Welcome to This Week in Retirement

After 400+ weeks of Every Day is Saturday, we’ve pivoted to a new newsletter format.

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

​Investors want 'peace of mind' from financial advisors. But what is that?​

A recent Vanguard study found that the greatest value of working with a financial advisor isn’t higher returns—it’s peace of mind. Investors consistently value the confidence, reassurance, and reduced stress that come from having a trusted professional, often more than traditional performance metrics.

​Concentrate to Get Rich (or Poor)​

Ben Carlson discusses how stock market gains in recent years have often come from a handful of big tech names, but warns that highly concentrated portfolios can cut both ways. While concentration has made many investors rich in this cycle, it also increases risk if those stocks stumble. He emphasizes the old adage: you may concentrate to get rich, but diversify to stay rich, and suggests diversification will matter again when markets shift.

📺 Best in YouTube

​How Much Could I Actually Spend If I Retire at 56 with Just $1.1M? - Ben Brandt​

This video walks through what retirement could realistically look like for someone retiring at 56 with $1.1 million saved. It explores how much monthly income that portfolio might support, factoring in withdrawals, market returns, inflation, and spending choices—offering a grounded look at what early retirement dollars can actually do when income is structured thoughtfully.

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​Roth Conversions: Why Your Analysis Is Probably Incomplete - Devin Carroll​

The video explains that many people’s Roth conversion planning is missing key elements, so their analysis ends too soon. It discusses common mistakes in evaluating whether and how much to convert from traditional retirement accounts to a Roth IRA—emphasizing that factors like future tax rates, long-term investment growth, timing relative to required minimum distributions (RMDs), and paying conversion taxes from outside funds all matter in determining if a conversion truly benefits you over time.

🎧 Best in Audio (Podcasts)

2026 Tax Changes Explained (Including 2 Rules Causing Confusion) - Taylor Schulte

Each January usually brings minor tax updates, but 2026 is different. Major legislation passed last summer is driving some of the biggest changes in years, including two new rules that are already causing confusion. In this bonus episode, I break down what’s changing, why it matters for retirement planning, and how those two rules actually work—so even if you think you’re up to speed, you’ll likely learn something new.

​Spotify | Apple Podcasts​

​Retire on Fire- Rocking an Early Retirement: Henry and Lucy's FIRE Goals - Roger Whitney

In the latest Retirement Plan Live case study, Roger Whitney guides Henry and Lucy through defining their FIRE retirement by focusing first on values and big-picture vision, then translating that into clear goals. He weaves in lessons from seasoned retirees on purpose and flexibility and closes with a Smart Sprint and listener-chosen words for the year.

​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

That’s it for the inaugural issue of This Week in Retirement, what do you think? Simply reply to this email to share your feedback.

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 #4 of This Week in Retirement,

Ben Brandt