Two couples. Opposite incomes. Opposite outcomes. The difference has nothing to do with how much money they have.

Episode Summary

In this episode of Retire Plugged In, host Nora Hartquist breaks down why retirement is a life design problem long before it is ever a math problem.

You'll learn why you have to design your retirement before you finance it, what a vague retirement vision actually sounds like, and discover why one couple taking in $15,000 a month is still struggling.

Question of the Day 🗣️

If money weren't the limiting factor, what kind of retirement would you build? Comment below; Nora reads every response.

Key Take-aways

• Learn why the first retirement question is what you're building, not which product to buy
• See what happens when you buy lumber before you have a blueprint for your retirement
• Understand why six guaranteed income streams still left one couple struggling every month
• Get the questions that turn "I'll travel" into something you can actually fund
• Discover RTS, Retirement Tool Syndrome, and why the equipment isn't the hobby

Timestamped Outline ⏱️

00:00 - Opening - Retire Plugged In Issue #022
00:16 - Hiring an architect - the first question isn't the two-by-fours
01:03 - Design Before Dollars - the Retirement Vision
02:26 - "I'll figure that out when I've retired" - Wrong Answer
02:46 - Retirement isn't a math problem, it's a life design problem
03:32 - Nancy and Ed - designed in advance, no bills into retirement
04:35 - Brent and Carol - $15,000/mo. and still struggling
07:43 - Living Plugged In - Startitis, UFOs and SABLE
10:18 - The equipment isn't the hobby. Using it is.

Links & Resources 🔗

• Retirement Vision Workbook -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lt1Kqm6pSCR3cR_07jRTUT63hLPTBKoP/view
• Retire Plugged In membership waitlist -> https://nora-hartquist.lpcontent.net/waitlist
• Free gift: Retire With Purpose, Passion, and Possibilities Bundle -> https://retirepluggedin.thecenterforretirementreadiness.com/
• Subscribe to Retire Plugged In (YouTube) -> https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCi-qFE3Wh0JY0Sr2jHuTsNw?sub_confirmation=1

Connect & CTA 🎯

👉 Enjoyed this? Subscribe & leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

🎁 Get Nora's weekly breakdown of the retirement truths nobody else is telling you - the financial pitfalls, social dynamics, and scam threats that shape your retirement window: https://retirepluggedin.thecenterforretirementreadiness.com/

Credits

Host: Nora Hartquist © 2026 Retire Plugged In. All rights reserved.

Asking "what's the best investment for retirement?" is a trick question. Here's the one to ask instead.

Episode Summary

In this episode of Retire Plugged In, host Nora Hartquist breaks down why "what's the best retirement product?" is the wrong question, after two large firms trained her to believe their own products were the only ones worth having.

You'll learn the nine compartments of the Retirement Toolbox, why good advisors keep selling the wrong tool, and the one move to make instead of blaming them.

Question of the Day 🗣️

Which compartment of the Retirement Toolbox should Nora open first: Income, Taxes, Long-Term Care, or Legacy? Comment below; Nora reads every response.

Key Take-aways

• Learn why "what's the best tool in the toolbox" is the wrong question to ask an advisor
• Understand the two reasons good advisors keep selling the wrong tool: the Kool-Aid or being trapped
• See why most "independent advisors" at large firms aren't independent at all
• Get the move to make instead of blaming your advisor: thank them, then find a specialist
• Discover the nine compartments of the Retirement Toolbox series launching next issue

Timestamped Outline ⏱️

00:00 - Opening - Retire Plugged In Issue #021
01:15 - Inside the first large firm - trained to believe THEIR products
02:07 - The 3rd-party trainings she was warned not to attend
04:01 - Two big reasons - the Kool-Aid and being TRAPPED
06:37 - DON'T BLAME THEM - thank your advisor, then find a distribution specialist
08:28 - You're asking the wrong question - what problem am I trying to solve?
09:43 - The Retirement Toolbox - the nine compartments
16:16 - Closing - the Retirement Toolbox series starts next week

Links & Resources 🔗

• New Research: Having These Personality Traits Could Protect You From Dementia (TheHealthy.com) -> https://www.thehealthy.com/alzheimers/news-positive-personality-traits-prevent-dementia-november-2023-study/
• Retire Plugged In membership waitlist -> https://nora-hartquist.lpcontent.net/waitlist
• Free gift: Retire With Purpose, Passion, and Possibilities Bundle -> https://retirepluggedin.thecenterforretirementreadiness.com/
• Subscribe to Retire Plugged In (YouTube) -> https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCi-qFE3Wh0JY0Sr2jHuTsNw?sub_confirmation=1

Connect & CTA 🎯

👉 Enjoyed this? Subscribe & leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

🎁 Get Nora's weekly breakdown of the retirement truths nobody else is telling you - the financial pitfalls, social dynamics, and scam threats that shape your retirement window: https://retirepluggedin.thecenterforretirementreadiness.com/

Credits

Host: Nora Hartquist © 2026 Retire Plugged In. All rights reserved.

