Retirement Quick Tips with Ashley

We talked about why inflation is so dangerous in retirement, how stocks can help you stay ahead of inflation, why dividend growth matters, how bonds behave in rising rate environments, and how tools like TIPS and I Bonds can fit into a broader strategy. We also talked about practical steps like reducing high-interest debt and managing spending more intentionally. Today I want to zoom out and talk about the bigger picture.

Yesterday I talked about TIPS and I Bonds—two investment tools designed to help offset inflation. But today I want to zoom out and talk about something just as important: the practical, everyday decisions that can help you fight inflation outside of your portfolio.

Today I want to talk about two tools that are often used specifically for inflation protection: Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities, or TIPS, and I Bonds.

Yesterday I talked about why stocks are one of the best long-term inflation hedges. But today I want to get more specific because not all stocks perform equally well during inflationary periods.

Today I want to talk about one of the best long-term inflation hedges available to retirees: stocks.

This week I'm going to talk about how retirees can build a portfolio that is better designed to withstand inflation. We'll cover stocks, dividend-paying companies, bonds, Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities, and practical steps you can take to protect your purchasing power.

The question of whether to stop saving for retirement before you actually retire is more nuanced than it might seem, but it is absolutely a legitimate planning strategy for the right person in the right situation.

If you're going to coast and stop contributing, make sure the number you're projecting to end up with at retirement is not the bare minimum. You want to build in a bigger buffer and a bigger safety net so that you could still retire even if the number ended up being less than projected.

Here's how I would approach answering this question.

Now let's talk about some reasons why you would seriously consider stopping contributions so close to retirement.

Before I get into why you would want to stop contributing or why that might make sense, I first want to talk about why you would want to continue contributing. For many of you -- and I would put myself in this boat as well -- it would be too scary to sit there and coast and say okay, I think I've built up enough, now I'm going to let compounding take me the rest of the way here to retirement. I like being in more control than that rather than relying on returns.

The point you can stop saving for retirement happens when your current portfolio is large enough that, even with no further contributions, it is projected to grow to your target retirement balance through compounding alone by your goal retirement date.

Did you know there comes a point when you're getting close to retirement that saving more every year or maxing out your 401k no longer matters?  When you reach the point of "coasting" to retirement, the annual returns far outpace your annual savings, making them a drop in the bucket.  For example, I have a client with a 3.5 million portfolio. He has a gain of about 8% this year, which translates to about $254,000 in gains. Any savings he might make on top of these gains, even if he's maxing out his 401k, are just a small portion of his overall dollars growing. Which begs the question - how do you know when saving for retirement becomes optional, and you can let the returns and math work in your favor and not stress so much about saving as much as possible?  So in this week's podcast, I'll talk about how to recognize when you can stop saving so hard for retirement & relax a little bit, what 'coasting' to retirement actually means, and why this phase can be one of the most freeing (and financially misunderstood!) stages of your retirement planning journey because it can help you achieve other important financial goals as well.

No matter how you feel about Trump - hate him, love him, or if you're among the 12 Americans who are totally indifferent to him, the new Trump accounts for kids are an incredible savings opportunity, and one that you don't want to pass up if you have minor children or grandchildren.  And if that child is eligible for the $1,000 seed contribution because they were born between 2025-2028, then it's definitely a no brainer. About 5 million Americans have already signed up for these accounts, and I will be enrolling all 5 of my own children before they go live on July 4th. And enjoying the free $1000 of seed money for baby number 5, arriving in June. So in this week's podcast, I'll be breaking down the key things you need to know about Trump accounts:  Who can and should sign up & fund these accounts  Why I like them better than other types of savings and investment accounts for kids  How to sign up Investment options  How to turn these accounts into millions for your kids or grandkids in retirement  

No matter how you feel about Trump - hate him, love him, or if you're among the 12 Americans who are totally indifferent to him, the new Trump accounts for kids are an incredible savings opportunity, and one that you don't want to pass up if you have minor children or grandchildren.  And if that child is eligible for the $1,000 seed contribution because they were born between 2025-2028, then it's definitely a no brainer. About 5 million Americans have already signed up for these accounts, and I will be enrolling all 5 of my own children before they go live on July 4th. And enjoying the free $1000 of seed money for baby number 5, arriving in June. So in this week's podcast, I'll be breaking down the key things you need to know about Trump accounts:  Who can and should sign up & fund these accounts  Why I like them better than other types of savings and investment accounts for kids  How to sign up Investment options  How to turn these accounts into millions for your kids or grandkids in retirement

No matter how you feel about Trump - hate him, love him, or if you're among the 12 Americans who are totally indifferent to him, the new Trump accounts for kids are an incredible savings opportunity, and one that you don't want to pass up if you have minor children or grandchildren.  And if that child is eligible for the $1,000 seed contribution because they were born between 2025-2028, then it's definitely a no brainer. About 5 million Americans have already signed up for these accounts, and I will be enrolling all 5 of my own children before they go live on July 4th. And enjoying the free $1000 of seed money for baby number 5, arriving in June. So in this week's podcast, I'll be breaking down the key things you need to know about Trump accounts:  Who can and should sign up & fund these accounts  Why I like them better than other types of savings and investment accounts for kids  How to sign up Investment options  How to turn these accounts into millions for your kids or grandkids in retirement

