Roth IRA vs. Traditional IRA: Which is Better for Retirement Savings? - 558
Release Date: 12/02/2025
High Net Worth Pre-Retirees Share Their Biggest Fear (Here's How to Calm It) - 566
Your Money, Your Wealth
"Mr and Mrs Smith" have nearly $850,000 saved at age 43, but they’re very concerned about retirement. "Lucy and Desi" are 58 and 64 with nearly $7 million saved, but they still lie awake wondering if it’s enough for their high-expense life. "Tony and Carmela" are in a similar boat with millions saved at 61 and 59, but they’re worried their asset allocation won’t get them through their retirement. No matter the numbers, the fears sound exactly the same: will you run out of money in retirement? Turns out overcoming that fear is not about hitting a magic number. We’ll find out what...
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48 and Worried About Early Retirement? This Changes the Math - 565
Your Money, Your Wealth
Lucky Lou is 48, burned out and wants to punch at 50. How should he bridge the gap before pensions and Social Security? Joe Anderson, CFP®, and Big Al Clopine, CPA walk through the Rule of 55, 72(t)s, and the psychological reality of spending down a taxable account, today on Your Money, Your Wealth® podcast number 565. Alexei and Anna are high earners in their mid-20s who want to save aggressively and keep taxes low. Which retirement accounts should they prioritize, and can they afford a downpayment on a house? Jay and Gloria are wrestling with the classic question of whether to save to Roth...
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Social Security Timing and When Family Wrecks Retirement - 564
Your Money, Your Wealth
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How to Beat the “Fire Hydrant” of Future Taxes: YMYW Best of 2025 - 563
Your Money, Your Wealth
YMYW friends, welcome to 2026. What actually mattered most to you in 2025? It turns out to be tax-free gains on investments, retirement timing, and claiming Social Security. Today on Your Money, Your Wealth® podcast number 563, Joe Anderson, CFP® and Big Al Clopine, CPA break down the smartest tax moves, the biggest Roth mistakes to avoid, and how real people solve real retirement problems - with the help of special guests Susan Brandeis CFP® and the IRA guru, Ed Slott, CPA. Find out when Roth conversions help or hurt, how to lower lifetime taxes for you and your heirs, what it really takes...
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I'm 42 and Burned Out with $2.25M. Can I Retire Early from My Toxic Job? - 562
Your Money, Your Wealth
Today on Your Money, Your Wealth podcast 562 (an encore of episode 513), Joe Anderson, CFP® and Big Al Clopine, CPA spitball for YMYW listeners in their 40s who are ready to call it quits at work, become financially independent, and retire early. Can they afford to do it? Peter and Joanna want to retire in the next two years. Burned Out and Ready to Retire wants out of his toxic office. If Maryland Chicken Man never earns another dollar, how much can he afford to withdraw from his retirement accounts each year? And Suzanne in Massachusetts is 69 and needs $60K a year for the next 30 years. Is...
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Retirement Finances Whether You're Married, Separated, or Single - 561
Your Money, Your Wealth
Financially speaking, should Old Bear in Northern Kentucky marry his Honey? How should Sebastian in Virginia navigate the financial aspects of his separation? Plus, Famous Missourians want to know, how much is enough for retirement and when can you take your foot off the gas? Can Paul with the Big Wallet Bridge the long gap between retiring and claiming Social Security benefits? And can Aspiring Adventurer in Oregon retire single at age 58? (While Joe and Big Al enjoy a little seasonal downtime and Andi recovers from surgery, enjoy this encore presentation of these questions from an early 2025...
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The Truth About High Income Investments and Retirement Safety - 560
Your Money, Your Wealth
Today on Your Money, Your Wealth® podcast 560, Joe Anderson, CFP® and Big Al Clopine, CPA spitball business development company (BDC) funds for Edward in Illinois before diving into buckets of cash, T-bills, decumulation, and Roth conversion timing for Pebbles and Bam Bam. Plus, the fellas help 34 year old Keith in Connecticut figure out if he’s actually on track, whether he’s taking too much risk, or just worrying too much. They also spitball on the six-figure annuity gain that Gus in Philly’s 95 year old dad has amassed. Finally, why yelling “never pay an advisor” on the internet...
