

Your Money, Your Wealth
Joe Anderson, CFP® & Alan Clopine, CPA of Pure Financial Advisors
Making fun of finance. A US News & World Report "Top 9 Personal Finance Podcast" (2025) and "Top 12 Retirement Podcast" (2023). One of the "10 Best Personal Finance YouTube Channels" (CardRates, 2023). "Best Retirement Podcast With Humor" (FIPhysician, 2020-2024). Learn strategies that can help you retire successfully. Financial advisor Joe Anderson, CFP® and certified public accountant Big Al Clopine, CPA answer your money questions and spitball on your 401k, IRA, Roth conversions and backdoor Roth IRA, how to pay less taxes, asset allocation, stocks and bonds, real estate, and other investments, Social Security benefits, capital gains tax, 1031 exchange, early retirement, expenses and withdrawals, and more money and wealth management strategies. YMYW is retirement planning, investing, and tax reduction made fun, presented by Pure Financial Advisors - a fee-only financial planning firm. Pure Financial adheres to the fiduciary standard of care, in which we are required by law to act in the best interest of our clients at all times. Access free financial resources and episode transcripts, Ask Joe & Big Al On Air to get your Retirement Plan Spitball Analysis: http://YourMoneyYourWealth.com
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 24, 2026 • 45min
When Should You Take Social Security? (Don't Screw This Up) - 574
They debate when to claim Social Security for several couples with different ages, pensions, and savings. They tackle tradeoffs like lump-sum versus monthly pensions, Roth moves and tax timing. They clarify break-even misconceptions and stress recalculating claiming strategies as circumstances change.

7 snips
Mar 17, 2026 • 40min
Could You Retire Tomorrow If You Had To? - 573
Real-life retirement math for couples and singles with seven-figure nests. Practical talk on Roth conversions, RMD timing, pensions and annuities. Strategies for early retirement, walking away from a job, and handling divorce or widow risks. Actionable scenarios for spending capacity and tax-smart distribution planning.

Mar 10, 2026 • 51min
Could You Lose Half Your Retirement Income to Taxes? - 572
"Carl and Jane" have eight million bucks, and their advisor is suggesting a 130/30 long-short investing strategy. Joe Anderson, CFP® and Big Al Clopine, CPA spitball on whether this is a smart tax move or unnecessary complexity - and whether they would do it themselves, today on Your Money, Your Wealth® podcast number 572. Plus, Tyrone and Tova think they may never even need their retirement accounts, so do they really need to bother with Roth conversions if the kids are going to inherit the money anyway, or could skipping the conversions mean losing half their retirement income to taxes? Mark in San Diego is juggling Roth conversions and Social Security timing without blowing up his tax bill, or the income-related monthly adjustment amount for Medicare, or net investment income tax. And "Boat Drinks" has a big non-qualified deferred compensation plan. How can he structure payouts before it turns into a tax nightmare - and before he potentially gets laid off? Free Financial Resources in This Episode: https://bit.ly/ymyw-572 (full show notes & episode transcript) The Emotionless Investing Guide - free download https://purefinancial.com/white-papers/emotionless-investing-guide/?utm_source=LibsynDestinations&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=YMYW-572 The Ultimate Guide to Roth IRAs - free download https://purefinancial.com/white-papers/roth-ira-white-paper/?utm_source=LibsynDestinations&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=YMYW-572 The Truth About Your Love/Hate Relationship with Money - YMYW TV https://purefinancial.com/ymyw/episodes/truth-about-love-hate-relationship-with-money/?utm_source=LibsynDestinations&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=YMYW-572 Financial Blueprint (self-guided): https://bit.ly/PureFinancialBlueprint Financial Assessment (Meet with an experienced professional): https://bit.ly/PureFreeAssessment REQUEST your Retirement Spitball Analysis: https://bit.ly/AskJoeAndAl DOWNLOAD more free guides: https://bit.ly/PureGuides READ financial blogs: https://bit.ly/PureFinBlog WATCH educational videos: https://bit.ly/PureEdVideos SUBSCRIBE to the YMYW Newsletter: https://bit.ly/YMYWNewsletter Connect With Us: Subscribe on YouTube and join the conversation in the comments: https://bit.ly/YMYW-YT Subscribe or follow YMYW in your favorite podcast app: https://lnk.to/ymyw Leave your honest reviews and ratings in Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/your-money-your-wealth/id312900254 Chapters: 00:00 - Intro: This Week on the YMYW Podcast 01:12 - Should Investors with $8M Use a 130/30 Long-Short Investing Strategy? (Carl Sandburg and Jane Addams, California) 12:42 - We'll Never Need Our Retirement Accounts. Should We Still Do Roth Conversions? (Tyrone and Tova) 27:18 - Roth Conversions vs. Social Security: Which Comes First? What About IRMAA and NIIT? (Mark, California) 38:16 - How to Structure Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Payouts When a Layoff Might Be Coming? (Boat Drinks) 50:10 - Outro: Next Week on the YMYW Podcast

