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

​The Hidden Problem with Style Investing- Wealth Management

Style investing sounds clean and logical—breaking portfolios into buckets like growth, value, or small cap—but in practice, it can create more confusion than clarity. This WealthManagement.com article explains that style definitions aren’t consistent, shift over time, and often overlap more than investors realize. That can lead to unintended bets, gaps in diversification, or portfolios that don’t behave the way you expect. The takeaway is that relying too heavily on style labels can be misleading—it’s more important to understand what you actually own and how it fits into the broader portfolio.

​Disclaiming an Inheritance: How, When, and Why - The White Coat Investor ​

This article reminds us that inheriting money isn’t always as straightforward as just accepting it—you actually have the option to refuse it through something called a “disclaimer.”

A qualified disclaimer lets you pass an inheritance to the next person in line (often your kids) without ever taking ownership, which can be a powerful tax and estate planning tool. Done correctly, it avoids gift taxes and keeps the assets out of your estate—but it has to follow strict rules, including a 9-month deadline and no prior use of the assets.

📺 Best in YouTube

​Roth Conversions vs RMDs: The Framework That Changes Everything - Ben Brandt​

In this video, I break down how a lot of retirement planning advice sounds good in theory—but starts to fall apart in real life.

I focus on the problem with rigid strategies—whether it’s a fixed withdrawal rate, a static asset allocation, or a one-size-fits-all income plan. These approaches don’t adapt well to changing markets, taxes, or personal goals. What I’ve found works better is flexibility—adjusting spending, timing income sources, and making decisions based on what’s actually happening, not what a spreadsheet assumed years ago.

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​“Retirement Plan” (2026 Oscar Nominee) - The New Yorker​

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This video highlights the psychological side of retirement—why spending feels harder than saving—and encourages retirees to think intentionally about what they want their money to do for them. The overall message is that a successful retirement plan balances financial security with the confidence to actually enjoy life.

🎧 Best in Audio (Podcasts)

3 Things to Review on Your Tax Return (And a Fresh Take on Social Security Timing) -Stay Wealthy Retirement

Tax season is finally over. The returns are filed, the stress is behind you, and the last thing you probably want to do is think about taxes again. But the weeks right after tax season are one of the most valuable windows you have all year.

Every number from last year is fresh, every missed opportunity is still visible, and every mistake you just uncovered is a clue about what to fix going forward. This episode answers some of the biggest questions retirees have right now.

​Spotify | Apple Podcasts​

How Long Will You Live After Retirement? -Retirement Answer Man

Roger Whitney explores one of the most overlooked variables in retirement planning: longevity, and how assuming you’ll live too long can quietly force you to save more, spend less, and potentially miss out on life. Through a conversation with Dr. Bobby Du Bois, he challenges default planning assumptions, walks through the real trade-offs, and introduces a practical way to think about lifespan so you can better align your money with how you actually want to live.

​Spotify | Apple Podcasts​

🧭 Other Business

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!

​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 #19 of This Week in Retirement,

Ben Brandt