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Jeremy Keil explains the top 3 tax efficient strategies for charitable giving in 2025. Most people give to charity because it’s meaningful to them — not because of the tax break. And that’s the right ...
This post is follow-up to our post of December 22, 2024 and will again highlight the benefits of using the Actuaries Longevity Illustrator (ALI) to help you develop reasonable lifetime planning period...
Many years ago, in that world of work I invariably wore black. Dull, sombre coloured suits with white blouses and heeled shoes were viewed as appropriate attire for both office and court room. I think...
Today, I'm thrilled to welcome Fritz Gilbert back for his second appearance on the podcast. Fritz is an award-winning blogger and author of The Retirement Manifesto, one of the most influential retire...
When you think about retirement, it’s easy to picture it as one long chapter, but financially, it’s really a series of different seasons. Your needs, lifestyle, and spending change over time, and your...
Holiday spending is rising sharply in 2025, with shoppers planning to spend more on gifts and online purchases than last year. This guide shares 8 steps to help you avoid holiday debt, set clear expec...
Retiring with a pension changes everything about your retirement math. Most people think about retirement in terms of net worth—how close they are to a million, two million, or more. But if you have a...
When I wrote about our trip to Portugal, I did say we were searching for inspiration for a recovery trip. On a whim and with a definite need to experience a little more European sunshine before winter...
After decades of saving/investing, it's hard to immediately switch to spending mode. Here's what worked for me over the last few years! Read more → The post Learning How to Spend Money (While Enj...
In this episode of Retirement Reality, Darren shares what it’s really like to walk away from work at 54 and why it still feels surreal. After decades of saving, hitting his number, and paying of...
Transitioning from saving to spending in retirement can be tricky, but devising a strategic plan can help ensure a smooth and worry-free retirement....
Get peace of mind in retirement with the 'Pay Yourself' rule....
Everyone's wondering if this is the worst time to retire. With high valuations, stubborn inflation, and constant uncertainty, it's easy to feel uneasy about your timing. In this episode, we look at wh...
It’s not too early to start planning your spending for 2026 even though you haven’t yet determined your January 1, 2026 Funded Status. You or your spouse may be considering spending in 202...
Discover what new research reveals about how retireesactuallyspend their money — and why front-loading your retirement income plan could be the key to enjoying your healthiest, most fulfilling y...
? SHOW NOTES In this episode, Roger Whitney explores the art of retirement goal setting with his signature blend of practical advice and thoughtful reflection. He sits down with Cesar Aguirre, who sha...
Those “3x by 40, 6x by 50, 10x by 67” charts feel official—until your life doesn’t match the average. In this episode, James shows why age-based savings benchmarks miss the mar...
I am planning to retire (hopefully) soon, and I keep reading things that say I'll need 70% of my pre-retirement income, or 80%, or 90%. The idea being that you will lose some of the expenses related t...
In this episode of Retirement Reality, meet Donovan, a 55-year-old retiree who turned an unexpected career exit into an opportunity for freedom, reflection, and new purpose. Donovan shares how one def...
For countless retirees, the greatest challenge isn't saving money, but spending it. After years of diligent saving, the transition to drawing down those hard-earned funds can be fraught with anxiety a...
Recently, in her Motley Fool article, A Big Reason the Famous 4% Rule May Not Work for Your Retirement, Maurie Backman confirmed what we have been telling our readers for years—you aren’t ...
The 'guardrails approach' to retirement spending signals when you can spend more and when you need to rein it in, giving you greater flexibility in your post-work life....
A little more than ten years ago, the Financial Analysts Journal released “The Only Spending Rule You Will Ever Need” by M. Barton Warning and Laurence Siegel. Recently, Stefan Sharkansky ...
If time is truly more precious than money, then spending money to buy back your time is the wisest trade of all. Here's an example of overcoming my frugality to live a better life. Perhaps one of the ...
As discussed in our previous post of September 28, 2025, there are lots of levers in the Actuarial Financial Planner (AFP) that can be pulled to make your spending plan in retirement more or less cons...
Spending changes for your household between when kids were in high school and retirement Assuming your spending actually went down, and you had kids, what level of decline did you see in household spe...
Here’s how to spend guilt-free when you are in retirement....
How can you wait until age 70 for Social Security but still spend more in the years before then? Here are some ideas to try. The post How to Wait Until 70 for Social Security Without Spending Less app...
We didn't hold our monthly budget meeting for a while last year, so we had to do a little catching up. The spending totals were shocking. The post Life Got Really Expensive (We’re Spending Twice...
Audit your spending to uncover patterns, cut waste, and align expenses with goals. Small adjustments will boost financial confidence. The post Audit Your Spending: Go Beyond Budgeting with 5 Ways to R...
Most grocery advice feels like homework. Clipping coupons, building a meal plan, tracking spending in spreadsheets. Ugh. It’s no wonder ... Read more...
The stock market and consumer spending are presently in a self-reinforcing positive feedback loop; the wealth effect from increasing stock ... Read more...
Everybody has their own number for how much they’ll spend in retirement. See if your's is in line with the averages....
Follow the 'Me-First" rule and you won't have to worry about running out of money when the stock market goes south....
Force of habit. I’ve always found that phrase a little irksome. Not because I consider myself some paragon of self-control, ... Read more...
My wife and I are both 68 and I'm still working fulltime until Nov 1 2025 ish. Have been spending time lately looking at monthly spending and have moved most of our assets over to Vanguard (lower cost...
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...
Thanks to Kitces.com and Justin Fitzpatrick for once again informing financial advisors and retired DIYers that there are better metrics and processes for managing spending in retirement than the prob...
In my post,“How You’ll Feel Achieving Various Millionaire Milestones,”a commenter named Joseph shared these thoughts: “I’m fascinated by someone worth $10M or $20M not fe...
Answering reader questions about 529 accounts, how to invest them, and how to spend them down. We also discuss ways to help pay for college, and we answer a question about when or if the political cli...
Once my wife retires (I am already), we are planning on doing the opposite of snowbirding--spending summers in Maine, spending roughly 3 1/2 months away from our permanent home. What is the best way t...
Everyday costs like groceries, gas, and subscriptions can quietly drain hundreds each month. This gallery breaks down 14 common expenses, supported by consumer spending data from reputable sources, so...
Small, everyday purchases can quietly add up to thousands over time. Even habits that feel normal like convenience fees, dining out, or ignoring discounts can slowly raise your cost of living without ...
Time is precious. Make sure you are spending time with people who lift you up and are positive influences on you....
Forget market declines or rising inflation. With this strategy, you won’t have to worry about any of that during retirement....
Managing money isn’t just about income. Instead, it’s about the decisions you make with what you have. From daily spending to long-term planning, these habits show you’re thinking ah...
Self-made millionaires often approach spending with long-term thinking and disciplined habits. From budgeting to big purchases, their choices reflect clarity and purpose. This gallery highlights how t...
With inflation creeping up again, here’s how to safeguard your retirement planning....
Many wealthy individuals prioritize frugality over flash. They avoid wasteful spending, unnecessary upgrades, and emotional purchases. They are not frugal because they have to be, but instead because ...
I am modelling my retirement finances, which will hopefully be in 2-3 years (age 63/64). I have read papers on particular modes of how people handle spending (inflation-only, Retirement smile [go-go/s...