Mike and Al tackles advanced, often-missed scenarios like coordinating survivor benefits, divorced-spouse rules (10-year marriage requirement), and how claiming choices affect a widow(er)’s long-term income. They walk through sequencing strategies that blend delayed retirement credits with IRA/Roth withdrawals to reduce lifetime taxes and IRMAA surcharges. Special edge cases - public pensions triggering WEP/GPO, filing while self-employed, and timing around earnings tests get practical do’s and don’ts. The takeaway: optimize Social Security at the household level by integrating benefits with tax, healthcare, and estate planning, not by treating it as a one-and-done decision.

Mike and Al tackles advanced, often-missed scenarios like coordinating survivor benefits, divorced-spouse rules (10-year marriage requirement), and how claiming choices affect a widow(er)&rsquo;s long-term income. They walk through sequencing strategies that blend delayed retirement credits with IRA/Roth withdrawals to reduce lifetime taxes and IRMAA surcharges. Special edge cases - public pensions triggering WEP/GPO, filing while self-employed, and timing around earnings tests get practical do&rsquo;s and don&rsquo;ts. The takeaway: optimize Social Security at the household level by integrating benefits with tax, healthcare, and estate planning, not by treating it as a one-and-done decision.

01-31-26 Social Security Part 3

Mike and Al moves beyond the basics into strategy - how couples can coordinate filing ages, sequence survivor benefits, and weigh break-even analysis when one spouse has much higher earnings. They cover tax and Medicare interactions (IRMAA surcharges, provisional income thresholds) and how Roth conversions or drawing from IRAs first can reduce lifetime taxes on benefits. Special cases like the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP), Government Pension Offset (GPO), and claiming while still working get practical do’s and don’ts to avoid surprises. The takeaway: maximize household lifetime benefits by integrating Social Security timing with taxes, healthcare, and overall retirement cash-flow not as a stand-alone decision.

Mike and Al moves beyond the basics into strategy - how couples can coordinate filing ages, sequence survivor benefits, and weigh break-even analysis when one spouse has much higher earnings. They cover tax and Medicare interactions (IRMAA surcharges, provisional income thresholds) and how Roth conversions or drawing from IRAs first can reduce lifetime taxes on benefits. Special cases like the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP), Government Pension Offset (GPO), and claiming while still working get practical do&rsquo;s and don&rsquo;ts to avoid surprises. The takeaway: maximize household lifetime benefits by integrating Social Security timing with taxes, healthcare, and overall retirement cash-flow not as a stand-alone decision.

01/24/26 Social Security Part 2

Mike and Al covers claiming basics - full retirement age, early vs. delayed credits, and how lifetime earnings history determines your benefit. They explain spousal, divorced-spouse, and survivor benefits, and how working while claiming can trigger the earnings test before full retirement age. Taxes and coordination matter: up to 85% of benefits can be taxable depending on provisional income, and timing should be integrated with IRA withdrawals and pensions. The key takeaway: treat Social Security as part of an overall retirement income plan rather than a standalone decision.

Mike and Al covers claiming basics - full retirement age, early vs. delayed credits, and how lifetime earnings history determines your benefit. They explain spousal, divorced-spouse, and survivor benefits, and how working while claiming can trigger the earnings test before full retirement age. Taxes and coordination matter: up to 85% of benefits can be taxable depending on provisional income, and timing should be integrated with IRA withdrawals and pensions. The key takeaway: treat Social Security as part of an overall retirement income plan rather than a standalone decision.

01/17/26 Social Security Part 1

Mike and Al lay out seven bedrock habits for compounding over decades start with clear goals and the right risk mix, diversify broadly, and automate saving so contributions continue through all markets. They stress discipline over prediction: stick to a written plan, rebalance on schedule, and ignore headline-driven tinkering. Costs and taxes matter, so they emphasize low-cost vehicles and smart account placement to minimize drag on returns. The takeaway: consistency, patience, and process - not stock-picking heroics - are what carry investors to their long-term goals.

