Good morning, Retirement Starts Today Community. Welcome to "Every Day is Saturday," the newsletter reminding us that in retirement, every day is Saturday (including Thursday mornings).​​​

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Coming Soon: Interview with the Father of the 4% Rule​
In just a few weeks, I’ll be sitting down with Bill Bengen, the Father of the 4% rule, right here on the podcast. If you have any questions for him- now is your chance!
Hit reply to this email with your questions, and I’ll do my best to include them in the interview.

Episode Breakdown

Episode #401: Memories > Money & “T-Bills and Chill”​
(0:00) Kicking things off with a reflection on peak experiences — and why they might be retirement’s real ROI
(5:30) Retirement Headline: Why Sahil Bloom says you’ve already spent 95% of your time with your kids
(18:15) Listener Question: Wendell asks if it’s time to ditch stocks and “T-Bills & Chill”

​Listen on Spotify | Listen on Apple​

Retirement Headline: Maximizing Memories with Money

Source: Forbes, by Tim Maurer
Featuring: research from the American Time Use Survey & commentary by Sahil Bloom

Here’s the quote that got me:

Now that’s a stat that stops you in your tracks. And while it might sting, Maurer’s advice is not to feel guilty—it’s to get intentional. As retirees, we’ve got the freedom and flexibility to spend money where it really counts: on time, experiences, and shared memories.

Four ways to turn money into memories:

1. Listen & Learn – Let moments of curiosity guide meaningful lessons.
2. Create Curiosity – Follow their interests (concerts, gardens, train rides — you name it).
3. Build Together – Rotate who picks the next experience and co-create joy.
4. Build Up & Look Back – Anticipate the fun, then reflect and savor it afterward.

This stuff is why we save. Sure, Roth conversions are cool — but converting dollars into memories? That’s even cooler.

(Shameless plug: this concept lives in Retirement Starts Today, the book).

Listener Question of the Week:

“Is it time to ditch the stock market and just ‘T-Bills & Chill’?”

From Wendell, a retiree with guaranteed income (pension + Social Security) and a love for low-risk, high-yield T-bills.

My take:

The good: You’ve got a secure income floor and access to juicy short-term yields
The risk: Inflation. Today’s 5% yields feel great — but they won’t double your retirement income over 30 years
Why stocks still matter: They hedge longevity risk, fund long-term care, and outpace inflation over decades
Bonus insight: Foreign stocks — often the portfolio scapegoats — are actually crushing it in 2024 YTD

The strategy? Don’t quit the stock market — reframe your approach:
Think in buckets or guardrails. Allocate a 3–5 year “runway” of income outside the market. That’s not market timing — that’s stress management.

As I told Wendell, T-Bills & Chill might sound relaxing, but inflation never sleeps. Let's hedge that future while enjoying the now.

Quick Tip:

If you’re planning a peak experience, let the anticipation work for you.
Talk about it, plan it, and look forward to it — you’ll get twice the happiness return (before and after).

Resources Mentioned:​
​“A Method for Maximizing Memories with Money” - Forbes​
​Order the Book: Retirement Starts Today​
​

That’s it for episode 401 of Every Day is Saturday. As always, hit reply with your questions — I read and (usually) respond to every single one. You might even hear your question on the show!

Have a great “Saturday,”
Benjamin Brandt