The Rob Berger Show
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.
Episodes
231 episodes
RBS 231: Live Medicare Q&A With Ari Parker, JD
Get free guidance on Medicare from Chapter, a company I've partnered with, by calling 410-220-5494. If you call Chapter, please let me know about your experience.It's Not That Complicated https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Hqs4v7wLCjhh5oh...
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Episode 231
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2:08:19
RBS 230: Free Medicare Resources to Help You Pick the Best Plan for You (Part 3 of 3)
In this episode, we'll walk through resources you can use to get free help with Medicare. The Resources are broken into three categories:1. Free online educational content2. Free Medicare guidance from SHIP3. Free Medicare guida...
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Episode 230
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18:41
RBS 229: 7 Things to Know About Medicare Open Enrollment (Part 2 of 3)
In this episode, we'll walk through 7 things you must know about Medicare's annual open enrollment period.ResourcesIt's Not That Complicated (pdf): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Hqs4...Medicare & You 2026 (pdf): https://w...
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Episode 229
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9:47
RBS 228: Original Medicare or Medicare Advantage: Which Is Right for You? (Part 1 of 3)
In this episode, we'll walk through the key differences and pros and cons of Original Medicare vs Medicare Advantage plans.ResourcesIt's Not That Complicated (pdf): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Hqs4...Medicare & You 2026...
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Episode 228
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29:07
RBS 227: 3 Essential Tools to Evaluate Your Investment Portfolio
A viewer asked me to suggest some tools he could use to evaluate his investment portfolio and asset allocation. So in this video we looked at three of my favorite investment tools:1. Empower: https://go.robberger.com/empower/yt-3......
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Episode 227
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20:20
RBS 226: What Budgeting App is Best for Those With a Learning Disability? (FQF)
In today's Five Question Friday (FQF) video, we cover the following questions:1. What are the best finance apps for those with a learning disability?2. Is 3% SWR the new 4%?3. How do you model tax-free income in Boldin?4. In...
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Episode 226
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42:49
RBS 225: 8 Ways to Reduce Medicare IRMAA Payments
In today's video, we discuss how Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA) payments are calculated and 8 strategies to reduce or even eliminate the payments.Resources from the VideoReddit Forum Post:
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Episode 225
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20:21
RBS 224: What is the Tax Triangle? (FQF)
In today's Five Question Friday (FQF), we cover five great questions and one tax calculator:1. What is the Tax Triangle? (Traditional, Roth, and taxable accounts)2. Is the Withdrawal Amount in FICalc the same as spending?3. When...
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Episode 224
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29:04
RBS 223: How Bracket Filling Can Lower Your Tax Bill in Retirement
A viewer recently asked about bracket filling:"I haven't heard you or other financial advisors say much about "bracket filling" in retirement. Is it reasonable to think that in retirement I should be filling a tax bracket up with pre-ta...
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Episode 223
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15:36
RBS 222: The New Tax Law Changes and How They May Affect Retirement
The passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act has brought us a number of changes to the tax laws. Some changes are "permanent," meaning it would take an act of Congress and the President to change them. Some are "temporary," meaning they expire...
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Episode 222
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23:11
RBS 221: What's the Best Option for Cash: Money Market Funds or T-Bill ETFs? (FQF)
Here are the five questions we cover this week in Five Question Friday:1. Should we park cash in a money market fund or a t-bill ETF?2. Are Robo-Advisor Tax-Loss harvesting features worth it?3. What is the Retirement Spending Sm...
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Episode 221
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27:37
RBS 220: How the New $6,000 Senior Bonus Deduction Affects Roth Conversions (FQF)
In today's Five Question Friday we look at the following questions:1. How should the $6,000 senior deduction affect Roth conversions?2. Are short-term bonds a reasonable alternative to intermediate-term bonds?3. Are tax-managed ...
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Episode 220
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22:38
RBS 219: 3 Smart Alternatives to the 4% Rule (No Initial Safe Withdrawal Rate Required)
One of the challenges of the 4% Rule is what your initial safe withdrawal rate should be. While the name of the rule suggests one should start with 4%, there are countless reasons why that start point may not be right for you. For example, you ...
