<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<rss xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd" xmlns:googleplay="http://www.google.com/schemas/play-podcasts/1.0" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title>The Retirement Answer Man, Dream Up, Plan for &amp; Work Towards Your Ideal Retirement</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/show/the-retirement-answer-man-dream-up-plan-</link><description><![CDATA[The Retirement Answer Man Show]]></description><atom:link href="https://www.spreaker.com/show/1994707/episodes/feed" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><language>en</language><category>Society &amp; Culture</category><copyright>Copyright Roger Whitney</copyright><image><url>https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/c7845a4b13935ade618b773a34fba886.jpg</url><title>The Retirement Answer Man, Dream Up, Plan for &amp; Work Towards Your Ideal Retirement</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/show/the-retirement-answer-man-dream-up-plan-</link></image><lastBuildDate>Wed, 08 Aug 2018 07:24:16 +0000</lastBuildDate><itunes:author>Roger Whitney</itunes:author><itunes:owner><itunes:name>Roger Whitney</itunes:name><itunes:email>feeds@spreaker.com</itunes:email></itunes:owner><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/c7845a4b13935ade618b773a34fba886.jpg"/><itunes:subtitle>The Retirement Answer Man Show</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The Retirement Answer Man Show]]></itunes:summary><itunes:category text="Society &amp; Culture"/><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:type>episodic</itunes:type><googleplay:author>Roger Whitney</googleplay:author><googleplay:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/c7845a4b13935ade618b773a34fba886.jpg"/><googleplay:email>feeds@spreaker.com</googleplay:email><googleplay:description>The Retirement Answer Man Show</googleplay:description><googleplay:category text="Society &amp; Culture"/><googleplay:explicit>No</googleplay:explicit><item><title>#232 - You Asked: Social Security Facts</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/9310804/232-you-asked-social-security-facts</link><description><![CDATA[This month on Retirement Answer Man we are focusing on you! We will be answering listener questions all month long. Since we just finished the Maximizing Social Security series I will answer some social security questions on this episode while the information is still fresh in our minds. If you had any more questions after listening to the Maximizing Social Security series then you will definitely want to listen to this episode to hear some excellent listener questions that I answer.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">4f5eb866fa8c4f749562a88188eb932d</guid><pubDate>Wed, 01 Aug 2018 11:00:00 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/15445886/ram232.mp3" length="24361167" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Roger Whitney</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>This month on Retirement Answer Man we are focusing on you! We will be answering listener questions all month long. Since we just finished the Maximizing Social Security series I will answer some social security questions on this episode while the...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[This month on Retirement Answer Man we are focusing on you! We will be answering listener questions all month long. Since we just finished the Maximizing Social Security series I will answer some social security questions on this episode while the information is still fresh in our minds. If you had any more questions after listening to the Maximizing Social Security series then you will definitely want to listen to this episode to hear some excellent listener questions that I answer.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>1740</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>social,security,facts</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/024feb98ee76864477820e4bc04e1c44.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType><googleplay:author>Roger Whitney</googleplay:author><googleplay:description>This month on Retirement Answer Man we are focusing on you! We will be answering listener questions all month long. Since we just finished the Maximizing Social Security series I will answer some social security questions on this episode while the information is still fresh in our minds. If you had any more questions after listening to the Maximizing Social Security series then you will definitely want to listen to this episode to hear some excellent listener questions that I answer.</googleplay:description><googleplay:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/024feb98ee76864477820e4bc04e1c44.jpg"/><googleplay:explicit>No</googleplay:explicit></item><item><title>#231 - Maximizing Social Security: When to File, When to Relax, and When to Worry</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/9310804/231-maximizing-social-security-when-to-f</link><description><![CDATA[Welcome to the final episode of the Maximizing Social Security series. In this episode, we get down to business. When do you file? How do you make this decision? If you are wondering these things then you need to listen to this episode. During the Practical Planning segment, I welcome social security guru, Devin Carroll. He has been studying social security for years and even has a book dedicated to learning the basics of social security.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">73afce5a89234ba9b240a913a681b7a4</guid><pubDate>Wed, 25 Jul 2018 11:00:00 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/15445887/ram231.mp3" length="29988497" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Roger Whitney</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Welcome to the final episode of the Maximizing Social Security series. In this episode, we get down to business. When do you file? How do you make this decision? If you are wondering these things then you need to listen to this episode. During the...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Welcome to the final episode of the Maximizing Social Security series. In this episode, we get down to business. When do you file? How do you make this decision? If you are wondering these things then you need to listen to this episode. During the Practical Planning segment, I welcome social security guru, Devin Carroll. He has been studying social security for years and even has a book dedicated to learning the basics of social security.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>2141</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>social,security,maximizing</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/024feb98ee76864477820e4bc04e1c44.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType><googleplay:author>Roger Whitney</googleplay:author><googleplay:description>Welcome to the final episode of the Maximizing Social Security series. In this episode, we get down to business. When do you file? How do you make this decision? If you are wondering these things then you need to listen to this episode. During the Practical Planning segment, I welcome social security guru, Devin Carroll. He has been studying social security for years and even has a book dedicated to learning the basics of social security.</googleplay:description><googleplay:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/024feb98ee76864477820e4bc04e1c44.jpg"/><googleplay:explicit>No</googleplay:explicit></item><item><title>#230 – Maximizing Social Security: How Earning Income Impacts Your Benefit Amount</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/9310804/230-maximizing-social-security-how-earni</link><description><![CDATA[This month on Retirement Answer Man we are maximizing social security benefits. All month long we are discussing the ins and outs of social security. The government doesn’t make anything simple, and social security is no different. So be sure to catch the entire series, beginning with episode 228 to fully understand the complexities of social security and how to maximize your benefits. This episode is dedicated to learning how earning income during retirement can impact your social security benefit amount. Listen to this episode to help you learn how to maximize your social security benefit and rock retirement.<br /><br />This feature of social security is underappreciated<br />Did you know that social security is adjusted for cost of living? This added benefit was added in 1975. Each year social security is increased by COLA or cost of living adjustment. Since 1975 the average COLA increase has been 3.9%. This sounds awesome, right? The past 20 years the inflation increase has only averaged 2.1%, and in the past 10 years, we have only seen an increase of 1.7%. Well, at least it’s something! Listen to this episode of the Maximizing Social Security series to learn more about your social security benefit.<br />What happens if you take social security prior to your full retirement age?<br />Not everyone wants to work until the full retirement age of 66. The goal for many of us is to retire early. If you decide to retire early and take social security benefits starting at 62 or any time before age 66 you will receive less than the full retirement amount. Another penalty that you will incur is that if you earn over $17,040 your benefit will be reduced by one dollar for every 2 that you make over that amount. The government will eventually make it up to you over time, but of course, it will be rather complicated and paid out over 15 years. Listen to this episode to help you understand the social security complexities of taking early retirement.<br /><br />If you work until full retirement age you could get the best of both worlds<br />Ideally, social security is not to be drawn until the full retirement age of 66. You will receive a higher benefit and you can earn as much as you want without a benefit reduction. This is why I am a huge proponent of pretirement. Taking on some sort of pretirement work like consulting, part-time work, or starting your own business offers an alternative to taking your retirement early and reducing your benefits. Are you ready to rock retirement? If so, listen to this episode to begin maximizing social security benefits.<br />What happens to your social security after full retirement age?<br />Although you receive your full benefit amount at age 66 this doesn’t mean that it’s all yours free and clear. Part of your benefit is taxable if you earn over certain amounts. For example, if you earn between $25-34,000 you will be taxed on half of your social security benefit. If you earn more than $34,000 then you will be taxed on 85% of your social security check. Each situation is different, so that is why it is so important to use more than simply numbers to decide when you want to start rocking your retirement. Start your social security education today by listening to this episode of Retirement Answer Man.<br /><br /><br /><br /> <br />OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN<br />HOT TOPIC SEGMENT<br /><br />* [2:17] This is a feature of social security that most don’t think about<br />* [6:46] How is cola calculated?<br /><br />PRACTICAL PLANNING SEGMENT<br /><br />* [10:05] What happens if you take social security prior to your full retirement age?<br />* [14:55] If you work until full retirement you could get the best of both worlds<br />* [15:30] What happens to social security benefits after full retirement age?<br /><br />THE HAPPY LAB SEGMENT<br /><br />* [19:40] Go get a little kookie]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://rogerwhitney.com/?p=6913</guid><pubDate>Wed, 18 Jul 2018 10:00:20 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/15316732/ram230.mp3" length="19729845" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Roger Whitney</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>This month on Retirement Answer Man we are maximizing social security benefits. All month long we are discussing the ins and outs of social security. The government doesn’t make anything simple, and social security is no different. So be sure to catch...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[This month on Retirement Answer Man we are maximizing social security benefits. All month long we are discussing the ins and outs of social security. The government doesn’t make anything simple, and social security is no different. So be sure to catch the entire series, beginning with episode 228 to fully understand the complexities of social security and how to maximize your benefits. This episode is dedicated to learning how earning income during retirement can impact your social security benefit amount. Listen to this episode to help you learn how to maximize your social security benefit and rock retirement.<br /><br />This feature of social security is underappreciated<br />Did you know that social security is adjusted for cost of living? This added benefit was added in 1975. Each year social security is increased by COLA or cost of living adjustment. Since 1975 the average COLA increase has been 3.9%. This sounds awesome, right? The past 20 years the inflation increase has only averaged 2.1%, and in the past 10 years, we have only seen an increase of 1.7%. Well, at least it’s something! Listen to this episode of the Maximizing Social Security series to learn more about your social security benefit.<br />What happens if you take social security prior to your full retirement age?<br />Not everyone wants to work until the full retirement age of 66. The goal for many of us is to retire early. If you decide to retire early and take social security benefits starting at 62 or any time before age 66 you will receive less than the full retirement amount. Another penalty that you will incur is that if you earn over $17,040 your benefit will be reduced by one dollar for every 2 that you make over that amount. The government will eventually make it up to you over time, but of course, it will be rather complicated and paid out over 15 years. Listen to this episode to help you understand the social security complexities of taking early retirement.<br /><br />If you work until full retirement age you could get the best of both worlds<br />Ideally, social security is not to be drawn until the full retirement age of 66. You will receive a higher benefit and you can earn as much as you want without a benefit reduction. This is why I am a huge proponent of pretirement. Taking on some sort of pretirement work like consulting, part-time work, or starting your own business offers an alternative to taking your retirement early and reducing your benefits. Are you ready to rock retirement? If so, listen to this episode to begin maximizing social security benefits.<br />What happens to your social security after full retirement age?<br />Although you receive your full benefit amount at age 66 this doesn’t mean that it’s all yours free and clear. Part of your benefit is taxable if you earn over certain amounts. For example, if you earn between $25-34,000 you will be taxed on half of your social security benefit. If you earn more than $34,000 then you will be taxed on 85% of your social security check. Each situation is different, so that is why it is so important to use more than simply numbers to decide when you want to start rocking your retirement. Start your social security education today by listening to this episode of Retirement Answer Man.<br /><br /><br /><br /> <br />OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN<br />HOT TOPIC SEGMENT<br /><br />* [2:17] This is a feature of social security that most don’t think about<br />* [6:46] How is cola calculated?<br /><br />PRACTICAL PLANNING SEGMENT<br /><br />* [10:05] What happens if you take social security prior to your full retirement age?<br />* [14:55] If you work until full retirement you could get the best of both worlds<br />* [15:30] What happens to social security benefits after full retirement age?<br /><br />THE HAPPY LAB SEGMENT<br /><br />* [19:40] Go get a little kookie]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>1409</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/c7845a4b13935ade618b773a34fba886.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType><googleplay:author>Roger Whitney</googleplay:author><googleplay:description>This month on Retirement Answer Man we are maximizing social security benefits. All month long we are discussing the ins and outs of social security. The government doesn’t make anything simple, and social security is no different. So be sure to catch the entire series, beginning with episode 228 to fully understand the complexities of social security and how to maximize your benefits. This episode is dedicated to learning how earning income during retirement can impact your social security benefit amount. Listen to this episode to help you learn how to maximize your social security benefit and rock retirement.