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Will Buying Your Dream Home Ruin Early Retirement? - 559
Your Money, Your Wealth
Today on Your Money, Your Wealth® podcast 559 with Joe Anderson, CFP®, and Big Al Clopine, CPA, David wants to know if he and his wife (ages 47 and 53) are actually on track for retirement - without realizing they’re creeping toward that .01% crowd that David swears he is not part of. Mia and Jessie from Seattle want to retire and still pick up a dream lake house with a combined ten million dollars saved. Can they pull it off? Yosemite Sam from Allen, Texas, wonders if he should wipe out the lake house mortgage or keep that low-rate loan to hang on to more flexibility as he approaches...
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Roth IRA vs. Traditional IRA: Which is Better for Retirement Savings? - 558
Your Money, Your Wealth
McDreamy Dempsey wants to know if converting to Roth in the 37% tax bracket ever makes sense, and Gary in La Crosse warns Joe Anderson, CFP® and Big Al Clopine, CPA about Roth conversion “lag” and when it DOESN’T make sense to convert, today on Your Money, Your Wealth® podcast 558. Plus, Wine Guy and Gal in Northern California want a spitball on whether they should protect their ACA subsidies or keep converting to Roth before Medicare kicks in. Then it's the classic question for Robert in Napa, Luke and Lorelai in Indiana, and Phil and Claire in California: should they save for...
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UGMA, 529, HSA, RMD, and Inherited IRA Tax Bombs Defused - 557
Your Money, Your Wealth
Joe Anderson, CFP® and Big Al Clopine, CPA are defusing some confusing tax time bombs today on Your Money, Your Wealth® podcast number 557. George in Torrance wants to know the smartest way to deal with the giant UGMA account set up by his kids’ grandparents. Suzanne in Detroit has a twist on the new 529 plan to Roth rollover rule. Homer and Marge need a spitball on whether they can build huge 529 plans for college savings and still retire early. Plus, Bill in Chicago just inherited a $950K IRA and needs a withdrawal plan before he triggers a tax explosion. Aaron in Cincinnati...
info_outlineMcDreamy Dempsey wants to know if converting to Roth in the 37% tax bracket ever makes sense, and Gary in La Crosse warns Joe Anderson, CFP® and Big Al Clopine, CPA about Roth conversion “lag” and when it DOESN’T make sense to convert, today on Your Money, Your Wealth® podcast 558. Plus, Wine Guy and Gal in Northern California want a spitball on whether they should protect their ACA subsidies or keep converting to Roth before Medicare kicks in. Then it's the classic question for Robert in Napa, Luke and Lorelai in Indiana, and Phil and Claire in California: should they save for retirement in their traditional, pre-tax, tax-deferred accounts, or their post-tax, tax-free Roth accounts? Different needs and situations, same big question: which strategy gives you the smarter tax outcome?
Free Financial Resources in This Episode:
https://bit.ly/ymyw-558 (full show notes & episode transcript)
Top 10 Tax Tips Guide - limited time special offer, download yours before Friday, Dec 5, 2025!
Ultimate Guide to Roth IRAs - free download
2025 Key Financial Data Guide - free download
10 Tax-Cutting Moves to Make Now - YMYW TV
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Chapters:
00:00 - Intro: This week on the YMYW Podcast
00:57 - Should High Earners Do Roth Conversions in the 37 Percent Bracket? (McDreamy Dempsey)
06:50 - The Hidden Roth Conversion Lag: When Conversions Don’t Actually Pay Off (Gary, LaCrosse, WI)
18:03 - Should You Prioritize the ACA Subsidy Cliff or Roth Conversions Before Medicare? (Wine Guy & Gal, No CA)
26:27 - Traditional vs Roth Contributions: What’s Better When You Make $400K? (Robert, Napa)
33:09 - Roth or Traditional Contributions? Save More or Coast After Debt Payoff? (Luke & Lorelai, Indiana)
42:13 - Roth or Traditional at Age 48: Which Strategy Makes More Sense? (Phil & Claire, CA)
49:19 - Outro: Next Week on the YMYW Podcast