Joe and Big Al spitball on set-and-forget brokerage investments for 30-something investors, real estate as a substitute for bonds in a diversified portfolio, and options for taking a state pension with or without sick time pay. The fellas also discuss how to bridge the retirement gap until collecting Social Security, strategies for claiming spousal Social Security benefits, and whether you need to sign up for Medicare if you’d rather keep the healthcare you already have. Timestamps: 00:49 - Set-It-and-Forget-It Brokerage Investments for a 30-Something Investor? (Chris, Scottsdale) 07:56 - Is Real Estate a Substitute for Bonds in a Diversified Investment Portfolio? (Don, VA) 12:42 - State Pension Options: $21K at Age 55 Plus $13K Sick Time, or $30K at Age 62? (Rich, NY/NC - voice message) 19:35 - Which Funds Should We Use to Bridge the Gap Until Collecting Social Security? (Jeff, San Diego) 25:29 - When Will I Receive Spousal Social Security Benefits? (Sharon) 28:37 - Spitballing a Spousal Social Security Claiming Strategy (G, Philly) 33:50 - Do We Have to Register for Medicare If We Aren’t Going to Use it? (Jim Santa Cruz) 39:03 - The Derails Access this week's free financial resources in the podcast show notes at https://bit.ly/ymyw-416:  10 Ways the SECURE Act 2.0 Changes Your Taxes and Retirement Planning Portfolio Tracker: How to Manage Your Assets at Any Age Social Security Handbook Medicare Checkup Guide Episode Transcript Ask Joe & Big Al On Air