Full Show: 10-Step Checklist BEFORE You Retire and How Spending Money in Retirement Actually Works | Clark Howard Video
Ready to retire? Fiduciary financial advisor Wes Moss walks you through the essential 10-point checklist you should complete before leaving the workforce. Also, Wes breaks down the often-confusing topic of spending money in retirement. How do you actually access your funds, and what's the smart way to manage different account types? Learn the strategic way to tap into your different retirement "buckets" to make your money last and minimize taxes.
Plus, Christa shares your #AskWes questions and Wes gives his take. All this and more on the May 27, 2025, Ask an Advisor episode of the Clark Howard podcast. Submit your questions: link
Learn more about Wes: link
00:00 - Intro
01:10 - 10-Step Checklist BEFORE You Retire
11:57 - Ask an Advisor – When is it safe to retire early and start spending what we’ve worked so hard to save? Is it worth paying a financial advisor when we already invest in index funds? (Brian in Colorado)
18:25 - Ask an Advisor – What’s the best way to shift from aggressive to conservative investments without a huge tax hit? (David in Massachusetts)
22:18 - Wes Stinks - Ask an Advisor – Why Wes is wrong about apples—and which one really deserves the crown (Mike from Denver)
25:46 - How Spending Money in Retirement Actually Works
34:20 - Ask an Advisor – Are we foolish to rely on dividends and high-yield bonds for extra retirement income? (Joe in Florida)
39:33 - Ask an Advisor – When does it make sense to invest in tax-exempt bond funds like VTEAX or VTEB? (Akshay in North Carolina)
42:09 - Ask an Advisor – Should I switch fully to Roth 401(k) or keep a mix with traditional? (Kevin in Illinois)
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