Best Rob Berger Podcasts (2024)

1
RBS 154: Where to Keep Cash After the Fed Lowers Rates by 50 Basis Points 13:59

2h ago13:59

13:59

Yesterday the Fed lowered the Fed Funds rate by 1/2 of a percent. The prime rate followed, going from 8.5% to 8.0%. Rates on everything from credit cards to savings accounts to CDs also went down. And the rates on bonds and mortgages continued to decline. Given all of this, where are the best places to keep your cash? The Fed's Statement: https://w…

1
Practical Reasons Why "Retirement Success" Can Still Be Painful | Rob Berger - E88 43:48

16d ago43:48

43:48

Referring back to his article, Fundamentals Of Retirement: Is the Summit “Good Enough?”, Jesse uses an experience hiking in the Adirondack Mountains as a metaphor to explore retirement preparedness. He recounts how being poorly equipped for a challenging hike can mirror the pitfalls of entering retirement without thorough planning - you might reach…

1
RBS 153: How to Manage Inflation During Retirement 23:38

3h ago23:38

23:38

While stock market returns get most of the attention when it comes to retirement portfolios, we should be equally concerned with inflation. In this video, I walk through how to incorporate inflation assumptions into a retirement plan using New Retirement planning software. Join the Newsletter. It's Free: https://robberger.com/newsletter/?utm...…

1
RBS 152: How to Customize the Order of Account Withdrawals in New Retirement (Boldin) 21:12

24m ago21:12

21:12

New Retirement (Boldin): https://robberger.com/new-retirement New Retirement, which just changed its name to Boldin, has launched a new feature that makes it easy to customize the order of accounts you use to fund your retirement. In this video, we'll look at the new feature and some advanced strategies on how to use it. Join the Newsletter. It's F…

1
Rachel Kushner on Creation Lake (Booker Prize SHORTLIST 2024) 55:28

6d ago55:28

55:28

Rachel Kushner’s fourth novel Creation Lake is a spy novel stacked with ideas. As our fast-thinking, gun-packing protagonist wends her way down to the south of France, charged—by forces unknown—with infiltrating and sowing chaos at a commune of eco-warriors, her mission leads her into exhilarating reflections on activism, on charisma, on neandertha…

1
Societal Challenges and the “Money World” Don't Always Mix | Katie Gatti Tassin - E89 1:12:28

2d ago1:12:28

1:12:28

Jesse explores the intricacies of student loan forgiveness, highlighting the fallacy that loans can simply vanish without consequence. He argues that the financial burden ultimately falls on taxpayers and critiques the notion that the U.S. government can "magically" eliminate student debt. Jesse explains the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) p…

1
Ferdia Lennon on Glorious Exploits 42:04

8d ago42:04

42:04

Our guest in the writer’s studio this week is Ferdia Lennon, whose debut novel Glorious Exploits depicts the ancient world in a way readers will never have experienced it before. Set in Syracuse in 412 BC, after the catastrophic attempt by Athens to invade the city, Lampo and Gelon, two out-of-work potters, have the harebrained idea of staging a pr…

1
RBS 151: 3 Key Social Security Claiming Strategies 13:28

11d ago13:28

13:28

When to claim Social Security benefits is one of the most critical questions we'll answer in retirement. In this video, we'll look at the 3 most common strategies and a framework for making a decision. We'll cover strategies if you never been married, married, divorced or widowed. Join the Newsletter. It's Free: https://robberger.com/newsletter/?ut…

1
Roxy Dunn on As Young As This 37:35

15d ago37:35

37:35

Our guest this week is Roxy Dunn, whose debut novel As Young As This is a meticulous examination of the lives and loves of young women today. Told, strikingly, in the second person, it is structured by the the succession of first boys, then men in the protagonist Margot’s life, and populated by dysfunctional friends and a wisecracking, but deeply c…

1
Poetry: Ishion Hutchinson reads from and discusses School of Instructions 47:31

30d ago47:31

47:31

School of Instructions, the latest work by Ishion Hutchinson, draws from the time he spent in the archive of the Imperial War Museum, to foreground the experience—brutal, significant, but long overlooked—of West Indian volunteers in the First World War. This book length poem is a sensorial voyage into the convoys, garrisons and trenches of the Midd…