No matter how you feel about Trump - hate him, love him, or if you're among the 12 Americans who are totally indifferent to him, the new Trump accounts for kids are an incredible savings opportunity, and one that you don't want to pass up if you have minor children or grandchildren.  And if that child is eligible for the $1,000 seed contribution because they were born between 2025-2028, then it's definitely a no brainer. About 5 million Americans have already signed up for these accounts, and I will be enrolling all 5 of my own children before they go live on July 4th. And enjoying the free $1000 of seed money for baby number 5, arriving in June. So in this week's podcast, I'll be breaking down the key things you need to know about Trump accounts:  Who can and should sign up & fund these accounts  Why I like them better than other types of savings and investment accounts for kids  How to sign up Investment options  How to turn these accounts into millions for your kids or grandkids in retirement

No matter how you feel about Trump - hate him, love him, or if you're among the 12 Americans who are totally indifferent to him, the new Trump accounts for kids are an incredible savings opportunity, and one that you don't want to pass up if you have minor children or grandchildren.  And if that child is eligible for the $1,000 seed contribution because they were born between 2025-2028, then it's definitely a no brainer. About 5 million Americans have already signed up for these accounts, and I will be enrolling all 5 of my own children before they go live on July 4th. And enjoying the free $1000 of seed money for baby number 5, arriving in June. So in this week's podcast, I'll be breaking down the key things you need to know about Trump accounts:  Who can and should sign up & fund these accounts  Why I like them better than other types of savings and investment accounts for kids  How to sign up Investment options  How to turn these accounts into millions for your kids or grandkids in retirement

No matter how you feel about Trump - hate him, love him, or if you're among the 12 Americans who are totally indifferent to him, the new Trump accounts for kids are an incredible savings opportunity, and one that you don't want to pass up if you have minor children or grandchildren.  And if that child is eligible for the $1,000 seed contribution because they were born between 2025-2028, then it's definitely a no brainer. About 5 million Americans have already signed up for these accounts, and I will be enrolling all 5 of my own children before they go live on July 4th. And enjoying the free $1000 of seed money for baby number 5, arriving in June. So in this week's podcast, I'll be breaking down the key things you need to know about Trump accounts:  Who can and should sign up & fund these accounts  Why I like them better than other types of savings and investment accounts for kids  How to sign up Investment options  How to turn these accounts into millions for your kids or grandkids in retirement

No matter how you feel about Trump - hate him, love him, or if you're among the 12 Americans who are totally indifferent to him, the new Trump accounts for kids are an incredible savings opportunity, and one that you don't want to pass up if you have minor children or grandchildren.  And if that child is eligible for the $1,000 seed contribution because they were born between 2025-2028, then it's definitely a no brainer. About 5 million Americans have already signed up for these accounts, and I will be enrolling all 5 of my own children before they go live on July 4th. And enjoying the free $1000 of seed money for baby number 5, arriving in June. So in this week's podcast, I'll be breaking down the key things you need to know about Trump accounts:

Happy belated Mother's Day to all the mothers out there! The day this episode goes live, I'm on my way home from a weekend at the Oregon coast with my husband and kids, and the weather is supposed to be perfect. Playing on the beach, relaxing, and hoping that I don't have to do much on Mother's Day - exactly the kind of quiet, relaxing weekend I'm envisioning.  I hope your Mother's Day was just as lovely. And speaking of Mother's Day, I have a special announcement at the end of the episode, so make sure you stick around. So today I want to address something that comes up all the time: how do you invest new money without second-guessing yourself?

So the big takeaway here: You cannot time the market. You cannot know whether you will retire into a bull run or the next 1968. But that uncertainty does not have to be paralyzing, because the strategies in this series are not about predicting what happens. They are about building a retirement structure that can absorb the worst and still keep you on track.

If you have followed the strategies in this series, a market downturn does not just become survivable. It becomes an opportunity. This is the episode about playing offense when others are panicking.

Don't Retire With the Wrong Portfolio One of the most avoidable mistakes in retirement planning is carrying a growth-heavy, stock-concentrated portfolio right up to and into retirement. What worked when you were 40 and decades away from needing the money is a completely different risk profile at 62 or 65 when withdrawals are starting.

Don't Retire With the Wrong Portfolio One of the most avoidable mistakes in retirement planning is carrying a growth-heavy, stock-concentrated portfolio right up to and into retirement. What worked when you were 40 and decades away from needing the money is a completely different risk profile at 62 or 65 when withdrawals are starting.

