Social Security, Social Security, Home Purchase, Fun Spending: Q&A #2635
August 29, 2026
Jim and Chris discuss listener emails on Social Security survivor benefits and earnings records, financing a home purchase, and using a fixed indexed annuity (FIA) for discretionary spending. (11:15) A listener asks why a Social Security estimate lists a $3,944 survivor benefit rather than the projected $5,101 age-70 benefit and which amount would actually be paid. (21:45) The guys consider...
Listen NowSpending Retirement Savings: EDU #2634
August 26, 2026
Chris’s Summary Jim and I continue our discussion on the Fun Number™, this time as a dialogue episode built around one listener’s hesitation around spending retirement savings and how growth and legacy positioning and establishing his SEAL Reserve™ helped him work through it. We revisit the seesaw framework for undeployed assets, clarify how the SEAL Reserve™...
Listen NowSocial Security, Early Withdrawals, SPIAs, QLACs, Retirement Strategy: Q&A #2634
August 22, 2026
Jim and Chris discuss listener emails on spousal Social Security timing, a listener PSA on the super catch-up contribution rule, early withdrawals from a Roth 457(b) plan, Minimum Dignity Floor™ coverage using SPIAs, QLACs as a hedge against potential Social Security cuts, and a couple’s retirement strategy. (10:00) — A listener asks whether a wife nearing full retirement age can...
Listen NowExtending Your Go-Go Years: EDU #2633
August 19, 2026
Chris’s Summary Jim and I are joined again by Dr. Phillip Snider as we continue looking at narrowing the gap between healthspan and lifespan and extending your go-go years. We discuss a listener-submitted article on health-adjusted life expectancy, which argues for concentrating retirement spending in the first decade of retirement rather than following a static, Monte Carlo-based safe...
Listen NowSocial Security, IRMAA, Roth Conversions, Roth Contributions, TEFRA: Q&A #2633
August 15, 2026
Jim and Chris discuss listener emails on the Social Security Fairness Act, an IRMAA question involving deferred compensation, Roth conversions before and after key age milestones, Roth contributions for high-income catch-up savers, and how TEFRA affects an inherited annuity. (9:45) — A listener disagrees with the show’s characterization of the Social Security Fairness Act as unfair,...
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