PODCAST · education
Leibel on FIRE
by Leibel Sternbach, EA & Freddie Bell
The Financial Independence and Retirement show dedicated to helping you build the life of your dreams, as fast as possible, with as little stress as possible
Episodes
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The “321 Stress Test” for Retirement: Taxes, Volatility, Drawdown, and Where Income Should Come From
Leibel explains the annual “321 stress test” as reviewing where you are today, projecting the future, and stress-testing that future against key retirement risks, especially drawdown (market losses and taxes), inflation, and longevity. He emphasizes examining what is decreasing portfolio...
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The 3/21 Retirement Plan: Buckets, Down Markets, and Avoiding Sequence of Returns Risk
Freddie Bell interviews Leibel Sternbach of Yields4You about the 3/21 retirement plan and how retirees can pay bills without selling investments during down markets. Sternbach explains “3” as three time-horizon buckets: a short-term near-cash bucket designed to limit losses to about 5%, a second...
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Stagflation Risk: Why 60/40 Failed in 2022, Bond Volatility, and Hedging for What’s Next
The episode discusses stagflation and whether a repeat of 2022—when both stocks and bonds fell—could happen again, and what that means for traditional 60/40 portfolios. Leibel explains how rising Fed interest rates mechanically push bond prices down, why many bond funds were “stuck” by their...
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Social Security Trust Fund 2032 Explained + Stagflation Risks for Retirees
The episode examines headlines claiming Social Security is “running out,” explaining the trust fund’s projected depletion around 2032 and what that actually means for benefits. Guest Leibel Sternbach says Social Security won’t drop to zero if Congress does nothing; instead, checks could fall to...
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Downside Protection Products Explained: Counterparty Risk, Structured Notes, Buffered UITs, and CDs
The episode compares downside-protection tools and how much they rely on an institution’s solvency. It explains that flex options cleared by the Options Clearing Corporation reduce counterparty risk, market-linked CDs provide FDIC-insured principal protection up to $250,000, and buffered unit...
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How Buffers, RILAs, and Structured Notes Can Limit Downside While Staying Invested
Leibel Sternbach of Yields4You explains how downside-protection strategies use option-based contracts to trade limited upside for defined protection, including how buffers work when markets fall beyond the buffered amount. He describes buying downside protection and offsetting its cost by selling...
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The Only Real Hedge Against Market Volatility: How Options Work Like Insurance
The episode explains that the primary way to protect against major market declines is through contracts like those used by insurance companies—options—framed with a real estate analogy. Just as a homebuyer’s deposit secures the right to buy or sell a house at a set price by a certain date…
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Is Your Retirement Portfolio More Concentrated Than You Think?
Is Your S&P 500 Fund Riskier Than You Think? Protecting Your Retirement From Market Drops YouTube Description The S&P 500 may contain 500 companies, but that doesn’t necessarily mean your retirement portfolio is as diversified as you think. In this episode of Leibel on FIRE, Leibel Sternbach...
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The Real Roth Conversion Question: How, When, and Whose Tax Bill Are You Lowering?
Freddie Bell interviews Leibel Sternbach about his upcoming Amazon release, The 30-Day Roth Conversion Handbook, arguing the key Roth decision isn’t simply whether to convert, but how, when, and whose long-term tax bill to reduce (you, your spouse, heirs, or charity). Sternbach explains he wrote...
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Roth Conversions, Widow’s Tax Trap, and the SECURE Act: Leibel Sternbach on Who Benefits
Freddie Bell interviews Leibel Sternbach about Roth conversions and his new book, The 30-Day Roth Conversion Handbook, focusing on how planning affects spouses and heirs. Sternbach explains why surviving spouses can face higher taxes on less income due to narrower single tax brackets, the loss of...
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The Roth Conversion Mistakes That Could Cost You Thousands in Retirement
Leibel Sternbach discusses his upcoming Amazon book, The 30-Day Roth Conversion Handbook, explaining how it helps people decide whether a Roth conversion makes sense and how to execute conversions efficiently. He describes the key “levers” involved—timing and amount converted each year…
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The Roth Conversion Mistake That Could Cost You in Retirement
In this episode, Leibel Sternbach explains why the hardest part of Roth conversions isn’t deciding whether to convert, but figuring out how, when, and whose tax bill you’re trying to reduce. He shares that he wrote The 30 Day Roth Conversion Handbook to scale the one-on-one process he uses with...
