Libsyn Directory

Life Expectancy, Caregiving Costs, & Retirement Planning | Christine Benz - E103

Personal Finance for Long-Term Investors - The Best Interest

Release Date: 03/26/2025

It’s Not Too Late: Smart Money Moves After 50 | Bill Yount - E105

Personal Finance for Long-Term Investors - The Best Interest

Jesse explores the financial journey of late starters with guest Bill Yount, co-host of Catching Up to FI. In the opening monologue, Jesse shares his “Stupidly Simple Secret Sauce” for personal finance: spend less than you earn, grow income without inflating lifestyle, invest consistently, and prioritize savings. He warns against flashy success stories, consumer culture, and speculation, instead advocating for steady, index-fund investing and disciplined budgeting. The episode also addresses market volatility and debunks the “buy the dip” strategy, showing that long-term consistency...

Tariffs, Turbulence, and the Harsh Truths We Must Now Face - Bonus Episode

Personal Finance for Long-Term Investors - The Best Interest

Today, Jesse critiques emotional, reactive investing during volatile market conditions—especially in response to tariffs and recession fears—while promoting disciplined, evidence-based strategies. Tariffs, though intended to protect domestic industries, often raise prices and stoke inflation, ultimately harming consumers, businesses, and investor sentiment, with economists warning they may slow growth or trigger stagflation. Market reactions, such as those seen during the Trump-era tariffs, highlight investor uncertainty and the self-inflicted nature of such economic disruptions. Jesse...

"Tax-Free Retirement" - Smart Strategy or Overhyped Gimmick? And Other Listener Questions | AMA #6 - E104

Personal Finance for Long-Term Investors - The Best Interest

Jesse answers listener questions on financial planning, investment management, and retirement. He discusses the challenges of rising homeowner’s insurance costs in high-risk areas, the differences between Treasuries, CDs, and high-yield savings accounts, and the inefficiencies of using life insurance for tax-free retirement. He advises Casey, a future retiree, on tax-efficient withdrawal strategies and investment choices, and guides Chris, a federal worker, on pension decisions, TSP management, and career changes. Jesse also addresses Rachel’s concerns about bond funds versus individual...

Life Expectancy, Caregiving Costs, & Retirement Planning | Christine Benz - E103

Personal Finance for Long-Term Investors - The Best Interest

The Truth About the U.S. National Debt (And How It Impacts You Personally) - E102

Personal Finance for Long-Term Investors - The Best Interest

Today we take a look at the U.S. national debt, distinguishing it from household debt and analyzing its impact on individuals and investors. Jesse traces the debt’s history and explains its structure, funding through Treasury bonds, and refinancing process. The discussion covers Modern Monetary Theory (MMT), which suggests that as a currency issuer, the U.S. cannot default but must manage inflation through taxation—though critics question the feasibility of this approach. While deficit spending can drive economic growth, excessive money printing may erode investor confidence. Interest...

Do Long-Term Investors *Need* to Invest in Real Estate? | Chad “Coach” Carson - E101

Personal Finance for Long-Term Investors - The Best Interest

Jesse is joined by Chad Carson, who discusses residential real estate investing as a stable alternative to stocks and bonds. While real estate offers advantages like rental income, property appreciation, and tax benefits, Jesse also highlights challenges such as high costs, tenant issues, liquidity problems, and the time commitment required. Jesse thinks of his Rochester wealth management clients, and what some of them do. Chad emphasizes choosing the right location, focusing on properties with minimal renovation needs, and securing financing that ensures a healthy cash flow. He advises...

Favorite Moments, Shoutouts, and a Name Change?! …From Our First 100 Episodes - E100

Personal Finance for Long-Term Investors - The Best Interest

Episode 100 of The Best Interest Podcast! This is a celebratory and reflective milestone featuring guest shout-outs, listener-favorite clips, and a discussion on the show's evolution. Jesse shares the podcast's origins, his journey from aerospace engineering to financial planning, and how the podcast nearly faded before finding renewed purpose in 2023. Throughout the episode, Joe Saul Sehy, Brian Feroldi, Paula Pant and other past guests are featured, shouting out The Best Interest and their own work, you’ll certainly want to check out. To celebrate, listeners wrote in with some of...

