"Michael, I saw this in my inbox this morning. Although it compares a TIPS ladder with a SPIA, I thought it might interest you. https://bestinterest.blog/tips-ladder-vs-annuity-building-a-retirement-paycheck/?utm_source=convertkit&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=TIPS+Ladders+vs.+Fixed+Annuities+%F0%9F%A4%BC+-+24062151&sh_kit=1c5e3354f7c7f0fd5fe898a3f88681ec086442339ec208aa4eb20b3823d04244"

"In the near term my expectation guess is that with split federal government control for two years starting in January 2027 that not much will happen tax wise except around the fringes of the current tax rules. Without major changes I expect continued increases in public debt and deficit and the following inflation impact."

"Howard, I agree that trust has to be earned regardless of the name above the door. Having owned a business, I understand the pressure to cover expenses, but looking after customers is what keeps them coming back. Thank you for adding another perspective on parts, too. That’s something I’d want a mechanic to explain, the options and why they recommend one over another."

"As a 15 year AARP TaxAide volunteer I'll just use the software available with the program, TaxSlayer, friends and family return."

"This sounds quite a bit like a town in NJ I’m very familiar with."

"exactly what bogle and malkiel taught us 50 years ago Anything other than stock index funds is a fools game"

"Not much work at all. Less than an hour a month total once I had the spreadsheets set up. I know our day-to-day spending habits without tracking them in detail and they have been pretty consistent. The primary role of the tracking is to stay on top of regular monthly expenses such as utilities, insurance, and taxes. It's also good for planning bigger ticket items like travel and home maintenance/upgrades. This helps me plan our withdrawals. We are not on Medicare and are not collecting pensions or social security yet and have yet to tap our tax advantaged retirement accounts. All spending comes from our non-retirement savings, so I need to manage withdrawals in a tax efficient manner. With good tax planning I can have an effective federal tax rate of less than 3%. Additionally, health insurance in early retirement is about 10x more expensive than Medicare. We pay more in a month than most retirees pay on Medicare in a year. Also, the inflation rate on health insurance for us has been huge,(20% last year 33% this year). There definitely needs to be budgeting and planning for that. Essentially, the low effective tax rate helps offset the high health insurance costs."

"Thank you!"

"You won’t like the comments on any of the social media sites, they’ve become a white hot mess."

"I think talking to kids about money should start at an early age, but it doesn't have to be complicated. Simple everyday conversations can help children understand the value of money and develop good financial habits. For example, parents can involve their kids in grocery shopping, explain the difference between needs and wants, and encourage them to save a small amount of their allowance. These little experiences can teach important lessons about budgeting, saving, and responsible spending. I also believe financial literacy for kids becomes more effective when learning is fun and interactive. Activities like setting savings goals, playing money-related games, or planning a small family budget can help children understand financial concepts without feeling overwhelmed. As kids grow older, introducing topics like smart spending, earning money, and making financial decisions can prepare them for real-life responsibilities. Personally, I feel the most important thing is to make money conversations normal at home rather than treating finances as something children shouldn't discuss. How do you teach your kids about money? Do you prefer giving them an allowance or involving them in everyday financial decisions?"