Many people ask if they can retire based only on their account balances, but the more important number is monthly spending. In this episode, we explain why expenses drive retirement success more than any magic savings target and how to get a realistic picture of what life actually costs.
You will learn two practical ways to calculate real spending using a top-down review of bank statements or a simple flow-based approach.
We also break expenses into fixed, flexible, and non-monthly categories so you can see which costs are predictable and which can change over time. Understanding this one number can replace uncertainty with confidence and help answer the question, can I retire yet.
What you’ll learn in this episode:• Why spending matters more than account balances when deciding to retire• How to calculate real expenses using a top-down review of bank statements• How flow-based budgeting works without feeling restrictive• The difference between fixed, flexible, and non-monthly costs• Why most people underestimate what they truly spend
Key topics: retirement expenses, monthly spending, retirement budget, cash flow in retirement, fixed vs flexible expenses, retirement readiness, estimating retirement costs, flow based budgeting
Welcome to the Retirement Income & Strategy Podcast with Tom Mullarkey, CFP® and founder of Hive Retirement Planning. This show helps people age 60 and older make smarter decisions about retirement income, taxes, investments, and financial confidence—without hype or jargon.

From Paycheck to Portfolio: Building Retirement Income That Lasts
Retirement changes the challenge from saving money to creating dependable income.
In this episode, Tom Mullarkey, CFP®, explains how retirement income works, why a paycheck mindset can create risk, and how to build a strategy designed to support long retirements and changing markets.
We cover how reliable income is created, how Social Security and other guaranteed sources fit into a plan, and how portfolios, taxes, and inflation all interact once the paycheck stops. The focus is on building an income system that brings clarity, flexibility, and confidence in retirement.
If you’re approaching retirement and want clarity around income, taxes, and portfolio strategy, this channel is here to help.

You've worked hard. You've saved diligently. But retirement is a whole different game.  

The Retirement Income & Strategy Podcast is for successful professionals who are approaching retirement or already there—and want real confidence that their money will last. 

Hosted by Tom Mullarkey, CFP® and founder of Hive Retirement Planning, this podcast focuses on the decisions that matter most once the paycheck stops. How do you turn savings into reliable income? Which withdrawal strategies unlock tax savings? When does your investment approach need to shift? And how do you make smart, coordinated decisions instead of reacting to headlines?  

Each episode cuts through the complexity and gives you practical guidance you can actually use. No jargon. No product pitches. Just clear thinking about retirement income, taxes, investments, and how those pieces work together.  

Whether you're quietly wondering if you're doing the right things with your money in retirement, or looking for a better way to structure your plan, you're in the right place.  

New episodes released weekly. Have a question? Email [email protected].

Welcome to the Retirement Income & Strategy Podcast. This show is for people who have done well financially but want more clarity and confidence as they move into retirement. The podcast is hosted by Tom Mullarkey, Certified Financial Planner and founder of Hive Retirement Planning.

Each week, we break down the retirement income, tax, and investment decisions that matter most once you stop working, so you can make smarter choices with your money and feel more confident about the years ahead.

In this first episode, we explain why retirement planning changes once the paycheck stops and what this podcast is designed to help you navigate. We talk about the most common questions retirees face, including how to turn savings into income, how taxes affect long-term outcomes, and how to make sure your financial decisions work together instead of in isolation.

This episode sets the foundation for everything that follows.