Risk Parity Radio

Hosted by Frank Vasquez

Business Investing

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Episodes

535

Latest episode

Aug 2026

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EN-US

About the show

Risk Parity Radio is a podcast about investing located at www.riskparityradio.com. RPR explores risk-parity style portfolios comprised of uncorrelated or negatively correlated asset classes -- stocks, selected bonds, gold, managed futures, and other easily accessible fund options for the DIY investor. The goal is to construct portfolios that are robust and can be drawn down on in perpetuity, and to maximize projected Safe Withdrawal Rates regardless of projected overall returns.

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August 19, 2026Episode 53440 min

Episode 534: An RPC Free Portfolio Organizer, Assorted Asset Questions, And How Risk-Parity Style Portfolios Alleviate Concerns About "High Market Valuations" By Design

In this episode we answer emails from Kelly and Jose (Joe). We discuss simple spreadsheet applications for organizing portfolios, review a planned risk-parity style portfolio, discuss issues with transitioning and international fund choices and proportions, and why you should not fear "high market valuations" because risk-parity portfolios already solve for that exact problem, unlike simplistic large-cap weighted portfolios. In fact, that is one of the main reasons risk-parity style portfolios make for better retirement portfolios with higher safe withdrawal rates. Links: Father McKenna Center Donation Page (please mention Risk Parity Radio in the comment section with your donation): Donate - Father McKenna Center Risk Parity Chronicles Free Portfolio Tracker and Explanatory Video: How to use the RPC Capital Efficient Portfolio Tracker Afford Anything Risk Parity Portfolio Blueprint: Afford Anything frank-vasquez-risk-parity-portfolio-BluePrint.pdf - Google Drive Jeremy Grantham on the Long-View Podcast: Jeremy Grantham ‘Almost Everything Looks More Attractive Than the US Equity Market’ - YouTube F. Vasquez EconoMe 2025 Slide Presentation: F. Vasquez EconoMe 2025 Presentation.pdf - Google Drive Breathless Unedited AI-Bot Summary: Retiring soon and staring at market charts that look “too high” can mess with your head, even if your plan is solid. We hear that anxiety loud and clear in today’s mailbag, and we respond with what actually helps: better visibility across accounts, clear asset allocation targets, and a process you can follow when emotions spike. First, we tackle the nuts-and-bolts problem almost every DIY investor hits: holdings scattered across IRAs, 401(k)s, and a taxable brokerage account. We share a simple way to track everything on one page using a Google Sheet that updates prices automatically, and we talk about how AI tools like Gemini NotebookLM can organize raw account statements into a clean spreadsheet, even adding details like unrealized capital gains. The point is not fancy software, it’s seeing your true portfolio mix so you can rebalance with confidence and avoid constant tinkering. Then we get into portfolio construction: equity levels that feel conservative vs aggressive in a risk parity style setup, when Treasury bond exposure may be on the high side, and how to think about diversifiers like gold (GLDM) and managed futures (DBMF). We also answer practical questions about VTI and VXUS, whether adding a dedicated growth fund matters, and how to split small cap value between AVUV and AVDV without over-optimizing. Finally, we address the big fear: what happens if you invest or rebalance near all-time highs right before retirement? We walk through why a diversified risk parity style portfolio can reduce peak-valuation risk, how safe withdrawal rates look when you test retirement start dates near major market peaks, and why a written execution plan often beats trying to time the perfect day. If this helped, subscribe, share the show with a friend who’s nearing retirement, and leave us a review on your podcast app. Support the show

August 16, 2026Episode 53338 min

Episode 533: Learning Some Things From Wes Gray, A Long-Term Correlation Matrix, A Listener's New Financial Practice, And Portfolio Reviews As Of August 14, 2026

