Retire Repurposed

When Ben's neighbor calls him 'Bible Ben,' it should feel like a compliment. Instead, it bothers him because he knows himself better than anyone else does. In this vulnerable episode, Ben and Jerrid explore a truth that challenges Christian culture: there's no such thing as a 'good retiree' who finally gets it all right. There are only retirees being sanctified, being made new by Christ over time. Drawing from C.S. Lewis's insight on spiritual transformation, Ben reveals why the question isn't 'Am I a good retiree?' but rather 'Am I becoming more like Christ?' Learn why retirement doesn't mark the finish line of your spiritual formation, why character issues work may have hidden often surface in retirement, and why direction matters far more than perfection.

In this episode, Ben Taatjes wrestles with a tension that few achievers are honest about: Can something genuinely given to God, like a calling or business, still become an unhealthy source of identity? As Ben reflects on 20 years of building Stewards Planning Group, he explores how passion for God's work can quietly become dependence on that work to tell him who he is. Drawing from Colossians 3:3-4 and the example of John the Baptist, Ben and Jerrid examine the critical distinction between calling and identity. Discover why achievement always wants another measurement, how an identity built on accomplishment has to be continually re-earned, and why even genuine callings can become traps if they answer questions about yourself that only Christ should answer.

In this episode, Ben Taatjes shares his personal experience of dropping his youngest daughter at college - a moment that forced him to confront a crucial retirement question: When the duties that defined me disappear, who am I? Drawing from Tim Keller's insight on identity, Ben contrasts two incomplete answers: the traditional 'I am my duties' and the modern 'I am my desires.' Discover how your identity in Christ allows you to find fresh expressions of purpose even when the duties you've known for decades have changed.

In this final episode of the 'Double Click' miniseries, Ben Taatjes and Jerrid Sebesta reveal that what retirees call 'fear of being alone' runs much deeper than loneliness. Throughout this series, they've discovered that most retirement fears eventually trace back to four fundamental questions. Drawing from Acts 17:28, this episode reframes retirement from a series of threats to be managed into an opportunity to place your security, identity, significance, and belonging firmly in God - the one thing retirement can never take away. A powerful conclusion that shows why Generative Work becomes the practical expression of spiritual security.

In this episode, Ben Taatjes explores a paradox many retirees face: we dream for decades about having more time, then retirement arrives and we treat our newfound abundance with surprising casualness. Through the contrasting stories of college drop-offs, Ben reveals how our perspective on time's value changes only after the moment has passed. Drawing from Psalm 90:12, Ben challenges retirees to truly understand what it means to 'number our days' - not from fear of running out, but from wisdom about stewarding what we've been given. Discover how making the best use of time doesn't mean maximizing productivity, but rather being faithful with today.

In this episode, Ben Taatjes addresses a fear many retirees are almost embarrassed to admit: 'I'm going to miss my job.' But Ben reveals that the real fear isn't about the job itself - it's about losing the significance, purpose, and sense of "mattering" that the job provided. Drawing from Jordan Raynor's biblical perspective on work, Ben redefines what work actually means beyond paid employment and challenges the cultural narrative that retirement means a life of permanent leisure. Discover why God designed both work and rest, why the desire to create and contribute doesn't disappear at retirement, and how financial independence can actually free your work rather than eliminate it.

In this continuation of the regret discussion within the 'Double Click' miniseries, Ben Taatjes, Financial Advisor, challenges a widely held assumption: that retiring as early as possible is always the goal. What if the real regret isn't working too long, but retiring too soon? Through the story of a 72-year-old man who worked until the end of his life, Ben paints a picture that society views as tragic - yet reveals a profoundly different narrative. Rather than lamenting a life of work, this man's story illustrates a life of purpose, contribution, and meaning. This episode forces retirees to ask the hard question: What does success in retirement actually look like? Is it maximizing leisure time and retiring at the earliest possible moment, or is there something far more fulfilling? Learn how to redefine retirement success in a way that honors both rest and meaningful work.

Contact us at (320) 222-4236 or Stewards Planning Group, 1104 19th Ave SW, Willmar, MN, 56201. The opinions contained in this material are those of the presenters & guests, and not a recommendation or solicitation to buy or sell investment products. This information is from sources believed to be reliable, but Cetera Wealth Services, LLC cannot guarantee or represent that it is accurate or complete. Securities offered through Cetera Wealth Services, LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory Services offered through Cetera Investment Advisers LLC, a registered investment adviser. Cetera is under separate ownership from any other named entity.