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

​A Remedy For Missed IRA Distributions - Financial Advisor​

This article discusses what to do if you miss a required minimum distribution (RMD) from your IRA. It explains that you can often avoid the penalty by taking the missed distribution as soon as possible and filing Form 5329 to request a waiver, especially if the mistake had a reasonable cause.

​Missed Depreciation on a Rental? Why Amending Prior Returns Is Usually the Wrong Move - The Real Estate Whisperer

This article talks about what to do if you forgot to claim depreciation on a rental property in prior years. It explains that amending past tax returns is usually not the best solution. Instead, the better approach is often to file Form 3115 and take a “catch-up” depreciation adjustment in the current year, allowing you to claim the missed deductions all at once without reopening multiple prior tax returns.

📺 Best in YouTube

​Once You Retire, Buy These 6 Assets IMMEDIATELY - Ben Brandt​

In this video, I talk about why retirement isn’t just about how much money you’ve saved—it’s about what assets you actually have working for you once the paycheck stops. I explain how retirees should think about building a mix of financial and lifestyle assets that support their time, health, and flexibility. The goal isn’t just a bigger portfolio—it’s creating a life structure that makes retirement easier and more enjoyable.

​Why Filing for Social Security at 62 Could Get MUCH Worse - Devin Carroll​

This video walks through a change that has been discussed in several Social Security reform proposals and explain how it could affect the math behind claiming benefits early.

🎧 Best in Audio (Podcasts)

Why Healthcare Before Medicare Shouldn't Stop You From Retiring Early - Stay Healthy Retirement​
This episode explains why healthcare before Medicare often feels like a major obstacle to early retirement. It explores why waiting until age 65 may not be as necessary—or as beneficial—as many people assume. Most importantly, it highlights overlooked options and the trade-offs involved, showing that solutions do exist if you take the time to explore them.

​Spotify | Apple Podcasts​

Why Recency Bias Is Dangerous for Today's Retirees - Big Picture Retirement​
This episode explains how recency bias influences investment decisions, why it can lead retirees to take the wrong risks at the wrong time, and how to build a retirement plan that works even when the future looks very different from the past.

​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 #12 of This Week in Retirement,

Ben Brandt