September 30, 2025

Episode 198: Beyond the Numbers: The Human Side of Retirement

38 minutes

In part one of their conversation with Dan Haylett, Wade Pfau and Alex Murguia explore the human side of retirement planning. They emphasize that financial planning is only part of the equation and discuss the emotional and psychological challenges retirees face. Dan introduces the five pillars of a thriving retirement: purpose, identity, relationships, structure, and well-being. The discussion highlights how finding new sources of meaning and connection after leaving a career is essential for a fulfilling retirement.

Takeaways

Retirement is about more than financial numbers—it’s deeply human.

Many retirees struggle with a loss of purpose and identity.

The five pillars of a thriving retirement are purpose, identity, relationships, structure, and well-being.

Money provides the freedom to pursue interests and purpose.

Retirement often brings major shifts in identity and relationships.

Building new social connections is essential for fulfillment.

Emotional and psychological planning is as important as financial planning.

Discussing potential challenges early helps ease the transition.

Retirement affects not just individuals but also family and friends.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Retirement Planning

01:10 The Human Side of Retirement

05:09 Day 182: The Reality of Retirement

08:07 The Five Pillars of a Thriving Retirement

11:06 Finding Purpose in Retirement

15:11 Identity Crisis in Retirement

20:16 The Impact of Work Relationships

28:18 Facilitating Purpose in Retirement

31:52 Navigating Life's Challenges in Retirement

34:07 The Importance of Open Conversations

Links

Are you an Advisor? — Ready to take your prospect and client conversations to the next level? Join Wade Pfau and Alex Murguia for a free webinar, “How to Close Prospects & Increase Wallet Share.” You’ll see how the RISA framework streamlines meetings, builds trust faster, and creates a scalable process for long-term growth

Two live sessions available: October 8 or 9, from 1:00–2:30 PM ET

Visit risaprofile.com/podcast to register now.

🎉 We’re About to Hit 200 Episodes! 🎉

Can you believe it? Retire With Style is closing in on our 200th episode, and we want you to be part of the celebration!

Whether you’ve been with Wade and Alex since episode one or just joined the party, this milestone wouldn’t be possible without listeners like you. Help us mark the occasion by sending in a short video or voice note to share your favorite moment, biggest takeaway, or just some kind words for the guys.

We’re also running a special giveaway to thank our community — and yes, there will be prizes.

👉 Be a part of Episode 200 by visiting https://retirewithstyle.com/join-episode-200 to join the celebration!

Explore the New RetireWithStyle.com! We’ve launched a brand-new home for the podcast! Visit RetireWithStyle.com to catch up on all our latest episodes, explore topics by category, and send us your questions or ideas for future episodes. If there’s something you’ve been wondering about retirement, we want to hear it!

The Retirement Planning Guidebook: 2nd Edition has just been updated for 2025! Visit your preferred book retailer or simply click here to order your copy today: https://www.wadepfau.com/books/

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By Wade Pfau & Alex Murguia

3.9

161161 ratings