Retirement Answer Man

2d ago

In this episode, Roger Whitney walks listeners through the complexities of inherited IRAs, highlighting the impact of the SECURE Act of 2019 and clarifying the distinctions between eligible and non-eligible designated beneficiaries. He explains how these classifications affect withdrawals and tax planning, making the rules easy to understand. Roger also answers listener questions on topics like retirement team selection and funding health insurance with HSA accounts. Beyond the numbers, he shares practical strategies for creating more meaningful holiday conversations, drawing on real-life examples to show how curiosity and intentionality can help you connect more deeply with the people you care about. OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN (00:00) This show is dedicated to helping you rock retirement. (00:30) In today’s episode, Roger Whitney covers the rules around inherited IRAs, explores ways to foster deeper and more meaningful conversations during the holidays and beyond, and answers listener questions. RETIREMENT TOOLKIT (01:00) Today ​in ​the ​Retirement ​Toolkit ​we're ​going ​to ​talk ​about ​the ​rules ​around ​inherited ​IRAs. (02:40) Differences between eligible and non-eligible designated beneficiaries for inherited IRAs are explained. (14:32) Roger talks about ROTH IRAs and how they work. RETIREMENT LIFE LAB (16:04) Roger explains how approaching conversations with curiosity and intentionality, especially with older family members or those with different interests, can create more meaningful and enriching interactions. LISTENER QUESTIONS (25:37) Ira asks what to ask a financial advisor’s team to understand their retirement planning services and team longevity. (37:02) Mary Jane asks if she can use Health Savings Account funds tax-free to pay for private health insurance premiums before Medicare eligibility. SMART SPRINT (38:42) In the next week, approach holiday or New Year’s gatherings with curiosity by asking questions and engaging with people you don’t see often to create more meaningful interactions. REFERENCES Submit a Question for Roger Sign up for The Noodle The Retirement Answer Man

Dec 10

In this episode, Roger Whitney, a retirement planner with 30 years of experience, breaks down annual gifting limits and year-end planning. He shares practical strategies for giving that make a real impact and create meaningful experiences for loved ones. Roger also answers listener questions, providing clear guidance to help you navigate your retirement with confidence. OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN (00:00) This podcast is dedicated to helping you rock retirement. (00:57) Today Roger talks about annual gifting limits. RETIREMENT TOOLKIT (01:45) In today’s Retirement Toolkit, Roger explores year-end planning by breaking down the 2025 annual gift exclusion. (04:05) Roger discusses giving money during your lifetime and shares the reasons why it can be beneficial. (12:05) Roger shares his observations on giving money, noting that gifts can feel most meaningful when attached to a specific purpose rather than given with expectations. (14:21) Strategies for impactful gifting are explored, including transferring appreciated assets, paying medical expenses, and covering tuition directly, showing ways to help others while maximizing meaning and efficiency. LISTENER QUESTIONS (19:00) Mary shares feedback on qualified charitable distributions (QCDs). (21:27) Lee describes his “shoulder bonus” strategy to spend excess retirement funds while staying within a safe withdrawal rate. (30:10) John asks when to switch from a general financial advisor to a retirement planner (34:19) Rick asks about gifting appreciated stocks to adult children. (35:17) Steve asks about building a resilient retirement plan at age 80. SMART SPRINT (38:13) In the next seven days: Do you want to give? Can you? How much and to whom? Can it have a purpose? Even small gifts can make a big impact. CLOSING THOUGHTS (40:00) Giving money can bring profound joy, often the greatest gift is the one you give yourself by helping others. REFERENCES Submit a Question for Roger Sign up for The Noodle The Retirement Answer Man

