Retire On Your Best Path with Liz Whitteberry

Based on a recent article from Kiplinger, there are five keys to a retirement plan that actually hold up over time. Together, they create a simple framework for thinking through some of the biggest challenges retirees face. And because they all start with the letter D, they’re easy to remember.

Here’s some of what we discuss in today’s show:

• Diversification should include investments, income sources, and taxes 
• Duration planning helps prepare your income and investments for an uncertain retirement timeline
• Downside protection can help reduce the impact of early retirement market losses 
• Retirement spending often changes through the go-go, slow-go, and no-go years 
• Taxes, fees, inflation, and healthcare costs can create a significant financial drag

Resources for this episode:

Kiplinger Article: How to Turn a $1 Million Nest Egg Into a Lifetime Income Machine | Kiplinger

Subscribe to Liz's YouTube Channel: Best Path Advisors - YouTube

For decades, you've worked hard, lived below your means, and built the discipline to save for retirement. But what happens when that same discipline makes it difficult to actually enjoy the money you've spent a lifetime accumulating? For many retirees, the biggest financial challenge is learning how to spend with confidence. 

In this episode, Liz explores why successful savers often struggle to transition into retirement spending. She shares insights on how to navigate these challenges, including the importance of open communication between couples about spending and the need for a well-structured financial plan.

Here’s some of what we discuss in today’s show:

💰 Saver's Mindset: Why spending feels uncomfortable

🧠 Money Psychology: Understanding loss aversion

❤️ Couples & Money: Navigating different spending styles

📊 Retirement Guardrails: Creating confidence with a plan

✈️ Enjoying Retirement: Making memories while you can

Subscribe to Liz's YouTube Channel: Best Path Advisors - YouTube

You’ve worked hard to reduce investment fees, but what about taxes? In this episode, Liz explores new research showing how taxes may have a much bigger impact on long-term portfolio growth than most investors realize. She breaks down the historical tax drag on investment returns, why today’s tax environment may not last forever, and how smart tax planning can help retirees keep more of what they earn. Plus, she discusses ETFs, tax-efficient investing, and strategies that could make a meaningful difference over the course of retirement.

Here’s some of what we discuss in today’s show:

💰 The Tax Drag Effect – Why taxes may cost investors more than investment fees over time

📈 A Century of Research – What 100 years of market and tax data reveal about long-term wealth creation

🚀 The ETF Tax Advantage – How ETF structures can reduce tax costs compared to many mutual funds

🏛️ Will Taxes Rise? – Why retirees should prepare for the possibility of higher future tax rates

🎯 Retirement Tax Strategies – Asset location, Roth accounts, and step-up in basis planning opportunities

Resources for this episode:

Jason Zweig - You've Won the Battle on Investment Fees; You're Losing the War Against Taxes:

https://www.wsj.com/finance/investing/you-won-the-battle-on-investment-fees-youre-losing-the-war-against-taxes-6f949f3c

Andrew Ang - Uncle Sam's Cut: A Century of the Federal Tax Drag on US Equity Returns

https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=6847621

Subscribe to Liz's YouTube Channel: Best Path Advisors - YouTube

Some of the best retirement advice may have started with the simple lessons your mom taught you growing up. In this special Mother’s Day episode, Liz connects timeless “mom wisdom” to real financial planning decisions that can shape your retirement future. From avoiding scams and irreversible mistakes to diversification, emergency savings, and estate planning, Liz walks through seven practical lessons that still matter today.

Here’s some of what we discuss in today’s show:

• Avoid financial offers that sound too good to be true
• Slow down before making irreversible retirement decisions
• Why diversification still matters in retirement
• Cover your retirement essentials before the “fun” spending
• Clean up your estate plan before your family has to

Subscribe to Liz's YouTube Channel: Best Path Advisors - YouTube

What do thunderstorms and the stock market have in common? More than you think. In this episode, Liz uses a weather analogy to break down how investors react to uncertainty, and why that reaction can make or break your retirement plan. The goal isn’t to predict every storm, it’s to be ready for whatever shows up. With the right plan in place, you can stay confident no matter what the forecast looks like.

