The Real Deal on Retirement: The Truth About Retirement Income Planning and Investing

by John D. VanWeelden

#1 AMAZON BEST SELLER

Reimagine Retirement : How to Create Stable, Increasing, Tax-Efficient, Lifetime Income

Gone are the days of traditional retirement planning. The idea that you can simply save a certain amount and retire with confidence is flawed, dangerous even, as it does not account for today’s volatile financial markets, increasing life expectancy, interest rates, and every individual’s unique retirement lifestyle needs. Drawing from his experience advising retirees through some of the most financially turbulent decades, VanWeelden doesn’t just offer another retirement guide—he challenges the conventional wisdom, revolutionizes the way we approach retirement, and cuts through the myths, hype, and propaganda to reveal the truth about retirement income planning and investing.

VanWeelden’s solution is simple and highly Truly reliable retirement planning is based on creating stable, increasing, tax-efficient, lifetime income, and, above all else, mitigating risk. Using this practical guide, you will identify how to generate all the income you’ll ever need while minimizing the various risks along the way. Whether you have an abundance of resources or you’re just hoping what you have will last a lifetime, this is your comprehensive road map to retire with unwavering confidence, unlock the full potential of your years of hard work, and achieve your retirement dreams.

Genres: Nonfiction, Business

292 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 8, 2024

Reviews

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won a digital copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway and it turns out I am not the target demographic. VanWeelden suggests this book for those who are retired or planning to retire in the next 5 years. Because retirement is not on the immediate horizon for me, many of the concepts he suggests are too far in the future for me to feel interested. I appreciate the introduction to some of these concepts early on, but I don't have enough practical experience to consider it in depth at this point in my life.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed listening to this audiobook. The layout of the chapters was well thought out and the information put together so that it is relatively easy to understand. I do think, however, that this is a book better purchased as a print copy, as I probably would have had quite a few pages flagged, highlighted, and noted.

Thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher for access to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

[Yaya · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Real Deal on Retirement: The Truth About Retirement Income Planning and Investing by John D VanWeelden
Narrated by Alex Hyde-White
Physical book was originally published in 10/2024
Audiobook is published on 2/4/2025

I was interested in this subject because I am getting to the point in my career where I might be considering retirement.
The author argues that retirement planning has changed wildly over past decades. He introduces overview of current retirement plannings in a very organized way. From chapter to chapter, it introduces ideas and common misconceptions about retirement in approachable ways using examples.

The book is targeted for people who might retire within next 5 years or so. I think this is an apt description given rules and regulations regarding taxes change all the time, as well as market conditions. Given such, I felt this target audience is apt and I might be a bit outside of it. Still, I found some of the information useful and thought-provoking.

Audiobook narration was wonderful and easy to listen to. However, there are a lot of references to tables and aforementioned link to the QR Code scanning for supplemental materials. This is the part that lost me - there is a constant reminder to scan QR code after each chapter (there are something like 16 chapters) . Unfortunately as a reviewer, I didn't have an access to this material and I have no idea how truly useful these materials might have been. This is a shame. I also felt this was way repetitive and self-promoting. I was turned off by it.

I received an advanced copy of this audiobook courtesy of NetGalley, Greenleaf Audiobooks and River Grove Books. Thank you! My opinions herein are my own.

[Gina T · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to Greenleaf for providing this book in a Goodreads giveaway.

I've read a lot of books and watched YouTube videos on retirement (but not VanWeelden's). I'm familiar with a lot of the concepts the author presented. I don't think the information is totally unique, but he focuses more on risk mitigation in retirement than other information I've reviewed. There are a few items I don't think I've read before: the first 10 years of retirement will dictate success or failure and that if the market is not in an uptrend when you retire, the traditional Modern Portfolio Theory will prove insufficient. (He's not a fan of MPT.)

He has a slightly different approach to bucket strategies than I've seen, but doesn't really indicate how to move funds between buckets. He also has a good chapter on annuities and doesn't seem to be opposed to them. However, given his focus on risk mitigation, I thought it was curious that there was not inclusion of criteria on evaluating insurance company stability and what happens if the company goes insolvent. (U.S. states may guarantee a portion of the annuity amount.) He does illustrate sequence of return risks and mentions importance of tax planning, with focus on using tax deferred money first.

All in all this is a pretty comprehensive and accessible book on retirement, but I would not rely solely on this book for retirement information.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to thank John D VanWeelden, author and Goodreads First Reads for the eBook Kindle copy of The Real Deal on Retirement: The Truth About Retirement Income Planning & Investing that I won in the Giveaway.

