As Quoted In

10 Most Underestimated Retirement Living Expenses

Written by: Bruce Horovitz, AARP

November 6, 2025

Read the full article at: https://www.aarp.org/money/personal-finance/most-common-underestimated-expenses/

Enduring Wealth℠ quotes:

5. Transportation and getting around

Driving costs money, from car payments to maintenance to gasoline to insurance, and with the extra time you might be doing more of it – especially if you choose to retire to a remote area, says Ralph Bender, founder and CEO of Enduring Wealth Advisors in Temecula, California.

Transportation is Americans’ second-biggest expense, accounting for 17 percent of household spending, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ 2023 Consumer Expenditure Survey (CES), the most recent data available.

As you age, you may find yourself increasingly relying on others to help you get from place to place, Bender adds. That might include rides from family and friends, but there likely will be times you’ll need to take an Uber to the doctor’s office or a cab to the store and back.

6. Utilities and energy bills: what to expect

…Still, inflation can offset those empty-nest-savings – utility companies have been known to raise their rates. The BLS reports that the cost of electricity grew by 5.1 percent over the year ending in September 2025. (The average bill nationwide in 2025 was $149.37, according to SaveOnEnergy, an online marketplace for electricity plans.) That’s one reason Bender suggests installing solar panels with batteries, which can reduce rising electricity bills.

Ask an advisor: Is buying a home really necessary?

Written by: Nathan Place

December 27, 2023

Read the full article at: https://www.financial-planning.com/list/ask-an-advisor-should-i-keep-investing-or-buy-a-home?utm_campaign=editorial-content&utm_medium=organic&utm_source=linkedin

Enduring Wealth℠ quotes:

“Dear Advisors,

Is it worth it these days to buy a home, even if it means less money for my investments?

For context, I’m a 25-year-old engineer in Providence, Rhode Island. My salary is $67,000. To save for retirement, I set aside about $600 per week, which I divvy up between my 401(k), my high-yield savings account, and an S&P 500 GARP ETF.

I’m happy with how these investments are growing, but sometimes I wonder if I should be using my savings for a down payment instead. Right now, my girlfriend and I rent our apartment for $2,000 (just $1,000 for me), which leaves room for saving and investing. But am I neglecting to “build equity”? On the other hand, with mortgage rates so high these days, is building equity even worth it? Which should I prioritize – my investments or owning a home someday?”

Go for it!

Ralph Bender, CFP and founder of Enduring Wealth Advisors in Temecula, California “Buying a house is how most Americans build family wealth, for the simple reason that it’s the best way to use leverage. Get into a home you’ll like for years to come, and if rates fall you can refinance. But don’t expect that to happen.”

Podcasts by the Pool: Suggestions from readers

Written by: Jeff Benjamin

July 9, 2022

Read the full article at: https://digitaledition.investmentnews.com/articles/podcasts-by-the-pool-suggestions-from-readers

Enduring Wealth℠ quotes:

With summer in full swing, we asked readers to submit their favorite podcasts for our first annual list of recommendations for Podcasts by the Pool. The eclectic list offers everything from industry education to pure relaxation.

Ralph Bender, Founder, Enduring Wealth Advisors

“Market Signals” by Ryan Detrick and Jeff Buchbinder of LPL Financial. They continually reveal the numbers which are relevant to the current economic environment, without a lot of injected biases.

“Notes on the Week Ahead” by David Kelly of J.P. Morgan Asset Management. Generally, he puts the current situation into a relatable metaphor and provides a balanced opinion of likely outcomes.

“Number” by Brarron’s. A daily trio of items, each one introduced by the most relevant significant single number, followed by context and explanation.

Advisors Plop Down the Welcome Mat to Impress Prospective Clients

Written by: Morey Stettner

March 25, 2022

Read the full article at: https://www.investors.com/financial-advisors/convert-prospects-financial-advisors-plop-down-welcome-mat-to-impress-new-clients/

Enduring Wealth℠ quotes:

Curious, engaging conversationalists wield an advantage over self-promoters to convert prospects. By getting others to open up, you put them at ease and learn more about them.

Prospects may expect you to launch into a lecture about money. But showing interest in their family, career, and hobbies subverts that expectation and helps you build rapport.

Better yet, welcome their arrival with fanfare. View them as VIPs from the moment they walk in the door.

For years, Bender has set up a computer monitor that prospects notice as soon as they arrive. He created a PowerPoint slide template so that visitors see their name on the screen with a welcome message.

“The night before, we enter the names of each person who’s scheduled to come in the next day,” he said. “It’s all preprogrammed so all our receptionist has to do is advance the slide to the next name” throughout the day.

Create A Calm, Soothing Environment for Visitors

Once a newcomer arrives, Bender says, they do not wait alone. A designated greeter usually waits with them, striking up friendly conversation and offering beverages and snacks.

“We follow the person’s lead,” Bender said. If someone’s on their phone or seem preoccupied, Bender’s greeter – typically his administrative aide or marketing specialist – doesn’t hover.

“It’s a change to answer (a prospect’s) questions and make them feel like invited guests in your home,: he said. “And after the prospect leaves, I might debrief with (my greater) on whether we want them as a client.”