A kindergartner with a multimillion-dollar retirement account? It's not magic. It's math and time.

Episode Summary

In this episode of Retire Plugged In, host Nora Hartquist breaks down how a Trump Account can turn a child's early years into a multimillion-dollar retirement account - through math and time, not the $1,000 seed deposit.

You'll learn who should open the account, the "Growth Period" contribution rules, and why converting to a Roth IRA at 18 is her best idea.

Question of the Day 🗣️

Are you planning to help fund a Trump Account for a grandchild, and which question do you still need answered before you do?

Key Take-aways

• Learn who should open a Trump Account - and why the parent must set it up, even if grandparents fund it
• Understand the "Growth Period" rules: a $5,000/yr. total contribution limit until the year before age 18
• See which contributions don't count toward the limit, including government seed money
• Know why you should NOT roll the account into another IRA at 18 - and her best idea instead
• Discover why decades of extra compounding can change a family's financial future

Timestamped Outline ⏱️

00:00 - Opening - Retire Plugged In Issue #020
01:01 - Who should open one?
02:18 - Pro Tip: open the account with $0
03:54 - The $1,000 window - Jan. 1, 2025 to Dec. 31, 2028
04:33 - The rules - "Growth Period" and who can contribute
05:53 - The $5,000/yr. total limit and what doesn't count
08:57 - How does the taxation work?
11:26 - What happens when the child turns 18?
13:39 - Don't roll it into another IRA - convert to a Roth first
17:08 - The INSPIRED part - math, time, and 60-year compounding

Links & Resources 🔗

• Detailed Step-by-Step Trump Account Setup Tutorial -> https://preview.mailerlite.io/preview/1951889/sites/193816586777266144/50-plus-digital-llc-drofwp
• Trump Account Taxation - Withdrawal Tax Guide -> https://preview.mailerlite.io/preview/1951889/sites/193816586777266144/50-plus-digital-llc-drofwp
• Invest America - Dell Foundation's $250 for eligible children -> https://investamerica.org/dell/
• AMAC Magazine - How Your Contributions Can Grow in a Trump Account -> https://publication.amac.us/view/35449439/14/
• Retire Plugged In Membership waitlist -> https://nora-hartquist.lpcontent.net/waitlist
• Free gift: Retire With Purpose, Passion, and Possibilities Bundle -> https://retirepluggedin.thecenterforretirementreadiness.com/
• Subscribe to Retire Plugged In (YouTube) -> https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCi-qFE3Wh0JY0Sr2jHuTsNw?sub_confirmation=1

Connect & CTA 🎯

👉 Enjoyed this? Subscribe & leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

🎁 Get Nora's weekly breakdown of the retirement truths nobody else is telling you - the financial pitfalls, social dynamics, and scam threats that shape your retirement window:https://retirepluggedin.thecenterforretirementreadiness.com/

Credits

Host: Nora Hartquist © 2026 Retire Plugged In. All rights reserved.

Millions formed an opinion on Trump Accounts in hours. If you have grandkids, the details matter more.

Episode Summary

In this episode of Retire Plugged In, host Nora Hartquist breaks down what grandparents actually need to know about Trump Accounts before opening one for a grandchild.

You'll learn the IRS priority order for who can open an account, why the "monitor" controls investment decisions, and how these accounts compare to a 529 or UGMA.

Question of the Day 🗣️

Were you planning to open a Trump Account for a grandchild yourself, and did you know about the IRS priority order? What questions do you have about Trump Accounts?

