SensiblePortfolios

08/21/2025

You saved $4 million for retirement, but you’re still unsure how much you can safely spend. So you assume retiring early isn’t possible.

Join Lena as she walks through Karen and Mark’s retirement case study to reveal what their true spending power looks like.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITNlSo17I6g&t=41s

Karen and Mark are in their early 60s with a $4 million retirement portfolio. While they’ve done a great job saving for retirement, like many retirees, they’...

06/04/2025

A common retirement planning question: Should You Draw Your IRA to Delay Social Security?

Here is Lena's take on it. She'll walk you through a case study retirement planning example to illustrate how we approach this question at SensiblePortfolios.

Timing Social Security is a key retirement decision, but it's often made in isolation. Many retirees overlook how IRA withdrawals fit into the picture or how...

04/30/2025

Question: My wife, a retired teacher with a pension of $5000 a month, turned 62 in September last year. Could she claim her benefit now and then convert to a higher spousal benefit in 2028 when I turn 67?

Answer: When your wife files for benefits, she will be deemed to be filing for all the benefits she is entitled to at that time. If she files now, she is not yet eligible for spousal benefits (based on your earnings record) since you have not started collecting your retirement benefits. In 2028, when you file at age 67, she would then be eligible for a spousal “top-off” amount if her own benefit amount is less than the spousal amount.

Send a message to learn more

02/03/2025

Are you making the most of your HSA? 🤔💰

Most people think of a Health Savings Account (HSA) as just a way to cover medical expenses—but it can be a secret weapon for retirement too.

Watch Lena’s latest video to learn how to maximize your HSA in retrirement 👇👀

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bed4ANdBuUc

Are you making the most of your Health Savings Account (HSA) for retirement planning? In this video, Lena reveal's how smart retirees are optimizing their HS...

12/11/2024

The scariest part of retirement planning? Not knowing what you don’t know.

Learn how retirees fall victim to this costly 401k rollover mistake.

Everyday investors are losing thousands in retirement savings—all because of this often overlooked 401k blunder. Watch the full video to learn how you can av...

11/01/2024

In 30 seconds: Lena explains how smart investors think about the stock market. 💪

Becoming a better investor starts with understanding the market.How?Once you understand the stock market, you can handle its ups and downs with more confiden...

09/19/2024

Before you make a backdoor Roth conversion - you NEED to know these two things!

Understand the pro rata rule and the importance of filing IRS form 8606.

Watch Lena's latest video to learn more...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hB50D9J7Qug&t=186s

If you earn too much to contribute directly to a Roth IRA, a backdoor Roth IRA might seem like the perfect workaround. But before you jump in, there are two...

09/05/2024

This single number can make or break your retirement.

Understanding it is the key to living your retirement with confidence instead of fear.

Do you know what it is?

Watch Lena's latest video to find out. 👇

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxtDSAfZO24

08/30/2024

Five Hidden Secrets of Smart Investing Revealed

Hey friends, 👋

Have you ever wondered why your investment portfolio seems so... complicated? 🤔

Well, after 30 years of managing money as a CPA, I’ve learned a few things that might just surprise you. Here are some insider secrets that could change the way you think about investing forever:

Secret 1: Stock Brokers Love Complexity
Did you know that stock brokers often make your portfolio complex to justify their high fees? It's true! They create a maze of investments that seem sophisticated but are often unnecessary.

Secret 2: High Fees Compound Over Time
High fees are not just a small issue—they’re a compounding problem that grows exponentially over time. Imagine losing a significant chunk of your returns just because of hefty fees!

Secret 3: Simplicity is Key
Investing doesn’t have to be rocket science. In fact, it should be simple and easy to understand. The more you get it, the better decisions you can make.

Secret 4: The Power of One-Fund Portfolios
Believe it or not, a one-fund portfolio can be more prudent than owning multiple funds. Simplicity can often lead to better control and clarity.

Secret 5: Too Many Funds? Time for a Change
If you have 10 or more funds in your portfolio, it’s likely time to find a new advisor. An diversified yet straightforward strategy can often yield better results.

Investing smartly doesn't have to be complicated or stressful. If your portfolio feels like a tangled web, let's chat! I'm here to help you simplify and maximize your returns.

Drop a comment or send me a message if you want to make your investment journey a whole lot easier!

Stay savvy, Darrell

08/20/2024

Thinking about a backdoor Roth IRA because your income is too high?

Not so fast.

This strategy isn't for everyone.

Click the link in the comments to read up on two important factors you need to think about first.

07/19/2024

How High Can You Jump?

At age 70 would you rather box jump 30 inches or take a 2 week trip to Paris?

Yes this is a silly question, but it drives home the point that you don't need as many financial assets to enjoy retirement when you are healthy.

06/17/2024

A new client came over from Wells Fargo last week. Their portfolio at Wells held 22 mutual funds or ETFs. What is that about?

High-fee advisors prefer complexity over simplicity because it helps justify their fee.

Unfortunately, this Wells portfolio under-performed its benchmark by a whopping 2.68% annually for 13 years. (This performance data was calculated by Wells Fargo.)

Retail investors do much better if they work with a low-fee advisory firm that offers simple and easy-to-understand investment solutions. Simplicity delivers the returns you need for a successful retirement.

Please schedule a phone call with me. I look forward to connecting. Darrell