Investing and Retirement for Expats | Live Interview with Mark Zoril Rob Berger 2026-09-24 | Investing and Retirement for Expats | Live Interview with Mark Zoril
How Will A Fed Rate Cut Affect Bonds? Live Q&A Rob Berger 2025-09-09 | *Join the Newsletter. It's Free:*robberger.com/newsletter/?utm_source=Rob+Berger&utm_medium=ATF+Link&utm_campaign=Newsletter&utm_id=YouTube*Financial tools I use:**I track all of my investments, performance, fees, and asset allocation with Empower. It's Free:*go.robberger.com/empower/yt-*I use Monarch Money to manage our budget:* go.robberger.com/monarch-yt/yt-desc*My retirement plan comes from Boldin, the most robust retirement planner available at a reasonable cost:*go.robberger.com/boldin/yt-*I used Capitalize for my last 401(k) rollover. They did all of the work, and it's Free:*go.robberger.com/capitalize/yt-*My Book (Retire Before Mom and Dad):*amzn.to/4d9qbhA#retirement #investing #robbergerABOUT ME While still working as a trial attorney in the securities field, I started writing about personal finance and investing In 2007. In 2013 I started the Doughroller Money Podcast, which has been downloaded millions of times. I've since sold my websites, bought them back, and started a new website and this YouTube channel.I'm also the author of Retire Before Mom and Dad--The Simple Numbers Behind a Lifetime of Financial Freedom (amzn.to/3by10EE)LET'S CONNECTYoutube: youtube.com/channel/UC9C17-OMxa-7oRSaCtztObw?sub_confirmation=1Facebook: facebook.com/financialfreedomguyTwitter: twitter.com/Robert_A_BergerDISCLAIMER: I am not a financial adviser. These videos are for educational purposes only. Investing of any kind involves risk. Your investment and other financial decisions are solely your responsibility. It is imperative that you conduct your own research and seek professional advice as necessary. I am merely sharing my opinions.*Disclosure*: Some of the links in this description are from partners who compensate us. This means — at no extra cost to you — I may earn money if you click and sign up for a product or open an account. This creates a financial relationship that may influence my recommendations, but I only recommend products and services I believe in and would recommend to my own mom. Advertisers have no control over my content. Read the full advertiser disclosure here: robberger.com/how-we-make-money
3 Essential Tools to Evaluate Your Investment Portfolio Rob Berger 2025-09-08 | A viewer asked me to suggest some tools he could use to evaluate his investment portfolio and asset allocation. So in this video we looked at three of my favorite investment tools:1. Empower: go.robberger.com/empower/yt-3-tools2. Kubera: go.robberger.com/kubera/yt-3-tools3. Google Sheets: robberger.com/investment-tracking-spreadsheetPlaid Interview: youtube.com/watch?v=aItkRqnv0vo*Join the Newsletter. It's Free:*robberger.com/newsletter/?utm_source=Rob+Berger&utm_medium=ATF+Link&utm_campaign=Newsletter&utm_id=YouTube*Financial tools I use:**I track all of my investments, performance, fees, and asset allocation with Empower. It's Free:*go.robberger.com/empower/yt-*I use Monarch Money to manage our budget:* go.robberger.com/monarch-yt/yt-desc*My retirement plan comes from Boldin, the most robust retirement planner available at a reasonable cost:*go.robberger.com/boldin/yt-*I used Capitalize for my last 401(k) rollover. They did all of the work, and it's Free:*go.robberger.com/capitalize/yt-*My Book (Retire Before Mom and Dad):*amzn.to/4d9qbhA#retirement #investing #robbergerABOUT ME While still working as a trial attorney in the securities field, I started writing about personal finance and investing In 2007. In 2013 I started the Doughroller Money Podcast, which has been downloaded millions of times. I've since sold my websites, bought them back, and started a new website and this YouTube channel.I'm also the author of Retire Before Mom and Dad--The Simple Numbers Behind a Lifetime of Financial Freedom (amzn.to/3by10EE)LET'S CONNECTYoutube: youtube.com/channel/UC9C17-OMxa-7oRSaCtztObw?sub_confirmation=1Facebook: facebook.com/financialfreedomguyTwitter: twitter.com/Robert_A_BergerDISCLAIMER: I am not a financial adviser. These videos are for educational purposes only. Investing of any kind involves risk. Your investment and other financial decisions are solely your responsibility. It is imperative that you conduct your own research and seek professional advice as necessary. I am merely sharing my opinions.*Disclosure*: Some of the links in this description are from partners who compensate us. This means — at no extra cost to you — I may earn money if you click and sign up for a product or open an account. This creates a financial relationship that may influence my recommendations, but I only recommend products and services I believe in and would recommend to my own mom. Advertisers have no control over my content. Read the full advertiser disclosure here: robberger.com/how-we-make-money
Are Bonds a Better Deal Than Stocks Today? (FQF) Rob Berger 2025-09-05 | In today's Five Question Friday (FQF), we cover these questions:1. Are bonds a better deal than stocks today?2. How should RMDs affect our investment decisions?3. What is the efficient frontier and how can it help me invest?4. How to factor illiquid investments into your asset allocation?5. Are short-term bonds better than intermediate-term bonds in a diversified portfolio?*Resources*Portfolio Visualizer: portfoliovisualizer.comTestfolio: testfol.ioVanguard Study: corporate.vanguard.com/content/corporatesite/us/en/corp/vemo/bonds-remain-favor-time-varying-model-portfolio.htmlEarnings Yield: multpl.com/s-p-500-earnings-yield*Join the Newsletter. It's Free:*robberger.com/newsletter/?utm_source=Rob+Berger&utm_medium=ATF+Link&utm_campaign=Newsletter&utm_id=YouTube*Financial tools I use:**I track all of my investments, performance, fees, and asset allocation with Empower. It's Free:*go.robberger.com/empower/yt-*I use Monarch Money to manage our budget:* go.robberger.com/monarch-yt/yt-desc*My retirement plan comes from Boldin, the most robust retirement planner available at a reasonable cost:*go.robberger.com/boldin/yt-*I used Capitalize for my last 401(k) rollover. They did all of the work, and it's Free:*go.robberger.com/capitalize/yt-*My Book (Retire Before Mom and Dad):*amzn.to/4d9qbhA#retirement #fqf #robberger 0:00 - Intro1:27 - Are bonds a better deal than stocks today?10:25 - How should RMDs affect our investment decisions?13:03 - What is the efficient frontier and how can it help me invest?19:20 - How to factor illiquid investments into your asset allocation?22:03 - Are short-term bonds better than intermediate-term bonds in a diversified portfolio?ABOUT ME While still working as a trial attorney in the securities field, I started writing about personal finance and investing In 2007. In 2013 I started the Doughroller Money Podcast, which has been downloaded millions of times. I've since sold my websites, bought them back, and started a new website and this YouTube channel.I'm also the author of Retire Before Mom and Dad--The Simple Numbers Behind a Lifetime of Financial Freedom (amzn.to/3by10EE)LET'S CONNECTYoutube: youtube.com/channel/UC9C17-OMxa-7oRSaCtztObw?sub_confirmation=1Facebook: facebook.com/financialfreedomguyTwitter: twitter.com/Robert_A_BergerDISCLAIMER: I am not a financial adviser. These videos are for educational purposes only. Investing of any kind involves risk. Your investment and other financial decisions are solely your responsibility. It is imperative that you conduct your own research and seek professional advice as necessary. I am merely sharing my opinions.*Disclosure*: Some of the links in this description are from partners who compensate us. This means — at no extra cost to you — I may earn money if you click and sign up for a product or open an account. This creates a financial relationship that may influence my recommendations, but I only recommend products and services I believe in and would recommend to my own mom. Advertisers have no control over my content. Read the full advertiser disclosure here: robberger.com/how-we-make-money
Dave Ramseys Baby Steps vs The Money Guys FOO Rob Berger 2025-09-01 | How do you juggle multiple financial priorities at the same time. Two options are to follow Dave Ramsey's popular 7 Baby Steps or the Money Guys' Financial Order of Operations (FOO). In this video, we'll compare the two frameworks, look at two tools that can help, and talk about the one strategy that often gets overlooked.Dave Ramsey's Baby Steps: ramseysolutions.com/dave-ramsey-7-baby-stepsThe Money Guys' FOO: moneyguy.com/guide/fooMonarch Money: go.robberger.com/monarch-yt/yt-monarch-financial-priorities (Use promo code *ROB50* for 50% off the first year)ProjectionLab: go.robberger.com/projectionlab/yt-financial-priorities (sign up to my free newsletter below for a 10% discount code)*Join the Newsletter. It's Free:*robberger.com/newsletter/?utm_source=Rob+Berger&utm_medium=ATF+Link&utm_campaign=Newsletter&utm_id=YouTube*Financial tools I use:**I track all of my investments, performance, fees, and asset allocation with Empower. It's Free:*go.robberger.com/empower/yt-*I use Monarch Money to manage our budget:* go.robberger.com/monarch-yt/yt-desc*My retirement plan comes from Boldin, the most robust retirement planner available at a reasonable cost:*go.robberger.com/boldin/yt-*I used Capitalize for my last 401(k) rollover. They did all of the work, and it's Free:*go.robberger.com/capitalize/yt-*My Book (Retire Before Mom and Dad):*amzn.to/4d9qbhA#retirement #investing #robbergerABOUT ME While still working as a trial attorney in the securities field, I started writing about personal finance and investing In 2007. In 2013 I started the Doughroller Money Podcast, which has been downloaded millions of times. I've since sold my websites, bought them back, and started a new website and this YouTube channel.I'm also the author of Retire Before Mom and Dad--The Simple Numbers Behind a Lifetime of Financial Freedom (amzn.to/3by10EE)LET'S CONNECTYoutube: youtube.com/channel/UC9C17-OMxa-7oRSaCtztObw?sub_confirmation=1Facebook: facebook.com/financialfreedomguyTwitter: twitter.com/Robert_A_BergerDISCLAIMER: I am not a financial adviser. These videos are for educational purposes only. Investing of any kind involves risk. Your investment and other financial decisions are solely your responsibility. It is imperative that you conduct your own research and seek professional advice as necessary. I am merely sharing my opinions.*Disclosure*: Some of the links in this description are from partners who compensate us. This means — at no extra cost to you — I may earn money if you click and sign up for a product or open an account. This creates a financial relationship that may influence my recommendations, but I only recommend products and services I believe in and would recommend to my own mom. Advertisers have no control over my content. Read the full advertiser disclosure here: robberger.com/how-we-make-money
Does Anybody Actually Follow The 4% Rule? (FQF) Rob Berger 2025-08-29 | In today's Five Question Friday (FQF), we cover the following questions:1. Does anybody actually follow the 4% Rule?2. Should you take the lump sum or monthly payments with an annuity?3. How to invest in retirement if you don't need the money?4. How to invest over a 10-year period?5. Why do I invest in VTINX?Bonus: Simple Investing StrategySchwab Annuity Calculator: schwab.com/annuities/fixed-income-annuity-calculator1965 Annuity Paper: academic.oup.com/restud/article-abstract/32/2/137/1555438*Join the Newsletter. It's Free:*robberger.com/newsletter/?utm_source=Rob+Berger&utm_medium=ATF+Link&utm_campaign=Newsletter&utm_id=YouTube*Financial tools I use:**I track all of my investments, performance, fees, and asset allocation with Empower. It's Free:*go.robberger.com/empower/yt-*I use Monarch Money to manage our budget:* go.robberger.com/monarch-yt/yt-desc*My retirement plan comes from Boldin, the most robust retirement planner available at a reasonable cost:*go.robberger.com/boldin/yt-*I used Capitalize for my last 401(k) rollover. They did all of the work, and it's Free:*go.robberger.com/capitalize/yt-*My Book (Retire Before Mom and Dad):*amzn.to/4d9qbhA#retirement #investing #robbergerABOUT ME While still working as a trial attorney in the securities field, I started writing about personal finance and investing In 2007. In 2013 I started the Doughroller Money Podcast, which has been downloaded millions of times. I've since sold my websites, bought them back, and started a new website and this YouTube channel.I'm also the author of Retire Before Mom and Dad--The Simple Numbers Behind a Lifetime of Financial Freedom (amzn.to/3by10EE)LET'S CONNECTYoutube: youtube.com/channel/UC9C17-OMxa-7oRSaCtztObw?sub_confirmation=1Facebook: facebook.com/financialfreedomguyTwitter: twitter.com/Robert_A_BergerDISCLAIMER: I am not a financial adviser. These videos are for educational purposes only. Investing of any kind involves risk. Your investment and other financial decisions are solely your responsibility. It is imperative that you conduct your own research and seek professional advice as necessary. I am merely sharing my opinions.*Disclosure*: Some of the links in this description are from partners who compensate us. This means — at no extra cost to you — I may earn money if you click and sign up for a product or open an account. This creates a financial relationship that may influence my recommendations, but I only recommend products and services I believe in and would recommend to my own mom. Advertisers have no control over my content. Read the full advertiser disclosure here: robberger.com/how-we-make-money
Taking Over Your Investments from an Advisor: A Step-by-Step Guide Rob Berger 2025-08-27 | A viewer sent me this question today:I’m 75 years old and have decided to take back my portfolio from my money manager and self-manage it. How does a 75- year- old go about this rather scary task of managing one’s portfolio at this overvalued market time. My money manger has me at 60% equities and 40% laddered bonds. He has 19 ETFs for the equities portion which I believe is excessive. Any suggestions you can offer would be welcome.In this video, I talk through six things to consider when taking back control of your investments while you are in retirement.1. Length of Planning Period2. Burn Rate3. Essential Spending vs Discretionary Spending4. Guaranteed Income Coverage Ratio5. Diversified Portfolio6. Getting Help*Resources*FICalc: https://ficalc.app/List of Low-Cost Advisors: robberger.com/low-cost-financial-advisors*Join the Newsletter. It's Free:*robberger.com/newsletter/?utm_source=Rob+Berger&utm_medium=ATF+Link&utm_campaign=Newsletter&utm_id=YouTube*Financial tools I use:**I track all of my investments, performance, fees, and asset allocation with Empower. It's Free:*go.robberger.com/empower/yt-*I use Monarch Money to manage our budget:* go.robberger.com/monarch-yt/yt-desc*My retirement plan comes from Boldin, the most robust retirement planner available at a reasonable cost:*go.robberger.com/boldin/yt-*I used Capitalize for my last 401(k) rollover. They did all of the work, and it's Free:*go.robberger.com/capitalize/yt-*My Book (Retire Before Mom and Dad):*amzn.to/4d9qbhA#retirement #investing #robbergerABOUT ME While still working as a trial attorney in the securities field, I started writing about personal finance and investing In 2007. In 2013 I started the Doughroller Money Podcast, which has been downloaded millions of times. I've since sold my websites, bought them back, and started a new website and this YouTube channel.I'm also the author of Retire Before Mom and Dad--The Simple Numbers Behind a Lifetime of Financial Freedom (amzn.to/3by10EE)LET'S CONNECTYoutube: youtube.com/channel/UC9C17-OMxa-7oRSaCtztObw?sub_confirmation=1Facebook: facebook.com/financialfreedomguyTwitter: twitter.com/Robert_A_BergerDISCLAIMER: I am not a financial adviser. These videos are for educational purposes only. Investing of any kind involves risk. Your investment and other financial decisions are solely your responsibility. It is imperative that you conduct your own research and seek professional advice as necessary. I am merely sharing my opinions.*Disclosure*: Some of the links in this description are from partners who compensate us. This means — at no extra cost to you — I may earn money if you click and sign up for a product or open an account. This creates a financial relationship that may influence my recommendations, but I only recommend products and services I believe in and would recommend to my own mom. Advertisers have no control over my content. Read the full advertiser disclosure here: robberger.com/how-we-make-money