Here’s some of what we discuss in today’s show:

Forecast vs Reality: Predictions don’t control outcomes

Emotional Reactions: Volatility impacts everyone differently

Risk Mismatch: Comfort vs reality can get out of sync

Bucket Planning: Structure creates long-term stability

Subscribe to Liz's YouTube Channel: Best Path Advisors - YouTube

A new proposal out of Washington is putting fresh pressure on the future of Social Security- and it could impact how much some retirees receive. In this episode, Liz breaks down what’s being proposed, who it might affect, and why it’s sparking debate. While nothing is finalized, the conversation highlights a bigger issue: Social Security is likely to change. The real question is how prepared your retirement plan is if it does.

Here’s some of what we discuss in today’s show:

• A new proposal could cap Social Security benefits for higher earners
• The debate: fairness vs. earned benefits 
• Only a small percentage impacted today but that could grow
• Social Security has changed before and will likely change again
• Having a backup income strategy is critical for retirement security

Subscribe to Liz's YouTube Channel: Best Path Advisors - YouTube

When a parent passes away, emotions and finances tend to collide, especially when real estate is involved. One of the most common things that stalls families is fear of taxes, even when that fear isn’t fully understood. Today’s listener question is about an inherited home and hesitant siblings.

Here’s some of what we discuss in today’s show:

• Step-Up in Basis Explained – Why heirs typically don’t owe taxes on decades of appreciation.
• Capital Gains Timing Matters – When taxes apply after inheritance.
• Document Fair Market Value – Why getting an appraisal at date of death is critical.
• Trust vs. Direct Inheritance – How ownership structure affects reporting and decision-making.
• Step-Down in Basis (Yes, It Happens) – What changes if property values decline.
• Sibling Dynamics & Planning Ahead – Why clear instructions can prevent family gridlock.

Subscribe to Liz's YouTube Channel: Best Path Advisors - YouTube

Retirees and pre-retirees are increasingly targeted by sophisticated scammers, with billions lost each year, especially among those 60 and older. In this episode, Liz breaks down the most common frauds hitting seniors today, from tech support and investment scams to romance schemes and social media cons, and explains how they work. You’ll also hear practical, high-impact steps to protect yourself and your family. 

Here’s some of what we discuss in today’s show:

• Statistics on Identity Theft and Data Breaches: The scale of the problem
• Types of Scams Targeting Older Adults: What’s most common
• Romance Scams and Social Media Fraud: Where trust gets exploited
• Protective Measures and Action Steps: Habits that reduce risk
• Additional Security Measures and Resources: Extra layers of protection

Subscribe to Liz's YouTube Channel: Best Path Advisors - YouTube

After a year defined by volatility, political noise, and nonstop market headlines, it’s no surprise that optimism feels hard to come by. In this episode, Liz breaks down why at least one economist believes the economic outlook for 2026 may be brighter than many expect. From consumer spending and business investment to interest rates, energy prices, and market behavior, this conversation cuts through the noise to explore what could actually drive growth- and why having a disciplined plan matters more than reacting to headlines.

Here’s some of what we discuss in today’s show:

• Why some economists are cautiously optimistic about 2026 
• How tax refunds and policy changes could boost consumer spending 
• What stronger corporate profits and broader market participation signal 
• The role interest rate cuts may play and the risks that come with them
• How energy prices and tariffs could impact inflation and volatility 

Bloomberg News Opinion Column:

https://www.fa-mag.com/news/five-reasons-to-be-optimistic-about-the-2026-economy-85324.html?section=68

Subscribe to Liz's YouTube Channel: Best Path Advisors - YouTube

What does 2026 mean for retirees and those approaching retirement? In this episode, Liz breaks down the key financial changes that could quietly reshape your retirement plan in the year ahead. From Social Security cost-of-living adjustments and rising Medicare premiums to higher retirement contribution limits, these small shifts can have a surprisingly big impact on your cash flow, taxes, and long-term strategy.

Here’s some of what we discuss in today’s show:

• Social Security’s 2026 COLA and why it may not keep up with retiree inflation 
• Medicare Part B and Medigap premium increases
• Who benefits most from the expanded senior tax deduction
• New retirement contribution limits and late-career catch-up opportunities
• Why where you save matters just as much as how much you save

Subscribe to Liz's YouTube Channel: Best Path Advisors - YouTube