This feature of social security is underappreciated
Did you know that social security is adjusted for cost of living? This added benefit was added in 1975. Each year social security is increased by COLA or cost of living adjustment. Since 1975 the average COLA increase has been 3.9%. This sounds awesome, right? The past 20 years the inflation increase has only averaged 2.1%, and in the past 10 years, we have only seen an increase of 1.7%. Well, at least it’s something! Listen to this episode of the Maximizing Social Security series to learn more about your social security benefit.
What happens if you take social security prior to your full retirement age?
Not everyone wants to work until the full retirement age of 66. The goal for many of us is to retire early. If you decide to retire early and take social security benefits starting at 62 or any time before age 66 you will receive less than the full retirement amount. Another penalty that you will incur is that if you earn over $17,040 your benefit will be reduced by one dollar for every 2 that you make over that amount. The government will eventually make it up to you over time, but of course, it will be rather complicated and paid out over 15 years. Listen to this episode to help you understand the social security complexities of taking early retirement.

If you work until full retirement age you could get the best of both worlds
Ideally, social security is not to be drawn until the full retirement age of 66. You will receive a higher benefit and you can earn as much as you want without a benefit reduction. This is why I am a huge proponent of pretirement. Taking on some sort of pretirement work like consulting, part-time work, or starting your own business offers an alternative to taking your retirement early and reducing your benefits. Are you ready to rock retirement? If so, listen to this episode to begin maximizing social security benefits.
What happens to your social security after full retirement age?
Although you receive your full benefit amount at age 66 this doesn’t mean that it’s all yours free and clear. Part of your benefit is taxable if you earn over certain amounts. For example, if you earn between $25-34,000 you will be taxed on half of your social security benefit. If you earn more than $34,000 then you will be taxed on 85% of your social security check. Each situation is different, so that is why it is so important to use more than simply numbers to decide when you want to start rocking your retirement. Start your social security education today by listening to this episode of Retirement Answer Man.



 
OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN
HOT TOPIC SEGMENT

* [2:17] This is a feature of social security that most don’t think about
* [6:46] How is cola calculated?

PRACTICAL PLANNING SEGMENT

* [10:05] What happens if you take social security prior to your full retirement age?
* [14:55] If you work until full retirement you could get the best of both worlds
* [15:30] What happens to social security benefits after full retirement age?