How to Fire Your Financial Advisor (and possibly sue them) Rob Berger 2025-08-25 | A viewer emailed me with a heartbreaking story. Her financial advisor convinced her to surrender an annuity, pay a $10,000 fee, and then buy another annuity. The advisor earned a big, fat commission, while the viewer at best would break even over time. This raises the possibility that her advisor was engaged in a practice known as "annuity churning."Now she wants to fire her advisor. What should she do?In this video, I walk through some steps to consider if you face similar circumstances. Please note that I'm not offering financial or legal advice. Consult with a financial advisor and/or attorney for professional advice.*Resources*FINRA Complaint: finra.org/investors/need-help/file-a-complaintFINRA Brochure: finra.org/sites/default/files/2024-11/Investor_Complaint_Brochure.pdfExample Termination Text: “Please remove yourself and your firm as my financial advisor/agent of record on all accounts and investments. I will be managing my assets independently going forward. Do not execute any further transactions on my behalf.”*Join the Newsletter. It's Free:*robberger.com/newsletter/?utm_source=Rob+Berger&utm_medium=ATF+Link&utm_campaign=Newsletter&utm_id=YouTube*Financial tools I use:**I track all of my investments, performance, fees, and asset allocation with Empower. It's Free:*go.robberger.com/empower/yt-*I use Monarch Money to manage our budget:* go.robberger.com/monarch-yt/yt-desc*My retirement plan comes from Boldin, the most robust retirement planner available at a reasonable cost:*go.robberger.com/boldin/yt-*I used Capitalize for my last 401(k) rollover. They did all of the work, and it's Free:*go.robberger.com/capitalize/yt-*My Book (Retire Before Mom and Dad):*amzn.to/4d9qbhA#financialadvisor #finra #robberger 0:00 - Intro3:26 - The Contract4:09 - Getting the money back6:04 - Firing the Advisor10:04 - Filing a Complaint13:18 - Hiring an AttorneyABOUT ME While still working as a trial attorney in the securities field, I started writing about personal finance and investing In 2007. In 2013 I started the Doughroller Money Podcast, which has been downloaded millions of times. I've since sold my websites, bought them back, and started a new website and this YouTube channel.I'm also the author of Retire Before Mom and Dad--The Simple Numbers Behind a Lifetime of Financial Freedom (amzn.to/3by10EE)LET'S CONNECTYoutube: youtube.com/channel/UC9C17-OMxa-7oRSaCtztObw?sub_confirmation=1Facebook: facebook.com/financialfreedomguyTwitter: twitter.com/Robert_A_BergerDISCLAIMER: I am not a financial adviser. These videos are for educational purposes only. Investing of any kind involves risk. Your investment and other financial decisions are solely your responsibility. It is imperative that you conduct your own research and seek professional advice as necessary. I am merely sharing my opinions.*Disclosure*: Some of the links in this description are from partners who compensate us. This means — at no extra cost to you — I may earn money if you click and sign up for a product or open an account. This creates a financial relationship that may influence my recommendations, but I only recommend products and services I believe in and would recommend to my own mom. Advertisers have no control over my content. Read the full advertiser disclosure here: robberger.com/how-we-make-money
What Budgeting App is Best for Those With a Learning Disability? (FQF) Rob Berger 2025-08-22 | In today's Five Question Friday (FQF) video, we cover the following questions:1. What are the best finance apps for those with a learning disability?2. Is 3% SWR the new 4%?3. How do you model tax-free income in Boldin?4. In what account type should you hold cash you plan to spend in the first few years of retirement?5. What inflation rate should you assume in retirement?*Resources*Monarch Money: go.robberger.com/monarch-yt/yt-fqf (Use Promo Code ROB50 for 50% off the first year)Simplifi: go.robberger.com/simplifi/yt-fqfBoldin: go.robberger.com/boldin/yt-fqfFidelity article: fidelity.com/learning-center/personal-finance/what-is-fat-fireShiller PE: multpl.com/shiller-peKitces article: kitces.com/blog/the-ratcheting-safe-withdrawal-rate-a-more-dominant-version-of-the-4-rule*Join the Newsletter. It's Free:*robberger.com/newsletter/?utm_source=Rob+Berger&utm_medium=ATF+Link&utm_campaign=Newsletter&utm_id=YouTube*Financial tools I use:**I track all of my investments, performance, fees, and asset allocation with Empower. It's Free:*go.robberger.com/empower/yt-*I use Monarch Money to manage our budget:* go.robberger.com/monarch-yt/yt-desc*My retirement plan comes from Boldin, the most robust retirement planner available at a reasonable cost:*go.robberger.com/boldin/yt-*I used Capitalize for my last 401(k) rollover. They did all of the work, and it's Free:*go.robberger.com/capitalize/yt-*My Book (Retire Before Mom and Dad):*amzn.to/4d9qbhA#retirement #investing #robberger 0:51 - What are the best finance apps for those with a learning disability?14:50 - Is 3% SWR the new 4%?28:17 - How do you model tax-free income in Boldin?29:58 - In what account type should you hold cash you plan to spend in the first few years of retirement?34:08 - What inflation rate should you assume in retirement?ABOUT ME While still working as a trial attorney in the securities field, I started writing about personal finance and investing In 2007. In 2013 I started the Doughroller Money Podcast, which has been downloaded millions of times. I've since sold my websites, bought them back, and started a new website and this YouTube channel.I'm also the author of Retire Before Mom and Dad--The Simple Numbers Behind a Lifetime of Financial Freedom (amzn.to/3by10EE)LET'S CONNECTYoutube: youtube.com/channel/UC9C17-OMxa-7oRSaCtztObw?sub_confirmation=1Facebook: facebook.com/financialfreedomguyTwitter: twitter.com/Robert_A_BergerDISCLAIMER: I am not a financial adviser. These videos are for educational purposes only. Investing of any kind involves risk. Your investment and other financial decisions are solely your responsibility. It is imperative that you conduct your own research and seek professional advice as necessary. I am merely sharing my opinions.*Disclosure*: Some of the links in this description are from partners who compensate us. This means — at no extra cost to you — I may earn money if you click and sign up for a product or open an account. This creates a financial relationship that may influence my recommendations, but I only recommend products and services I believe in and would recommend to my own mom. Advertisers have no control over my content. Read the full advertiser disclosure here: robberger.com/how-we-make-money
Interview with Bill Bernstein | Live Q&A Rob Berger 2025-08-19 | *Join the Newsletter. It's Free:*robberger.com/newsletter/?utm_source=Rob+Berger&utm_medium=ATF+Link&utm_campaign=Newsletter&utm_id=YouTube*Financial tools I use:**I track all of my investments, performance, fees, and asset allocation with Empower. It's Free:*go.robberger.com/empower/yt-*I use Monarch Money to manage our budget:* go.robberger.com/monarch-yt/yt-desc*My retirement plan comes from Boldin, the most robust retirement planner available at a reasonable cost:*go.robberger.com/boldin/yt-*I used Capitalize for my last 401(k) rollover. They did all of the work, and it's Free:*go.robberger.com/capitalize/yt-*My Book (Retire Before Mom and Dad):*amzn.to/4d9qbhA#retirement #investing #robberger 0:00 - Intro/Technical Issues15:02 - How do you know if you've won?21:19 - Buying a TIPS Ladder25:30 - MorningStar Analysis32:21 - Is 20% reasonable or too much?/Changing stock allocation39:54 - Bill's favorite books47:25 - 25 years of safe assets50:32 - Percent allocated to a TIPS Ladder56:40 - Fudging inflation numbers1:01:17 - TIPS not maturing1:4:55 - AI1:06:59 - Changing backgrounds1:12:38 - Longevity in the U.S. going forward1:18:29 - New book1:22:03 - Owning Gold1:24:20 - "The Power Broker" book1:26:38 - Thoughts on the current market1:28:53 - AnnouncementsABOUT ME While still working as a trial attorney in the securities field, I started writing about personal finance and investing In 2007. In 2013 I started the Doughroller Money Podcast, which has been downloaded millions of times. I've since sold my websites, bought them back, and started a new website and this YouTube channel.I'm also the author of Retire Before Mom and Dad--The Simple Numbers Behind a Lifetime of Financial Freedom (amzn.to/3by10EE)LET'S CONNECTYoutube: youtube.com/channel/UC9C17-OMxa-7oRSaCtztObw?sub_confirmation=1Facebook: facebook.com/financialfreedomguyTwitter: twitter.com/Robert_A_BergerDISCLAIMER: I am not a financial adviser. These videos are for educational purposes only. Investing of any kind involves risk. Your investment and other financial decisions are solely your responsibility. It is imperative that you conduct your own research and seek professional advice as necessary. I am merely sharing my opinions.*Disclosure*: Some of the links in this description are from partners who compensate us. This means — at no extra cost to you — I may earn money if you click and sign up for a product or open an account. This creates a financial relationship that may influence my recommendations, but I only recommend products and services I believe in and would recommend to my own mom. Advertisers have no control over my content. Read the full advertiser disclosure here: robberger.com/how-we-make-money
How do I Know If My Investment Advisor is Doing a Good Job? (FQF) Rob Berger 2025-08-15 | In today's Five Question Friday (FQF), we answer these questions:1. How do we assess an advisor’s investment performance?2. How can I protect my nest egg and get some growth?3. Can a TIPS ladder mitigate sequence of returns risk?4. Should we ever reset our withdrawal strategy in retirement?5. Are free dinner investment seminars ever worth your time?*Resources*FICalc: https://ficalc.app/Vanguard LifeStrategy Funds: investor.vanguard.com/investment-products/mutual-funds/profile/vsmgxComplex Portfolio Example: reddit.com/r/Bogleheads/comments/uactgo/edward_jones_portfolioEmpower: go.robberger.com/empower/yt-fqfPortfolio Visualizer: portfoliovisualizer.comList of Low Cost Advisors: robberger.com/low-cost-financial-advisors*Join the Newsletter. It's Free:*robberger.com/newsletter/?utm_source=Rob+Berger&utm_medium=ATF+Link&utm_campaign=Newsletter&utm_id=YouTube*Financial tools I use:**I track all of my investments, performance, fees, and asset allocation with Empower. It's Free:*go.robberger.com/empower/yt-*I use Monarch Money to manage our budget:* go.robberger.com/monarch-yt/yt-desc*My retirement plan comes from Boldin, the most robust retirement planner available at a reasonable cost:*go.robberger.com/boldin/yt-*I used Capitalize for my last 401(k) rollover. They did all of the work, and it's Free:*go.robberger.com/capitalize/yt-*My Book (Retire Before Mom and Dad):*amzn.to/4d9qbhA#retirement #investing #robberger0:00 - Intro1:18 - How do we assess an advisor’s investment performance?12:04 - How can I protect my nest egg and get some growth?22:20 - Can a TIPS ladder mitigate sequence of returns risk?31:39 - Should we ever reset our withdrawal strategy in retirement?36:18 - Are free dinner investment seminars ever worth your time?ABOUT ME While still working as a trial attorney in the securities field, I started writing about personal finance and investing In 2007. In 2013 I started the Doughroller Money Podcast, which has been downloaded millions of times. I've since sold my websites, bought them back, and started a new website and this YouTube channel.I'm also the author of Retire Before Mom and Dad--The Simple Numbers Behind a Lifetime of Financial Freedom (amzn.to/3by10EE)LET'S CONNECTYoutube: youtube.com/channel/UC9C17-OMxa-7oRSaCtztObw?sub_confirmation=1Facebook: facebook.com/financialfreedomguyTwitter: twitter.com/Robert_A_BergerDISCLAIMER: I am not a financial adviser. These videos are for educational purposes only. Investing of any kind involves risk. Your investment and other financial decisions are solely your responsibility. It is imperative that you conduct your own research and seek professional advice as necessary. I am merely sharing my opinions.*Disclosure*: Some of the links in this description are from partners who compensate us. This means — at no extra cost to you — I may earn money if you click and sign up for a product or open an account. This creates a financial relationship that may influence my recommendations, but I only recommend products and services I believe in and would recommend to my own mom. Advertisers have no control over my content. Read the full advertiser disclosure here: robberger.com/how-we-make-money
A Behind the Scenes Look At My YouTube Business Rob Berger 2025-08-14 | In this video, I'll give you a behind the scenes look into my YouTube channel. I'll walk through the history of the channel, how I pick topics and record videos, how the channel makes money, and some thoughts on the future.*YouTube Equipment*Camera: amzn.to/45DQV6YLens: amzn.to/3HB1ZJZRoland Video Mixer: amzn.to/46RSKzm (Updated model)Ikan Teleprompter: amzn.to/3Je6db0 (Updated model)Shotgun Mic: amzn.to/4oIiiFJShure SM7B Mic: amzn.to/413cVH0Mic Stand: amzn.to/45PLxPhDesk Mounted Mic Stand: amzn.to/3J8VT46Key Lights: amzn.to/4fFt1MU7" Monitor: amzn.to/3JdPXqpNote: I can't find Meet Kevin's YouTube course as a stand alone product. It appears he bundles it now with other investing courses, which I've never taken.*Join the Newsletter. It's Free:*robberger.com/newsletter/?utm_source=Rob+Berger&utm_medium=ATF+Link&utm_campaign=Newsletter&utm_id=YouTube*Financial tools I use:**I track all of my investments, performance, fees, and asset allocation with Empower. It's Free:*go.robberger.com/empower/yt-*I use Monarch Money to manage our budget:* go.robberger.com/monarch-yt/yt-desc*My retirement plan comes from Boldin, the most robust retirement planner available at a reasonable cost:*go.robberger.com/boldin/yt-*I used Capitalize for my last 401(k) rollover. They did all of the work, and it's Free:*go.robberger.com/capitalize/yt-*My Book (Retire Before Mom and Dad):*amzn.to/4d9qbhA#retirement #investing #robberger 0:00 - Intro0:59 - When I Started6:59 - Keeping it Conversational10:56 - Live Streams12:54 - Equipment19:33 - How does the channel make money?23:40 - The FutureABOUT ME While still working as a trial attorney in the securities field, I started writing about personal finance and investing In 2007. In 2013 I started the Doughroller Money Podcast, which has been downloaded millions of times. I've since sold my websites, bought them back, and started a new website and this YouTube channel.I'm also the author of Retire Before Mom and Dad--The Simple Numbers Behind a Lifetime of Financial Freedom (amzn.to/3by10EE)LET'S CONNECTYoutube: youtube.com/channel/UC9C17-OMxa-7oRSaCtztObw?sub_confirmation=1Facebook: facebook.com/financialfreedomguyTwitter: twitter.com/Robert_A_BergerDISCLAIMER: I am not a financial adviser. These videos are for educational purposes only. Investing of any kind involves risk. Your investment and other financial decisions are solely your responsibility. It is imperative that you conduct your own research and seek professional advice as necessary. I am merely sharing my opinions.*Disclosure*: Some of the links in this description are from partners who compensate us. This means — at no extra cost to you — I may earn money if you click and sign up for a product or open an account. This creates a financial relationship that may influence my recommendations, but I only recommend products and services I believe in and would recommend to my own mom. Advertisers have no control over my content. Read the full advertiser disclosure here: robberger.com/how-we-make-money
Is It Safe To Connect Financial Accounts to App? Interview with Plaids John Pitts Rob Berger 2025-08-12 | Today I'm joined by John Pitts of Plaid to discuss the security of connecting your financial accounts to apps such as Monarch, Kubera or Empower. It was a great discussion with lots of details on how the security works and steps you can take to secure your own accounts.0:00 - Intro2:17 - Open Banking3:42 - Does Plaid Save Login Credentials5:30 - Screen Scraping/APIs12:42 - Small Businesses14:16 - Token Security/Hacked15:36 - Transaction Cleaning18:18 - Does Plaid store data22:14 - Tokenized Account Routing Numbers23:37 - NACHA rules/Fraud26:45 - Selling/Sharing Data27:06 - Protecting Your Account29:38 - Red Flags30:53 - Recap35:04 - Poll38:11 - Two-factor Authentication/Monitoring*Join the Newsletter. It's Free:*robberger.com/newsletter/?utm_source=Rob+Berger&utm_medium=ATF+Link&utm_campaign=Newsletter&utm_id=YouTube*Financial tools I use:**I track all of my investments, performance, fees, and asset allocation with Empower. It's Free:*go.robberger.com/empower/yt-*I use Monarch Money to manage our budget:* go.robberger.com/monarch-yt/yt-desc*My retirement plan comes from Boldin, the most robust retirement planner available at a reasonable cost:*go.robberger.com/boldin/yt-*I used Capitalize for my last 401(k) rollover. They did all of the work, and it's Free:*go.robberger.com/capitalize/yt-*My Book (Retire Before Mom and Dad):*amzn.to/4d9qbhA#retirement #investing #robbergerABOUT ME While still working as a trial attorney in the securities field, I started writing about personal finance and investing In 2007. In 2013 I started the Doughroller Money Podcast, which has been downloaded millions of times. I've since sold my websites, bought them back, and started a new website and this YouTube channel.I'm also the author of Retire Before Mom and Dad--The Simple Numbers Behind a Lifetime of Financial Freedom (amzn.to/3by10EE)LET'S CONNECTYoutube: youtube.com/channel/UC9C17-OMxa-7oRSaCtztObw?sub_confirmation=1Facebook: facebook.com/financialfreedomguyTwitter: twitter.com/Robert_A_BergerDISCLAIMER: I am not a financial adviser. These videos are for educational purposes only. Investing of any kind involves risk. Your investment and other financial decisions are solely your responsibility. It is imperative that you conduct your own research and seek professional advice as necessary. I am merely sharing my opinions.AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Some of the links on this channel are affiliate links, meaning at no cost to you I earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase and/or subscribe. However, I only recommend products or services that (1) I believe in and (2) would recommend to my own mom.