1
RBS 150: Some Calming Thoughts on Today's Stock Market Decline 17:28

25d ago17:28

17:28

The stock market has declined so far today, with the S&P 500 down more than 3% as I type these words. So I thought I'd share my perspective about what's going on. Join the Newsletter. It's Free: https://robberger.com/newsletter/?utm...By Rob Berger

1
Michael Donkor on Grow Where They Fall 1:00:38

30d ago1:00:38

1:00:38

This week’s guest is Michael Donkor whose new novel Grow Where They Fall is a meticulous and tender exploration of two formative moments in the life of one Kwame Akromah, twenty years apart. Kwame is Black, Gay, British of Ghanian descent, a dedicated teacher, a dependable friend—character traits and conditions of life that weave around each other …

1
How To Secure an Edge Against “Sequence of Returns” Risk | Tyler of Portfolio Charts - E87 52:18

1M ago52:18

52:18

In today’s opening monologue, Jesse explores the concept of Sequence of Returns Risk, a crucial and often misunderstood threat to retirees, by illustrating how poor returns early in a retirement can severely impact long-term stability. He emphasizes the importance of diversification. Jesse then introduces the idea of path dependence, drawing parall…

1
Writing Against Normality, with Samanta Schweblin 1:02:53

1M ago1:02:53

1:02:53

The seven stories in Samanta Schweblin’s Seven Empty Houses are not just about houses—how they contain us, how they constrain us—but are also about the families compressed in them, the objects stored in them, the neighbours that circle them…and the trauma that has soaked into their walls over years past, and that is now seeping slowly out, poisonin…

1
Parenting in the age of AI, with Helen Phillips 52:34

2M ago52:34

52:34

So much has been written about the imminent transformation that Artificial Intelligence will bring to our world. But it is often hard to get much of a sense of what that will mean on a personal level—for our work, for our leisure and, perhaps most importantly of all, for our families. What improvements will result? What new tensions will arise? Wha…

1
RBS 149: 12 Things You Must Know About A Backdoor Roth IRA (Including If It's Worth The Hassle) 19:26

2M ago19:26

19:26

Today we take a deep dive into a Backdoor Roth IRA. This strategy enables high-income earners to get money into a Roth IRA. We'll walk through what you need to know, and crunch some numbers to see if a Backdoor Roth IRA is worth the hassle. Join the Newsletter. It's Free: https://robberger.com/newsletter/?utm...…

1
Should I Drain My 401k to Pay Off My Mortgage? | AMA #2 with Jesse - E86 48:23

2M ago48:23

48:23

In today’s AMA, Jesse delves into various financial dilemmas and strategies to maximize benefits and secure a stable retirement. The first question comes from Mindy, a 50-year-old widow, weighing the pros and cons of remarrying due to its potential impact on her survivor benefits. Jesse explains the complexities of Social Security spousal and survi…

1
RBS 148: 8 Ways Retirees Can the Fear of Investing in Stocks 17:37

2M ago17:37

17:37

It can be scary for retirees to invest in the stock market. At the same time, investing in just fixed income can expose us to the risk of running out of money. So in this episode I walk through 8 things to consider if you are nervous about investing in stocks. New Retirement: https://go.robberger.com/new-retireme... Join the Newsletter. It's Free: …

1
RBS 147: How to Retire Before Taking Social Security | Bridge the Social Security Gap 23:23

2M ago23:23

23:23

In this episode, we'll examine how to retire before taking Social Security. This is an ideal strategy for many to maximize Social Security retirement benefits. Join the Newsletter. It's Free: https://robberger.com/newsletter/?utm...By Rob Berger

1
Creating Life from Art, with Catherine Lacey 58:12

2M ago58:12

58:12

We recently welcomed Catherine Lacey to the bookshop to discuss her vertiginous latest novel Biography of X. Ostensibly the quest of a journalist, C.M. Lucca, to discover more about the life of her late wife—an artist who went by many names, but who she knew only as X—it quickly becomes clear that, in Biography of X, it’s not just one life being ca…

1
RBS 146: Why Dave Ramsey's 8% Retirement Withdrawal Is So Dangerous (Hint: Sequence of Returns Risk) 14:09

2M ago14:09

14:09

This is a follow-up to my episode on Dave Ramsey's belief that retirees can start with an 8% withdrawal rate, adjust the amount each year by inflation, and be perfectly fine in retirement. The problem that Dave seems to have overlooked is what is known as sequence of returns risk. In his analysis, he uses average market returns and average inflatio…