THE HAPPY LAB SEGMENT

* [19:40] Go get a little kookie</googleplay:description><googleplay:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/c7845a4b13935ade618b773a34fba886.jpg"/><googleplay:explicit>No</googleplay:explicit></item><item><title>#229 – Maximizing Social Security: The Best Social Security Benefits Calculators</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/9310804/229-maximizing-social-security-the-best-</link><description><![CDATA[Social security is an important part of retirement even if you have plenty of assets. That is why we are dedicating the whole month to learn how to maximize your social security benefits. This is the second episode in the four-episode series in which we discuss the best social security benefits calculators. This may not be the most exciting topic, but it is important to learn how to get the most out of your social security benefits. Listen to this episode to hear how to find the best social security calculators as well as how to use them.<br /><br />How to protect your social security<br />Protecting your social security number is so important to keeping your identity and benefits safe. 158 million people had their social security number exposed just last year. That’s half the population of the country! There are a few protective measures that you can take to guard your social security number. You don’t need to carry your social security card with you at all times since it can easily get stolen. Instead, leave it at home in a safe place. Some organizations like medical offices ask for your social security number but don’t actually need it. You don’t have to give it to them. Listen to this episode to hear more tips on how to keep your social security number safe.<br />How to calculate your benefits<br />The social security administration is a great resource you can use to calculate your benefits. They send you a yearly statement with your lifetime earnings as well as a projected benefit amount. The important thing to remember is that the benefit amount they use assumes that you will continue to earn the same amount that you are earning right now all the way until you reach full retirement age. So if you plan on retiring early or taking a pretirement phase where you are not earning much then that number will change. Listen to this episode to hear how you can calculate your benefits if you plan to retire early or enjoy pretirement.<br /><br />If you download your statement make sure to encrypt it<br />You can download your social security statement to your computer by going to the social security administration’s website. If you choose to do so, it is important to protect the file. Your social security statement is a treasure trove of information. It has such goodies as your name, address, the last four digits of your social security number, and your earnings from an entire lifetime. If you have your statement downloaded on your computer it is important to password protect the file to avoid all of that information being stolen by hackers. Learn how to password protect it on a Mac by listening to this episode.<br />What kinds of calculators should you use?<br />Ssa.gov has benefits calculators that can help you estimate your benefits based on your earnings. If you are going into pretirement or plan on retiring before full retirement age you will want to use their detailed calculator. This will give you the most precise estimate of what your benefits will be. You actually have to download the calculator onto your computer which brings another layer of complexity to things as only the government can do. The detailed calculator can help you decide when would be best for you to retire. There are several other calculators both on the social security administration website as well as through private organizations. Listen to this episode to hear which calculators you should use to help you understand when the ideal time to retire will be for you.<br /><br />OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN<br />HOT TOPIC SEGMENT<br /><br />* [2:52] Protecting your social security number so important<br /><br />PRACTICAL PLANNING SEGMENT<br /><br />* [11:04] How to calculate your benefits<br />* [15:08] If you download your statement password protect it<br />* [16:22] What kinds of calculators should you use?<br />* [19:56] A lot of financial planning is about maximizing the n...]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://rogerwhitney.com/?p=6910</guid><pubDate>Wed, 11 Jul 2018 22:24:47 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/15316733/ram229.mp3" length="26833112" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Roger Whitney</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Social security is an important part of retirement even if you have plenty of assets. That is why we are dedicating the whole month to learn how to maximize your social security benefits. This is the second episode in the four-episode series in which...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Social security is an important part of retirement even if you have plenty of assets. That is why we are dedicating the whole month to learn how to maximize your social security benefits. This is the second episode in the four-episode series in which we discuss the best social security benefits calculators. This may not be the most exciting topic, but it is important to learn how to get the most out of your social security benefits. Listen to this episode to hear how to find the best social security calculators as well as how to use them.<br /><br />How to protect your social security<br />Protecting your social security number is so important to keeping your identity and benefits safe. 158 million people had their social security number exposed just last year. That’s half the population of the country! There are a few protective measures that you can take to guard your social security number. You don’t need to carry your social security card with you at all times since it can easily get stolen. Instead, leave it at home in a safe place. Some organizations like medical offices ask for your social security number but don’t actually need it. You don’t have to give it to them. Listen to this episode to hear more tips on how to keep your social security number safe.<br />How to calculate your benefits<br />The social security administration is a great resource you can use to calculate your benefits. They send you a yearly statement with your lifetime earnings as well as a projected benefit amount. The important thing to remember is that the benefit amount they use assumes that you will continue to earn the same amount that you are earning right now all the way until you reach full retirement age. So if you plan on retiring early or taking a pretirement phase where you are not earning much then that number will change. Listen to this episode to hear how you can calculate your benefits if you plan to retire early or enjoy pretirement.<br /><br />If you download your statement make sure to encrypt it<br />You can download your social security statement to your computer by going to the social security administration’s website. If you choose to do so, it is important to protect the file. Your social security statement is a treasure trove of information. It has such goodies as your name, address, the last four digits of your social security number, and your earnings from an entire lifetime. If you have your statement downloaded on your computer it is important to password protect the file to avoid all of that information being stolen by hackers. Learn how to password protect it on a Mac by listening to this episode.<br />What kinds of calculators should you use?<br />Ssa.gov has benefits calculators that can help you estimate your benefits based on your earnings. If you are going into pretirement or plan on retiring before full retirement age you will want to use their detailed calculator. This will give you the most precise estimate of what your benefits will be. You actually have to download the calculator onto your computer which brings another layer of complexity to things as only the government can do. The detailed calculator can help you decide when would be best for you to retire. There are several other calculators both on the social security administration website as well as through private organizations. Listen to this episode to hear which calculators you should use to help you understand when the ideal time to retire will be for you.<br /><br />OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN<br />HOT TOPIC SEGMENT<br /><br />* [2:52] Protecting your social security number so important<br /><br />PRACTICAL PLANNING SEGMENT<br /><br />* [11:04] How to calculate your benefits<br />* [15:08] If you download your statement password protect it<br />* [16:22] What kinds of calculators should you use?<br />* [19:56] A lot of financial planning is about maximizing the n...]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>1916</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/c7845a4b13935ade618b773a34fba886.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType><googleplay:author>Roger Whitney</googleplay:author><googleplay:description>Social security is an important part of retirement even if you have plenty of assets. That is why we are dedicating the whole month to learn how to maximize your social security benefits. This is the second episode in the four-episode series in which we discuss the best social security benefits calculators. This may not be the most exciting topic, but it is important to learn how to get the most out of your social security benefits. Listen to this episode to hear how to find the best social security calculators as well as how to use them.

How to protect your social security
Protecting your social security number is so important to keeping your identity and benefits safe. 158 million people had their social security number exposed just last year. That’s half the population of the country! There are a few protective measures that you can take to guard your social security number. You don’t need to carry your social security card with you at all times since it can easily get stolen. Instead, leave it at home in a safe place. Some organizations like medical offices ask for your social security number but don’t actually need it. You don’t have to give it to them. Listen to this episode to hear more tips on how to keep your social security number safe.
How to calculate your benefits
The social security administration is a great resource you can use to calculate your benefits. They send you a yearly statement with your lifetime earnings as well as a projected benefit amount. The important thing to remember is that the benefit amount they use assumes that you will continue to earn the same amount that you are earning right now all the way until you reach full retirement age. So if you plan on retiring early or taking a pretirement phase where you are not earning much then that number will change. Listen to this episode to hear how you can calculate your benefits if you plan to retire early or enjoy pretirement.

If you download your statement make sure to encrypt it
You can download your social security statement to your computer by going to the social security administration’s website. If you choose to do so, it is important to protect the file. Your social security statement is a treasure trove of information. It has such goodies as your name, address, the last four digits of your social security number, and your earnings from an entire lifetime. If you have your statement downloaded on your computer it is important to password protect the file to avoid all of that information being stolen by hackers. Learn how to password protect it on a Mac by listening to this episode.
What kinds of calculators should you use?
Ssa.gov has benefits calculators that can help you estimate your benefits based on your earnings. If you are going into pretirement or plan on retiring before full retirement age you will want to use their detailed calculator. This will give you the most precise estimate of what your benefits will be. You actually have to download the calculator onto your computer which brings another layer of complexity to things as only the government can do. The detailed calculator can help you decide when would be best for you to retire. There are several other calculators both on the social security administration website as well as through private organizations. Listen to this episode to hear which calculators you should use to help you understand when the ideal time to retire will be for you.