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Roth Conversions in a Down Market: Smart Strategy or Costly Mistake?
The episode explains why market downturns can be an opportune time for Roth conversions by reframing taxes as inevitable and emphasizing timing—paying taxes when the account value is “on sale,” not at peak valuations. It cautions against converting without a plan, especially during peak earning...
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Should You Wait for Rate Cuts? Fed Uncertainty, Inflation Risk, and Safe-Income Strategy
The discussion focuses on whether investors should wait for the new Fed chair to lower interest rates before making major moves, noting that markets often price in expected Fed actions before they happen. As manager of the YFYA (yields4you Income Strategy A) ETF, the speaker explains the…
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SpaceX IPO: Should Retirees Buy In or Stick With Index Investing?
The hosts discuss headlines like a record-breaking SpaceX IPO and what they should mean for retirees, with guest Leibel Sternbach of Yields4U emphasizing that decisions depend on risk tolerance, time horizon, and ability to absorb losses. They explain how IPO shares are often pre-sold, but that…
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SpaceX IPO, Market Drops & Fed Uncertainty: A Simple Retirement Bucket Plan + Roth Conversion Timing
The episode discusses three attention-grabbing headlines—SpaceX’s upcoming IPO, a sharp one-day market drop, and uncertainty around a new Fed chair and interest rates—and argues retirees shouldn’t react impulsively to any of them. Leibel Sternbach of Yields4U explains why IPO outcomes and rate...
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Real Estate Inside an IRA: Smart Strategy or Retirement Tax Trap?
This episode explains what it actually takes to own real estate inside a retirement account and why the tax benefits come with strict IRS rules and serious penalties. Freddie Bell interviews Leibel Sternbach on using a self-directed IRA structure, the need for an entity to hold the property, and...
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Too Much of One Stock? Why It Could Put Your Retirement at Risk
Freddie Bell and Leibel Sternbach discuss when a single stock becomes too concentrated and a threat to retirement, balancing the wealth-building power of concentration with the need to diversify when a large position could jeopardize financial security if it drops sharply or goes to zero. They...
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VCX ETF Explained: Private SpaceX & AI Exposure, 89% Surge, and How to Invest Without Getting Burned
Freddie Bell interviews Leibel Sternbach about VCX, an ETF that recently surged 89% in five days and can swing 20% in a day, explaining that it offers everyday investors access to privately held shares like SpaceX and AI firms such as Anthropic and OpenAI. They discuss why VCX can trade far above...
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What a New Fed Chair Could Mean for Your Retirement
With Jerome Powell’s term as Fed chair ending in May, markets are pricing in a more dovish successor, raising uncertainty about how rate cuts might affect retirees’ income, bond prices, and mortgage decisions. Leibel Sternbach argues the biggest risk isn’t simply lower rates, but the perception...
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Money Market Yields Are Falling: What Retirees Should Do Before the Next Fed Cut
This episode explains why money market and cash yields have dropped from near 5% to around 3% as the Fed has cut rates since September 2024, creating challenges for retirees who planned around “safe” high-yield cash. Leibel Sternbach breaks down the Fed’s mandate and tools, how the overnight rate...
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The Retirement Risk Nobody Talks About Until It’s Too Late
Leibel Sternbach explains sequence of returns risk—how the order of market gains and losses becomes dangerous once retirees start withdrawing income. Using examples, he shows how early retirement downturns combined with withdrawals can compound losses, potentially causing a portfolio to fail even...
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Investing vs. Gambling in Retirement: Zero-Day Options, Leverage, and How to Know the Difference
This episode discusses a Wall Street Journal column by Jason Zweig warning that the line between investing and gambling has blurred, driven by trends like zero-day options, leverage, prediction markets, and shifting market dynamics since COVID. The hosts explain how retail participation and...
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Your Social Security Raise Just Disappeared. Here’s Why.