The single most important thing you can do before and during retirement is ensure you have enough liquid, accessible funds to stop portfolio withdrawals when markets turn down. This episode breaks down the specific framework for doing that.

Most people think about investment risk in terms of averages. If your portfolio earns 7 percent on average over 30 years, you should be fine, right? Not necessarily. Sequence of returns risk is the danger that the timing of your returns, not just the average, can make or break your retirement.

Welcome to the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, your daily guide to preparing for and living your best retirement. I'm your host Ashley Micciche, and this week's topic is: What Happens If You Retire at the Wrong Time?

Welcome to the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, your daily guide to preparing for and living your best retirement. I'm your host Ashley Micciche, and this week's topic is: Your Tax Return Is a Goldmine - Don't Just File It and Forget It.

Welcome to the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, your daily guide to preparing for and living your best retirement. I'm your host Ashley Micciche, and this week's topic is: Your Tax Return Is a Goldmine - Don't Just File It and Forget It.

Welcome to the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, your daily guide to preparing for and living your best retirement. I'm your host Ashley Micciche, and this week's topic is: Your Tax Return Is a Goldmine - Don't Just File It and Forget It.

Welcome to the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, your daily guide to preparing for and living your best retirement. I'm your host Ashley Micciche, and this week's topic is: Your Tax Return Is a Goldmine - Don't Just File It and Forget It.

Welcome to the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, your daily guide to preparing for and living your best retirement. I'm your host Ashley Micciche, and this week's topic is: Your Tax Return Is a Goldmine - Don't Just File It and Forget It.

Welcome to the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, your daily guide to preparing for and living your best retirement. I'm your host Ashley Micciche, and this week's topic is: Your Tax Return Is a Goldmine - Don't Just File It and Forget It.

Welcome to the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, your daily guide to preparing for and living your best retirement. I'm your host Ashley Micciche, and this week's topic is: Your Tax Return Is a Goldmine - Don't Just File It and Forget It.

Welcome to The Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, your daily guide to preparing for and living your best retirement. I'm your host Ashley Micciche, and this week's topic is: The Top 10% of Retirees: How Much Is Enough?

Welcome to The Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, your daily guide to preparing for and living your best retirement. I'm your host Ashley Micciche, and this week's topic is: Oil, Iran, and a Rocky Quarter: Your Q1 2026 Market Debrief

It's Sunday and I'm wrapping up the week by summarizing this week's theme: The Hidden Tax Traps in Retirement  In case you missed any episodes this week…

This week's theme on the Retirement Quick Tips podcast is The Hidden Tax Traps in Retirement Today, I'm talking about the trap of social security taxes in retirement.  

This week's theme on the Retirement Quick Tips podcast is The Hidden Tax Traps in Retirement Today, I'm talking about the widow's penalty, which is when a surviving spouse goes from Married Filing Jointly to Single.

This week's theme on the Retirement Quick Tips podcast is The Hidden Tax Traps in Retirement Today, I'm talking about required minimum distributions. Talk to any retiree in their mid 70s with a large 401k or Traditional IRA balance, and you'll no doubt hear them grumble about their required minimum distributions, or RMDs.

This week's theme on the Retirement Quick Tips podcast is The Hidden Tax Traps in RetirementToday, I'm talking about IRMAA (Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount). It's an additional surcharge added to Medicare Part B and Part D premiums if you have higher income. IF you're single, IRMAA kicks in above $109k in income. If you're married, it kicks in above $218 of income.

This week's theme on the Retirement Quick Tips podcast is The Hidden Tax Traps in Retirement Today, I'm talking about 3 tax traps that most people tend to forget about: Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT)   

Welcome to The Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, your daily guide to preparing for and living your best retirement. I'm your host Ashley Micciche, and this week's topic is: The Hidden Tax Traps in Retirement No One Talks About

It's Sunday and I'm wrapping up the week by summarizing this week's theme: Fix My Portfolio

This week's theme on the Retirement Quick Tips podcast is fix my portfolio. I'm rating your real-life investment portfolios and sharing with you my perspective and suggestions.  Today's portfolio comes from Cecilia Age = 60 Time to retirement = just retired last month Allocation to stocks (54%), bonds (32%), cash (14%)

This week's theme on the Retirement Quick Tips podcast is fix my portfolio. I'm rating your real-life investment portfolios and sharing with you my perspective and suggestions.  Today's portfolio comes from Edward Age = 76 Time to retirement = just retired - wife is 62 and plans to continue working ~5 more years Allocation to stocks (63%), bonds (14%), cash (23%)

This week's theme on the Retirement Quick Tips podcast is fix my portfolio. I'm rating your real-life investment portfolios and sharing with you my perspective and suggestions.  Today's portfolio comes from Benjamin Age = 59 Time to retirement = retired, takes income from investment portfolio, and does part time consulting work Allocation to stocks (74%), bonds (23%), cash (2%), other (1%) - small amount in metals and bitcoin Portfolio concentrations = 1 volatile, untested tech stock = 23% of the portfolio