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The Bucket Plan®: Protecting and Growing Your Assets for a Worry-Free Retirement

Jason L. Smith

3.74 · Rating details · 54 ratings · 14 reviews

Worry less. Plan more.

Do you want a secure retirement, free from worry, stress, and confusion? The Bucket Plan is a must-read book for anyone serious about creating a practical and sensible financial plan for his or her retirement years. The financial planning process outlined in this book is based on a three-bucket philosophy of strategically positioning assets to plan ...more

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Published August 29th 2017 by Greenleaf Book Group Press

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· 54 ratings · 14 reviews

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Jun 25, 2017 Nancy rated it it was amazing

Shelves: first-reads, finance, self-help

When I won this book through goodreads, I was afraid it might turn out to be a sales pitch for some sort of investment. It is not. The book is accessible to those without a lot of financial knowledge and really does a good job of living up to its title. I am retired and believe I have a decent financial plan for myself. Even though I have planned for retirement for many years and have made a point of not having all my eggs in one basket, Jason Smith alerted me to several possible problems, mostl ...more

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May 24, 2018 Maryalene rated it liked it

As a freelance personal finance writer, I have interviewed Jason Smith in the past for some of my articles and received a complimentary copy of The Bucket Plan.

This is a tough one to review because I think the content is, without a doubt, five stars. However, the style and readability come in at one star for me.

First, the content: While I have seen some people say the book offers nothing new, I have interviewed literally hundreds of financial planners over the years on retirement topics and only As a freelance personal finance writer, I have interviewed Jason Smith in the past for some of my articles and received a complimentary copy of The Bucket Plan.

This is a tough one to review because I think the content is, without a doubt, five stars. However, the style and readability come in at one star for me.

First, the content: While I have seen some people say the book offers nothing new, I have interviewed literally hundreds of financial planners over the years on retirement topics and only a handful has espoused anything similar. So I do think Smith can claim to have a unique method of planning.

I loved that this book included a discussion of sequence of returns risk which is something that seems to be missing, or glossed over, in many personal finance books. I also appreciated all the charts and examples provided throughout the book. Those made it simple to see how to put the plan into practice.

Now, as for the style...the book is written so that it takes you through The Bucket Plan process with two of Smith's real-life clients, Jerry and Irene. The vast majority of chapters are written as conversations between Smith, Jerry and Irene. I'm assuming these conversations were recreated as they don't sound natural. Chapter Two, which outlines the basics of The Bucket Plan, was particularly difficult as it was 30 pages of straight dialogue.

While I appreciate what Smith was trying to do here -- create a relatable example of the plan in action -- I think the book would have been much more readable if it had been written in an informational style with client anecdotes sprinkled in. I love the first chapter which was written in a voice speaking directly to readers. However, I got bogged down once the narrative switched to conversations with Jerry and Irene.

My only other quibble with this book is that it would have been nice to have more discussion about how to set up your buckets (i.e. is a regular savings account the right place for the now bucket, does the soon bucket need to be a completely separate account from the later bucket, etc.). I also wish there were printable sheets available for those who want to DIY their own plan, but I can understand that the author would probably rather have readers use a financial planner.

Overall, I would highly recommend this to anyone doing retirement planning -- especially those age 55+ -- I think the content is top-notch even though the style was not to my liking. ...more

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Aug 26, 2017 Gina rated it really liked it

Shelves: first-reads, money-business, non-fiction

I received this book as a First Read. It's an eye opening book that will strike fear into you and spur you to prepare for retirement. The book makes excellent points about not just looking at annual rates of return for investments but realizing how timing, distributions, and sequence of withdrawals affects the ending balance of investments. The book emphasizes the importance of having Now, Soon, and Later buckets to have adequate funds for immediate expenses while hedging against inflation and m ...more

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Jul 07, 2017 Jill rated it liked it

Focus on what you want, when you want it, and plan to achieve it are the overarching goals for this book on planning for retirement. The content has the usual look at assets, expenditures, and making sure partners understand their financial position. Six sections cover the money cycle, Bucket Plan™ philosophy, asset questionnaire, income cap assessment, volatility tolerance, and design the Bucket Plan™. He provides several examples and worksheets. A majority of the statistics quoted throughout t ...more

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Jul 20, 2017 Suzanne rated it it was amazing

I received The Bucket Plan by Jason Smith from Goodreads Giveaways.

The Bucket Plan can be used by anyone. Very helpful with great ideas. This book is not a sales pitch.

The Bucket Plan consists of 3 buckets. They are now, soon, and later. Follow the money cycle of accumulation, preservation, and distribution. This book will help you be ready for planned and unplanned expenses throughout your life. You will learn how to create an Asset Sheet. Then you will answer the questions for the Income Gap ...more

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Jul 17, 2018 Bill Boehner rated it did not like it

I found this book be mostly a marketing device for his approach to managing retirement funds. It is a bit self serving. He sets up stress scenarios that his methodology addresses. Some of it is common sense. Some of it is basic. Nothing earth shattering here. His way is better and different from everyone else’s. It’s not really.

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Feb 12, 2018 Sue rated it it was ok

I had high hopes for this one. Love to read economics finance and anything money guiding in nature. It starts off strong but the telling is tedious and eventually reader figures out this guy has nothing new or special to offer. I did read every word though! (kept hoping the magic would spring upon the page).

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Mar 07, 2018 Janice rated it it was amazing

Shelves: novel, self-help, financial

Excellent resource. This short, engaging, easy to understand little book is geared for the soon to be or newly retired, yet the information and planning strategies are great financial education tools for all ages. One of the best financial planning resources I've run across. ...more

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Aug 22, 2017 Amanda Crumley rated it really liked it

Shelves: giveaways

I received The Bucket Plan by Jason Smith from Goodreads Giveaways. Great book, Will read over amd over with my husband for our retirement plans !!

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Aug 13, 2019 Anthony Orso rated it liked it

Great content, solid arguments and good planning tools. I did not care for the style of writing and wish it spoke to the specific investment vehicles that could be used with each bucket.

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