options. The conventional wisdom is to own more stocks during your working years, as you primarily focus on growth, and own more bonds during retirement, as you focus on income and capital preservation.James discusses the implications of owning bonds and the primary reasons why bonds can be great for your portfolio, as well as reasons why owning more bonds later in retirement may make achieving your financial goals more difficult. So, Should you Have a 100% Stock Portfolio in Retirement? LET'S CONNECT!FacebookLinkedInWebsiteENJOY THE SHOW?Don't miss an episode, subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or Google PlayHave a question you want answered on a future episode? Submit it hereCreate Your Custom Strategy ⬇️ Get Started Here.Join the new Root Collective HERE!

This episode of Ready for Retirement is all about emergency funds. James walks the listener through the purpose of an emergency fund, as well as potential options of what to do with your emergency fund. He shares that the purpose of an emergency fund is to be able to cover unexpected expenses, such as loss of income, medical emergencies, or home and auto repairs. Without an emergency fund, when these moments happen, you may have to use credit, or draw from your portfolio, in order to cover the expense. So, when people want to make money off of their emergency fund, James encourages them to think of an emergency fund as an insurance policy, not an investment. There are, however, a few options of what to do with your emergency fund. While you can always leave the money in a bank savings account, you will likely receive no interest. One of the best options is to move your money to a high yield savings account. Here, you will be able to earn some interest and can still access your money easily. The final option is to purchase a certificate of deposit. While this will likely earn you a little more interest, you will not be able to access your money, early, without penalty. LET'S CONNECT!FacebookLinkedInWebsiteENJOY THE SHOW?Don't miss an episode, subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or Google PlayHave a question you want answered on a future episode? Submit it hereCreate Your Custom Strategy ⬇️ Get Started Here.Join the new Root Collective HERE!

On this episode of Ready for Retirement, James answers the question “Should I do a Roth or Traditional 401k?” James addresses this question by discussing, with practical examples and numbers, when it makes sense to use a Roth 401k, or IRA, and when it’s a better option to use a Traditional 401k, or IRA. The general difference between the two is when you pay taxes, and whether your contribution is part of your taxable income. However, there are benefits to both options. With Roth accounts, you don’t have to worry about your tax brackets during retirement, since you’ve already paid taxes on that money. Additionally, income from Roth accounts is not considered part of your provisional income, and therefore will not impact your Medicare costs or push you into a higher tax bracket. Finally, there is no required minimum distributions, so you are not required to take any income you don’t want or need. In regard to Traditional investment accounts, you are able to save money in the present, as the money you invest is not taxed when you invest it, but later, when you withdraw the money. Therefore, you have less taxable income now. This can be very beneficial if you’re in a higher tax bracket. With Traditional accounts, however, there are required minimum distributions, which means that you may be required to take income you don’t want or need, as well as be pushed into a higher tax bracket during retirement.LET'S CONNECT!FacebookLinkedInWebsiteENJOY THE SHOW?Don't miss an episode, subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or Google PlayHave a question you want answered on a future episode? Submit it hereCreate Your Custom Strategy ⬇️ Get Started Here.Join the new Root Collective HERE!