Retire Today

Learn how to keep more of your retirement income through tax planning in step 3 of the 5 step retirement plan.

Learn how to maximize your Social Security and pension benefits in your retirement income plan.

Order your copy of Jeremy Keil’s new book “Retire Today” available now.

Jeremy Keil explains step 1 of the 5 step retirement plan: retirement spending. When it comes to retirement planning, one of the biggest questions people ask is: Where do I start? The truth is, before you think about investments, taxes, or even when to claim Social Security, you need to figure out one thing—how much you’re going to spend in retirement. This is what I call Step One in creating your retirement master plan, which I’ve outlined in my book Retire Today. While many people assume retirement planning begins with assets and income, I believe it begins with spending. After all, if you don’t know what you’ll spend, how can you know how much income you’ll need? Why Many Budgets Fail When I sit down with people, their first instinct is often to start building a retirement budget. They think they need to track every coffee, grocery run, and gas fill-up to get an accurate picture. But here’s the problem—budgets are almost always wrong. People underestimate their spending, forget about irregular costs, and end up thousands of dollars off the mark. I’ve seen it happen time and again. Instead of building from the ground up, there’s a simpler formula that works nearly every time: Income – Savings = Spending. Whatever comes from your paycheck into your checking account typically gets spent—unless you’re intentionally saving it. By starting here, you can find your true monthly lifestyle amount without overcomplicating things. The Story of Thomas Take Thomas, for example. He had what I thought was the best budget I’d ever seen—two years of detailed expense tracking. Every expense logged, every penny accounted for. He proudly told me he spent $7,000 per month. When we broke it down, though, we realized he didn’t need years of tracking to figure this out. His income was $104,000 per year. He saved $20,000 into investments. That left $84,000 for spending—or $7,000 per month. Exactly what his “perfect” budget said, but it took him two years to arrive at something the formula showed in minutes. Don’t Confuse Saving with Growing One caution I often give people is not to confuse saving with growing. If you’re putting $500 into savings every paycheck, but pulling it out later for property taxes or vacations, that’s not saving—it’s managing cash flow. True saving means money you set aside for the long-term, not just for short-term annual expenses. This distinction matters because when you’re projecting retirement spending, you need to know what’s truly ongoing versus what’s temporary or irregular. The Costs People Forget Even when people nail down their monthly lifestyle amount, I often see them forget two of the biggest retirement costs: Health Insurance – Before 65, you’ll likely pay much more out of pocket than once Medicare kicks in. A good rule of thumb is budgeting around $1,000 per person per month, but this varies widely. Taxes – Many retirees underestimate taxes, or treat them like a fixed bill. But taxes are flexible—you can plan, shift, and smooth them over time. That’s why I recommend using tax planning software or working with a planner who can show you different strategies. Don’t Forget the “Non-Lifetime” Expenses Your monthly lifestyle spending is the foundation, but retirement also comes with non-lifetime expenses—costs that won’t last forever, but you should still plan for. These often include: Paying off a mortgage (which eventually goes away). Buying a new car (which will likely happen more than once if you retire in your 60s). Home renovations and repairs (you’ll notice more when you’re home full-time). Big trips and family events. If you don’t plan for these, they’ll sneak up and throw your retirement plan off track. Why Step One Matters Most Retirement is not about hitting a magic savings number—it’s about matching your income to your lifestyle. Step one is figuring out your lifestyle amount: how much you nee...

Jeremy Keil explains why personalized longevity estimates are the most important number in your retirement planning.

Jeremy Keil interviews Anthony Napolitano about how he managed to adapt his retirement plan after an unexpected end to his career.

Introducing the next chapter of the "Retirement Revealed” podcast as “Retire Today”

Jeremy Keil explores the incoming changes resulting from the “One, Big, Beautiful Bill” and how they might impact your retirement.

Jeremy Keil breaks down the Investopedia.com list of the 11 best low-risk investments for 2025.

