Hey! So this is kind of a weird one to review because I wasn’t even planning to look at Retirement Millionaire. My dad subscribed to it last year and keeps forwarding me these emails from “Doc” and honestly I was just deleting them for like 6 months.
But then around Thanksgiving he wouldn’t stop talking about some healthcare stock that went up like 60% and how this newsletter is “the real deal” and I should write about it. So fine, Dad. Here’s your review.
I went through a bunch of the back issues he forwarded and actually read the current stuff. Verdict? It’s pretty decent for what it is, but it’s definitely not for everyone.
What Is Retirement Millionaire?
I joined, so I can show you!
Retirement Millionaire is a monthly investment newsletter published by Stansberry Research and written by Dr. David Eifrig – everyone calls him Doc. This advisory service comes out on the second Wednesday of each month with stock picks and market analysis focused on retirees and people approaching retirement.
Doc has a wild background. He worked at Goldman Sachs as a derivatives trader, then randomly became a doctor. Like actually went to med school at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Has an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management too. So he’s basically that overachiever who makes everyone else feel bad about their life choices.
The whole focus is conservative, low-risk investment strategies mixed with health and wellness advice. Which is why my dad loves it – he’s retiring in like 3 years and freaking out about having enough money.
Price is normally $199 per year but they’re always running promotions. Right now it’s $79 with bonus reports about gold and uranium tied to some “Mar-a-Lago Accord” theme. Classic Stansberry Research sales funnel stuff.
Is Dr. David Eifrig from Stansberry Research Legit?
Yeah, David Eifrig is legit. His credentials check out – the Goldman Sachs background is real, the medical degree from UNC Chapel Hill is real.
He’s been writing Retirement Millionaire for Stansberry Research for years, working alongside Porter Stansberry.
Before I joined, my dad showed me his portfolio tracking and several of Doc’s investment recommendations have performed well.
That healthcare stock I mentioned is up over 60%, plus a couple dividend stocks showing 30-40% gains. Not everything’s a winner though – he’s got one energy stock down about 15%.
The thing is, Doc’s approach is conservative by design. He’s not promising you’ll get rich quick. It’s about protecting retirement savings while achieving steady growth. Which for retirees makes sense, but if you’re young and want to gamble on high-risk plays, this isn’t it.
His track record shows both winners and losers, which I appreciate. The transparency around closed positions is better than most investment advisory services that only highlight their best picks.
What You Get With a Retirement Millionaire Subscription
Monthly Newsletter and Stock Picks
The monthly newsletter includes new investment recommendations with detailed analysis. Each issue of Retirement Millionaire explains the investment thesis, business model, competitive advantages, and risks – not just “buy this ticker symbol.”
Recent issues covered healthcare companies, dividend-paying stocks, and defensive positions against inflation. Some international equities too which most American investors completely ignore.
Doc’s writing is straightforward. Not trying to sound super smart or use complicated finance jargon. My dad can understand it and he barely knows what a P/E ratio is.
Each stock recommendation includes the ticker symbol, buy-up-to price, and supporting research. The quality is definitely above free investment newsletters you’ll find online.
Model Portfolio Access
You get access to Doc’s complete model portfolio showing all active recommendations and closed positions.
The portfolio includes around thirty-nine stocks currently in buy range with average gains of 126% on open positions.
What’s Actually In The Model Portfolio Right Now
Looking at Doc’s current model portfolio, there’s some seriously impressive stuff in here. The portfolio breaks down into several categories – Cash Positions, Chaos Hedges, Fixed Income, Hybrid Stocks, and regular Stocks.
The Chaos Hedges (Protection Against Market Volatility):
This section caught my attention. These are precious metals positions – gold mining companies, silver trusts, gold ETFs. Some of these have delivered insane returns:
- A gold ETF position: Up nearly 390% since 2008
- Gold mining stocks: Returns ranging from 63% to 195%
- Silver trust positions: Up 30-60%
My dad’s been too nervous to go heavy on the gold and silver plays, but Doc’s been calling the precious metals rally for years and it’s paying off.
The Stock Picks (Core Portfolio Holdings):
Mix of tech giants, healthcare, financials, and dividend-payers. The long-term holds are where the real money got made:
- Tech giants from 2009-2010: Returns over 700-1,500% (think major software companies, search engines)
- Financial services: One major bank up 295% since 2017
- Healthcare and medical device funds: Returns of 34-378%
- Industrial companies: Various positions up 76-146%
But here’s what most newsletters won’t show you – the recent picks that aren’t working:
- Software companies down 11-15%
- Some industrial stocks down 2-12%
- A timber company down 15%
That’s reality. Not everything works, even with solid research.
Recent Additions (2024-2025):
Several newer recommendations are already showing decent gains:
- Water utilities: Up 19%
- Scientific equipment makers: Up 5-23%
- Tech companies: Mixed results from -2% to +13%
- Consumer goods: Up 10-13%
The Income Plays:
Doc includes dividend funds and preferred stock funds for steady cash flow. These are showing 46-96% total returns when you include the dividend payments over time.
My dad follows maybe 15 of these positions. He’s up overall but missed the big runs on the tech giants because he got in way too late. The transparency here is solid though – you can see both the home runs and the strikeouts, which most services won’t show you.
Special Reports and Bonuses
New subscribers get several special reports with the current promotion:
- The No. 1 “Mar-a-Lago Accord” Gold Stock
- How to Play Silver’s Mar-a-Lago Mania
- The “America First” Nuclear Renaissance (uranium stock)
- The Big Book of Retirement Secrets (672-page comprehensive guide)
The Big Book of Retirement Secrets is actually useful – covers healthcare planning, investment strategies, and practical retirement advice.
Haven’t read all 672 pages (who would?) but the parts I skimmed seemed solid.
