Retire Sooner with Wes Moss

Dreaming about retiring early, but worried you’ll never have enough? On this episode of Retire Sooner with Wes Moss, Wes and Christa DiBiase break down powerful strategies and mindset shifts that could help folks retire sooner and happier, including: • Tap Your IRA Early—Penalty-Free: Learn how Rule 72(t) and SEPPs can sometimes unlock your IRA before many expect and how that might help customize an early retirement plan. • Rule of 55 vs. Rule 72(t): Compare two powerful early withdrawal strategies and discover which one could work for your retirement timeline. • Smart Rollover and Roth Moves: Wes tackles listener questions on IRAs, dry powder strategy, and recovering from past investing mistakes. • S&P 500 or Total Market Index? Find out which fund could fit your growth goals—and why broad diversification is often a winning strategy. • The Real Source of Retirement Happiness: New research reveals it’s not just money—core pursuits like travel, hobbies, and connection can fuel lasting joy. • Annuities & Life Insurance—Worth It? Explore the pros, cons, and ideal timing for annuities and whole life policies in your retirement plan. Let years of retirement planning, actionable anecdotes, relatable listener questions, and eye-opening research fine-tune your investment and happiness game plan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Explore powerful, often-overlooked retirement tactics—like the Rule of 55 and the 62/70 Social Security strategy—and hear listener questions answered by Wes and Christa to help you build an effective, income-focused financial future. 🎯 • Are corporate earnings the #1 financial metric for long-term investors to track when making better investment decisions? • Learn how to evaluate earnings per share (EPS) and earnings growth when investing in individual stocks or index funds. • Should retail investors join earnings calls—or is it better to focus on broader S&P 500 earnings trends? • Understand how proxy voting works and whether your shareholder vote might impact company decisions. • Get insight on the “62/70” Social Security strategy—why one spouse claiming early while the other waits may optimize retirement income and possibly protect surviving spouses. • Explore the Rule of 55, which lets you withdraw from your 401(k) without penalties starting at age 55, years earlier than the standard 59½ rule. Learn the critical conditions and employer plan requirements that determine Rule of 55 eligibility. • Discover how a “reverse rollover,” for those who choose it, could unlock penalty-free access to retirement savings by shifting IRA funds into a qualifying 401(k). • Understand the pros and cons of rules-based ETFs and factor investing versus traditional low-cost index funds. • Hear Wes’s take on expense ratios, investment screening methods, and how to align your portfolio with your beliefs, without overpaying on fees. • Dive into the mechanics of backdoor Roth IRAs and how those who choose to roll over traditional IRAs might be able to simplify the Roth conversion strategy. • Learn how to optimize Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) when changing jobs or insurance plans. Start creating your path toward financial freedom and retirement happiness with these topics and more on this episode of the Retire Sooner Podcast! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Looking for retirement guidance and insights on navigating gold investments, market volatility, and the impact of AI on jobs? In this episode of the Retire Sooner Podcast, Wes Moss and Christa DiBiase address essential topics and answer listener questions on financial planning, investment returns, and preparing for the future of work. • Gold as an Investment: Discuss the pros and cons of investing in gold, including historical performance and volatility. What’s an effective percentage to hold in a portfolio? • Gold’s Performance Over Time: Gold has shown a respectable average annual return in recent decades; however, can it also be highly volatile? • Gold in Times of Crisis: How does gold perform during a recession? • Physical Gold vs. Gold ETFs: Both are options, but which offers greater ease of access and lower logistical risk? • 401(k) Rollover Strategy: For retirees who choose to rollover 401k assets to an IRA, can dollar-cost averaging reduce emotional stress? • Seeking Steady 7% Returns: Investors looking for steady 7% returns may be compelled to take on significant risk, such as high-yield junk bonds or illiquid private real estate. Does this make balanced portfolios more strategic long-term options? • AI’s Impact on White Collar Jobs: Is there credence to the claims that AI could eliminate many entry-level white-collar positions in the next five years? Are there ways to assess job vulnerability and anticipate how new opportunities and industries will emerge in response to technological change? • Investing in an AI-Transformed World: Rather than chasing individual AI stocks, can broad, diversified index investing capture overall market growth and the success of future industry leaders? • Weighing Rental Properties vs. Selling: When considering whether to keep or sell a paid-off home, consider balancing the potential for appreciation and rental income against the additional management work and risk. • Equal Weight vs. Cap Weight Indexes: Is there potential for ETF bubbles due to mega-cap stock concentration? Can equal-weighted ETFs mitigate some risk? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wes and Christa delve into essential topics to help get you ready to retire sooner and happier, including: • Review the Wes Moss 10-point retirement readiness checklist. • Understand how to transition from saving to spending. It sounds simple, but there can be more to it than meets the eye. • Explore the emotional and strategic importance of spending in retirement: What are productive ways to prioritize? • Reassess your estate, insurance, and healthcare coverage before retirement—procrastination can add unnecessary stress. • Be aware of advisor fees vs. value: you're not paying to beat the market, but to build and protect a sustainable plan. • Embrace the importance of financial confidence: the #1 worry in retirement is outliving your money—face it with planning. • Enjoy a lighter segment of “Wes Stinks” regarding Wes’s favorite type of apple vs. listener favorites. • Follow real-life financial questions from listeners: o With a significant chunk of assets and kids still in college, analyze early retirement readiness and weigh the pros and cons of hiring a financial advisor versus staying with index funds. o How to shift from aggressive stocks to conservative holdings while attempting to minimize capital gains tax. o Dissect a high withdrawal rate strategy using dividends and bond funds. Consider the trade-offs of control and structured income. o Evaluate municipal bond funds for tax efficiency; can you balance credit quality and yields using a tax-equivalent yield comparison? o Weigh traditional vs. Roth 401(k) contributions based on your current tax bracket. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tackle Roth IRA strategies, dollar cost averaging, passive investing risks, strategic retirement withdrawals, and more. Whether you're planning early retirement or optimizing your current portfolio, Wes and Christa deliver actionable insights and answer listener questions, including: • Is Passive Investing Creating a Bubble? Are index funds inflating markets? Or do global diversification and ongoing price discovery demonstrate otherwise? Is it a mistake to dismiss all active strategies? • Roth IRA Allocation Roth IRAs often have the longest time horizon. Does that make them ideal for more aggressive, all-stock index fund investing? • How to Diversify an IRA After a Rollover Is it helpful to go beyond S&P 500 funds with mid- and small-caps? Treasuries? Corporates? REITs? Commodities? Energy pipeline investments? • Avoid Paying Roth Conversion Taxes from a Roth? Does it reduce long-term value to use Roth funds to pay taxes on a conversion? Is it okay to spread conversions over several years? • What Is Dollar Cost Averaging (DCA)? DCA can help reduce timing risk by investing consistently over time. Is it beneficial for large cash amounts and emotional ease? • Investing a Lump Sum? What About a 50/50 Split? Should you consider investing half up front and dollar cost averaging the rest over several months for balanced risk and reward? • Effective Withdrawal Strategy in Retirement Is it more strategic to pull from bonds/cash rather than stocks in down markets? • Should You Use Target Date Funds? They can be handy early in your career, but do some get too conservative by retirement age? • Is the Reverse Glide Path Worth It? Starting conservative and getting more aggressive later may look good on paper, but does its complexity overshoot its practicality in real life? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wes and Christa compare ETFs vs. index funds and retirement accounts vs. brokerage accounts. Unlock financial clarity and early retirement strategies with this jam-packed episode of dynamic discussion and listener questions, covering topics such as: • The importance of staying invested during market volatility, using a recent market upswing as an example of patience leading to productive results. • The aforementioned differences between ETFs, index funds, and even mutual funds. Discover which ones might be most effective for your specific needs. • An explanation of Lipper Ratings and how tax efficiency can matter in taxable accounts. Are ETFs more tax-friendly? • Learn how the S&P 500, while typically having a strong investment core, can be tech-heavy and may sometimes lack exposure to sectors like energy, materials, and real estate. How can diversification be achieved? • Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) can be exciting but are often risky. A small, speculative allocation might be fine, but is it productive to bet your retirement on IPOs? • Wes introduces a powerful analogy. Retirement accounts = Crockpot: slow-cooking, tax-deferred, long-term. Brokerage accounts = Skillet: accessible, taxable, real-time impact. Use both types of accounts strategically—Wes explains how. • When not to do a Roth conversion. • Can pension income be used for Roth IRA contributions, or do folks need wages or self-employment income to contribute? • Is it safe to link financial accounts to third-party companies to more regularly update info? Or do the cybersecurity risks and diminishing benefits mean manual updates once a year are sufficient? 