Dec 3

💬 Show Notes In this episode, Roger Whitney kicks off a month-long series on year-end planning for retirement. He shares insights on tax loss harvesting, a technique that can help you minimize capital gains tax. Listen in as Roger explains the basics of capital gains, the importance of proactive planning, and the potential benefits of offsetting gains with losses. Plus, he introduces a smart sprint action item to help you optimize your tax strategy before the year's end! OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN (00:00) This podcast is dedicated to helping you rock retirement. (01:07) Roger shares that he recently finished George Orwell’s 1984 , his first in a new hobby of collecting classic authors. RETIREMENT TOOLKIT (03:43) Roger breaks down the basics of tax loss harvesting, explaining capital gains, the difference between short-term and long-term gains, and how they impact year-end retirement planning. (09:17) Roger explains how to implement tax loss harvesting by estimating your realized capital gains, identifying losses in your taxable accounts, selling positions to offset gains, and being mindful of the IRS wash sale rule that prevents repurchasing the same security within 61 days. (16:50) Using losses in taxable accounts strategically can help reduce capital gains taxes. ROCKIN’ RETIREMENT IN THE WILD (18:28) Share your story of rocking retirement at askroger.me to inspire others with your confidence and passion. (19:30) Mark plans to pivot into business consulting after retiring so he can keep learning, adding value, and connecting with people while enjoying more freedom and purpose. LISTENER QUESTIONS (21:54) Richard is preparing for retirement at 67 and asks how he should handle his 401(k) and income to make his plan work best. (25:00) Kathy asked how a new bill will affect those 65+ with year-end tax planning, and Roger said he’ll provide a checklist to guide Noodle subscribers through the changes. (25:42) Karen pointed out that annuity payments aren’t inflation-adjusted and emphasized balancing them with other investments. (30:08) Dan asks: “Where should I keep the cash for living expenses and market downturns?” SMART SPRINT (33:59) Smart Sprint: In the next seven days, review your after-tax investment accounts, estimate year-end capital gains or losses, and consider selling positions with unrealized losses to offset gains while avoiding the 31-day wash sale rule. CLOSING THOUGHTS (35:18) Over Thanksgiving, Roger continued his childhood tradition of watching the Lions lose, ending up jumping in a pool after a bet with his nephew Graham, a devoted Packers fan. REFERENCES 1984- George Orwell Submit a Question for Roger Sign up for The Noodle The Retirement Answer Man

Nov 26

💬 Show Notes In this Thanksgiving Eve episode, Roger Whitney encourages listeners to carry gratitude into everyday life, emphasizing the value of recognizing specific moments and taking “mental snapshots” of what matters. He also addresses common retirement questions, including how to think about traditional versus Roth IRAs and whether to use IRA withdrawals or pursue Roth conversions. It’s a clear, practical discussion to help you reflect and make informed planning decisions. OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN (00:00) This show is dedicated to helping you rock retirement (00:40) Roger reflects on thankfulness and gratitude. RETIREMENT TOOLKIT (08:33) Roger gives a quick refresher on the three main types of accounts used in retirement planning and how each is treated for tax purposes. LISTENER QUESTIONS (14:16) Roger walks through how to approach the common dilemma of using a traditional IRA for living expenses versus doing Roth conversions. (26:49) Dominic asks why qualified charitable distributions can’t be used to fund a donor-advised fund, even though the donation is tax-deductible. (30:31) BB and Shell ask whether contributing to a Roth versus traditional 403(b) and 457 plans makes sense given their high current tax rate and plans to retire and move to a lower- or no-tax state. SMART SPRINT (34:35) This week’s Smart Sprint challenges listeners to make thankfulness meaningful by telling someone specifically why they are grateful for them. CLOSING THOUGHTS (35:18) Roger shares his gratitude for listeners and feedback, acknowledges the complexity of retirement planning, and emphasizes his commitment to providing actionable advice while reminding everyone it’s okay not to have all the answers. REFERENCES Submit a Question for Roger Sign up for The Noodle The Retirement Answer Man