Exploring Heather Schreiber’s 5 costly Social Security traps and exploring options of how to handle them. I’ve seen it time and again throughout my career: the intricacies of navigating Social Security can trip up just about anyone. So when I saw the headline “5 Sneaky Social Security Traps” in Heather Schreiber’s newsletter, I knew right away this was going to be something that deserved a closer look on the podcast. Let’s dive into these 5 Social Security traps–and these aren’t just random quirks—that can lead to unexpected gaps in income, tax surprises, or permanent reductions in your benefits. 1. The Entire Month Rule You might think that turning 62 means you're automatically eligible for Social Security that month. Not quite. Social Security has a quirky rule: you have to be 62 for the entire month to receive benefits for that month. If your birthday is on June 15, you don’t qualify for June’s benefit. Instead, your eligibility starts in July, and your first payment doesn’t arrive until August. What’s even weirder is that the SSA counts your birthday as the day before you were born. So if you're born on June 2, you're considered 62 starting June 1 and therefore eligible for June benefits (which are paid in July). If you’re planning on your Social Security check arriving the month you turn 62, you could be left waiting an extra month or two—potentially throwing off your cash flow. 2. Rest in Peace, Now Return to Sender Just like you must be alive the entire month to earn that month’s benefit, if someone passes away mid-month, they don’t qualify for that month’s Social Security payment—even if it’s already been deposited. This can be a shock to surviving spouses or family members when the SSA takes that money back. If a loved one passes away on June 14, and the June payment was already deposited in early July, that money must be returned. It wasn’t “earned” under SSA rules. So whether you're filing for your own benefit or helping a family member, remember: Social Security is earned month-by-month—and only if you’re alive for the full month. 3. Lump Sum FOMO: When Free Money Isn’t Always Free When you file for Social Security after your full retirement age, you have the option to take up to six months’ worth of benefits retroactively. That sounds great—who doesn’t like a lump sum? But here’s the catch: taking that lump sum means your official filing date is backdated. So if you file at age 68.5 and take six months retroactive payments, SSA treats you as if you filed at 68—reducing your benefit by 4%. That “free” $18,000–$20,000 could cost you thousands more over the course of your retirement. Sometimes it’s worth it, but many people take the lump sum without realizing the long-term cost. 4. Under-Withholding Today May Lead to Regret Tomorrow Here’s a situation I see far too often: retirees who start taking Social Security, forget to set up federal tax withholding, and then get a surprise bill come tax season. Unlike pensions or employer paychecks, Social Security doesn’t automatically withhold taxes unless you fill out a separate form (Form W-4V). If you don’t do this and your Social Security income is taxable, you could owe hundreds—or thousands—at tax time. Take the time to set up appropriate withholding levels. SSA allows you to choose from 7%, 10%, 12%, or 22%. 5. Medicare IRMAA and the Two-Year Lookback When you hit age 65 and enroll in Medicare, your premiums for Part B (and possibly Part D) can go up significantly if your income from two years ago was high. This IRMAA (Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount) surcharge can sneak up on you—especially if you had a one-time event like a Roth conversion, large capital gain, or business sale. If you had a significant drop in income due to retirement, job loss, or other life event, you can appeal your IRMAA using a life-changing event form (SSA-44). I’ve helped dozens of clients successfully reduce th...

Forensic consultant Paul Sippil explains little-known costs for business owners and plan participants and what you can do about them. When it comes to retirement planning, one of the most overlooked areas is the cost hiding within your 401(k) plan. I sat down with Paul Sippil, a forensic 401(k) consultant, in this week’s episode of the Retirement Revealed podcast. For the last 20 years, Paul has been helping employers and plan participants understand the full picture of what a 401(k) really costs–and most importantly, what you can do about it. What we revealed may surprise you: many of the fees you could be paying are seemingly invisible, unspoken, and quietly leaving your retirement savings. Your 401(k) Isn't "Free" One of the most common phrases Paul hears when talking with business owners and plan participants is: “I’m not paying anything.” And technically, they’re not—at least not directly. That’s because 401(k) fees often don’t show up on an invoice. Instead, they’re extracted from participant accounts through asset-based fees, commissions, and revenue sharing agreements that most people never even notice. Here’s the reality: if you’re in a 401(k), especially with a small to mid-sized employer, you could be overpaying. And no one may be telling you. The Bigger the Balance, the Bigger the Fee Many 401(k) service providers charge asset-based fees, meaning the more money you have in the plan, the more you pay—even if the services don’t change. That fee structure hits high-balance employees (often business owners or long-time participants) the hardest. For example, if your plan has $3 million in assets and your advisor is receiving 0.75% annually, that’s $22,500 per year in compensation—whether or not they’re actively helping you. Would you pay that if you received an invoice in the mail? However, when the fee is simply deducted from your account through share class expense ratios or revenue sharing, many people never realize it. Small Plans, Big Problems If you work at or own a small business with under 100 employees, your per-participant fees are likely much higher than those in larger plans. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, large plans (those with over $100 million) can be up to 50% cheaper in relative costs. Smaller plans are often stuck with higher costs and less transparency. How to Spot the Hidden Fees Finding these costs isn’t easy, but there are tools: Form 5500: This publicly available tax form (found at www.efast.dol.gov) details plan costs and fund options for plans with over 100 participants. Review Share Classes: Funds come in multiple share classes. Some, like “R2,” may carry hefty embedded commissions. Ask your provider if lower-cost versions like “R6” are available. Watch for “Revenue Sharing”: This outdated and opaque compensation method allows brokers and recordkeepers to collect fees without ever issuing a bill. Why Transparency Matters Paul made an interesting point: if employers were required to write a check for 401(k) services as opposed to having the fees quietly and automatically withdrawn, he believes the plan-holders and business owners would actually negotiate those fees, thus resulting in lowered costs. But the industry thrives on invisibility—making it hard for both employers and employees to question or benchmark what they’re paying. That’s why we suggest a simple test: If your financial advisor can’t clearly explain what they’re being paid and what you’re getting in return, it’s time to ask better questions and evaluate your options. Self-Directed Brokerage Accounts (SDBA) If your current 401(k) doesn’t offer the investment options you want, ask your employer about adding a Self-Directed Brokerage Account. This feature allows you to invest in a wider range of funds—including ETFs and commodities—that may not be available in your default menu. Not every provider offers this, but it’s worth requesting.

Jeremy Keil explores Barron’s 5 strategies to respond to market volatility with your retirement portfolio. Are you feeling nervous about what today’s market volatility could mean for your retirement? You’re not alone. A recent Barron’s article titled “Market Anxiety Is Running High. How to Secure Your Retirement Portfolio” caught my attention—not just for the headline, but because it echoes what I hear from so many of you. Retirement can already feel uncertain, and when the stock market adds another layer of unpredictability, it’s natural to start asking: “What should I be doing with my investments?” Let’s explore five strategies—based on that Barron’s article and my own experience as a retirement-focused financial planner—that you can use to help protect your retirement income from the ups and downs of the market. 1. Be Realistic About Market Returns The last decade has seen significant growth for the stock market. From 2009 to 2024, returns were some of the strongest in history. But expecting this trend to continue indefinitely could lead to disappointment. In fact, projections from Morningstar suggest that U.S. equities could return just 3.4% to 6.7% annually over the next decade. Compare that to the roughly 20% growth we saw in 2023 and 2024, and it's a sobering reality check. Being realistic doesn’t mean avoiding stocks altogether—it means adjusting your expectations and preparing for a range of outcomes. 2. Get Your Asset Mix Right (Based on When You Need the Money) While it may be tempting to invest based on how the market is performing at the moment, Barron’s suggests that your personal needs with your investment should be high on the list of drivers in your investment strategy. Your short-term money (needed within 1–3 years) could be in short-term, stable investments. Long-term money (needed 10+ years out) could go toward growth-oriented investments like stocks. Too often, I see people keeping everything in the market when they’re just a year away from retirement, hoping for “one more good year.” And sometimes it backfires—just like it did in early 2020 when COVID hit, and the market took a steep dive. Plan ahead. By adjusting your retirement investments 3 three years before your retirement date, you could have more of a buffer, just in case you retire earlier than expected. 3. Diversify and Rebalance It’s tempting to stick only with what’s worked recently—especially U.S. stocks, which have produced strong returns since 2009. But diversification means having exposure to different areas of the market, including international stocks. And while international stocks have lagged in recent years, 2025 has shown a surprising shift: as of early June, international indexes are up nearly 19%—ahead of the S&P 500's 2% gain. You never know when one part of your portfolio will outperform. That’s why it’s important not just to diversify, but also to rebalance—systematically adjusting your investment strategy to maintain your target allocation. 4. Maintain a “Goldilocks” Level of Cash Cash can earn some decent interest—around 4% as of 2025. That doesn’t necessarily mean you should pile all your money into savings, but it does mean you have the option to keep a portion of your retirement funds in cash or high-quality bonds for short-term needs. How much cash is enough? Many financial advisors recommend keeping 1 to 5 years’ worth of withdrawals in cash or short-term investments. The right number for you depends on your retirement timeline, expenses, and risk tolerance. 5. Bolster Other Sources of Income One of the most underappreciated strategies for navigating market volatility is increasing your guaranteed income. That could include: Delaying Social Security to maximize your benefit Maximizing your pension payout, if available Exploring annuities to create additional income streams I know the word “annuity” often brings up mixed feelings.

Exploring “The One, Big, Beautiful Bill” and its proposed changes to HSAs.

Author Allison McCune Davis shares her insights on why turning 60 can be a powerful new beginning.

Retirement author Mike Drak shares his story of emerging from the hardships of retirement to finding his own satisfaction.

Exploring how to transition from an achievement-based career to a fulfilling retirement lifestyle with author Elizabeth Zelinka Parsons.

Identify the uniqueness of your retirement situation and the variety of ways to build your retirement in a timely manner.

Jeremy Keil explores Kiplinger magazine’s article “11 Ways to Grow Your Wealth” and how to apply these strategies to retirement planning.

Learn how to build a retirement marked by intentional effort instead of fear with author Zac Larson.

Exploring the 4 major factors that need to be considered when deciding whether to buy your vacation home in retirement or continue renting.