🎧 Tune in now to hear stories, stats, and effective financial planning that could reshape your future. Subscribe, share it with a friend, and take one step closer to your happy retirement. Follow the show on Instagram and YouTube. Call 800-805-6301 to leave a voicemail or contact us HERE for a chance to have your question featured in an upcoming episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is owning a home still a good investment? What are the 5 most important topics to cover when meeting with someone for financial guidance? Wes and Christa cut through the noise to explore these issues and answer listener questions, including: • Explore the pros and cons of that homeownership question, housing as a long-term investment, and why it still matters. Learn why housing may serve as forced savings, inflation protection, and a path to mortgage-free retirement. • Analyze the impact of housing market volatility and interest rates. Understand current trends in housing prices and mortgage rates, and what they could mean for your financial decisions. • Decode the use of leverage in real estate to help build wealth. Discover how a modest down payment on a home might lead to a significant long-term return compared to methods constricted by contribution limits. • Evaluate the 4% Rule of thumb. Is it still relevant? How can folks adjust withdrawal rates based on their retirement horizon? Get clarity on how long your money may last if your retirement timeline is 20 or 25 years instead of 30. • Unpack static vs. inflation-adjusted retirement withdrawals. Hear Wes explain the real-world math behind lower-risk withdrawal strategies in retirement. • Contrast investing in ETFs vs. individual stocks in a brokerage account. Weigh the pros and cons regarding diversification, tax-loss harvesting, and ease of rebalancing. • Where can you keep your down payment more protected until you're ready to buy? Learn some productive options for short-term savings, including money market funds vs. CDs, and the risks of flying too close to the sun. • What are the 5 questions you must ask any financial planner when meeting with them? Discover Wes’s Five P’s Framework: Planning, Portfolio, Protection, Passing It On, and Paying Yourself (and your taxes). • Why are core pursuits essential for a happy retirement? Understand how personal passions contribute to a fulfilling life after work—and how to fund them. • Is it worth moving funds from a 457(b) plan to an IRA? Explore the trade-offs between investment flexibility and creditor protection in retirement plans. • Should you sell your home before moving overseas in retirement? Delve into guidance for retirees considering international living. • Examine the most effective S&P 500 funds for your goals. Understand cost differences, tax structures, and platform integration for index fund investing. • Why do convenience, safety, and cost matter when picking a financial platform? Break down final thoughts on choosing where to house your investments and manage charitable giving. 🎧 Tune in now to hear stories, stats, and effective financial planning that could reshape your future. Subscribe, share it with a friend, and take one step closer to your happy retirement. Call 800-805-6301 to leave a voicemail or contact us HERE for a chance to have your question featured in an upcoming episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Explore ways fear can sometimes subside in financial markets. Examine how missing the worst days, not just the best ones, can lead to less productive gains over time. Wes and Christa analyze: • Why 2025’s market feels more like a “bungee cord” than a rollercoaster. • How to use the VIX (fear index) to gauge investor sentiment—and what it could mean for your investments. • What historical spikes in fear (dot-com crash, 9/11, the 2008 financial crisis, COVID-19, inflation shock) might teach us about recovery patterns. • Why most fear-filled crises eventually subside—and how to spot the turning point in hindsight. • How central bank interventions, Fed rate changes, and global economic actions can sometimes calm markets over time. They answer listener questions about families, retirement, and catch-up plans, including: • How to save for retirement on one income with kids. • If you have to take RMDs at 72 while still working. (Hint: You might not have to!). • Why it’s okay for some to tap into their Roth IRA at age 80—and how to optimize account usage. • How much a married couple need to cover basic expenses in retirement. • How ETF providers profit when fees are so low. • Revenue streams, plus the Costco hot dog strategy (yep, that’s a thing!). • Elder Care and Safe Spending Tools. Overall, Wes reminds folks that discipline usually means staying the course, because fear doesn’t last forever, and markets typically recover. Don’t just listen—act! Subscribe to the Retire Sooner Podcast, share it with a friend, and take one step closer to your happy retirement. Call 800-805-6301 to leave a voicemail or contact us HERE for a chance to have your question featured in an upcoming episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Make informed decisions about your retirement plans, even in a bear market. Learn whether to cancel your vacation plans due to stock market concerns and discover how to manage your investments effectively. Explore strategies like layering for early retirement and understand the implications of drawing down your TSP defined contribution plan. Examine rebalancing your taxable brokerage account, including