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Ben Shapiro's Controversial Take on Retirement (And What He Actually Means)
Ben Shapiro just said something about retirement in America that got a lot of people very angry, and this is something that a lot of financial advisors don't often talk about. Let's check it out.
Jan 126 min read


Why the 2 8% COLA for Social Security Isn’t What It Seems
The Social Security Administration just announced a 2.8% cost of living adjustment for 2026, but here is what they're not telling you.
Dec 3, 202512 min read


5 Reasons to Claim Social Security Early (Even at Age 62)
Lots of people say that you should delay your Social Security as long as possible, possibly even deferring all the way to age 70. But for millions of Americans, that could be terrible advice. In fact, there are some very real reasons why claiming as early as age 62 may make sense.
Nov 11, 20257 min read


What Should You Do in the Last Five Years Before Retirement?
Those last five years could make or break your retirement plan, and many people get them wrong. In this post, I'll explain why the last five years prior to retirement could possibly be more important than any other time period when it comes to retirement income planning.
Nov 5, 202515 min read


The "New Economics of Retirement"
Goldman Sachs just published "The New Economics of Retirement." I'll give you some highlights.
Oct 31, 20254 min read


The 5 Retirement Planning Mistakes Smart Couples Still Make (And How to Avoid Them)
Even smart, successful couples can make retirement planning mistakes — especially when life is busy and retirement still feels like it is years away.
Apr 25, 20254 min read


The Real Policy Mistake Investors Should Avoid in a Bear Market
If you’re like most investors, you’ve probably been watching the market decline and wondering: “How bad can this get?”
Apr 17, 20254 min read


Lessons from Warren Buffett’s Annual Letter 2024 Edition: Part 2
Yes, equity markets can be volatile and scary at times. This is why we need to have a strategic plan for our capital.
Mar 17, 20254 min read


The "Right" Time for Retirement Planning is Now
I have had 1000s of conversations about retirement and retirement income planning. Here are a few things I can confidently tell you...
Jan 30, 20253 min read


Escape Velocity: Inflation and Taxes in Retirement
If we want to grow our purchasing power over time and not just maintain it, we have to invest accordingly.
Jan 19, 20256 min read


Annuities: The Four-Letter Word of Finance
Over the next few weeks, I’m going to go headfirst into a topic that is extremely polarizing in the financial world–Annuities. In the...
Mar 15, 202213 min read


The Next 30 Years
“Let’s play old guys versus young guys,” I said to the group. I always like to watch the younger guys’ eyes light up when I utter this...
Feb 23, 20229 min read


Money Conversations: Part 2
As I shared in Part 1, I love doing impromptu Q&A sessions during my workshops on retirement or financial planning. Just like attendees...
Dec 13, 20217 min read


Medicare: A Conversation About the Basics
Click on photo to view webinar UNEDITED Webinar Transcript: Michael Baker 01:14 Thank you for everyone that’s going to tune in and watch...
Oct 7, 202142 min read


2020 Jazz: Financial Plans Need Flexibility
Want to have a good laugh? I recently took a few moments to review my personal and investing goals for 2020. That’s right—I actually set...
Nov 10, 20204 min read


The Peril of Market Timing
The coronavirus is still very much with us, as is much of the economic dislocation created by the resulting lockdowns. An interesting...
Oct 6, 20204 min read


Process Is Paramount
Over the holiday weekend, I took up an activity that I hadn’t done in years. I worked on a jigsaw puzzle. The puzzle, a 600-piece global...
Sep 14, 20204 min read


Dear Retirement Investor, What If You’re Wrong?
Over the last several weeks, it has been a whirlwind of headlines from the financial media. Despite some very encouraging fundamentals in...
Jun 12, 20187 min read
The Time I Got a $7500 Haircut
What a finish to 2017! As unlikely as it may have seemed at times, the Republicans pushed through their tax legislation. I promised that...
Jan 5, 20184 min read


Can You Afford to Neglect the Details?
I recently read a book by Andy Andrews that was titled The Little Things, and if you’ve ever read Andy Andrews, you know that his style...
May 12, 20172 min read
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