Little things can make a big difference to convert prospects. Prospects feel more special if they’re instantly comfortable in your office environment.

LPL Focus video from Boston

Over age 65? Watch out for these costly mistakes when selling your home.

Written by: Robert Powell

December 20, 2025

Read the full article at: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/older-homeowners-get-less-money-selling-their-houses-heres-how-you-can-sweeten-your-listing-to-get-more-8cfe214c

Enduring Wealth℠ quotes:

Many of the reasons older sellers receive lower prices stem from challenges that come with aging, said Ralph Bender, a certified financial planner with Enduring Wealth Advisors.

One of the easiest ways to improve the sales price, Bender said, is to have the older homeowner move out before selling.

“This way the maintenance issues can be addressed, the inconvenience of public listings showing the home throughout the day is avoided, and it’s more likely the home is in showcase condition when prospective buyers see it,” he said.

Social Security benefit cuts could begin in 2034 – are you planning for that?

Written By: Alessandra Malito

April 10, 2023

Read the full article at: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/social-security-benefit-cuts-could-begin-in-2034are-you-planning-for-that-5d5face4

Enduring Wealth℠ quotes:

Near-retirees should make an online account with the Social Security Administration for three reasons, said Ralph Bender, a certified financial planner and founder of Enduring Wealth Advisors: having an account will allow users to see what they can expect to get in benefits in the future; confirm their personal information and earnings history is correct; and prevent scammers from gaining to their information.

Is FIRE Still Realistic?

Written by: Kate Ashford

January 30, 2026

Read the full article at: https://www.nerdwallet.com/finance/learn/fire-still-realistic

Enduring Wealth℠ quotes: FIRE requires real lifestyle choices But it does take math — and discipline — to make FIRE work. At its core, achieving financial independence means accumulating enough money to support the lifestyle you want.

“What it takes is locking into a lifestyle and avoiding lifestyle creep,” says Ralph Bender, a CFP with Enduring Wealth Advisors in Temecula, California. “The real challenge isn’t external — rising costs, student loans, expensive housing. The challenge is internal.”

Many people expand their spending as their income rises, Bender says. Successful FIRE clients make do with smaller houses and older cars, because it means they can trade one job for another — or have one parent stop working.

Selling your home could boost your nest Egg – But is it worth it?

Written by: Kate Ashford, CSA®

March 21, 2024

Read the full article at: https://enduringwealth.my.salesforce.com/servlet/servlet.FileDownload?file=00PVL000005EGzl

Enduring Wealth℠ quotes:

Research the costs

Make sure you understand property taxes and the basic costs of living in your desired

locale, as well as the costs for selling your home. (Hint: The real estate agent commission

is generally about 5.5%, although that may change after the recent legal settlement by

the National Association of Realtors.) Also, if you’re picking up a mortgage on the new

home, there will be closing costs, and rates are probably higher than they were when you

last purchased property. All these numbers could chip away at your net sale profit.

“We’re at a place where 30-year mortgages are at 6.5% to 7%,” Gottshall says. “It could

very well mean your monthly payment on a much lower-priced house is almost

equivalent to the home that you’re in right now.”

In an area with a very low cost of living, do some digging to make sure you understand

what to expect from the municipality. Are the streets and sidewalks maintained? How is

garbage collected? Is the fire department responsive?

“I had one client who had a beautiful home on the Mississippi Gulf Coast,” says Ralph

Bender, a CFP in Temecula, California. “I said, ‘Wow, you must like it, you basically pay no

taxes down there,’ and he said ‘Yes, but you get no services either.’”

How Advisors Cope When Clients’ Heirs Head for the Exit

Written by: Griffin Kelly

Date: September 11, 2025

Read the full article at: https://www.thedailyupside.com/advisor/financial-planning/how-advisors-cope-when-clients-heirs-head-for-the-exit/

Enduring Wealth℠ quotes:

It’s Not You, It’s Me

Still, engagement only goes so far. Success depends more on family dynamics than advisor outreach, according to Ralph Bender, founder of Enduring Wealth Advisors. “Open, trusting families with parents actively involved in the children’s financial education yield more G2 clients than more financially dysfunctional families,” he told Advisor Upside.

High School Students Mull the Writings of Warren Buffett

Written by: Brad Graves

February 12, 2024

Read the full article at: https://www.sdbj.com/finance/high-school-students-mull-the-writings-of-warren-buffett/

Enduring Wealth℠ quotes:

SAN DIEGO – If you want to become an attorney, you read law.

To become an authority on life science or psychology, you crack open the books and pore through the databases.

And if you want to learn some basics of business or finance, a good first step is to read the writings of investor Warren Buffett. The chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.A and BRK.B) composes a famous annual shareholder letter.

High school students will tackle a number of the letters under some just-introduced curriculum backed by San Diego-based LPL Financial (Nasdaq: LPLA).

“We’re studying one of the greatest investors of all time,” said Rob Pettman, an executive with LPL Financial who is involved with the program.