ETFs and mutual funds, and learn the rules for rebalancing your Roth IRA. Fine-tune your Roth IRA allocation for long-term growth, considering factors like pension plans and risk tolerance. Understand investment benchmarks and how to accurately assess your portfolio's performance. Zooming out to view a longer time horizon typically provides more perspective than comparing everything to your own market high watermark. Compare maximizing your Social Security savings for short-term growth and with the benefits of optimizing based on your specific needs and stress points. Evaluate the role of home equity in your retirement planning and its impact on withdrawal strategies. Does equity count? The answer may be both yes and no. Strategize about moving funds from a 457B to a Roth IRA as you approach retirement, and carefully consider the tax implications. It’s usually about taxes today vs. taxes tomorrow. Tune in to the Retire Sooner podcast with Wes Moss and Christa DiBiase for essential insights on these and other crucial retirement topics and send us your questions at https://www.yourwealth.com/contact/schedule-appointment/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Explore the latest developments in the tariff tumult, including how a lack of clarity may have led to both market meltdowns and a melt-ups: a rollercoaster of highs and lows. Learn the key takeaways from a complicated situation and discover how to potentially navigate your path to financial independence in retirement. Headlines are temporary, but your financial plan shouldn't be. Analyze the essential balance of diverse portfolios and dry powder. Accept that investing comes with the risk of down days, but realize the damage caused by missing the market rebounds. Listen to Wes and Christa answer listener questions. Is it best to eradicate debt before retirement, even if that means tapping into reserve funds? Is a HELOC ever an effective strategy? Should you take Social Security early if given the opportunity, or maximize the impact by waiting? Examine the Mappiness Project, where a team of data scientists from the London School of Economics used an iPhone application to measure happiness, anxiety, and emotions tied to geolocation. Find out what helps human beings cut through the superficial into deeper contentment, and where they tend to be when accomplishing that goal. Wes probes his interview with former Google data scientist Seth Stephens-Davidowitz to illuminate the unvarnished truth and surprising conclusions. All this and a savvy Warren Buffett quote about haircuts on today’s episode of the Retire Sooner Podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Max out your financial insight with real-world retirement strategies and listener Q&A. Learn how to respond to shifting interest rates and weigh the pros and cons of working part-time during retirement. Explore ways to manage Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs), understand Social Security’s 35-year formula, and decide when to tap into pensions. Get strategic about funding early retirement for your parents with trusts, tax-smart giving, and family financial planning—plus, a warning on why joint accounts sometimes backfire. Hear insightful thoughts on dollar-cost averaging frequency and why investing when you have cash may often beat spreading it out. Unpack the tension between inflation and early retirement, and why transparency can be essential when families share financial responsibilities. Discover why market turbulence doesn’t have to shake your strategy. Hear how George Clooney’s character in O Brother, Where Art Thou? becomes a metaphor for staying the course—a reminder to tune out noise and resist letting uncertainty derail your retirement journey. Submit your question at RETIRESOONER QUESTIONS and catch this episode of The Retire Sooner Podcast, hosted by Wes Moss and Christa DiBiase. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Take control of your financial future. Learn how to determine the withdrawal rate for your retirement. Should you stick to the classic 4% rule, or is a 5% withdrawal rate possible? Hear why flexibility is key and how different spending approaches can impact your long-term security. Discover the impact of inflation, the pursuit of optimizing Social Security, and how a surprisingly small number of stocks make up about 50% of the S&P 500’s total value. Is it possible to time the market, or is participation a more strategic goal? Whether you're years away from retirement or already there, this episode is packed with actionable advice to help you max out without running out. Tune in now as Wes Moss and Christa DiBiase break it all down! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Unlock secrets to increase the probability of saving more for retirement, managing risk, and making more efficient financial moves. Learn how a simple mindset shift could potentially lead to a 14% increase in savings, why your risk tolerance evolves over time, and how to structure your investments for a more secure future. Explore strategies for dry powder reserves, Roth vs. traditional 403(b) contributions, and pension buyout decisions. Get helpful insights on dividend stocks, cybersecurity for retirement accounts, and creative legal ways to bridge income gaps before claiming Social Security. Wes Moss and Christa DiBiase break it all down on this episode of The Retire Sooner Podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn how to optimize your retirement planning by utilizing essential financial tools. Discover strategies for leveraging a COLA-adjusted pension, navigating 403(b) withdrawals while contributing to a Roth IRA, and minimizing taxes. Explore rolling I bonds into a 529 plan without triggering taxable events. Analyze switching funds while managing a 401(k) or how Fidelity’s BrokerageLink might provide low-fee options without incurring taxes or penalties. Understand how to make the most of your retirement plan without worrying about tax implications. Enjoy all this and more as Wes Moss and Christa DiBiase take listener calls, help ease tariff fears, and marvel at the power of the American Army of Productivity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dive into the six biggest mistakes early retirees often make—and how to avoid them. Are you financially prepared to retire sooner than 67? See why a phased retirement strategy can be a game-changer, learn how to secure multiple streams of income, and examine why location matters when it comes to staying close to family. Tackle the real cost of healthcare, the Social Security timing trap, and the risks of over-supporting adult children at the expense of your own future. Packed with insights and real-life retirement planning scenarios, Wes and Christa chart a roadmap that seeks financial independence. Don't just dream of retiring early—take control of your retirement future, and start with this episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Break down the five financial habits of the happiest retirees—including how much money you really need, the power of multiple income streams, and why paying off your mortgage faster might boost happiness. Learn how rational optimism can fuel effective investing and how the 4% Plus Rule of thumb can typically keep you from running out of money. Then, discover the five lifestyle habits that make retirement fulfilling, from core pursuits (hobbies on steroids!) to the importance of independent kids, strong social connections, and travel with friends. Plus, Wes Moss and Christa DiBiase answer listener questions to tackle TSP (Thrift Savings Plan) rollovers, tax-efficient investing, RSU (Restricted Stock Units) strategies, and Medicare-friendly portfolio rebalancing. Your roadmap to financial freedom and a joyful retirement starts here on The Retire Sooner Podcast! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tackle the million-dollar retirement question: How much is enough? Use Wes’s "Fill the Gap" (FTG) method to simplify retirement math—subtract guaranteed income like Social Security from your monthly spending goal and multiply the shortfall by 25 to calculate target savings. Explore other early retirement strategies, including the debate about lump sum buyouts vs. pensions, and weigh real estate against dividend-yielding ETFs for passive income. Finally, join Wes and Christa for a candid discussion about financial media scare tactics and why staying the course typically beats chasing headlines. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Probe America’s "mini-millionaires"—how they earn, invest, and build wealth through hard work, not luck. Dive into the potential for owning stocks and buying a home with a focus on financial independence, not flash. Wes and Christa take listener questions to tackle substantial inheritance management, debate bonds vs. money markets for long-term gains, examine Robo-advisors hoarding cash, and the idea of doubling down on security to thwart hackers. Wes wraps with John Bogle’s playbook: invest rather than speculate, slash expenses, and don’t let perfectionism ruin a solid financial plan. By taking action and investing with purpose, you may be able to retire sooner than you think. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Should you take a lump sum or pension payout? Use the 6% Test to help you decide. With markets hitting record highs, is it the right time to invest, or should you wait? History suggests some clues that retirement planning should not be left to chance. Wes Moss and Christa DiBiase provide crucial context by answering listener questions about 401(k) target date funds, beta vs. volatility, selling a business for retirement, mega backdoor Roth IRAs, and inherited IRAs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover 5 powerful portfolio diversification strategies to help reduce market anxiety and boost financial security. Learn how these strategies can apply to kids, retirees, and folks in between, with actionable ways to set up a custodial Roth IRA for young entrepreneurs, maximize retirement savings, and choose an investment approach that fits your needs. Find out why kids earning money from small businesses, like selling roadside squash, could qualify for a Roth IRA. Avoid common mistakes like investing in a target date fund too soon. Looking for a fee-only fiduciary? Learn the real costs of hourly financial planning and how some people find trusted guidance. Thinking of ditching bonds for cash? Wes and Christa explain why bonds have historically outperformed money markets and why a balanced portfolio is key for long-term growth. Plus, dive into the Army of American productivity and how it impacts financial strategies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices