One multi-decade study suggests nearly half of working households may be at risk of falling short in retirement.

But another respected study found that fewer than 20% were actually behind.

So which one should you believe?

The answer reveals a weakness in the way we typically measure retirement progress.

Here's what you'll learn:

→ Why 2 respected studies reach such different conclusions about who's really at risk

→ The 3 ways the "save a percentage" rule can break down for families

→ Why the years when saving feels impossible may be more normal than you've been told

→ How your 50s and 60s can become the most important saving windows of your life.

By the end, you'll have a better way to judge whether you're truly behind and a clearer picture of the opportunities that may still be ahead.

And if nothing else, you'll understand why a difficult savings season today doesn't necessarily define where you'll end up.

***

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Your retirement involves complex, interconnected decisions—taxes, income, healthcare, estate planning, investments.

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***

Episode Resources:

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Most retirement planning treats the transition like a single event.

But in reality, you're navigating THREE different shifts at the same time.

And while traditional planning is well-equipped to handle the first, it spends far less time on the second and almost none on the third.

Here's what you'll learn:

→ Why 50% of retirees plan to spend little or none of their savings

→ Why even a well-funded retiree can treat every withdrawal like a threat

→ 5 questions that work better than "Can I afford it?"

By the end, you'll have a clearer picture of which transition your plan may be overlooking, why that matters, and what it can take to close the gap.

And if nothing else, you'll have a better answer for why spending your own money can feel so difficult after decades of doing everything right.

***

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Your retirement involves complex, interconnected decisions—taxes, income, healthcare, estate planning, investments.

See how they fit together in one coordinated strategy built around your numbers.

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***

Episode Resources:

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You've spent decades building a nest egg large enough to fund the retirement you want.

The next challenge is making sure it can support that same lifestyle for the next 30 years.

At 3% historical inflation, the $100,000 lifestyle you retire on could cost $240,000 a year by age 90.

And the assets that feel safest — cash, CDs, and money market funds — have historically done the least to keep up.

In this episode, I'm simplifying a century of market history into 8 numbers that shape how long your money lasts.

Here's what you'll learn:

→ The hidden cost of playing it safe with money you won't need for decades

→ The 2 bond numbers that look nearly identical, and the risk hiding between them

→ How they all fit together into a simple framework for making confident decisions

My hope is that when we're done, you have a small set of reference points to return to, and a lot less noise competing for your attention.

***

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Your retirement involves complex, interconnected decisions—taxes, income, healthcare, estate planning, investments.

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***

Episode Resources:

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Two retirees can have the same age, the same nest egg, and the same monthly expenses.

Give them the exact same retirement income plan, and one may feel completely comfortable while the other loses sleep the moment markets fall.

That's because retirement income planning involves more than math.

It also depends on how much certainty you want, how much flexibility you're willing to give up, and which risks you're comfortable carrying yourself.

In this episode, I'm breaking down a practical framework that organizes nearly every retirement income strategy into four distinct styles.

Here's what you'll learn:

→ The 2 questions that shape nearly every retirement income decision

→ The strengths and tradeoffs behind the 4 most common retirement income strategies

→ A simple 3-step process for building a plan around your own priorities

There may not be one "best" retirement income strategy for everyone.

But understanding the tradeoffs can help you build a plan you have the confidence to follow through market declines, changing spending needs, and decades of retirement.

***

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Your retirement involves complex, interconnected decisions—taxes, income, healthcare, estate planning, investments.

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***

Episode Resources:

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Americans now say they need $1.5 million to retire comfortably, according to a recent survey.

That's nearly 60% higher than the "magic number" reported roughly five years ago, which helps explain why so many retirement savers feel behind.

But that number is a survey average, and measuring yourself against it could cost you years you can't get back.

In this episode, I'm sharing why retiring at 62 may be more realistic than you think.

Here's what you'll learn:

→ The new Vanguard research that challenges the conventional Social Security advice

→ How one couple with $1.8 million stopped chasing the $2.5 million their calculator demanded

→ A simple 4-step process for building (and stress-testing) a flexible early retirement plan

For smart, diligent savers, the biggest retirement risk isn't always running out of money... sometimes it's running out of time.

***

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Your retirement involves complex, interconnected decisions—taxes, income, healthcare, estate planning, investments.

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***

Episode Resources:

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Last week, I made the case that many retirees can safely spend more than their plans suggest.

Today, the largest bank in the country puts that idea to the test.

But instead of relying on surveys, JP Morgan studied real bank transactions from over 5 million American households.

The data reveals three spending patterns most retirement plans ignore.

And together, they can decide whether a nest egg lasts a full 30-year retirement... or runs out years early.

