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Artwork for Retirement Starts Today

Retirement Starts Today

Benjamin Brandt CFP®, RICP®
Retirement Planning
Social Security
Retirement
Financial Planning
Financial Independence
Retirement Spending
Tax Planning
Roth Conversions
Inflation
4% Rule
Medicare
Investment Strategies
Stock Market
Retirement Income
Estate Planning
Taxes
Tax Strategies
Required Minimum Distributions
Annuities
Retirement Savings

Do you want to spend more money in retirement, while paying less taxes? 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 "Every Day is Saturday" weekly newsletter for show notes, free book giveaways... more

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Artwork for Retirement Starts Today

Latest Episodes

Every year, thousands of retirees pay an extra penalty to the IRS — and almost none of them see it coming.

What catches them off guard isn't a penalty for owing too much. You can do everything right — claim Social Security at the right age, run pic... more

Americans don't feel great about the economy. Consumer Sentiment just hit the lowest reading in roughly 75 years.

Ben Carlson over at A Wealth of Common Sense dug into why that might be, and what it means for those of us trying to enjoy a retiremen... more

There's a decision your surviving spouse is going to make about your IRA, after you're already gone, that can either cut short or stretch out how long your kids get to keep that money growing — and most people don't even realize the choice is being m... more

You've heard it said a hundred times: Spend the money, make the memories, don't die with regret.

However, for certain kinds of retirees, dying as the richest person in the graveyard isn't a tragedy at all. The comfort of simply having the money ca... more

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Recent Guests

Dana Anspach
Author of Living Off Your Acorns; Retirement Made Simple
Retirement Made Simple
Episode: How Super-Savers Spend Their Acorns in Retirement, with Dana Anspach
Mary Wrightson
Lifelong supersaver from Kansas who shared her retirement story
Listener featured in Retire-to-Something segment
Episode: The "24-Hour Rule" That Keeps Retirees From Blowing Their Savings
Marian Barry
Former cardiac nurse who now lives as a work camper.
Episode: Live on $2,972 monthly in an RV
Bill Bengen
Pioneer of the 4% Rule for retirement withdrawals
Episode: The Father of the 4% Rule - an Interview with Bill Bengen
Jeremy Keil
Retirement podcaster, author, and financial advisor
Retirement Revealed Podcast, Mr. Retirement YouTube channel
Episode: Top 3 Retirement Mistakes - An Interview with Mr Retirement, Ep #392
Dr. Daniel Crosby
Author and psychologist focusing on financial behaviors and retirement well-being
Author of The Soul of Wealth
Episode: The 5 Pillars of a Fulfilling Retirement (That Nobody Talks About) with Dr. Daniel Crosby, Ep #388
Joe Curry
Host of the Your Retirement Planning Simplified Podcast
Episode: For Canadian Eyes Only (bonus episode!)
Joe Saul-Sehy
Co-host of the Stacking Benjamins podcast and financial advisor with over 16 years of experience
Stacking Benjamins
Episode: Joe Saul-Sehy Shares How to Get the Most from Your Employee Benefits, Ep 386
Peter Lazaroff
Chief Investment Officer of PlanCorp
PlanCorp
Episode: Peter Lazaroff's Options for Reducing Taxes on Deferred Gains Pre-Retirement, Ep #385

Host

Benjamin Brandt
Host of the show; CFP, RICP; focuses on retirement planning and retire-to-something philosophy.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 569 ratings
  • I don’t recommend this firm

    Contacted his firm through his website and my contact info was sent to another company. Called the customer service number to find out why my contact information was forwarded to a different company and person. Who knows maybe it’s a scam- maybe he is not accepting new clients. Never heard back. At minimum I should have received a call back or explanation as to why my contact information was forwarded to an unaffiliated company. Poor customer service in my opinion. I won’t be contacting them aga... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Johnc737
    United States2 months ago
  • Absolutely invaluable information

    Hoping that the target audience for this podcast extends beyond super savers. As the offspring of super savers I promise you that they get a lot of things wrong. Life is too unpredictable to be obsessive about saving. I appreciate the information in this podcast so much. I strike a balance between just enjoying life and saving for the future.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    leftheartSF
    United States2 months ago
  • Retirement can be great

    I’m a small time investor. My brother shared this with my family, don’t know if anyone else listens or not. I listen to several podcasts a year but every time I come away with something new and insightful. Best advice I can offer is stop trying to invest on your own and hire a good fiduciary investor, but be careful not everyone who says they are a fiduciary will really look out for you, and don’t be afraid to find someone else if you need to. Always keep an eye on your financial situation a... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    bobjul
    United States4 months ago
  • Learn how to retire well!