Mar 3, 2026 • 45min
Retire Early in Your 40s or 50s: Green Light or Reality Check? - 571
If you plan to punch the clock for the final time decades before "standard" retirement age, you need a financial strategy that goes beyond just saving. Joe Anderson, CFP® and Big Al Clopine, CPA spitball five different early retirement plans to see whose numbers are tight and who is ready to go for it, today on Your Money, Your Wealth® podcast 571. George in South Carolina wants to retire in 8 years at 53. Does he have enough in his brokerage account to bridge the gap to Social Security? Joe in Massachusetts is saving a staggering $200,000 a year, but will his high-spending lifestyle make a multi-million dollar nest egg look small? The fellas help 26-year-old Jonathan in Florida map out a path to retire in his 40s using his 457 plan, and they spitball on whether early exit strategies for both Kris and Rojo in California are a "green light" or a reality check. Plus, Joe explains why the "Rule of 55" and Roth conversions might be some of the most important tools in your early retirement toolbox. Free Financial Resources in This Episode: https://bit.ly/ymyw-571 (full show notes & episode transcript) Withdrawal Strategy Guide - free download: https://purefinancial.com/white-papers/withdrawal-strategy-guide/?utm_source=LibsynDestinations&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=YMYW-571 Long-Term Care Planning Guide - free download: https://purefinancial.com/white-papers/long-term-care-planning-options/?utm_source=LibsynDestinations&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=YMYW-571 The #1 Spending Mistake Ruining Retirements - YMYW TV: https://purefinancial.com/ymyw/episodes/number-one-spending-mistake-ruining-retirements/?utm_source=LibsynDestinations&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=YMYW-571 Financial Blueprint (self-guided): https://bit.ly/PureFinancialBlueprint Financial Assessment (Meet with an experienced professional): https://bit.ly/PureFreeAssessment REQUEST your Retirement Spitball Analysis: https://bit.ly/AskJoeAndAl DOWNLOAD more free guides: https://bit.ly/PureGuides READ financial blogs: https://bit.ly/PureFinBlog WATCH educational videos: https://bit.ly/PureEdVideos SUBSCRIBE to the YMYW Newsletter: https://bit.ly/YMYWNewsletter Connect With Us: Subscribe on YouTube and join the conversation in the comments: https://bit.ly/YMYW-YT Subscribe or follow YMYW in your favorite podcast app: https://lnk.to/ymyw Leave your honest reviews and ratings in Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/your-money-your-wealth/id312900254 Chapters: 00:00 - Intro: This Week on the YMYW Podcast 01:06 - Is Retiring at 53 With No Pension a Smart Move or a Risky Bet? (George, South Carolina) 11:59 - High Income, High Spend, Early Retirement: Does the Math Still Work? (Joe, MA) 18:39 - At 26, Should I Go All In on a 457 to Retire Way Early? (Jonathan, Florida) 26:41 - Can I Retire Early and Still Cover Health Care and Long Term Care Costs? (Kris, California) 33:33 - I'm a Widowed Parent. Can I Retire at 57 and Still Fund College and Legacy Goals? (Rojo, California) 43:08 - Outro: Next Week on the YMYW Podcast

Feb 24, 2026 • 46min
Retirement Planning for Aging Parents - and Can You Retire Early? - 570
Joe and Big Al spitball two sides of the retirement equation, today on Your Money, Your Wealth® podcast number 570. Daniel in Texas is 40 and worrying about how to support Mom and Dad if their money runs out. Can he build some kind of financial safety net for them without ruining his own retirement? Jemma's 82-year-old mom is drawing down her portfolio. Is locking in guaranteed income with an annuity a smart move, or could that create new problems down the road? Plus, "Cookie and Gerry" want to walk away from work before 50 with a big brokerage account and a pension. Are they positioned correctly? How can they avoid pulling the wrong levers at the wrong time? And "Fred and Wilma" are staring at a potential multi-million-dollar ESOP payout. What levers do they need to pull so they can retire at 46 and shout "Yabba Dabba Doo"? Free Financial Resources in This Episode: https://bit.ly/ymyw-570 (full show notes & episode transcript) 10 Steps to Improve Investing Success - free download What to Do When the Stock Market Gets Crazy - YMYW TV Financial Blueprint (self-guided) Financial Assessment (Meet with an experienced professional) REQUEST your Retirement Spitball Analysis DOWNLOAD more free guides READ financial blogs WATCH educational videos SUBSCRIBE to the YMYW Newsletter Connect With Us: YouTube: Subscribe and join the conversation in the comments Podcast apps: subscribe or follow YMYW in your favorite Apple Podcasts: leave your honest reviews and ratings Chapters: 00:00 - Intro: This Week on the YMYW Podcast 00:57 - Can I Afford to Be My Parents' Retirement Plan? (Daniel, Texas) 07:07 - Will an Annuity Really Save Mom From Running Out of Money? (Jemma) 15:07 - Can We Retire in Our Early 50s With a Pension and a $190K Spend? (Cookie and Gerry) 30:39 - Can We Retire Early at 46 With a $4M ESOP and a $210K Spend? (Fred and Wilma, CA) 44:23 - Outro: Next Week on the YMYW Podcast

