Episode Details

On Halloween Eve, Don takes four listener questions about starting young, retiring early, managing risk, and making the most of Social Security. The costumes may be spooky, but the answers are practical.

First, he weighs whether an 18-year-old without earned income should keep an Acorns account or move to a taxable brokerage account. Then he explains why someone retiring before 59½ may still benefit from pre-tax workplace contributions, with Rule 72(t) and Roth basis providing potential bridges.

Don also looks at how much investment risk makes sense when pensions and Social Security already cover most spending, and why delaying Social Security can be more valuable than reaching for income from a 10-year Treasury—especially for the surviving spouse.

01:00 Halloween Eve and today’s questions
03:58 Investing accounts for young adults
06:24 Taxable brokerage versus tax-deferred savings
09:05 Portfolio risk and when to claim Social Security
13:29 Treasuries versus delaying Social Security

Questions? Comments? Click!