In this episode we answer emails from Optimus Bill, Mark, and Drew. We discuss a paper about value factor investing from Wes Gray, Section 351 exchanges, how to stick with the horse your rode in on, a long-run correlation analysis of various assets, and a listener's new financial practice. And THEN we our go through our weekly portfolio reviews of the eight sample portfolios you can find at Portfolios | Risk Parity Radio . Links: Father McKenna Center Donation Page (please mention Risk Parity Radio in the comment section with your donation): Donate - Father McKenna Center Alpha Architect Value Factor Investing Paper: AA-JBISFactorInvesting22LongOnlyValueInvesting.pdf Interview of Wes Gray on Section 351 Exchanges and Other Topics: Episode 70: Dr. Wes Gray discusses the unique tax benefits of ETFs and other topics of interest, host Rick Ferri | Bogleheads On Investing Podcast Mark's Long-Term Correlation Matrix: correlation_matrix (Mark Figley Episode 533).xlsx - Google Sheets "Minimize Your Miss" Article: Minimize Your Miss – Portfolio Charts Drew's Money for Makers Book (Not An Endorsement -- Just A Favor For A Long-Time Listener): Book | Money for Makers by Drew Feldman, APMA® | WideFrame Wealth Breathless Unedited AI-Bot Summary: If your portfolio plan only works when stocks are soaring, it’s not a plan, it’s a mood. We take on a set of sharp listener questions that hit the heart of risk parity investing and modern portfolio construction: when does small cap value truly earn its keep, how should you think about equal-weighted value strategies, and why “liquidity” often matters more to institutions than to everyday ETF investors who rebalance a few times a year. Along the way, we share our core view that the growth versus value split can be more important than the large versus small split for long-term asset allocation. We also dig into an advanced but practical topic for the right person: Section 351 exchanges. If you’re sitting on highly appreciated legacy stocks or a concentrated inherited position, the promise of moving toward a diversified ETF structure without an immediate taxable event is compelling, but the real-world constraints are cost, complexity, and scale. We lay out what we know, who it tends to fit, and why most do-it-yourself investors are better served by simpler diversification steps earlier. Then we tackle the uncomfortable truth: diversification can feel like failure during long stretches when the SP 500 leads. We talk behavior, drawdowns, and why educated DIY investors still need a realistic expectation for underperformance in strong stock years. A listener-built 100-year correlation matrix reinforces the point, highlighting how Treasury bonds, gold, and especially managed futures can bring low or even negative correlation when stocks drop. We close with our weekly portfolio review, including performance snapshots and upcoming rebalancing trades in leveraged allocations. Subscribe for more clear, evidence-based investing talk, share this with a friend building a retirement portfolio, and leave a review so more DIY investors can find the show. Support the show

August 12, 2026Episode 53231 min

Episode 532: SBLOCs Vs. Margin Accounts, Jumping The Shark, And A Variable Withdrawal Strategy

In this episode we answer emails from Optimus Bill, Pete, and Andy. We discuss SBLOCs vs margin accounts for liquidity in retirement, what "jumping the shark" looks like in blog form and why its a bad idea for all involved, and a listener's endowment-inspired variable withdrawal strategy (that should work just find). Links: Father McKenna Center Donation Page (please mention Risk Parity Radio in the comment section with your donation): Donate - Father McKenna Center Interactive Brokers Margin Rates: Margin Rates and Financing | Interactive Brokers LLC Pete's "Firefly" Link: #firefly #serenity #malcolmreynolds #nathanfillion #captain #captainma... | TikTok Fonzie Jumps The Shark: Fonzie Jumps Shark Simpsons Jump The Shark: The Simpsons Jump the Shark Referenced SEC Disclosure: SPY2026/06/05 - ADV Form 2A - Google Docs Bonus Video On The Patterns of Deception of Shark Jumpers: Episode 532 Bonus: Biased Skepticism and Patterns of Deception In the FI Blogosphere Breathless Unedited AI-Bot Summary: Borrowing against your portfolio can feel like a magic trick: you keep your investments, skip selling, and still get cash when you need it. The trick only works, though, if you understand the rules. We break down a listener question on S-block loans (securities-backed lines of credit) versus margin loans, including how these products are structured, how SOFR-based rates show up in real pricing, and why brokers like Interactive Brokers can look dramatically cheaper than the big-name platforms. Then we dig into the detail that can flip the whole decision: taxes. Margin interest is often treated as investment interest and shows up on Form 4952, potentially landing as a Schedule A deduction. That can change your effective borrowing cost in a big way, especially in higher tax brackets. But does the same deduction apply to an S-block that is set up as a separate loan product? We talk through what we know, what we do not, and the exact question to take to your tax professional so you are not optimizing the wrong thing. From there, the conversation pivots to retirement planning, sequence of returns risk, and why a small allocation to gold keeps popping up in safe withdrawal rate research. We also share a candid take on what happens when personal finance commentary drifts from useful analysis into sensational accusations, and why that shift can be harmful to audiences trying to make calm, long-term decisions. We close by critiquing an endowment-style withdrawal rule designed to smooth spending while still responding to market performance, plus the real-life challenge every retiree faces: spending is not a straight line. If you want more episodes like this, subscribe, share the show with a friend who is nearing retirement, and leave a review with what question you want answered next. Support the show

August 9, 2026Episode 53135 min

Episode 531: Expressing Our Heartfelt Gratitude, Working With Asset Choice Constraints, And Portfolio Reviews As Of August 7, 2026

In this episode we respond to emails from Thirsty Horse, Joanne, Matt and Alan. We share our gratitude for our listeners and reflect on how a listener community can become one of the most meaningful outcomes of a long-term investing project. We also provide an update on the Top of the T-Shirt fundraising campaign for the Father McKenna Center. Next we answer two portfolio design questions about retirement drawdown constraints and how to fit them into the framework for portfolios with higher safe withdrawal rates. And THEN we our go through our weekly portfolio reviews of the eight sample portfolios you can find at Portfolios | Risk Parity Radio . Links: Father McKenna Center Donation Page (please mention Risk Parity Radio in the comment section with your donation): Donate - Father McKenna Center Charity Navigator Rating for The Father McKenna Center: Charity Navigator - Rating for Father McKenna Center Inc. Bengen "Richer Retirement" Sample Portfolio at Portfolio Charts: Richer Retirement Portfolio – Portfolio Charts Bill Bengen's "Richer Retirement" Content: Bill Bengen’s New Book | Charts & Tools for You Golden Ratio Compared with Version w/o Alternative Investments: Portfolio Backtester for ETFs and Asset Allocation | testfolio Afford Anything Risk Parity Portfolio Blueprint: Afford Anything frank-vasquez-risk-parity-portfolio-BluePrint.pdf - Google Drive Breathless Unedited AI-Bot Summary: A week where stocks jump 3% to 5% and gold pops more than 7% can feel like the market is daring you to change your plan. We don’t take the bait. We walk through what actually happened across major asset classes, why we still refuse to time markets, and how a diversified risk parity approach is designed to keep you steady when headlines and price moves get loud. We also start with something more important than portfolio math: the notes we received after my mom passed away, and what it means to build an audience that shows up for each other. From there, we share a progress update on our Father McKenna Center “top of the t-shirt” campaign, including matching funds, a Charity Navigator 100% rating, and a practical tip for tax-smart giving: donating appreciated shares can reduce capital gains while supporting a mission you care about. Then we get into two listener questions that hit the real world. First: if you’re in the retirement drawdown phase and you can only use stock and bond ETFs or index funds, what would we actually hold and why? We talk safe withdrawal rate research, the role alternatives play, and what you might use as imperfect substitutes (value tilt, REITs, utilities, even gold miners) when gold and managed futures aren’t on the table. Second: what if you’re investing from New Zealand with limited fund access and a tax drag on US ETFs? We lay out a decision process for finding value-tilted funds locally, evaluating managed futures costs, and avoiding expensive “solutions” that quietly erase the benefit you’re chasing. Support the show

August 6, 2026Episode 53043 min

Episode 530: Choosing Levered Funds (Gambling Problems!), Balancing Portfolio Goals And Trade-offs, And Fun With A ChatGPT Analysis