The 3 Finance Apps I Use Every Day Rob Berger 2025-08-09 | I use three finance apps daily to track everything from our budget to our investments to our retirement plan. In this video, I'll share the three apps I use, explain why I use them, and discuss what could be improved. I'll also cover some alternatives.*Resources*Monarch Money: go.robberger.com/monarch-yt/yt-my-3 (use promo code *ROB50*)Kubera: go.robberger.com/kubera/yt-my-3Boldin: go.robberger.com/boldin/yt-my-3Empower: go.robberger.com/empower/yt-my-3Rocket Money: go.robberger.com/rocket-money/yt-my-3Tiller: go.robberger.com/tiller/yt-my-3ProjectionLab: go.robberger.com/projectionlab/yt-my-3Newsletter for 10% promo code: robberger.com/newsletter/?utm_source=Rob+Berger&utm_medium=ATF+Link&utm_campaign=Newsletter&utm_id=YouTubePralana: go.robberger.com/pralana/yt-my-3Note: I have an affiliate relationship with some of the above apps, however, the companies have no say, influence or control over my videos. They don't even know I published this video.*Join the Newsletter. It's Free:*robberger.com/newsletter/?utm_source=Rob+Berger&utm_medium=ATF+Link&utm_campaign=Newsletter&utm_id=YouTube*Financial tools I use:**I track all of my investments, performance, fees, and asset allocation with Empower. It's Free:*go.robberger.com/empower/yt-*I use Monarch Money to manage our budget:* go.robberger.com/monarch-yt/yt-desc*My retirement plan comes from Boldin, the most robust retirement planner available at a reasonable cost:*go.robberger.com/boldin/yt-*I used Capitalize for my last 401(k) rollover. They did all of the work, and it's Free:*go.robberger.com/capitalize/yt-*My Book (Retire Before Mom and Dad):*amzn.to/4d9qbhA0:00 - Intro0:25 - Budgeting/Monarch Money9:20 - Downsides to Monarch Money10:05 - Monarch Amazon Sync12:10 - Free Alternatives13:41 - Announcement15:09 - Investments/Kubera24:53 - Retirement Planning/Boldin27:50 - Retirement Planning Options#retirement #investing #robbergerABOUT ME While still working as a trial attorney in the securities field, I started writing about personal finance and investing In 2007. In 2013 I started the Doughroller Money Podcast, which has been downloaded millions of times. I've since sold my websites, bought them back, and started a new website and this YouTube channel.I'm also the author of Retire Before Mom and Dad--The Simple Numbers Behind a Lifetime of Financial Freedom (amzn.to/3by10EE)LET'S CONNECTYoutube: youtube.com/channel/UC9C17-OMxa-7oRSaCtztObw?sub_confirmation=1Facebook: facebook.com/financialfreedomguyTwitter: twitter.com/Robert_A_BergerDISCLAIMER: I am not a financial adviser. These videos are for educational purposes only. Investing of any kind involves risk. Your investment and other financial decisions are solely your responsibility. It is imperative that you conduct your own research and seek professional advice as necessary. I am merely sharing my opinions.AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Some of the links on this channel are affiliate links, meaning at no cost to you I earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase and/or subscribe. However, I only recommend products or services that (1) I believe in and (2) would recommend to my own mom.
How Long Does the Sequence of Returns Risk Last? (FQF) Rob Berger 2025-08-08 | In today's Five Question Friday (FQF), we answer the following questions:1. When does Sequence of Returns Risk (SORR) end?2. What is the 4-Year Rule of Retirement Ruin?3. How to overcome the fear of spending your savings in retirement?4. How does OBBBA change Roth conversion analysis?5. Should you do Roth Conversions or Take Distributions from an IRA?*Resources*Morningstar SORR Article: morningstar.com/retirement/how-avoid-outliving-your-retirement-savings-its-all-sequenceKitces SORR Article: kitces.com/blog/understanding-sequence-of-return-risk-safe-withdrawal-rates-bear-market-crashes-and-bad-decadesJim Otar Book: UNVEILING THE RETIREMENT MYTH: Advanced Retirement Planning based on Market History: amzn.to/3J8oFBKMinimum Dignity Floor: bogleheads.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=421593Tax Foundation Article: taxfoundation.org/research/all/federal/one-big-beautiful-bill-act-tax-changesYale Budget Lab: https://budgetlab.yale.edu/*Join the Newsletter. It's Free:*robberger.com/newsletter/?utm_source=Rob+Berger&utm_medium=ATF+Link&utm_campaign=Newsletter&utm_id=YouTube*Financial tools I use:**I track all of my investments, performance, fees, and asset allocation with Empower. It's Free:*go.robberger.com/empower/yt-*I use Monarch Money to manage our budget:* go.robberger.com/monarch-yt/yt-desc*My retirement plan comes from Boldin, the most robust retirement planner available at a reasonable cost:*go.robberger.com/boldin/yt-*I used Capitalize for my last 401(k) rollover. They did all of the work, and it's Free:*go.robberger.com/capitalize/yt-*My Book (Retire Before Mom and Dad):*amzn.to/4d9qbhA0:00 - Intro1:21 - When does Sequence of Returns Risk (SORR) end?6:29 - What is the 4-Year Rule of Retirement Ruin?8:52 - How to overcome the fear of spending your savings in retirement?11:55 - How does OBBBA change Roth conversion analysis?15:10 - Should you do Roth Conversions or Take Distributions from an IRA?24:45 - Federal Budget#retirement #investing #robbergerABOUT ME While still working as a trial attorney in the securities field, I started writing about personal finance and investing In 2007. In 2013 I started the Doughroller Money Podcast, which has been downloaded millions of times. I've since sold my websites, bought them back, and started a new website and this YouTube channel.I'm also the author of Retire Before Mom and Dad--The Simple Numbers Behind a Lifetime of Financial Freedom (amzn.to/3by10EE)LET'S CONNECTYoutube: youtube.com/channel/UC9C17-OMxa-7oRSaCtztObw?sub_confirmation=1Facebook: facebook.com/financialfreedomguyTwitter: twitter.com/Robert_A_BergerDISCLAIMER: I am not a financial adviser. These videos are for educational purposes only. Investing of any kind involves risk. Your investment and other financial decisions are solely your responsibility. It is imperative that you conduct your own research and seek professional advice as necessary. I am merely sharing my opinions.AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Some of the links on this channel are affiliate links, meaning at no cost to you I earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase and/or subscribe. However, I only recommend products or services that (1) I believe in and (2) would recommend to my own mom.
Should You Do A Mega Roth Conversion? (FQF) Rob Berger 2025-08-01 | We cover the following questions in this week's Five Question Friday (FQF):1. Should we convert 100% of a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA?2. Should government workers invest only in the C Fund in the TSP?3. Which spouse should do Roth conversions first?4. How many funds should you own?5. Does a muni bond fund work in a 3-fund portfolio?*Resources*Vanguard BETR Paper: corporate.vanguard.com/content/dam/corp/research/pdf/a_betr_approach_to_roth_conversions.pdfFidelity RMD Table: fidelity.com/bin-public/060_www_fidelity_com/documents/UniformLifetimeTable.pdfRoth BETR Calculator: advisors.vanguard.com/tax-center/tools/roth-betr-calculator2025 Tax and Retirement Contribution Guide: advisors.vanguard.com/content/dam/fas/pdfs/FATXGD10.pdfFidelity Taxable-Equivalent Yield Calculator: digital.fidelity.com/prgw/digital/taxyieldcalcBoldin: go.robberger.com/boldin/yt-fqf*Join the Newsletter. It's Free:*robberger.com/newsletter/?utm_source=Rob+Berger&utm_medium=ATF+Link&utm_campaign=Newsletter&utm_id=YouTube*Financial tools I use:**I track all of my investments, performance, fees, and asset allocation with Empower. It's Free:*go.robberger.com/empower/yt-*I use Monarch Money to manage our budget:* go.robberger.com/monarch-yt/yt-desc*My retirement plan comes from Boldin, the most robust retirement planner available at a reasonable cost:*go.robberger.com/boldin/yt-*I used Capitalize for my last 401(k) rollover. They did all of the work, and it's Free:*go.robberger.com/capitalize/yt-*My Book (Retire Before Mom and Dad):*amzn.to/4d9qbhA#retirement #investing #robberger 0:00 - Intro01:30 - Should we convert 100% of a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA?10:13 - Should government workers invest only in the C Fund in the TSP?14:23 - Which spouse should do Roth conversions first?20:18 - How many funds should you own?23:23 - Does a muni bond fund work in a 3-fund portfolio?25:20 - Tax-Equivalent Yields Calculator29:10 - Roth Conversion Calculator ABOUT ME While still working as a trial attorney in the securities field, I started writing about personal finance and investing In 2007. In 2013 I started the Doughroller Money Podcast, which has been downloaded millions of times. I've since sold my websites, bought them back, and started a new website and this YouTube channel.I'm also the author of Retire Before Mom and Dad--The Simple Numbers Behind a Lifetime of Financial Freedom (amzn.to/3by10EE)LET'S CONNECTYoutube: youtube.com/channel/UC9C17-OMxa-7oRSaCtztObw?sub_confirmation=1Facebook: facebook.com/financialfreedomguyTwitter: twitter.com/Robert_A_BergerDISCLAIMER: I am not a financial adviser. These videos are for educational purposes only. Investing of any kind involves risk. Your investment and other financial decisions are solely your responsibility. It is imperative that you conduct your own research and seek professional advice as necessary. I am merely sharing my opinions.AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Some of the links on this channel are affiliate links, meaning at no cost to you I earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase and/or subscribe. However, I only recommend products or services that (1) I believe in and (2) would recommend to my own mom.
What is the Tax Triangle? (FQF) Rob Berger 2025-07-25 | In today's Five Question Friday (FQF), we cover five great questions and one tax calculator:1. What is the Tax Triangle? (Traditional, Roth, and taxable accounts)2. Is the Withdrawal Amount in FICalc the same as spending?3. When should you sell an investment that's at a loss?4. How far into the future should we plan?5. When and how quickly should you change asset allocation as you near retirement?Tool: Retirement Tax-Friendly States: smartasset.com/retirement/retirement-taxes*Resources*Blackrock Asset Return Map: blackrock.com/corporate/insights/blackrock-investment-institute/interactive-charts/return-mapFICalc: https://ficalc.app/Boldin: go.robberger.com/boldin/yt-fqfPerplexity Result: perplexity.ai/search/what-percentage-of-assets-shou-myWaes7oQ2Sx3M26oQL.IwPerplexity Tax Triangle: perplexity.ai/search/what-is-the-tax-triangle-Nyo87IFTR6KF9GeMolH6Dw*Join the Newsletter. It's Free:*robberger.com/newsletter/?utm_source=Rob+Berger&utm_medium=ATF+Link&utm_campaign=Newsletter&utm_id=YouTube*Financial tools I use:**I track all of my investments, performance, fees, and asset allocation with Empower. It's Free:*go.robberger.com/empower/yt-*I use Monarch Money to manage our budget:* go.robberger.com/monarch-yt/yt-desc*My retirement plan comes from Boldin, the most robust retirement planner available at a reasonable cost:*go.robberger.com/boldin/yt-*I used Capitalize for my last 401(k) rollover. They did all of the work, and it's Free:*go.robberger.com/capitalize/yt-*My Book (Retire Before Mom and Dad):*amzn.to/4d9qbhA#retirement #investing #robberger 0:00 - Intro1:48 - What is the Tax Triangle? (Traditional, Roth, and taxable accounts)8:40 - Is the Withdrawal Amount in FICalc the same as spending?11:40 - When should you sell an investment that's at a loss?16:23 - How far into the future should we plan?20:50 - When and how quickly should you change asset allocation as you near retirement?26:52 - Smart Asset/Retirement Tax-Friendly StatesABOUT ME While still working as a trial attorney in the securities field, I started writing about personal finance and investing In 2007. In 2013 I started the Doughroller Money Podcast, which has been downloaded millions of times. I've since sold my websites, bought them back, and started a new website and this YouTube channel.I'm also the author of Retire Before Mom and Dad--The Simple Numbers Behind a Lifetime of Financial Freedom (amzn.to/3by10EE)LET'S CONNECTYoutube: youtube.com/channel/UC9C17-OMxa-7oRSaCtztObw?sub_confirmation=1Facebook: facebook.com/financialfreedomguyTwitter: twitter.com/Robert_A_BergerDISCLAIMER: I am not a financial adviser. These videos are for educational purposes only. Investing of any kind involves risk. Your investment and other financial decisions are solely your responsibility. It is imperative that you conduct your own research and seek professional advice as necessary. I am merely sharing my opinions.AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Some of the links on this channel are affiliate links, meaning at no cost to you I earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase and/or subscribe. However, I only recommend products or services that (1) I believe in and (2) would recommend to my own mom.
8 Ways to Reduce Medicare IRMAA Payments Rob Berger 2025-07-24 | In today's video, we discuss how Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA) payments are calculated and 8 strategies to reduce or even eliminate the payments.*Resources from the Video*Reddit Forum Post: reddit.com/r/DIYRetirement/comments/1m7afpp/strategies_to_reduce_irmaa_costs_medicare2025 IRMAA Brackets: humana.com/medicare/medicare-resources/irmaaIRMAA MAGI Calculation: secure.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0601101010SSA-44 Form: ssa.gov/forms/ssa-44.pdfBoldin: go.robberger.com/boldin/yt-irmmaProjectionLab: go.robberger.com/projectionlab/yt-irmaa*Join the Newsletter to get a 10% discount code off of ProjectionLab:*robberger.com/newsletter/?utm_source=Rob+Berger&utm_medium=ATF+Link&utm_campaign=Newsletter&utm_id=YouTube*Financial tools I use:**I track all of my investments, performance, fees, and asset allocation with Empower. It's Free:*go.robberger.com/empower/yt-*I use Monarch Money to manage our budget:* go.robberger.com/monarch-yt/yt-desc*My retirement plan comes from Boldin, the most robust retirement planner available at a reasonable cost:*go.robberger.com/boldin/yt-*I used Capitalize for my last 401(k) rollover. They did all of the work, and it's Free:*go.robberger.com/capitalize/yt-*My Book (Retire Before Mom and Dad):*amzn.to/4d9qbhA#retirement #investing #robbergerABOUT ME While still working as a trial attorney in the securities field, I started writing about personal finance and investing In 2007. In 2013 I started the Doughroller Money Podcast, which has been downloaded millions of times. I've since sold my websites, bought them back, and started a new website and this YouTube channel.I'm also the author of Retire Before Mom and Dad--The Simple Numbers Behind a Lifetime of Financial Freedom (amzn.to/3by10EE)LET'S CONNECTYoutube: youtube.com/channel/UC9C17-OMxa-7oRSaCtztObw?sub_confirmation=1Facebook: facebook.com/financialfreedomguyTwitter: twitter.com/Robert_A_BergerDISCLAIMER: I am not a financial adviser. These videos are for educational purposes only. Investing of any kind involves risk. Your investment and other financial decisions are solely your responsibility. It is imperative that you conduct your own research and seek professional advice as necessary. I am merely sharing my opinions.AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Some of the links on this channel are affiliate links, meaning at no cost to you I earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase and/or subscribe. However, I only recommend products or services that (1) I believe in and (2) would recommend to my own mom.
How Would Your Retirement Plan Survive a Stock Market Crash? Live Q&A Rob Berger 2025-07-22 | *Join the Newsletter. It's Free:*robberger.com/newsletter/?utm_source=Rob+Berger&utm_medium=ATF+Link&utm_campaign=Newsletter&utm_id=YouTube*Financial tools I use:**I track all of my investments, performance, fees, and asset allocation with Empower. It's Free:*go.robberger.com/empower/yt-*I use Monarch Money to manage our budget:* go.robberger.com/monarch-yt/yt-desc*My retirement plan comes from Boldin, the most robust retirement planner available at a reasonable cost:*go.robberger.com/boldin/yt-*I used Capitalize for my last 401(k) rollover. They did all of the work, and it's Free:*go.robberger.com/capitalize/yt-*My Book (Retire Before Mom and Dad):*amzn.to/4d9qbhA#retirement #investing #robberger0:00 - Intro0:36 - How Would Your Retirement Plan Survive a Stock Market Crash?16:52 - Insurance20:29 - New Sub-Reddit21:05 - FXNAX24:30 - S&P 500 still overpriced?25:37 - Invest without risk29:09 - DFUS/VNQ in HSA34:48 - Dividend Growth Portfolio38:56 - eMoney43:04 - Psychological hurdle of spending money46:24 - Empower vs Boldin53:11 - Disadvantage to a balance fund1:00:36 - "If you've won the game, stop playing"1:05:48 - Success in investing1:06:58 - Portfolio Visualizer 4 Number result1:10:44 - Retiree spending limits1:14:16 - VWIAX1:18:44 - ETF "nonsense"1:26:17 - Changing Retirement Account1:27:02 - Taking SS at 62 vs 701:30:43 - Pro Tax Advisor guests?ABOUT ME While still working as a trial attorney in the securities field, I started writing about personal finance and investing In 2007. In 2013 I started the Doughroller Money Podcast, which has been downloaded millions of times. I've since sold my websites, bought them back, and started a new website and this YouTube channel.I'm also the author of Retire Before Mom and Dad--The Simple Numbers Behind a Lifetime of Financial Freedom (amzn.to/3by10EE)LET'S CONNECTYoutube: youtube.com/channel/UC9C17-OMxa-7oRSaCtztObw?sub_confirmation=1Facebook: facebook.com/financialfreedomguyTwitter: twitter.com/Robert_A_BergerDISCLAIMER: I am not a financial adviser. These videos are for educational purposes only. Investing of any kind involves risk. Your investment and other financial decisions are solely your responsibility. It is imperative that you conduct your own research and seek professional advice as necessary. I am merely sharing my opinions.AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Some of the links on this channel are affiliate links, meaning at no cost to you I earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase and/or subscribe. However, I only recommend products or services that (1) I believe in and (2) would recommend to my own mom.
