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Retirement Starts Today

Retirement Starts Today

By: Benjamin Brandt CFP® RICP®
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Do you want to spend more money & pay less taxes on your way to an even better retirement? Great news, you're in the right place! I'll also teach you the benefits of retiring TO something, while most retirees only solve half the equation by retiring FROM something. Tune in every Monday morning - hosted by Benjamin Brandt CFP®, RICP®. Join my "This Week in Retirement" newsletter for the best retirement content of the week, sourced by me: https://pages.thisweekinretirement.com/newsletter© Retire-Ready Resources Economics Personal Finance
Episodes
  • The 'Open Sandwich' Generation
    Aug 31 2026

    The term "Sandwich Generation" has been around since the 80s. You're the one in the middle - with aging parents on one side and dependent kids on the other.

    Dan Haylett shared an article he calls The "Open Sandwich" Generation, which is after your parents pass away.

    We will discuss Dan's article on what happens when the slices come off.

    In our Listener Question segment, I'm asked "How do you do estate planning when you don't have anybody to name?"

    And we wrap it up with a story that hits true to the meaning of "Retiring To Something".

    Resource:

    • Article by Dan Haylett: The 'Open Sandwich' Generation


    Connect with Benjamin Brandt:

    • Subscribe to the This Week in Retirement: http://thisweekinretirement.com
    • Get the Retire-Ready Toolkit: http://retirementstartstodayradio.com
    • Work with Benjamin: https://retirementstartstoday.com/start

    Get the book!
    Retirement Starts Today: Your Non-financial Guide to an Even Better Retirement

    Follow Retirement Starts Today in:
    Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Amazon Music, or iHeart

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    15 mins
  • Your $135,000 Retirement Risk
    Aug 24 2026

    The 2025 Milliman Long-Term Care Index put a number on long-term care: $135,000, the lump-sum amount an average 65-year-old would need to set aside today to cover the expected lifetime cost of long-term care.

    But there are some details you need to know that make up that number. About half of those who need paid long-term care only do so for less than a year (averaging $30,000 in total cost). The other half need care for more than 5 years at an average of $665,000. $135,000 is just the average.

    We will also take a question with multiple millions wanting to know if he should buy long-term care insurance or self-fund?

    Resource:

    • Article by Christopher Giese, Annie Gunnlaugsson, Evan Pollock, and Kevin Brown: 2025 Milliman Long-Term Care Index

    Connect with Benjamin Brandt:

    • Subscribe to the This Week in Retirement: http://thisweekinretirement.com
    • Get the Retire-Ready Toolkit: http://retirementstartstodayradio.com
    • Work with Benjamin: https://retirementstartstoday.com/start

    Get the book!
    Retirement Starts Today: Your Non-financial Guide to an Even Better Retirement

    Follow Retirement Starts Today in:
    Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Amazon Music, or iHeart

    Show More Show Less
    18 mins
  • 38% of Retirees Underspend
    Aug 17 2026

    A Corebridge Financial's decumulation study found 70% of American retirees say it's "very important" that their nest egg doesn't shrink in retirement. Another result found 38% say they've spent less than they wanted to- but not because the money isn't there. They spent less specifically to keep the balance from going down.

    We go over more results from the study and what they mean in today's episode.

    In our Listener Question segment, a married person has two pensions. While he's alive, the guaranteed income covers everything. If he dies first, his wife loses half of it. So how do you account for that WITHOUT drastically underspending your portfolio?

    Finally, we wrap up the show with our Retire To Something segment.

    Resources:

    • Article by Vawn Himmelsbach in Moneywise: 'It's not the climb up. It's the way down': 38% of retirees have trouble spending their money
    • Read And Feed program: https://readandfeed.org

    Connect with Benjamin Brandt:

    • Subscribe to the This Week in Retirement: http://thisweekinretirement.com
    • Get the Retire-Ready Toolkit: http://retirementstartstodayradio.com
    • Work with Benjamin: https://retirementstartstoday.com/start

    Get the book!
    Retirement Starts Today: Your Non-financial Guide to an Even Better Retirement

    Follow Retirement Starts Today in:
    Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Amazon Music, or iHeart

    Show More Show Less
    20 mins
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