Getting ready for retirement is a lot easier when you use a checklist. In this episode, Ken Moraif walks through a practical retirement planning checklist that helps you organize the big decisions before you stop working, so the transition feels smoother and your plan is built around real life costs.

You’ll hear why where you live can be the biggest driver of your cost of living, how to think about what you’ll do after you retire, why many retirees aim to reduce debt and review investment risk, and how to avoid gaps in healthcare coverage. Ken also explains a simple way to think about budgeting without turning it into a household argument, plus timing tips for Social Security and an overview of when a 401(k) rollover to an IRA may be worth considering - and when staying in an employer plan might make more sense.

If you’re over 50 and planning your next chapter, share this with a friend who’s also getting close to retirement.

0:00 Retirement checklist intro, why checklists work
0:40 Step 1: Decide where you plan to live
2:10 Step 2: Plan what you’ll do in retirement
3:35 Step 3: Pay off your mortgage and reduce debt
4:55 Step 4: Consider reducing investment risk near retirement
6:05 Step 5: Know your retirement income sources
7:25 Step 6: Healthcare planning, avoid gaps in coverage
8:45 Step 7: Budgeting without the household argument
10:10 Shark story: why expenses adapt to the “pool size”
11:25 Step 8: Apply for Social Security three months early
11:55 Step 9: Consider a 401(k) rollover to an IRA, case by case
12:25 Wrap-up and next steps

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