Retirement Starts Today

Welcome back to the Retirement Rewind! I take the last part of the year off from podcasting to spend more time with my family. But that doesn’t mean that you miss out on your favorite retirement podcast. Actually, I have a treat for you today. This episode is so good this is the 3rd time I’m playing it. Press play to find out which retirement podcasts I listen to in my spare time and scroll down to the bottom of the page to find links to my favorite episodes of those podcasts.  On this episode, you’ll discover more amazing retirement podcasts to listen to. In addition, you’ll learn about the confusing world of reverse mortgages and whether you should plan for a 20% cut to your Social Security. Outline of This Episode [2:22] Do you understand reverse mortgages? [8:26] Will you be taking a 20% cut on social security? [12:46] Get retirement ready with my favorite retirement podcasts Do you find reverse mortgages confusing? I’m sure you’ve seen the ads for reverse mortgages before, but do you really know what they are? A study done on a focus group showed that most people thought reverse mortgages were a government welfare program. They didn’t realize that there were interest and fees involved and many thought that with a reverse mortgage they wouldn’t have to pay any more property taxes. Do you have questions about reverse mortgages? What exactly is a reverse mortgage? Commonly known as a reverse mortgage, a Home Equity Credit Mortgage (HECM) is just like any other mortgage -- it has to be paid back. Reverse mortgages are sometimes taken on by people in retirement who are looking for a lifetime income.  A reverse mortgage works when the HECM calculates half of your home equity value and they set up a lifetime annuity based on that amount. Reverse mortgages can be complicated, so if you are considering one, make sure you read all the fine print. My 5 favorite retirement podcasts If you’re listening to Retirement Starts Today you probably love podcasts as much as I do. I got into podcasting because I realized it would be a fantastic way to share my knowledge with a wider audience without having to be a writer. You may be surprised to learn that I have my own favorite retirement podcasts.  Learning to save for retirement can be kind of boring since all of us retirement podcasters are essentially saying the same thing. It’s the personality of the podcast hosts that really sets these shows apart from the rest. Here are 5 retirement podcasts that I love to listen to and learn from. Stay Wealthy with Taylor Schulte Retirement Answer Man by Roger Whitney Sound Retirement Radio with Jason Parker Stacking Benjamins by Joe Saul-Sehy & OG Retirement Repair Shop by Mary Beth Franklin Resources & People Mentioned BOOK – How to Use Reverse Mortgages to Secure Your Retirement by Wade Pfau Forbes article on reverse mortgages by Wade Pfau Washington Examiner article on Social Security Stay Wealthy Podcast How to Lower Taxes in Retirement Avoid Massive Investing Mistakes Retirement Answer Man Podcast RV in Retirement Series Episodes 263, 264, 265, 266 Sound Retirement Radio Will You Run Out of Money in Retirement? Urgent vs. Important Retirement Repair Shop Stacking Benjamins Here’s Why You Aren’t Rich We Make 500k a Year and Struggle with Our Budget Connect with Benjamin Brandt Get the Retire-Ready Toolkit:http://retirementstartstodayradio.com/ Follow Ben on Twitter:https://twitter.com/retiremeasap Subscribe to Retirement Starts Today on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, TuneIn, Podbean, Player FM, iHeart, or Spotify

Welcome to Retirement Rewind! Each year I take the holiday season off from podcasting to spend more time with my family. The good news is that I prepare my favorite episodes from the past for you to enjoy.  This episode is an interview with Fritz Gilbert over at the Retirement Manifesto blog. In this interview, Fritz and I discuss his new book, Keys to a Successful Retirement as well as his firsthand experience now that he has recently retired. If you’ve already listened to this episode before you might be surprised to hear the tidbits that you forgot about and if you missed it the first time around, you won’t want to miss the interview this time. Outline of This Episode [2:37] Why your first cup of coffee in retirement is the best cup of your life [5:22] Retirement advice for a 38-year-old [9:53] If you only had $500 to spend on retirement education what would you do? [13:28] Are we in the golden era of Roth Conversions? [16:27] A question about chapter 4 of Fritz’s book [20:21] How to create the ideal retirement You have to experience retirement to really understand it Fritz spent years leading up to retirement trying to understand what retirement would be like. However, after finally retiring, he realized that it isn’t something that you can explain to others. You have to actually experience it yourself to understand. I like his analogy of having a locked door in front of you your whole life and on the day of your retirement, you are finally given the key. What do you think? Do you think the feeling of retirement can be conveyed to others? More than half of all people retire before they think they will Save, save, save! Even if you are one of those people that think they will continue working forever, it is still important to save for retirement. 