We have a lot of new members to this newsletter for this month, so welcome! I feel a lot of pressure to make this one special, but… I’m just probably going to carry on with my regular, quirky self.
I hope you find this useful and, dare-I-say… entertaining? Especially when you get to the book recommendation and words of wisdom.
There are a lot of moving parts to life… especially when you are… well… moving.
Moving houses. Moving plans. Moving schools…
So… the theme of this newsletter is moving 🙂
Agenda
- The Medicare Market leading into 2027
- Your Accountant versus Your Financial Advisor
- A Book Recommendation That Made Me Want to Change My Life
- Words of Wisdom: Saying Goodbye to our House
The Shifting Medicare Market Leading into 2027
Medicare stays pretty consistent in how it functionally works, however, it changes each and every year with plans, companies, costs, and coverages depending on the path you take. Let’s go over those paths.
Original Medicare + Supplement + Part D
If you stay with Original Medicare and pick up a Supplement plan with a standalone Part D drug plan, the changes you experience typically come in the form of increasing fixed costs (your monthly premiums).
Leading into 2027, you have two things to keep an eye on.
- Your supplement plan loss ratio.
High loss ratios lead to higher increases.
Nationwide… we are seeing higher loss ratios, which means higher increases (on average).
Here is a video I’ve done on these and what to look for leading up to 2027.
Supplement Plan Increases: 2026-2027
Last year I made a spreadsheet where you could put the rate increases that you are experiencing. I made one again for this year in hopes that you adding your numbers will help others, and others adding their numbers will help you see what’s going on nationally.
Here is a link to that spreadsheet: 2026 Supplement Plan Increases
The first Tab is where you put in your information.
At the bottom, you’ll see a 2nd tab that says, “Everyone’s Data.”
That’s where you’ll find everyone else’s responses.
Just put in your information and I will transfer it over to the Everyone’s Data tab.
A lot of this spreadsheet is locked down because last year, it kept getting messed up with a bunch of people jumping in and changing things all at once 🙂 - Part D Drug Plans
The second thing to look out for would be your Part D drug plans.
Now… your Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) will be coming in September, so there’s not a lot you can “do” until that arrives, but that might get to you between now and the next newsletter.
The change in Part D is that there are subsidies that are falling off of the Standalone Part D drug plans and we are waiting to see how that subsidy drop will affect these plans. We won’t know until ANOCs arrive and new plans are released in October.
I have a video on the details of the subsidy here if you haven’t seen that already:
Part D Subsidy Going Away
Medicare Advantage Path
The other “path” you can choose is going with a Medicare Advantage plan.
Every year, there are some changes – both big and small – to these plans.
Last year, the big news was 2.6 million members needing to find new Advantage plans because their plan was being terminated. United Healthcare drove most of those numbers with over 600,000 of their members affected.
We have a similar thing coming this next year, just at a slightly smaller scale, and this time, it is Humana that has announced that 600,000 of its members will be affected.
Many of you are a part of this newsletter because of the video that goes over that, which is right here: 2027 Advantage Plan Exits
Similar to the Part D drug plans above, keep an eye out for your Annual Notice of Change that should arrive in September. If your plan is being eliminated, you have options, which that video goes over in decent detail.
Your Accountant vs Your Financial Advisor
Many of you are familiar with my friend and contributor to the channel – Zacc Call.
Some of you are also familiar with my CPA – Daniel Astleford.
In the finance world, there can be some tension between Financial Advisors (CFP) and Accountants (CPA).
So… I thought it might be a fun idea to get them both in a room and have them talk about who would consider using one or the other, the best ways for them to work together, and where the friction happens between accountants, financial advisors, and you – the person they are trying to help.
We did two videos – the first is how to decide who to work with, and that one is on The Retirement Nerds channel. It is not public yet, but… as part of this newsletter, you get first access: CFP vs CPA Episode 1
The second episode is on Zacc’s Channel and will be released this next week.
The second episode is more of a fun conversation where I ask questions like – if you won the lottery, would you take the discounted lump sum or the full amount over 30 years? A bit more light hearted.
I don’t run or have access to his channel, so I can’t get you that link yet, but you can either subscribe to his channel to see it when it comes out or you can keep an eye out on my channel and a link to Episode 2 will be posted.
Now… on to the fun stuff.
Book Recommendation
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Theo of Golden, Allen Levi
This was a recommendation from several members of this newsletter who know that I’m a bit of a bookworm. One of my favorite “genres” even though I don’t know that it’s an official genre, is empathic writing. Giving the reader a glimpse into the perspectives of those they may not fully understand.
Helping to make people we may not agree with or we may not understand seem more… human… and familiar… and like us. Highlighting the idea that we have more in common with each other than we do differences.
This book made me want to love people more. It made me want to take the time to get to know casual acquaintances in a more meaningful way. It made me want to express my love and appreciation to people in a more genuine way – paying sincere attention and giving sincere compliments to everyone from loved ones to casual friends to complete strangers.
If you need a feel-good book, this is the one, complete with smiles, goals to love more, and some tears.
Get it Here
Words of Wisdom – Moving on from the last 7 years.
We have lived in our current home for the past 7 years.
These years have included raising our cute, little children into bigger… troublemakers.
They have included job changes, losing our beloved dog Petie, gaining two new puppies – Ruby & Jet – new friends, a pandemic, an earthquake, and countless learning opportunities as I broke and tried to fix sprinklers, sinks, carpets, and other household chores-turned-disasters.
We got to walk our kids to and from school every day and look at the elementary school across the street from our backyard.
I got to build my podcast studio in this home and most of you know that studio well as it is where every video has been recorded for about the past 3 years or so.
Videos released a few weeks from now will have a different look… so don’t leave me if it looks different 🙂
My daughter’s appendix ruptured in this home and this home welcomed her back after surgery. My mom’s final moments in a home were in our home – before we had to take her to the hospital where she ultimately passed away.
And now… we are moving… to a different home.
Every New Beginning…
There’s a song by Semisonic called Closing Time, and it has a line that goes,
“Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.”
And that’s where we are.
For better or worse, I try to notice the world around me.
The people. Their faces. Their emotions and expressions.
I remember precisely where I was, including the freezing cold on my face, and the smells of the street, and the breeze cutting through my coat, and the sounds of the morning commute in Stavropol, Russia.
I was walking by an elementary school on the way to an appointment when I noticed little elementary school kids playing on the playground. I noticed their eyes light up and their big smiles as they saw their little classmates walk through the gate for a new day at school.
I heard their laughter and screams as they played tag around the playground before the morning bell. Their focused gaze at the scenes unraveling in front of their young minds – completely oblivious to the world – and conditions of it – around them.
I remember walking 20 more steps from this school and seeing a man barely able to stand, stumbling down the street, drunk from trying to drown out the pain of his life.
Moaning… incoherent thoughts… barking out to passers by. Dishevelled, dirty, and in despair.
Two more minutes of walking, and I saw police officers covering the body of a different man who had frozen to death against a building that night.
I can’t comprehend or imagine his final thoughts – or the scene as the message of where and how he died was conveyed to the loved ones he may have had in his life.
It hit me… hard… that at one point in time, these two men were little elementary school boys. Laughing, giggling, screaming, and playing tag at school – oblivious and uncomprehending to where their life would be in 20, 30, 40 years.
This glimpse at the potential future of some of these elementary school kids, and this desire to run up to them and tell them that the choices they make can have such harsh, unforgiving consequences.
But, of course, I said nothing.
The main reason for that is because some random American guy in Russia running up to young children at school and pointing out drunks and dead guys to said kids – all while issuing warnings in a heavy American accent is not the best look… and would’ve probably ended with me in a Russian prison… so I didn’t do that.
But… how can we ever prepare those younger than us – and that includes our younger selves – for the future?
Other New Beginnings
I’ve had the privilege of attending Russian weddings, Armenian weddings, Swedish weddings, Croatian weddings, Latin weddings, Tongan weddings, and American weddings. While the languages and traditions all vary slightly… The excited, hopeful, loving, and joyful looks on the faces of the bride, groom, and families are all so similar.
There’s dancing and singing and vows and promises and gifts and eternal optimism.
And then… I’ve seen the difficult consequences of arguments, fighting, abuse, and death in these marriages…
But how?!
They all started the same way!
Sincere, heartfelt promises of love and loyalty. Happy and devoted lovers – oblivious to the pain that awaited them in the future. How could I warn them?!
And in the same breath – I see the opposite. Kids who grow and stay joyful, accomplishing more than their elementary-school-self could’ve ever imagined. I see couples have and raise kids or land jobs or houses or friends that add so much happiness to their lives and they tell me how they have to pinch themselves sometimes because they never could’ve imagined such a fulfilling life.
And I want to go up to these same people who are starting their new beginnings and tell them that there is so much potential for good! Stick with it! It’ll all work out!
These Last 7 Years
What I’ve learned from these observations, and looking at this 7-year window while in this house, is that the human experience is filled with all of this.
The good. The bad.
The happy. The devastating.
Tears of joy and tears of deep, seemingly endless grief.
New life, and inevitable death.
If I were to summarize the last 7 years into a few general ideas – they would be wonderful. Growth. Freedom. Impact on my life and the lives of others.
But… while those are all positive feelings about this home and the memories in it, that doesn’t mean that ALL moments were all wonderful. It doesn’t mean that there weren’t setbacks or pain or sadness or despair.
If I could go back to my 7-years-ago self, I think the message would be: “Buckle up. You’re about to have the ride of your life. That ride will have some bumps and bruises, but it’ll all be worth it in the end.”
As we move to this new home, I wonder if a 7-year-from-now self will have the same advice… what awaits us over these next 7 years? Will I be as optimistic or look back on them with the same fondness in the future?
And this is where I turn it back on you.
Think back to 7 years ago. August of 2019.
Where were you?
Physically.
Emotionally.
Your physical health.
The health of your relationships.
How did it all look?
I bet there were some moments in there where you laughed so hard you couldn’t breathe and maybe thought you were going to pee your pants.
I bet there were some moments in there where you were so tired that you couldn’t keep your eyes open – even though you wanted to.
I bet there were some moments where those same tired eyes were watered with tears. Both tears of joy and love… as well as tears of frustration and sadness.
If you had a time machine, and could go back to your 7-years-younger self, what would you say? What would be the message you’d give?
And no, I don’t mean “Invest in Bitcoin” or a stock or a Superbowl winner… but advice for your physical and emotional well-being.
Whatever your message would be to yourself – let that same message of love and encouragement echo to yourself right now.
Who knows what the next 7 years will look like, but steam ahead with the encouragement of your own strength, thoughts, and advice to yourself.
Be a force for good. Bring hope and encouragement to those you observe around you who are struggling. Find the beautiful, even in moments of ugly difficulties. Do little things now that will make your 7-years-older self go, “You know what… those were good times.”
Another way it was expressed to me is – what can you do today, freely and without pain – that you may not be able to do 7 years from now? Relish these things.
Thank You
You, whether you realize it or not, are a part of why I can describe my last 7 years as wonderful. Full of love and support and kindness to a person like me who will never feel deserving of your friendship and trust.
So thank you.
Thank you for being a part of my life through this newsletter and the messages we share.
I hope you have a wonderful month, and I’ll see you in the next newsletter.
Erik
