Happy New Year! As we step into 2025, it’s time to reflect on the lessons of the past year and anticipate what’s ahead. In this episode, I take a deep dive into my 2024 market predictions—where I was right, where I went wrong, and the key takeaways to help guide your investment decisions moving forward.

The S&P 500 delivered a remarkable 23.8% return, Bitcoin soared by 121%, and interest rates shifted more than expected. How did these compare to my forecasts? I’ll share the details and insights that shaped last year’s performance. Then, we’ll turn our focus to 2025, where I outline predictions for major asset classes, the S&P 500, interest rates, and the ongoing battle between Gold and Bitcoin.

• [0:45] Happy New Year!
• [2:21] Prediction #1: The S&P 500 will have positive returns
• [4:58] Prediction #2: Growth stocks will lead the market
• [7:35] Prediction #3: Small caps would outperform large caps
• [9:35] Prediction #4: Gold would outperform bitcoin
• [11:42] Prediction #5: Domestic stocks would outperform international stocks
• [14:04] Prediction #6: We’d see two rate cuts and interest rates of 4.75%
• [16:28] My 2025 stock market predictions

• Retirement Readiness Review
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• Download my entire book for FREE
• Episode #183: 6 Market Predictions for 2024
• Episode #116: 7 Best Short-Term Investments To Grow Your Money
• SPDR® Portfolio S&P 500® ETF
• SPDR® Portfolio Developed World ex-US ETF
• iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF

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In this episode, I’m joined by Larry Swedroe, a thought leader in evidence-based investing and former Chief Research Officer at Buckingham Strategic Wealth.

Larry has authored over 18 books that have shaped the way people think about personal finance, and now, after 28 years in the industry, he’s sharing the most valuable lessons he’s learned in retirement planning and investing.

In this episode, we dive into his latest book, Enrich Your Future: Keys to Successful Investing. Through 40 captivating stories, Larry exposes the myths and misconceptions that many investors hold, often perpetuated by Wall Street, and replaces them with clear, actionable strategies.

From understanding how overconfidence derails financial success to learning how to balance risk as you approach retirement, this conversation offers invaluable guidance for anyone looking to achieve financial independence.

• [1:33] Larry’s process for writing a book
• [7:33] How the industry has embraced passive investing
• [17:19] Using tennis to explain the difficulties of active management
• [21:20] Why do we think we can outperform the market?
• [26:57] What approach is prudent for most people?
• [30:08] Should retirees focus on dividend-producing investments?
• [35:02] How to determine the amount of risk to take in your portfolio
• [39:23] Diving into the concept of indexed annuities

• Retirement Readiness Review
• Subscribe to the Retire with Ryan YouTube Channel
• Connect with Larry Swedroe on LinkedIn
• The Only Guide to a Winning Investment Strategy You'll Ever Need
• Think, Act, and Invest Like Warren Buffett
• Your Complete Guide to a Successful and Secure Retirement

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Happy Holidays and welcome to a special Christmas Eve episode of Retire with Ryan!

To celebrate the season, I’m embracing the holiday spirit with a financial twist on the iconic Christmas movie, Home Alone. This 1990 classic has become a Christmas staple, featuring young Kevin McCallister, who’s accidentally left behind while his family flies to Paris for Christmas vacation. Armed with creativity and courage, Kevin outsmarts two bumbling burglars with a series of clever traps before his family returns home.

But today, I’m looking at Home Alone through a different lens. As your financial advisor, I’ll break down the McCallister family’s finances. How rich were they? What would their stunning Chicago home be worth today? And what kind of jobs could support such a luxurious lifestyle?

With a budget of just $18 million, Home Alone has grossed nearly $500 million worldwide—and I’ve probably contributed to that total with how many times I’ve rewatched it! So, grab some eggnog, settle in by the fire, and let’s explore the McCallister family’s financial plan.

• [1:25] Sign up for my weekly newsletter and get a free chapter of my book!
• [3:19] How much is the McCallister house worth?
• [5:19] Calculating how much the McCallisters made
• [7:48] What did the McCallisters pay in taxes?
• [10:47] What was their cashflow?
• [13:13] College costs for a family of five
• [15:03] How much are they saving for retirement?
• [18:43] Did the family have life insurance?
• [19:36] The type of estate planning they had

• Retirement Readiness Review
• Subscribe to the Retire with Ryan YouTube Channel
• How Rich Were the McCallisters?
• Historical 401K Limits
• Details about Home Alone
• The McCallister House on Realtor.com
• Home Alone Fan Speculations
• A Brief History of the 401K

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How can an annuity help you secure income in retirement? Annuities often come with a reputation for being complicated, expensive, and overhyped—but they aren’t one-size-fits-all. The truth is, while they’re not the best solution for everyone, there are situations where they can provide the guaranteed monthly income some retirees need.