Feb 17, 2026 • 44min
Retirement Changes at These 5 Major Financial Crossroads - 569
When you're standing at a major financial crossroads, the timing of your decisions can mean the difference between success and failure. Joe Anderson, CFP® and Big Al Clopine, CPA spitball on the "when" of five retirement decisions, today on Your Money, Your Wealth podcast number 569. We'll kick things off with a whale of an email: "Fine and Dandy" is 42 years old with a multimillion dollar private equity offer on the table. Should he sell his business now or hold out for a second bite of the apple later? He also wonders if it's crazy to spend more on his vacation home than on his primary residence. David calls himself an "elderly orphan," flying solo at 66 and in need of a plan to protect his million-dollar portfolio as he ages. BB and Shell are trying to time their final year of retirement contributions to save as much as possible before moving to a lower-tax state. Should they go Roth IRA or traditional? Joel wonders when to take required minimum distributions from retirement accounts for the maximum tax benefit, and Brian in New York needs a spitball on when it makes sense to have an emergency fund as a retiree, and for how much. Free Financial Resources in This Episode: https://bit.ly/ymyw-569 (full show notes & episode transcript) Growing Your Wealth Guide - free download Retirement Readiness Guide - free download Retire at 62: Great Idea or Huge Mistake? - YMYW TV Financial Blueprint (self-guided) Financial Assessment (Meet with an experienced professional) REQUEST your Retirement Spitball Analysis DOWNLOAD more free guides READ financial blogs WATCH educational videos SUBSCRIBE to the YMYW Newsletter Connect With Us: YouTube: Subscribe and join the conversation in the comments Podcast apps: subscribe or follow YMYW in your favorite Apple Podcasts: leave your honest reviews and ratings Chapters: 00:00 - Intro: This Week on the YMYW Podcast 01:09 - Should I Sell My Business or Wait? Is It Crazy to Spend More on My Vacation Home Than My Primary Residence? (Fine and Dandy, IL) 20:48 - Saving to Roth IRA vs Traditional IRA in the Final Year Before Retirement (BB and Shell) 23:50 - When to Take Your First RMD for the Maximum Tax Benefit (Joel, CA) 27:33 - Aging Alone in Retirement: How to Protect Assets Before Cognitive Decline (David, 68, Logan, NM) 35:37 - Why Some CPAs Cap Roth Conversions at $500K AGI (Shweta, CA) 37:05 - When Does It Make Sense for Retirees to Have an Emergency Fund - and How Much? (Brian, Albany, NY) 42:03 - Outro - Next Week on the YMYW Podcast

