Money Matters With Wes Moss

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

New changes in Social Security policies, particularly the elimination of the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO), may have significant implications for roughly 3 million Americans. Teachers, nurses, firefighters, police officers, and other public-sector workers who previously saw their Social Security benefits slashed may now receive the full benefits they’ve earned. This shift is reshaping retirement planning for many Americans, making it more critical than ever to have a solid financial strategy and for couples to be on the same page to help avoid future stress and regret. On today’s episode, Wes is joined again by Christa DiBiase, the COO of Clark Howard, Inc. By answering listener questions and sharing informed analysis, Wes points out the essential distinctions between fiduciaries vs. non-fiduciary advisors, reminds listeners about diversifying portfolios into broad market indices to help to minimize risk, and explains how a money market account is typically a hi

Unpack the keys to investing for a happy retirement by highlighting foundational principles like prioritizing stocks to combat inflation and the strategic use of diversified "dry powder" assets for stability. Tackle listener questions, exploring international investments, mortgage payoff strategies, long-term healthcare costs, and tax-efficient withdrawals. On today’s episode, Wes is joined again by Christa DiBiase, the COO of Clark Howard, Inc. Wes zooms in on the need for patience and persistence in investing, advising against the pitfalls of impulsive decisions and ill-advised “perfection-chasing” behavior. Together, Wes and Christa attempt to equip listeners with strategies to navigate financial challenges, stay resilient, and retire sooner with confidence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode, Wes looks at 2024’s obstacles to see what might serve as clues for success in 2025. The resilient U.S. economy closed 2024 with a 25% S&P 500 gain, defying inflation fears, international turmoil, and political upheaval. While consumer spending remains a vital economic driver, boosted by low unemployment and rising wages, renewed productivity fueled by AI and innovation could spark another boom. With the current bull market still young and some earnings forecasts showing a robust 13% growth, optimism abounds. However, investors should prepare for the possible return of market volatility after two unusually stable years. Bonds are regaining appeal as yields climb, and income strategies like dividends offer a steadying force amid market swings. Overall, Wes celebrates 2025’s potential for growth but reminds listeners that it will only benefit those disciplined folks who stay invested. And he takes some listener questions! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode of the Retire Sooner Podcast, we dive into the essential pillars for seeking to achieve financial freedom and a fulfilling retirement. Wes outlines five key strategies that may contribute to long-term success: prioritizing stocks, embracing massive diversification, practicing patience and longevity, navigating today's investing challenges, and creating a robust financial plan. Wes is also joined by Christa DiBiase, COO of Clark Howard, Inc., to answer questions from across the country, offering insights on managing high investment fees, planning for retirement without Social Security, and balancing risk in portfolios. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’ve all met that one guy who pontificates endlessly about the “fantastic” investments he’s made that year. He always seems drawn to the hottest and latest trends. You don’t fully believe him, but it still makes you feel a bit of dread at the thought of being left behind. On this episode of the Retire Sooner Podcast, Producer Mallory joins Wes in the studio to explain why a fear of missing out on the FOMO Freddies of the world is typically not worth the energy. Though his bluster may temporarily cloud your judgment, it doesn’t change the reality that consistently and patiently following the five key principles for successful investing can often provide a significant opportunity for you to achieve the financial freedom you seek. Wes and Mallory discuss the probability of similar long-term returns for different investment styles, such as value, growth, quality, and minimum volatility, when investors incorporate diversification, patience, and discipline into those financial strategies. They underline the impo

Most people have a vague idea of what it takes to stay healthy as we age—some combination of cutting out the delicious, irresponsible activities while adding in more nutritious, boring ones. While it never seemed overly complicated, it also didn’t sound very fun. Today’s guest flipped that script. According to Maddy Dychtwald, a healthy mindset can lower stress, which can actually make it easier and more enjoyable to exercise and socialize. In other words, you don’t have to white knuckle the tedious tasks. You might even look forward to them! For nearly 40 years, Maddy has been exploring all aspects of the Age Wave, and she’s contributed to researching how an aging population can have profound business, social, healthcare, financial, workforce, and cultural implications. She’s a national best-selling author, including her latest, Ageless Aging, an acclaimed public speaker, and an overall thought leader on longevity, aging, and the new retirement. Her insights and research have been featured in Bloomberg Busin

Everyone wants a good life, but what does that mean, and how can you make it happen? On today’s show, Wes combines analysis from a neuroscientist, a bank CEO, and two very different retirees to find the overlapping characteristics of each. According to Dr. Wendy Suzuki, professor of Neural Science and Psychology at New York University, the unifying theme is some sort of fulfillment. In a discussion with Annabel Spring, CEO of HSBC Global Private Banking and Wealth, the two explored how 11,000 bankers defined well-being. Some of the answers may surprise you. According to two retirees to whom Wes recently spoke, retirement can look very different for each person. One felt retirement was everything he’d ever dreamed it could be and recommended people do it sooner, whereas the other thought it was overrated and missed working. Examining their feelings through the prism of Dr. Suzuki’s outlook, Wes determines that both are correct and gives specific reasons why that revelation is more uplifting than many might thi

I was recently at my son’s football games when one of the other dads walked over. He looked about 45 and said he was starting to think about the future. It’s a typical age for that concern to creep in, especially once a person feels financially secure. Now that you can take your foot off the gas a little bit, where should you steer the vehicle? Dr. Riley Moynes is a doctor of figuring out what to do next. Specifically, he has a PhD in Education, but his journey extends beyond academics. In addition to his 20-year career as an educator, he ran a successful wealth management firm and authored several books, including the popular financial planning guide “The Money Coach.” I wanted to have him on the show because of his TED talk about the 4 phases of retirement. With millions of views, it’s clear his words struck a chord with so many people desperate for tips on what to expect and how to navigate this portion of their lives. In our conversation, he walked me through all four phases, where major pitfalls often oc

Our Retire Sooner Team has been researching, studying, and writing about happy retirements for years, so there aren’t many aspects we haven’t considered. But every once in a while, a new study grabs our attention. The latest, Retire Without Regrets, from the Harvard Business Review, used a longitudinal study to examine the gap between retirement expectations and real-world applications. Using life-mapping exercises to compare expectations with actual experiences, it identified four essential qualities for a happy retiree. The “Four A’s”: Alignment (personal values), Awareness (self-knowledge), Agency (active goal pursuit), and Adaptability (flexibility to handle change). Consider your own personalized retirement roadmap, and see if the “Four A’s” unlock the proactive planning and adaptability skills that might help you live a regret-free retirement life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The transition from one goal to another is often more challenging than either of the goals themselves. Once you get going, momentum can do a lot of the work, but turning the ship around or veering in a different direction takes planning, effort, discipline, and patience. If that sounds daunting, don’t worry. Today’s guest can help. Dr. Dorian Mintzer specializes in life transitions, helping both individuals and couples prepare for fulfilling retirements by exploring the non-financial aspects. She encourages people to examine past experiences to manage future expectations so they can fully understand how to adapt and foster continuous personal development. As co-author of The Couple’s Retirement Puzzle, she advocates for 10 must-have conversations between partners as they share the journey into retirement. Her array of personal and professional experiences as a therapist, coach, and teacher affords her a unique perspective to help folks not only navigate the second half of life but fully revolutionize their

Only 36% of voters still believe the American Dream is attainable, according to a 2023 Wall Street Journal/NORC survey. This figure is decidedly lower than other pollster findings in similar surveys. Those revealed that 48% of voters in 2016 and 53% in 2012 felt reasonably assured of their opportunities for a prosperous future. In other words, more than half of Americans felt optimistic in 2012, and only slightly more than one-third do now. Americans are consistently barraged with negative headlines and stressful news updates, from supersized natural disasters to political unrest to foreign wars. Despite the challenges, there is still plenty of evidence to justify a bullish attitude about the United States and the potential to reach the American Dream of financial prosperity. Five specific categories come to mind: education, demographics, geography/agriculture, energy, and the U.S. Constitution. The road to a happy retirement can be lined with hazards, but the strength of the United States was never based