Our articles tackle the questions engineers and DIY investors ask most: How much does advice actually cost? Is the 4 percent rule safe? What does rebalancing really do? We walk through the math on Roth versus traditional accounts, analyze whether factor investing earns its fee, and show what can go wrong without a second set of eyes. Read about the topics that matter to your situation.
· 7-minute read
The Ritholtz Wealth Management Guide to Index Funds vs. a Financial Advisor
Take a retiree who runs her own three-fund portfolio: on $2.3M, her funds cost about $1,150 a year, while a 1% fee is $23K.
Open the article →· 9-minute read
Advisory fee on $1 million: put $833 a month to the test
Shortcut: a 1% fee on $1M is $10K a year, about $833 a month, while 0.5% is $5K, about $417 a month, so the advice must improve a tax, withdrawal, or claiming choice by more than that each year.
Open the article →· 8-minute read
Is the 4 percent rule safe for engineers about to retire?
A 57-year-old engineer planning to stop work at age 60 is already outside the first assumption.
Open the article →· 6-minute read
How does Ritholtz Wealth Management view sequence of returns risk in retirement?
Shortcut: when your first planned withdrawal is five years away or closer, park roughly two years of portfolio draws in cash and short-term bonds.
Open the article →· 7-minute read
How to set asset allocation at age 60 before paychecks stop
She needs $300K reserved for five years of withdrawals before anyone decides how much of the rest belongs in stocks.
Open the article →· 9-minute read
The mistake of thinking more funds means better diversification
Four funds do not automatically diversify a portfolio: two funds tracking much of the same U.S. stock market add names on a statement without adding much new exposure.
Open the article →· 6-minute read
Selling RSUs Before Retirement: The Ritholtz Wealth Management Checklist
Once employer shares exceed 20% of net worth, reduce that exposure before trying to fine-tune the sale for taxes.
Open the article →· 9-minute read
A bond tent before retirement, explained by Ritholtz Wealth Management
Five years from retirement, see how a bond tent before retirement can fund early withdrawals.
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DIY Investor Retirement Mistakes Ritholtz Wealth Management Sees
Subtract predictable income from annual spending, then divide what remains by 12 before choosing an account to sell.
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Questions for a fee-only advisor: test three retirement cash-flow years
Ask the advisor to write the first three retirement-year cash gaps: $84K of spending less $24K of income leaves $60K to fund in year one.
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What is factor investing for engineers nearing retirement?
The usual mistake is treating a historical premium as a free return; a 0.35% fund cost can consume a 0.30% assumed premium before taxes.
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How should Ritholtz Wealth Management compare Roth vs. traditional 401(k)?
The usual mistake is viewing the $24,500 2026 employee limit as two separate buckets; Roth and pre-tax deferrals share that single limit.
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How to use a retirement checklist for five years out
A portfolio total is not a paycheck; list each monthly bill five years out, then name the account or benefit that will cover it before changing investments.
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The 87% Monte Carlo retirement simulation mistake
The percentage can look precise while hiding the assumptions that matter: monthly spending, taxes, inflation, and the order of market returns.
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Rebalancing Bands vs. Calendar Dates: A Test on a $1M Portfolio
January arrives, the spreadsheet gets a fresh tab, and selling back to target feels disciplined.
Open the article →· 7-minute read
Health Insurance Before Medicare: Ritholtz Wealth Management's Math
COBRA generally lasts up to 18 months after employment ends and can cost up to 102% of the employer plan’s full premium, while traditional retirement-account withdrawals count toward marketplace income.
Open the article →· 8-minute read
IRMAA Planning Before 65 and the Two-Year Income Lookback
For 2026, Medicare uses 2024 MAGI; a single filer at $109K pays the standard $202.90 monthly Part B premium, while $119K falls into the $284.10 tier.
Open the article →· 6-minute read
Do I need a financial advisor? Test your $5K monthly gap
Compare a $5K monthly gap at three balances, then choose a scope of help.
Open the article →· 8-minute read
Engineers nearing retirement ask Ritholtz Wealth Management: Do market forecasts work?
See a $120K cash-reserve calculation and set sale dates with care.
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