John D. Weelden's ideas on retirement are a common sense approach to retirement. One of the major points was to plan to retire with income flow for a lifetime rather then just an accumulation of assets and hope they last a lifetime. The advise to find an independent fiduciary advisor not associated with a bank, insurance company, investment company or other large organization that give goals to advisors to reach a quota of assets sold or number of clients that work on commission on your investments. Advisors working in such companies have a primary focus on how much they earn, they follow company formulas and talk about number needed for retirement, not about what your goals are for retirement. The third thing is his advise about the adjustment to retirement, how life styles change and to retire to do things you are interested in and not to just leave a job that isn't what you want to do anymore. In other works approach retirement with a positive attitude, communicate with your spouse on this and enjoy.

Lots of other information was given but these were the three points that I found most interesting, as a person that retired twelve years ago.

[Cole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ll start this review by disclosing that I am nowhere near retirement age but I’m on my own Personal Finance Journey™ and trying to prepare for a hypothetical future where I can retire comfortably. This book is best for those who are much closer to retirement, specifically those who would appreciate the knowledge on how to ensure your retirement money lasts for your lifetime in a way that is both tax-efficient and minimal risk. The author comes from a qualified background in taxes, accounting, and investing that afford him a particularly unique perspective. Even if the book is not specifically applicable to me in the immediate future, it’s still an informative, well-written and well-formatted book that I will definitely turn to when I get closer to retirement age.

The target audience is those who are either already retired or within 5 years of retirement.

Reviewed as part of #GoodreadsGiveaways Many thanks to River Grove Books and the author for the #gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Jodi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Greenleaf Audiobooks and NetGalley for the digital copy of this audiobook. Have not read his books before. I am not quite the demographic he is looking at those who are retired and/or about to retire in next 5 years. Van Weelden has a slightly different approach to bucket strategies, but doesn't really indicate how to move funds between buckets. He also has a good chapter on annuities and doesn't seem to be opposed to them. However, given his focus on risk mitigation, I thought it was curious that there was not inclusion of criteria on evaluating insurance company stability and what happens if the company goes insolvent. (U.S. states may guarantee a portion of the annuity amount.) He does illustrate sequence of return risks and mentions importance of tax planning, with focus on using tax deferred money first. All in all this is a pretty comprehensive and accessible book on retirement, but I would not rely solely on this book for retirement information.

[Lindy Dierks · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very quick very informative audiobook. It was better than what I thought it was going to be. It was well thought out and through with information. I'm not retiring any time soon, therefore I wasn't the target demographic for this book. A lot could change before I retire, but it really got me thinking and planning for my future. I thought the introduction to the author's concepts were helpful for the future. The only issue I had was that the book referred to tables and links that I didn't have access to because it was a review audiobook. I thought the narrator did a great job. I cold understand him perfectly. Huge thanks to Greenleaf Audiobooks and Netgalley for allowing me to listen and review this book.

This is a review of the audiobook.

[Bargain Sleuth Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Greenleaf Audiobooks and NetGalley for the digital copy of this audiobook. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

There's some interesting, if not wholly original concepts in this book about retirement planning. The author's big theme is on mitigating risks when you retire, stressing that the first ten years of retirement will be a benchmark on whether you will run out of money before you die.

I'm not sure this book will hit home with younger people who need to hear it, but this 50-something listener has a few more questions for their financial advisor now.

[Mindi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book through a Goodreads Giveaway. liked the way this book was formatted and the explanations the author took. It was a little frustrating to have to scan QR codes but overall the access to worksheets was good. I am not sure I’ll find all of this info useful but it’s a good starting point for those looking to better understand how to make it through retirement.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Real Deal on Retirement is a guide to income planning for retirement. It provides a good foundation for starting to plan for retirement, regardless of your age, by explaining different types of retirement plans and which might be best suited for your situation.

[Yvonne Pacheco]

Valuable information

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very informational book. It was hard for me to stay focused.

[Pamela Jo Mason · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is a LOT of information to absorb, but having access to John’s videos and documents made wading though all of this a little less daunting. However, I do have an Ace in my pocket, an uncle who is the family’s finance guy, Uncle Mike. He’s the one we go to for advice on which utility company to use, 491k questions, buying a house … As I was reading this book, I was able to highlight and write down a BUNCH of questions to go over with my Uncle Mike. I don’t want to have to work until I die, but I’m realizing I have a lot more work to do for the financial feasibility of retirement and hopefully it’s not too late. Good read!

- [ ] Disclaimer - I received this book as a Goodreads giveaway.