How much do you really need to retire? You’ve probably heard the latest “magic number”—$1.46 million—but in this episode, I’m breaking down why that number might not matter as much as you think.

Josh and I dive into what’s driving that number higher, including inflation, longer life expectancy, and uncertainty around Social Security. But more importantly, I explain why retirement planning shouldn’t be focused on hitting one big savings goal—it should be about creating reliable income that lasts for the rest of your life.

We also talk about where people actually stand today (and why many feel behind), what younger savers can do right now to set themselves up for success, and how those closer to retirement can still make meaningful progress. And as always, we highlight the unique challenges and opportunities within the LGBTQ+ community—from career disruptions to chosen family planning and the importance of getting your legal and financial ducks in a row.

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed or discouraged about your retirement savings, this episode is designed to shift your mindset—and give you a clear path forward.

Schedule your free financial consultation at TakePrideInRetirement.com or call 855-246-9211.

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Request your free RSSA Roadmap for Social Security optimization
Watch full episodes on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@TakePrideinRetirementShow
Follow on BlueSky, Threads, Facebook, Instagram — just search Take Pride in Retirement

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Take Pride in Retirement is proud to be named one of the top Pride podcasts on the internet by FeedSpot. For more, go to https://blog.feedspot.com/pride_podcasts

About Take Pride in Retirement:
Take Pride in Retirement is a podcast dedicated to retirement planning solutions for the LGBTQ community. Host Matt McClure, a licensed fiduciary financial advisor, shares strategies to protect your hard-earned money while pursuing market-like growth.

Matt holds the RSSA® credential as a Registered Social Security Analyst®, helping clients optimize their Social Security filing strategies to potentially increase lifetime income. He’s also a Certified Annuity Specialist® (CAS®), a designation earned through a 135+ hour graduate-level program in fixed-rate and variable annuities from the Institute of Business & Finance.

Based in Georgia with his husband and two dogs, Matt spent over a decade in New York City, working with The Wall Street Journal Radio Network, NY1, and WCBS Newsradio 880. A career highlight includes reporting from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.

Financial Literacy Month continues, and in this episode, I’m focusing on something that doesn’t get talked about enough in retirement planning—fraud and scams.

After dealing with a fraud situation myself recently, this topic hit close to home. Josh and I break down why fraud is one of the biggest threats to your retirement, how scammers operate, and what you can do to protect your hard-earned money.

I’m also joined by Kathy Stokes from the AARP Fraud Watch Network, who shares eye-opening insights from a new study showing just how widespread fraud has become—and why it can happen to anyone.

We’ll cover the most common red flags, practical steps to safeguard your accounts, and exactly what to do if you ever find yourself targeted.

Because retirement planning isn’t just about growing your money—it’s about protecting it.

Schedule your free financial consultation at TakePrideInRetirement.com or call 855-246-9211.

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Request your free RSSA Roadmap for Social Security optimization
Watch full episodes on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@TakePrideinRetirementShow
Follow on BlueSky, Threads, Facebook, Instagram — just search Take Pride in Retirement

-- 

Take Pride in Retirement is proud to be named one of the top Pride podcasts on the internet by FeedSpot. For more, go to https://blog.feedspot.com/pride_podcasts

About Take Pride in Retirement:
Take Pride in Retirement is a podcast dedicated to retirement planning solutions for the LGBTQ community. Host Matt McClure, a licensed fiduciary financial advisor, shares strategies to protect your hard-earned money while pursuing market-like growth.

Matt holds the RSSA® credential as a Registered Social Security Analyst®, helping clients optimize their Social Security filing strategies to potentially increase lifetime income. He’s also a Certified Annuity Specialist® (CAS®), a designation earned through a 135+ hour graduate-level program in fixed-rate and variable annuities from the Institute of Business & Finance.

Based in Georgia with his husband and two dogs, Matt spent over a decade in New York City, working with The Wall Street Journal Radio Network, NY1, and WCBS Newsradio 880. A career highlight includes reporting from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.

April is Financial Literacy Month, and in this episode, I’m breaking down some of the biggest retirement blind spots I see all the time when working with clients—especially within the LGBTQ+ community.

