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The Rob Berger Show

Rob Berger

Personal finance for smart people by the host of the Dough Roller Money Podcast. Rather than forcing you into a one-size-fits-all financial plan, we discuss the tools, resources, and strategies that will empower you to make the best money decisions for you and your family.

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Yesterday · 18 min
RBS 258: Has AI Changed the Stock Market for Good? (FQF)
This week on Five Question Friday (FQF): Question 1: Has AI fundamentally changed the stock market, and does market history still matter? Question 2: If you retire a few years before claiming Social Security, how does the 4% rule apply during that gap? Question 3: If you roll a long-held Roth 401(k) into a brand-new Roth IRA, do you still have to wait five years to withdraw earnings? Question 4: Can you use traditional IRA funds to pay for long-term care and deduct the cost? Question 5: Can you build a fixed 50/50 portfolio by splitting money between Vanguard's 40/60 and 60/40 LifeStrategy funds? Resources mentioned in the episode: Schwab on the Roth 5-year rules: https://www.schwab.com/learn/story/wh... IRS Publication 502 (Medical and Dental Expenses): https://www.irs.gov/publications/p502 Vanguard LifeStrategy Funds: https://investor.vanguard.com/investm... Boldin (retirement planner): https://go.robberger.com/boldin/yt-fq... ProjectionLab: https://go.robberger.com/projectionla... Join the Newsletter. It's Free: https://robberger.com/newsletter/?utm...
#257
Tuesday · 23 min
RBS 257: Are Bonds Dead in 2026?
Cash has outperformed bonds for more than a decade. This outperformance has caused many to wonder if they should give up on bonds and put all of their fixed income into cash. In this episode, we'll look back over the past 100 years to see when cash has outperformed bonds, and when bonds have outperformed cash. Then will apply this to a 60/40 portfolio to see what we should be doing today in 2026. Join the Newsletter. It's Free: https://robberger.com/newsletter/?utm...
#256
August 18 · 23 min
RBS 256: 5 Ways to Optimize Your Retirement Plan (and Pay Less in Taxes)
Can a few straightforward tax moves actually improve your retirement plan? In this episode, I take one retirement plan and optimize it, then put the optimized plan next to the base plan so you can see exactly what changed and by how much. ProjectionLab: https://go.robberger.com/projectionla... Newsletter subscribes can get a promo code for 10% off. Join the Newsletter. It's Free: https://robberger.com/newsletter/?utm...
#255
August 11 · 7 min
RBS 255: Warning: Don't Fall For This 'Rob Berger' Scam
Scammers are sending emails pretending to be me. In this episode, I explain several fake Rob Berger email addresses listeners have reported, along with examples of the messages being sent. Some of them start with a friendly note about a YouTube comment. Some pitch questionable investment opportunities. Some try to move the conversation to WhatsApp or Telegram. One even claims a 10% weekly return. My only real email address is: rob@robberger.com If you receive an unexpected email from another address claiming to be me, it is not me. I will not track down your email from a YouTube comment. I will not send you an unsolicited investment opportunity. I will not ask you to move a conversation to WhatsApp, Telegram, the phone, or any other messaging app. The purpose of this video is simple: be careful, check the sender, and do not reply to these messages. If you receive one from a Gmail account, you can report it to Google. I included the reporting link below. Resources mentioned in the video: Gmail abuse report form: https://support.google.com/mail/conta... Gmail phishing help: https://support.google.com/mail/answe... Join the Newsletter. It's Free: https://robberger.com/newsletter/?utm...
#254
August 7 · 18 min
RBS 254: Is The Market Too Expensive To Invest?
Sam and his wife are two years from early retirement, sitting almost entirely in cash because they think the market is too overvalued to buy. Here's why waiting for the obvious crash is harder than it looks, and a no-forecasting plan to get from all-cash to a portfolio you can actually hold. Resources in Video Boldin: https://go.robberger.com/boldin/yt-ma... ProjectionLab: https://go.robberger.com/projectionla... Note: if you subscribe to my free newsletter (link below), be sure to use the 10% discount code for ProjectionLab Shiller CAPE ratio: https://www.multpl.com/shiller-pe SGOV (iShares 0-3 Month Treasury ETF): https://www.ishares.com/us/products/3... Join the Newsletter. It's Free: https://robberger.com/newsletter/?utm...