A 2.8% Social Security increase sounds like good news… until you realize it may already be gone. In this episode, Leibel Sternbach breaks down what’s really happening to your Social Security check in 2026 and why many retirees feel like they’re falling behind despite getting a raise. With…
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The #1 Retirement Mistake That Can Drain Your Savings Faster Than You Think
In this episode of Leibel on Fire, Leibel Sternbach and Freddie Bell break down sequence of returns risk—the hidden danger that can quietly destroy retirement savings even when markets recover. The problem isn’t just market losses. It’s what happens when you’re forced to withdraw money during…
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The Inherited IRA Trap That Could Cost You Thousands
Freddie Bell interviews Leibel Sternbach about the end of the IRS grace period on inherited IRAs and the risks for people who inherited after 2019 and haven’t taken required annual distributions. Leibel explains that unclear rules under the SECURE Act/SECURE 2.0 led the IRS to pause penalties for...
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Oil is Up and Markets Down: What Retirees Need to Do Right Now
With oil near $98 a barrel, a market drop, and uncertainty around a potential single Fed rate cut, LeBel Sternbach explains why retirees face outsized risk when withdrawals force selling depressed assets, turning temporary losses into permanent damage. He emphasizes that no one has a “crystal...
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5 Roth Conversion Mistakes That Can Cost Retirees Thousands
Freddie Bell interviews Leibel Sternbach on five Roth conversion mistakes that can cost retirees thousands. The biggest errors are assuming everyone should do Roth conversions and assuming how aggressively to convert (such as converting everything at once or targeting certain tax brackets)....
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3 Estate Planning Mistakes That Could Cost Your Family Everything
Most estate planning mistakes don’t show up until it’s too late. In this episode, Leibel Sternbach breaks down the three biggest estate planning mistakes retirees make — and how to avoid them before they quietly derail your legacy. You’ll learn: • Why outdated or missing beneficiary forms can...
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New Fed Chair, Lower Rates? What Retirees Need to Know Now
What happens to your retirement savings when interest rates change — and how could a new Federal Reserve Chair impact your financial future? In this episode of Leibel On Fire!, Freddie Bell sits down with portfolio manager and bestselling author Leibel Sternbach to discuss the potential…
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A Weaker Dollar: What It Really Means for Your Retirement
In this episode of 'Leibel On Fire,' host Freddie Bell and bestselling author Leibel Sternbach discuss the complexities of how a weaker US dollar impacts retirees. They explore how currency strength affects inflation, everyday expenses, and the cost of imported goods, emphasizing the importance…
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AI Investing: Are We Repeating the Dot-Com Bubble and 2008 Mistakes?
In this episode of Leibel On Fire, Freddie Bell talks with financial expert Leibel Sternbach about the current AI surge and its similarities to past economic bubbles like the dot-com crash and the 2008 financial crisis. They delve into the impact of these historical events on retirees and how...
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How to Enjoy Retirement Without Running Out of Money
Join financial advisor Leibel Sternbach as he explores the challenges retirees face in balancing enjoying life now while preparing for an uncertain future. This episode delves into estate planning, long-term healthcare, and financial strategies to help ensure a stress-free retirement. Leibel…
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Emerging Market Debt Is a Retirement Trap: The Venezuela Wake-Up Call
Emerging markets often promise higher yields, but those returns can come with hidden risks that retirees cannot afford to ignore. In this episode of Leibel on Fire, Freddie Bell and Leibel Sternbach break down the shocking capture of Venezuela’s president and what it reveals about the real…
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Market Crashes and Inherited IRAs
In this episode of Leibel on Fire, host Freddie Bell and Amazon bestselling author Leibel Sternbach flip the conventional wisdom of 'don't time the market' when dealing with inherited IRAs. They discuss how market downturns can be your greatest wealth-building opportunity by focusing on tax...
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Why Market Crashes May Be the Best Time to Act on an Inherited IRA
You’ve heard it your whole life: Don’t time the market. But when it comes to inherited IRAs, following that advice blindly could cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars in unnecessary taxes. In this episode of Leibel on Fire, Leibel Sternbach explains why market downturns can actually be one of...
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The Strategic Roth Conversion Playbook: How to Build a Tax-Free Legacy
What if you could leave your children a seven-figure inheritance—completely tax free? In this episode of Leibel On Fire, Leibel Sternbach reveals the Strategic Roth Conversion Playbook, a method designed to transform your traditional retirement accounts into a tax-free legacy for the next...
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Retirement Shield Strategy: Protect Your Future from Market Volatility
In this episode of Leibel on Fire, Leibel Sternbach breaks down the Retirement Shield Strategy—an approach designed to protect your lifestyle, your loved ones, and your long-term wealth from the unexpected. Discover how layered protection, time diversification, and smart planning can help you...