60% of all people are forced into retirement before they have planned. What if you were forced into retirement tomorrow? Would you be ready? What are you doing now to help yourself prepare for the inevitable time when you won’t be able to work anymore? What is the biggest bang for your buck for learning about retirement? I asked Fritz how he would spend his money if he only had $500 to spend on learning about retirement. It’s not a lot of money to spend on such an important topic, but fortunately, there is so much free content available; you can learn just about anything without too much money. YouTube, podcasts, and blogs provide a lot of information for free.  Fritz would spend his $500 in one of two ways. He loves books and feels like they provide a wealth of information. He also values the money he spent on hiring a CFP for a once over on his accounts. As a DIY investor, the peace of mind of having a professional give him the green light was invaluable. If you only had $500 to spend learning about retirement how would you spend it? Create your ideal retirement by embracing your passion Retirement is a fantastic time to devote yourself to the passions that you’ve had to put on the backburner during your working years. Do you have a passion? How will you pursue it in retirement? If you don’t have a passion yet a curious mind can take you a long way to discovering one. Fritz found a passion that he never knew he had. Find out what it is by listening to this interview.  Resources & People Mentioned Garrett Planning Network XY Planning Network Connect with Fritz Gilbert Retirement Manifesto Keys to a Successful Retirement Fritz on Twitter @RetireManifesto Connect with Benjamin Brandt Get the Retire-Ready Toolkit:http://retirementstartstodayradio.com/ Follow Ben on Twitter:https://twitter.com/retiremeasap Subscribe to Retirement Starts Today on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, TuneIn, Podbean, Player FM, iHeart, or Spotify

Are you worried about what the election means for your retirement portfolio? Many people are tempted to make big changes to their retirement savings to reflect their election concerns. On this episode of Retirement Starts Today Radio, you’ll learn what you can do to your portfolio if you are nervous about the transition. You’ll also hear what the new RMD tables mean and how the Biden proposals could change the entire retirement landscape. Outline of This Episode [2:12] What do the new RMD tables mean for you? [4:40] How much is the next Medicare Part B premium increase? [7:40] Should you make big changes to your retirement plan because of the election? [11:50] Which Biden proposals could affect you and your retirement? What do the new RMD tables mean for you? Since people are living longer than ever before, the IRS has finally decided to acknowledge these longer lifespans by updating their Required Minimum Distribution tables. According to the longer retirement timeline, retirees can take out smaller mandatory distributions and spread them out over a longer period of time.  What does this mean for you? You can expect to see smaller tax bills and larger IRA balances compounding over time. Listen in to hear the details and learn why this new tax table may seem familiar. Should you make big changes to your retirement plan because of the election? Thankfully, we’re not here to discuss politics. You can go just about anywhere else on the internet for that. However, I do want to touch on the changes that may arise due to the election.  An election year often brings about strong feelings one way or the other and many people feel that they need to make changes to their portfolio based on what they hear on the news. Just because there is an election doesn’t mean that you should make big changes to your retirement portfolio. It’s a good idea to keep in mind that there may be between 4 and 8 presidents in office over the course of your retirement. Major global policy shifts don’t equal major portfolio shifts Even if there are major shifts in global policy you only want to make tiny shifts in your portfolio. If you listen in I will give you specific examples of what you can do to prepare for the future transition without changing the essence of your portfolio.  