#253
August 4 · 20 min
RBS 253: Bonds vs. Bond Funds: Does Holding to Maturity Actually Protect You?
Are individual bonds safer than bond funds? After my last video on cash versus bonds, a lot of you pushed back with the same argument: with an individual bond or a bond ladder you can hold to maturity and get your money back, and a bond fund can't do that. In this video I put that idea to the test with real numbers. I start with the one thing we have to understand first, the difference between a bond's maturity and its duration. Duration is what tells us how much a bond or a bond fund moves when interest rates change. Then I look at how the funds actually did. Vanguard's Total Bond Market (BND) and an iShares 7-10 year Treasury ETF both got hit hard in 2022. Next we look at a single 10-year Treasury from the start of 2022, the kind you can hold to maturity, and track what really happened to it once you factor in inflation. Join the Newsletter. It's Free: https://robberger.com/newsletter/?utm...
#252
July 31 · 27 min
RBS 252: Fidelity vs. Vanguard: Which Is Better for Your Cash? (FQF)
This week on Five Question Friday (FQF): Question 1: Is Fidelity or Vanguard the better place to keep your cash? Question 2: Is a 1.25% AUM fee reasonable? Question 3: What's the best way to preserve capital once you're in your 70s? Question 4: Should your cash bucket be a fixed dollar amount or a percentage of your portfolio? Question 5: Is it safe to share your personal finances with AI? Join the Newsletter. It's Free: https://robberger.com/newsletter/?utm...
#251
June 26 · 53 min
RBS 251: Will AI Replace Me and My YouTube Channel? (FQF)
Resources in Episode Morningstar: https://go.robberger.com/morningstar/... Fidelity Article: https://www.fidelity.com/viewpoints/r... Kitces Article: https://www.kitces.com/blog/retiremen... Spend Safely in Retirement Article: https://robberger.com/spend-safely-in... Fidelity HSA App: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/fidelit... Join the Newsletter. It's Free: https://robberger.com/newsletter/?utm...
#250
June 19 · 34 min
RBS 250: Will the SpaceX IPO Crash the Stock Market? (FQF)
This week in Five Question Friday (FQF): mega IPOs, sequence of returns risk, RMDs from a bonds-only IRA, Roth conversions after 59 1/2, and VT versus VTI plus VXUS. Question 1: Will the giant IPOs coming in 2026 drain money from the market and depress stock prices? Question 2: Is 20% to 30% in bonds enough protection against sequence of returns risk? Question 3: If you move your IRA entirely into bonds, will RMDs force you to sell bonds when they're down? Question 4: If you're over 59 1/2, why not make every IRA withdrawal a Roth conversion? Question 5: Is "VT and chill" costing you 0.7% a year compared to holding VTI and VXUS separately? Resources mentioned in the video: SpaceX IPO pricing: https://www.npr.org/2026/06/11/nx-s1-... S&P 500 buyback data: https://www.spglobal.com/spdji/en/cor... Money market fund assets: https://www.ici.org/research/stats/mmf Bengen's original 1994 paper: https://www.financialplanningassociat... Kitces/Pfau rising equity glidepath: https://www.kitces.com/blog/should-eq... IRS RMD FAQs: https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/... IRS Publication 590-B (Roth and IRA distribution rules): https://www.irs.gov/publications/p590b RMDs come out before conversions: https://irahelp.com/new-rule-all-ira-... The two Roth 5-year rules: https://www.kitces.com/blog/understan... The VT vs VTI/VXUS articles in question: https://princetonasset.com/2026/05/25... Elm Wealth on VT vs VTI/VXUS: https://elmwealth.com/vt-vs-vti-vxus/ Bernstein on the rebalancing bonus: https://www.efficientfrontier.com/ef/... Foreign tax credit basics: https://www.bogleheads.org/wiki/Forei... Join the Newsletter. It's Free: https://robberger.com/newsletter/?utm...
#249
June 17 · 17 min
RBS 249: Is Dave Ramsey Right About Beating the S&P 500?