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Episode 219
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26:04
RBS 218: Individual TIPS vs TIPS Funds--Which Offers Better Inflation Projection? (FQF)
In today's Five Question Friday (FQF), we look at the following questions:1. TIPS Funds vs Individual TIPS--which provides the better inflation protection?2. Is a 4% withdrawal each year with no inflation adjustment a reasonable wit...
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Episode 218
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16:33
RBS 217: Are Growth Stocks Best for a Roth IRA? (FQF)
We look at the following questions in today's Five Question Friday:1. Are growth stocks best for Roth IRAs?2. How should you pay taxes on retirement account withdrawals?3. How should you invest in retirement if you are scared of...
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Episode 217
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28:03
RBS 216: Is the 4% Rule Now The 5% Rule? (FQF)
In today's Five Question Friday video we cover these questions:1. Why has Bill Bengen gone from 4% to 5%?2. Is it ok to put Social Security bridge money in a money market fund?3. How do Fidelity's Zero Funds compare to Vanguard ...
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Episode 216
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23:18
RBS 215: How To Invest In Your 20s (It's easier than you think)
I viewer named Eileen asked about how her children, who are in their twenties, should invest. Here's her question: Can you do a video on constructing a retirement account (Roth) for my 20 year old kids? They are contributing 15%. I am thinking ...
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Episode 215
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23:10
RBS 214: Does a Market Crash Change the 4% Rule? (FQF)
In today's Five Question Friday we look at these 5 questions:1. Does a Market Crash Change How to Use the 4% Rule?2. How do bond ETFs generate returns?3. Are Timothy Funds a good option?4. Is Fidelity HSA a solid account?
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Episode 214
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24:01
RBS 213: I Attended a Free Dinner Investment Seminar--Here's what happened.
In this video, I share my experience attending a free dinner investment seminar. The seminar was allegedly to help investors handle volatility in the markets. Instead, it turned out to be a sales pitch for expensive, complex investing products ...
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Episode 213
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22:35
RBS 212: Should You Contribute to a 401k That Has No Employer Match? (FQF)
In this edition of Five Question Friday (FQF), we look at these five questions:1. My 401k is not employer matched, should I stop contributing to my employer 401k and open a Roth IRA instead?2. Where should we keep cash we'll need to...
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Episode 212
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22:32
RBS 211: When Should You Change Your Asset Allocation? (FQF)
In today's Five Question Friday (FQF) we'll tackle the following questions:1. Is now a good time to change your asset allocation?2. Do target date funds force you to sell stocks in a down market?3. Does the IRS treat the withdra...
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Episode 211
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27:03
RBS 210: Where I'm Keeping My Cash: T-Bills, Money Market Funds, CDs or Savings Accounts?
In this video, I'll run down several high-yield options for your cash. I'll also discuss where we are keeping our cash today.Bank Bonuses: https://www.allcards.com/best-bank-bo...CD Rates: https://www.allcards.com/cd-rates/Savin...
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Episode 210
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9:58
RBS 209: The 5 Biggest Risks in Retirement According to Experts
The Center for Retirement Research at Boston College recently surveyed financial advisors, asking what the major risks were to their clients' retirement. In this video, we'll look at the top 5 risks financial advisors identified, and compare th...
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Episode 209
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11:04
RBS 208: Is It Safe To Link Financial Accounts To Budget Apps? (FQF)
Here are today's Five Question Friday (FQF):1. Are financial apps safe?2. Can you help me understand the risk of bonds?3. How are mutual fund dividends taxed?4. How should we think about annuities for retirement income?5...
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Episode 208
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27:15
RBS 207: Should We Do a Roth Conversion Now? (FQF)
Here are the five questions we'll cover in this week's edition of Five Question Friday:1. Is now a good time to do a Roth conversion? (John)2. Mutual Funds vs ETFs (Shane)3. Should we invest more in international stocks? (Phil)<...
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Episode 207
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34:07