1
RBS 145: 3 Simple Ways to Invest All of Your Money After You Retire 17:24

2M ago17:24

17:24

Target date retirement funds are a simple solution to save for retirement. But what about once you retire? Are there single-fund solutions you can use for all of your investments once you retire? This episode will look at several options for one-fund investments in retirement. Keep in mind that these funds are best suited for tax-advantaged account…

1
RBS 144: Remembering Charlie Munger (1924-2023) 9:16

2M ago9:16

9:16

With the passing of Charlie Munger at the age of 99, I thought it appropriate to share 5 things I've learned from him over the years. Poor Charlie's Almanack: https://amzn.to/4a1JF63 Join the Newsletter. It's Free: https://robberger.com/newsletter/?utm...By Rob Berger

1
Paul Murray on The Bee Sting 1:05:31

2M ago1:05:31

1:05:31

Set in small-town, post-crash Ireland, The Bee Sting follows the Barnes family—Dickie, Imelda, Cass and PJ—as the fabric of their lives first frays at the edges, then begins to unravel completely. The Barnes’ are endearing, and complex, and funny, and infuriating… In short, one of the most realistic and memorable portrayals of a family you’ll find …

1
RBS 143: How to Create Walk-Through Videos of Your Finances For Your Spouse 20:24

2M ago20:24

20:24

In many couples, one person handles the money and the other thinks as little as possible about it. That's certainly true with my wife. To help her, should I pass away, I created what I call the Blue Binder. To supplement the binder, I've started creating videos where I share my computer screen and walk through our finances. This allows me to show h…

1
Red Flag Finance Scams on the Big, Scary Internet | Rachael Camp - E85 1:03:37

2M ago1:03:37

1:03:37

Jesse starts by sharing two of his blog posts in today’s monologue. The first post, “The Answers are Here, But…”, expands on William Gibson’s quote, “The future is already here. It’s just not evenly distributed, yet.” Jesse draws a connection between Gibson’s quote and the distribution of financial literacy, explaining that The Best Interest is par…

1
RBS 142: 7 Timeless Investing Principles That Never Change 15:00

2M ago15:00

15:00

Change is everywhere: AI, the climate, interest rates, global conflict, and inflation, to name a few. So often, investors try to predict where all this craziness will take us so they can position their portfolio. Perhaps a better question to ask is what isn't going to change. Here are 7 timeless truths about successful investing that apply no matte…

1
RBS 141: The New IRA Gift Annuity--Make A Charitable Contribution & Get A Lifetime Fixed Annuity All In One 8:40

2M ago8:40

8:40

The new Secure Act 2.0 introduced the IRA Gift Annuity starting this year. It allows you to make a one-time charitable contribution out of an IRA for as much as $50,000 and get monthly income for life. Join the newsletter: https://robberger.com/newsletter/?utm...By Rob Berger

1
RBS 140: How Does Your Investment Advisor Compare To A 3-Fund Portfolio 15:32

2M ago15:32

15:32

So you've been using an investment advisor to manage your investments. They have your money in 10, 15, 20 or even more funds! And you start to wonder just how the performance of this absurd portfolio compares to a simple, 2, 3 or perhaps 4 fund portfolio. Here's how to evaluate your advisor's portfolio with a free tool. Join the newsletter: https:/…

1
RBS 139: Flexible Spending and Early Retirement: A Perfect Match or Just a Myth? 30:48

2M ago30:48

30:48

Can one retire early if they have the ability to significantly cut back on discretionary spending during retirement if they must? A recent article on the MadFientist blog claims that following a Discretionary Spending Rule in retirement can significantly increase a retirees Safe Withdrawal Rate. And with a higher SWR, one can retire early. Karsten …

1
RBS 138: At What Age Should You Claim Social Security? Longevity vs Actuarial Method 17:07

3M ago17:07

17:07

When should you claim Social Security? It's an important question. One study found that retirees have lost $3.4 trillion because they started taking Social Security too early. In this episode we'll look at two strategies. One optimizes Social Security assuming you and your spouse will live long past your life expectancy. The other optimizes the cla…

1
Claire Kilroy on Parenting under the Patriarchy 54:57

3M ago54:57

54:57

A woman tells her son about his early life. About the months and years that he will by now have forgotten. When he was a baby, then a toddler, and when she was going into battle every day. For him first, and only then for herself. It’s a battle fought on many fronts. Against exhaustion, against time, against the loss of selfhood, against an increas…

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