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In some previous articles, I’ve discussed longevity risk, withdrawal rates, and Dave Ramsey’s 8% withdrawal rate recommendation. These topics can quickly get mind-numbingly complex. The financial side of retirement has a lot to do with the math; it’s a big math problem we need to solve as best we can. We do this thoughtfully, humbly, … Read more
I recently realized that I’ve been retired for five years. (My wife says that I’m not really retired, but you know what I mean.) Wow, time flies! I retired in late 2018 at age 66, my ”full retirement age” (FRA) as defined by Social Security. It was a little earlier than I’d planned, as I … Read more
I recently came across a little book about Christmas titled Christmas Uncut: What Really Happened and Why It Really Matters by Carl Laferton. The title caught my attention. Did the author uncover some unknown historical account of the birth of Jesus? Did one of the magi take notes, and someone found them stashed and preserved … Read more
A sustainable withdrawal rate is integral to a wise retiree’s financial stewardship plan. Your withdrawal rate determines how much money you’ll take from your retirement savings to add to other sources of income to meet your spending needs. I became aware of a video of one of Dave’s recent shows in which he discussed retiree … Read more
Thanksgiving is here, and we’ll soon enter the Advent season leading up to Christmas. I’ve never had it, but I understand a festive dish known as “figgy pudding” originated in medieval times and was especially popular in Victorian England. It’s the dessert that Bob Cratchit and his family enjoy as part of their Christmas celebration, … Read more
This article is part of the Biblically-Informed Framework for Retirement Stewardship (BIFRS) series. Originally published on November 15, 2023, and updated April 2026. Martha’s still out there When I wrote this article in 2023, I thought Martha was the peak of Medicare Advantage commercial absurdity. I was wrong. She’s back for 2026, along with Karen … Read more
This article is part of the Biblically Informed Framework for Retirement Stewardship (BIFRS) series. It was originally written in November of 2022 and updated in May of 2026. My wife and I recently assisted a widow in our church with some legal and financial issues after her husband’s passing. They had their affairs in order—a … Read more
This article is part of the Biblically-Informed Framework for Retirement Stewardship (BIFRS). I recently discussed asset allocation and diversification with some friends, a couple in their 50s. In that conversation, they asked me what I thought about Dave Ramsey’s investing recommendations. (They were concerned that they may invest too conservatively for their age and goals.) … Read more
This article is part of the Biblically-Informed Framework for Retirement Stewardship (BIFRS) series. It was originally published on September 20, 2023, and updated in April 2026. When I wrote this article in 2023 and interesting thing was happening: interest rates were rising for the first time since the pandemic. They were already low, and had … Read more