I do want to clarify that you should never take advice from me or anyone that you find on the internet. Regardless of who is running the country, I want you to have an amazing retirement. Which Biden proposals could affect you and your retirement? One of Biden’s proposals could completely change the retirement landscape. How would your retirement plans change if the Medicare age was lowered from age 65 to 60? At this point, it is just a proposal. Stay tuned in to Retirement Starts Today Radio over the coming months to hear the latest on this Biden proposal as well as his plans for Social Security. Resources & People Mentioned Plan Adviser RMD tables Think Advisor Medicare Part B article NPR article about Biden’s Medicare proposal CNBC article about Social Security Connect with Benjamin Brandt Get the Retire-Ready Toolkit: http://retirementstartstodayradio.com Follow Ben on Twitter: https://twitter.com/retiremeasap Subscribe to Retirement Starts Today on Apple Podcasts,Stitcher,TuneIn,Podbean,Player FM,iHeart, orSpotify

After you finally get Medicare all figured out and everything in place, the last thing you want to do is ever think about it again. But unfortunately, you need to review your Medicare coverage annually.  Danielle Roberts is back, yet again, to help us understand what we need to do annually to review our Medicare plans. In this episode, you’ll learn what to do if you have a prescription drug change, if your Medicare Advantage plan gets discontinued, and how to change from supplemental plans to advantage plans and vice versa. There’s loads of information in this episode so make sure to pay attention so that you don’t miss any details.  Outline of This Episode [1:22] What do we need to think about each year when it comes to Medicare? [5:05] What to look for when you receive your annual notice of change [10:01] How to change from a Medicare supplement to an advantage plan? [14:43] Is switching between Medigap plans easy to do? [17:35] What is in store for Plan F? What is the annual election period? The Medicare annual election period runs from October 15 - December 7. This is the time when you can enroll in, change, or disenroll from a part d drug plan or a Medicare Advantage plan.  What to look for when you receive your annual notice of change When Medicare sends your annual notice of change it will lay out all of the benefit changes for the next year. This is one Medicare notification that you do not want to toss in the garbage. Take some time to go over this document to look for premium changes as well as changes in drug tiers for all of your medications. Even if you are happy with your current plans, it is still a good idea to check your coverage. Listen in to learn what you can learn from the MyMedicare.gov website.  What if I want to change my Medicare supplement to an advantage plan or vice versa? If you are looking to change plans you can do so during the open enrollment period which also takes place from October 15 - December 7. It’s quite easy to switch from a supplement to an advantage plan. Simply enroll during the open enrollment period and then cancel your supplement. There are no health questions to answer. However, if you would like to switch from an advantage plan to a Medigap plan, it is more complicated. Discover the order of events that must take place by hearing it straight from Danielle Roberts. Is switching between Medigap plans easy to do? Switching between Medigap plans generally requires a health screening and underwriting which is why it is important to wait until you have been approved for a new plan before canceling your old plan.  Using a broker can help you understand the nuances of Medicare and ensure that you don’t make costly mistakes. Learn more about Boomer Benefits at BoomerBenefits.com.  If you haven’t listened to all 4 of the Medicare episodes with Danielle Roberts, I encourage you to head on over to episode 163 to get started. I know I have learned a ton from Danielle’s expertise and you will too.  Resources & People Mentioned MyMedicare.gov Connect with Danielle Roberts Boomer Benefits YouTube Channel BOOK - 10 Costly Medicare Mistakes by Danielle Roberts Boomer Benefits Facebook page Connect with Benjamin Brandt Get the Retire-Ready Toolkit:http://retirementstartstodayradio.com/ Follow Ben on Twitter:https://twitter.com/retiremeasap Subscribe to Retirement Starts Today on Apple Podcasts,Stitcher,TuneIn,Podbean,Player FM,iHeart, orSpotify

Do you know the difference between a Medicare supplement and a Medicare advantage plan? You’ll need to understand their differences to make an educated decision about which to choose when it is time to sign up for Medicare. Danielle Roberts from Boomer Benefits joins me again to help us wade through the various Medicare supplement choices. Learn how best to fill the gaps that Medicare leaves by listening to this episode of Retirement Starts Today.  