Whats the Best Option for Cash: Money Market Funds or T-Bill ETFs? (FQF) Rob Berger 2025-07-19 | Here are the five questions we cover this week in Five Question Friday:1. Should we park cash in a money market fund or a t-bill ETF?2. Are Robo-Advisor Tax-Loss harvesting features worth it?3. What is the Retirement Spending Smile?4. What rate of return assumption should you use in retirement planning software?5. Which IRA account types can be combined?*Resources*Monarch Money (the budgeting app I use): go.robberger.com/monarch-yt/yt-Exploring the Retirement Consumption Puzzle: financialplanningassociation.org/sites/default/files/2020-09/MAY14%20JFP%20Blanchett_0.pdfIRS Rollover Chart: irs.gov/pub/irs-tege/rollover_chart.pdfBoldin: go.robberger.com/boldin/yt-ProjectionLab: go.robberger.com/projectionlab/yt*Join the Newsletter. It's Free:*robberger.com/newsletter/?utm_source=Rob+Berger&utm_medium=ATF+Link&utm_campaign=Newsletter&utm_id=YouTube*Financial tools I use:**I track all of my investments, performance, fees, and asset allocation with Empower. It's Free:*go.robberger.com/empower/yt-*I use Monarch Money to manage our budget:* go.robberger.com/monarch-yt/yt-*My retirement plan comes from Boldin, the most robust retirement planner available at a reasonable cost:*go.robberger.com/boldin/yt-*I used Capitalize for my last 401(k) rollover. They did all of the work, and it's Free:*go.robberger.com/capitalize/yt-*My Book (Retire Before Mom and Dad):*amzn.to/4d9qbhA#retirement #investing #robberger 0:00 - Intro02:22 - Should we park cash in a money market fund or a t-bill ETF?7:03 - Are Robo-Advisor Tax-Loss harvesting features worth it?12:50 - What is the Retirement Spending Smile?18:32 - What rate of return assumption should you use in retirement planning software?23:45 - Which IRA account types can be combined?ABOUT ME While still working as a trial attorney in the securities field, I started writing about personal finance and investing In 2007. In 2013 I started the Doughroller Money Podcast, which has been downloaded millions of times. I've since sold my websites, bought them back, and started a new website and this YouTube channel.I'm also the author of Retire Before Mom and Dad--The Simple Numbers Behind a Lifetime of Financial Freedom (amzn.to/3by10EE)LET'S CONNECTYoutube: youtube.com/channel/UC9C17-OMxa-7oRSaCtztObw?sub_confirmation=1Facebook: facebook.com/financialfreedomguyTwitter: twitter.com/Robert_A_BergerDISCLAIMER: I am not a financial adviser. These videos are for educational purposes only. Investing of any kind involves risk. Your investment and other financial decisions are solely your responsibility. It is imperative that you conduct your own research and seek professional advice as necessary. I am merely sharing my opinions.AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Some of the links on this channel are affiliate links, meaning at no cost to you I earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase and/or subscribe. However, I only recommend products or services that (1) I believe in and (2) would recommend to my own mom.
The New Tax Law Changes and How They May Affect Retirement Rob Berger 2025-07-16 | The passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act has brought us a number of changes to the tax laws. Some changes are "permanent," meaning it would take an act of Congress and the President to change them. Some are "temporary," meaning they expire at some point in the future. Almost all of them can affect how we plan for retirement, particularly when it comes to Roth conversion strategies, tax-gain harvesting, and even traditional retirement account distributions.In this video, I walk through the key tax provisions of the OBBBA, and then cover how they may affect retirement planning.NOTE: ProjectionLab has updated its software to account for the OBBBA tax changesrobberger.com/tools/projectionlab*Resources*Andy Panko's article: static.twentyoverten.com/5d252702a03bfb38f263a72e/Zl4tW6UyHh7/Tenon-Financial-Newsletter-OBBBA-20250707.pdfU.S. Bank Tax Bracket article: usbank.com/wealth-management/financial-perspectives/financial-planning/tax-brackets.html*Join the Newsletter. It's Free:*robberger.com/newsletter/?utm_source=Rob+Berger&utm_medium=ATF+Link&utm_campaign=Newsletter&utm_id=YouTube*Financial tools I use:**I track all of my investments, performance, fees, and asset allocation with Empower. It's Free:*go.robberger.com/empower/yt-*I use Monarch Money to manage our budget:* go.robberger.com/monarch/yt-*My retirement plan comes from Boldin, the most robust retirement planner available at a reasonable cost:*go.robberger.com/boldin/yt-*I used Capitalize for my last 401(k) rollover. They did all of the work, and it's Free:*go.robberger.com/capitalize/yt-*My Book (Retire Before Mom and Dad):*amzn.to/4d9qbhA#retirement #obbba #robberger 0:00 - Intro1:59 - Enhanced ACA Credits3:59 - Standard Deductions11:10 - Exclusions12:55 - Trump Accounts14:10 - How should we respond to the tax changes?15:01 - Tax Brackets19:35 - Roth Conversions22:10 - Retirement Planning SoftwareABOUT ME While still working as a trial attorney in the securities field, I started writing about personal finance and investing In 2007. In 2013 I started the Doughroller Money Podcast, which has been downloaded millions of times. I've since sold my websites, bought them back, and started a new website and this YouTube channel.I'm also the author of Retire Before Mom and Dad--The Simple Numbers Behind a Lifetime of Financial Freedom (amzn.to/3by10EE)LET'S CONNECTYoutube: youtube.com/channel/UC9C17-OMxa-7oRSaCtztObw?sub_confirmation=1Facebook: facebook.com/financialfreedomguyTwitter: twitter.com/Robert_A_BergerDISCLAIMER: I am not a financial adviser. These videos are for educational purposes only. Investing of any kind involves risk. Your investment and other financial decisions are solely your responsibility. It is imperative that you conduct your own research and seek professional advice as necessary. I am merely sharing my opinions.AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Some of the links on this channel are affiliate links, meaning at no cost to you I earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase and/or subscribe. However, I only recommend products or services that (1) I believe in and (2) would recommend to my own mom.
How the New $6,000 Senior Bonus Deduction Affects Roth Conversions (FQF) Rob Berger 2025-07-11 | In today's Five Question Friday we look at the following questions:0:00 - Intro0:07 - How should the $6,000 senior deduction affect Roth conversions?10:03 - Are short-term bonds a reasonable alternative to intermediate-term bonds?14:16 - Are tax-managed balanced funds ok in a taxable account?19:55 - How should I invest money I'll use to pay the rent in retirement?26:14 - Boldin vs ProjectionLab for Roth conversion analysis?*Resources Mention in the Video*Boldin: go.robberger.com/boldin/yt-ProjectionLab: go.robberger.com/projectionlab/yt-*Note*: Sign up for my newsletter below for a 10% discount code off of a ProjectionLab subscription (code is in every Sunday morning email I send out)Kiplinger Article: kiplinger.com/taxes/tax-deduction-change-for-those-over-65Blackrock iBonds: blackrock.com/us/financial-professionals/tools/ibondsBengen 1997 paper: financialplanningassociation.org/sites/default/files/2021-10/DEC97%20JFP%20Bengen%20PDF.pdfTax-Equivalent Yield Calc: digital.fidelity.com/prgw/digital/taxyieldcalc*Join the Newsletter. It's Free:*robberger.com/newsletter/?utm_source=Rob+Berger&utm_medium=ATF+Link&utm_campaign=Newsletter&utm_id=YouTube*Financial tools I use:**I track all of my investments, performance, fees, and asset allocation with Empower. It's Free:*go.robberger.com/empower/yt-*I use Monarch Money to manage our budget:* go.robberger.com/monarch/yt-*My retirement plan comes from Boldin, the most robust retirement planner available at a reasonable cost:*go.robberger.com/boldin/yt-*I used Capitalize for my last 401(k) rollover. They did all of the work, and it's Free:*go.robberger.com/capitalize/yt-*My Book (Retire Before Mom and Dad):*amzn.to/4d9qbhA#retirement #investing #robbergerABOUT ME While still working as a trial attorney in the securities field, I started writing about personal finance and investing In 2007. In 2013 I started the Doughroller Money Podcast, which has been downloaded millions of times. I've since sold my websites, bought them back, and started a new website and this YouTube channel.I'm also the author of Retire Before Mom and Dad--The Simple Numbers Behind a Lifetime of Financial Freedom (amzn.to/3by10EE)LET'S CONNECTYoutube: youtube.com/channel/UC9C17-OMxa-7oRSaCtztObw?sub_confirmation=1Facebook: facebook.com/financialfreedomguyTwitter: twitter.com/Robert_A_BergerDISCLAIMER: I am not a financial adviser. These videos are for educational purposes only. Investing of any kind involves risk. Your investment and other financial decisions are solely your responsibility. It is imperative that you conduct your own research and seek professional advice as necessary. I am merely sharing my opinions.AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Some of the links on this channel are affiliate links, meaning at no cost to you I earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase and/or subscribe. However, I only recommend products or services that (1) I believe in and (2) would recommend to my own mom.
Boldins Monte Carlo Simulation Changes | Live Q&A Rob Berger 2025-07-08 | *Join the Newsletter. It's Free:*robberger.com/newsletter/?utm_source=Rob+Berger&utm_medium=ATF+Link&utm_campaign=Newsletter&utm_id=YouTube*Financial tools I use:**I track all of my investments, performance, fees, and asset allocation with Empower. It's Free:*go.robberger.com/empower/yt-*I use Monarch Money to manage our budget:* go.robberger.com/monarch/yt-*My retirement plan comes from Boldin, the most robust retirement planner available at a reasonable cost:*go.robberger.com/boldin/yt-*I used Capitalize for my last 401(k) rollover. They did all of the work, and it's Free:*go.robberger.com/capitalize/yt-*My Book (Retire Before Mom and Dad):*amzn.to/4d9qbhA#retirement #investing #robberger 0:00 - Intro01:40 - Boldin's Monte Carlo Simulation Changes18:04 - Chess tournament19:36 - DIY Retirement/Reddit21:10 - Max out Roth IRA24:42 - Vanguard Target Date funds rebalancing28:08 - Widow Tax Myth Debunked31:50 - Retirement Income Death Spiral35:41 - HSA funds43:37 - Bond ETFs/Interest Rates49:03 - Chance of Success Score52:17 - Basket of Stocks vs Index Funds56:23 - Historical Backtesting59:48 - Employee Stock Purchase Options1:01:58 - Annual Growth Rates1:05:43 - Learn to play Chess1:08:17 - Sticking with an Asset Allocation1:12:17 - Boldin Tax Rates Updates1:14:02 - Boldin Weekly Email1:19:01 - Boldin Capital Gains Tax1:29:06 - Chess1:36:40 - AnnouncementsABOUT ME While still working as a trial attorney in the securities field, I started writing about personal finance and investing In 2007. In 2013 I started the Doughroller Money Podcast, which has been downloaded millions of times. I've since sold my websites, bought them back, and started a new website and this YouTube channel.I'm also the author of Retire Before Mom and Dad--The Simple Numbers Behind a Lifetime of Financial Freedom (amzn.to/3by10EE)LET'S CONNECTYoutube: youtube.com/channel/UC9C17-OMxa-7oRSaCtztObw?sub_confirmation=1Facebook: facebook.com/financialfreedomguyTwitter: twitter.com/Robert_A_BergerDISCLAIMER: I am not a financial adviser. These videos are for educational purposes only. Investing of any kind involves risk. Your investment and other financial decisions are solely your responsibility. It is imperative that you conduct your own research and seek professional advice as necessary. I am merely sharing my opinions.AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Some of the links on this channel are affiliate links, meaning at no cost to you I earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase and/or subscribe. However, I only recommend products or services that (1) I believe in and (2) would recommend to my own mom.
How Big Is the Widow’s Penalty—and Can You Reduce It? (FQF) Rob Berger 2025-07-05 | Happy 4th of July! In today's Five Question Friday, we tackle the following questions:1. How significant is the widows penalty?2. Should Bogleheads worry that Coinbase is in the S&P 500?3. Does it make sense to pay the taxes on a Roth conversion from another Roth account?4. Does the Bucket Strategy reduce sequence of returns risk?5. Should we include future tax liability in our net worth statement?*Resources Mentioned in the Video*ProjectionLab: go.robberger.com/projectionlab/yt-mfB6ZYcl4BoKubera: go.robberger.com/kubera/yt-mfB6ZYcl4BoAlso, get 50% your first year of Monarch Money with discount code MONARCHVIP: go.robberger.com/monarch/yt-mfB6ZYcl4Bo*Join the Newsletter. It's Free:*robberger.com/newsletter/?utm_source=Rob+Berger&utm_medium=ATF+Link&utm_campaign=Newsletter&utm_id=YouTube*Financial tools I use:**I track all of my investments, performance, fees, and asset allocation with Empower. It's Free:*go.robberger.com/empower/yt-mfB6ZYcl4Bo*I use Monarch Money to manage our budget:* go.robberger.com/monarch/yt-mfB6ZYcl4Bo*My retirement plan comes from Boldin, the most robust retirement planner available at a reasonable cost:*go.robberger.com/boldin/yt-mfB6ZYcl4Bo*I used Capitalize for my last 401(k) rollover. They did all of the work, and it's Free:*go.robberger.com/capitalize/yt-mfB6ZYcl4Bo*My Book (Retire Before Mom and Dad):*amzn.to/4d9qbhA0:00 - Intro1:05 - How significant is the widows penalty?7:43 - Should Bogleheads worry that Coinbase is in the S&P 500?9:29 - Does it make sense to pay the taxes on a Roth conversion from another Roth account?11:45 - Does the Bucket Strategy reduce sequence of returns risk?18:59 - Should we include future tax liability in our net worth statement?#retirement #investing #robbergerABOUT ME While still working as a trial attorney in the securities field, I started writing about personal finance and investing In 2007. In 2013 I started the Doughroller Money Podcast, which has been downloaded millions of times. I've since sold my websites, bought them back, and started a new website and this YouTube channel.I'm also the author of Retire Before Mom and Dad--The Simple Numbers Behind a Lifetime of Financial Freedom (amzn.to/3by10EE)LET'S CONNECTYoutube: youtube.com/channel/UC9C17-OMxa-7oRSaCtztObw?sub_confirmation=1Facebook: facebook.com/financialfreedomguyTwitter: twitter.com/Robert_A_BergerDISCLAIMER: I am not a financial adviser. These videos are for educational purposes only. Investing of any kind involves risk. Your investment and other financial decisions are solely your responsibility. It is imperative that you conduct your own research and seek professional advice as necessary. I am merely sharing my opinions.AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Some of the links on this channel are affiliate links, meaning at no cost to you I earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase and/or subscribe. However, I only recommend products or services that (1) I believe in and (2) would recommend to my own mom.
How Bracket Filling Can Lower Your Tax Bill in Retirement Rob Berger 2025-07-01 | A viewer recently asked about bracket filling:"I haven't heard you or other financial advisors say much about "bracket filling" in retirement. Is it reasonable to think that in retirement I should be filling a tax bracket up with pre-tax accounts, then using after-tax accounts for withdrawals that reach into the higher bracket? Is there a way to model this in Bolden?"It's a great question that we cover in this video.*Resources Mentioned in Video*Boldin: go.robberger.com/boldin/yt-ENqg4a_QUAM*Join the Newsletter. It's Free:*robberger.com/newsletter/?utm_source=Rob+Berger&utm_medium=ATF+Link&utm_campaign=Newsletter&utm_id=YouTube*Financial tools I use:**I track all of my investments, performance, fees, and asset allocation with Empower. It's Free:*go.robberger.com/empower/yt-ENqg4a_QUAM*I use Monarch Money to manage our budget:* go.robberger.com/monarch/yt-ENqg4a_QUAM*My retirement plan comes from Boldin, the most robust retirement planner available at a reasonable cost:*go.robberger.com/boldin/yt-ENqg4a_QUAM*I used Capitalize for my last 401(k) rollover. They did all of the work, and it's Free:*go.robberger.com/capitalize/yt-ENqg4a_QUAM*My Book (Retire Before Mom and Dad):*amzn.to/4d9qbhA#retirement #taxes #robberger 0:00 - Intro01:19 Boldin Price Increase01:48 - Tax Bracket Filling05:00 - Accounts & Assets08:07 - IRMAA09:55 - Roth Conversions13:07 - TransfersABOUT ME While still working as a trial attorney in the securities field, I started writing about personal finance and investing In 2007. In 2013 I started the Doughroller Money Podcast, which has been downloaded millions of times. I've since sold my websites, bought them back, and started a new website and this YouTube channel.I'm also the author of Retire Before Mom and Dad--The Simple Numbers Behind a Lifetime of Financial Freedom (amzn.to/3by10EE)LET'S CONNECTYoutube: youtube.com/channel/UC9C17-OMxa-7oRSaCtztObw?sub_confirmation=1Facebook: facebook.com/financialfreedomguyTwitter: twitter.com/Robert_A_BergerDISCLAIMER: I am not a financial adviser. These videos are for educational purposes only. Investing of any kind involves risk. Your investment and other financial decisions are solely your responsibility. It is imperative that you conduct your own research and seek professional advice as necessary. I am merely sharing my opinions.AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Some of the links on this channel are affiliate links, meaning at no cost to you I earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase and/or subscribe. However, I only recommend products or services that (1) I believe in and (2) would recommend to my own mom.