These bonus reports feel more promotional, tied to whatever macro theme Stansberry Research is currently pushing. They’re fine for understanding Doc’s investment thesis but take those 1000% upside projections with a grain of salt.
Health & Wealth Bulletin
Doc sends a daily Health & Wealth Bulletin with health tips and financial advice for retirees.
Topics range from reducing medical costs to improving sleep quality and overall wellness in retirement.
Some of it’s random – there was one about something in your closet that prevents flu? Still don’t know what he meant by that.
My dad deletes most of these daily emails. If you want the holistic health and wealth approach, the bulletin adds value.
If you just want equity picks, it becomes inbox clutter.
Portfolio Updates Throughout the Month
Doc sends updates when positions hit targets, need adjustments, or should be closed. These email updates are important for following the investment strategy since market conditions change.
The market commentary helps you understand Doc’s thinking on whether to hold, add to, or exit positions based on current volatility and economic conditions.
The Retirement Millionaire Track Record
Stansberry Research publishes performance data for Retirement Millionaire, though you need to dig through their site for detailed numbers.
Based on my dad’s account and published reports, the track record shows mixed results with overall positive performance.
David Eifrig has recommended multiple stocks that delivered triple-digit returns, especially in healthcare and dividend-paying companies.
The conservative approach helped avoid some brutal losses other newsletters experienced during the 2022 market downturn.
Not every stock pick works out. Some positions lost money or went nowhere for years.
That’s just investing – nobody bats 1.000.
One thing I noticed going through past recommendations – time horizon matters. Doc’s best stock selections often took years to pay off.
If you need quick gains, this newsletter isn’t designed for that. The investment strategy focuses on steady, compounding returns over time.
The claim about thirty-five recommendations with 126% average gains only counts current winners still in the model portfolio. Closed recommendations include losses that bring down the overall average.
My dad’s portfolio following this advisory is up about 20-25% since he started subscribing. Not amazing but he’s sleeping better than when he was trying to pick growth stocks himself.
Is Retirement Millionaire Worth the Cost?
At $199 per year, this newsletter sits in the mid-range for investment newsletters. Not the cheapest, but far from the most expensive advisory services out there.
The promotional pricing at $79 makes it easy to try. That’s under $7 monthly for the newsletter, model portfolio access, special reports, and daily Health & Wealth Bulletin.
One decent investment recommendation could easily cover the annual subscription cost.
Here’s the catch – the subscription automatically renews at $199 per year after your first year. You need to cancel at least one day before renewal to avoid the charge.
For retirees or people approaching retirement who want actionable, conservative investment advice, the value is there. The combination of stock recommendations, portfolio guidance, and wellness content is comprehensive.
If you’re young and focused on aggressive growth stocks or day trading, your money is better spent elsewhere. Retirement Millionaire is specifically designed for its target audience – hence the name.
They offer a 30-day refund policy, so you can test everything risk-free. If you’re unhappy for any reason, contact customer service within 30 days for a full refund.
Retirement Millionaire Pros and Cons
What Works About Retirement Millionaire
- The conservative, low-risk approach is perfect for retirees who can’t afford major portfolio losses. Doc’s focus on dividend stocks and defensive positions aligns with what that audience needs.
- Research quality is consistently solid. Each stock recommendation includes detailed analysis explaining the investment thesis, competitive landscape, and risk factors.
- Way more actionable than vague tips from free newsletters.
- The model portfolio transparency showing both open positions and closed recommendations (including losers) is refreshing. Most advisory services only promote winners.
- The 30-day refund policy makes it low-risk to test. One or two successful picks could justify years of subscription costs.
- The combination of investment advice with health and wellness content is unique. If you’re planning retirement holistically, this integrated approach adds value.
What Doesn’t Work About Retirement Millionaire
- Stansberry Research’s marketing emails are aggressive and fear-based. Constant dramatic subject lines about economic collapse don’t match Doc’s measured tone in the actual newsletter content.
- The automatic renewal at $199 per year catches subscribers off guard. Set a calendar reminder or you’ll get charged the higher price (though I do think it’s worth it).
- The daily Health & Wealth Bulletin becomes inbox clutter if you only want investment ideas. Some subscribers value the wellness content, others find it off-topic.
- Some bonus reports feel like sales pitches for other Stansberry Research products. The affiliate cross-promotions and upsells get old.
The conservative approach means you won’t see explosive gains. If you’re looking for 10x returns in six months, this isn’t that type of newsletter.
It’s about steady, reliable growth over years.
My Retirement Millionaire Review & Final Verdict
Retirement Millionaire is a legitimate investment newsletter for its target audience – retirees and people approaching retirement who want conservative strategies backed by solid research.
Dr. David Eifrig’s background combining Wall Street experience with medical knowledge brings a unique perspective. The focus on both wealth and wellness makes sense for retirees planning holistically.
At the promotional price of $79, Retirement Millionaire is worth trying if you fit the target demographic. The 30-day refund policy means minimal risk.
Even one or two successful stock picks could justify the annual cost.
However, if you’re young and focused on aggressive growth, or just want high-risk recommendations, look elsewhere. This investment advisory is exactly what it claims to be – designed for building a stable retirement through conservative investing.
Just remember the subscription automatically renews at $199 per year. Set a reminder if you want to cancel before renewal.
And ignore most of Stansberry Research’s marketing emails – the actual newsletter content is much more measured than their dramatic sales pitch suggests.
For the right investor approaching retirement, Retirement Millionaire offers practical advice, well-researched stock picks, and comprehensive portfolio guidance at a reasonable price. Just make sure you’re actually that investor before subscribing.
Questions about Retirement Millionaire or other investment newsletters? Let me know!
Jenna
