Well, it’s baaaaack…and you know what: stock market volatility. And it came back with a vengeance a few weeks ago, moderating some in recent days. Presidential administration transitions ordinarily create uncertainty and instability, but wars, tariffs, and deportations are stirring the pot a little more than usual. I occasionally get asked how I think a … Read more
The Dictionary of Bible Themes defines worry as “A sense of uneasiness and anxiety about the future. Scripture indicates that such anxiety is ultimately grounded in a lack of trust in God and his purposes.” Perhaps because worry tends to focus on the future, it’s something that retirees, or near-retirees, can quickly fall into. We … Read more
Generally speaking, there are two “camps” (or schools of thought) for investing for and creating an income stream in retirement. The first could be called the “probability-based approach,” and the second the “safety-first approach.” These “camps” share some things in common but are often at odds with each other. The key difference is that the … Read more
I had a little fun with the title because this is a “heavy” subject, and I wanted to lighten things up a little. And while we’re at it, what in the world is Moses wearing; it looks like a costume. (At least there’s not a big “M” on his chest.) Okay, back to our serious … Read more
I’ve written previously about withdrawing from my Traditional IRA to help fund our retirement. I’ve also described how I started making Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) in early 2023 after I turned 70 1/2. In a recent article, I explained how I might optimize my income tax withholding schedule while fully complying with IRS rules. My … Read more
I am excited to share a new project I just went “live” with: NextGenSteward, a Substack targeted at young Christian adults. (Substack is a popular publishing and newsletter creation platform that makes setting up a site like this one very easy as compared to a new WordPress site.) The site’s purpose is to provide guidance on … Read more
There are many retirement financial milestones to pay attention to: your penalty-free early distribution age from an IRA (59/12), eligibility for Social Security (early filer at 62 and full retirement age at 66–67), Medicare eligibility (age 65, for most), and your RMD age (currently 73; 75 beginning in 2033). I’ve already hit all those milestones … Read more
First and foremost, thank you for subscribing to this blog. I’ve had quite a few new subscribers this year and really appreciate the kind comments I received from readers. If you have a topic you’d like me to explore next year, just a question that you and perhaps others would like me to respond to, … Read more
This is the second of two articles about some of Donald Trump’s campaign promises, which, if enacted, could significantly impact retirees or near-retirees. Interest rates Promises PolitiFact: ”Trump said ‘we’re going to cap’ credit card interest rates ‘at around 10%. We can’t let them make 25% and 30%.’ When he made the pledge in September … Read more