Nov 19

💬 Show Notes In this episode, Roger Whitney dives into the essentials of required minimum distributions, explaining the age thresholds, how the amounts are calculated using IRS life expectancy tables, and how to manage multiple IRAs and 401(k)s. He also answers listener questions, including whether a flexible premium deferred income annuity might make sense and how to determine how much you can safely give to loved ones or charity now. Packed with practical advice and actionable insights, this episode helps listeners navigate the rules and strategies that can impact their retirement planning. OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN (00:00) This show is dedicated to helping you have the confidence to rock retirement. THE RETIREMENT TOOLBOX (01:18) In this Retirement Toolbox segment, we take a timely look at required minimum distributions—what they are and how they work for the accounts you own. (03:22) A quick breakdown of the current IRS rules for required minimum distributions, outlining the different start ages based on your birth year. (05:22) How RMDs are calculated using your year-end balance and IRS life expectancy tables. (08:30) When should you take your money out, and what happens if you don’t? (10:48) How to handle RMDs across multiple IRAs and 401(k)s and why long-term planning and account consolidation matter. (14:00) What are some strategies to minimize or mitigate your future required minimum distributions? LISTENER QUESTIONS (15:23) Submit your questions through AskRoger.me, and we’ll help you take a baby step toward a rock-solid retirement. (15:54) Our title question comes from Rich, who asks if a flexible premium deferred income annuity would be a good idea given his retirement savings, Social Security, pension, and minimal debt. (27:14) A listener asks how to determine how much they can safely give to loved ones or charity now, rather than leaving it as an inheritance later. SMART SPRINT (33:22) In the next seven days, estimate your future RMD—even if it’s 10 years away—assuming your IRA or 401(k) grows at a reasonable rate. CLOSING THOUGHTS (34:04) An update on the merger of Tanya Nichols’ and Roger’s advisory firms, with a new unified brand—Retire Agile—coming in 2026 and opportunities for client feedback on branding and design. REFERENCES Submit a Question for Roger Sign up for The Noodle The Retirement Answer Man Schwab RMD Calculator Fidelity RMD Calculator

Nov 12

💬 Show Notes In this episode, Roger Whitney explores the psychology of loss aversion and how it affects financial decision-making. He introduces the new Retirement Toolbox segment, offering practical, actionable tools to help you strengthen your retirement plan. We also cover the benefits of Qualified Charitable Distributions and answer listener questions on retirement planning and asset allocation. Don’t miss this insightful discussion designed to help you confidently navigate and optimize your retirement! OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN (00:00) This show is dedicated to helping you not just survive retirement, but rock it PRACTICAL PLANNING SEGMENT (01:00) Roger breaks down loss aversion and how it relates to retirement. THE RETIREMENT TOOLBOX (04:35) Roger launches a new segment on essential financial tools, starting with the Qualified Charitable Distribution, a timely, tax-smart way to give at year-end. LISTENER QUESTIONS (11:53) Wes asks how to build retirement reserves before retirement without triggering higher taxes. (17:12) Roger responds to John’s critique of the “Process Over Panic” episode, clarifying why a retirement plan should be treated as a living, flexible guide rather than a rigid set of rules. (22:52) Feedback from David highlights why factoring early losses in Monte Carlo simulations can boost confidence despite slight double-counting. (26:35) Thoughtful listener disagreements are welcomed as a way to deepen understanding and improve retirement planning insights. (27:43) Thomas has some questions about getting started with a retirement planner. SMART SPRINT (36:07) In the next seven days, anyone within three years of retirement should map out their liquidity and consider reallocating assets to protect against market swings in the early years, avoiding unnecessary risk if funds will be needed soon. CLOSING THOUGHTS (37:05) I've been building a personal library of classics, including fiction and nonfiction, and welcome book suggestions via The Noodle to help expand the reading list. REFERENCES Submit a Question for Roger Sign up for The Noodle The Retirement Answer Man Thinking, Fast and Slow- Daniel Kahneman