In today's video we discuss if we should try to find investments that consistently beat the S&P 500. Resources From Video • You Can’t Win With Money While Your Life I... https://www.spglobal.com/spdji/en/res... https://www.morningstar.com/funds/xna... https://www.morningstar.com/funds/xna... https://www.morningstar.com/etfs/arcx... Join the Newsletter. It's Free: https://robberger.com/newsletter/?utm...
#248
June 12 · 27 min
RBS 248: Is a Stock Market Crash Inevitable and How Should We Prepare? (FQF)
In today's Five Question Friday (FQF) video, we cover these questions: 1. Is the market inevitably going to crash, and how to mitigate 2. When to take SS and investing the early payments 3. Should we even bother tracking portfolio performance? 4. How to calculate how much money you need to retire comfortably 5. Why retirees still need an emergency fund Resources From Video Open Social Security: https://opensocialsecurity.com/ FI Calc: https://ficalc.app/ Boldin: https://go.robberger.com/boldin/yt-fqf Empower: https://go.robberger.com/empower/yt-fqf Snowball Analytics: https://go.robberger.com/snowball-ana... Join the Newsletter. It's Free: https://robberger.com/newsletter/?utm...
#247
May 29 · 15 min
RBS 247: 4 Golden Rules for Avoiding Financial Scams (FQF)
In today's Five Question Friday (FQF) episode, we cover these questions: 1. Four golden rules for avoiding financial scams 2. Finding and canceling forgotten subscriptions 3. Sharing passwords and 2FA with your spouse 4. Finding trustworthy help managing finances in old age 5. Are debt consolidation services legitimate? Resources From Video FTC Avoiding and Reporting Scams: https://consumer.ftc.gov/scams ReportFraud.ftc.gov — If you encounter a scam, report it here to help law enforcement stop scammers. IdentityTheft.gov — If you think a scammer has your personal information, this site walks you through recovery steps. Rocket Money: https://go.robberger.com/rocket-money... Monarch Money: https://go.robberger.com/monarch-rob5... (Use code ROB50 for 50% off the first year's subscription) 1Password Families: https://go.robberger.com/1password/yt- AADMM Find a DMM Directory: https://secure.aadmm.com/ Nolo's Guide to Daily Money Managers: https://www.nolo.com/legal-encycloped... NFCC Agency Finder: https://www.nfcc.org/agency-finder Consumer Financial Protection Bureau - Credit Counseling Guide: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-c... Join the Newsletter. It's Free: https://robberger.com/newsletter/?utm...
#246
May 27 · 14 min
RBS 246: I Tested ChatGPT for Finance Against My Budgeting App — Here's What I Found
In today's episode, we discuss the following: 1. ChatGPT for Finances 2. A free version 3. Whether this is the end of budgeting apps Resources From Video ChatGPT Prompt: Create a beautiful dashboard that shows me my spending by category, a pie chart that I can click on to show which transactions make up that category, and identify any suspicious transactions and also any recurring expenses. Really make the dashboard really pretty. Join the Newsletter. It's Free: https://robberger.com/newsletter/?utm...
#245
May 22 · 26 min
RBS 245: How many years of "safe funds" should you hold beyond guaranteed income? (FQF)
In today's Five Question Friday (FQF) video, we cover these questions: 1. How many years of "safe funds" should you hold beyond guaranteed income? 2. Reducing portfolio risk in retirement when returns aren't needed 3. Budgeting app that syncs the Sam's Club Mastercard 4. Does the 4% rule account for pre-tax vs. after-tax assets? 5. Should you only sell stocks when the market is at record highs? Resources From Video Budgeting Apps: https://robberger.com/best-budgeting-... Monarch Money: https://go.robberger.com/monarch-rob5... (Promo code: ROB50) https://www.wallstreetcourier.com/spo... https://www.morningstar.com/economy/w... https://www.monarch.com/connection-st... https://robberger.com/research/asset-... https://www.kitces.com/blog/the-impac... Join the Newsletter. It's Free: https://robberger.com/newsletter/?utm...