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN
HOT TOPIC SEGMENT

* [2:52] Protecting your social security number so important

PRACTICAL PLANNING SEGMENT

* [11:04] How to calculate your benefits
* [15:08] If you download your statement password protect it
* [16:22] What kinds of calculators should you use?
* [19:56] A lot of financial planning is about maximizing the n...</googleplay:description><googleplay:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/c7845a4b13935ade618b773a34fba886.jpg"/><googleplay:explicit>No</googleplay:explicit></item><item><title>#228 – Maximizing Social Security: How it Works and Will It Be There When You Need It?</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/9310804/228-maximizing-social-security-how-it-wo</link><description><![CDATA[The Retirement Answer Man theme for July is how to maximize social security. On this episode, we’re covering the basics: how it works, and are social security benefits even going to be there when you retire? This can be a bit of a dense subject, but I will do my best to make the topic as fun and interesting as possible. You may think that social security won’t play a very big role in your retirement if you have a lot of assets, but after listening to this series you’ll see that social security is more important to your retirement than you think. Get started with your research on social security by listening to this episode today.<br /><br />What are the benefits of social security?<br />Even if you have plenty of assets, social security benefits are an important part of retirement. As with any benefit you need to learn how to maximize it to its fullest. There are different branches of benefits through the social security system; disability benefits, dependent benefits, and survivor benefits. The one we think the most about though, is retirement benefits. You pay into the system year after year and can begin to receive the benefits at age 62. Social security is a fantastic resource that helps many retire with dignity. You need to learn how to get the most out of it and can start learning as much as you can by listening to this episode of Retirement Answer Man.<br />Will social security be there when you need it?<br />Social security is 90% of income for about a third of American retirees, and for 50% of retirees, it consists of half of their income. So it is scary to think that this benefit could be exhausted as soon as 2022. Fortunately, according to the social security administration website, the fund will not completely disappear at this time. It will only cover about 75% of what it needs to, but it will not totally vanish. The reason there is a problem with funding is that there are more baby boomers retiring and receiving benefits than there are people contributing to the system. Listen to this episode to find out if you need to worry about vanishing social security and how that could affect your retirement plans.<br /><br />How to fix social security<br />Since there is a maximum amount that you can receive, social security is a bit of a redistribution system. It is a highly politicized topic, but if it is to continue, a solution must be found to funding social security in the future. There are several ways that we could continue to fund social security in the years to come. Being that it is a significant income source for many retirees, finding a solution is important. Some ways to solve the funding issue are by increasing social security taxes on incomes, eliminating the maximum deposit, reducing benefits, modifying the cost of living adjustments, raising the retirement age, and closing loopholes. Listen to this episode to hear about the many different ways that we could easily help fund social security in the future.<br />How are benefits calculated?<br />How do you qualify for social security benefits? Social Security is earned over a 35-year work history. You earn credits each quarter and you need 40 quarters of wages to qualify to receive benefits. The amount you receive is determined by your work and earnings history. If you retire before retirement age the amount calculated will add zeros to your average. This will bring down your average earnings and reduce your benefits. The way they average the amount earned is called the AIME: or average indexed monthly earnings amount. It is important to consider your AIME if you are planning to retire early. Listen to this episode to hear how to download your latest social security statement and check your earnings record so that you can begin to calculate your estimated benefit amount.<br /><br />OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN<br />HOT TOPIC SEGMENT<br /><br />* [2:25] What are the basics of social security?]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://rogerwhitney.com/?p=6901</guid><pubDate>Wed, 04 Jul 2018 10:00:46 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/15217900/ram228.mp3" length="18557375" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Roger Whitney</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The Retirement Answer Man theme for July is how to maximize social security. On this episode, we’re covering the basics: how it works, and are social security benefits even going to be there when you retire? This can be a bit of a dense subject, but I...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The Retirement Answer Man theme for July is how to maximize social security. On this episode, we’re covering the basics: how it works, and are social security benefits even going to be there when you retire? This can be a bit of a dense subject, but I will do my best to make the topic as fun and interesting as possible. You may think that social security won’t play a very big role in your retirement if you have a lot of assets, but after listening to this series you’ll see that social security is more important to your retirement than you think. Get started with your research on social security by listening to this episode today.<br /><br />What are the benefits of social security?<br />Even if you have plenty of assets, social security benefits are an important part of retirement. As with any benefit you need to learn how to maximize it to its fullest. There are different branches of benefits through the social security system; disability benefits, dependent benefits, and survivor benefits. The one we think the most about though, is retirement benefits. You pay into the system year after year and can begin to receive the benefits at age 62. Social security is a fantastic resource that helps many retire with dignity. You need to learn how to get the most out of it and can start learning as much as you can by listening to this episode of Retirement Answer Man.<br />Will social security be there when you need it?<br />Social security is 90% of income for about a third of American retirees, and for 50% of retirees, it consists of half of their income. So it is scary to think that this benefit could be exhausted as soon as 2022. Fortunately, according to the social security administration website, the fund will not completely disappear at this time. It will only cover about 75% of what it needs to, but it will not totally vanish. The reason there is a problem with funding is that there are more baby boomers retiring and receiving benefits than there are people contributing to the system. Listen to this episode to find out if you need to worry about vanishing social security and how that could affect your retirement plans.<br /><br />How to fix social security<br />Since there is a maximum amount that you can receive, social security is a bit of a redistribution system. It is a highly politicized topic, but if it is to continue, a solution must be found to funding social security in the future. There are several ways that we could continue to fund social security in the years to come. Being that it is a significant income source for many retirees, finding a solution is important. Some ways to solve the funding issue are by increasing social security taxes on incomes, eliminating the maximum deposit, reducing benefits, modifying the cost of living adjustments, raising the retirement age, and closing loopholes. Listen to this episode to hear about the many different ways that we could easily help fund social security in the future.<br />How are benefits calculated?<br />How do you qualify for social security benefits? Social Security is earned over a 35-year work history. You earn credits each quarter and you need 40 quarters of wages to qualify to receive benefits. The amount you receive is determined by your work and earnings history. If you retire before retirement age the amount calculated will add zeros to your average. This will bring down your average earnings and reduce your benefits. The way they average the amount earned is called the AIME: or average indexed monthly earnings amount. It is important to consider your AIME if you are planning to retire early. Listen to this episode to hear how to download your latest social security statement and check your earnings record so that you can begin to calculate your estimated benefit amount.<br /><br />OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN<br />HOT TOPIC SEGMENT<br /><br />* [2:25] What are the basics of social security?]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>1325</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/c7845a4b13935ade618b773a34fba886.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType><googleplay:author>Roger Whitney</googleplay:author><googleplay:description>The Retirement Answer Man theme for July is how to maximize social security. On this episode, we’re covering the basics: how it works, and are social security benefits even going to be there when you retire? This can be a bit of a dense subject, but I will do my best to make the topic as fun and interesting as possible. You may think that social security won’t play a very big role in your retirement if you have a lot of assets, but after listening to this series you’ll see that social security is more important to your retirement than you think. Get started with your research on social security by listening to this episode today.

What are the benefits of social security?
Even if you have plenty of assets, social security benefits are an important part of retirement. As with any benefit you need to learn how to maximize it to its fullest. There are different branches of benefits through the social security system; disability benefits, dependent benefits, and survivor benefits. The one we think the most about though, is retirement benefits. You pay into the system year after year and can begin to receive the benefits at age 62. Social security is a fantastic resource that helps many retire with dignity. You need to learn how to get the most out of it and can start learning as much as you can by listening to this episode of Retirement Answer Man.
Will social security be there when you need it?
Social security is 90% of income for about a third of American retirees, and for 50% of retirees, it consists of half of their income. So it is scary to think that this benefit could be exhausted as soon as 2022. Fortunately, according to the social security administration website, the fund will not completely disappear at this time. It will only cover about 75% of what it needs to, but it will not totally vanish. The reason there is a problem with funding is that there are more baby boomers retiring and receiving benefits than there are people contributing to the system. Listen to this episode to find out if you need to worry about vanishing social security and how that could affect your retirement plans.

How to fix social security
Since there is a maximum amount that you can receive, social security is a bit of a redistribution system. It is a highly politicized topic, but if it is to continue, a solution must be found to funding social security in the future. There are several ways that we could continue to fund social security in the years to come. Being that it is a significant income source for many retirees, finding a solution is important. Some ways to solve the funding issue are by increasing social security taxes on incomes, eliminating the maximum deposit, reducing benefits, modifying the cost of living adjustments, raising the retirement age, and closing loopholes. Listen to this episode to hear about the many different ways that we could easily help fund social security in the future.
How are benefits calculated?
How do you qualify for social security benefits? Social Security is earned over a 35-year work history. You earn credits each quarter and you need 40 quarters of wages to qualify to receive benefits. The amount you receive is determined by your work and earnings history. If you retire before retirement age the amount calculated will add zeros to your average. This will bring down your average earnings and reduce your benefits. The way they average the amount earned is called the AIME: or average indexed monthly earnings amount. It is important to consider your AIME if you are planning to retire early. Listen to this episode to hear how to download your latest social security statement and check your earnings record so that you can begin to calculate your estimated benefit amount.

