Prices Keep Rising - Make Sure Your Money Rises With Them

Prices Keep Rising - Make Sure Your Money Rises With Them

You wake up everyday, check your bank account on your phone, and you see all your money sitting there, just as it was the day before. How do you feel? Pretty good, right? That number hasn't moved. It's exactly where you left it. Safe. Here's the problem: that money is slowly disappearing even though you can't tell by looking at your bank app. This is because every single day, the purchasing power of that money is quietly shrinking. The things you will actually buy one day with those dollars — groceries, gas, insurance, healthcare — are getting more expensive. But your balance stays the same, so it feels fine. However, it's not fine. That is inflation. And most people will go their entire lives without sitting down and doing the math on what it actually does to their money over 20 or 30 years and take it seriously because we're too busy watching Netflix and wasting time wondering how our neighbor could afford that nice new car. In this episode, we're explaining the two best — and in my opinion, the most effortless — ways to fight back against inflation to make sure that your money keeps up with rising prices, because let's be honest, they're never going to start trending backwards. More specifically, I discuss: * Why is inflation for so important and how can it damage a retirees' financial life? * What is the rate of inflation? * Different types of inflation * How does inflation affect retirement accounts? What about cash in the bank? * Effortless inflation hedge #1: fixed-rate debt + home ownership * Effortless inflation hedge #2: the primarily equity investment portfolio Resources From The Episode: * Retired-ish Newsletter Sign-Up [https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/VjiTbE7/retiredish] * Get Show Notes Here [https://retiredishpodcast.com/94] Key moments: (03:26) Understanding Inflation's Impact (07:09) The Illusion of Cash Safety (09:42) Fixed-Rate Debt as an Inflation Hedge (14:48) Addressing Homeownership Objections (20:28) Equity Portfolio: The Best Hedge (23:08) The Power of Compounding Equities (25:16) Equity Liquidity and Flexibility (29:20) Long-Term Investing Discipline (33:37) Combining Strategies for Resilience (35:00) Final Takeaways

Encore - Retirement Income & Thoughts on Dividend Investing

My firm, Planable Wealth, is currently very busy in the midst of our Spring Strategy Meetings with clients where we help people just like you create and retool their financial and tax plans for 2026 and beyond. That said I wanted to bring you an encore episode this week, which I think, is one of the core episodes we've done so far Back in episode 70, I discussed the importance of retirement income and the realities of your cash flow in retirement. I also share my thoughts on dividend investing especially when trying to utilize dividends as an income stream in retirement. Income planning will make or break your retirement years - This is because your income in retirement will be what controls your lifestyle, not your net worth. When doing your pre-retirement planning - hopefully several years before your desired retirement - you'll want to match your lifestyle wants, needs, and goals with the income you are able to generate from your various financial assets and resources – but, depending on where you generate income from, you may run into certain hurdles along the way. In this episode we break down the important pillars of retirement income planning, matching your income sources to your retirement goals, and why a dividend income strategy may not be the best choice. Thanks for being a loyal listener and we'll be back with new episodes soon. More specifically, I discuss: * Defining retirement income planning * The 2 major pitfalls you need top watch out for when creating your retirement plan * Investment returns or income? * Potential cons of a "probability-based" retirement plan * Wade Pfau's Four L's of Retirement * Matching your various retirement income sources with your goals * Potential issues when relying on only one income source such as real estate or dividends * The importance of dividends * A pure dividend spending strategy isn't a great retirement income strategy The Key Moments In This Episode Are: (02:43) The Error of Relying Solely on 1 Retirement Income Source (03:39) Challenges of Basic Income Planning (06:03) Retirement Income is More Important Than Investment Returns (09:15) The Four L's of Retirement Planning (11:57) Funding Your Desired Lifestyle (13:09) Rental Real Estate May Not Be The Most Efficient Retirement Income Plan (15:35) Planning for Legacy, or Not (16:46) The Importance of Liquidity in Retirement (18:42) The "Live Off Of Dividends" Strategy Debate (25:25) The Risks of High-Dividend Paying Stocks (30:36) Total Return Investing as an Alternative Resources: * Retired-ish Newsletter Sign-Up [https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/VjiTbE7/retiredish] * Get Show Notes Here [https://retiredishpodcast.com/93]

How to Fight Back Against Your Medicare IRMAA Surcharge

You worked hard your whole career, you saved, you did everything right — and now you're on Medicare and you get a letter from Social Security telling you that you owe hundreds of dollars extra every single month in premiums just because you made too much money! No warning. No opt-out. Just, what looks like punishment for doing a good job and setting yourself up for retirement. That's IRMAA. And what most people don't know is that in certain situations, you can fight back — and win. Today we're breaking all of it down. The real numbers, the real rules, and exactly how to use the appeal process strategically if you qualify. More specifically, we discuss: * What is Income Related Adjustment Amount (IRMAA)? * How to calculate what your potential Medicare premium surcharges will be * Common situations that cause Medicare enrollees to be subject to IRMAA surcharges * When and how can you appeal IRMAA surcharges on your Medicare premiums? * Practical tips when appealing IRMAA surcharges * Strategies to avoid IRMAA surcharges Resources: * Access Episode Show Notes and Sign Up for the Retired·ish Newsletter [https://retiredishpodcast.com/92] * Ask Cameron A Question! [https://retiredishpodcast.com/ask-a-question] Key moments: (02:56) IRMAA Medicare Premium Surcharges: How it Works (05:50) Calculating Your MAGI (Income) for IRMAA (09:27) IRMAA Brackets and Cliff System (17:37) Common IRMAA Medicare Premium Surcharge Triggers (23:07) Appealing IRMAA with Form SSA-44 (26:52) IRMAA Appeal Example Scenarios (31:37) Non-Qualifying Events for IRMAA Appeal (40:02) Practical Tips for Filing an IRMAA Appeal (41:00) Strategies to Avoid IRMAA (46:51) Listener Question: IRMAA appeal for deferred compensation