Outline of This Episode [2:12] What is covered by Medicare supplement plans? [8:00] Medicare advantage plans operate through a network of providers [15:02] Switching between plans may not be as easy as you think [20:24] Dental and vision insurance What is a Medicare supplement or Medigap plan? One benefit of choosing the original Medicare route is that the federal government will be processing your claims. While this is a positive aspect of choosing traditional Medicare, it also means that there will be deductibles and a 20% out of pocket cost on your claims. For this reason, it is important to consider purchasing a Medicare supplement plan. There are 10 different standardized plans to choose from, although most people choose one of 3 plans.  Plan F is the Cadillac of plans, it was so popular and easy to use that it is actually being discontinued. Plan G is the next most popular plan. However, it doesn’t cover the $198 outpatient deductible. Plan N is a consumer-driven plan. It has a lower premium, but you pay a deductible and some copays for doctors and ER visits. Find out why Medicare supplements are ideal for customers with some discretionary spending and frequent medical spending.  Medicare Advantage plans are becoming popular Medicare Advantage plans are gaining in popularity. The premiums are lower, but there is less choice for the consumer. You must use only the plan’s network of providers and their approved medications. There will also be extra spending on your part in the years that you have more medical spending.  If you want to switch from a Medigap to an Advantage plan there is no required medical questionnaire to fill out. However, if you would like to switch from an Advantage plan to a Medigap plan there is a possibility that you could be denied based on your health.  Listen in to hear what questions you need to ask before you sign up for a Medicare Advantage plan.  What about dental and vision insurance? Many people are surprised to discover that dental, vision, and hearing are not covered by Medicare. This is because in the 60s when Medicare was created, it wasn’t typical for insurance companies to cover these ancillary medical concerns. There are a couple of options that seniors have when it comes to dental, vision, and hearing. You could purchase a standalone plan which covers these areas. Or you could choose a Medicare Advantage plan that also covers dental, vision, and hearing.  There is an important consideration you need to be aware of if choosing the Medicare Advantage route. Find out what it is by listening to this episode of Retirement Starts Today.  Do you have a rainy day fund? One last consideration that you need to think of is having a rainy day fund for out of pocket medical costs. If you choose a high deductible plan and then you end up needing cancer treatment that year, you could be hit with a $6500 bill. An HSA is a great way to cover this cost.  Have you listened to all of Danielle’s episodes? If not, head over to episode 163 to get started from the beginning! Resources & People Mentioned Taxes and Retirement Facebook Group Connect with Danielle Roberts Medicare Q&A with Boomer Benefits Facebook Group Boomer Benefits BOOK - 10 Costly Medicare Mistakes by Danielle Roberts Connect with Benjamin Brandt Get the Retire-Ready Toolkit:http://retirementstartstodayradio.com/ Follow Ben on Twitter:https://twitter.com/retiremeasap Subscribe to Retirement Starts Today on Apple Podcasts,Stitcher,TuneIn,Podbean,Player FM,iHeart, or Spotify

Deciding to retire before age 65 can be a tough decision to make. For most people, this decision will result in an extra $1000 or more a month in health insurance expenses. Retiring after age 65 has its pitfalls as well. On this episode of Retirement Starts Today, Danielle Roberts joins me again to discuss the potential landmines that you need to look out for whether you are planning to retire before or after age 65.  Outline of This Episode [2:22] What about retiring early? [6:29] Which is better, shopping on the exchange or going directly to the insurance company? [9:18] How to manage the risk? [13:25] What are some mistakes people make when they retire after age 65? [20:34] Why you don’t want to miss part D drug coverage.  Should you work longer just for health insurance? If you are considering working longer just for the insurance Danielle and I both recommend that you don’t. Instead, compare the cost of insurance through COBRA to the cost through the ACA. If you want to retire there are many plans to choose from through the ACA. One way to lessen the costs of insurance is to sign up for a high deductible plan that includes an HSA. That way you are building a healthcare nest egg at the same time. Discover a creative healthcare solution if you or your spouse is significantly younger by listening to Danielle’s advice.  Which is better, shopping on the exchange or going directly to the insurance company? It seems that it would be easy to shop insurance companies on your own these days by browsing through the companies websites. But Danielle recommends using the healthcare exchange at Healthcare.gov instead. She finds this to be a better way to compare carriers and their prices. The options are easier to find and the site will display all the plans that are offered in your area. Have you ever used the healthcare exchange?  