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN
HOT TOPIC SEGMENT

* [2:25] What are the basics of social security?</googleplay:description><googleplay:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/c7845a4b13935ade618b773a34fba886.jpg"/><googleplay:explicit>No</googleplay:explicit></item><item><title>#226 – Entrepreneurship in Retirement: The Pros and Cons of Buying a Franchise</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/9310804/226-entrepreneurship-in-retirement-the-p</link><description><![CDATA[So you want to start a business, but starting everything from scratch seems like so much work. Isn’t there an easy way to buy into an already proven system and execute it? If you think this sounds like a good way to start a business, then buying a franchise might be right for you. On this episode of Retirement Answer Man franchise attorney Josh Brown joins me to explain the pros and cons of buying a franchise. He is a leading expert in national franchise law that can explain how to create a franchise as well as how to purchase one. You’ll want to listen to this episode if you have ever thought of buying a franchise, or even if you want to pursue any form of entrepreneurship in retirement.<br /><br />What exactly is a franchise?<br />The franchise idea sounds interesting, but what exactly is a franchise? A franchise is a system that has everything you need to start a business based on the model of a certain business. When most people think of franchises, they think of the gold standard: McDonald's. There is a good reason for this: fast food is the leading industry for franchises. Franchises don’t come cheap. The upfront cost of a franchise system can range from $100,000-1 million. For this cost, you get the entire business system which generally includes uniforms, payroll, and even coaching. Statistically, franchises fare much better than a private entrepreneur that strikes out on their own. Listen to this episode to learn more about the pros and cons of buying a franchise and begin your research into whether a franchise may be right for you.<br />Who is a franchise good for?<br />A franchise needs a strong leader who is an implementer and an excellent communicator. You may want to buy a franchise if you would rather implement a system than create your own. It is important to note that if you buy a franchise you will be able to use little to none of your own creative expression. If you do want to pursue this option you will need to have plenty of capital and time. This will not be a side-hustle as a franchise does not allow you much time freedom. A franchise requires a lot of hard work, but you could eventually get someone to operate it for you or sell it later on down the road. Franchises are not for the faint of heart, listen to this episode to find out if you may be a good candidate for buying your own franchise.<br /><br />What should you evaluate when you are thinking of purchasing a franchise system?<br />The first thing you should think about when contemplating purchasing a franchise is yourself: is this the right form of entrepreneurship for you? Do you have the mentality to work within a franchise system? The way franchises are set up you don’t call the shots; you must follow their rules. If you are thinking of setting up your own business you need to think about whether you really want to follow someone else’s rules. It is extremely important to enter a franchise with your eyes open. It can be 18 months after you open your first store that you begin to bring in money. Listen to this episode of Retirement Answer Man hear the pros and cons of buying a franchise and to learn how to decide if a franchise is right for you.<br />How do you know the good franchises from the bad?<br />Of the thousands of franchises available in the United States, there are good ones, bad ones, and terrible ones. So how do you know the good from the bad? You need to look at the system that they have in place and decide, is this a good system? One way to do this is to talk to franchisees. There is a lot of good information in the legal documents if you know how to look for it. You can discover how many people have left the system and contact them to find out why. A good system will provide community and make you feel part of a team. Listen in as franchise expert, Josh Brown explains how to tell the good franchises from the bad.<br /><br />OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://rogerwhitney.com/?p=6890</guid><pubDate>Wed, 20 Jun 2018 10:00:47 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/15118766/ram226.mp3" length="29814776" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Roger Whitney</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>So you want to start a business, but starting everything from scratch seems like so much work. Isn’t there an easy way to buy into an already proven system and execute it? If you think this sounds like a good way to start a business, then buying a...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[So you want to start a business, but starting everything from scratch seems like so much work. Isn’t there an easy way to buy into an already proven system and execute it? If you think this sounds like a good way to start a business, then buying a franchise might be right for you. On this episode of Retirement Answer Man franchise attorney Josh Brown joins me to explain the pros and cons of buying a franchise. He is a leading expert in national franchise law that can explain how to create a franchise as well as how to purchase one. You’ll want to listen to this episode if you have ever thought of buying a franchise, or even if you want to pursue any form of entrepreneurship in retirement.<br /><br />What exactly is a franchise?<br />The franchise idea sounds interesting, but what exactly is a franchise? A franchise is a system that has everything you need to start a business based on the model of a certain business. When most people think of franchises, they think of the gold standard: McDonald's. There is a good reason for this: fast food is the leading industry for franchises. Franchises don’t come cheap. The upfront cost of a franchise system can range from $100,000-1 million. For this cost, you get the entire business system which generally includes uniforms, payroll, and even coaching. Statistically, franchises fare much better than a private entrepreneur that strikes out on their own. Listen to this episode to learn more about the pros and cons of buying a franchise and begin your research into whether a franchise may be right for you.<br />Who is a franchise good for?<br />A franchise needs a strong leader who is an implementer and an excellent communicator. You may want to buy a franchise if you would rather implement a system than create your own. It is important to note that if you buy a franchise you will be able to use little to none of your own creative expression. If you do want to pursue this option you will need to have plenty of capital and time. This will not be a side-hustle as a franchise does not allow you much time freedom. A franchise requires a lot of hard work, but you could eventually get someone to operate it for you or sell it later on down the road. Franchises are not for the faint of heart, listen to this episode to find out if you may be a good candidate for buying your own franchise.<br /><br />What should you evaluate when you are thinking of purchasing a franchise system?<br />The first thing you should think about when contemplating purchasing a franchise is yourself: is this the right form of entrepreneurship for you? Do you have the mentality to work within a franchise system? The way franchises are set up you don’t call the shots; you must follow their rules. If you are thinking of setting up your own business you need to think about whether you really want to follow someone else’s rules. It is extremely important to enter a franchise with your eyes open. It can be 18 months after you open your first store that you begin to bring in money. Listen to this episode of Retirement Answer Man hear the pros and cons of buying a franchise and to learn how to decide if a franchise is right for you.<br />How do you know the good franchises from the bad?<br />Of the thousands of franchises available in the United States, there are good ones, bad ones, and terrible ones. So how do you know the good from the bad? You need to look at the system that they have in place and decide, is this a good system? One way to do this is to talk to franchisees. There is a lot of good information in the legal documents if you know how to look for it. You can discover how many people have left the system and contact them to find out why. A good system will provide community and make you feel part of a team. Listen in as franchise expert, Josh Brown explains how to tell the good franchises from the bad.<br /><br />OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>2129</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/c7845a4b13935ade618b773a34fba886.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType><googleplay:author>Roger Whitney</googleplay:author><googleplay:description>So you want to start a business, but starting everything from scratch seems like so much work. Isn’t there an easy way to buy into an already proven system and execute it? If you think this sounds like a good way to start a business, then buying a franchise might be right for you. On this episode of Retirement Answer Man franchise attorney Josh Brown joins me to explain the pros and cons of buying a franchise. He is a leading expert in national franchise law that can explain how to create a franchise as well as how to purchase one. You’ll want to listen to this episode if you have ever thought of buying a franchise, or even if you want to pursue any form of entrepreneurship in retirement.

What exactly is a franchise?
The franchise idea sounds interesting, but what exactly is a franchise? A franchise is a system that has everything you need to start a business based on the model of a certain business. When most people think of franchises, they think of the gold standard: McDonald's. There is a good reason for this: fast food is the leading industry for franchises. Franchises don’t come cheap. The upfront cost of a franchise system can range from $100,000-1 million. For this cost, you get the entire business system which generally includes uniforms, payroll, and even coaching. Statistically, franchises fare much better than a private entrepreneur that strikes out on their own. Listen to this episode to learn more about the pros and cons of buying a franchise and begin your research into whether a franchise may be right for you.
Who is a franchise good for?
A franchise needs a strong leader who is an implementer and an excellent communicator. You may want to buy a franchise if you would rather implement a system than create your own. It is important to note that if you buy a franchise you will be able to use little to none of your own creative expression. If you do want to pursue this option you will need to have plenty of capital and time. This will not be a side-hustle as a franchise does not allow you much time freedom. A franchise requires a lot of hard work, but you could eventually get someone to operate it for you or sell it later on down the road. Franchises are not for the faint of heart, listen to this episode to find out if you may be a good candidate for buying your own franchise.

What should you evaluate when you are thinking of purchasing a franchise system?
The first thing you should think about when contemplating purchasing a franchise is yourself: is this the right form of entrepreneurship for you? Do you have the mentality to work within a franchise system? The way franchises are set up you don’t call the shots; you must follow their rules. If you are thinking of setting up your own business you need to think about whether you really want to follow someone else’s rules. It is extremely important to enter a franchise with your eyes open. It can be 18 months after you open your first store that you begin to bring in money. Listen to this episode of Retirement Answer Man hear the pros and cons of buying a franchise and to learn how to decide if a franchise is right for you.
How do you know the good franchises from the bad?
Of the thousands of franchises available in the United States, there are good ones, bad ones, and terrible ones. So how do you know the good from the bad? You need to look at the system that they have in place and decide, is this a good system? One way to do this is to talk to franchisees. There is a lot of good information in the legal documents if you know how to look for it. You can discover how many people have left the system and contact them to find out why. A good system will provide community and make you feel part of a team. Listen in as franchise expert, Josh Brown explains how to tell the good franchises from the bad.

