Retirement is often treated as a finish line, but for many people, it becomes one of the most complex financial transitions of their lives. In this episode, Mark Fried explains why retirement planning isn't just about hitting a number—it's about navigating the shift from saving to spending, from accumulation to distribution, and from certainty to intentional decision-making. Drawing on decades of fiduciary experience, Mark explores why so many well-prepared retirees still feel uneasy once the paycheck stops.

This conversation goes beyond market returns and projections to focus on what actually drives long-term retirement success: clarity around income, control over taxes and withdrawals, and confidence built from a purpose-driven plan. Mark breaks down the emotional and financial challenges retirees face and explains how a personalized income strategy can create stability, flexibility, and peace of mind over decades—not just years.

KEY DISCUSSION POINTS (use for blog post & Libsyn description)

• Why retirement feels uncertain even for people who saved diligently

• The critical mindset shift from accumulation to distribution

• How retirement planning changes once earned income stops

• Why clarity around income sources matters more than portfolio performance

• The role taxes play in long-term retirement outcomes

• How Social Security timing affects lifetime income

• Why withdrawal sequencing can quietly erode savings if ignored

• The difference between diversification and a true income plan

• How fiduciary planning focuses on control, not predictions

• Redefining retirement success as confidence and sustainability

TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Why Retirement Doesn't Feel Like the Finish Line 02:10 – The South Jersey Road Metaphor and Retirement Reality 04:35 – From Saving to Spending: The Biggest Retirement Shift 06:40 – Why Retirement Is a Math Problem Wrapped in Emotion 08:15 – Clarity: Knowing Your Income Sources 10:05 – Control: Taxes, Timing, and Smarter Withdrawals 12:30 – Confidence: Building an Income Plan With Purpose 14:50 – Redefining What Financial Independence Really Means 16:40 – Letting Go of Market Obsession and Focusing on What You Control 18:20 – Building a Retirement Roadmap That Holds Up Over Time

WHO THIS PODCAST IS FOR Road Rules for Retirement is for pre-retirees and retirees who want fiduciary guidance on retirement income, taxes, Social Security, and long-term planning—particularly those living in Bucks County, the Philadelphia area, and New Jersey.

Mark Fried is a fiduciary financial advisor in Newtown, PA, serving retirees and pre-retirees throughout Bucks County, the Philadelphia area, and New Jersey.

Visit Mark's website: https://plansmartandretirewell.com/