We sometimes wonder if it will always be there for us, but without Social Security,  half of all U.S. retirees would be in poverty, and without it, most people planning their retirements right now would have a huge adjustment to make! The Social Security trust fund is heading toward a zero balance in 2034, just fifteen short years from now. Today, we'll answer several of the most asked questions on Social Security and provide insights on how to plan your social security. Then Medicare and Health insurance specialist Shelley Grandidge joins us for the Q & A. You don't want to miss today's show MASTERING MONEY is on the air!

Is it time for a complete makeover of the 401(k) model in America? Best selling author and Wall Street Journal columnist Jason Zweig wants to completely re-vamp and replaces the current 401k retirement plan model after interviewing the inventor of the 401k, Ted Benna. In a recent major article in the Wall Street Journal, Zweig posed the question: “If we could reinvent retirement-saving plans from scratch, how would they differ from the rigid 401(k)s that workers have today? In Zweig’s mind, the 401k would change in (quote) “all sorts of ways," and it would include “the stable income for life of old-fashioned defined-benefit pension plans with favorable tax treatment. We'll review the Wall Street Journal report, then Steve will explain in detail--how to achieve the same or better results with your IRA Rollover! You don't want to miss today's show. MASTERING MONEY is on the air!!

Today on Mastering Money...It’s a MOTLEY FOOL MONDAY!! The Motley Fool Money Show is one of America’s most popular financial radio programs dedicated to the Stock Market, heard by millions of listeners—including Saturdays right here on Money Radio! After an update of the markets and today's breaking financial news stories, we'll take you to an exclusive broadcast of the Motley Fool Money Show--plus a whole lot more you SURELY won't want to miss! -- MASTERING MONEY IS ON THE AIR!

What do you do if suddenly you’re wondering if your financial plan for retirement is really on course? Many people today are finding themselves wondering if their current advisor has them allocated properly. In fact, so might you--especially if you saw big losses during the fourth quarter of 2018. That was a wake-up call and a good test of what you would feel like if the fall was twice as bad and lasted much longer. Today, on Mastering Money, we'll define what a durable, sustainable plan for retirement really should look like. It must include an income replacement plan, an investment plan, a tax plan, a healthcare plan, and an estate plan. We'll review it, starting with the basics. Then, health insurance and Medicare specialist Shelley Grandidge joins us for the Q & A. MASTERING MONEY is on the air!!

Although market timing and momentum investing sound good, especially in the short run, investing in stocks that pay increasing dividends every year can be a proven, powerful, and DURABLE way to grow retirement wealth with less stress, less bother—AND--with the power of mathematics on your side. Only a salesman trying to sell you a hot-stock strategy could deny the documented, long term success of investing and reinvesting the dividends of companies which consistently increase their dividends every single year without fail, and are properly positioned within their industry and sectors. Today, Steve has the exact details and proven track records you don't want to miss on the art and science of dividend investing. Then CPA Nick Stefaniak joins us for the Q & A, all about TAXES! You don't want to miss today's show. MASTERING MONEY is on the air!

Prior to retirement, investment mistakes and market losses tend to be measured PERCENTS rather than dollars. After retirement, retired investors stop thinking in terms of “percents” and start thinking in terms of DOLLARS. On a million-dollar-portfolio, a ten percent loss is no fun, but investors who are years away from retiring may shuck it off-- No big deal! However, a ten percent loss AFTER you retire IS a big deal! Think about it, a ten percent loss on a million dollar portfolio is a HUNDRED THOUSAND dollars--which IS a big deal. Face it--When you’re retired, you don’t even want to lose TEN thousand dollars--let alone fifty or a hundred thousand! If you want a strategy where you can stop losing money and never run out of income, you don't want to miss today's show! MASTERING MONEY is on the air!

There are hundreds of money decisions we all make on a regular basis, but most of them are short term, small in size, and have no lasting impact on our lives. The decision on how you will pay yourself a monthly paycheck in retirement, however, is the opposite—it is long term, large in size, and will have an immense impact on your life and your spouse’s! Get it wrong, and you have a problem. But it's harder than you might think to get it right! So, what can you do? Well, there are two main income replacement strategies used by advisors according to industry studies. The first is the Systematic Withdrawal approach, the other is the Segmentation or Bucketing approach. Today, Steve will compare the two strategies in detail, to help you determine which is right for you. You don't want to miss it! MASTERING MONEY is on the air!

Today on Mastering Money...It’s a MOTLEY FOOL MONDAY!! The Motley Fool Money Show is one of America’s most popular financial radio programs dedicated to the Stock Market, heard by millions of listeners—including Saturdays right here on Money Radio! After an update of the markets and today's breaking financial news stories, we'll take you to an exclusive broadcast of the Motley Fool Money Show--plus a whole lot more you SURELY won't want to miss! -- MASTERING MONEY IS ON THE AIR!

The Employee Benefit Research Institute provides objective research, data, and analysis of retirement attitudes in the United States. The Institute's 2018 Retirement Confidence Survey found that only 17% of workers feel “VERY confident” in their ability to live comfortably in retirement, whereas 47% are only “SOMEWHAT confident.” It means that 36% of workers are NOT confident in their ability to live comfortably in retirement, or put another way--83% are "somewhat confident" to "not confident at all!" This report illustrates that workers nearing retirement are generally unsure of themselves and the actions needed to make sure their retirement lifestyle stays intact. Today, Steve will clearly define what's missing and how to fix a case of "Lack-A-Planna-Titus." You don't want to miss today's show MASTERING MONEY is on the air!

Wall Street has long promoted keeping 60 percent of your money in stocks and 40 percent in bonds as the ultimate retirement strategy, claiming an average of 8 percent returns over time. Is that figure reliable, or is it just sloppy advice in light of today’s high markets and historic low interest rates? Brett Arends of the Wall Street Journal performed in-depth research to determine the viability and effectiveness of the 60-40 portfolio over the past 80 years. His findings? Except for two periods of dramatically declining interest rates, the 60-40 portfolio is in his words "full of holes." And today with bond rates so low, the risk of income shortfall from a traditional portfolio has never been higher according to Ernst & Young. Today, Steve will review exactly why your bond funds are at risk, and how quickly a retirement portfolio could be hurt if both stocks and bonds fall at the same time--which is a distinct possibility! Don't miss today's show...MASTERING MONEY is on the air!!