Will Baby Boomers Crash the Stock Market? (FQF) Rob Berger 2025-06-27 | We cover these questions in today's Five Question Friday (FQF):1. Will baby boomers crash the stock market?2. Is spending dividends in retirement better than selling shares?3. Do TDF's force you to sell stocks in a down market during retirement?4. Do bonds no longer provide diversification?5. Should Retirees have Fixed Income in a Brokerage Account?*Resources from the video*Reuters' Article: reuters.com/breakingviews/great-boomer-selloff-may-overwhelm-us-stocks-2025-05-23FSB Article #1: frbsf.org/research-and-insights/publications/economic-letter/2011/08/boomer-retirement-us-equity-marketsFSB Article #2: frbsf.org/research-and-insights/blog/community-development/2018/03/05/boomer-retirement-weighing-down-us-equity-markets*Join the Newsletter. It's Free:*robberger.com/newsletter/?utm_source=Rob+Berger&utm_medium=ATF+Link&utm_campaign=Newsletter&utm_id=YouTube*Financial tools I use:**I track all of my investments, performance, fees, and asset allocation with Empower. It's Free:*go.robberger.com/empower/yt-*I use Monarch Money to manage our budget:* go.robberger.com/monarch/yt-*My retirement plan comes from Boldin, the most robust retirement planner available at a reasonable cost:*go.robberger.com/boldin/yt-*I used Capitalize for my last 401(k) rollover. They did all of the work, and it's Free:*go.robberger.com/capitalize/yt-*My Book (Retire Before Mom and Dad):*amzn.to/4d9qbhA0:00 - Intro0:50 - Will baby boomers crash the stock market?8:03 - Is spending dividends in retirement better than selling shares?13:31 - Do TDF's force you to sell stocks in a down market during retirement?17:20 - Do bonds no longer provide diversification?21:42 - Should Retirees have Fixed Income in a Brokerage Account?#retirement #investing #robbergerABOUT ME While still working as a trial attorney in the securities field, I started writing about personal finance and investing In 2007. In 2013 I started the Doughroller Money Podcast, which has been downloaded millions of times. I've since sold my websites, bought them back, and started a new website and this YouTube channel.I'm also the author of Retire Before Mom and Dad--The Simple Numbers Behind a Lifetime of Financial Freedom (amzn.to/3by10EE)LET'S CONNECTYoutube: youtube.com/channel/UC9C17-OMxa-7oRSaCtztObw?sub_confirmation=1Facebook: facebook.com/financialfreedomguyTwitter: twitter.com/Robert_A_BergerDISCLAIMER: I am not a financial adviser. These videos are for educational purposes only. Investing of any kind involves risk. Your investment and other financial decisions are solely your responsibility. It is imperative that you conduct your own research and seek professional advice as necessary. I am merely sharing my opinions.AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Some of the links on this channel are affiliate links, meaning at no cost to you I earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase and/or subscribe. However, I only recommend products or services that (1) I believe in and (2) would recommend to my own mom.
5 Practical Ways AI Can Improve Your Finances Rob Berger 2025-06-26 | 5 ways you can use AI to build wealth and save money. Monarch Money: go.robberger.com/monarch/yt-i98JHmss-AQ (discount code: MONARCHVIP)In today's view we look at 5 ways to use AI to improve your finances:1. Search + Q & A2. Investing in a 401(k)3. Understanding financial software4. Using financial software5. Budgeting and saving money*Resources Mentioned in the Video*Monarch Money: go.robberger.com/monarch/yt-i98JHmss-AQ (discount code: MONARCHVIP)ProjectionLab: Signup for my newsletter to see the discount code: robberger.com/newsletter/?utm_source=Rob+Berger&utm_medium=ATF+Link&utm_campaign=Newsletter&utm_id=YouTubeClaude AI: claude.aiPerplexity: perplexity.ai*Join the Newsletter. It's Free:*robberger.com/newsletter/?utm_source=Rob+Berger&utm_medium=ATF+Link&utm_campaign=Newsletter&utm_id=YouTube*Financial tools I use:**I track all of my investments, performance, fees, and asset allocation with Empower. It's Free:*go.robberger.com/empower/yt-*I use Monarch Money to manage our budget:* go.robberger.com/monarch/yt-*My retirement plan comes from Boldin, the most robust retirement planner available at a reasonable cost:*go.robberger.com/boldin/yt-*I used Capitalize for my last 401(k) rollover. They did all of the work, and it's Free:*go.robberger.com/capitalize/yt-*My Book (Retire Before Mom and Dad):*amzn.to/4d9qbhA0:00 - Intro0:33 - Search + Q & A3:11 - Investing in a 401(k)8:25 - Understanding financial software10:46 - Using financial software13:06 - Budgeting and saving money#retirement #investing #robbergerABOUT ME While still working as a trial attorney in the securities field, I started writing about personal finance and investing In 2007. In 2013 I started the Doughroller Money Podcast, which has been downloaded millions of times. I've since sold my websites, bought them back, and started a new website and this YouTube channel.I'm also the author of Retire Before Mom and Dad--The Simple Numbers Behind a Lifetime of Financial Freedom (amzn.to/3by10EE)LET'S CONNECTYoutube: youtube.com/channel/UC9C17-OMxa-7oRSaCtztObw?sub_confirmation=1Facebook: facebook.com/financialfreedomguyTwitter: twitter.com/Robert_A_BergerDISCLAIMER: I am not a financial adviser. These videos are for educational purposes only. Investing of any kind involves risk. Your investment and other financial decisions are solely your responsibility. It is imperative that you conduct your own research and seek professional advice as necessary. I am merely sharing my opinions.AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Some of the links on this channel are affiliate links, meaning at no cost to you I earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase and/or subscribe. However, I only recommend products or services that (1) I believe in and (2) would recommend to my own mom.
Individual TIPS vs TIPS Funds Which Offers Better Inflation Projection? (FQF) Rob Berger 2025-06-22 | In today's Five Question Friday (FQF), we look at the following questions:1. TIPS Funds vs Individual TIPS--which provides the better inflation protection?2. Is a 4% withdrawal each year with no inflation adjustment a reasonable withdrawal strategy?3. Can tax loss harvesting reduce IRMAA payments?4. How can you estimate the annual income of an investment portfolio?5. How do I track my net worth?*Resources & Tools Mentioned in the Video*SCHP: schwabassetmanagement.com/products/schpFICalc: https://ficalc.app/IRMAA Article: irmaacertifiedplanner.com/what-income-is-used-to-determine-medicare-premiumsStock Rover: go.robberger.com/stock-rover/yt-tipsKubera: go.robberger.com/kubera/yt-tipsEmpower: go.robberger.com/empower/yt-tips*Join the Newsletter. It's Free:*robberger.com/newsletter/?utm_source=Rob+Berger&utm_medium=ATF+Link&utm_campaign=Newsletter&utm_id=YouTube*Financial tools I use:**I track all of my investments, performance, fees, and asset allocation with Empower. It's Free:*go.robberger.com/empower/yt-*I use Monarch Money to manage our budget:* go.robberger.com/monarch/yt-*My retirement plan comes from Boldin, the most robust retirement planner available at a reasonable cost:*go.robberger.com/boldin/yt-*I used Capitalize for my last 401(k) rollover. They did all of the work, and it's Free:*go.robberger.com/capitalize/yt-*My Book (Retire Before Mom and Dad):*amzn.to/4d9qbhA#retirement #investing #robberger 0:00 - Intro1:06 - TIPS Funds vs Individual TIPS--which provides the better inflation protection?7:54 - Is a 4% withdrawal each year with no inflation adjustment a reasonable withdrawal strategy?11:06 - Can tax loss harvesting reduce IRMAA payments?13:03 - How can you estimate the annual income of an investment portfolio?14:28 - How do I track my net worth?ABOUT ME While still working as a trial attorney in the securities field, I started writing about personal finance and investing In 2007. In 2013 I started the Doughroller Money Podcast, which has been downloaded millions of times. I've since sold my websites, bought them back, and started a new website and this YouTube channel.I'm also the author of Retire Before Mom and Dad--The Simple Numbers Behind a Lifetime of Financial Freedom (amzn.to/3by10EE)LET'S CONNECTYoutube: youtube.com/channel/UC9C17-OMxa-7oRSaCtztObw?sub_confirmation=1Facebook: facebook.com/financialfreedomguyTwitter: twitter.com/Robert_A_BergerDISCLAIMER: I am not a financial adviser. These videos are for educational purposes only. Investing of any kind involves risk. Your investment and other financial decisions are solely your responsibility. It is imperative that you conduct your own research and seek professional advice as necessary. I am merely sharing my opinions.AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Some of the links on this channel are affiliate links, meaning at no cost to you I earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase and/or subscribe. However, I only recommend products or services that (1) I believe in and (2) would recommend to my own mom.
How Im Using AI In Business and Life | Live Q&A Rob Berger 2025-06-17 | *Join the Newsletter. It's Free:*robberger.com/newsletter/?utm_source=Rob+Berger&utm_medium=ATF+Link&utm_campaign=Newsletter&utm_id=YouTube*Financial tools I use:**I track all of my investments, performance, fees, and asset allocation with Empower. It's Free:*go.robberger.com/empower/yt-*I use Monarch Money to manage our budget:* go.robberger.com/monarch/yt-*My retirement plan comes from Boldin, the most robust retirement planner available at a reasonable cost:*go.robberger.com/boldin/yt-*I used Capitalize for my last 401(k) rollover. They did all of the work, and it's Free:*go.robberger.com/capitalize/yt-*My Book (Retire Before Mom and Dad):*amzn.to/4d9qbhA#retirement #investing #robberger 0:00 - Intro0:47 - How I'm Using AI In Business and Life16:55 - Building Cash Reserves21:34 - Ideal split at retirement25:13 - Favorite Podcasts28:29 - Achieving the kind of retirement you want30:22 - Is AI real?35:44 - AI/Roth Conversions37:52 - Increases in stocks and PE's43:48 - Perplexity AI using SEC/Edgar45:44 - Where to save extra money52:17 - 401k vs 45754:33 - Intern55:55 - Rob's brain59:48 - Rental properties/SORR1:05:22 - AI/DCA/Rebalancing1:06:32 - Predicting the market1:09:18 - VWINX1:11:16 - Widow's tax penalty situation1:13:59 - Roth accounts1:20:00 - Catching up a portfolio1:24:00 - Is the US dollar in trouble?1:27:27 - Job uncertainty1:30:38 - Beating AI in Chess1:33:10 - AnnouncementsABOUT ME While still working as a trial attorney in the securities field, I started writing about personal finance and investing In 2007. In 2013 I started the Doughroller Money Podcast, which has been downloaded millions of times. I've since sold my websites, bought them back, and started a new website and this YouTube channel.I'm also the author of Retire Before Mom and Dad--The Simple Numbers Behind a Lifetime of Financial Freedom (amzn.to/3by10EE)LET'S CONNECTYoutube: youtube.com/channel/UC9C17-OMxa-7oRSaCtztObw?sub_confirmation=1Facebook: facebook.com/financialfreedomguyTwitter: twitter.com/Robert_A_BergerDISCLAIMER: I am not a financial adviser. These videos are for educational purposes only. Investing of any kind involves risk. Your investment and other financial decisions are solely your responsibility. It is imperative that you conduct your own research and seek professional advice as necessary. I am merely sharing my opinions.AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Some of the links on this channel are affiliate links, meaning at no cost to you I earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase and/or subscribe. However, I only recommend products or services that (1) I believe in and (2) would recommend to my own mom.
Are Growth Stocks Best for a Roth IRA? (FQF) Rob Berger 2025-06-14 | We look at the following questions in today's Five Question Friday:1. Are growth stocks best for Roth IRAs?2. How should you pay taxes on retirement account withdrawals?3. How should you invest in retirement if you are scared of the stock market?4. What's the ideal set-it-and-forget-it retirement portfolio?5. Should you withdrawal cash from investment accounts to create an emergency fund?Schwab RMD article: schwab.com/go-digital/rmd*Join the Newsletter. It's Free:*robberger.com/newsletter/?utm_source=Rob+Berger&utm_medium=ATF+Link&utm_campaign=Newsletter&utm_id=YouTube*Financial tools I use:**I track all of my investments, performance, fees, and asset allocation with Empower. It's Free:*go.robberger.com/empower/yt-*I use Monarch Money to manage our budget:* go.robberger.com/monarch/yt-*My retirement plan comes from Boldin, the most robust retirement planner available at a reasonable cost:*go.robberger.com/boldin/yt-*I used Capitalize for my last 401(k) rollover. They did all of the work, and it's Free:*go.robberger.com/capitalize/yt-*My Book (Retire Before Mom and Dad):*amzn.to/4d9qbhA0:00 - Intro1:24 - Are growth stocks best for Roth IRAs?9:48 - How should you pay taxes on retirement account withdrawals?12:34 - How should you invest in retirement if you are scared of the stock market?17:20 - What's the ideal set-it-and-forget-it retirement portfolio?21:09 - Should you withdraw cash from investment accounts to create an emergency fund?#retirement #investing #robbergerABOUT ME While still working as a trial attorney in the securities field, I started writing about personal finance and investing In 2007. In 2013 I started the Doughroller Money Podcast, which has been downloaded millions of times. I've since sold my websites, bought them back, and started a new website and this YouTube channel.I'm also the author of Retire Before Mom and Dad--The Simple Numbers Behind a Lifetime of Financial Freedom (amzn.to/3by10EE)LET'S CONNECTYoutube: youtube.com/channel/UC9C17-OMxa-7oRSaCtztObw?sub_confirmation=1Facebook: facebook.com/financialfreedomguyTwitter: twitter.com/Robert_A_BergerDISCLAIMER: I am not a financial adviser. These videos are for educational purposes only. Investing of any kind involves risk. Your investment and other financial decisions are solely your responsibility. It is imperative that you conduct your own research and seek professional advice as necessary. I am merely sharing my opinions.AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Some of the links on this channel are affiliate links, meaning at no cost to you I earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase and/or subscribe. However, I only recommend products or services that (1) I believe in and (2) would recommend to my own mom.
3 Smart Alternatives to the 4% Rule (No Initial Safe Withdrawal Rate Required) Rob Berger 2025-06-12 | One of the challenges of the 4% Rule is what your initial safe withdrawal rate should be. While the name of the rule suggests one should start with 4%, there are countless reasons why that start point may not be right for you. For example, you may retiree early, you may not use the same asset allocation the rule was based on, you may have concerns about future stock market returns, inflation or both.Enter withdrawal strategies that don't require you to use 4% or any other initial safe withdrawal rate. In this video we'll look at three such strategies:1. Variable Withdrawal Percentage2. Spend Safely in Retirement Strategy3. Chance of Success Strategy*Resources mentioned in the video*- FICalc: https://ficalc.app/- Empower: go.robberger.com/empower/yt-3-strategies- Boldin: go.robberger.com/boldin/yt-3-strategies- VWP Article & Spreadsheet: bogleheads.org/wiki/Variable_percentage_withdrawal- Spend Safely in Retirement Article: robberger.com/spend-safely-in-retirement-strategy*Join the Newsletter. It's Free:*robberger.com/newsletter/?utm_source=Rob+Berger&utm_medium=ATF+Link&utm_campaign=Newsletter&utm_id=YouTube*Financial tools I use:**I track all of my investments, performance, fees, and asset allocation with Empower. It's Free:*go.robberger.com/empower/yt-*I use Monarch Money to manage our budget:* go.robberger.com/monarch/yt-*My retirement plan comes from Boldin, the most robust retirement planner available at a reasonable cost:*go.robberger.com/boldin/yt-*I used Capitalize for my last 401(k) rollover. They did all of the work, and it's Free:*go.robberger.com/capitalize/yt-*My Book (Retire Before Mom and Dad):*amzn.to/4d9qbhA#retirement #investing #robberger 0:00 - Intro1:10 - Variable Withdrawal Percentage8:21 - Spend Safely in Retirement Strategy13:47 - Chance of Success Strategy15:10 - FiCalc17:42 - Empower20:33 - BoldinABOUT ME While still working as a trial attorney in the securities field, I started writing about personal finance and investing In 2007. In 2013 I started the Doughroller Money Podcast, which has been downloaded millions of times. I've since sold my websites, bought them back, and started a new website and this YouTube channel.I'm also the author of Retire Before Mom and Dad--The Simple Numbers Behind a Lifetime of Financial Freedom (amzn.to/3by10EE)LET'S CONNECTYoutube: youtube.com/channel/UC9C17-OMxa-7oRSaCtztObw?sub_confirmation=1Facebook: facebook.com/financialfreedomguyTwitter: twitter.com/Robert_A_BergerDISCLAIMER: I am not a financial adviser. These videos are for educational purposes only. Investing of any kind involves risk. Your investment and other financial decisions are solely your responsibility. It is imperative that you conduct your own research and seek professional advice as necessary. I am merely sharing my opinions.AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Some of the links on this channel are affiliate links, meaning at no cost to you I earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase and/or subscribe. However, I only recommend products or services that (1) I believe in and (2) would recommend to my own mom.
