Defending the 4% Rule for Retirement
Anyone in the Retire Sooner family—readers of my books and articles and listeners to my podcast and radio show—knows how passionate I am about the 4 Percent Rule. Discovered in 1994 by an MIT aeronautics and astronautics graduate turned Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) named William Bengen, this rule of thumb calculated actual stock returns and […]
It’s The Most Wonderful (And Expensive) Time of Year!
As the holidays are rapidly approaching, the main concern I’m hearing is, “How am I going to pay for everything? Inflation is out of control!” Families are concerned about how they are going to fund everything from Christmas and Hannukah presents to holiday travel to holiday meals. People are reluctant to host the holidays at […]
Let’s Get Started with Jill Smith Entrekin
The Happiest Retirees podcast debuted on September 19, 2023, and Jill Smith Entrekin was our very first guest. As the new kids on the podcast block, it was essential to start strong, and Jill’s performance was the bulging bicep we needed to flex our mission of helping families retire happier. What makes Jill a happy […]
Do You Want to Become the Millionaire Next Door?
When you think of a millionaire, what do you see? A butler selecting from an identical lineup of tuxedos parading along a conveyor belt in a closet that smells of rich mahogany? A personal assistant slipping diamond-laced Louboutins over the freshly exfoliated heels of an elegant woman? If these descriptions match your imagination, you’re not alone. But […]
10 Financial Catalyst Events That Could Impact Your Happy Retirement Planning
Change is part of life. There’s no avoiding it, and the energy spent trying is wasted. As we plan for retirement, it’s essential that we accept this reality and make the most of what’s thrown at us. With the right attitude, change doesn’t have to be a bad thing. We previously covered ten lifestyle catalysts […]
Client Spotlight: Liz & David’s Dream Trip to Iceland
Our readers know that from time to time, we like to swing the spotlight around, off of us, so that the light can shine brightly upon our clients. Today, we need two lights—one for our clients and one for the Travel and Cruise Authority who helped them plan the trip of a lifetime.
10 Lifestyle Catalyst Events That Could Impact Your Happy Retirement Planning
Life is unpredictable. One of the very few things we can count on as we plan for retirement is that change will be constant. We may kick and scream at first, but eventually, it becomes clear that life’s twists and turns do not require our approval. Our only move is to accept them, and lean […]
Consistency vs. Chasing Returns: A Study on Investment Performance
The fear of missing out (FOMO) is the anxiety a person feels when missing out on opportunities they perceive that others are experiencing. Whether it involves trying to get tickets to Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour or keeping up with the latest trends posted on social media outlets (think Facebook, Instagram and Twitter) most of […]
The Cost of Living in a Mad, Mad World
With all the suffering and strife in various parts of the globe, it’s challenging to focus on much else. No financial news matters more than the life and death of our fellow human beings. With that context firmly in mind and no immediate solution in sight, our job as investors is to try our best […]
Wes Answers Listener Questions
I’ve been doing some form of financial radio for more than fifteen years. In the book Outliers: The Story of Success, author Malcolm Gladwell stated that it takes about ten thousand hours of practice to become an expert in any given field. I don’t consider myself a radio expert, but I do feel incredibly grateful […]
