Best Rob Berger Podcasts (2024)

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

2h 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

4h 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

2h 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

1h 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

20m 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

3h 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

13m 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
RBS 142: 7 Timeless Investing Principles That Never Change 15:00

4h 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

1d 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

3d 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

16d 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

8d 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

10d 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…

1
RBS 137: Maximizing FDIC Insurance: How to Ensure Your Bank Accounts Are Fully Protected 14:56

11d ago14:56

14:56

With the collapse of SVB and Signature Bank, I've received a lot of questions about FDIC insurance. In this video, we'll cover the basics of how FDIC insurance works. I'll also show you a free tool from the FDIC you can use to calculate your FDIC coverage. Join the newsletter: https://robberger.com/newsletter/?utm... FDIC FAQ: https://www.fdic.gov/…

1
RBS 136: Vanguard Class Action Lawsuit Over Target Date Funds to Move Forward 15:49

12d ago15:49

15:49

In December 2020, Vanguard made some changes to its Target Date Funds. The changes benefits large, institutional investors by lowering costs. But it hurt small, retail investors who held target funds in taxable accounts. The result was that in 2021, these small investors got hit with massive capital gains. In response, a class action lawsuit was fi…

1
RBS 135: How to Implement the 4% Rule 18:23

13d ago18:23

18:23

A viewer asked me a series of questions about the nuts and bolts of using the 4% Rule. I do my best to respond to his questions in this episode. Join the newsletter: https://robberger.com/newsletter/?utm...By Rob Berger

1
RBS 134: How Much Cash Should You Hold in Retirement? 16:25

19d ago16:25

16:25

Many things change when we retire. There’s the obvious change–we stop working. And there’s a less obvious change–how we approach cash. Before retirement, we might have an emergency fund of three to six months’ worth of living expenses. After retirement, we need cash for so much more. The ideal cash reserve depends on individual circumstances, inclu…

1
Rachel Cusk on Art, Violence and Freedom through Destruction 1:00:16

1M ago1:00:16

1:00:16

The biographies of several artists, all named G, form a kind of exoskeleton to Rachel Cusk’s latest novel Parade, encasing the book’s other captivating strands—the story of an unprovoked attack on a Parisian street, the story of a couple on a remote island, the story of a suicide at a museum, the story of the death of a mother. Elements which thems…

1
RBS 133: Decoding The "Chance of Success" In Your Retirement Plan 16:00

30d ago16:00

16:00

You enter your income, expenses, investments, and liabilities into your favorite retirement planner. You click a button, the software does some kind of calculation, and out pops a single number. It may be 87%. Maybe it’s 72%. Or it could be 15%. Whatever the number, you’re told it represents your retirement plan’s “Chance of Success.” What exactly …

1
When Radical Art meets Obscene Wealth, with Hari Kunzru 56:55

1M ago56:55

56:55

Last week we were joined in the bookshop by Hari Kunzru, whose new novel Blue Ruin is a deeply unsettling, and intensely thought provoking reflection on the impact capital has on people, but also on art, and those who create it. It is the perfect final instalment—alongside White Tears and Red Pill—in Hari Kunzru’s own trois couleurs —a loose trilog…

1
Sheila Heti on Alphabetical Diaries 50:07

2M ago50:07

50:07

Last week we were joined by the wonderful Sheila Heti to celebrate the launch of her Alphabetical Diaries. In taking a decade of her journals, sorting the sentences alphabetically, then paring them down to about a tenth of their original length, Sheila Heti has freed a slice of her life from the shackles of time and in doing so has extracted some o…

1
RBS 132: New iBond Rates for May 2024 11:40

2M ago11:40

11:40

The treasury department released the new I Bond rates today. They came in at 4.28%, which included a fixed rate of 1.30%, unchanged from the previous six months. https://treasurydirect.gov/savings-bo... Join the Newsletter. It's Free: https://robberger.com/newsletter/?utm...By Rob Berger

1
BONUS: Celebrating Dylan Thomas with Cerys Matthews…with exclusive live music from Flora Hibberd! 57:26

2M ago57:26

57:26

To celebrate Dylan Thomas Day 2024 we’re delighted to share this recording of our recent event with award-winning songwriter, author and broadcaster Cerys Matthews. The evening also featured live music from Flora Hibberd and her band, including a brand new song composed for this evening. Enjoy! More from Cerys Matthews: Out of Chaos Comes Bliss: ht…

1
Viet Thanh Nguyen on Memory, Migration and Model Minorities 1:03:03

2M ago1:03:03

1:03:03

A few weeks ago, we welcomed Pulitzer Prizewinner Viet Thanh Nguyen to Shakespeare and Company to discuss his engrossing new work A Man of Two Faces: A Memoir, A History, A Memorial, a book about family, and memory, and storytelling, and history, on all the levels that it impacts upon a life. Buy A Man of Two Faces here: https://www.shakespeareandc…

1
RBS 131: Rewards Stacking: How I Build Wealth with Credit Card Rewards 18:33

3M ago18:33

18:33

Several years ago, I stumbled upon a quote from Dave Ramsey about credit card rewards. I’ll never forget those 11 words. : “No one ever says they got rich off of credit card points.” As I read his words, I knew immediately that he was wrong. One could build wealth through credit card rewards. In this sense, credit card rewards aren’t special. Savin…

1
Ottessa Moshfegh on bringing Eileen to the screen 1:02:16

3M ago1:02:16

1:02:16

A few weeks ago we welcomed Ottessa Moshfegh to Shakespeare and Company. That night we’re headed almost back to where it all began by revisiting Moshfegh’s second book Eileen, the small town noir that propelled this experimental writer into the bestseller charts and onto the Booker shortlist. Eileen has just been adapted into a Hollywood film—direc…

1
RBS 130: Fidelity vs Vanguard vs Schwab: My Take Having Used All 3 for 20+ Years 14:05

3M ago14:05

14:05

In this episode, we'll look at three of the largest investing platforms, Fidelity, Vanguard, and Schwab. I'll share 7 things based on using these platforms for 20+ years.By Rob Berger

1
Percival Everett on James, his subversive reimagining of Huckleberry Finn 34:56

3M ago34:56

34:56

James—the new novel by Percival Everett—retells, reframes, and reimagines Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from the perspective of Jim, the black man whose flight from slavery quickly entangles with the journey of Huck, on the run after faking his own death to escape his violent father. James gives us the events of Twain’s picaresque…

1
RBS 129: Robinhood 3% IRA Match: Gimmick or Gold Mine? 15:50

4M ago15:50

15:50

Robinhood is promoting up to a 3% match on IRA contributions, and for a limited time, a 3% match on IRA transfers. A viewer asked me if I thought this was a good deal. In this video I'll share my thoughts on the program, some of the things to look out for, and why I ultimately decided not to transfer my IRAs to Robinhood. Join the Newsletter. It's …

1
On Allen Ginsberg: His life, his work and his archives, with Pat Thomas and Peter Hale 40:13

4M ago40:13

40:13

We were joined by countercultural historian Pat Thomas, and Peter Hale, manager of the Ginsberg estate, and discover their new collaboration Material Wealth Mining the Personal Archive of Allen Ginsberg. * A prolific poet, raconteur, activist, and thinker, Allen Ginsberg was also a prolific collector, meticulously saving letters, postcards, draft n…

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