Josh and I walk through the risks that often go unnoticed: living longer than expected, underestimating healthcare costs, misunderstanding taxes in retirement, and relying too heavily on savings without a real income strategy.

These aren’t mistakes people are intentionally making—they’re gaps in planning that can quietly reshape your retirement if left unaddressed.

We also talk about how these issues can uniquely impact LGBTQ+ individuals and couples, from aging without traditional support systems to navigating Social Security and healthcare decisions.

If you want to build a retirement plan that gives you clarity, confidence, and income you can count on, this episode is for you.

Schedule your free financial consultation at TakePrideInRetirement.com or call 855-246-9211.

--

Request your free RSSA Roadmap for Social Security optimization
Watch full episodes on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@TakePrideinRetirementShow
Follow on BlueSky, Threads, Facebook, Instagram — just search Take Pride in Retirement

-- 

Take Pride in Retirement is proud to be named one of the top Pride podcasts on the internet by FeedSpot. For more, go to https://blog.feedspot.com/pride_podcasts

About Take Pride in Retirement:
Take Pride in Retirement is a podcast dedicated to retirement planning solutions for the LGBTQ community. Host Matt McClure, a licensed fiduciary financial advisor, shares strategies to protect your hard-earned money while pursuing market-like growth.

Matt holds the RSSA® credential as a Registered Social Security Analyst®, helping clients optimize their Social Security filing strategies to potentially increase lifetime income. He’s also a Certified Annuity Specialist® (CAS®), a designation earned through a 135+ hour graduate-level program in fixed-rate and variable annuities from the Institute of Business & Finance.

Based in Georgia with his husband and two dogs, Matt spent over a decade in New York City, working with The Wall Street Journal Radio Network, NY1, and WCBS Newsradio 880. A career highlight includes reporting from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.

If retirement is on your radar—even a little bit—this is one of the most important conversations you can hear.

In this episode of Take Pride in Retirement, Josh and I are diving into what’s known as the retirement red zone—that critical 5 to 10-year window before you retire, plus those first few years after you leave the workforce. And let me tell you… what you do during this time can truly make or break your financial future.

We walk through six key steps you should be taking right now to strengthen your retirement plan—from building your “human capital” and creating a Social Security strategy, to making sure you have a solid safety net and protecting yourself from sequence of returns risk.

And as always, we bring it back to our LGBTQ+ community—because many of us are navigating retirement without traditional support systems, pensions, or generational wealth. That makes planning ahead not just important… but essential.

This episode is all about taking control while you still can—so you’re not scrambling later.

If you’re within a decade of retirement—or already stepping into it—this is your roadmap.

Schedule your free financial consultation at TakePrideInRetirement.com or call 855-246-9211.

--

Request your free RSSA Roadmap for Social Security optimization
Watch full episodes on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@TakePrideinRetirementShow
Follow on BlueSky, Threads, Facebook, Instagram — just search Take Pride in Retirement

-- 

Take Pride in Retirement is proud to be named one of the top Pride podcasts on the internet by FeedSpot. For more, go to https://blog.feedspot.com/pride_podcasts

About Take Pride in Retirement:
Take Pride in Retirement is a podcast dedicated to retirement planning solutions for the LGBTQ community. Host Matt McClure, a licensed fiduciary financial advisor, shares strategies to protect your hard-earned money while pursuing market-like growth.

Matt holds the RSSA® credential as a Registered Social Security Analyst®, helping clients optimize their Social Security filing strategies to potentially increase lifetime income. He’s also a Certified Annuity Specialist® (CAS®), a designation earned through a 135+ hour graduate-level program in fixed-rate and variable annuities from the Institute of Business & Finance.

Based in Georgia with his husband and two dogs, Matt spent over a decade in New York City, working with The Wall Street Journal Radio Network, NY1, and WCBS Newsradio 880. A career highlight includes reporting from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.

Happy "America Saves Week!"

Guest: Shikha Narula, Head of Consumer Deposit Products at Bank of America

Key Takeaways from the Interview

Schedule your free financial consultation at TakePrideInRetirement.com or call 855-246-9211.

