The $315K Fork

Fresh from passing the CFP exam, Roxy Butner joins Tom to work through a classic retirement fork: take the richer lifetime teacher pension, or accept a $315,000 lump sum and invest it. The math matters, but so do longevity, survivor benefits, liquidity, investing temperament, and the temptation to spend the pile.

Next comes a clever tax-payment question: can IRA withholding replace quarterly estimated payments during Roth-conversion years? They explain why paying conversion taxes from taxable money usually preserves more long-term value.

The show closes with a 5.25% mortgage-versus-investing decision and a portfolio x-ray that finds a dividend-heavy international fund missing small companies, value stocks, and emerging markets.

00:58 Roxy passes the CFP exam
02:46 Teacher pension or $315,000 lump sum?
08:36 Rolling a pension lump sum to an IRA
09:33 IRA withholding versus estimated taxes
13:48 Pay off a 5.25% mortgage or invest?
17:34 Fixing an under-diversified retirement portfolio
21:50 Living—and spending—with a sound plan

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