Is the 4% Rule Now The 5% Rule? (FQF) Rob Berger 2025-06-06 | In today's Five Question Friday video we cover these questions:1. Why has Bill Bengen gone from 4% to 5%?2. Is it ok to put Social Security bridge money in a money market fund?3. How do Fidelity's Zero Funds compare to Vanguard Index Funds?4. Should cash count towards your asset allocation?5. Should you convert Vanguard Mutual Funds to ETFs?*Join the Newsletter. It's Free:*robberger.com/newsletter/?utm_source=Rob+Berger&utm_medium=ATF+Link&utm_campaign=Newsletter&utm_id=YouTube*Financial tools I use:**I track all of my investments, performance, fees, and asset allocation with Empower. It's Free:*go.robberger.com/empower/yt-*I use Monarch Money to manage our budget:* go.robberger.com/monarch/yt-*My retirement plan comes from Boldin, the most robust retirement planner available at a reasonable cost:*go.robberger.com/boldin/yt-*I used Capitalize for my last 401(k) rollover. They did all of the work, and it's Free:*go.robberger.com/capitalize/yt-*My Book (Retire Before Mom and Dad):*amzn.to/4d9qbhA#retirement #investing #robberger0:00 - Intro1:19 - Why has Bill Bengen gone from 4% to 5%?7:47 - Is it ok to put Social Security bridge money in a money market fund?10:52 - How do Fidelity's Zero Funds compare to Vanguard Index Funds?13:17 - Should cash count towards your asset allocation?16:33 - Should you convert Vanguard Mutual Funds to ETFs?ABOUT ME While still working as a trial attorney in the securities field, I started writing about personal finance and investing In 2007. In 2013 I started the Doughroller Money Podcast, which has been downloaded millions of times. I've since sold my websites, bought them back, and started a new website and this YouTube channel.I'm also the author of Retire Before Mom and Dad--The Simple Numbers Behind a Lifetime of Financial Freedom (amzn.to/3by10EE)LET'S CONNECTYoutube: youtube.com/channel/UC9C17-OMxa-7oRSaCtztObw?sub_confirmation=1Facebook: facebook.com/financialfreedomguyTwitter: twitter.com/Robert_A_BergerDISCLAIMER: I am not a financial adviser. These videos are for educational purposes only. Investing of any kind involves risk. Your investment and other financial decisions are solely your responsibility. It is imperative that you conduct your own research and seek professional advice as necessary. I am merely sharing my opinions.AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Some of the links on this channel are affiliate links, meaning at no cost to you I earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase and/or subscribe. However, I only recommend products or services that (1) I believe in and (2) would recommend to my own mom.
Heres What Happens To Your HSA When You Pass Away (HSA Beneficiary Rules) Rob Berger 2025-06-04 | Viewer Question answered: What can you do with an HSA when the owner passes away?Rob Berger and CFP Andy Panko discuss if you can use old healthcare receipts that an HSA owner might have saved to pull money from their HSA tax-free. And what about healthcare expenses that they might have incurred in the last year of their life? Can those be used to pull money from the HSA tax-free?*Join the Newsletter. It's Free:*robberger.com/newsletter/?utm_source=Rob+Berger&utm_medium=ATF+Link&utm_campaign=Newsletter&utm_id=YouTube*Financial tools I use:**I track all of my investments, performance, fees, and asset allocation with Empower. It's Free:*go.robberger.com/empower/yt-*I use Rocket Money to manage our budget:* go.robberger.com/rocket-money/yt-*My retirement plan comes from Boldin, the most robust retirement planner available at a reasonable cost:*go.robberger.com/boldin/yt-*I used Capitalize for my last 401(k) rollover. They did all of the work, and it's Free:*go.robberger.com/capitalize/yt-*My Book (Retire Before Mom and Dad):*amzn.to/4d9qbhA#retirement #hsa #robbergerABOUT ME While still working as a trial attorney in the securities field, I started writing about personal finance and investing In 2007. In 2013 I started the Doughroller Money Podcast, which has been downloaded millions of times. I've since sold my websites, bought them back, and started a new website and this YouTube channel.I'm also the author of Retire Before Mom and Dad--The Simple Numbers Behind a Lifetime of Financial Freedom (amzn.to/3by10EE)LET'S CONNECTYoutube: youtube.com/channel/UC9C17-OMxa-7oRSaCtztObw?sub_confirmation=1Facebook: facebook.com/financialfreedomguyTwitter: twitter.com/Robert_A_BergerDISCLAIMER: I am not a financial adviser. These videos are for educational purposes only. Investing of any kind involves risk. Your investment and other financial decisions are solely your responsibility. It is imperative that you conduct your own research and seek professional advice as necessary. I am merely sharing my opinions.AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Some of the links on this channel are affiliate links, meaning at no cost to you I earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase and/or subscribe. However, I only recommend products or services that (1) I believe in and (2) would recommend to my own mom.
My $100,000 Credit Card Rewards Journey Update | Live Q&A Rob Berger 2025-06-03 | Tonight I'll start by sharing an update of my credit card rewards strategy and my journey to $100,000. Then it's your turn to AMA (Ask Me Anything).*Join the Newsletter. It's Free:*robberger.com/newsletter/?utm_source=Rob+Berger&utm_medium=ATF+Link&utm_campaign=Newsletter&utm_id=YouTube*Financial tools I use:**I track all of my investments, performance, fees, and asset allocation with Empower. It's Free:*go.robberger.com/empower/yt-*I use Monarch Money to manage our budget:* go.robberger.com/monarch/yt-*My retirement plan comes from Boldin, the most robust retirement planner available at a reasonable cost:*go.robberger.com/boldin/yt-*I used Capitalize for my last 401(k) rollover. They did all of the work, and it's Free:*go.robberger.com/capitalize/yt-*My Book (Retire Before Mom and Dad):*amzn.to/4d9qbhA#retirement #investing #robberger 0:00 - My $100,000 Credit Card Rewards Journey Update7:32 - The Newsletter10:39 - 90/10 portfolio/High Yield Bond fund19:10 - What would cause BND to go down?21:41 - BRK26:03 - Influences from work history29:48 - Reaching fixed income goal35:34 - Spouse questioning putting money into the market37:24 - TSPX42:40 - IAUM47:34 - VBIL48:56 - Exercise/Fitness52:09 - 3 bars of silver57:16 - Capital moving out of the U.S.1:01:17 - SCHD1:04:26 - Robinhood1:06:07 - U.S. Debt1:09:03 - SCHP1:17:02 - Paying off mortgage vs investing1:18:17 Universal Savings Account1:20:12 - Bond Market Debt Crisis1:21:31 - Funding college1:22:42 - Bill Bengen changing the 4% Rule1:26:29 - 50/50 near retirement1:29:32 - World Chess Champion1:36:14 - AnnouncementsABOUT ME While still working as a trial attorney in the securities field, I started writing about personal finance and investing In 2007. In 2013 I started the Doughroller Money Podcast, which has been downloaded millions of times. I've since sold my websites, bought them back, and started a new website and this YouTube channel.I'm also the author of Retire Before Mom and Dad--The Simple Numbers Behind a Lifetime of Financial Freedom (amzn.to/3by10EE)LET'S CONNECTYoutube: youtube.com/channel/UC9C17-OMxa-7oRSaCtztObw?sub_confirmation=1Facebook: facebook.com/financialfreedomguyTwitter: twitter.com/Robert_A_BergerDISCLAIMER: I am not a financial adviser. These videos are for educational purposes only. Investing of any kind involves risk. Your investment and other financial decisions are solely your responsibility. It is imperative that you conduct your own research and seek professional advice as necessary. I am merely sharing my opinions.AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Some of the links on this channel are affiliate links, meaning at no cost to you I earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase and/or subscribe. However, I only recommend products or services that (1) I believe in and (2) would recommend to my own mom.
Does a Market Crash Change the 4% Rule? (FQF) Rob Berger 2025-05-30 | In today's Five Question Friday we look at these 5 questions:1. Does a Market Crash Change How to Use the 4% Rule?2. How do bond ETFs generate returns?3. Are Timothy Funds a good option?4. Is Fidelity HSA a solid account?5. What's better in retirement, Schwab Intelligent Portfolios or a TDR Fund?*Join the Newsletter. It's Free:*robberger.com/newsletter/?utm_source=Rob+Berger&utm_medium=ATF+Link&utm_campaign=Newsletter&utm_id=YouTube*Financial tools I use:**I track all of my investments, performance, fees, and asset allocation with Empower. It's Free:*go.robberger.com/empower/yt-*I use Monarch Money to manage our budget:* go.robberger.com/monarch/yt-*My retirement plan comes from Boldin, the most robust retirement planner available at a reasonable cost:*go.robberger.com/boldin/yt-*I used Capitalize for my last 401(k) rollover. They did all of the work, and it's Free:*go.robberger.com/capitalize/yt-*My Book (Retire Before Mom and Dad):*amzn.to/4d9qbhA#retirement #investing #robbergerABOUT ME While still working as a trial attorney in the securities field, I started writing about personal finance and investing In 2007. In 2013 I started the Doughroller Money Podcast, which has been downloaded millions of times. I've since sold my websites, bought them back, and started a new website and this YouTube channel.I'm also the author of Retire Before Mom and Dad--The Simple Numbers Behind a Lifetime of Financial Freedom (amzn.to/3by10EE)LET'S CONNECTYoutube: youtube.com/channel/UC9C17-OMxa-7oRSaCtztObw?sub_confirmation=1Facebook: facebook.com/financialfreedomguyTwitter: twitter.com/Robert_A_BergerDISCLAIMER: I am not a financial adviser. These videos are for educational purposes only. Investing of any kind involves risk. Your investment and other financial decisions are solely your responsibility. It is imperative that you conduct your own research and seek professional advice as necessary. I am merely sharing my opinions.AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Some of the links on this channel are affiliate links, meaning at no cost to you I earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase and/or subscribe. However, I only recommend products or services that (1) I believe in and (2) would recommend to my own mom.
How To Invest In Your 20s (Its easier than you think) Rob Berger 2025-05-29 | I viewer named Eileen asked about how her children, who are in their twenties, should invest. Here's her question: Can you do a video on constructing a retirement account (Roth) for my 20 year old kids? They are contributing 15%. I am thinking 10% VGSLX, 10% VSIAX, 30% VTIAX and 50% either VTSAX or VVIAX. Your thoughts please.In this video I'll walk through the 3 goals of long-term investing, evaluate Eileen's proposed portfolio, and look at one alternative.Empower: go.robberger.com/empower/yt-20Morningstar: morningstar.com*Join the Newsletter. It's Free:*robberger.com/newsletter/?utm_source=Rob+Berger&utm_medium=ATF+Link&utm_campaign=Newsletter&utm_id=YouTube*Financial tools I use:**I track all of my investments, performance, fees, and asset allocation with Empower. It's Free:*go.robberger.com/empower/yt-*I use Monarch Money to manage our budget:* go.robberger.com/monarch/yt-*My retirement plan comes from Boldin, the most robust retirement planner available at a reasonable cost:*go.robberger.com/boldin/yt-*I used Capitalize for my last 401(k) rollover. They did all of the work, and it's Free:*go.robberger.com/capitalize/yt-*My Book (Retire Before Mom and Dad):*amzn.to/4d9qbhA#retirement #investing #robbergerABOUT ME While still working as a trial attorney in the securities field, I started writing about personal finance and investing In 2007. In 2013 I started the Doughroller Money Podcast, which has been downloaded millions of times. I've since sold my websites, bought them back, and started a new website and this YouTube channel.I'm also the author of Retire Before Mom and Dad--The Simple Numbers Behind a Lifetime of Financial Freedom (amzn.to/3by10EE)LET'S CONNECTYoutube: youtube.com/channel/UC9C17-OMxa-7oRSaCtztObw?sub_confirmation=1Facebook: facebook.com/financialfreedomguyTwitter: twitter.com/Robert_A_BergerDISCLAIMER: I am not a financial adviser. These videos are for educational purposes only. Investing of any kind involves risk. Your investment and other financial decisions are solely your responsibility. It is imperative that you conduct your own research and seek professional advice as necessary. I am merely sharing my opinions.AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Some of the links on this channel are affiliate links, meaning at no cost to you I earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase and/or subscribe. However, I only recommend products or services that (1) I believe in and (2) would recommend to my own mom.
Should You Contribute to a 401k That Has No Employer Match? (FQF) Rob Berger 2025-05-24 | In this edition of Five Question Friday (FQF), we look at these five questions:1. My 401k is not employer matched, should I stop contributing to my employer 401k and open a Roth IRA instead?2. Where should we keep cash we'll need to spend in 12 to 18 months?3. Can you implement the bucket strategy in Boldin?4. SCHD + TIPS & Chill?5. Do Short-Term Treasury Bills provide the same inflation protection as TIPS?*Join the Newsletter. It's Free:*robberger.com/newsletter/?utm_source=Rob+Berger&utm_medium=ATF+Link&utm_campaign=Newsletter&utm_id=YouTube0:00 - Intro1:15 - My 401k is not employer matched, should I stop contributing to my employer 401k and open a Roth IRA instead?4:04 - Where should we keep cash we'll need to spend in 12 to 18 months?5:36 - Can you implement the bucket strategy in Boldin?11:36 - SCHD + TIPS & Chill?17:20 - Do Short-Term Treasury Bills provide the same inflation protection as TIPS?*Financial tools I use:**I track all of my investments, performance, fees, and asset allocation with Empower. It's Free:*go.robberger.com/empower/yt-*I use Rocket Money to manage our budget:* go.robberger.com/rocket-money/yt-*My retirement plan comes from Boldin, the most robust retirement planner available at a reasonable cost:*go.robberger.com/boldin/yt-*I used Capitalize for my last 401(k) rollover. They did all of the work, and it's Free:*go.robberger.com/capitalize/yt-*My Book (Retire Before Mom and Dad):*amzn.to/4d9qbhA#retirement #investing #robbergerABOUT ME While still working as a trial attorney in the securities field, I started writing about personal finance and investing In 2007. In 2013 I started the Doughroller Money Podcast, which has been downloaded millions of times. I've since sold my websites, bought them back, and started a new website and this YouTube channel.I'm also the author of Retire Before Mom and Dad--The Simple Numbers Behind a Lifetime of Financial Freedom (amzn.to/3by10EE)LET'S CONNECTYoutube: youtube.com/channel/UC9C17-OMxa-7oRSaCtztObw?sub_confirmation=1Facebook: facebook.com/financialfreedomguyTwitter: twitter.com/Robert_A_BergerDISCLAIMER: I am not a financial adviser. These videos are for educational purposes only. Investing of any kind involves risk. Your investment and other financial decisions are solely your responsibility. It is imperative that you conduct your own research and seek professional advice as necessary. I am merely sharing my opinions.AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Some of the links on this channel are affiliate links, meaning at no cost to you I earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase and/or subscribe. However, I only recommend products or services that (1) I believe in and (2) would recommend to my own mom.
I Attended a Free Dinner Investment Seminar Heres what happened. Rob Berger 2025-05-22 | In this video, I share my experience attending a free dinner investment seminar. The seminar was allegedly to help investors handle volatility in the markets. Instead, it turned out to be a sales pitch for expensive, complex investing products like a leveraged options strategy.Here are links to the resources I mention in the video:SPIVA Report: spglobal.com/spdji/en/research-insights/spiva/#usConcentration of SP500: visualcapitalist.com/sp/visualized-the-rising-concentration-of-the-sp-500-tema01Vanguard Lont-Term Bond Fund: morningstar.com/funds/xnas/vblax/performancePaper on Tax Loss Harvesting: papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=45398170:00 - Intro2:48 - Market Predicting4:42 - SPIVA6:35 - The Strategy10:49 - Long-term Bonds13:19 - Volatility/Tax Loss Harvesting16:32 - Complex Options Strategy20:49 - My take*Join the Newsletter. It's Free:*robberger.com/newsletter/?utm_source=Rob+Berger&utm_medium=ATF+Link&utm_campaign=Newsletter&utm_id=YouTube*Financial tools I use:**I track all of my investments, performance, fees, and asset allocation with Empower. It's Free:*go.robberger.com/empower/yt-*I use Rocket Money to manage our budget:* go.robberger.com/rocket-money/yt-*My retirement plan comes from Boldin, the most robust retirement planner available at a reasonable cost:*go.robberger.com/boldin/yt-*I used Capitalize for my last 401(k) rollover. They did all of the work, and it's Free:*go.robberger.com/capitalize/yt-*My Book (Retire Before Mom and Dad):*amzn.to/4d9qbhA#retirement #investing #robbergerABOUT ME While still working as a trial attorney in the securities field, I started writing about personal finance and investing In 2007. In 2013 I started the Doughroller Money Podcast, which has been downloaded millions of times. I've since sold my websites, bought them back, and started a new website and this YouTube channel.I'm also the author of Retire Before Mom and Dad--The Simple Numbers Behind a Lifetime of Financial Freedom (amzn.to/3by10EE)LET'S CONNECTYoutube: youtube.com/channel/UC9C17-OMxa-7oRSaCtztObw?sub_confirmation=1Facebook: facebook.com/financialfreedomguyTwitter: twitter.com/Robert_A_BergerDISCLAIMER: I am not a financial adviser. These videos are for educational purposes only. Investing of any kind involves risk. Your investment and other financial decisions are solely your responsibility. It is imperative that you conduct your own research and seek professional advice as necessary. I am merely sharing my opinions.AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Some of the links on this channel are affiliate links, meaning at no cost to you I earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase and/or subscribe. However, I only recommend products or services that (1) I believe in and (2) would recommend to my own mom.