How to manage the risk? Insurance is all about the transfer of risk. When trying to choose between a high deductible plan vs. a lower deductible plan you’ll want to compare your health concerns with your budget concerns. Consider how you use doctors. Do you have monthly visits with different specialists? Or do you visit the doctor once a year for your yearly check-up? If you only go to the doctor a couple of times a year then you don’t need to have a plan with a copay.  What are some mistakes people make when they retire after age 65? Many people delay their coverage of Medicare part B when they are still employed after age 65. This is fine while they are still employed, however, it is important to sign up for Medicare part B and D as soon as possible after leaving their employer-sponsored plan so as not to get stuck with a hefty penalty. Listen in to find out what you need to do to avoid penalties or a lengthy battle with Medicare.  Make sure you are signed up for the Every Day is Saturday newsletter so that you can respond to it and have a chance to receive a free copy of Danielle’s book, 10 Costly Medicare Mistakes You Can't Afford to Make.  Resources & People Mentioned Healthcare.gov Connect with Danielle Roberts BOOK - 10 Costly Medicare Mistakes You Can't Afford to Make by Danielle Roberts Boomer Benefits Connect with Benjamin Brandt Get the Retire-Ready Toolkit:http://retirementstartstodayradio.com/ Follow Ben on Twitter:https://twitter.com/retiremeasap Subscribe to Retirement Starts Today on Apple Podcasts,Stitcher,TuneIn,Podbean,Player FM,iHeart, orSpotify

You asked and I listened. This summer I asked you all for your thoughts on the show and many people responded that they wanted to hear more deep dives into complex subjects. We tried this out with the Living Off Your Savings series and now we’re taking some extra time to discuss Medicare. This episode is the first of a 4 episode series on Medicare. Grab your headphones and press play to begin your Medicare education.  Since I am not a Medicare expert, I have invited Danielle Roberts with Boomer Benefits to teach us about this nuanced subject. Make sure to stick around until the end of the episode to learn how you can get a free copy of Danielle’s new book, 10 Costly Medicare Mistakes You Can’t Afford to Make. Outline of This Episode [3:22] When should people start looking into Medicare in earnest? [7:10] Why is Medicare Easy-Pay a good option? [10:03] What will medicare pay for? [12:25] What do your taxes pay for? [17:15] Part D is an optional drug plan When should someone start thinking about Medicare? The official Medicare enrollment period begins 3 months before your 65th birthday and this is often the time when people usually begin to start thinking about Medicare. Age 64.5 is a great time to begin to research your Medicare choices. In addition to Danielle’s book, there are plenty of resources online to help you educate yourself. After you listen to this series, YouTube and the Medicare website are good places to continue learning. What costs are involved in Medicare? Some people are surprised to find that Medicare is not free. There are costs involved that you need to be aware of to properly plan for retirement. In addition to the monthly fee taken directly out of your Social Security payment, there are deductibles for inpatient and outpatient services as well as copays or coinsurance for doctor visits. Listen in to understand why it’s important to do your research early on to decide on what kind of extra coverage you may need.  What are the different parts of Medicare? Medicare Part A is what your Medicare payroll taxes have been paying for all these years and it covers hospital stays. Part B is what gets taken out of your Social Security check each month and this piece covers outpatient care. Medicare Part B pays only 80% so it is important to consider how you will cover the other 20%. This 20% can be supplemented in 2 ways. Listen in to hear what the difference is between Medigap and Medicare Advantage plans.  How you can receive a FREE copy of Danielle’s book Danielle is a fountain of Medicare information, so you won’t want to miss this series. On the next episode, you’ll hear what to expect if you retire before or after age 65. If you want a chance to get a free copy of Danielle’s book sign up for the Every Day is Saturday newsletter and respond to that email with a promise to leave an honest review of this podcast and Danielle’s book. So, if you haven’t already signed up for Every Day is Saturday, head over to RetirementStartsToday.com and hit subscribe.  Resources & People Mentioned Start here to listen to the Living Off Your Savings series  Connect with Danielle Roberts Boomer Benefits BOOK - 10 Costly Medicare Mistakes You Can’t Afford to Make by Danielle Roberts Connect with Benjamin Brandt Get the Retire-Ready Toolkit:http://retirementstartstodayradio.com/ Follow Ben on Twitter:https://twitter.com/retiremeasap Subscribe to Retirement Starts Today on Apple Podcasts,Stitcher,TuneIn,Podbean,Player FM,iHeart, orSpotify