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Home Transfers, Taxes, and Inheritance
When a parent transfers a home to a child, it may feel like a simple title change—but the tax rules aren’t so simple. In this episode of Leibel on Fire, Leibel Sternbach breaks down what you really need to know: Do you need to report the transfer to the IRS? How do gift tax rules and lifetime...
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How to Unlock 0% Capital Gains in 2025
The proposed 0% capital gains rate for 2025 could be a game-changer for retirees. In this episode, Leibel Sternbach explains what the 0% capital gains bracket really means, who qualifies, and how you can take advantage of it. We break down income thresholds, tax planning strategies, and the…
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Navigating Roth Conversions and the SALT Deduction Cap for Retirees
Balancing Roth conversions with the $40,000 SALT deduction cap can be tricky for retirees—especially if you live in a high-tax state like California or New York. In this episode of Leibel on Fire, financial planner Leibel Sternbach breaks down how Roth conversions may reduce or even eliminate…
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Cut Taxes While Giving Back
In this episode of Leibel On Fire, Leibel Sternbach and Freddie Bell explore smart strategies for charitable giving in retirement. Learn how tools like Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs), appreciated asset donations, and donor-advised funds can reduce your tax burden, satisfy Required...
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Will Social Security Keep Up with Inflation?
Social Security benefits are tied to cost-of-living adjustments (COLA), but the way those adjustments are calculated may not reflect the true expenses retirees face. In this episode, Leibel Sternbach breaks down the difference between CPI-W and CPI-E, how they impact your retirement income, and...
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The Hidden $300K Retirement Expense You Can’t Ignore
Healthcare in retirement can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars—and Medicare won’t cover it all. In this episode of Leibel on Fire, Leibel Sternbach breaks down the real drivers of retirement healthcare expenses, why long-term care is the biggest financial risk, and how you can prepare before...
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The $6,000 Retirement Tax Break: What You Need to Know
If you’re 65 or older, you may be eligible for an additional $6,000 deduction that could lower your tax bill and stretch your retirement income further. But the media headlines are often misleading—this isn’t a simple “free money” giveaway. In this episode, retirement planning expert Leibel...
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Can You Trust the Fed?
This week on Leibel on Fire, bestselling author and financial planner Leibel Sternbach breaks down two massive events that shook the markets: the surprise firing of the Bureau of Labor Statistics Commissioner and growing political tensions with the Federal Reserve. What does this all mean for…
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The Retirement Mistakes that Shrink Your Nest Egg, Part 2
In this episode, retirement expert Leibel Sternbach explains why parking all your savings in cash or annuities can erode your purchasing power over time. Discover how his YFYA ETF and a simple three‑bucket strategy help you earn returns above inflation—without exposing your income to wild market...
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The Retirement Mistake That Shrinks Your Nest Egg | Pt. 1
Too many retirees “play it safe” by piling into cash or fixed annuities—only to watch inflation quietly erode their buying power. In this first installment of “The Biggest Retirement Mistakes”, Leibel Sternbach, CFP®, EA, and founder of Yields 4 U, explains: - Why cash loses value every year…
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The Hidden Costs of Annuities That Could Wreck Your Retirement
Are you unknowingly paying hidden fees on your annuity? In this episode of Leibel On Fire, financial expert Leibel Sternbach breaks down the costly pitfalls hiding inside many annuity contracts—including mortality and expense charges, surrender penalties, and expensive riders—that can quietly eat...
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Annuities Exposed!
Thinking about buying an annuity? You might want to listen to this first. In this episode of Leibel on Fire, Leibel Sternbach breaks down the hidden fees and contractual traps buried inside most annuity products—including mortality and expense charges, administrative costs, surrender penalties…
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Leibel on FIRE have?
Leibel on FIRE currently has 156 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Leibel on FIRE about?
The Financial Independence and Retirement show dedicated to helping you build the life of your dreams, as fast as possible, with as little stress as possible
How often does Leibel on FIRE release new episodes?
Leibel on FIRE publishes regularly with 156 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Leibel on FIRE?
You can listen to Leibel on FIRE on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Leibel on FIRE?
Leibel on FIRE is created and hosted by Leibel Sternbach, EA & Freddie Bell.
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