Nov 5

💬 SHOW NOTES In this episode, Roger Whitney explores the art of retirement goal setting with his signature blend of practical advice and thoughtful reflection. He sits down with Cesar Aguirre, who shares how leaving a corporate career led to a purposeful and fulfilling retirement, the evolution of his book, and the importance of aligning goals with personal values rather than just chasing big achievements. Roger also addresses listener questions on planning, discretionary spending, and shifting mindsets around money, offering actionable insights to help create a retirement that’s intentional, joyful, and aligned with personal values. OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN (00:00) This show is dedicated to helping you not just survive retirement, but rock it (01:07) The cost-of-living adjustment for Social Security was announced. ROCKIN’ RETIREMENT IN THE WILD WITH CESAR AGUIRRE (02:05) Roger talks with Cesar about his book and how he is rockin’ retirement. (02:41) Roger introduces Cesar Aguirre, author of Retirement with Purpose: The 10 R's for a Joyful Retirement. (05:55) At 65, Cesar realized many people approached retirement without a plan, inspiring him to document his process so others could find structure and clarity in their own journey. (08:35) The pandemic slowed Cesar’s busy career, prompting him to shift from focusing on leaving work to discovering what he was retiring to . (11:35) Cesar shares how a five-year assignment abroad led to a permanent move to the U.S. in the early ’90s, marking a pivotal shift in his life and career. (12:25) Cesar reflects on cultural views of retirement, blending Mexico’s family-centered “jubilación” with the U.S. ideal of independence to create a more balanced, proactive approach to this new season of life. (14:51) There are 10 R’s in the book, starting with Review. (17:25) Roger asks Cesar how to answer the question, “What do I want?” (20:17) Cesar explains that creating his book with a service purpose removed pressure, letting him focus on making it useful, reach a broader audience, and now develop a Spanish edition. (21:56) Cesar encourages newly retired listeners to create structure, revisit plans, and embrace retirement as a journey with purpose. LISTENER QUESTIONS (24:18) In an audio question, Gary, who will retire in 2026, shares how managing “old” retirement savings feels different from spending a paycheck and asks for guidance on navigating this shift in mindset. (33:56) A listener, who chose to remain anonymous, asks how to distinguish between the essentials of a “base great life” and the discretionary spending that falls into the “wants” category.’ (35:55) A listener praised Roger’s shift from chasing big goals to focusing on values and creating conditions to explore life personally and meaningfully. (38:20) Dennis asks about the Retirement Podcast Network, and Roger explains that while it’s still active, he and Taylor Schulte decided to prioritize other projects and let this one remain on the back burner. SMART SPRINT (40:01) In the next seven days, reflect on the phrase, “you can’t take it with you.” BONUS (41:03) In this wrap-up, Roger addresses listener feedback from a past episode on organic food. REFERENCES Submit a Question for Roger Sign up for The Noodle The Retirement Answer Man Retirement With Purpose: The 10 R's for a Joyful Retirement: A practical and thoughtful guide to rediscovering yourself and flourishing in the retirement stage. - Cesar Aguirre

Oct 29

💬 Show Notes In this episode, Roger Whitney wraps up our four-week series on smarter retirement goal setting. He dives into the ideas of buoyancy and Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, showing how they play a role in planning a retirement that actually works for you. Using two relatable avatars – the Grinder and the Dreamer – Roger shares practical, real-world strategies to help navigate the twists and turns of retirement planning. Tune in for insights that will help you make your retirement not just secure, but truly rock! OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN (00:00) This is the last of a four-week series on better retirement goal setting PRACTICAL PLANNING SEGMENT (01:58) The first concept for today is the concept of buoyancy. (04:50) Roger talks about Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. (07:50) A look inside the Advice Lab Roger runs with his work team. AVATAR CASE STUDY- THE GRINDER AND THE DREAMER (10:10) Introduction of two avatars created by the team — the Grinder and the Dreamer. (10:58) First, Roger breaks down the Grinder. (14:27) What are triggers that might help a grinder reevaluate retirement planning? (16:57) What do Grinders crave? (18:50) How do you navigate as a Grinder or as someone in a relationship with a Grinder? (21:50) The pillars of retirement are a helpful framework when it comes to Grinders. (27:00) Next, Roger breaks down the avatar of the Dreamer. (29:30) What are the triggers that a Dreamer faces? (32:30) Roger breaks down the retirement pillars for Dreamers. (37:00) Roger reflects on how his partnership with Tanya mirrors the Dreamer and Grinder archetypes, showing how balancing vision and execution can lead to better communication and more effective retirement goals. LISTENER QUESTIONS (38:14) You can submit questions at AskRoger.me (38:40) Barbara shares thoughts on a recent episode. (42:04) Roger shares an audio clip from Tom. (44:27) One listener shares that drawing down the accounts is a mental challenge. (45:49) Rod asks what portion of a 71-year-old’s $5–6M retirement portfolio could go into low-risk private credit. SMART SPRINT (48:38) In the next seven days, reflect on where you fall between Dreamer and Grinder and consider that when setting or refreshing your retirement goals, so you can better balance your approach. REFERENCES Sign up for our next Webinar ! Submit a Question for Roger Sign up for The Noodle The Retirement Answer Man Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs