IRA and 401(k) Planning Opportunities During Volatile Markets

IRA and 401(k) Planning Opportunities During Volatile Markets

The market just dropped. Your IRA or 401(k) is down bad. And your gut is telling you to do something about it. The problem is, most of the things people instinctively want to do when the market tanks are exactly the wrong moves. But buried inside that volatility — if you know where to look — are some of the best retirement and tax planning opportunities that exist. Opportunities that only show up when things get really scary. In this episode, Cameron walks you through some of those opportunities and explains where people blow it so you don't make the same mistakes. More specifically, I discuss: * What kind of market volatility constitutes executing a particular strategy? * The ideal Roth conversion timing during market downturns * What can you do about Required Minimum Distributions (RMD) if your IRA or 401(k) drops significantly? * Net Unrealized Appreciation (NUA) "basis reset" for those with company stock inside their 401(k) plan * 72(t) payment plans from your IRA and how to mitigate the damage during market downturns Resources From The Episode: * Retired-ish Newsletter Sign-Up [https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/VjiTbE7/retiredish] * Get Show Notes Here [https://retiredishpodcast.com/96] Key moments: (03:21) Roth Conversions: The Silver Lining (14:14) Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) During Market Declines (18:39) Net Unrealized Appreciation (NUA) Strategy (22:39) NUA: Capitalizing on Downturns and Avoiding Pitfalls (26:23) 72(t) Payments: Early Withdrawal Strategies (32:28) Common Mistakes to Avoid

The Real Cost of Divorce After 50 (And How to Not Pay It)

Divorce is never easy. But divorce after 50? That's a completely different animal. We're talking about decades of accumulated assets, retirement accounts, Social Security decisions, healthcare coverage, and tax consequences that can follow you for the rest of your life — and one wrong move can cost you far more than just the marriage. In this episode, we're breaking down the real financial damage of what's called "Gray Divorce"; the mistakes I see people make in practice, and exactly what you need to do to protect yourself. More specifically, I discuss: * Gray Divorce Study – What Divorcees are saying about retirement and finances post-divorce * The difference between divorce after 50 versus divorce in your 30s and 40s * The differing realities of men vs. women post-divorce * Mistakes during and after the divorce process regarding retirement savings * Social Security and healthcare decisions post-divorce * Making key financial decisions under pressure and common regrets Key moments: (03:04) Uncertainty in Retirement Planning for Divorcees (06:38) Retirement Savings Mistakes (11:11) Financial Blind Spots and Costly Decisions in Divorce (14:27) Social Security Claiming Risks Post-Divorce (21:11) Health Insurance Decisions Post-Divorce (24:40) Seeking Professional Financial Guidance During & After Divorce Resources From The Episode: * Retired-ish Newsletter Sign-Up [https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/VjiTbE7/retiredish] * Get Show Notes Here [https://retiredishpodcast.com/95]

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