Are you one of the many people still working from home due to the pandemic? What seemed like a phase that would last a few weeks has turned into a trend with no end in sight. While working from home creates exciting possibilities, especially for those considering retirement, it also has its downfalls. Many people have discovered that working from home means the lines between work life and home life are being erased. As long as you are conscious that burnout is a real risk then you can take active steps to keep your home life and work life in balance. On this episode, I’ll share an Inc. magazine article about avoiding burnout while working from home. We’ll also take a look at a WSJ article on early retirement buyouts. Then we’ll wrap up this episode with a listener question about strategies for those on the cusp of retirement. So, grab your Airpods or your favorite listening device and take a walk with me. Outline of This Episode [1:02] How to avoid burnout while working remotely [6:30] Should you consider early retirement? [11:55] Are there any one-time financial strategies for those on the cusp of retirement? Is working from home leading you to burnout? While the work from home revolution that picked up momentum during the pandemic has opened many doors, it has also revealed its own set of problems. People spend more time actively working and it seems that the 40-hour workweek has gone out of the window. Employees are now spending 25% more time ‘at work’ than before the pandemic. Many have stated that they find they are often sending work-related messages and emails after traditional work hours. Their desire to be productive now puts them at risk of burnout.  Try taking a virtual commute  Microsoft has come up with a creative way to help its team avoid burnout while working remotely. Their solution is to bring back the commute. They don’t recommend you jump in the car and drive to your workplace, but rather a virtual commute. The Inc. article recommends a 20-minute meditation commute. I love this idea. However, if you are not a meditator, a walk to work commute might be a better alternative. Before you start working each morning, head out your front door, and walk around the block. You can use this time to get in the right headspace for work and plan your day.  Working from home could extend your working life Working from home can create amazing possibilities, especially for those of you considering retirement. The possibility of working from anywhere means that you could extend your work timeline. However, to take full advantage of the possibilities it is imperative to avoid burnout. As long as you are conscious that burnout is a real risk then you can take active steps to keep your home/work life in balance.  Have you been offered an early retirement package? Press play and listen in to hear whether you should consider taking an early retirement package. And keep listening until the end to hear the answer to Frank’s question about one-time financial strategies for those on the cusp of retirement.  Resources & People Mentioned Inc magazine article on the virtual commute WSJ article on early retirement buyouts Connect with Benjamin Brandt Get the Retire-Ready Toolkit:http://retirementstartstodayradio.com/ Follow Ben on Twitter:https://twitter.com/retiremeasap Subscribe to Retirement Starts Today on Apple Podcasts,Stitcher,TuneIn,Podbean,Player FM,iHeart, or Spotify

Are you worried about the seemingly constant news stories which claim that Social Security may run out of money? These articles highlight any problems that the Social Security program is facing which can lead the reader to fret about the future of the guaranteed income source in retirement. Not surprisingly, there are companies out there that want to capitalize on this worry.  Does Social Security insurance sound like a good idea to you? On this episode of Retirement Starts Today I read from and discuss an article about Social Security Insurance. You’ll learn what it is and how it works and hear my thoughts about this product. Outline of This Episode [3:22] Make sure there is not a planning solution before rushing out to buy a product [6:37] How does Social Security insurance work? [9:48] What is my opinion on Social Security insurance [12:10] How to begin a migration into bonds There is a product out there to solve every problem Investors are always looking for less volatility in their investment portfolios, but oftentimes they don’t realize that proper investment planning is the best way to achieve that. Those who don’t approach their portfolios with an investment plan in place are often looking for a product to buy to solve their problems. The low volatility fund is one product for people who want to buy a risk solution rather than plan.  