Successfully Retired
Join Financial Advisor Hamilton Brandenburg and Guests as they talk all things retirement planning. Subscribe today and learn more about my firm at https://brandenburgfs.com
Join Financial Advisor Hamilton Brandenburg and Guests as they talk all things retirement planning. Subscribe today and learn more about my firm at https://brandenburgfs.com
Episodes

Mar 25, 2025
Mar 25, 2025
25 min
Think you know your estate plan? Take a listen as Attorney Meredith Ditchen-Oakley of Woodstock GA and I discuss some of the big things that people are mistaken about when it comes to executing their estate plan.
Learn more about Meredith at www.ditchenlaw.com and be sure to check out my website at www.brandenburgFS.com

Mar 18, 2025
Mar 18, 2025
17 min
Have you heard of a reverse mortgage?
Maybe someone told you a horror story. Maybe your neighbor got one and loved it. Maybe you saw Tom Selleck on TV talking about them. Well if you'd like to learn the truth about what they are and how they work without being sold, be sure to give a listen to this interview with Jake Droge, a lender who works in the reverse mortgage space.

Mar 11, 2025
The Most Unappreciated Retirement Account
Mar 11, 2025
Mar 11, 2025
19 min
Today I talk about what I think is the most unappreciated retirement savings account: The taxable brokerage account.
While most people have heard the benefits of the Roth IRA or the 401(k), far too few retirees I've met saved as much as they'd benefit from in a taxable brokerage account.
Listen in as Rick and I discuss:
What a taxable brokerage account is
How they work
How (when used right) they can help retirees take advantage of the tax code to make their dollars stretch further.
To learn more visit https://brandenburgfs.com

Mar 4, 2025
Mar 4, 2025
42 min
In today's episode Rick Luchini and I interview William Bengen - the financial planner who discovered the "4% Safe withdrawal rule" that answered the question "How much can I withdraw from my investments without running out of money?" based on historical research.
In our chat we talk about what the retirement landscape was like when Bill first pioneered his research, the biggest risks Bill sees retirees facing today, and how he's updated his approach over the years. Bill also talks with us about how this has lead to another research project for him - his upcoming book "A Richer Retirement: Supercharging the 4% Rule to Spend and Enjoy More." Listen in to hear more about retirement income planning and learn more about my firm at www.brandenburgFS.com

Feb 25, 2025
Feb 25, 2025
11 min
What type of account should I choose for my kid's or grandkid's college expenses?
What happens if they don't use all the money in their 529?
This is a question I get pretty often, from clients as well as from friends at dinner and other parents at the playground.
In today's episode I walk through the 3 most popular account types I see in my practice for saving for your kid's education, as well as some of the pros, cons and trade-offs of each.
To learn more, visit https://brandenburgFS.com

Feb 18, 2025
Feb 18, 2025
19 min
Today I join my friend and fellow financial advisor Rick Luchini as we talk about the 3 most common questions we get from people who want to pull the trigger on retirement.
Join us as we dig into:
- Strategies for bridging the Medicare gap if you retire under 65
- How we like to frame the conversation around "How much can I take out of my investments?"
- A controversial approach to Social Security Claiming
As well as a bonus, the one thing people are NOT asking:
"How do I plan for taxes in retirement?"
Learn more about Rick and myself at our websites:
www.luchinifinancial.com
www.brandenburgFS.com

Feb 11, 2025
Feb 11, 2025
23 min
Have you ever hit a brick wall discussing money with your significant other? Have you ever noticed your own financial behavior patterns and wondered why you repeat the same actions over and over again, despite trying not to?
In this episode of Successfully Retired, Hamilton interviews Joy Slabaugh, a former financial planner turned therapist specializing in financial therapy. They discuss how emotions and psychology play a crucial role in financial decision-making, often more than the numbers themselves. Joy explains how financial therapy helps individuals and couples navigate money-related stress, improve communication, and align their financial goals. She also shares a simple exercise to uncover hidden emotions about money and offers insights on handling financial conflicts in relationships. Tune in to learn how understanding your financial mindset can lead to a healthier, more fulfilling financial life.
Learn more about Joy's practice at https://www.joyinliving.life/
Connect with Brandenburg Financial at https://www.brandenburgFS.com

Feb 4, 2025
The Tax Time-Bomb for Large IRAs
Feb 4, 2025
Feb 4, 2025
19 min
Today I chat with fellow Financial Advisor Rick Luchini on the 2000 lb gorilla for large IRA owners: Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) and Taxes.
Listen in as we discuss:
1. What RMDs are2. How they can drive up taxes if not planned for
3. The ecosystem of other parts of retirement they affect
4. How to give money to charity from your IRA tax-free
5. How Roth Conversions work, and how to determine how much to convert each year.
Learn more at www.brandenburgfs.com