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN</googleplay:description><googleplay:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/c7845a4b13935ade618b773a34fba886.jpg"/><googleplay:explicit>No</googleplay:explicit></item><item><title>#224 – Entrepreneurship in Retirement: The How, When, and What The Heck Am I Doing?</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/9310804/224-entrepreneurship-in-retirement-the-h</link><description><![CDATA[Why do people start businesses in retirement? Over the next few weeks, we explore this question in the Entrepreneurship in Retirement series. Just because you retire doesn’t mean that you stop living. Many people have so much to give back after they retire that they choose to start their own business. This episode will cover the whys, the ways, and the hows of beginning entrepreneurship in retirement. If you are thinking of starting your own business or having a pretirement phase to your retirement you won’t want to miss this series. Listen to this episode to get started planning your own entrepreneurship dreams.<br /><br />Why do people start businesses in retirement?<br />More people between the ages of 55 and 64 start businesses than people under the age of 25. This fact surprised me. Why do baby boomers want to pursue entrepreneurship in retirement? There are several reasons. Just because we retire doesn’t mean we stop living. We still have a purpose. Many people start a business in retirement to pursue their passions. Some people want a bit more money to supplement their lifestyle, others find it a great way to give back to their community. Many want to share their expertise with the world. Why are you thinking of entrepreneurship in retirement? Listen to this episode to hear the many reasons people start businesses in their retirement years.<br />What are you trying to accomplish?<br />Before you start a new business you should ask yourself, what are you trying to accomplish? Are you strictly looking to supplement your income? Are you looking to follow your passions? Are you trying to give back to your community? The reason that you choose entrepreneurship in retirement is important. This will shape how you form your business. You don’t want to start a business where your goal is to have flexibility and then find yourself working 60 hours a week. Listen to this episode to hear why it is important to think about why you want to start a business first before you actually begin.<br /><br />What are the different ways to start a business?<br />There are many different ways to start a business. A solopreneur is someone who wants to strike out on their own. A solopreneur could make crafts to sell, have a coaching business, or pursue a passion. Usually, a solopreneur doesn’t want to grow too big. A franchise is a way to buy a ready-made business that already has a plan and structure in place. A service business is a business where you can serve others. These different types of businesses have different structures and varying start-up costs. Listen to this episode to help get you thinking about the type of business you would like to start.<br />Be careful that you don’t commit financial suicide<br />When you retire you probably will have access to more money than you ever had before. This can be tempting when you want to start your own business. You may want to start your business small so that you can see if it is actually a viable business plan. Test your idea to ensure that it fits your finances as well as the market. You may find that your passion may not be the passion of others. If you start out small you can always find a way to pivot your business without committing financial suicide. Listen to this episode to hear why it is so important not to throw all of your money at your new business.<br /><br />OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN<br />HOT TOPIC SEGMENT<br /><br />* [2:49] Why do people start businesses in retirement?<br />* [8:54] What to expect in this series of episodes of Retirement Answer Man<br /><br />PRACTICAL PLANNING SEGMENT<br /><br />* [9:51] What are the ways that you could start a business?<br />* [12:20] What are you trying to accomplish?<br />* [15:50] Be careful that you don’t commit financial suicide<br />* [19:55] Make sure that your business idea fits the market<br />* [21:17] What are some tools you can use to hel...]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://rogerwhitney.com/?p=6797</guid><pubDate>Wed, 06 Jun 2018 10:00:22 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/15005470/ram224.mp3" length="23163565" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Roger Whitney</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Why do people start businesses in retirement? Over the next few weeks, we explore this question in the Entrepreneurship in Retirement series. Just because you retire doesn’t mean that you stop living. Many people have so much to give back after they...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Why do people start businesses in retirement? Over the next few weeks, we explore this question in the Entrepreneurship in Retirement series. Just because you retire doesn’t mean that you stop living. Many people have so much to give back after they retire that they choose to start their own business. This episode will cover the whys, the ways, and the hows of beginning entrepreneurship in retirement. If you are thinking of starting your own business or having a pretirement phase to your retirement you won’t want to miss this series. Listen to this episode to get started planning your own entrepreneurship dreams.<br /><br />Why do people start businesses in retirement?<br />More people between the ages of 55 and 64 start businesses than people under the age of 25. This fact surprised me. Why do baby boomers want to pursue entrepreneurship in retirement? There are several reasons. Just because we retire doesn’t mean we stop living. We still have a purpose. Many people start a business in retirement to pursue their passions. Some people want a bit more money to supplement their lifestyle, others find it a great way to give back to their community. Many want to share their expertise with the world. Why are you thinking of entrepreneurship in retirement? Listen to this episode to hear the many reasons people start businesses in their retirement years.<br />What are you trying to accomplish?<br />Before you start a new business you should ask yourself, what are you trying to accomplish? Are you strictly looking to supplement your income? Are you looking to follow your passions? Are you trying to give back to your community? The reason that you choose entrepreneurship in retirement is important. This will shape how you form your business. You don’t want to start a business where your goal is to have flexibility and then find yourself working 60 hours a week. Listen to this episode to hear why it is important to think about why you want to start a business first before you actually begin.<br /><br />What are the different ways to start a business?<br />There are many different ways to start a business. A solopreneur is someone who wants to strike out on their own. A solopreneur could make crafts to sell, have a coaching business, or pursue a passion. Usually, a solopreneur doesn’t want to grow too big. A franchise is a way to buy a ready-made business that already has a plan and structure in place. A service business is a business where you can serve others. These different types of businesses have different structures and varying start-up costs. Listen to this episode to help get you thinking about the type of business you would like to start.<br />Be careful that you don’t commit financial suicide<br />When you retire you probably will have access to more money than you ever had before. This can be tempting when you want to start your own business. You may want to start your business small so that you can see if it is actually a viable business plan. Test your idea to ensure that it fits your finances as well as the market. You may find that your passion may not be the passion of others. If you start out small you can always find a way to pivot your business without committing financial suicide. Listen to this episode to hear why it is so important not to throw all of your money at your new business.<br /><br />OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN<br />HOT TOPIC SEGMENT<br /><br />* [2:49] Why do people start businesses in retirement?<br />* [8:54] What to expect in this series of episodes of Retirement Answer Man<br /><br />PRACTICAL PLANNING SEGMENT<br /><br />* [9:51] What are the ways that you could start a business?<br />* [12:20] What are you trying to accomplish?<br />* [15:50] Be careful that you don’t commit financial suicide<br />* [19:55] Make sure that your business idea fits the market<br />* [21:17] What are some tools you can use to hel...]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>1654</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/c7845a4b13935ade618b773a34fba886.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType><googleplay:author>Roger Whitney</googleplay:author><googleplay:description>Why do people start businesses in retirement? Over the next few weeks, we explore this question in the Entrepreneurship in Retirement series. Just because you retire doesn’t mean that you stop living. Many people have so much to give back after they retire that they choose to start their own business. This episode will cover the whys, the ways, and the hows of beginning entrepreneurship in retirement. If you are thinking of starting your own business or having a pretirement phase to your retirement you won’t want to miss this series. Listen to this episode to get started planning your own entrepreneurship dreams.

Why do people start businesses in retirement?
More people between the ages of 55 and 64 start businesses than people under the age of 25. This fact surprised me. Why do baby boomers want to pursue entrepreneurship in retirement? There are several reasons. Just because we retire doesn’t mean we stop living. We still have a purpose. Many people start a business in retirement to pursue their passions. Some people want a bit more money to supplement their lifestyle, others find it a great way to give back to their community. Many want to share their expertise with the world. Why are you thinking of entrepreneurship in retirement? Listen to this episode to hear the many reasons people start businesses in their retirement years.
What are you trying to accomplish?
Before you start a new business you should ask yourself, what are you trying to accomplish? Are you strictly looking to supplement your income? Are you looking to follow your passions? Are you trying to give back to your community? The reason that you choose entrepreneurship in retirement is important. This will shape how you form your business. You don’t want to start a business where your goal is to have flexibility and then find yourself working 60 hours a week. Listen to this episode to hear why it is important to think about why you want to start a business first before you actually begin.

What are the different ways to start a business?
There are many different ways to start a business. A solopreneur is someone who wants to strike out on their own. A solopreneur could make crafts to sell, have a coaching business, or pursue a passion. Usually, a solopreneur doesn’t want to grow too big. A franchise is a way to buy a ready-made business that already has a plan and structure in place. A service business is a business where you can serve others. These different types of businesses have different structures and varying start-up costs. Listen to this episode to help get you thinking about the type of business you would like to start.
Be careful that you don’t commit financial suicide
When you retire you probably will have access to more money than you ever had before. This can be tempting when you want to start your own business. You may want to start your business small so that you can see if it is actually a viable business plan. Test your idea to ensure that it fits your finances as well as the market. You may find that your passion may not be the passion of others. If you start out small you can always find a way to pivot your business without committing financial suicide. Listen to this episode to hear why it is so important not to throw all of your money at your new business.

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN
HOT TOPIC SEGMENT

* [2:49] Why do people start businesses in retirement?
* [8:54] What to expect in this series of episodes of Retirement Answer Man