--

Request your free RSSA Roadmap for Social Security optimization
Watch full episodes on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@TakePrideinRetirementShow
Follow on BlueSky, Threads, Facebook, Instagram — just search Take Pride in Retirement

-- 

Take Pride in Retirement is proud to be named one of the top Pride podcasts on the internet by FeedSpot. For more, go to https://blog.feedspot.com/pride_podcasts

About Take Pride in Retirement:
Take Pride in Retirement is a podcast dedicated to retirement planning solutions for the LGBTQ community. Host Matt McClure, a licensed fiduciary financial advisor, shares strategies to protect your hard-earned money while pursuing market-like growth.

Matt holds the RSSA® credential as a Registered Social Security Analyst®, helping clients optimize their Social Security filing strategies to potentially increase lifetime income. He’s also a Certified Annuity Specialist® (CAS®), a designation earned through a 135+ hour graduate-level program in fixed-rate and variable annuities from the Institute of Business & Finance.

Based in Georgia with his husband and two dogs, Matt spent over a decade in New York City, working with The Wall Street Journal Radio Network, NY1, and WCBS Newsradio 880. A career highlight includes reporting from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.

Market volatility is something we all hear about—but if you’re close to retirement or already there, it hits a whole lot differently.

In this episode of Take Pride in Retirement, Josh and I break down what’s really going on when the markets get shaky—and more importantly, what you can actually do about it. Because this isn’t just about numbers on a screen… it’s about your income, your lifestyle, and your peace of mind.

We talk through the real risks retirees face—especially something called sequence of returns risk—and why timing matters more than most people realize once you start taking withdrawals. Then, we walk through five practical strategies to help you stay in control, even when the market feels anything but predictable.

From building a cash buffer to adjusting your investment mix, being flexible with withdrawals, avoiding emotional decisions, and creating reliable income streams—this episode is all about preparation over panic.

And as always, we bring it back to what matters most for our LGBTQ+ community. Many of us are building retirement on our own terms, without traditional pensions or safety nets—so having a smart, personalized plan isn’t just helpful… it’s essential.

If the market has you feeling uneasy right now, take a deep breath. You’ve got more control than you think—and we’re here to help you use it.

Schedule your free financial consultation at TakePrideInRetirement.com or call 855-246-9211.

--

Request your free RSSA Roadmap for Social Security optimization
Watch full episodes on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@TakePrideinRetirementShow
Follow on BlueSky, Threads, Facebook, Instagram — just search Take Pride in Retirement

-- 

Take Pride in Retirement is proud to be named one of the top Pride podcasts on the internet by FeedSpot. For more, go to https://blog.feedspot.com/pride_podcasts

About Take Pride in Retirement:
Take Pride in Retirement is a podcast dedicated to retirement planning solutions for the LGBTQ community. Host Matt McClure, a licensed fiduciary financial advisor, shares strategies to protect your hard-earned money while pursuing market-like growth.

Matt holds the RSSA® credential as a Registered Social Security Analyst®, helping clients optimize their Social Security filing strategies to potentially increase lifetime income. He’s also a Certified Annuity Specialist® (CAS®), a designation earned through a 135+ hour graduate-level program in fixed-rate and variable annuities from the Institute of Business & Finance.

Based in Georgia with his husband and two dogs, Matt spent over a decade in New York City, working with The Wall Street Journal Radio Network, NY1, and WCBS Newsradio 880. A career highlight includes reporting from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.

April is National Financial Literacy Month. It started back in the early 2000s when Congress realized too many Americans were leaving school without the first clue about how to manage a paycheck, a credit card, or a financial future.  Fast-forward to 2026, and the problem hasn’t gone away. Nearly half of U.S. adults still give themselves a C-minus or worse on money knowledge…
Key Points Covered:

Schedule your free financial consultation at TakePrideInRetirement.com or call 855-246-9211.

--

Request your free RSSA Roadmap for Social Security optimization
Watch full episodes on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@TakePrideinRetirementShow
Follow on BlueSky, Threads, Facebook, Instagram — just search Take Pride in Retirement

-- 

Take Pride in Retirement is proud to be named one of the top Pride podcasts on the internet by FeedSpot. For more, go to https://blog.feedspot.com/pride_podcasts

About Take Pride in Retirement:
Take Pride in Retirement is a podcast dedicated to retirement planning solutions for the LGBTQ community. Host Matt McClure, a licensed fiduciary financial advisor, shares strategies to protect your hard-earned money while pursuing market-like growth.