Mike and Al lay out seven bedrock habits for compounding over decades start with clear goals and the right risk mix, diversify broadly, and automate saving so contributions continue through all markets. They stress discipline over prediction: stick to a written plan, rebalance on schedule, and ignore headline-driven tinkering. Costs and taxes matter, so they emphasize low-cost vehicles and smart account placement to minimize drag on returns. The takeaway: consistency, patience, and process - not stock-picking heroics - are what carry investors to their long-term goals.

7 Principles of Long Term Investing

Mike and Al continues their deep dive into how real estate fits into a diversified retirement and investment plan - contrasting direct ownership, REITs, and private placements. They highlight tax advantages such as depreciation, 1031 exchanges, and using self-directed IRAs for property investments, while cautioning against overleveraging or illiquidity risks. Discussion includes how rental income can supplement retirement cash flow and hedge inflation if managed prudently. The key takeaway: real estate can be a valuable wealth-building tool when approached with strategy, due diligence, and awareness of its unique risks and rewards.

Mike and Al continues their deep dive into how real estate fits into a diversified retirement and investment plan - contrasting direct ownership, REITs, and private placements. They highlight tax advantages such as depreciation, 1031 exchanges, and using self-directed IRAs for property investments, while cautioning against overleveraging or illiquidity risks. Discussion includes how rental income can supplement retirement cash flow and hedge inflation if managed prudently. The key takeaway: real estate can be a valuable wealth-building tool when approached with strategy, due diligence, and awareness of its unique risks and rewards.

01/03/25 Estate Strategies Part 2

Mike and Al lays out the building blocks of an estate plan - wills vs. revocable living trusts, proper titling, and keeping beneficiary designations current to avoid probate surprises. They stress pairing financial powers of attorney and healthcare directives with your plan so someone you trust can act if you’re incapacitated. Taxes get practical airtime: understanding step-up in basis, when lifetime gifting makes sense, and how to coordinate IRA/401(k) beneficiaries with the overall plan. The takeaway: document your intentions clearly and align accounts, beneficiaries, and legal documents so your wishes are carried out efficiently and tax-smart.

Mike and Al lays out the building blocks of an estate plan - wills vs. revocable living trusts, proper titling, and keeping beneficiary designations current to avoid probate surprises. They stress pairing financial powers of attorney and healthcare directives with your plan so someone you trust can act if you&rsquo;re incapacitated. Taxes get practical airtime: understanding step-up in basis, when lifetime gifting makes sense, and how to coordinate IRA/401(k) beneficiaries with the overall plan. The takeaway: document your intentions clearly and align accounts, beneficiaries, and legal documents so your wishes are carried out efficiently and tax-smart.

12-27-25 Estate Strategies Part 1

Mike and Al outlines five core practices that help retirees maintain peace of mind regardless of market swings or news headlines. They emphasize having a written income plan, keeping at least one to two years of cash or short-term reserves, reviewing spending habits regularly, and rebalancing portfolios to stay aligned with risk tolerance. Other confidence-boosters include minimizing debt, knowing your guaranteed income sources, and continuing purposeful activities like volunteering, mentoring, or part-time work to replace the sense of structure a career once provided. The key message: confidence in retirement isn’t about predicting markets - it’s about clarity, preparation, and staying engaged with both your finances and your life.

Mike and Al outlines five core practices that help retirees maintain peace of mind regardless of market swings or news headlines. They emphasize having a written income plan, keeping at least one to two years of cash or short-term reserves, reviewing spending habits regularly, and rebalancing portfolios to stay aligned with risk tolerance. Other confidence-boosters include minimizing debt, knowing your guaranteed income sources, and continuing purposeful activities like volunteering, mentoring, or part-time work to replace the sense of structure a career once provided. The key message: confidence in retirement isn&rsquo;t about predicting markets - it&rsquo;s about clarity, preparation, and staying engaged with both your finances and your life.

Money Matters with Al & Mike

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