In this episode we answer emails from Eli, Optimus Bill, and James. We discuss variations in fund approaches for adding leverage, when fees are more likely to matter, what kinds of people and goals can benefit from risk parity style approaches, the trade-offs in lower and higher equity approaches (with a recent insight from Bill Bengen), and a ChatGPT analysis from a listener. Links: Father McKenna Center Donation Page (please mention Risk Parity Radio in the comment section with your donation): Donate - Father McKenna Center Catching Up To FI with Yours Truly: Are Bonds Dead?: Fixed Income Fundamentals (Part 1) | Frank Vasquez | Episode 229 Afford Anything Podcast #618: They Ran Out of Money. I Didn’t. Here’s Why. Afford Anything Risk Parity Portfolio Blueprint: Afford Anything frank-vasquez-risk-parity-portfolio-BluePrint.pdf - Google Drive FI Physician Article: How Withdrawal Rate Influences Diversifiers in a Risk Parity Portfolio Breathless AI-Bot Summary: You can build a portfolio that looks elegant on paper and still miss the only question that matters: what is this portfolio supposed to do for your life? We dig into listener mail that forces the issue, starting with a smart (and very specific) proposal to add leverage using return-stacked ETFs instead of daily-reset leveraged funds. We talk through what these products are trying to achieve, why “macroallocation” often drives the long-run behavior, and where the real uncertainty lives: rebalancing mechanics, limited history, and the practical cost of complexity. From there, we zoom out to risk parity in retirement. We answer whether there’s a minimum nest egg size to use a risk parity portfolio (spoiler: it’s not about size, it’s about goals), and why many people with very low withdrawal rates simply don’t need a portfolio engineered to maximize safe withdrawal rate. If you’re in the 0% to 3% withdrawal camp, you may have far more freedom than you think, and your asset allocation can optimize for something else entirely, like long-term growth, simplicity, or personal comfort. We also get tactical: Treasury STRIPS funds as a form of bond “pseudo-leverage,” how that can free up space for growth assets while keeping recession insurance, and how to think about minimum position sizes based on volatility instead of arbitrary percentage floors. Finally, we respond to a question about Golden Butterfly versus Golden Ratio style portfolios, sequence of returns risk, and whether a reverse glide path or bucket-style framing can help without turning your retirement plan into an overengineered project. If you like practical portfolio design, risk parity investing, safe withdrawal rate thinking, and clear tradeoffs around leverage, fees, and retirement asset allocation, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a friend who loves tinkering, and leave us a review with your biggest takeaway. Support the show

August 2, 2026Episode 52953 min

Episode 529: Handling Retirement Drawdowns, An RPR Portfolio With Large Cap Momentum, Investing In Your Health, And Portfolio Reviews As Of July 31, 2026

In this episode we answer emails from Luc, (from Quebec!), Nick, and Isaiah. We discuss surviving ugly drawdowns and bad decades, building a risk parity portfolio that still grows, momentum funds, avoiding fund hopping, and treating health like a real priority. And THEN we our go through our weekly portfolio reviews of the eight sample portfolios you can find at Portfolios | Risk Parity Radio . Links: Father McKenna Center Donation Page (please mention Risk Parity Radio in the comment section with your donation): Donate - Father McKenna Center Catching Up To FI With Ben Carlson: Risk & Reward: Stress Testing the Long Term Buy and Hold Strategy | Ben Carlson | 225 Portfolio Comparison Starting In 2000: Portfolio Backtester for ETFs and Asset Allocation | testfolio Portfolio Charts Heat Map Chart: Heat Map – Portfolio Charts Portfolio Charts Article: Minimize Your Miss – Portfolio Charts Afford Anything Podcast #618: They Ran Out of Money. I Didn’t. Here’s Why. Afford Anything Risk Parity Portfolio Blueprint: Afford Anything frank-vasquez-risk-parity-portfolio-BluePrint.pdf - Google Drive Breathless Unedited AI-Bot Summary: Imagine retiring into a market that refuses to cooperate. A listener asks the question most withdrawal rate debates dodge: could you keep taking inflation-adjusted withdrawals while your balance shrinks through a 2000-style lost decade, and what would make you cut spending in real time? We walk through how we think about drawdowns, sequence of returns risk, and why “toughing it out” is easier when the portfolio is built for multiple economic outcomes. That leads to practical stress testing: using historical analysis, TestFol.io, and Portfolio Charts heat maps to compare risk parity portfolios, a 60/40, and classic three-fund approaches under the worst start dates. We also share why Monte Carlo alone can be misleading if it relies on simplified assumptions instead of real historical regimes. Next, we tackle a portfolio construction email that hits a modern dilemma: can you be too diversified in a risk parity setup? We unpack a Golden Ratio-style allocation with US and international equity sleeves, small cap value, momentum funds, long-term Treasuries, gold, managed futures, and cash. We discuss when that mix makes sense for decumulation versus accumulation, how momentum can function as a growth proxy, and the one behavior that reliably breaks good plans: fund hopping. We end with a thoughtful note on the “life portfolio” many investors ignore: health. Exercise, consistency, convenience, and even medical support come up as we talk about aligning money decisions with longevity and day-to-day vitality. If this helped you think more clearly about retirement withdrawals, risk parity investing, and building a plan you can stick with, subscribe, share the show, and leave a review. Support the show