PRACTICAL PLANNING SEGMENT

* [9:51] What are the ways that you could start a business?
* [12:20] What are you trying to accomplish?
* [15:50] Be careful that you don’t commit financial suicide
* [19:55] Make sure that your business idea fits the market
* [21:17] What are some tools you can use to hel...</googleplay:description><googleplay:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/c7845a4b13935ade618b773a34fba886.jpg"/><googleplay:explicit>No</googleplay:explicit></item><item><title>#223 – Retirement Plan Live: Flying Solo Edition, Your Most Stressful Retirement Questions Answered</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/9310804/223-retirement-plan-live-flying-solo-edi</link><description><![CDATA[Welcome to the last episode in this Retirement Plan Live series. This is the Flying Solo Edition where you can learn how to rock single retirement. Several listeners offer fantastic retirement questions and comments that I answer on this episode and the answers will interest you. On the practical planning segment of the show I am joined by Herb who gives us a male perspective on retiring single, so you won’t want to miss that. Be sure to listen to this episode as well as the webinar on June 7th to hear the grand finale and find out what happens to Sam’s retirement plans.<br /><br />How do you save your own retirement funds from an ill spouse?<br />The first retirement question is actually from a married person, but she brings up an interesting point. Jackie is concerned that she and her husband’s shared retirement funds may run out with his exorbitant end of life medical expenses. She would like to know if there is a way to protect her own IRA account so that she will have enough money for herself to live on after he passes. End of life medical expenses can be incredibly costly, so this is a valid question that affects so many. Singles may not realize that this question is one advantage of being single. Listen to the hot topic segment to hear my answer to this challenging retirement question.<br />What inflation rate should be used for retirement planning?<br />Another listener has a retirement question about inflation rates. It is important to hedge against inflation when planning retirement. I use a rate of 4% even though there has only been a 2% inflation rate over the past 15 years. It is important to use all the available data over a long period of time to get a better idea of what inflation could do. If one only relies on 15 years of data to plan then it doesn’t paint a complete picture of what could happen. Listen to this episode of Retirement Answer Man to hear retirement questions and why and how I calculate inflation for retirement planning.<br /><br />What can you learn from my aunt and uncle about retirement planning?<br />My own aunt and uncle join me on the practical planning segment to give us their perspective on retirement issues that you may not have considered. Recently after my aunt had surgery they were surprised to find that Aunt Patty needed 24-hour care for a whole week after a routine surgery. This brings about the retirement question: how do you plan for 24-hour care? This is hard enough for a married couple to plan for, and if you’re single it may take serious consideration. If you are considering moving to a new area after you retire you may also want to consider the medical facilities available. Listen to this episode as my aunt and uncle share insight that only comes with hindsight.<br />Finally, a single man volunteers to represent half the population!<br />Herb steps up to give a male perspective on retiring single. He recently contacted me and was the only male to volunteer to share his point of view on retirement. Thankfully Herb is a great candidate to represent half the single retirement population. Herb is 55 and planning on retiring in 3-5 years. Since he lives where there is a high cost of living he would prefer to move when he retires. One of the benefits of retiring single is that the choice is all his, and he won’t have to compromise. Herb is great at getting out of his comfort zone and feels that this will help him to create a network of friends wherever he decides to land. Listen to the practical planning segment to hear Herb’s perspective on retiring single.<br /><br /><br /><br /> <br />OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN<br /><br />* [1:22] Find out about the webinar where you discover the results of Sam’s retirement conundrum<br /><br />HOT TOPIC SEGMENT<br /><br />* [4:08] Jackie has a question about how to save her own retirement funds from her husband’s medical expenses]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://rogerwhitney.com/?p=6790</guid><pubDate>Wed, 30 May 2018 10:00:23 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/15005471/ram223.mp3" length="33110270" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Roger Whitney</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Welcome to the last episode in this Retirement Plan Live series. This is the Flying Solo Edition where you can learn how to rock single retirement. Several listeners offer fantastic retirement questions and comments that I answer on this episode and...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Welcome to the last episode in this Retirement Plan Live series. This is the Flying Solo Edition where you can learn how to rock single retirement. Several listeners offer fantastic retirement questions and comments that I answer on this episode and the answers will interest you. On the practical planning segment of the show I am joined by Herb who gives us a male perspective on retiring single, so you won’t want to miss that. Be sure to listen to this episode as well as the webinar on June 7th to hear the grand finale and find out what happens to Sam’s retirement plans.<br /><br />How do you save your own retirement funds from an ill spouse?<br />The first retirement question is actually from a married person, but she brings up an interesting point. Jackie is concerned that she and her husband’s shared retirement funds may run out with his exorbitant end of life medical expenses. She would like to know if there is a way to protect her own IRA account so that she will have enough money for herself to live on after he passes. End of life medical expenses can be incredibly costly, so this is a valid question that affects so many. Singles may not realize that this question is one advantage of being single. Listen to the hot topic segment to hear my answer to this challenging retirement question.<br />What inflation rate should be used for retirement planning?<br />Another listener has a retirement question about inflation rates. It is important to hedge against inflation when planning retirement. I use a rate of 4% even though there has only been a 2% inflation rate over the past 15 years. It is important to use all the available data over a long period of time to get a better idea of what inflation could do. If one only relies on 15 years of data to plan then it doesn’t paint a complete picture of what could happen. Listen to this episode of Retirement Answer Man to hear retirement questions and why and how I calculate inflation for retirement planning.<br /><br />What can you learn from my aunt and uncle about retirement planning?<br />My own aunt and uncle join me on the practical planning segment to give us their perspective on retirement issues that you may not have considered. Recently after my aunt had surgery they were surprised to find that Aunt Patty needed 24-hour care for a whole week after a routine surgery. This brings about the retirement question: how do you plan for 24-hour care? This is hard enough for a married couple to plan for, and if you’re single it may take serious consideration. If you are considering moving to a new area after you retire you may also want to consider the medical facilities available. Listen to this episode as my aunt and uncle share insight that only comes with hindsight.<br />Finally, a single man volunteers to represent half the population!<br />Herb steps up to give a male perspective on retiring single. He recently contacted me and was the only male to volunteer to share his point of view on retirement. Thankfully Herb is a great candidate to represent half the single retirement population. Herb is 55 and planning on retiring in 3-5 years. Since he lives where there is a high cost of living he would prefer to move when he retires. One of the benefits of retiring single is that the choice is all his, and he won’t have to compromise. Herb is great at getting out of his comfort zone and feels that this will help him to create a network of friends wherever he decides to land. Listen to the practical planning segment to hear Herb’s perspective on retiring single.<br /><br /><br /><br /> <br />OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN<br /><br />* [1:22] Find out about the webinar where you discover the results of Sam’s retirement conundrum<br /><br />HOT TOPIC SEGMENT<br /><br />* [4:08] Jackie has a question about how to save her own retirement funds from her husband’s medical expenses]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>2364</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/c7845a4b13935ade618b773a34fba886.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType><googleplay:author>Roger Whitney</googleplay:author><googleplay:description>Welcome to the last episode in this Retirement Plan Live series. This is the Flying Solo Edition where you can learn how to rock single retirement. Several listeners offer fantastic retirement questions and comments that I answer on this episode and the answers will interest you. On the practical planning segment of the show I am joined by Herb who gives us a male perspective on retiring single, so you won’t want to miss that. Be sure to listen to this episode as well as the webinar on June 7th to hear the grand finale and find out what happens to Sam’s retirement plans.

How do you save your own retirement funds from an ill spouse?
The first retirement question is actually from a married person, but she brings up an interesting point. Jackie is concerned that she and her husband’s shared retirement funds may run out with his exorbitant end of life medical expenses. She would like to know if there is a way to protect her own IRA account so that she will have enough money for herself to live on after he passes. End of life medical expenses can be incredibly costly, so this is a valid question that affects so many. Singles may not realize that this question is one advantage of being single. Listen to the hot topic segment to hear my answer to this challenging retirement question.
What inflation rate should be used for retirement planning?
Another listener has a retirement question about inflation rates. It is important to hedge against inflation when planning retirement. I use a rate of 4% even though there has only been a 2% inflation rate over the past 15 years. It is important to use all the available data over a long period of time to get a better idea of what inflation could do. If one only relies on 15 years of data to plan then it doesn’t paint a complete picture of what could happen. Listen to this episode of Retirement Answer Man to hear retirement questions and why and how I calculate inflation for retirement planning.

What can you learn from my aunt and uncle about retirement planning?
My own aunt and uncle join me on the practical planning segment to give us their perspective on retirement issues that you may not have considered. Recently after my aunt had surgery they were surprised to find that Aunt Patty needed 24-hour care for a whole week after a routine surgery. This brings about the retirement question: how do you plan for 24-hour care? This is hard enough for a married couple to plan for, and if you’re single it may take serious consideration. If you are considering moving to a new area after you retire you may also want to consider the medical facilities available. Listen to this episode as my aunt and uncle share insight that only comes with hindsight.
Finally, a single man volunteers to represent half the population!
Herb steps up to give a male perspective on retiring single. He recently contacted me and was the only male to volunteer to share his point of view on retirement. Thankfully Herb is a great candidate to represent half the single retirement population. Herb is 55 and planning on retiring in 3-5 years. Since he lives where there is a high cost of living he would prefer to move when he retires. One of the benefits of retiring single is that the choice is all his, and he won’t have to compromise. Herb is great at getting out of his comfort zone and feels that this will help him to create a network of friends wherever he decides to land. Listen to the practical planning segment to hear Herb’s perspective on retiring single.



