Ep 136: Nerdwallet Article Review - 5 Steps to Retirement Planning
Release Date: 02/25/2025
Ep 164: Social Security Strategies for Couples
Retire With Peace
In this episode, David Zaegel discusses planning strategies for couples regarding Social Security benefits. He emphasizes the importance of maximizing benefits, planning for taxes, and protecting the surviving spouse. The conversation covers various strategies, including delaying benefits for higher earners and considering health factors when deciding when to claim benefits. Zaegel highlights the need for couples to work together in their planning to ensure they receive the maximum potential benefits.
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Ep 163: Social Security Benefit Calculations
Retire With Peace
In this episode of the Retire with Peace podcast, host David Zaegel delves into the intricacies of Social Security calculations, focusing on how benefits are determined based on an individual's earnings history. He explains the importance of the highest 35 years of earnings, the adjustment for inflation, and the calculation of the Average Indexed Monthly Earnings (AIME) and Primary Insurance Amount (PIA). Additionally, he discusses spousal benefits and the strategies couples can employ to maximize their Social Security benefits.
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Ep 162: The Basics of Social Security
Retire With Peace
In this episode of the Retire with Peace podcast, host David Zaegel discusses the fundamentals of Social Security, including its history, funding mechanisms, eligibility requirements, and the timing of retirement benefits. He emphasizes the importance of understanding how Social Security works to effectively plan for retirement, highlighting key aspects such as the minimum and maximum ages for collecting benefits and the impact of waiting to claim benefits on monthly payouts.
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Ep 161: Downsize Sooner Rather Than Later
Retire With Peace
In this episode, we explore why making the move sooner rather than later can save you money, reduce stress, and give you more freedom in retirement. Here’s what you’ll discover: ✅ The hidden costs of waiting to downsize ✅ How moving earlier can improve cash flow and reduce taxes ✅ The emotional and lifestyle benefits of simplifying sooner ✅ Practical steps to decide when the time is right
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Ep 160: Affordable Care Act Subsidy Changing
Retire With Peace
In this episode of the Retire with Peace podcast, host David Zaegel discusses significant changes in retirement planning due to the expiration of enhanced Affordable Care Act premiums. He emphasizes the importance of tax planning strategies to manage insurance premiums and the implications for future income. The conversation highlights the need for proactive planning as the expiration date approaches, encouraging listeners to consider their financial strategies for 2026 and beyond.
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Ep 159: DIY Tax Planning Will Be More Difficult
Retire With Peace
In this episode, David Zaegel discusses the complexities introduced by recent tax legislation and the importance of careful tax planning. He emphasizes the challenges of navigating the new tax landscape, particularly for those attempting to manage their taxes without professional help. Zaegel shares insights on the necessity of understanding various tax credits and deductions, and the potential pitfalls of DIY tax planning. He advocates for the use of specialized software and professional guidance to avoid costly mistakes and maximize tax benefits.
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Ep 158: How Individual Bond Returns Work
Retire With Peace
In this episode of the Retire with Peace podcast, host David Zaegel discusses the advantages of investing in individual bonds over bond funds, emphasizing the importance of understanding coupon rates and bond pricing. He explains how interest rate fluctuations affect bond values and how to calculate actual returns based on the purchase price of bonds. The conversation provides valuable insights for investors looking to secure their retirement income through strategic bond investments.
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Ep 157: Social Security is Still Taxed
Retire With Peace
In this episode, David Zaegel clarifies misconceptions surrounding a recent bill affecting Social Security taxation. He emphasizes that the bill does not eliminate taxes on Social Security income but introduces an additional standard deduction for seniors, which can help reduce taxable income. The discussion includes details about income limits and how the new deduction works in retirement planning.
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Ep 156: IRA Review: Traditional vs. Roth
Retire With Peace
In this episode of the Retire with Peace podcast, host David Zaegel delves into the fundamental differences between Traditional and Roth IRAs. He explains the tax implications of each type of IRA, including income limits and the benefits of tax deductions versus tax-free withdrawals in retirement. Zaegel emphasizes the importance of understanding these differences for effective retirement planning and suggests a balanced approach by utilizing both types of accounts.
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Ep 155: Big Beautiful Bill: Key Planning Items
Retire With Peace
In this episode of the Retire with Peace podcast, host David Zaegel discusses the significant impacts of a new bill passed in Congress on financial and retirement planning. He outlines ten key items from the bill, including the permanence of current tax rates, changes to the SALT cap, and new deductions for seniors and children. The conversation emphasizes the complexities introduced by the bill, while also highlighting potential benefits for tax planning.
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In this episode of the Retire with Peace podcast, host Dave Zaegel discusses an article from NerdWallet titled 'Five Steps to Retirement Planning in 2025.' He emphasizes the importance of starting retirement planning early, understanding income needs, prioritizing financial goals, choosing the right retirement plan, and selecting appropriate investments. Zaegel provides insights and personal thoughts on each step, encouraging listeners to take a proactive approach to their retirement planning.
Takeaways
- Start retirement planning as early as possible, ideally five years before retirement.
- It's important to understand your income needs in retirement, aiming to match current monthly income.
- Prioritize financial goals beyond just retirement, such as debt repayment and emergency funds.
- Take advantage of employer retirement plans and matches as a priority.
- Invest aggressively when younger, but ensure stability as retirement approaches.
- Plan for at least five years of income in less volatile investments as retirement nears.
- Don't get too hung up on absolute certainty in retirement projections.
- Understand that life changes will affect retirement plans over time.
- Keep retirement planning simple by focusing on current income needs.
- Education and awareness are key components of effective retirement planning.