Friends Talk Money

With the stock and bond markets delivering lousy returns this year, some investors are wondering whether to add so-called alternative investments to their portfolios. In this episode, Pam, Terry and Richard discuss the risks of investing directly in unregulated asset classes like gold, real estate, commodities and even cryptocurrency and suggest ways that investors may be able to use publicly traded securities to gain indirect exposure to these alternative asset classes with lower risk. 

Two thirds of retirees get more than half of their income from Social Security. That’s why it’s critical to make the right claiming decision. In this episode, the three friends are joined by Social Security expert and bestselling author Lawrence Kotlikoff, who discusses scenarios where you might want to start taking Social Security earlier or delay starting until your full retirement age or later.  

The housing market is a perilous place right now, especially for people over 50. Prices in certain areas are out of reach for many seniors who want to relocate, yet rising mortgage rates are making it difficult for many homeowners to sell at their asking prices. In this episode, Terry, Pam and Richard weigh the pros and cons of selling or staying put, various mortgage options, moving into a retirement community, and renting.

What does the employment outlook look like for older Americans who will be looking for new jobs or want to hold on to the jobs they have? Will there still be remote or hybrid opportunities for those who don’t want to be in the office full time? And when today’s hot job market begins to cool, will there be a place for older employees in corporate America? To answer these and other questions, the three friends bring in two experts to discuss the future of the workplace and what those who want to participate in it may need to do to adapt.  

Many financial advisors are not doing much to help their clients prepare for retirement other than managing their investments. In this episode, the three friends discuss the many other ways a truly independent, fiduciary financial planner can holistically come up with a comprehensive plan to help retirees answer their many questions, from deciding when to start Social Security and choosing Medicare coverage to figuring out where and how they may want to live and determining an appropriate estate planning strategy. 

In this episode, Pam, Terry and Richard discuss the pros and cons of socially responsible investing, whose increasing popularity is being driven mainly by women. In particular, they examine whether women sacrifice returns by investing in stocks or ESG funds that align with their personal values. The answer may surprise you.  

Pam, Terry and Richard puncture the myth that holding bonds in your portfolio offsets the risks of owning stocks. For example, this year, rising interest rates have driven down the prices of existing bonds. While this may not create a problem for investors who plan to hold on to their bonds until they mature, selling them could generate huge losses for those who want to buy newer bonds with better interest rates. What should bond investors do? The three friends offer guidance to help them evaluate their options.  

Do you truly know how long the money you’ve saving in your 401(k) will last during your retirement? In this episode, Terry, Richard and Pam discuss the benefits and potential flaws of a new federal rule that will require retirement plans to start providing lifetime income statements that show much monthly income their account could generate if they started taking qualified withdrawals at age 67. For some, these statements will provide assurances that their nest egg will support their lifestyle during retirement. For others, they’ll will be a wake-up call that they need to get their retirement savings plan back on track.   

Directly rolling over a 401(k) plan to an IRA with a custodian like Fidelity, Schwab or Vanguard is something most people should do as soon as possible after they retire. Why? Because most 401(k) plan investment options are designed for people saving for retirement, rather than for those who need their nest egg to generate income to help pay for everyday expenses. Rollover IRAs offer access to a wider variety of investment options, many of which may have lower expenses than the funds in your 401(k) account. But since you may need money in your IRA to last 20 years or more, you may not feel confident making your own investment decisions. A low-cost robo-advisor can automatically invest your rollover IRA money but won’t be able to answer your questions or address your concerns. That’s why it may be worth paying more for the services of a fee-only fiduciary financial advisor. They not only can manage your investments but can come up with a comprehensive plan to address the financial opportunities and challenges you may face during retirement.  

Since the 1990s an increasing number of people are getting remarried at a later age. Couples who are entering second marriages at this point in life need to fully understand the financial implications. How much wealth and debt will they bring to the union? Whose home will the newlywed couple live in? How do you make compromises on everyday spending and bill payments? And what should each person do to safeguard their own financial interests and those of their own children while still being fair to their new spouse and their children? Since money-related issues are one of the chief causes of marital friction and divorce, it’s important to have these discussions before the marriage takes place, even if the outcome involves establishing prenuptial agreements to protect both spouses.