In this episode, I’m joined by Andy Panko, CFP®, RICP®, EA, and President of Tenon Financial. Together, we’ll cut through the confusion and explore when an annuity might actually be the right fit for your retirement strategy.

• [1:40] Two ways to generate income in retirement
• [3:07] Real-life scenario: When you might want an annuity
• [12:36] How an indexed annuity works
• [16:39] Do annuities have inflation adjustments?
• [20:13] Calculating the rate of return
• [23:42] Why a good financial advisor is important

• Retirement Readiness Review
• Subscribe to the Retire with Ryan YouTube Channel
• Tenon Financial
• Andy Panko on LinkedIn
• The 7 Myths About Indexed Universal Life Insurance
• ImmediateAnnuities.com
• Financial Planning Association
• Charles Schwab Income Annuity Calculator

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Last year, Americans donated $558 million to charities. 69% of those donations come from individuals. They also donated 4.1 billion hours to charities.

If you are someone making a donation to a charity, you need to know how they can help you reduce your taxes. One way to do that is through a donor-advised fund.

What is a donor-advised fund? How does it work? Should you consider using one for charitable giving? I’ll cover the details in this episode.

• [1:39] Sign up for my newsletter at RetireWithRyan.com
• [3:05] What is a donor-advised fund?
• [4:51] How is this different from other contributions?
• [5:51] Who should consider a donor-advised fund?
• [10:15] Who offers donor-advised funds?
• [11:05] Pros/cons of donor-advised funds
• [12:40] Additional benefits of using a donor-advised fund
• [13:27] How to choose the right charity
• [14:34] What are your next steps?

• Sign up for my newsletter at RetireWithRyan.com
• Retirement Readiness Review
• Subscribe to the Retire with Ryan YouTube Channel
• Charity Navigator
• Pros and Cons of Donor-Advised Funds

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What could a Trump White House and Republican-controlled Congress mean for your finances? In this episode, we break down the potential tax changes—from individual tax brackets to business deductions and state taxes—that could impact your bottom line. Tune in to understand the areas with low, moderate, and high potential for change and what steps you should consider if you live in a high-tax state.

• [1:19] Sign up for my weekly newsletter
• [2:28] Area of low potential for changes
• [4:25] Area of moderate potential for changes
• [10:05] Area of high potential for changes
• [14:18] What to do if you’re in a high-tax state

• Retirement Readiness Review
• Subscribe to the Retire with Ryan YouTube Channel

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How does Medicare Open Enrollment work? Do you need a supplement plan? How do you choose between a Medigap or Medicare Advantage plan? Navigating these questions can be overwhelming.

That’s why Danielle Roberts—co-founder of Boomer Benefits and the author of “10 Costly Medicare Mistakes You Can't Afford to Make”—joins me in this episode to help you avoid common pitfalls during Medicare Open Enrollment.

• [1:42] How Medicare open enrollment works
• [3:45] Do you need a supplemental plan?
• [5:13] How CMS changes impact plans
• [9:37] Comparing Medigap vs Medicare Advantage
• [12:41] The typical annual rate increase
• [15:21] How Medigap plans work when you move
• [16:12] When to choose a Medicare Advantage plan
• [19:34] How Medicare Part D works
• [21:38] How to choose between Medigap vs Advantage plans
• [24:06] How to choose a broker to work with
• [27:05] Start researching your Medicare options early
• [28:06] How to get a free copy of Danielle’s book

• Retirement Readiness Review
• Subscribe to the Retire with Ryan YouTube Channel
• 10 Costly Medicare Mistakes You Can't Afford to Make
• Boomer Benefits
• 2025 Medicare IRMAA Surcharge Updates, #228

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On November 8th, 2024, Medicare announced that in 2025, Medicare Part B will cost $185 per month per person—an increase of about $10.30 from 2024. Keep in mind, if your income is above a certain point, you’ll have to pay an “Income-Related Monthly Adjusted Amount,” or “IRMAA” tax. Is there a way to avoid paying the IRMAA surcharge? I share some strategies in this episode of Retire with Ryan.

• [1:25] How to get a FREE copy of “10 Costly Medicare Mistakes”
• [2:20] The cost of Medicare Parts A, B, and D in 2025
• [4:26] When you would pay a higher Medicare premium
• [8:32] What you can do to appeal the IRMAA Surcharge
• [10:02] What you can do to avoid the IRMAA Surcharge

• Retirement Readiness Review
• Subscribe to the Retire with Ryan YouTube Channel
• 2025 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles
• Form SSA-44: Medicare Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount

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