On episode 173 of Ask The Compound, Ben Carlson and Duncan Hill discuss using stocks as an emergency fund, optimizing RMDs, factoring in pensions as income, fictional book recommendations and much more! Submit your Ask The Compound questions to askthecompoundshow@gmail.com! This episode is sponsored by Public. Find out more by visiting: http://public.com/ATC ►00: 00 - Intro ►02:10 - Using stocks for an emergency fund ►07:15 - Optimizing RMD distributions ►13:05 - Using leverage for home improvements ►18:52 - Factoring in pensions as retirement income ►24:30 - Fiction book recommendations 🎙️Listen to our podcasts: TCAF: https://podcasts.thecompoundnews.com/show/TCAF/ Animal Spirits: https://podcasts.thecompoundnews.com/show/animalspirits/ Ask The Compound: https://podcasts.thecompoundnews.com/show/ATC/ Instagram: https://instagram.com/thecompoundnews Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecompoundnews Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecompoundnews Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-compound-media/ Talk with us about your portfolio or financial plan here: http://ritholtzwealth.com Public Disclosure: All investing involves the risk of loss, including loss of principal. Brokerage services for US-listed, registered securities, options and bonds in a self-directed account are offered by Public Investing, Inc., member FINRA & SIPC. Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank. Cryptocurrency trading services are offered by Bakkt Crypto Solutions, LLC (NMLS ID 1890144), which is licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by the NYSDFS. Cryptocurrency is highly speculative, involves a high degree of risk, and has the potential for loss of the entire amount of an investment. Cryptocurrency holdings are not protected by the FDIC or SIPC. *Rate as of 3/5/25. APY is variable and subject to change. **Terms and Conditions apply. Investing involves the risk of loss. This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be or regarded as personalized investment advice or relied upon for investment decisions. Ben Carlson and Duncan Hill are employees of Ritholtz Wealth Management and may maintain positions in the securities discussed in this video. All opinions expressed by them are solely their own opinion and do not reflect the opinion of Ritholtz Wealth Management. See our disclosures here: https://ritholtzwealth.com/podcast-youtube-disclosures/ The Compound Media, Incorporated, an affiliate of Ritholtz Wealth Management, receives payment from various entities for advertisements in affiliated podcasts, blogs and emails. Inclusion of such advertisements does not constitute or imply endorsement, sponsorship or recommendation thereof, or any affiliation therewith, by the Content Creator or by Ritholtz Wealth Management or any of its employees. For additional advertisement disclaimers see here https://ritholtzwealth.com/advertising-disclaimers #thecompound #stocks #personalfinance #investing