In this episode, you'll learn:

→ What millions of real bank transactions reveal about retirement spending

→ The spending surge most people fail to plan for

→ Why so few retirees rarely spend the way traditional plans assume — and a simple way to protect against it

A strong retirement plan isn't built on how retirees say they behave... it's built on how they actually do.

***

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Your retirement involves complex, interconnected decisions—taxes, income, healthcare, estate planning, investments.

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***

Episode Resources:

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Most retirement plans assume your spending will rise with inflation every year for the rest of your life.

But a new study tracking thousands of American retirees found almost the exact opposite:

As many as 85% of households spent less, after adjusting for inflation, than they had 10 years earlier.

Even more surprising? That includes retirees who could comfortably afford to maintain their lifestyle!

In this episode, I'm breaking down what this new research means for your retirement plan.

You'll learn:

→ Why retirement spending declines even as healthcare costs keep climbing

→ What the "retirement spending smile" and "smirk" reveal about spending later in life

→ Why even wealthy retirees continue cutting back as they age

→ How modeling spending the way retirees actually behave can meaningfully change your safe withdrawal rate

If your plan is overestimating the cost of retirement, it's likely underestimating the life you can afford... especially in the early years, when the money delivers the most joy.

***

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Your retirement involves complex, interconnected decisions—taxes, income, healthcare, estate planning, investments.

See how they fit together in one coordinated strategy built around your numbers.

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***

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Helping an aging parent with their money is a responsibility few families are prepared for.

Get three practical resources to help your family take action:

A one-page cheat sheet of today's episode, a detailed estate-planning review checklist, and a simple guide to the key documents every family should review.

→ Download All 3 Resources Here

***

🎙️ Episode Description:

Helping an aging parent with their money sounds simple: You step in, pay the bills, and make sure everything is handled.

Unfortunately, love and trust don't give you legal authority.

And without the right document in place, a bank may refuse to speak with you... even if your parent is sick, bills are going unpaid, or money is needed for their care.

That's where a Durable Power of Attorney (DPOA) comes in. But simply having the document isn't enough.

The fine print, the powers it grants, and the way you handle the responsibility can make all the difference.

In this episode, I explain how a DPOA for finances works and steps you can take to prepare before it's too late. Here's what you'll learn:

→ The fine-print provision every family should double-check

→ 5 practical steps for managing an aging parent's finances responsibly

→ What can happen when the document isn't signed before a parent loses capacity

→ 4 common mistakes that can create legal, financial, and family problems

By the end, you'll know how to prepare for managing your parents' money — and help ensure the person they trust can legally step in when the time comes.

***

📆 Book a Call With Our Team:

Your retirement involves complex, interconnected decisions—taxes, income, healthcare, estate planning, investments.

See how they fit together in one coordinated strategy built around your numbers.

Learn More and Book a Call Here

***

Episode Resources:

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Kevin O'Leary says you only need one thing to retire safely:

$5 million in Treasury bills.

Not stocks. Not real estate. Just T-bills — and you've "safeguarded your family for life."

It sounds like the ultimate safe retirement plan.

But when a recent research article tested this advice against 40 years of market history, the results told a very different story.

In this episode, I break down the research behind the "T-Bill and Chill" strategy and what it really means for your retirement plan.

Here's what you'll learn:

→ The two hidden forces working against a portfolio built entirely on "safe" assets

→ What happened to a hypothetical retiree who followed this exact advice

→ Why Kevin O'Leary might still be right... just not for the reason he thinks

By the end, you'll know exactly what job "safe" money should (and shouldn't) have in your retirement plan.

***

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Your retirement involves complex, interconnected decisions—taxes, income, healthcare, estate planning, investments.

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***

EPISODE RESOURCES:

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Research shows that retirees following traditional withdrawal rules rarely come close to depleting their portfolios.

In fact, many end up leaving behind balances that are surprisingly large.

Which raises an important question: why is it so hard to spend the money you spent decades saving?

Today, I'm revisiting my conversation with Brian Portnoy, Ph.D., CFA to explore the psychology behind the fear of spending and what retirees can do to move through it.

Longtime listeners will also recognize Brian as the source of a quote I've shared many times on the show, and in this episode, he finally shares the story behind it.

In this episode, we discuss:

→ Why retirees with healthy, well-funded plans still struggle to spend

→ The flawed logic behind "If I just had $X, I'd finally feel comfortable"

→ 5 steps to overcome the fear of spending, whether retirement is five years away or already here

→ What "funded contentment" means, and why it may be the real difference between being rich and being wealthy

Because the goal of retirement planning isn't to die with the biggest possible balance... it's to use your money to support a life that feels meaningful to you.

***

📆 BOOK A CALL WITH OUR TEAM:

Your retirement involves complex, interconnected decisions—taxes, income, healthcare, estate planning, investments.

See how they fit together in one coordinated strategy built around your numbers.

👉 Learn More and Book a Call

***

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