Matt holds the RSSA® credential as a Registered Social Security Analyst®, helping clients optimize their Social Security filing strategies to potentially increase lifetime income. He’s also a Certified Annuity Specialist® (CAS®), a designation earned through a 135+ hour graduate-level program in fixed-rate and variable annuities from the Institute of Business & Finance.

Based in Georgia with his husband and two dogs, Matt spent over a decade in New York City, working with The Wall Street Journal Radio Network, NY1, and WCBS Newsradio 880. A career highlight includes reporting from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.

This is part two of our series on the financial realities of losing a spouse, and in this episode, Josh and I shift from problems to solutions. I'm sharing the exact action steps you can take—both before and after loss—to protect yourself and your partner.

I reveal the five most common mistakes people make in the first year after losing a spouse, what I call the "fog period" when grief impairs decision-making. From selling homes too quickly to claiming Social Security at the wrong time, I break down the costly errors that can affect your finances for decades. The statistics are sobering: more than 62% of people report feeling unprepared, and only 4% of retirees claim Social Security at the optimal time.

But here's the good news: couples who plan together are significantly more confident and financially secure. I walk you through exactly what you should be doing right now—from open communication about finances to updating beneficiary designations, establishing powers of attorney, and making sure both partners understand where all the accounts and documents are.

For LGBTQ+ couples, I emphasize why ironclad estate planning isn't optional—it's essential. We've fought too hard for our rights not to use them fully. I explain why our legal documents need to be bulletproof, especially in situations where discrimination may still exist or when dealing with potentially unsupportive family members.

Plus, I'm throwing in a bonus segment for anyone who feels they started retirement planning late. I share five concrete steps to catch up, from maximizing contributions to creating a realistic budget. And yes, I'll explain why that folder of important documents needs to exist in your home—right now.

Remember: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. The time to plan isn't after loss strikes—it's today. If you're ready to create your own protection plan, I'm here to help.

Schedule your free financial consultation at TakePrideInRetirement.com or call 855-246-9211.

--

Request your free RSSA Roadmap for Social Security optimization
Watch full episodes on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@TakePrideinRetirementShow
Follow on BlueSky, Threads, Facebook, Instagram — just search Take Pride in Retirement

-- 

Take Pride in Retirement is proud to be named one of the top Pride podcasts on the internet by FeedSpot. For more, go to https://blog.feedspot.com/pride_podcasts

About Take Pride in Retirement:
Take Pride in Retirement is a podcast dedicated to retirement planning solutions for the LGBTQ community. Host Matt McClure, a licensed fiduciary financial advisor, shares strategies to protect your hard-earned money while pursuing market-like growth.

Matt holds the RSSA® credential as a Registered Social Security Analyst®, helping clients optimize their Social Security filing strategies to potentially increase lifetime income. He’s also a Certified Annuity Specialist® (CAS®), a designation earned through a 135+ hour graduate-level program in fixed-rate and variable annuities from the Institute of Business & Finance.

Based in Georgia with his husband and two dogs, Matt spent over a decade in New York City, working with The Wall Street Journal Radio Network, NY1, and WCBS Newsradio 880. A career highlight includes reporting from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.

In this episode, my husband Josh and I tackle one of the toughest topics in retirement planning: what happens financially when you lose a spouse. I know this isn't easy to think about, but it's absolutely critical—especially for those of us in the LGBTQ+ community who face unique challenges.

I break down the real numbers: over 1.2 million Americans age 60+ lose a spouse every year, and newly widowed individuals experience an average income drop of about 11%. Even more concerning? 41% say they had no financial planning discussions with their spouse beforehand.

We dive deep into what changes when you lose a partner—from Social Security survivor benefits (spoiler: you don't keep both checks) to pension structures, tax filing status shifts, and what I call the "widow's penalty." I explain why the lower-earning spouse's benefit disappears, how your tax rate can actually increase even as your income drops, and why decisions you made years ago about pensions can have huge consequences now.