July 29, 2026Episode 52831 min

Episode 528: Our Annual Portfolio Rebalancings, Implementing A Sample Reverse Glide Path, And Thanking Our Listeners For Their Kindness And Generosity

We close season six by walking through our annual July rebalancings of the first four sample risk parity style portfolios and talking about their raison d'être. We also share a practical reverse glide path strategy that we plan to apply to the sample Golden Butterfly portfolio over the course of the next ten years, starting with this one. And we also thank our listeners for their kind words and generosity. Links: Father McKenna Center Donation Page (please mention Risk Parity Radio in the comment section with your donation): Donate - Father McKenna Center Michael Kitces Reverse Glidepath Article (listen to Episode 469 for more info on that): The Benefits Of A Rising Equity Glidepath In Retirement Breathless Unedited AI-Bot Summary: Rebalancing sounds boring until you realize it’s the moment your plan either stays real or turns into wishful thinking. We’re ending season six with our annual July rebalance across four sample portfolios, using actual target percentages, real fund lineups, and the same rules we follow every year to keep withdrawals and asset allocation from drifting. We start with the All Seasons Portfolio as a reference case for a very conservative risk parity style mix, then move into the Golden Butterfly where we add a twist: a reverse glide path. Instead of locking in a static stock percentage, we gradually step stock exposure higher over a decade by trimming the lowest-volatility sleeve, aiming to improve retirement resilience without turning the process into constant tinkering. Along the way we hit the practical why behind rebalancing: it quietly forces buy low and sell high when your emotions would rather do the opposite. From there, we lay out the Golden Ratio Portfolio and the simplest “cash bucket” management we know, designed to minimize trades and mental overhead while still keeping a diversified retirement portfolio. We finish with the Risk Parity Ultimate Portfolio, our educational kitchen-sink mix that includes Treasury STRIPS, preferred shares, managed futures, a long-short fund, gold, and a small bitcoin slice so you can see how volatile sleeves behave during a rebalance. If you want a clear, repeatable portfolio rebalancing process for retirement, safe withdrawal rate minded allocations, and a realistic look at diversified assets, hit play. Subscribe, share the episode with a DIY investor friend, and leave a review with the portfolio rule you want us to stress-test next. Support the show

July 22, 2026Episode 52732 min

Episode 527: Test Portfolios, Incorporating A Forced Cash Build-Up, Assets For Inflation, And An Update On Mom

