Welcome to This Week in Retirement

The promise of This Week in Retirement:​
If you only have 15–30 minutes per week to dedicate to learning more about retirement planning, I’ve got you covered.

Retirement planning is both my job and my hobby. Every week, I read dozens of articles and watch or listen to hours of podcasts and YouTube videos.
​Every Thursday, I’ll share the best options from each category.

Pick a few. Skip the rest. You’re covered.

📰 Best in Retirement News

​Is It Possible to Invest Ethically?​​

This article walks through the idea of ethical investing and why it’s more complicated than it sounds. It explains that while many investors want their portfolios to reflect their values, defining what’s “ethical” is highly personal—and often inconsistent across funds labeled ESG or socially responsible. It highlights the trade-offs between aligning investments with beliefs and maintaining diversification and returns, along with the challenges of relying on fund labels alone. The takeaway is that ethical investing isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution—it requires clarity on your own values and a willingness to accept potential trade-offs.

​The '24-Hour Rule' That Keeps Retirees From Blowing Their Savings on Impulse Buys​
The 24-hour rule is a financial strategy that requires retirees to wait a full day before purchasing any non-essential item to interrupt the "dopamine rush" of impulse buying. This cooling-off period allows the emotional urge to fade and logical thinking to take over, helping to protect fixed incomes and investment portfolios from "small leaks" that can add up to thousands of dollars annually. To make it easier, experts suggest setting a price threshold (like $50), using "wish lists" instead of carts, and removing saved credit card information from browsers.

📺 Best in YouTube

​
​How to Get a Third Social Security Check - Ben Brandt​

In this video I focus discuss maximizing household income by delaying Social Security claims until age 70. While many retirees claim early at 62, waiting can increase a couple's combined monthly benefit by over $2,200—effectively providing the income of a third check.

For married couples, the higher earner should ideally delay benefits to provide a "poverty insurance policy" for the surviving spouse, who will eventually inherit the larger payment. To fund this delay, "Super Savers" can use their investment portfolios as an income bridge, allowing Social Security to grow at its maximum rate.

​
​76-year-old loses $1.6 million savings to AI investment scam​

This video explains how many people misunderstand retirement planning by focusing too heavily on simple rules or averages instead of building a flexible, personalized strategy. It highlights that retirement success isn’t just about hitting a certain number—it’s about managing income, taxes, and spending over time.

A key takeaway is the importance of adaptability: markets change, life changes, and your plan should adjust with it. The video emphasizes using a dynamic approach (rather than rigid rules) to withdrawals, investing, and timing decisions, which can lead to a more stable and confident retirement.

🎧 Best in Audio (Podcasts)

The 6-Digit Code That Can Drain Your Retirement Account (And How to Stop It) - Stay Wealthy Retirement Podcast/ Taylor Schulte

Americans lost nearly $21 billion to cyber fraud last year, with investment scams leading the way—and many of them are surprisingly simple. This episode breaks down how “account takeover” scams work, including how something as small as sharing a six-digit code can give a scammer full access. It walks through the common pattern these scams follow, why your information may already be exposed, and a few simple steps you can take to better protect your accounts. The big takeaway: slowing down in the moment can be your best defense.

​Spotify | Apple Podcasts​

Inbox Question | QCD from a Workplace Retirement Plan - Big Picture Retirement

This episode goes in-depth answering a listener's question about how to make qualified charitable distributions from a 457 plan.

​Spotify | Apple Podcasts​

🧭 Other Business

Starting this year, I’m adding a short segment to the end of the podcast:

Retire TO something, not FROM something.

Each week, I’ll spotlight:

• Volunteer opportunities
• Part-time “fun” jobs
• Creative or meaningful ways people stay engaged in retirement

​Click here to share your ideas!

Additional resources:

​Click here to order my book, Retirement Starts Today: Your non-financial guide to an even better retirement

​Click here to get started on your retirement plan

Have a link you'd like to share with our audience? Reply with your best links & you might see them featured in an upcoming issue.

We'll see you next week for issue #18 of This Week in Retirement,

Ben Brandt