Best Benjamin Brandt Cfp Podcasts (2025)

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Why Advisors Should Never Recommend Social Security Claiming at 62 22:19

Play Pause

7h ago22:19

22:19

A few episodes ago, we covered Derek Tharp’s research suggesting that not everyone should delay until 70 — especially those with shorter life expectancies or limited assets. This week’s headline brings the opposite perspective: Michael Finke argues that for higher-income retirees who expect to live longer, claiming early is almost always a mistake …

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It's so Simple… 17:46

8d ago17:46

17:46

Do lower-cost funds tend to outperform pricier ones over time? Jeffrey Ptak analyzed fifteen years of performance data covering virtually every U.S. mutual fund and ETF. He divided them into five "cost buckets," from the cheapest 10% all the way up to the most expensive 10%. He then compared each group's average monthly return against its peers wit…

1
It’s so Simple… 17:46

8d ago17:46

17:46

Do lower-cost funds tend to outperform pricier ones over time? Jeffrey Ptak analyzed fifteen years of performance data covering virtually every U.S. mutual fund and ETF. He divided them into five “cost buckets,” from the cheapest 10% all the way up to the most expensive 10%. He then compared each group’s average monthly return against its peers wit…

1
Cut Your Retirement Stress in Half (New Vanguard Study) 22:58

15d ago22:58

22:58

Vanguard Research put out a paper called "The Emotional and Time Value of Advice” (June 2025). It claims that there are "emotional benefits and time-saving value that paid professional financial advice provides to clients." In other words: The benefit isn't the portfolio or financial advice, but the emotional and time-saving value getting paid prof…

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Delay to 70? Not So Fast - The New Case for Claiming Early 27:13

22d ago27:13

27:13

Only about 4% of retirees actually wait until age 70 to claim Social Security, despite the financial benefits of delaying them. This comes from an article by Derek Tharp at Kitces.com titled “The Flaws In Using A 0% Discount Rate To Justify Delaying Social Security”. It takes a hard look at why the common advice to “wait until 70” might not always …

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Roth Conversions after One Big Beautiful Bill 21:29

29d ago21:29

21:29

Our retirement headline is from a ThinkAdvisor article titled "Ed Slott: Roth Conversions Are Trickier Under New Tax Law" by Melanie Waddell. “With the extended tax cuts under President Trump’s recently passed tax and spending law, ‘Roth conversions should be accelerated to take advantage of more years of low tax rates,’ according to Ed Slott of Ed…

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Collect Social Security Early & Invest in the Market? 27:27

1M ago27:27

27:27

Should I collect Social Security early & invest the proceeds into the stock market? This is the age-old question I see on a nearly daily basis in retirement forums. An article from Morningstar - written by Christine Benz and features a conversation with Social Security expert Mary Beth Franklin - gives me the basis for sharing six obstacles for cla…

1
Insert Clickbait Title [Here] 19:05

1M ago19:05

19:05

Inflammatory headlines are "Clickbait", and I am not immune to falling for them. "Social Security recipients set to face an $18,000 benefit cut in just seven years" is the most recent culprit in my Google feed - with an image of a Social Security check with a wrecking ball smashing straight through it. The good news is the headline is pretty far fr…

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Retirement Dreams or Retirement Nightmares? Lessons from Today's Retirees 20:59

2M ago20:59

20:59

"Only 5% of retirees say they're living the dream and 19% are living the nightmare." says Deb Boyden in an article from Yahoo Finance. Deb provides three lessons to protect your future, which we dig into to see how it applies to your retirement: Lesson 1: You're Probably Not Saving Enough Lesson 2: Expect the Unexpected Lesson 3: Winging It Won't G…

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Retirement Dreams or Retirement Nightmares? Lessons from Today’s Retirees 20:59

2M ago20:59

20:59

"Only 5% of retirees say they’re living the dream and 19% are living the nightmare." says Deb Boyden in an article from Yahoo Finance. Deb provides three lessons to protect your future, which we dig into to see how it applies to your retirement: Lesson 1: You’re Probably Not Saving Enough Lesson 2: Expect the Unexpected Lesson 3: Winging It Won’t G…

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Why Your Old Spending Habits Won't Work in Retirement 19:07

2M ago19:07

19:07

If you've saved more than a million dollars, that puts you ahead of 90% of your peers. Statistically, that makes you a super saver. But one of the biggest challenges super savers face is this: it's hard to spend your own money. In this episode, I share one exercise that can help break some of those old habits and open the door to a more fulfilling …

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Why Your Old Spending Habits Won’t Work in Retirement 19:07

2M ago19:07

19:07

If you’ve saved more than a million dollars, that puts you ahead of 90% of your peers. Statistically, that makes you a super saver. But one of the biggest challenges super savers face is this: it’s hard to spend your own money. In this episode, I share one exercise that can help break some of those old habits and open the door to a more fulfilling …

1
Don't Let Your Brain Shrink Your Retirement Benefits 17:19

2M ago17:19

17:19

We're taking another look at one of retirement planning's sneakiest pitfalls — underestimating your own life expectancy. We explore why smart people make short-sighted Social Security decisions, how psychological biases can distort your thinking, and why planning to live a long time isn't pessimistic. Then, our listener question covers the nuts and…