Key Take-aways

• Learn why grandparents usually can't open a Trump Account - the IRS priority order explained
• Understand why the "monitor" controls investments, even if a grandparent funds the account
• See why these accounts require nearly two decades of accurate record-keeping
• Know that investments are limited to a Treasury-chosen menu, not individual stock picks
• Compare Trump Accounts against 529s and UGMAs before you decide

Timestamped Outline ⏱️

00:00 - Opening - Retire Plugged In Issue #019
00:31 - Misinformation spreads faster than understanding
02:04 - Misinformation #1: You probably can't open the account
03:32 - The parent becomes the "monitor" - who really decides
04:03 - Misinformation #2: Records for nearly two decades
05:48 - Misinformation #3: The LIMITED investment menu
07:18 - Misinformation #4: What about the 529?
08:25 - Misinformation #5: Is it all taxable?
10:28 - Misinformation #7: UGMA and UTMA compared
11:30 - Next week - the tax rules nobody is talking about

Links & Resources 🔗

• Retire Plugged In waitlist -> https://nora-hartquist.lpcontent.net/waitlist
• Issue #018 - Facing The Bear? Don't Play Dead! -> https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/trump-accounts-arent-what-you-think-cep-chfebc-cf2-cltc--o1hje/?trackingId=3rhmU4ZlR9qAlJzafRtK9w%3D%3D
• Free gift: Retire With Purpose, Passion, and Possibilities Bundle -> https://retirepluggedin.thecenterforretirementreadiness.com/
• Subscribe to Retire Plugged In (YouTube) -> https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCi-qFE3Wh0JY0Sr2jHuTsNw?sub_confirmation=1

Connect & CTA 🎯

👉 Enjoyed this? Subscribe & leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

🎁 Get Nora's weekly breakdown of the retirement truths nobody else is telling you - the financial pitfalls, social dynamics, and scam threats that shape your retirement window: https://retirepluggedin.thecenterforretirementreadiness.com/

Credits

Host: Nora Hartquist © 2026 Retire Plugged In. All rights reserved.

"Just wait it out" is great advice, unless you're retired and need that money for groceries next month.

Episode Summary

In this episode of Retire Plugged In, host Nora Hartquist breaks down the damage a bear market does to retirees that the averages hide.

You'll learn why "the market always recovers" misleads once you're living on the money, discover the four moves that turn a market mauling into a comeback story, and find out why a HELOC can beat an IRA withdrawal in a downturn.

Question of the Day 🗣️

Which of these four moves surprised you most? And if you've already set up a HELOC, a bucket strategy, or done a Roth conversion during a downturn, what was your experience? Share in the comments.

Key Take-aways

• Every recovery statistic you've been shown describes an accumulator, not someone living on the money
• Steve and Mike: same savings, same spending, same average returns, opposite outcomes based on timing
• Move 1: reduce your supplemental income needs before retirement, and stop contributing past the employer match
• Move 3: a HELOC can beat an IRA withdrawal in a downturn, and doubles as a tax planning tool
• Move 4: Roth conversions get mathematically better when your portfolio gets worse

Timestamped Outline ⏱️

00:00 – Opening: facing the bear, don't play dead
00:32 – Sequence of returns risk, and why nobody can predict it
02:52 – Every recovery statistic describes an accumulator, not a retiree
04:03 – Steve and Mike revisited: same plan, opposite outcomes
04:51 – Move 1: reduce your supplemental income needs before retirement
07:24 – Move 2: splitting a large IRA into three buckets
08:30 – Move 3: secure a HELOC, even if you have a mortgage
11:19 – The HELOC as a tax planning tool
12:50 – Move 4: Roth conversions get better when your portfolio gets worse
15:29 – Don't play dead, don't panic, plan

Links & Resources 🔗

• Issue 017 of Retire Plugged In – "Will the Bull or Bear Control YOUR 5-Year Retirement Window?" → https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/5-year-retirement-window-changes-everything-nora-hartquist-h2r0e/?trackingId=e2degpINQseGufx0dnZDfg%3D%3D
• Retire With Purpose, Passion, and Possibilities Bundle (free gift) → https://retirepluggedin.thecenterforretirementreadiness.com/
• Subscribe to Retire Plugged In on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCi-qFE3Wh0JY0Sr2jHuTsNw?sub_confirmation=1

Connect & CTA 🎯

👉 Enjoyed this? Subscribe & leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

🎁 Get Nora's weekly breakdown of the retirement truths nobody else is telling you - the financial pitfalls, social dynamics, and scam threats that shape your retirement window: https://retirepluggedin.thecenterforretirementreadiness.com/

Credits

Host: Nora Hartquist © 2026 Retire Plugged In. All rights reserved.