 
OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN

* [1:22] Find out about the webinar where you discover the results of Sam’s retirement conundrum

HOT TOPIC SEGMENT

* [4:08] Jackie has a question about how to save her own retirement funds from her husband’s medical expenses</googleplay:description><googleplay:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/c7845a4b13935ade618b773a34fba886.jpg"/><googleplay:explicit>No</googleplay:explicit></item><item><title>#222 – Retirement Plan Live: Flying Solo Edition, Is Retiring Single Risky?</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/9310804/222-retirement-plan-live-flying-solo-edi</link><description><![CDATA[On this episode of Retirement Plan Live: Flying Solo Edition we tackle a challenging question. Is retiring single risky? This episode is all about risk and the special or riskier situations that retired singles may find themselves in. Single people have different considerations than married people and may need to plan their retirement in more detail. I ask Sam, my guest, and case study for this edition of Retirement Plan Live, about what types of concerns she has retiring single. You’ll want to make sure that you listen to this episode so that you can begin to think about all of the circumstances you may encounter when retiring single.<br /><br />Should you embrace risk or hide from it?<br />There are risks to everything in life, but to live a full life you have to take on a certain amount of risk. If you run away from risk entirely you end up living a smaller life. The more you embrace risk the more it can broaden your life. There is a certain amount of freedom that comes with being a single person. You don’t have anyone that you need to check in with, you can travel whenever and wherever you want. But there are situations that a single person needs to prepare for more than a married person. Listen to this episode of Retirement Answer Man to start thinking about how much risk you are willing to take in your retirement and your life.<br />What are some of the normal risks that are increased for singles?<br />Retired singles have an increased chance of loneliness as they age. You can begin to combat loneliness in your elderly years by establishing a strong network of friends now. Making friends with similar interests is easy to do. There are groups and clubs for just about every hobby, even solo activities like knitting and fishing can be enjoyed with others. Another consideration you may not have thought of is whether or not you have someone to use as a sounding board for big decisions. Making life altering decisions can be a challenge and it is always helpful to have someone you trust to help you talk things out. Listen to this episode to hear several considerations that you may not have thought of that you will need to plan for as a single person.<br /><br />How do you plan your estate when you’re single?<br />If you don’t have any heirs you may think that what happens to your estate doesn’t really matter, but you do need to think about who you would like to be the executor of the estate. There are professionals that can be hired to do this job if you don't have anyone to ask. Long-term care insurance is a good option when thinking about what will happen when to you when you are no longer able to care for yourself. But have you considered who will have power of attorney and can handle the personal medical decisions that may be faced if you are incapacitated? This episode may not be as fun as the dreaming big episode, but it is important nonetheless. Listen in to hear many of the significant considerations that you may not have thought of when retiring single.<br />What are Sam’s worries about retiring single?<br />Sam has been considering retirement for quite some time and has put a bit of thought into many things. She has been working with a financial planner whom she trusts for many years. He has helped her weather the financial upheaval of 2008. Sam thought it was important to purchase long-term care insurance, so as not to burden her daughters with caring for her if she becomes unable to care for herself. Sam considers herself pretty conservative and not much of a risk taker, so listen to her concerns as she considers retiring single on the practical planning segment of this episode.<br /><br />OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN<br /><br />* [2:42] The live results webinar is on Thu June 7<br /><br />HOT TOPIC SEGMENT<br /><br />* [6:22] What are some of the normal risks that are more heightened for singles?]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://rogerwhitney.com/?p=6776</guid><pubDate>Wed, 23 May 2018 10:00:24 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/14883734/ram222.mp3" length="37889010" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Roger Whitney</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>On this episode of Retirement Plan Live: Flying Solo Edition we tackle a challenging question. Is retiring single risky? This episode is all about risk and the special or riskier situations that retired singles may find themselves in. Single people...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[On this episode of Retirement Plan Live: Flying Solo Edition we tackle a challenging question. Is retiring single risky? This episode is all about risk and the special or riskier situations that retired singles may find themselves in. Single people have different considerations than married people and may need to plan their retirement in more detail. I ask Sam, my guest, and case study for this edition of Retirement Plan Live, about what types of concerns she has retiring single. You’ll want to make sure that you listen to this episode so that you can begin to think about all of the circumstances you may encounter when retiring single.<br /><br />Should you embrace risk or hide from it?<br />There are risks to everything in life, but to live a full life you have to take on a certain amount of risk. If you run away from risk entirely you end up living a smaller life. The more you embrace risk the more it can broaden your life. There is a certain amount of freedom that comes with being a single person. You don’t have anyone that you need to check in with, you can travel whenever and wherever you want. But there are situations that a single person needs to prepare for more than a married person. Listen to this episode of Retirement Answer Man to start thinking about how much risk you are willing to take in your retirement and your life.<br />What are some of the normal risks that are increased for singles?<br />Retired singles have an increased chance of loneliness as they age. You can begin to combat loneliness in your elderly years by establishing a strong network of friends now. Making friends with similar interests is easy to do. There are groups and clubs for just about every hobby, even solo activities like knitting and fishing can be enjoyed with others. Another consideration you may not have thought of is whether or not you have someone to use as a sounding board for big decisions. Making life altering decisions can be a challenge and it is always helpful to have someone you trust to help you talk things out. Listen to this episode to hear several considerations that you may not have thought of that you will need to plan for as a single person.<br /><br />How do you plan your estate when you’re single?<br />If you don’t have any heirs you may think that what happens to your estate doesn’t really matter, but you do need to think about who you would like to be the executor of the estate. There are professionals that can be hired to do this job if you don't have anyone to ask. Long-term care insurance is a good option when thinking about what will happen when to you when you are no longer able to care for yourself. But have you considered who will have power of attorney and can handle the personal medical decisions that may be faced if you are incapacitated? This episode may not be as fun as the dreaming big episode, but it is important nonetheless. Listen in to hear many of the significant considerations that you may not have thought of when retiring single.<br />What are Sam’s worries about retiring single?<br />Sam has been considering retirement for quite some time and has put a bit of thought into many things. She has been working with a financial planner whom she trusts for many years. He has helped her weather the financial upheaval of 2008. Sam thought it was important to purchase long-term care insurance, so as not to burden her daughters with caring for her if she becomes unable to care for herself. Sam considers herself pretty conservative and not much of a risk taker, so listen to her concerns as she considers retiring single on the practical planning segment of this episode.<br /><br />OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN<br /><br />* [2:42] The live results webinar is on Thu June 7<br /><br />HOT TOPIC SEGMENT<br /><br />* [6:22] What are some of the normal risks that are more heightened for singles?]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>2706</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/c7845a4b13935ade618b773a34fba886.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType><googleplay:author>Roger Whitney</googleplay:author><googleplay:description>On this episode of Retirement Plan Live: Flying Solo Edition we tackle a challenging question. Is retiring single risky? This episode is all about risk and the special or riskier situations that retired singles may find themselves in. Single people have different considerations than married people and may need to plan their retirement in more detail. I ask Sam, my guest, and case study for this edition of Retirement Plan Live, about what types of concerns she has retiring single. You’ll want to make sure that you listen to this episode so that you can begin to think about all of the circumstances you may encounter when retiring single.

Should you embrace risk or hide from it?
There are risks to everything in life, but to live a full life you have to take on a certain amount of risk. If you run away from risk entirely you end up living a smaller life. The more you embrace risk the more it can broaden your life. There is a certain amount of freedom that comes with being a single person. You don’t have anyone that you need to check in with, you can travel whenever and wherever you want. But there are situations that a single person needs to prepare for more than a married person. Listen to this episode of Retirement Answer Man to start thinking about how much risk you are willing to take in your retirement and your life.
What are some of the normal risks that are increased for singles?
Retired singles have an increased chance of loneliness as they age. You can begin to combat loneliness in your elderly years by establishing a strong network of friends now. Making friends with similar interests is easy to do. There are groups and clubs for just about every hobby, even solo activities like knitting and fishing can be enjoyed with others. Another consideration you may not have thought of is whether or not you have someone to use as a sounding board for big decisions. Making life altering decisions can be a challenge and it is always helpful to have someone you trust to help you talk things out. Listen to this episode to hear several considerations that you may not have thought of that you will need to plan for as a single person.

How do you plan your estate when you’re single?
If you don’t have any heirs you may think that what happens to your estate doesn’t really matter, but you do need to think about who you would like to be the executor of the estate. There are professionals that can be hired to do this job if you don't have anyone to ask. Long-term care insurance is a good option when thinking about what will happen when to you when you are no longer able to care for yourself. But have you considered who will have power of attorney and can handle the personal medical decisions that may be faced if you are incapacitated? This episode may not be as fun as the dreaming big episode, but it is important nonetheless. Listen in to hear many of the significant considerations that you may not have thought of when retiring single.
What are Sam’s worries about retiring single?
Sam has been considering retirement for quite some time and has put a bit of thought into many things. She has been working with a financial planner whom she trusts for many years. He has helped her weather the financial upheaval of 2008. Sam thought it was important to purchase long-term care insurance, so as not to burden her daughters with caring for her if she becomes unable to care for herself. Sam considers herself pretty conservative and not much of a risk taker, so listen to her concerns as she considers retiring single on the practical planning segment of this episode.

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN

* [2:42] The live results webinar is on Thu June 7

HOT TOPIC SEGMENT

* [6:22] What are some of the normal risks that are more heightened for singles?</googleplay:description><googleplay:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/c7845a4b13935ade618b773a34fba886.jpg"/><googleplay:explicit>No</googleplay:explicit></item></channel></rss>
