Practical advice for successful retirement planning.
What Is the Difference Between an Index Fund and an ETF?
Investing can be complicated and confusing. With so many investment strategies out there, it’s important to find the one that best works for your portfolio. In this blog, I’m going to discuss the difference between index funds and an ETF, their pros and cons, and how to determine which one is right for you.
Six Dave Ramsey Tips That Could Hurt Your Retirement Plan
Radio personality Dave Ramsey is a huge name in the personal finance niche. While he’s celebrated for helping countless listeners take control of their finances, many of his recommendations have sparked debate within the financial planning community.
I’m going to break down six of the most controversial opinions promoted by Ramsey in today’s blog.
4 Mistakes to avoid when collecting social security while working
For many, the idea of collecting Social Security benefits while still working can be an attractive one, offering a potential boost to current income. However, this decision comes with its own set of complexities and potential pitfalls. This week, we'll delve into four common mistakes you'll want to avoid if you're considering collecting your Social Security benefit while continuing your career, using a real-life example to illustrate these points.
Defining Your Social Network in Retirement with Craig Colvett
We talk so much about the financial aspects of retirement that it’s important to address the mental and emotional shift this season can bring. In this blog, summarize a recent conversation I had with life coach Craig Colvett to discuss getting ready for the retirement transition. We talk about the benefits of life coaching for retirees as well as the importance of maintaining a diverse social network.
How to Set Up Your Estate Plan with Natalie Perry
Do you know where your assets are going when you die? Do you have a plan in place for making medical and financial decisions if you become incapacitated? If either answer is no, you need an estate plan! In this blog, I’m joined by estate planning expert Natalie Perry to discuss the ins and outs of planning your estate and ensuring a smooth post-mortem transition for your family and loved ones.
How Women Can Build a Better Relationship With Money with Brie Williams
Women have come a long way in terms of owning their financial power. That’s not to say there aren’t still challenges or wage discrepancies, but globally women are poised to take center stage as their earning potential grows. In this blog, I am joined by Brie Williams to discuss tips and strategies for women to build a better relationship with money, achieve their financial goals, and prepare for a successful retirement.
How Much Do I Need To Retire?
How much money do you need to save for retirement? $500,000? $2 million? The answer will never be the same. It’s specific to you. So how do you figure it out? In this blog of Retire with Ryan, I’ll share five steps you can follow to determine how much you need to retire.
Can Elon Musk and Doge Take Away My Social Security Benefit?
In this blog, I address readers’ concerns about the future of Social Security, especially given recent changes under President Trump's administration and the involvement of the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge).
I’ll dive into the current state of Social Security, the potential impact on your benefits, and how you can maximize those benefits moving forward. With solvency concerns looming, I’ll help you better understand what’s at stake and how to make smart decisions for your retirement.
7 Steps To Protect Your Schwab Accounts From Hackers
Protecting your finances from hackers is more critical than ever. Cybercriminals are getting more sophisticated, accessing sensitive information like social security numbers and attempting to steal directly from financial accounts.
That’s why, in this blog, I’ll share seven essential steps to protect your Schwab accounts from hackers.
How Can I Protect My Portfolio From What’s Happening in Washington?
What’s the best way to protect your retirement savings when the market feels unpredictable? In today’s blog, I cover the growing uncertainty caused by political decisions and how they affect your investments.
From tariffs to immigration changes and government cutbacks, I’ll share insights on how to navigate this volatility and keep your portfolio secure. Whether you’re nearing retirement or already there, this blog will provide actionable steps to ensure your investments remain on track despite external economic pressures.
10 Penalty-Fee Withdrawal Options For Retirement Plans
When it comes to retirement plans, the general rule is that you can’t access funds in your retirement account(s), without penalty, until age 59 ½. If you withdraw funds prior to 59 ½, you’ll get hit with a 10% penalty and income tax (if coming from a non-Roth account). But there are some instances in which you can make withdrawals penalty-free. We’ll dive into those in this blog.
Dissecting the Keys to Successful Investing with Larry Swedroe
In this blog, I’m joined by Larry Swedroe, a thought leader in evidence-based investing and former Chief Research Officer at Buckingham Strategic Wealth.
Larry has authored over 18 books that have shaped the way people think about personal finance, and now, after 28 years in the industry, he’s sharing the most valuable lessons he’s learned in retirement planning and investing.
7 Ways to Keep Your Estate from Landing in Probate
In some states, probate is avoidable. However, in many states, you can avoid having your estate go through the probate process. I recently went through the probate process when my grandfather passed away and I helped my father settle his estate. It is far easier for your family to settle your estate once you’re gone if it doesn’t go through probate. So, in this blog, I’ll cover 7 things you can do to keep your estate from landing in probate.
Getting Emergency Money From Your 401k
In an ideal world, everyone should aim to keep 3–6 months of living expenses in an emergency fund. But let’s face it—building that kind of safety net isn’t always easy. For many pre-retirees, most savings are tied up in retirement accounts, leaving limited options for unexpected expenses.
So, what can you do if an emergency arises? In today’s blog, I’ll walk you through how to access emergency funds from your 401(k) and explore strategies to help you stay prepared for life’s unexpected challenges.
Health Insurance Options If You Retire Before Age 65
If you retire early (before 65), you’re too young to qualify for Medicare. So what are your health insurance options? In this blog, I’ll address five different options you have to get health insurance. I’ll also share some ways you can lower the cost of your premiums to keep coverage affordable until you qualify for Medicare.
5 Retirement Mistakes to Avoid
Planning for retirement can be a complex process. There are so many things to do that it’s easy to forget common pitfalls to a successful retirement strategy. In this blog, I’m going to go over the Top 5 Retirement mistakes that I see regularly, how to avoid them, and resources to make sure you’re on the right track.
The Deferred Resignation Offer Deadline 2/6/2025
If you're a federal employee and you're considering accepting the deferred resignation offer that’s been presented by President Trump, you'll definitely want to read this blog. I’m going to go over three key things that you should consider when deciding whether or not to accept the deferred resignation offer.
7 Money moves to make for pre-retirees
I wanted to help you get your year started off right and I wanted to address 7 money moves that all pre retirees should make in 2025. I'm going to take you through those today.
FINALIZED IRS Regulations on inherited ira’s
Let’s breakdown the finalized regulations that were issued by the IRS on July 18th for people who inherited IRA’s in the year 2020 and later. I’ve spoken about this twice over the years in episode 180 and episode 200. However, the IRS has finally cleared up a lot of questions that were left unanswered at those times.
How the Social Security Fairness Act Could Positively Impact Your Retirement
A new bill was just signed into law by President Biden. That will increase the Social Security payments for millions of public school teachers and former public employees. The law is named the Social Security Fairness Act, and it repeals a pair of Social Security provisions that limit the Social Security benefits that many public school teachers and public employees receive.