Same returns, opposite outcomes: why the first 5 years of retirement can make or break everything.

Episode Summary

In this episode of Retire Plugged In, host Nora Hartquist breaks down Sequence of Returns Risk - the retirement danger that has nothing to do with how much you saved.

You'll learn why "Return on Investment" is the wrong metric once you retire, discover why Dollar Cost Averaging actually works against you after you stop working, and hear the real story of two retirees with identical plans and opposite outcomes.

Question of the Day 🗣️

Are you within 5 years of retirement - or already in your first 5 years? Have you heard of Sequence of Returns Risk before, and has anyone ever explained it to you? Share your experience in the comments.

Key Take-aways

• The first 5 years of retirement can make or break your finances - and you can't predict them
• Sequence of Returns Risk matters more than average returns once withdrawals begin
• ROI in retirement should mean Reliability of Income, not Return on Investment
• Dollar Cost Averaging, the strategy that grows your 401(k), works in reverse once you retire
• Your tax-deferred IRA carries a hidden "mortgage" that grows as your account appreciates

Timestamped Outline ⏱️

00:00 – Opening: The five-year retirement window
01:28 – Two misconceptions: market timing and Loss Aversion
03:29 – Why ROI isn't the right metric anymore
03:58 – Sequence of Returns Risk explained
05:24 – The hidden mortgage on your IRA
07:29 – ROI redefined: Reliability of Income
07:58 – Dollar Cost Averaging in reverse
09:45 – Steve & Joyce vs. Mike: a cautionary tale
12:23 – Three steps to protect your retirement

Links & Resources 🔗

• Issue 016 of Retire Plugged In – "Social Security: When to Claim (Force #1 You Control)" → https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/your-retirement-date-triggers-two-forces-you-cant-nora-hartquist-hw0ae/?trackingId=iXletIGIRKqeZ0DRpJmqTA%3D%3D
• Issue 011 of Retire Plugged In – "Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) Table" → https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/economic-cycles-your-retirement-risk-hidden-advantage-nora-hartquist-pglpf/?trackingId=H1retUQuTm6a4XL9E%2FDoog%3D%3D
• Retire With Purpose, Passion, and Possibilities Bundle (free gift) → https://retirepluggedin.thecenterforretirementreadiness.com/

Connect & CTA 🎯

👉 Enjoyed this? Subscribe & leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

🎁 Get Nora's weekly breakdown of the retirement truths nobody else is telling you - the financial pitfalls, social dynamics, and scam threats that shape your retirement window: https://retirepluggedin.thecenterforretirementreadiness.com/

Credits

Host: Nora Hartquist © 2026 Retire Plugged In. All rights reserved.

Pick the wrong retirement date and one Social Security decision can cost your family $300,000.

Episode Summary

In this episode of Retire Plugged In, host Nora Hartquist breaks down why when you retire can matter more than how much you have saved.

You'll learn what the three-year wait from 67 to 70 is actually worth, discover why every Social Security dollar beats a 401(k) dollar, and find out how the Widow's Penalty raises taxes right when income drops.

Question of the Day 🗣️

If waiting 3 years could mean $300,000 more over your retirement, would you delay claiming Social Security? What would make it worth the wait - or not? Share in the comments.

Key Take-aways

• Your retirement date triggers two forces you can't ignore, and Force #1 is Social Security timing
• Claiming at 70 instead of 67 is worth almost $1,000 a month, or about $300,000 over 25 years
• Every Social Security dollar is worth 17-30% more than a dollar from a pension, 401(k), or investment
• 42 states don't tax Social Security at all, so the same benefit stretches further in retirement
• Plan spousal claiming now, because the Widow's Penalty raises taxes and Medicare premiums as income falls

Timestamped Outline ⏱️

00:00 – Opening - Retire Plugged In Issue #016
01:55 – Maximum benefits at Full Retirement Age vs age 70
02:30 – Why delaying 3 years can mean $300,000 more
04:29 – WHEN you retire matters - longevity, inflation, taxes, survivorship
05:04 – Lowering taxable income without lowering actual income
05:55 – 42 states don't tax Social Security - your dollars are worth more
07:40 – Leroy and Martha - optimizing Social Security on a modest income
09:22 – Spousal benefits and the survivor strategy
13:00 – The Widow's Penalty - taxes rise as income falls
14:59 – Closing - the two forces your retirement date triggers, and next week's Force #2

Links & Resources 🔗

• Social Security wage base history (max salary subject to SS taxes) → https://www.ssa.gov/oact/cola/cbb.html
• SSA study on tax-max earners → https://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/population-profiles/tax-max-earners.html
• Which states don't tax Social Security (AARP) → https://www.aarp.org/social-security/faq/which-states-do-not-tax-benefits/
• Retire With Purpose, Passion, and Possibilities Bundle (free gift) → https://retirepluggedin.thecenterforretirementreadiness.com/
• Subscribe to Retire Plugged In on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCi-qFE3Wh0JY0Sr2jHuTsNw?sub_confirmation=1

Connect & CTA 🎯

👉 Enjoyed this? Subscribe & leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

🎁 Get Nora's weekly breakdown of the retirement truths nobody else is telling you - the financial pitfalls, social dynamics, and scam threats that shape your retirement window: https://retirepluggedin.thecenterforretirementreadiness.com/

Credits

Host: Nora Hartquist © 2026 Retire Plugged In. All rights reserved.

Collecting at 62 feels smart. Three rules Steve had never heard of blew up his plan before it started.

Episode Summary

In this episode of Retire Plugged In, host Nora Hartquist breaks down why WHEN you collect Social Security matters more than your rate of return.

You'll learn how the Earnings Test can claw back up to 50% of your benefits, discover the provisional income formula that quietly raises your tax bracket, and find out why waiting delivers a guaranteed return most portfolios can't match.

Question of the Day 🗣️

When were you planning to start collecting Social Security? Has anything in this episode changed your thinking? Share in the comments.

Key Take-aways

• When you collect Social Security matters more than the rate of return on your investments
• Collect before full retirement age and the Earnings Test can take back as much as 50% of your benefit
• Provisional income taxes your benefits and can push you into a higher bracket before you invest a dollar
• There are 567 ways to claim - and Social Security employees are forbidden from advising you
• Waiting grows your benefit 8% a year plus COLA - can your portfolio guarantee over 10%?

Timestamped Outline ⏱️

00:00 – Opening - Retire Plugged In Issue #015
00:12 – Recap: the two questions from Issue #014
01:18 – Steve and Joyce's income gap - $24,000 a year more than expected
03:26 – Factor #1: Social Security growth vs. investment returns
04:11 – The Social Security Trust Fund - what's really happening
05:24 – Life expectancy then vs. now - why the system has to change
09:25 – 567 ways to claim - and why Social Security can't advise you
10:55 – Provisional income - the hidden tax on your benefits
11:36 – Steve's plan to collect at 62 - why the math fails
13:46 – Closing - what's coming next week

Links & Resources 🔗

• Social Security Trust Fund Wharton analysis (June 2026) → https://www.cnbc.com/2026/06/16/social-security-trust-funds-wharton-analysis.html
• 567 Ways to Claim Social Security (SafeMoney) → https://safemoney.com/blog/social-security/567-ways-to-claim-social-security/
• Retirement Researcher longevity chart → https://retirementresearcher.com/long-can-retirees-expect-live-hit-65/
• Eleanor and Lyle Gittens - the world's longest-married couple → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXFbw6m5FIE&t=232s
• Retire With Purpose, Passion, and Possibilities Bundle (free gift) → https://retirepluggedin.thecenterforretirementreadiness.com/
• Subscribe to Retire Plugged In on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCi-qFE3Wh0JY0Sr2jHuTsNw?sub_confirmation=1

Connect & CTA 🎯

👉 Enjoyed this? Subscribe & leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

🎁 Get Nora's weekly breakdown of the retirement truths nobody else is telling you - the financial pitfalls, social dynamics, and scam threats that shape your retirement window: https://retirepluggedin.thecenterforretirementreadiness.com/

Credits

Host: Nora Hartquist © 2026 Retire Plugged In. All rights reserved.

The two questions your advisor asks first are the wrong ones. Here's what to answer before them.

Episode Summary

In this episode of Retire Plugged In, host Nora Hartquist breaks down why the two questions every advisor asks first - your 401(k) balance and rate of return - are the wrong starting point.

You'll learn the two questions to answer before looking at your portfolio, discover her BODE framework for uncovering your true monthly expenses, and find out which of the three retirement lifestyle tiers is actually yours.

Question of the Day 🗣️

Have you ever sat down and tracked what it actually costs to be you each month - not what you think you spend, but what the numbers say? What surprised you? Share in the comments.

