Retiring Today

Retiring Today

Merkle Retirement Planning

Episodes 256
Avg. Duration 28m
Activity Highly Active
Apple Rating 3.5 (20)
Since Sep 2019
Latest Episode May 2026

Publishing Details

Schedule
Weekly
Format
Episodic
Consistency
53%
Hosting
anchor.fm

Contact & Outreach

About This Podcast

Ever wondered about the future of Social Security? Need help creating a plan for Long-Term Care? What happens if you retire during a Recession? Retiring in today’s world can be complex and complicated. Each week, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Loren Merkle and co-host Molly Nelson will tackle trending financial topics and apply them to your retirement. You’ll takeaway the important, need-to-know information about preparing for retirement and what happens after you get there. Retiring Today will give you actionable tips that you can use to reach your retirement goals.

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Recent Episodes

237. The Three-Legged Retirement Stool Is Gone: How to Create a Personal Pension With Income Buckets, Tax Diversification, and Social Security Timing

May 31, 2026 25m

Most retirees no longer have a pension, and that changes everything about how you build retirement income. If you've ever felt like retirement planning is harder than it used to be, this episode…

236. The Great Wealth Transfer Is Happening: How to Start the Family Inheritance Conversation and The Tax Trap Retirees Need to Know About

May 24, 2026 22m

A massive $124 trillion is expected to pass from one generation to the next over the next 20 years, but most families aren’t talking about it. In this episode, Retirement Planners Loren Merkle and…

S1E235 235. The Biggest Mistakes People Make When Claiming Social Security

Apr 26, 2026 26m

Social Security is the elephant in the room when it comes to retirement planning. Everyone knows the decision is there, but between your neighbor who claimed at 62 and your coworker waiting until 70,…

S1E234 234. 7 Steps to Retire Before 65. Even If You Think You Can't Afford To

Apr 19, 2026 25m

If 65 has been your retirement target, ask yourself why. For most people it comes down to one thing, health care before Medicare kicks in. The good news is there are more options than most people…

233. What If the Market Crashes in Your First Year of Retirement?

Apr 12, 2026 24m

Imagine retiring with $750,000 and watching it drop by 30% in year one. A market drop like that can have a real impact on your retirement income.In this episode, we break down the bucket strategy, a…

S1E232 232 Laid Off After 55? What to Do About Health Care, Taxes, and Your 401(k)

Apr 05, 2026 26m

Last year, 1.1 million people were laid off, numbers not seen since 2020. And 40% of people retire earlier than they planned. If a layoff or buyout is on your radar, the decisions you make about…

S1E231 231. Three Retirement Planning Strategies for Large IRAs ($2 Million Example)

Mar 29, 2026 26m

You saved. You planned. You built a $2 million IRA, but every dollar in that account has never been taxed before. The question was never if you'd pay taxes on it, the question is how much? With…

S1E230 230. Retirement Taxes Explained: Pre-Tax Accounts, Roth Strategies, RMDs, and Social Security

Mar 01, 2026 26m

If retirement taxes feel confusing, you’re not alone. Pre-tax accounts, Roth accounts, required minimum distributions (RMDs), Social Security taxes—there are a lot of rules, and they don’t always…

S1E229 229. The Hidden Crisis: Loneliness in Retirement, Loss of Purpose, and How to Reconnect

Feb 22, 2026 25m

When you think about retirement, what do you see yourself doing? A lot of people don't have an answer to that question, and that's where loneliness can start to creep in. This episode looks at the…

S1E228 228. Do Roth Conversions Still Make Sense in 2026?

Feb 15, 2026 25m

A Roth conversion means paying taxes now instead of later, but is it the right move for your retirement? We'll explain exactly how Roth conversions work, walk through a $100k example that shows the…

S1E227 227. The 6 Components of a Retirement Plan (And Why It's Not Just Your 401(k))

Feb 08, 2026 26m

Most people think of their 401(k) as their retirement plan. Your 401(k) tells you your balance, but it doesn't answer the questions that actually matter: "When can I retire?" "How much can I safely…

S1E226 226. We Stress Test a $1 Million Retirement Plan

Feb 01, 2026 26m

A common saying is you need a million dollars for retirement, but what does that actually mean for you? In today's episode, you'll meet Tom and Sandy. They have $1 million saved for retirement at age…

225. How Long Does $1 Million Last in Retirement?

Jan 18, 2026 25m

If you have $1 million saved for retirement, how long will it last? We put this question to the test with four different spending scenarios, and the results might change how you think about your…

S2E224 224. How New Tax Laws Actually Affect Your Retirement Plan

Jan 11, 2026 23m

In July of 2025, Washington passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, and it's changing retirement tax planning in ways most people haven't heard about yet. If you plan proactively, these changes could…

S1E223 223. The Retirement Ready Checklist: 9 Moves to Make Before You Retire

Jan 05, 2026 22m

If retirement is starting to feel real, there are important decisions that need to be addressed before that final paycheck.In this episode, we walk through our Retirement Ready Checklist, a 9-step…

S1E222 222. The One Big Beautiful Bill Explained for Retirees

Nov 30, 2025 22m

The One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) is one of the most significant tax updates in recent years—and for retirees, it’s not just about what changed, but how it affects real-world decisions. From a new…

S1E221 221. How The One Big Beautiful Bill Affects Retirement Taxes | Explaining the New $6,000 Senior Deduction

Nov 23, 2025 25m

New tax legislation can unlock opportunities—or create surprises—if you don’t understand the fine print. In this episode, we walk through the One Big Beautiful Bill and how key provisions could…

S1E220 220. Retirement Milestones By Decade | Decisions to Make In Your 50s, 60s, and 70s

Nov 09, 2025 26m

Every stage of life brings new financial milestones, and retirement is no different. From your 50s through your 70s, there are decisions you will make that can significantly affect your confidence,…

S1E219 219. What You Need to Know Before Enrolling in Medicare (Fact or Fiction)

Oct 29, 2025 19m

Is it true you have to enroll in Medicare at 65 even if you're still working? Will Medicare cover all of your health care needs? What actually happens if you enroll late? There’s a lot of confusion…

S1E218 218. How to Start Planning for Retirement (Halloween Pt. 2)

Oct 27, 2025 24m

In this Indiana Jones–inspired episode, we return to the Cave of Question to tackle one of the biggest challenges facing those 55 and older: How do I start planning for retirement?It’s easy to feel…

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Retiring Today have?

Retiring Today has published 256 episodes since September 2019, covering topics in Business, Investing.

Is Retiring Today still active?

Retiring Today is currently highly active with new episodes weekly. Average episode length is 28m.

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