How Should We Respond to Downgrading of U.S. Credit Rating | Live Q&A Rob Berger 2025-05-20 | 0:00 - Intro0:38 - How Should We Respond to Downgrading of U.S. Credit Rating18:03 - Keeping money in safe assets to avoid SOR risks21:51 - Treasuries approaching 5%28:44 - Could AI replace Boldin and ProjectionLab?37:10 - Name of the restaurant38:49 - Portfolio with VTI, BRK-B, SCHD, VXUS, and BND44:07 - Corporate Bonds vs Government Bonds/TIPS51:14 - The presenter54:37 - Portfolio for retiring/moving outside of U.S.57:02 - Can Roth IRA's from multiple sources be combined?59:24 - SCHD1:00:46 - Boldin's Withdrawal Order1:04:21 - Dealing with volatility1:08:24 - Boldin Rate of Return Assumption1:12:00 - Monarch Money/Fidelity CMA transactions1:13:05 - Taking money from retirement funds1:14:47 - Capital gains tax when TIPS mature1:16:29 - Paul Merriman Portfolio Configurator1:18:53 - Where to start?1:20:57 - RMD withdrawal strategy1:22:22 - Allocating a portfolio with brokerage assets and Roth assets1:26:20 - Credit downgrade1:29:08 - 100% VOO at 30 years old1:31:47 - Guests1:33:22 - New book1:37:04 - Announcements*Join the Newsletter. It's Free:*robberger.com/newsletter/?utm_source=Rob+Berger&utm_medium=ATF+Link&utm_campaign=Newsletter&utm_id=YouTube*Financial tools I use:**I track all of my investments, performance, fees, and asset allocation with Empower. It's Free:*go.robberger.com/empower/yt-*I use Rocket Money to manage our budget:* go.robberger.com/rocket-money/yt-*My retirement plan comes from Boldin, the most robust retirement planner available at a reasonable cost:*go.robberger.com/boldin/yt-*I used Capitalize for my last 401(k) rollover. They did all of the work, and it's Free:*go.robberger.com/capitalize/yt-*My Book (Retire Before Mom and Dad):*amzn.to/4d9qbhA#retirement #investing #robbergerABOUT ME While still working as a trial attorney in the securities field, I started writing about personal finance and investing In 2007. In 2013 I started the Doughroller Money Podcast, which has been downloaded millions of times. I've since sold my websites, bought them back, and started a new website and this YouTube channel.I'm also the author of Retire Before Mom and Dad--The Simple Numbers Behind a Lifetime of Financial Freedom (amzn.to/3by10EE)LET'S CONNECTYoutube: youtube.com/channel/UC9C17-OMxa-7oRSaCtztObw?sub_confirmation=1Facebook: facebook.com/financialfreedomguyTwitter: twitter.com/Robert_A_BergerDISCLAIMER: I am not a financial adviser. These videos are for educational purposes only. Investing of any kind involves risk. Your investment and other financial decisions are solely your responsibility. It is imperative that you conduct your own research and seek professional advice as necessary. I am merely sharing my opinions.AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Some of the links on this channel are affiliate links, meaning at no cost to you I earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase and/or subscribe. However, I only recommend products or services that (1) I believe in and (2) would recommend to my own mom.
Can You Max Out a Roth 401k and Roth IRA in the Same Year? (FQF) Rob Berger 2025-05-18 | In today's Five Question Friday, we cover these five questions:1. Can you contribute the maximum to both a Roth 401(k) and a Roth IRA in the same year?2. Am I comfortable linking accounts to financial apps?3. What are my thoughts on Boldin's new approach to setting rates of return?4. How do the mechanics of a 70/30 portfolio work?5. What are my thoughts on Mark Zoril vs Boldin's advisory services?Bonus: We'll look at a new tool that enables you to link your Amazon account to the budgeting tool Monarch Money.Monarch Money: go.robberger.com/monarch/yt-fqf (use code MONARCDHVIP to get 50% offer your first year)Boldin: go.robberger.com/boldin/yt-fqf0:00 - Intro1:36 - Can you contribute the maximum to both a Roth 401(k) and a Roth IRA in the same year?3:25 - Am I comfortable linking accounts to financial apps?8:54 - What are my thoughts on Boldin's new approach to setting rates of return?16:18 - How do the mechanics of a 70/30 portfolio work?18:32 - What are my thoughts on Mark Zoril vs Boldin's advisory services?22:44 - Amazon account/Monarch Money*Join the Newsletter. It's Free:*robberger.com/newsletter/?utm_source=Rob+Berger&utm_medium=ATF+Link&utm_campaign=Newsletter&utm_id=YouTube*Financial tools I use:**I track all of my investments, performance, fees, and asset allocation with Empower. It's Free:*go.robberger.com/empower/yt-*I use Rocket Money to manage our budget:* go.robberger.com/rocket-money/yt-*My retirement plan comes from Boldin, the most robust retirement planner available at a reasonable cost:*go.robberger.com/boldin/yt-*I used Capitalize for my last 401(k) rollover. They did all of the work, and it's Free:*go.robberger.com/capitalize/yt-*My Book (Retire Before Mom and Dad):*amzn.to/4d9qbhA#retirement #investing #robbergerABOUT ME While still working as a trial attorney in the securities field, I started writing about personal finance and investing In 2007. In 2013 I started the Doughroller Money Podcast, which has been downloaded millions of times. I've since sold my websites, bought them back, and started a new website and this YouTube channel.I'm also the author of Retire Before Mom and Dad--The Simple Numbers Behind a Lifetime of Financial Freedom (amzn.to/3by10EE)LET'S CONNECTYoutube: youtube.com/channel/UC9C17-OMxa-7oRSaCtztObw?sub_confirmation=1Facebook: facebook.com/financialfreedomguyTwitter: twitter.com/Robert_A_BergerDISCLAIMER: I am not a financial adviser. These videos are for educational purposes only. Investing of any kind involves risk. Your investment and other financial decisions are solely your responsibility. It is imperative that you conduct your own research and seek professional advice as necessary. I am merely sharing my opinions.AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Some of the links on this channel are affiliate links, meaning at no cost to you I earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase and/or subscribe. However, I only recommend products or services that (1) I believe in and (2) would recommend to my own mom.
When Should You Change Your Asset Allocation? (FQF) Rob Berger 2025-05-10 | In today's Five Question Friday (FQF) we'll tackle the following questions:1. Is now a good time to change your asset allocation?2. Do target date funds force you to sell stocks in a down market?3. Does the IRS treat the withdrawal of dividends as taking out earnings or contributions from a Roth IRA?4. Is an 80% Chance of Success in Retirement reasonable?5. How much should you allocate to international stocks?Boldin: go.robberger.com/boldin/yt-fqfProjectionLab: go.robberger.com/projectionlab/yt-fqfFICalc: https://ficalc.app/Chance of Success Guardrail Articles:kitces.com/blog/monte-carlo-models-simulation-forecast-error-brier-score-retirement-planningwhitecoatinvestor.com/risk-based-guardrail-retirement-withdrawal-strategykitces.com/blog/probability-of-success-driven-guardrails-advantages-monte-carlo-simulations-analysis-communicationmorningstar.com/retirement/how-retirement-income-guardrails-can-ease-clients-worries*Join the Newsletter. It's Free:*robberger.com/newsletter/?utm_source=Rob+Berger&utm_medium=ATF+Link&utm_campaign=Newsletter&utm_id=YouTube0:00 - Intro1:07 - Is now a good time to change your asset allocation?5:28 - Do target date funds force you to sell stocks in a down market?9:00 - Does the IRS treat the withdrawal of dividends as taking out earnings or contributions from a Roth IRA?12:28 - Is an 80% Chance of Success in Retirement reasonable?22:19 - How much should you allocate to international stocks?*Financial tools I use:**I track all of my investments, performance, fees, and asset allocation with Empower. It's Free:*go.robberger.com/empower/yt-*I use Rocket Money to manage our budget:* go.robberger.com/rocket-money/yt-*My retirement plan comes from Boldin, the most robust retirement planner available at a reasonable cost:*go.robberger.com/boldin/yt-*I used Capitalize for my last 401(k) rollover. They did all of the work, and it's Free:*go.robberger.com/capitalize/yt-*My Book (Retire Before Mom and Dad):*amzn.to/4d9qbhA#retirement #fqf #robbergerABOUT ME While still working as a trial attorney in the securities field, I started writing about personal finance and investing In 2007. In 2013 I started the Doughroller Money Podcast, which has been downloaded millions of times. I've since sold my websites, bought them back, and started a new website and this YouTube channel.I'm also the author of Retire Before Mom and Dad--The Simple Numbers Behind a Lifetime of Financial Freedom (amzn.to/3by10EE)LET'S CONNECTYoutube: youtube.com/channel/UC9C17-OMxa-7oRSaCtztObw?sub_confirmation=1Facebook: facebook.com/financialfreedomguyTwitter: twitter.com/Robert_A_BergerDISCLAIMER: I am not a financial adviser. These videos are for educational purposes only. Investing of any kind involves risk. Your investment and other financial decisions are solely your responsibility. It is imperative that you conduct your own research and seek professional advice as necessary. I am merely sharing my opinions.AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Some of the links on this channel are affiliate links, meaning at no cost to you I earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase and/or subscribe. However, I only recommend products or services that (1) I believe in and (2) would recommend to my own mom.
The Future of Berkshire Hathaway w/o Warren Buffett | Live Q&A Rob Berger 2025-05-06 | 0:00 - Intro1:50 - The Future of Berkshire Hathaway w/o Warren Buffett15:06 - New management and dividends19:06 - Valuation of a stock27:38 - Cash is a better diversifier for stocks than bonds31:11 - VT and chill33:38 - Schwarzenegger/Buffett36:14 - LifeX bond Ladder ETF's40:47 - Buffett story45:43 - Running my own portfolio or have it managed elsewhere?48:53 - 3 fund portfolio vs a factor portfolio53:48 - GLD56:34 - Waiting compound interest to start58:03 - Dividends1:02:02 - Berkshire cash1:05:58 - Buffett's comments on tariffs1:08:30 - Are CD's good investments1:10:10 - News and stock price1:12:15 - Movement in Berkshire's stock1:15:32 - Shiller Cape Ratio for International19:52 - Is it time to buy Gold/Hedge US Dollar risk1:24:00 - Automatic investments with ETF's1:25:33 - Moving an IRA1:29:30 - Crazy year1:31:01 - Ice cream1:32:26 - Announcements*Join the Newsletter. It's Free:*robberger.com/newsletter/?utm_source=Rob+Berger&utm_medium=ATF+Link&utm_campaign=Newsletter&utm_id=YouTube*Financial tools I use:**I track all of my investments, performance, fees, and asset allocation with Empower. It's Free:*go.robberger.com/empower/yt-*I use Rocket Money to manage our budget:* go.robberger.com/rocket-money/yt-*My retirement plan comes from Boldin, the most robust retirement planner available at a reasonable cost:*go.robberger.com/boldin/yt-*I used Capitalize for my last 401(k) rollover. They did all of the work, and it's Free:*go.robberger.com/capitalize/yt-*My Book (Retire Before Mom and Dad):*amzn.to/4d9qbhA#retirement #investing #robbergerABOUT ME While still working as a trial attorney in the securities field, I started writing about personal finance and investing In 2007. In 2013 I started the Doughroller Money Podcast, which has been downloaded millions of times. I've since sold my websites, bought them back, and started a new website and this YouTube channel.I'm also the author of Retire Before Mom and Dad--The Simple Numbers Behind a Lifetime of Financial Freedom (amzn.to/3by10EE)LET'S CONNECTYoutube: youtube.com/channel/UC9C17-OMxa-7oRSaCtztObw?sub_confirmation=1Facebook: facebook.com/financialfreedomguyTwitter: twitter.com/Robert_A_BergerDISCLAIMER: I am not a financial adviser. These videos are for educational purposes only. Investing of any kind involves risk. Your investment and other financial decisions are solely your responsibility. It is imperative that you conduct your own research and seek professional advice as necessary. I am merely sharing my opinions.AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Some of the links on this channel are affiliate links, meaning at no cost to you I earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase and/or subscribe. However, I only recommend products or services that (1) I believe in and (2) would recommend to my own mom.
Is It Safe To Link Financial Accounts To Budget Apps? (FQF) Rob Berger 2025-05-03 | Here are today's Five Question Friday (FQF):1. Are financial apps safe? (Kevin)2. Can you help me understand the risk of bonds? (Ruth)3. How are mutual fund dividends taxed? (Vasu)4. How should we think about annuities for retirement income? (Abbas)5. Does Ben Felix hate index funds? (Krish)Budget Apps: robberger.com/best-budgeting-appsBen Felix video: youtube.com/watch?v=mqIHa6URUPk&ab_channel=BenFelix0:00 - Intro1:34 - Are financial apps safe?5:58 - Can you help me understand the risk of bonds?12:49 - How are mutual fund dividends taxed?14:37 - How should we think about annuities for retirement income?19:46 - Does Ben Felix hate index funds?*Join the Newsletter. It's Free:*robberger.com/newsletter/?utm_source=Rob+Berger&utm_medium=ATF+Link&utm_campaign=Newsletter&utm_id=YouTube*Financial tools I use:**I track all of my investments, performance, fees, and asset allocation with Empower. It's Free:*go.robberger.com/empower/yt-*I use Rocket Money to manage our budget:* go.robberger.com/rocket-money/yt-*My retirement plan comes from Boldin, the most robust retirement planner available at a reasonable cost:*go.robberger.com/boldin/yt-*I used Capitalize for my last 401(k) rollover. They did all of the work, and it's Free:*go.robberger.com/capitalize/yt-*My Book (Retire Before Mom and Dad):*amzn.to/4d9qbhA#retirement #investing #robbergerABOUT ME While still working as a trial attorney in the securities field, I started writing about personal finance and investing In 2007. In 2013 I started the Doughroller Money Podcast, which has been downloaded millions of times. I've since sold my websites, bought them back, and started a new website and this YouTube channel.I'm also the author of Retire Before Mom and Dad--The Simple Numbers Behind a Lifetime of Financial Freedom (amzn.to/3by10EE)LET'S CONNECTYoutube: youtube.com/channel/UC9C17-OMxa-7oRSaCtztObw?sub_confirmation=1Facebook: facebook.com/financialfreedomguyTwitter: twitter.com/Robert_A_BergerDISCLAIMER: I am not a financial adviser. These videos are for educational purposes only. Investing of any kind involves risk. Your investment and other financial decisions are solely your responsibility. It is imperative that you conduct your own research and seek professional advice as necessary. I am merely sharing my opinions.AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Some of the links on this channel are affiliate links, meaning at no cost to you I earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase and/or subscribe. However, I only recommend products or services that (1) I believe in and (2) would recommend to my own mom.
Do Roth Conversions in the Highest Tax Bracket Ever Make Sense? (FQF) Rob Berger 2025-04-26 | In today's Five Question Friday (FQF) video, we tackle the following questions:1. Do Roth conversions in the top tax bracket ever make sense?2. Does the wash sales rule apply to purchases in Roth IRA?3. Does rebalancing change once you retire?4. How should taxes influence my investing decisions?5. How to think about risk tolerance?Bonus: No Fee Index Funds- us.etrade.com/what-we-offer/investment-choices/mutual-funds/no-fee-funds*Join the Newsletter. It's Free:*robberger.com/newsletter/?utm_source=Rob+Berger&utm_medium=ATF+Link&utm_campaign=Newsletter&utm_id=YouTube0:00 - Intro1:31 - Do Roth conversions in the top tax bracket ever make sense?5:46 - Does the wash sales rule apply to purchases in Roth IRA?7:55 - Does rebalancing change once you retire?14:40 - How should taxes influence my investing decisions?17:47 - How to think about risk tolerance?21:55 - Bonus: No Fee Index Funds*Financial tools I use:**I track all of my investments, performance, fees, and asset allocation with Empower. It's Free:*go.robberger.com/empower/yt-*I use Rocket Money to manage our budget:* go.robberger.com/rocket-money/yt-*My retirement plan comes from Boldin, the most robust retirement planner available at a reasonable cost:*go.robberger.com/boldin/yt-*I used Capitalize for my last 401(k) rollover. They did all of the work, and it's Free:*go.robberger.com/capitalize/yt-*My Book (Retire Before Mom and Dad):*amzn.to/4d9qbhA#retirement #investing #robbergerABOUT ME While still working as a trial attorney in the securities field, I started writing about personal finance and investing In 2007. In 2013 I started the Doughroller Money Podcast, which has been downloaded millions of times. I've since sold my websites, bought them back, and started a new website and this YouTube channel.I'm also the author of Retire Before Mom and Dad--The Simple Numbers Behind a Lifetime of Financial Freedom (amzn.to/3by10EE)LET'S CONNECTYoutube: youtube.com/channel/UC9C17-OMxa-7oRSaCtztObw?sub_confirmation=1Facebook: facebook.com/financialfreedomguyTwitter: twitter.com/Robert_A_BergerDISCLAIMER: I am not a financial adviser. These videos are for educational purposes only. Investing of any kind involves risk. Your investment and other financial decisions are solely your responsibility. It is imperative that you conduct your own research and seek professional advice as necessary. I am merely sharing my opinions.AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Some of the links on this channel are affiliate links, meaning at no cost to you I earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase and/or subscribe. However, I only recommend products or services that (1) I believe in and (2) would recommend to my own mom.