Key Take-aways

• Advisors ask about your 401(k) and rate of return first - but that's the wrong starting point
• Answer "What does it cost to be me?" before you ever look at your portfolio
• Use the BODE framework to find your true monthly expenses - most people get this wrong
• A $30/day habit can quietly bleed $900/month from your retirement savings
• Know which of the three lifestyle tiers - 70%, 100%, or 150% - is actually yours

Timestamped Outline ⏱️

00:00 – Opening - Retire Plugged In Issue #014
00:17 – The wrong first questions - 401(k) balance and rate of return
00:58 – Big firms and "drinking the Kool-Aid"
03:35 – First question: "What does it cost to be me?"
04:11 – Why 98% underestimate their expenses
05:01 – The BODE framework - Basic, Operating, Discretionary, Entertainment
06:42 – The Starbucks math - $30/day is $900/month
09:13 – Building your retirement roadmap - three lifestyle tiers (70%, 100%, 150%)
13:59 – Closing - what's coming next week

Links & Resources 🔗

• Retire With Purpose, Passion, and Possibilities Bundle (free gift) → https://retirepluggedin.thecenterforretirementreadiness.com/
• Subscribe to Retire Plugged In on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCi-qFE3Wh0JY0Sr2jHuTsNw?sub_confirmation=1

Connect & CTA 🎯

👉 Enjoyed this? Subscribe & leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

🎁 Get Nora's weekly breakdown of the retirement truths nobody else is telling you - the financial pitfalls, social dynamics, and scam threats that shape your retirement window: https://retirepluggedin.thecenterforretirementreadiness.com/

Credits

Host: Nora Hartquist © 2026 Retire Plugged In. All rights reserved.

Your portfolio's ready. Is your life? The gap is where retirements quietly fall apart.

Episode Summary

In this episode of Retire Plugged In, host Nora Hartquist breaks down why being financially ready and being ready to retire are not the same thing.

You'll learn how to audit your current week for what energizes and drains you, discover the four pillars of a designed retirement week - Purpose, People, Play, and Rest - and find out why "schedule it or it won't happen" might be the single most important retirement advice you'll ever get.

Question of the Day 🗣️

What's one thing you do right now - at work or outside of it - that genuinely energizes you? Have you thought about how to carry that into retirement? Share in the comments.

Key Take-aways

• Being financially ready and retirement-ready are not the same thing - most advisors miss this
• Audit your current week to see what energizes you and what quietly drains you
• Design your ideal week around four pillars: Purpose, People, Play, and Rest
• Use the 8-8-8-8 monthly minimum to keep your retirement balanced and fulfilling
• Run 90-day experiments to discover what you love without committing long-term

Timestamped Outline ⏱️

00:00 – Opening – Retire Plugged In Issue #013
00:27 – The three forces affecting today's retirees
01:04 – Why designing retirement matters more than just planning finances
02:31 – Step 1: Audit your current week
02:59 – What energizes you - and how to build it into retirement
05:02 – What drains you - and how to simplify or offload it
07:32 – Step 2: Design your ideal week - the 8-8-8-8 monthly minimum
08:01 – The four pillars: Purpose, People, Play, and Rest
11:34 – Set 90-day experiments
13:09 – Closing – what's coming next week

Links & Resources 🔗

• NICE News - uplifting stories across every category → https://nicenews.com/category/lifestyle/
• Issue #012 - Pillar #3 Growth & Learning, plus ideas for finding your purpose → https://youtu.be/MBM0jXjujx0
• QCD (Qualified Charitable Distribution) explainer video → https://vimeo.com/reviews/b7dbe656-7009-4f28-9602-b529b82112ac/videos/1198564991
• Retire With Purpose, Passion, and Possibilities Bundle (free gift) → https://retirepluggedin.thecenterforretirementreadiness.com/
• Subscribe to Retire Plugged In on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCi-qFE3Wh0JY0Sr2jHuTsNw?sub_confirmation=1

Connect & CTA 🎯

👉 Enjoyed this? Subscribe & leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

🎁 Get Nora's weekly breakdown of the retirement truths nobody else is telling you - the financial pitfalls, social dynamics, and scam threats that shape your retirement window: https://retirepluggedin.thecenterforretirementreadiness.com/

Credits

Host: Nora Hartquist © 2026 Retire Plugged In. All rights reserved.