In this episode we answer emails from The Nameless One, Jebenizer, and C.M. We discuss practice drawdown portfolios, an unusual deferred pension cash build-up situation and how to handle it, assets that benefit from inflation, and simple rules for contributions and rebalancing that reduce taxes and stress. And we share an update about Frank's Mom. Links: Father McKenna Center Donation Page (please mention Risk Parity Radio in the comment section with your donation): Donate - Father McKenna Center Rose Vasquez Memorial: Rose Vasquez Memorial Service July 15, 2026 Bigger Pockets Money Podcast #1: The Secret to a 5% Safe Withdrawal Rate | Frank Vasquez Bigger Pockets Money Test Risk Parity Style Portfolio: We Built a 5% SWR Retirement Portfolio Using Fidelity in 48 Minutes (Golden Ratio Portfolio) Afford Anything Podcast #618: They Ran Out of Money. I Didn’t. Here’s Why. Afford Anything Risk Parity Portfolio Blueprint: Afford Anything frank-vasquez-risk-parity-portfolio-BluePrint.pdf - Google Drive Slide Deck: Afford Anything Episode 618 RPR Basics Slide Deck.pdf - Google Drive Video Summary: Afford Anything Episode 618 Video Summary.mp4 - Google Drive Breathless Unedited AI-Bot Summary: A retirement portfolio is one thing on paper and something else entirely when you have to live with it. We start with a quick personal update, then jump into listener emails that turn risk parity investing into hands-on decision-making you can actually copy and test. Along the way, we talk about the “Top of the T-shirt” charity campaign and why we keep the show sponsor-free, then pivot into the kind of practical portfolio questions that show up right before retirement. One listener builds a $10,000 drawdown portfolio as a practice run while still in the accumulation phase. The rules are clear: rebalance annually, withdraw 5% of the original amount every year, increase that withdrawal by CPI, and do not save it. We dig into why this simple experiment is so effective for building confidence with withdrawals, rebalancing discipline, and the real emotions that come with spending from an investment account. We also connect it to the Golden Ratio portfolio concept and how diversified asset allocation can support higher safe withdrawal rates. Another listener has a rare situation: a deferred pension option that forces pension payments into a tax-deferred account earning a flat 4%, creating a growing cash-like allocation with limited liquidity. We explain how to treat that cash as part of the total portfolio right now, how it can change your stock and bond mix, and what to do when the funds become available. We also tackle inflation hedging for retirement planning, including why Treasury bonds suffer in inflation, how value stocks like property and casualty insurers can help, and why managed futures can be a powerful inflation hedge. If you like clear rules, real portfolios, and honest trade-offs, subscribe, share the episode with a friend, and leave a review so more do-it-yourself investors can find us. Start with this Description Support the show

July 12, 2026Episode 52648 min

Episode 526: Celebrating Your Generosity, Some Unusual Cowbell, Young Listener Correlation Questions, Investing A Windfall, And Portfolio Reviews As Of July 10, 2026