How Are Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) Treated in a Divorce?

Your spouse works at a major publicly traded company. You're going through a divorce. And somewhere in their compensation package are restricted stock units or RSUs — awards of shares of company stock that haven't even vested yet. Are you supposed to receive stock? Are the RSUs considered income? Are they both? How much are we actually talking about here? By the end of this episode, you're going to understand Restricted Stock Units (RSU) and how they are commonly handled in a divorce so you can be better prepared! More specifically, we discuss: * What are Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)? * Dividing RSUs in a Divorce * Characterizing RSUs as Income or Assets * Determining RSU Community Property and Separate Property * Commonly Used Formulas for Splitting RSUs in California Key moments: (00:00) Introduction (00:59) What are Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)? (04:37) RSUs vs. Stock Options (07:02) Understanding Vesting Schedules (09:14) Companies that Offer RSUs (11:45) Dividing RSUs in a Divorce (13:15) Characterizing RSUs as Income or Assets in Divorce (16:11) Unvested RSUs at Date of Separation (DoS) (17:36) Determining Community Property and Separate Property for RSUs (20:32) Commonly Utilized Formulas for RSUs in California Divorces (27:48) Practical Example: Jim and Rachel Johnson (33:52) Important Information to Gather Regarding RSUs In The Divorce Process Resources: * Access Episode Show Notes and Sign Up for the Retired·ish Newsletter [https://retiredishpodcast.com/91] * Ask Cameron A Question! [https://retiredishpodcast.com/ask-a-question/]

Invest All at Once Or Gradually Over Time?

You just came into a large sum of money. Could be an inheritance, a business sale, a 401(k) rollover. And now you're paralyzed trying to figure out when to invest it. Do you invest it all today? Spread it out over six months? A year? Wait for the markets to drop or the perfect opportunity to cruise by? In this episode, Cameron summarizes what the research actually says, and more importantly—when the math matters and when it doesn't. More specifically, we discuss: * What is Dollar Cost Averaging (DCA)? * The Problem With Dollar Cost Averaging * Vanguard's Research on DCA vs. Lump Sum Investing * What If You End Up Investing "At All Time Highs"? * How To Decide Whether or Not To Invest The Lump Sum or DCA Over Time Resources: * Access Episode Show Notes and Sign Up for the Retired·ish Newsletter [https://retiredishpodcast.com/90] * Ask Cameron A Question! [https://retiredishpodcast.com/85] * 2012 Vanguard: "Dollar-cost averaging just means taking risk later" https://static.twentyoverten.com/5980d16bbfb1c93238ad9c24/rJpQmY8o7/Dollar-Cost-Averaging-Just-Means-Taking-Risk-Later-Vanguard.pdf [https://static.twentyoverten.com/5980d16bbfb1c93238ad9c24/rJpQmY8o7/Dollar-Cost-Averaging-Just-Means-Taking-Risk-Later-Vanguard.pdf] * 2023 Vanguard: "Cost averaging: Invest now or temporarily hold your cash?" https://corporate.vanguard.com/content/dam/corp/research/pdf/cost_averaging_invest_now_or_temporarily_hold_your_cash.pdf [https://corporate.vanguard.com/content/dam/corp/research/pdf/cost_averaging_invest_now_or_temporarily_hold_your_cash.pdf] * Vanguard Summary Article: https://investor.vanguard.com/investor-resources-education/news/lump-sum-investing-versus-cost-averaging-which-is-better * Kitces Article: "Dollar Cost Averaging Manages Risk But Reduces Returns" https://www.kitces.com/blog/dollar-cost-averaging-versus-lump-sum-how-dca-investing-can-manage-risk-but-on-average-reduces-returns/ [https://www.kitces.com/blog/dollar-cost-averaging-versus-lump-sum-how-dca-investing-can-manage-risk-but-on-average-reduces-returns/] Key moments: (00:00) Invest All at Once Or Gradually Over Time? (01:16) What is Lump Sum Investing vs Dollar Cost Averaging? (05:18) The Math Problem with Dollar Cost Averaging (07:35) Vanguard's Research on Lump Sum Investing vs Dollar Cost Averaging (11:27) The All-Time Highs Myth (16:07) The Impossibility of Being Right Twice (18:44) Three Questions to Ask Before Investing a Lump Sum (23:02) A Hybrid Approach to Investing a Lump Sum (27:03) A Hierarchy for Investing a Lump Sum (28:38) Get More Useful Information