Will They Claw Back My Tax Breaks? Should I “Buy, Borrow, and Die?” And More - AMA #5 - E99

Personal Finance for Long-Term Investors - The Best Interest

Time for another AMA with Jesse! First, Randy asks what it means to be rich, leading to an interesting evaluation of personal values, goals, and circumstances. Jesse explores relativity, “keeping up with the Joneses”, and what it means to have “enough”. Then, Bob asks about the potential tax burdens on beneficiaries and heirs, and Tom wonders whether some tax savings are worth the effort of logistical complexity. The fourth question comes from regular listener, Yogi, asking about the role of bonds in diversifying a portfolio. Jesse gets into the details of which bonds are which, which...

What Do You Mean By “little p purpose”?! | Jordan Grumet - E98

Personal Finance for Long-Term Investors - The Best Interest

Jordan Grumet, AKA Doc G, returns to the podcast to share the difference between “Big P Purpose” and “little p purpose” and why you should pursue the seemingly less significant latter. Bringing together his experience in hospice care and finance, Jordan shines light on how we can create our purpose through personal growth and the pursuit of passions, rather than grandiose goals. Jordan calls these activities that bring joy "purpose anchors," which can be discovered through reflection and exploration. By engaging in these meaningful pursuits, individuals create positive ripple effects,...

The Bad “Money Scripts” Someone Else Wrote for You | Brad Klontz - E97

Personal Finance for Long-Term Investors - The Best Interest

Jesse kicks today’s show off with a monologue on the importance of having the right temperament for investing - it’s not really about intelligence at all. Emotional stability and disciplined decision making outweigh expertise and intelligence when investing. The Dunning-Kruger effect and the paradox of choice are also highlighted, emphasizing the need to prioritize action over perfection in personal finance. For the second half of the show, Dr. Brad Klontz, Co-Founder of the Financial Psychology Institute and author of Start Thinking Rich, joins to discuss “money scripts”, which are...

More Episodes

Jesse Cramer speaks with Christine Benz, Director of Personal Finance at Morningstar, about insights from her book How to Retire. Before their discussion, Jesse contrasts gambling with long-term investing, emphasizing the risks of short-term market bets versus the reliability of patient investing. Christine highlights the shift in financial advice toward holistic retirement planning, including the importance of low-cost, diversified portfolios and planning for life transitions. The episode also explores the financial impact of caregiving, particularly on women, and the necessity of proactive retirement savings and long-term care planning. John Guyton’s "guardrails approach" is discussed as a strategy for adjusting withdrawals based on market performance. Additionally, the conversation underscores the role of psychology in financial decision-making and the non-financial aspects of retirement, such as maintaining social connections and redefining work-life balance. The overarching message is that successful retirement planning requires a combination of careful financial preparation, behavioral awareness, and long-term strategic thinking.

Key Takeaways:
• Short-term stock market movements may seem random, but long-term investing historically trends upward, making it a safer and more strategic approach compared to gambling.
• Many people underestimate their lifespan, which can lead to financial shortfalls in retirement; actuarial data and family history should be factored into planning.
• Persuasive stories can shape financial decision-making, sometimes leading people to overlook critical advice in favor of compelling but misleading pitches.
• Taking on unpaid caregiving roles can impact financial security, and couples should consider financial agreements to ensure fair distribution of assets.
• Beyond finances, maintaining social connections and finding purpose are crucial for a satisfying retirement.
• A successful retirement is not just about financial security but also about ensuring a meaningful and well-balanced life in later years.

Key Timestamps:
(00:00) Casino vs. Investment
(11:09) Understanding Life Expectancy for Retirement
(15:29) The Man Who Never Looked Up
(20:41) Interview with Christine Benz
(23:06) The Shift to Holistic Planning
(23:47) Consumer Investment Preferences
(24:26) Christine's Book: How to Retire
(25:04) Personal Story: Christine's Parents
(27:16) The Role of Financial Planners
(30:24) Flexible Financial Planning Models
(39:46) Retirement Planning for Women
(45:28) Navigating Retirement as a Couple
(47:24) Insights from The Long View Podcast
(49:17) Conclusion and Contact Information

Key Topics Discussed:
The Best Interest, Jesse Cramer, Rochester New York, financial planner, financial advisor, wealth management, retirement planning, tax planning, personal finance

Mentions:
Website: https://www.morningstar.com/podcasts/the-long-view

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-benz-b83b523/

Mentions:

https://bestinterest.blog/how-long-will-you-live/

https://bestinterest.blog/some-bets-im-willing-to-make/

https://bestinterest.blog/the-man-who-never-looked-up/

More of The Best Interest:
Check out the Best Interest Blog at bestinterest.blog
Contact me at [email protected]

The Best Interest Podcast is a personal podcast meant for educational and entertainment. It should not be taken as financial advice, and is not prescriptive of your financial situation.

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