Pettman was one of its early teachers as it was being developed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The curriculum had a remarkable impact on students and generated positive feedback from parents.

“It’s shocking how well-received a program like this is,” said Pettman, who is LPL’s executive vice president for wealth management solutions.

LPL’s goal is to increase financial literacy among students, including those from low-income households.

“As Fred Ebb wrote, ‘money makes the world go around,’” said Ralph Bender, CEO and founder of Enduring Wealth Advisors of Temecula. “People who understand how to handle money are more likely to succeed than others. And since compounding works over time, the earlier one discovers how to get and stay on the right side of it, the greater their chances for opportunity.”

Ask an Advisor: “I’m Depending on that Money.” How Can I Plan to Retire When Republicans Are Threatening to Cut Social Security?

Written by: Susannah Snider

February 9, 2023

Read the full article at: https://smartasset.com/financial-advisor/ask-an-advisor-cut-social-security

Enduring Wealth℠ quotes:

Consider Your Other Income Sources

It’s notable to me that you’re still working, even at nearly age 73. While I don’t know how long you continue to pursue part-time employment, it certainly reduces your reliance on Social Security in the meantime and reduces your need to draw on savings.

Many older folks are totally reliant on Social Security benefits. In fact, among elderly Social Security beneficiaries, 12% of men and 15% of women rely on Social Security for 90% or more of their income.

Still, the program “was never intended to be the primary source of retirement income,” says Ralph Bender, certified financial planner and founder of Enduring Wealth Advisors. “That’s why it’s structured like an insurance policy. It is supposed to be a safety net to make up for shortfalls in personal savings.”

Keep in mind that working part-time, however long you are able and willing, does provide extra breathing room and may supplement Social Security benefits.

Bilt Is Tripling Its Credit Card Roster. But Do You Need Its Card to Earn Rent Rewards?

Written by: Melanie Pincus

Date: August 29, 2025

Read the full article at: https://money.usnews.com/credit-cards/articles/bilt-is-tripling-its-credit-card-roster-but-do-you-need-its-card-to-earn-rent-rewards

Enduring Wealth℠ quotes:

How Will Existing Bilt Mastercard Cardholders Transition?

According to Bilt, existing cardholders will move "seamlessly" from Wells Fargo, the card's current issuer, to its new card platform in February 2026. For the moment, details are sparse.

Regardless of process specifics, cardholders can prepare for a few things when a card issuer changes.

"One of the things to be specifically concerned about is the grace period. Making sure that they know when the grace period is and that the rules don't change," says Ralph Bender, certified financial planner and founder of Enduring Wealth Advisors.

Your grace period is the time between when your credit card's billing cycle ends and when your payment is due. If it changes due to an issuer transition, you could accidentally miss a payment.

If you had automatic payments set up previously, you'll want to check to see if you need to set those up again.

Wells Fargo did not respond to a request for comment about Bilt's transition.

Should You Use a Credit Card to Pay Utility Bills?

Written by: Melanie Pinus

March 19, 2025

Read the full article at: https://money.usnews.com/credit-cards/articles/should-you-use-a-credit-card-to-pay-utility-bills

Enduring Wealth℠ quotes:

Should You Pay Utility Bills With Your Credit Card?

Cons

Credit card interest. Carrying a credit card balance is expensive. If you charge utilities to your credit card and then let much of the balance sit, you could wind up paying much more than the original charge.

Short-term solution. If you're unable to consistently make utility payments, you may have deeper financial challenges. "You've got short-term structural problems you've got to fix," says Ralph Bender, a certified financial planner and founder of Enduring Wealth Advisors. You might consider consulting a nonprofit credit counselor for more comprehensive help. "If you're truly in a hardship situation, (counselors) can help you connect with organizations that can provide different types of assistance," McClary says. "You don't have to limit the solution to just the conversation with your utility provider."

Convenience fees. The utility company may charge a fee if you use a credit card to make your payment. These fees can be small, but they're still worth avoiding if you can.

Should You Take Out a Personal Loan to Invest?

Written By: Melanie Pincus

November 28, 2022

Read Full Article: https://money.usnews.com/loans/personal-loans/articles/should-you-take-out-a-personal-loan-to-invest

Enduring Wealth℠ quote:

Is the Investment Low Risk?

If your investment has a guaranteed return, like I bonds do, it could be worth considering. "Anytime that there is a guaranteed rate of return for the length of time of my loan that is greater than the cost of my loan, that's a good economic trade," Hirschhorn says. "But unfortunately those situations are very unlikely and unusual."

Investing in your education with the help of personal loan funds can make sense under the right circumstances. Be sure to do the math, considering factors such as your expected salary and the opportunity cost of lost work.

Someone training to be a doctor, for example, may decide this is a good trade after doing the math, Hirschhorn says. In contrast, if giving up two years of work to get a master's degree in education would only increase your salary by a small amount, it probably doesn't make sense to borrow.

Another question to consider before borrowing is how much control you have over the investment. "If it's an investment in you and your business, that's one thing. It's completely different than turning it over to a financial advisor or turning it over to a third party to run that money," says Ralph Bender, CFP and founder of Enduring Wealth Advisors.