#244
May 18 · 22 min
RBS 244: How One Retiree Used the Bucket Strategy to Generate $241,098 in Extra Wealth
In today's video, we answer the following question: Can the bucket strategy help you generate income and grow your wealth in retirement, even as you're spending money to live on? Retirement Manifesto Articles First Article: https://www.theretirementmanifesto.co... Second Article: https://www.theretirementmanifesto.co... Join the Newsletter. It's Free: https://robberger.com/newsletter/?utm...
#243
April 24 · 29 min
RBS 243: The Floor & Enjoy Retirement Strategy (FQF)
In today's Five Question Friday (FQF) video, we cover these questions: 1. Floor & Enjoy Retirement Strategy 2. Target Date Funds 3. Paying Taxes on Roth Conversions 4. Vanguard’s New BondBuilder ETFs 5. Boldin vs. Empower Resources From Video Empower: https://go.robberger.com/empower/yt-fqf Boldin: https://go.robberger.com/boldin/yt-fqf https://longevity.stanford.edu/wp-con... https://robberger.com/spend-safely-in... https://fundresearch.fidelity.com/mut... https://fundresearch.fidelity.com/mut... https://advisors.vanguard.com/tax-cen... https://investor.vanguard.com/investo... Join the Newsletter. It's Free: https://robberger.com/newsletter/?utm...
#242
March 6 · 25 min
RBS 242: The One-Page Financial Plan Every Spouse Needs (FQF)
In this Five Question Friday (FQF) video, we cover these questions: 1. How to teach your significant other to manage the investments? (The Spouse Financial Survival Kit) 1. Start with a One-Pager a. Accounts b. Key Professionals c. Withdrawal Order d. Financial Overview Doc: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1W... 2. Financial Love Letter https://docs.google.com/document/d/1q... 3. Review the documents once a year 2. When to Take RMDs? 1. Timing doesn’t change amount (the amount is based on balance at end of last year) 2. RMDs must come before Roth conversions a. https://obliviousinvestor.com/rmd-tim... 3. Take QCDs first if you plan to have them count toward RMDs 4. If needed for spending, take as needed (monthly or quarterly) 5. If not, wait until later in the year 3. How can I see the stocks owned by a target date retirement fund? Morningstar Investor: https://go.robberger.com/morningstar/ 4. How do you keep track of HSA expenses? https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/... 5. Why haven’t I done a Roth conversion yet? Join the Newsletter. It's Free: https://robberger.com/newsletter/?utm...
#241
February 17 · 19 min
RBS 241: A Look Inside My Simplified Investment Portfolio
In this episode, I'll answer the following question from a viewer: "I would like to ask if you can do a video on the current specific funds you are invested in? You did a video a while back about your 6 funds, but now you mentioned in a recent video that you simplified and are down to 3 or 4 funds. I was thinking of mirroring your 6 fund plan but now I see you have simplified, which is why I am asking if you can do a new video going over your new 4 fund plan." Join the Newsletter. It's Free: https://robberger.com/newsletter/?utm...
#240
February 6 · 32 min
RBS 240: Where Is the Best Place to Park cash Today? (FQF)
In today's Five Question Friday (FQF) video, we cover these questions: 1. Where is the best place to park cash today? 2. Should you invest or pay off student loans? 3. Are Schwab’s Target Date Retirement Funds a solid option? 4. When should you start spending your IRA money? 5. Should a TIPS ladder be part of a retirement portfolio? Join the Newsletter. It's Free: https://robberger.com/newsletter/?utm...
#239
February 3 · 25 min
RBS 239: The Ultimate Retirement Checklist
In this episode, we cover my Ultimate Retirement Checklist: 1. Healthcare 2. Start learning about Medicare 3. Understand IRMMA brackets 4. Track Expenses 5. Calculate Your Burn Rate 6. Calculate Your Guaranteed Income Ratio 7. Plan for large expenses 8. Plan when to take Social Security 9. Cash 10. Create a Tax-Efficient Withdrawal Strategy 11. Understand how investment withdrawals are taxed 12. Consider Roth conversions 13. Plan how to spend down your HSA 14. Simplify Accounts 15. Simplify Investments 16. Consider your asset allocation 17. End of Life Documents 18. Consider how to use your home equity 19. Consider using retirement planning tools 20. Protect your online accounts (financial, email, social) Join the Newsletter. It's Free: https://robberger.com/newsletter/?utm...

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