5 Ways to Rebalance Your Portfolio (And a Free Rebalancing Tool) Rob Berger 2025-04-24 | What is the best approach to rebalancing? In this video, we'll look at a recent article that tested four different approaches. I'll share a fifth approach and share a free tool you can use to test the different approaches. I'll also share my approach to rebalancing.Portfolio Rebalancing Article: go.ycharts.com/hubfs/What_is_the_Optimal_Portfolio_Rebalancing_Strategy_Guide.pdfVideo: youtube.com/watch?v=KBVAuL6NfpIAlternative Rebalancing Approach: financialplanningassociation.org/sites/default/files/2020-05/9%20Opportunistic%20Rebalancing%20A%20New%20Paradigm%20for%20Wealth%20Managers.pdfPortfolio Visualizer: youtube.com/@rob_bergerInvestment Tracking Spreadsheet: robberger.com/investment-tracking-spreadsheet0:00 - Intro1:00 - The Report6:55 - Portfolio Visualizer11:20 - Opportunistic Rebalancing14:13 - What do I do?*Join the Newsletter. It's Free:*robberger.com/newsletter/?utm_source=Rob+Berger&utm_medium=ATF+Link&utm_campaign=Newsletter&utm_id=YouTube*Financial tools I use:**I track all of my investments, performance, fees, and asset allocation with Empower. It's Free:*go.robberger.com/empower/yt-*I use Rocket Money to manage our budget:* go.robberger.com/rocket-money/yt-*My retirement plan comes from Boldin, the most robust retirement planner available at a reasonable cost:*go.robberger.com/boldin/yt-*I used Capitalize for my last 401(k) rollover. They did all of the work, and it's Free:*go.robberger.com/capitalize/yt-*My Book (Retire Before Mom and Dad):*amzn.to/4d9qbhA#retirement #investing #robbergerABOUT ME While still working as a trial attorney in the securities field, I started writing about personal finance and investing In 2007. In 2013 I started the Doughroller Money Podcast, which has been downloaded millions of times. I've since sold my websites, bought them back, and started a new website and this YouTube channel.I'm also the author of Retire Before Mom and Dad--The Simple Numbers Behind a Lifetime of Financial Freedom (amzn.to/3by10EE)LET'S CONNECTYoutube: youtube.com/channel/UC9C17-OMxa-7oRSaCtztObw?sub_confirmation=1Facebook: facebook.com/financialfreedomguyTwitter: twitter.com/Robert_A_BergerDISCLAIMER: I am not a financial adviser. These videos are for educational purposes only. Investing of any kind involves risk. Your investment and other financial decisions are solely your responsibility. It is imperative that you conduct your own research and seek professional advice as necessary. I am merely sharing my opinions.AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Some of the links on this channel are affiliate links, meaning at no cost to you I earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase and/or subscribe. However, I only recommend products or services that (1) I believe in and (2) would recommend to my own mom.
Bill Bengen Answers 3 Questions About the 4% Rule Rob Berger 2025-04-22 | Bill Bengen answers 3 questions about the 4% Rule:1. When you published the 4% Rule in 1994, was it an immediate hit?2. Is your general approach to focus on total return and what do you think about the idea that you should try to generate more income in retirement?3. When working with clients, did you ever recommend a dynamic approach to calculating withdrawals each year?*Join the Newsletter. It's Free:*robberger.com/newsletter/?utm_source=Rob+Berger&utm_medium=ATF+Link&utm_campaign=Newsletter&utm_id=YouTube*Financial tools I use:**I track all of my investments, performance, fees, and asset allocation with Empower. It's Free:*go.robberger.com/empower/yt-*I use Rocket Money to manage our budget:* go.robberger.com/rocket-money/yt-*My retirement plan comes from Boldin, the most robust retirement planner available at a reasonable cost:*go.robberger.com/boldin/yt-*I used Capitalize for my last 401(k) rollover. They did all of the work, and it's Free:*go.robberger.com/capitalize/yt-*My Book (Retire Before Mom and Dad):*amzn.to/4d9qbhA#retirement #investing #robbergerABOUT ME While still working as a trial attorney in the securities field, I started writing about personal finance and investing In 2007. In 2013 I started the Doughroller Money Podcast, which has been downloaded millions of times. I've since sold my websites, bought them back, and started a new website and this YouTube channel.I'm also the author of Retire Before Mom and Dad--The Simple Numbers Behind a Lifetime of Financial Freedom (amzn.to/3by10EE)LET'S CONNECTYoutube: youtube.com/channel/UC9C17-OMxa-7oRSaCtztObw?sub_confirmation=1Facebook: facebook.com/financialfreedomguyTwitter: twitter.com/Robert_A_BergerDISCLAIMER: I am not a financial adviser. These videos are for educational purposes only. Investing of any kind involves risk. Your investment and other financial decisions are solely your responsibility. It is imperative that you conduct your own research and seek professional advice as necessary. I am merely sharing my opinions.AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Some of the links on this channel are affiliate links, meaning at no cost to you I earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase and/or subscribe. However, I only recommend products or services that (1) I believe in and (2) would recommend to my own mom.
How Should Retirees Respond to the Current Market? Live Q&A Rob Berger 2025-04-22 | Tonight we'll start by discussing how retirees should respond to the current market. Then I'll answer your questions.*Join the Newsletter. It's Free:*robberger.com/newsletter/?utm_source=Rob+Berger&utm_medium=ATF+Link&utm_campaign=Newsletter&utm_id=YouTube0:00 - Intro1:54 - How Should Retirees Respond to the Current Market?8:32 - Income Lab16:02 - Roth conversions in Income Lab23:53 - Current Shiller PE Ratio26:54 - Are Boldin and Projection Lab for long term planning?30:08 - Where to place a lump sum31:33 - Stock vs bonds allocations36:51 - Using an emergency fund for investing39:05 - Book recommendation44:42 - Subscribing to Boldin and Projection Lab45:47 - Roth convert when tax rates stay the same49:32 - Is BND too heavy in government vs corporate55:25 - Diversifying into international bonds1:01:38 - SIPC1:06:45 - 457b1:08:57 - Using Boldin to calculate taxes on expenses1:15:11 - Next steps in brokerage account1:18:44 - Vanguard Cash Plus account1:21:05 - G-fund as only bond holding1:23:30 - Scrolling the chat1:27:59 - Announcements*Financial tools I use:**I track all of my investments, performance, fees, and asset allocation with Empower. It's Free:*go.robberger.com/empower/yt-*I use Rocket Money to manage our budget:* go.robberger.com/rocket-money/yt-*My retirement plan comes from Boldin, the most robust retirement planner available at a reasonable cost:*go.robberger.com/boldin/yt-*I used Capitalize for my last 401(k) rollover. They did all of the work, and it's Free:*go.robberger.com/capitalize/yt-*My Book (Retire Before Mom and Dad):*amzn.to/4d9qbhA#retirement #investing #robberger ABOUT ME While still working as a trial attorney in the securities field, I started writing about personal finance and investing In 2007. In 2013 I started the Doughroller Money Podcast, which has been downloaded millions of times. I've since sold my websites, bought them back, and started a new website and this YouTube channel.I'm also the author of Retire Before Mom and Dad--The Simple Numbers Behind a Lifetime of Financial Freedom (amzn.to/3by10EE)LET'S CONNECTYoutube: youtube.com/channel/UC9C17-OMxa-7oRSaCtztObw?sub_confirmation=1Facebook: facebook.com/financialfreedomguyTwitter: twitter.com/Robert_A_BergerDISCLAIMER: I am not a financial adviser. These videos are for educational purposes only. Investing of any kind involves risk. Your investment and other financial decisions are solely your responsibility. It is imperative that you conduct your own research and seek professional advice as necessary. I am merely sharing my opinions.AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Some of the links on this channel are affiliate links, meaning at no cost to you I earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase and/or subscribe. However, I only recommend products or services that (1) I believe in and (2) would recommend to my own mom.
A New Investment Tracking Spreadsheet (Portfolio Tracker 2.0) Rob Berger 2025-04-21 | We have a completely updated investment tracking spreadsheet for you today. This one was built by the same person who created the original one that so many people have used.In this video I'll walk through the new spreadsheet and how to use it.You can find links to the new spreadsheet here: robberger.com/investment-tracking-spreadsheet0:00 - Intro4:12 - Account Set-up6:28 - Asset Set-up11:35 - Allocation16:17 - Holdings18:37 - Dashboard19:23 - Announcements*Join the Newsletter. It's Free:*robberger.com/newsletter/?utm_source=Rob+Berger&utm_medium=ATF+Link&utm_campaign=Newsletter&utm_id=YouTube*Financial tools I use:**I track all of my investments, performance, fees, and asset allocation with Empower. It's Free:*go.robberger.com/empower/yt-*I use Rocket Money to manage our budget:* go.robberger.com/rocket-money/yt-*My retirement plan comes from Boldin, the most robust retirement planner available at a reasonable cost:*go.robberger.com/boldin/yt-*I used Capitalize for my last 401(k) rollover. They did all of the work, and it's Free:*go.robberger.com/capitalize/yt-*My Book (Retire Before Mom and Dad):*amzn.to/4d9qbhA#retirement #investing #robbergerABOUT ME While still working as a trial attorney in the securities field, I started writing about personal finance and investing In 2007. In 2013 I started the Doughroller Money Podcast, which has been downloaded millions of times. I've since sold my websites, bought them back, and started a new website and this YouTube channel.I'm also the author of Retire Before Mom and Dad--The Simple Numbers Behind a Lifetime of Financial Freedom (amzn.to/3by10EE)LET'S CONNECTYoutube: youtube.com/channel/UC9C17-OMxa-7oRSaCtztObw?sub_confirmation=1Facebook: facebook.com/financialfreedomguyTwitter: twitter.com/Robert_A_BergerDISCLAIMER: I am not a financial adviser. These videos are for educational purposes only. Investing of any kind involves risk. Your investment and other financial decisions are solely your responsibility. It is imperative that you conduct your own research and seek professional advice as necessary. I am merely sharing my opinions.AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Some of the links on this channel are affiliate links, meaning at no cost to you I earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase and/or subscribe. However, I only recommend products or services that (1) I believe in and (2) would recommend to my own mom.
Should We Do a Roth Conversion Now? (FQF) Rob Berger 2025-04-18 | Here are the five questions we'll cover in this week's edition of Five Question Friday:1. Is now a good time to do a Roth conversion? (John)2. Mutual Funds vs ETFs (Shane)3. Should we invest more in international stocks? (Phil)4. Is Gold a hedge against inflation? (Cathy)5. Has 2025 wrecked our retirement plans? (Doug)ResourcesBoldin: go.robberger.com/boldin/yt-fqfProjectionLab: go.robberger.com/projectionlab/yt-fqf0:00 - Intro1:10 - Is now a good time to do a Roth conversion?7:06 - Mutual Funds vs ETFs9:47 - Should we invest more in international stocks?16:46 - Is Gold a hedge against inflation?24:24 - Has 2025 wrecked our retirement plans?*Join the Newsletter. It's Free:*robberger.com/newsletter/?utm_source=Rob+Berger&utm_medium=ATF+Link&utm_campaign=Newsletter&utm_id=YouTube*Financial tools I use:**I track all of my investments, performance, fees, and asset allocation with Empower. It's Free:*go.robberger.com/empower/yt-*I use Rocket Money to manage our budget:* go.robberger.com/rocket-money/yt-*My retirement plan comes from Boldin, the most robust retirement planner available at a reasonable cost:*go.robberger.com/boldin/yt-*I used Capitalize for my last 401(k) rollover. They did all of the work, and it's Free:*go.robberger.com/capitalize/yt-*My Book (Retire Before Mom and Dad):*amzn.to/4d9qbhA#retirement #fqf #robbergerABOUT ME While still working as a trial attorney in the securities field, I started writing about personal finance and investing In 2007. In 2013 I started the Doughroller Money Podcast, which has been downloaded millions of times. I've since sold my websites, bought them back, and started a new website and this YouTube channel.I'm also the author of Retire Before Mom and Dad--The Simple Numbers Behind a Lifetime of Financial Freedom (amzn.to/3by10EE)LET'S CONNECTYoutube: youtube.com/channel/UC9C17-OMxa-7oRSaCtztObw?sub_confirmation=1Facebook: facebook.com/financialfreedomguyTwitter: twitter.com/Robert_A_BergerDISCLAIMER: I am not a financial adviser. These videos are for educational purposes only. Investing of any kind involves risk. Your investment and other financial decisions are solely your responsibility. It is imperative that you conduct your own research and seek professional advice as necessary. I am merely sharing my opinions.AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Some of the links on this channel are affiliate links, meaning at no cost to you I earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase and/or subscribe. However, I only recommend products or services that (1) I believe in and (2) would recommend to my own mom.
Stock vs Bond Allocation with Andy Panko Rob Berger 2025-04-17 | Viewer question answered: What should my stock/bond allocation be in retirement?Rob Berger & Andy Panko, CFP discuss why stock and bond allocation varies depending on your situation and plans for your retirement funds. Some will prefer an aggressive approach while others will choose to be conservative. Which do you prefer, and why? *Join the Newsletter. It's Free:*robberger.com/newsletter/?utm_source=Rob+Berger&utm_medium=ATF+Link&utm_campaign=Newsletter&utm_id=YouTube*Financial tools I use:**I track all of my investments, performance, fees, and asset allocation with Empower. It's Free:*go.robberger.com/empower/yt-*I use Rocket Money to manage our budget:* go.robberger.com/rocket-money/yt-*My retirement plan comes from New Retirement, the most robust retirement planner available at a reasonable cost:*go.robberger.com/new-retirement/yt-*I used Capitalize for my last 401(k) rollover. They did all of the work, and it's Free:*go.robberger.com/capitalize/yt-*My Book (Retire Before Mom and Dad):*amzn.to/4d9qbhA#retirement #investing #robbergerABOUT ME While still working as a trial attorney in the securities field, I started writing about personal finance and investing In 2007. In 2013 I started the Doughroller Money Podcast, which has been downloaded millions of times. I've since sold my websites, bought them back, and started a new website and this YouTube channel.I'm also the author of Retire Before Mom and Dad--The Simple Numbers Behind a Lifetime of Financial Freedom (amzn.to/3by10EE)LET'S CONNECTYoutube: youtube.com/channel/UC9C17-OMxa-7oRSaCtztObw?sub_confirmation=1Facebook: facebook.com/financialfreedomguyTwitter: twitter.com/Robert_A_BergerDISCLAIMER: I am not a financial adviser. These videos are for educational purposes only. Investing of any kind involves risk. Your investment and other financial decisions are solely your responsibility. It is imperative that you conduct your own research and seek professional advice as necessary. I am merely sharing my opinions.AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Some of the links on this channel are affiliate links, meaning at no cost to you I earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase and/or subscribe. However, I only recommend products or services that (1) I believe in and (2) would recommend to my own mom.
Is Now a Good Time to Start Investing? (FQF) Rob Berger 2025-04-11 | Welcome to another edition of Five Question Friday (FQF). We actually have 6 questions today plus a free investment tracking tool:1. Do I send Facebook friend requests to viewers?2. Is this a good time to start investing?3. Is rebalancing in volatile times just market timing?4. If following the 4% rule, should the amount you pay in taxes be included?5. Should an emergency fund be part of your asset allocation?6. What is your opinion of using T-bills for cash instead of CDs or bonds? Investment Tracking Tool: bogleheads.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=8289608*Join the Newsletter. It's Free:*robberger.com/newsletter/?utm_source=Rob+Berger&utm_medium=ATF+Link&utm_campaign=Newsletter&utm_id=YouTube0:00 - Intro1:15 - Do I send Facebook friend requests to viewers?2:22 - Is this a good time to start investing?5:35 - Is rebalancing in volatile times just market timing?8:01 - If following the 4% rule, should the amount you pay in taxes be included?13:58 - Should an emergency fund be part of your asset allocation?15:07 - What is your opinion of using T-bills for cash instead of CDs or bonds?16:44 - Investment Tracking Tool*Financial tools I use:**I track all of my investments, performance, fees, and asset allocation with Empower. It's Free:*go.robberger.com/empower/yt-*I use Rocket Money to manage our budget:* go.robberger.com/rocket-money/yt-*My retirement plan comes from New Retirement, the most robust retirement planner available at a reasonable cost:*go.robberger.com/new-retirement/yt-*I used Capitalize for my last 401(k) rollover. They did all of the work, and it's Free:*go.robberger.com/capitalize/yt-*My Book (Retire Before Mom and Dad):*amzn.to/4d9qbhA#fqf #investing #robbergerABOUT ME While still working as a trial attorney in the securities field, I started writing about personal finance and investing In 2007. In 2013 I started the Doughroller Money Podcast, which has been downloaded millions of times. I've since sold my websites, bought them back, and started a new website and this YouTube channel.I'm also the author of Retire Before Mom and Dad--The Simple Numbers Behind a Lifetime of Financial Freedom (amzn.to/3by10EE)LET'S CONNECTYoutube: youtube.com/channel/UC9C17-OMxa-7oRSaCtztObw?sub_confirmation=1Facebook: facebook.com/financialfreedomguyTwitter: twitter.com/Robert_A_BergerDISCLAIMER: I am not a financial adviser. These videos are for educational purposes only. Investing of any kind involves risk. Your investment and other financial decisions are solely your responsibility. It is imperative that you conduct your own research and seek professional advice as necessary. I am merely sharing my opinions.AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Some of the links on this channel are affiliate links, meaning at no cost to you I earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase and/or subscribe. However, I only recommend products or services that (1) I believe in and (2) would recommend to my own mom.