Is a low-risk fund all it’s cracked up to be? Does this low volatility fund end up raising risk in the short run while at the same time reducing risk in the long run? These low-risk funds often paint a distorted picture. While trying to reduce the downside they ultimately limit the upside which leads to less risk yet ultimately fewer returns. Zweig explains it beautifully, “the market loves to make monkeys out of people who think they’ve solved it.” Solve your investing problems with strategy rather than products It is important to remember that in investing as well as in other areas of retirement planning there will always be someone there to charge you a fee for a product as a solution to your investment planning problem. So before you rush out to buy the first product that comes along, my advice to you is to think about your own behavior first. Consider if there is a planning or behavior management solution that could replace this product.  What is a good alternative to Social Security insurance? If you think that Social Security will run out of money or that you may see your benefits reduced that’s okay. But instead of rushing out to buy a product to hedge against the Social Security problem, be a prudent pessimist. A prudent pessimist doesn’t take a cut on their Social Security benefit by filing early, they wait until age 70 to receive a 32% bonus. That way if there is a cut to your benefit, it will be a cut on the bonus rather than on the reduced benefit. Press play to hear more about Social Security insurance, investment planning, and a listener question about how to migrate into the bond market. Resources & People Mentioned Jason Zweig’s WSJ article Social Security insurance article Connect with Benjamin Brandt Get the Retire-Ready Toolkit:http://retirementstartstodayradio.com/ Follow Ben on Twitter:https://twitter.com/retiremeasap Subscribe to Retirement Starts Today on Apple Podcasts,Stitcher,TuneIn,Podbean,Player FM,iHeart, or Spotify

If you are listening to Retirement Starts Today, you probably have retirement on your mind. You have probably given thought as to how you will spend your money, where that money will come from, healthcare, and plenty of other subjects.  But have you put any thought into how much notice you will give your employer? Do you have one of those jobs where you relish the day that you give your retirement notice? Or will your announcement be bittersweet? You may want to put some extra thought into how you want to present your retirement notice, especially during challenging economic times. Outline of This Episode [1:12] How much notice will you give your employer of your pending retirement? [3:19] A cautionary tale [5:54] Real life examples for you to learn from [11:16] There is no one right answer A cautionary tale You may want to give your employer plenty of notice about your retirement. If you have a strong sense of duty, you may feel that it is the right thing to do. I talked to one person who did just that. He was an employee who deeply valued his work and wanted to leave his career better than he found it. But his thoughtfulness didn’t pay off in the end. When the company offered early retirement packages he was passed over since he had already announced his retirement.  There are a number of different ways to make your retirement announcement While there are disappointing stories such as that one, there are also positive responses to retirement news. When I asked readers of my Every Day is Saturday newsletter about how they plan to announce the news of their retirement I got several different answers. These answers vary based on the type of work they do and the type of employer they work for.  What factors should you consider when announcing your retirement? One listener that has a technical job in IT plans to give 6 months’ notice. He based this number on the amount the time it will take to train his replacement. You may also want to consider the size of the company you work for and your level of responsibility in the organization. Another listener’s 1-month retirement announcement was well received. He also offered flexibility and it ended up paying off. Listen in to find out how that story worked out.  There is no right answer So what can you learn from these examples? What is the right amount of notice to give? Unfortunately, like just about everything else in retirement, there is no one size fits all answer. However, we are generally rewarded when we make these decisions with careful due diligence and specific intentions. So how will you give your retirement notice?  Resources & People Mentioned Boomer Benefits Connect with Benjamin Brandt Get the Retire-Ready Toolkit:http://retirementstartstodayradio.com/ Follow Ben on Twitter:https://twitter.com/retiremeasap Subscribe to Retirement Starts Today on Apple Podcasts,Stitcher,TuneIn,Podbean,Player FM,iHeart, or Spotify