Feb 10, 2026 • 44min
Tax-Smart Investing at Every Age: Starting Young or Catching Up - 568
John Q. Taxpayer is in the home stretch of his career, looking for the best way to catch-up and build his tax-free bucket. Meanwhile, a pair of young financial nerds in Omaha are already strong savers, but they're wondering whether a simple "VOO for life" strategy is enough to help them reach multimillionaire status in retirement. Also, Janine retired unexpectedly. Can her remaining savings support a European retirement lifestyle? From Jonas Grumby's "glitch in the matrix" tax strategy to the potential tax nightmare of Dolly's literal sack of inherited gold coins, today on Your Money, Your Wealth® podcast 568, Joe Anderson, CFP® and Big Al Clopine, CPA. spitball on how folks from different generations with different situations can reach the same ultimate goal: positioning assets today to ensure the most tax-free wealth tomorrow. Plus, the fellas spitball on the "double taxation" trap of retirement plan loans for Pete in North Carolina, and the affordability of 50-year mortgages for Semper Fi in Michigan. Free Financial Resources in This Episode: https://bit.ly/ymyw-568 (full show notes & episode transcript) Why Asset Location Matters - free guide All About Asset Location - more free resources 15 Maneuvers to Duck an Unplanned Early Retirement Knockout - YMYW TV Financial Blueprint (self-guided) Financial Assessment (Meet with an experienced professional) REQUEST your Retirement Spitball Analysis DOWNLOAD more free guides READ financial blogs WATCH educational videos SUBSCRIBE to the YMYW Newsletter Connect With Us: YouTube: Subscribe and join the conversation in the comments Podcast apps: subscribe or follow YMYW in your favorite Apple Podcasts: leave your honest reviews and ratings Chapters: 00:00 - Intro: This Week on the YMYW Podcast 01:05 - After-Tax 401(k) Catch-Ups vs Taxable Investing (John Q Taxpayer) 06:16 - Forced Early Retirement: Social Security and Roth Conversion Timing? (Janine, Bothell, WA) 11:30 - Are 50-Year Mortgages Actually Affordable? (Semper Fi, Stevensville, MI) 17:59 - 401(k) Loan vs Mortgage Payoff (Pete, NC) 21:27 - Can You Manufacture a Step-Up in Basis? (Jonas Grumby, The Colony, TX) 25:03 - Inherited Gold Coins and Capital Gains Taxes (Dolly, 63, TN) 29:35 - Spitball for Young Investors Who Don't Have Millions (Young Financial Nerds, Omaha, NE) 42:13 - Outro: Next Week on the YMYW Podcast

Feb 3, 2026 • 50min
Rising Costs and Retirement Unknowns? Here's What to Do - 567
Should Al and Peggy in Illinois keep hammering pre-tax retirement savings or should they pivot to post-tax Roth for better tax diversification? Which pension option is best for their early retirement plans? Long-term care insurance premiums are going up endlessly for Eloise in Connecticut. Is she walking into an insurance industry trap? How do Eric and Tami in Baton Rouge help their kids with college without blowing up their own retirement, and when do student loans make sense? Finally, should Lana and Sterling harvest capital gains or prioritize Roth conversions before moving to a much higher-tax state? The basic question in all of these is the same: how do you protect your future from rising costs and unknowns that are out of your control? We'll find out what it takes, today on Your Money, Your Wealth podcast number 567. Free Financial Resources in This Episode: https://bit.ly/ymyw-567 (full show notes & episode transcript) Key Financial Data Guide - free download Retirement Panic Button: 7 Ways to Avoid Hitting It - YMYW TV Financial Blueprint (self-guided) Financial Assessment (Meet with an experienced professional) REQUEST your Retirement Spitball Analysis DOWNLOAD more free guides READ financial blogs WATCH educational videos SUBSCRIBE to the YMYW Newsletter Connect With Us: YouTube: Subscribe and join the conversation in the comments Podcast apps: subscribe or follow YMYW in your favorite Apple Podcasts: leave your honest reviews and ratings Chapters: 00:00 - Intro: This Week on the YMYW Podcast 00:55 - Pre-Tax vs. Late Roth Savings? Pension Lump Sum vs. Lifetime Income in Early Retirement? (Al & Peggy, Illinois) 14:14 - Should I Drop Long-Term Care Insurance Now at Age 70? (Eloise, Connecticut) 20:41 - College Costs vs Retirement Security for Parents (Tami & Eric, Baton Rouge, LA) 35:59 - Roth Conversions or Capital Gains Before Moving to a High Tax State? (Lana & Sterling, Nebraska) 48:14 - Next Week on the YMYW Podcast

Jan 27, 2026 • 53min
High Net Worth Pre-Retirees Share Their Biggest Fear (Here's How to Calm It) - 566
Couples with very different account balances share one common worry: will the money last? The conversation touches on Roth conversion timing, withdrawal strategies, and how a written plan eases retirement anxiety. Tax-aware investing tactics like long/short direct indexing and capital gains harvesting get explored. They also debate pension lump sums versus lifetime streams and working after 70 logistics.

Jan 20, 2026 • 43min
48 and Worried About Early Retirement? This Changes the Math - 565
Lucky Lou contemplates early retirement at 50 with a hefty $4.5M, but can he bridge the gap until pensions kick in? Discover the Rule of 55 and 72(t) to access funds penalty-free. Young earners Alexei and Anna weigh aggressive saving against homeownership. Meanwhile, Jay and Gloria grapple with Roth vs. traditional 401(k) contributions in a tax-friendly state. Sleepless in Seattle analyzes if her daughter can afford a condo amidst rising prices. Plus, learn how to manage an inherited IRA to minimize taxes!


