March 2024 Best of the Web

This month’s resources start by exploring the impact of rising interest rates on your retirement planning. We’ll also contrast the difference between investing and speculating.

Articles from people on both sides of the work/retirement decision question whether early retirement should be the goal. We’ll explore expert insights on lowering your tax burden and retirement planning.

Resources explore new developments that may drastically be lowering the cost of financial advice and real estate commissions. Finally, as winter turns to spring, I close out with some tips to keep you active and injury-free. Let’s dive in!

The Impacts of Higher Interest Rates on Retirement Planning

Christine Benz explores the impact on investment returns, safe withdrawal rates, asset allocation decisions in our new interest rate environment. She writes How Rising Interest Rates Affect Your Retirement Plan.

Benz follows this up with a look at non-portfolio related retirement decisions, writing 3 Key Retirement Decisions Affected By Higher Yields. Of particular interest was the impact higher yields have on the decision to delay claiming Social Security.

Investing Vs. Speculating

John Rekenthaler reports on the success of index funds which occurred gradually and then all of a sudden and the ongoing positive impact they provide investors, writing Index Funds Have Officially Won.

At the other end of the investment/speculation spectrum, Nick Maggiulli shares his thoughts on Bitcoin recently reaching new all time highs, writing More People Buy, Number Go Up.

Should Early Retirement Be THE Goal?

Ben Carlson provides a reminder to enjoy some of your time and money while you are able rather than waiting for retirement. He writes Avoiding Burnout & a Mid-Life Crisis.

Richard Quinn waited until his late 60’s to retire. He spent little to no time planning what he would do in retirement. And he reports having no regrets, writing Retiring on My Terms.

Lowering Your Taxes

Rick Ferri hosted Kaye Thomas on the Bogleheads on Investing Podcast where they discussed income taxes and how to lower them.

Retirement Planning Insights

Meg Bartelt shared planning insights she gained in obtaining a Retirement Income Certified Professional, writing Why Did I Get a Retirement Professional Designation?.

Industry Changers

A little over a year ago I joined Abundo Wealth, a low-cost advice-only financial planning firm. What attracted me was the excitement of being part of a team figuring out how to scale this model and change the industry. Our goal is to disrupt traditional commission-based and asset under management models of delivering financial advice by creating a widely available alternative.

This month, Abundo founder Eric Simonson was on Michael Kitces’ Financial Advisor Success Podcast. There he shared the challenges we’ve faced in pursuit of this goal and how we’re overcoming those challenges while growing rapidly.

Another financial model that is overdue for change is paying a standard 6% commission on real estate sales. Christine Romans and Rob Wile report What the recent National Association of Realtors’ $418 Million settlement means for consumers and real estate brokers. It will be interesting to see how this shakes out over the coming months, hopefully to consumer’s benefit.

Spring Into the Outdoor Season

While I’m personally trying to squeeze out a few more weeks of ski season, I’m sure many of you are excited for the warmer temperatures of spring and opportunities to get back outside. As you do, it is important to not get overzealous and take yourself out of the game. Jenessa Connor lays out 6 Fitness Myths That Can Hurt Your Hiking.

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[Chris Mamula used principles of traditional retirement planning, combined with creative lifestyle design, to retire from a career as a physical therapist at age 41. After poor experiences with the financial industry early in his professional life, he educated himself on investing and tax planning. After achieving financial independence, Chris began writing about wealth building, DIY investing, financial planning, early retirement, and lifestyle design at Can I Retire Yet? He is also the primary author of the book Choose FI: Your Blueprint to Financial Independence. Chris also does financial planning with individuals and couples at Abundo Wealth, a low-cost, advice-only financial planning firm with the mission of making quality financial advice available to populations for whom it was previously inaccessible. Chris has been featured on MarketWatch, Morningstar, U.S. News & World Report, and Business Insider. He has spoken at events including the Bogleheads and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants annual conferences. Blog inquiries can be sent to chris@caniretireyet.com. Financial planning inquiries can be sent to chris@abundowealth.com]

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