    Benjamin teaches you all the financial and non-financial things you need to know to retire well.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jeremy Keil
    United States8 months ago
  • PLEASE stop adding the word "right" at the end of your sentences. Sept 8th episode was really bad. Terrible vocal crutch.

    Podcast Addict
    2
    BOBO
    10 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Audience notes the mix of financial insights and real-life retirement stories is highly engaging.
Listeners find the host's approach actionable and down-to-earth.
The show is valued as a reliable, data-driven retirement resource.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Consumer Sentiment is Terrible
Q: How can I convince my spouse that we have enough money to start spending in retirement?
Focus on what you can test and experience together rather than the math alone; propose concrete, small experiments (one trip, one upgrade) and use real-world outcomes to build confidence, then expand as comfort grows.
The Richest Person in the Graveyard
Q: What should a highly frugal retiree do if they acknowledge they enjoy saving but also want to loosen up sometimes?
Recognize that not being broken or needing fixing is valid; explore small, deliberate experiments—like gifting experiences or planning one meaningful splurge—to test limits without undermining long-term security. Convert some inheritance into memories or shared experiences with loved ones, and gradually reframe spending as purchases of value rather than consumption.
The IRA Decision That Affects Your Kids
Q: What options exist for disclaiming an inherited IRA, and what should people consider before proceeding?
Disclaiming is an irrevocable choice that can delay or redirect assets to contingent beneficiaries, but it requires upfront planning with estate documents, state law, and custodian rules to avoid unintended results; a professional should review the plan.
The Best Strategies for Boosting Starting Withdrawal Rates in Retirement
Q: Do you think a retiree is generally out of the woods with good returns both five years before and five years after their actual retirement?
Yes, the consensus is that sequence of returns risk is heavily concentrated around the 10-year window centered on retirement, and after that period the math becomes friendlier, allowing for higher withdrawals with guardrails.
The "24-Hour Rule" That Keeps Retirees From Blowing Their Savings
Q: So a listener writes in, how do I switch from saving for decades to a spending mindset?
The host suggests a mental model where you acknowledge the identity shift from a lifelong saver to a spender by using a framework (half for me, half for you) and experimenting with controlled, pre-budgeted spending while gathering data on what actually brings joy.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Retirement Starts Today

What is Retirement Starts Today about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A practical, multifaceted look at retirement that blends financial planning with meaning-driven living. Episodes frequently cover spending strategies, tax planning, Social Security optimization, and real-world retire-to-something stories from guests and audience members. The host translates complex concepts into actionable steps, often pairing data-driven advice with relatable retiree experiences, listener questions, and guest segments to illustrate how people pursue purpose after work. Noteworthy are concise, 15-minute formats, a steady rhythm of listener Q&As, and a recurring focus on aligning money with lifestyle goals beyond traditional saving alone.

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Which podcasts are similar to Retirement Starts Today?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Retirement Starts Today:

1. Stay Wealthy Retirement Podcast
2. Retirement Answer Man
3. Sound Retirement Radio
4. Ready For Retirement
5. Big Picture Retirement®

How many episodes of Retirement Starts Today are there?

Retirement Starts Today launched 11 years ago and published 407 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Retirement Starts Today?

Recent guests on Retirement Starts Today include:

1. Dana Anspach
2. Mary Wrightson
3. Marian Barry
4. Bill Bengen
5. Jeremy Keil
6. Dr. Daniel Crosby
7. Joe Curry
8. Joe Saul-Sehy

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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