In this episode we answer emails from I Have No Name, Shellie, Midwest Nice, and Mr. Ed (a motley crew indeed!). We discuss some massively funny generosity to our Top of the T-Shirt Campaign for the Father McKenna Center, an odd small cap value fund in a 401(k) and the issues surrounding holding too much cash, how stocks and long-term treasury bonds can both rise while still showing negative correlation and how that relates to the Four Quadrant Model, and redeploying proceeds from the sale of real estate. And lutefisk. And THEN we our go through our weekly portfolio reviews of the eight sample portfolios you can find at Portfolios | Risk Parity Radio . Links: Father McKenna Center Donation Page (please mention Risk Parity Radio in the comment section with your donation): Donate - Father McKenna Center PMJAX at Morningstar: PMJAX – Portfolio – PIMCO RAE US Small A | Morningstar PMJAX Comparison: Asset Analyzer for ETFs, Stocks, and Funds | testfolio Portfolios With More and Less Cash Comparison: Portfolio Backtester for ETFs and Asset Allocation | testfolio S&P500 and LT Treasury Bond Comparison: Asset Analyzer for ETFs, Stocks, and Funds | testfolio The Four Quadrant Model Exquisitely Explained With Illustrations Inspired By Vermeer: The Four Quadrant Wealth Atlas.pdf - Google Drive Four Quadrant Model Video: Understanding Correlations and Diversification Using the Four Quadrant Model Breathless Unedited AI-Bot Summary: A listener spots a new “small cap value” option in a 401(k) and asks the question most DIY investors eventually face: how do you tell what a fund really is when the plan uses a custom name and no ticker? We walk through a practical, repeatable research process using an AI chatbot (Gemini or ChatGPT) to find the closest public equivalent, then confirming style exposure and performance on Morningstar and Testfol.io. Along the way we discuss what “micro” exposure can mean, why “perfect” isn’t required inside a restrictive plan, and how you can still build a solid risk parity-style asset allocation with the tools you have. Then we tackle the comfort blanket that can quietly cost you money: cash. We explain cash drag, why holding 25% in cash can act like you’re not investing a quarter of your portfolio, and why bucket strategies don’t magically solve sequence of returns risk just by relabeling accounts. We also dig into tax-efficient investing and asset location, including why taxable cash interest can be brutal in retirement and when it may make sense to reposition assets between taxable and retirement accounts. A father writes in with his son’s surprisingly sharp question about bond stock correlation: if stocks go up over time and long-term Treasury bonds are negatively correlated, do bonds usually go down? We answer with long-run data, show why both can rise while still diversifying each other, and point to specific regimes like 2000 to 2010 versus 2022. We also field a real-world planning scenario on investing property sale proceeds while keeping ACA premium tax credits in mind by managing MAGI, before wrapping with our weekly portfolio review across the eight sample portfolios (VOO, QQQ, VIOV, GLDM, VGLT, PDBC, PFFB/PFFV, DBMF and more). Subscribe for more practical risk parity investing guidance, share this with a friend who’s stuck in a confusing 401(k), and leave a rating and review so more DIY investors can find us. Support the show

July 8, 2026Episode 52543 min

Episode 525: Guiding Young America's Teachers, Assessing Academic TIPS Ladder Nonsense, And Checking Out A Cat Bond ETF

In this episode we answer emails from Ethan, Joe, and Jim. We discuss a plan for young teachers to reach early financial independence with the right accounts and a little encouragement, the peculiar benefits of 457s and Roth contributions, a critical read of an academic article about an impractical TIPS ladder strategy, and the real-world problems with 30-year TIPS ladders, including complexity, tax issues, and longevity risk. We also discuss catastrophe bonds as an asset class and and why the new ILS ETF looks expensive and underwhelming at the moment And we touch on our fund raising campaign for the Father McKenna Center. Links: Father McKenna Center Donation Page (please mention Risk Parity Radio in the comment section with your donation): Donate - Father McKenna Center ChooseFI Teacher Podcast: The Unfair Financial Advantage of Teachers | Ep 13 ARVA TIPS Ladder Article: Full article: The Only Other Spending Rule Article You Will Ever Need Breathless Unedited AI-Bot Summary: A 457(b) can be the difference between “retire early” and “wait it out,” and we dig into why. We start by answering a detailed email from a young pair of teachers building wealth with a golden ratio portfolio while trying to bridge the years before age 59.5. We talk through tax buckets, account access, and what actually matters when you have Roth IRAs, taxable brokerage money, HSAs, employer plans, and the unique early-withdrawal rules of a 457(b) after you separate from service. Then we switch gears to retirement drawdown strategies and put a popular “spending rule” article under cross-examination. We walk through the assumptions behind ARVA and a 30-year TIPS ladder approach, why ultra-variable withdrawals may be unrealistic, and why complexity does not automatically equal safety. If you care about safe withdrawal rate research, inflation protection, and building a portfolio that can handle real life, you will hear exactly where the paper breaks down and what we would focus on instead. We wrap with a listener question on catastrophe bonds and the Brookmont Catastrophic Bond ETF (ILS). Cat bonds can look like the perfect uncorrelated alternative asset on paper, but fees and implementation details matter. If you’re building a diversified risk parity style asset allocation, we explain where cat bonds might fit, why this ETF doesn’t yet, and what we’d watch going forward. Subscribe, share this with a friend who’s planning early retirement, and leave a review so more DIY investors can find the show. Support the show