For LGBTQ+ couples, this conversation has extra layers. We've fought hard for marriage equality and survivor benefits—now we need to protect those rights with ironclad estate planning. I share practical steps you can take today to prepare, including smart Social Security claiming strategies and how to minimize the financial shock of widowhood.

This isn't about being pessimistic—it's about protecting the people you love and the independence you've worked so hard to build. If you're concerned about your own situation or want to make sure you have a plan in place, I encourage you to reach out for a complimentary consultation.

Schedule your free financial consultation at TakePrideInRetirement.com or call 855-246-9211.

--

Request your free RSSA Roadmap for Social Security optimization
Watch full episodes on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@TakePrideinRetirementShow
Follow on BlueSky, Threads, Facebook, Instagram — just search Take Pride in Retirement

-- 

Take Pride in Retirement is proud to be named one of the top Pride podcasts on the internet by FeedSpot. For more, go to https://blog.feedspot.com/pride_podcasts

About Take Pride in Retirement:
Take Pride in Retirement is a podcast dedicated to retirement planning solutions for the LGBTQ community. Host Matt McClure, a licensed fiduciary financial advisor, shares strategies to protect your hard-earned money while pursuing market-like growth.

Matt holds the RSSA® credential as a Registered Social Security Analyst®, helping clients optimize their Social Security filing strategies to potentially increase lifetime income. He’s also a Certified Annuity Specialist® (CAS®), a designation earned through a 135+ hour graduate-level program in fixed-rate and variable annuities from the Institute of Business & Finance.

Based in Georgia with his husband and two dogs, Matt spent over a decade in New York City, working with The Wall Street Journal Radio Network, NY1, and WCBS Newsradio 880. A career highlight includes reporting from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.

Welcome back to part two of our Women's History Month series! Josh and I are continuing our deep dive into retirement planning issues that specifically impact women, with a focus on the LGBTQ+ community.

In this episode, we tackle one of the most critical decisions you'll make in retirement: when to claim Social Security. Should you take it at 62, or is waiting until 70 the smarter move? I break down the key claiming decisions, including how delaying your benefits can give you an 8% annual increase—essentially an 8% raise every year you wait past your full retirement age. For women who statistically live longer than men, and especially for lesbian couples where both partners may have longer life expectancies, this decision becomes even more crucial.

As a Registered Social Security Analyst, I explain how spousal and survivor benefits work for married couples, and why coordinating your Social Security strategy as a household is absolutely essential. The higher-earning spouse's benefit often becomes the survivor benefit, so maximizing that monthly check can make a huge difference later in life. Since marriage equality only became nationwide in 2015, many same-sex couples haven't had as much time to plan for these coordinated strategies—making it even more important to get it right.

We also explore the power of financial education and confidence building.

This episode is packed with actionable strategies and real solutions. Remember, knowledge is power, but applied knowledge is true power.

Schedule your free financial consultation at TakePrideInRetirement.com or call 855-246-9211.

--

Request your free RSSA Roadmap for Social Security optimization
Watch full episodes on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@TakePrideinRetirementShow
Follow on BlueSky, Threads, Facebook, Instagram — just search Take Pride in Retirement

-- 

Take Pride in Retirement is proud to be named one of the top Pride podcasts on the internet by FeedSpot. For more, go to https://blog.feedspot.com/pride_podcasts

About Take Pride in Retirement:
Take Pride in Retirement is a podcast dedicated to retirement planning solutions for the LGBTQ community. Host Matt McClure, a licensed fiduciary financial advisor, shares strategies to protect your hard-earned money while pursuing market-like growth.

Matt holds the RSSA® credential as a Registered Social Security Analyst®, helping clients optimize their Social Security filing strategies to potentially increase lifetime income. He’s also a Certified Annuity Specialist® (CAS®), a designation earned through a 135+ hour graduate-level program in fixed-rate and variable annuities from the Institute of Business & Finance.

Based in Georgia with his husband and two dogs, Matt spent over a decade in New York City, working with The Wall Street Journal Radio Network, NY1, and WCBS Newsradio 880. A career highlight includes reporting from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.