1
Don’t Let Your Brain Shrink Your Retirement Benefits 17:19

2M ago17:19

17:19

We’re taking another look at one of retirement planning’s sneakiest pitfalls — underestimating your own life expectancy. We explore why smart people make short-sighted Social Security decisions, how psychological biases can distort your thinking, and why planning to live a long time isn’t pessimistic. Then, our listener question covers the nuts and…

1
Inside the new Tax Rules for Retirees 28:38

2M ago28:38

28:38

We’re going inside the new tax rules for retirees. From a brand-new $6,000 deduction for seniors to major changes in how charitable giving is handled, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act has reshaped key parts of the retirement tax landscape. We’ll break down what’s changed, what’s just political spin, and what you can do right now to take advantage of …

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Why Financial Independence is Overrated 19:22

3M ago19:22

19:22

Nick Maggiulli's latest article in Of Dollars & Data challenges one of the core ideas that drives personal finance blogs, podcasts, and even some of our own thinking — the belief that financial independence should be the ultimate goal. We explore the surprising downsides of chasing early retirement, the difference between financial independence and…

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The (F)Law of Averages 24:43

3M ago24:43

24:43

The (f)law of averages challenges a dangerous assumption we see far too often in retirement planning: The use of average life expectancy as a reliable planning target. The question is: If you make it to retirement - are you already above average - and if that's true, how do we use that in our planning? I share six key takeaways from the article: Li…

1
Live on $2,972 monthly in an RV 23:52

3M ago23:52

23:52

Could heaven be an RV in a state park? It is for Marian Barry, who became a traveling nurse after working in hospitals during the pandemic. We share this story from a Business Insider article, pointing out that she lives on $2,972 a month in Social Security and is lovig life. "I literally live in heaven." Key takeaways: Low-cost retirement living L…

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Spending Drops in Retirement, but Satisfaction Doesn't 16:13

3M ago16:13

16:13

New research from David Blanchett, head of retirement research at PGIM, challenges one of the biggest assumptions in retirement planning: that happiness in retirement depends on maintaining a constant—or even increasing—level of spending. ⬇️ Upon entering retirement, households experience a median consumption decline of about 20%. This drop is ofte…

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One Big Beautiful Podcast Episode 25:53

4M ago25:53

25:53

There is a lot to cover in this episode, including new legislation that could impact your retirement. Plus, 6 More Retirement Financial Myths to Avoid, and a listener with substantial assets who wants to know how to pay for a new car. The OBBB The One Big Beautiful Bill became public law on July 4, 2025. Included are: Lower Tax Brackets Are Now Per…

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Mailed, Stolen and Cashed: a $114,000 Retirement Check 16:19

4M ago16:19

16:19

This week’s headline reads like a financial horror story — and unfortunately, it’s a true one. 😱 33-year-old Mr. Handy changed jobs and did what millions of Americans do every year: he requested a rollover of his 401(k). Paychex, the provider managing his old employer's plan mailed him two paper checks: one for his traditional 401(k), and one for h…

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Monetizing a Hobby in Retirement 18:03

4M ago18:03

18:03

According to BankRate, 23% of Americans 60-78 have a side-hustle. Maurie Backman says in an article by Kiplinger that this would help with two key areas in retirement planning: It provides us with something fulfilling to do after our primary career and provide a little extra cash in retirement. The benefits of a side hustle: Mental Engagement Extra…

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Retirement Starts Today

Benjamin Brandt CFP®, RICP®

1
Why Advisors Should Never Recommend Social Security Claiming at 62 22:19

1
It's so Simple… 17:46

1
It’s so Simple… 17:46

1
Cut Your Retirement Stress in Half (New Vanguard Study) 22:58

1
Delay to 70? Not So Fast - The New Case for Claiming Early 27:13

1
Roth Conversions after One Big Beautiful Bill 21:29

1
Collect Social Security Early & Invest in the Market? 27:27

1
Insert Clickbait Title [Here] 19:05

1
Retirement Dreams or Retirement Nightmares? Lessons from Today's Retirees 20:59

1
Retirement Dreams or Retirement Nightmares? Lessons from Today’s Retirees 20:59

1
Why Your Old Spending Habits Won't Work in Retirement 19:07

1
Why Your Old Spending Habits Won’t Work in Retirement 19:07

1
Don't Let Your Brain Shrink Your Retirement Benefits 17:19

1
Don’t Let Your Brain Shrink Your Retirement Benefits 17:19

1
Inside the new Tax Rules for Retirees 28:38

1
Why Financial Independence is Overrated 19:22

1
The (F)Law of Averages 24:43

1
Live on $2,972 monthly in an RV 23:52

1
Spending Drops in Retirement, but Satisfaction Doesn't 16:13

1
One Big Beautiful Podcast Episode 25:53

1
Mailed, Stolen and Cashed: a $114,000 Retirement Check 16:19

1
Monetizing a Hobby in Retirement 18:03

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Why Are So Many Retirees Filing for Social Security Early? 17:52

1
The Father of the 4% Rule - an Interview with Bill Bengen 21:51

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Who Has Actually Saved $1 Million for Retirement? 15:44

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What to do with RMDs you don't need 19:04

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What to do with RMDs you don’t need 19:04

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10 Sources of Emergency Cash, Ranked From Best to Worst 20:02

1
Maximizing Memories With Money 16:00

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How Often Should I Rebalance in Retirement? 20:44