#205 – A 6% Withdrawal Rate: Crazy or Possible?
Running out of money may be retirement’s most frightening concern, so it’s not surprising that people want to know how much of their nest egg they can safely spend. The 4% rule, identified by William Bengen, states that retirees who draw down 4% of their portfolio in the first year of retirement, adjusting every year for inflation, […]
#204 – Finding Hope with Chan Hellman
Chan Hellman was nearly suicidal until someone in his life gave him hope. Now, he works to spread it to others. As the founding Director of The Hope Research Center at the University of Oklahoma, his research is focused on hope as a psychological strength for children, adults, and families experiencing trauma and adversity. Chan believes […]
#203 – Answering Your Top Retirement Questions: Part 2
On today’s episode, Wes welcomes Producer Mallory to the studio to tackle more questions from the hypothetical Retire Sooner conference. They analyze options for when to take Social Security, examine the idea of downsizing or relocating in retirement, review three habits that many happy retirees seem to incorporate into their lives, and discuss which tax […]
#202 – Tweaking Your Anxiety Settings with Dr. John Delony
We live in a 21st-century world, and our brains haven’t quite caught up. They’re designed to look out for the Saber-toothed tiger, not a million dings and beeps from smartphones. It’s no surprise that anxiety is a massive problem in modern-day life. But Dr. John Delony says anxiety isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It’s just an alarm […]
#201 – Retire Sooner Conference Part One: Are You Pushing A Mower Or Riding A John Deere Lawn Tractor?
On today’s episode, Wes is joined by Producer Mallory Boggs. They brainstorm the idea of holding a “Retire Sooner Conference” and answer some of the questions the attendees might ask the panel. Using his retirement calculator, Wes explores what constitutes a solid retirement plan and how much inflation needs to be considered. Then, combining his Retire Sooner […]
#200 – Financial Freedom For Expats with Edd and Cynthia Staton
Edd and Cynthia Staton’s retirement plans were on track. Then, the 2008 Financial Crisis hit. Their careers disappeared, their home lost its value, and their savings plummeted. Realizing recovery was unlikely, they needed to come up with a Plan B. And boy, did they ever. In 2010, they moved to Cuenca, Ecuador. Don’t worry, they […]
#199 – The Dog Chasing Tail Investment Strategy
On today’s show, Wes is joined by Producer Mallory to elaborate on the pitfalls of fleeing the market during turbulent times. They comment on the shell shock of the Covid-19 lockdowns back in 2020 and how tempting it was for fearful investors to yank their money out of the market. Wes empathizes with the temptation […]
#198 – How To Strengthen The Aging Brain with Dr. Nicole Byers
We all know aging comes with cognitive challenges, but how early do they start? Sometimes, I forget my email password or where I put my car keys. Should I be worried? Dr. Nicole Byers came by to give us some fascinating answers, including the magical age when it can be beneficial to consume MORE calories. […]
#197 – Lessons From The Psychology Of Money: Part Two
In part two of Wes’ favorite takeaways from Morgan Housel’s bestselling book, The Psychology of Money, he teams up with Producer Mallory to discuss the power of tail events, the misconception of money and respect, the illusion of wealth, the simple act of saving, how reasonable is greater than rational, expecting the unexpected, leaving room for […]
#196 – 12 Reasons Why Life Gets Better With Age with Chip Conley
You can’t say the word “midlife” without imagining a crisis. An aging bald guy who cheats on his wife and buys a sports car to fill the void. But Chip Conley says we’re looking at it all wrong. The midlife age range has been unfairly branded, and he’s on a mission to change it. He […]