The Biggest Retirement Mistakes That Can Cost You Thousands (And How to Avoid Them) | Episode 103

The biggest threats to your retirement may not be a stock market crash or a bad investment. More often, they're the small mistakes that quietly compound over time.

In this episode of The Infinite Income Podcast, George Mayfield, The Dividend Doctor, and Autumn Bennett discuss the most common retirement mistakes they see—and, more importantly, how you can avoid them.

You'll learn why retiring without a written plan can create unnecessary stress, why inflation remains one of retirement's greatest hidden risks, how emotional decisions can derail even the best investment strategy, and why purpose, health, and communication are just as important as your portfolio.

Whether you're planning to retire in the next few years or you're already enjoying retirement, this episode will help you make smarter decisions and build greater confidence for the years ahead.

In this episode, you'll discover:

Why hope is not a retirement strategy

The planning mistakes that can quietly cost you thousands

Common Social Security and cash reserve mistakes

Why emotions often do more damage than market downturns

The importance of having a purpose after retirement

How communication can strengthen both your retirement plan and your marriage

George's practical steps for avoiding costly financial mistakes

If you've enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow The Infinite Income Podcast so you never miss future conversations designed to help you invest wisely, retire confidently, and keep building your Infinite Income.

One of the biggest questions retirees ask is surprisingly simple:

"How much cash should I keep in retirement?"

Some retirees keep almost nothing in cash because they want every dollar working in the market. Others keep so much cash that inflation quietly erodes their purchasing power over time.

So...what's the right answer?

In this episode, George Mayfield and Autumn Bennett explain why cash isn't just about earning interest—it's about creating confidence. You'll discover why cash plays a unique role in retirement, how it can help you avoid emotional investing decisions during market downturns, and why the "right" amount of cash depends on your personal retirement plan.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why cash has a completely different job than your investment portfolio

Bonus Tip: George shares why cash shouldn't be measured by the interest it earns—but by the financial mistakes it helps you avoid.

Question of the Week:

If today's conversation helps you, please share this episode with someone who's preparing for retirement or already enjoying it. It could give them a whole new perspective on one of the most overlooked parts of retirement planning.

And if you found value in today's episode, be sure to follow The Infinite Income Podcast so you never miss a future conversation.

Next Week: The Biggest Retirement Mistakes That Can Cost You Thousands (Episode 103).

Last week we asked, "Can you afford to retire?" This week we're taking the next logical step by tackling one of the biggest retirement decisions you'll ever make:

When should you start taking Social Security?

Should you claim benefits at age 62? Wait until your Full Retirement Age? Or delay until age 70?

The answer isn't as simple as picking the age that pays the biggest monthly check.

In this episode, George Mayfield and Autumn Bennett explain the factors that really matter, including your health, retirement income, spouse, taxes, longevity, and overall retirement goals. You'll discover why the "best" claiming age is different for everyone and why this decision should be part of a complete retirement plan—not made in isolation.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• The advantages and trade-offs of claiming at age 62, Full Retirement Age, and age 70

Bonus Tip: George shares one simple habit that can help you make better financial decisions—not just with Social Security, but throughout retirement.

Question of the Week:

If this episode helped you, please share it with someone who's approaching retirement. It could help them make one of the most important financial decisions of their lives.

And if you found value in today's conversation, be sure to follow The Infinite Income Podcast so you never miss a future episode.

Next week: How Much Cash Should You Keep in Retirement?

We're celebrating Episode 100 of The Infinite Income Podcast! Thank you for being part of this incredible journey. Whether you've been with us since the beginning or this is your very first episode, we're grateful you're here.

One of the biggest questions people ask as retirement approaches isn't, "How much money do I have?" It's a much more important question:

Can I actually afford to retire?

In this special 100th episode, George Mayfield and Autumn Bennett walk through the seven essential questions everyone should answer before making one of life's biggest financial decisions.

You'll learn:

• How to estimate what retirement will really cost

Along the way, George shares real-life experiences, practical retirement strategies, and one powerful bonus tip that could change the way you prepare for retirement.

Whether retirement is twenty years away or just around the corner, this episode will help you approach the future with greater confidence.

Question of the Week:

If you found value in this episode, please follow The Infinite Income Podcast and share this episode with someone who's planning for retirement. It really helps us reach more people who are looking for practical financial guidance.

100 episodes. Countless conversations. One mission: Helping everyday investors make better financial decisions with greater confidence.

Thank you for being part of The Infinite Income Community. Here's to the next 100 episodes.

Retirement isn't the finish line—it's the moment your portfolio begins doing the job you've spent decades preparing it to do.

In this episode of The Infinite Income Podcast, George Mayfield, The Dividend Doctor, and Autumn Bennett tackle one of the biggest questions every investor eventually faces:

How do you actually turn your retirement portfolio into a dependable paycheck?

You'll learn how successful retirees build multiple income streams instead of relying on a single source, why dividend income, Social Security, and growth investments can all work together, and how strategies like maintaining a cash reserve and using a simple bucket approach can help you navigate market downturns with greater confidence.

George also explains Sequence of Returns Risk in plain English, shares lessons learned from years of helping investors prepare for retirement, and offers practical ideas that can help you stop worrying about your portfolio—and start enjoying the retirement you've worked so hard to earn.

Whether retirement is just around the corner or still years away, this episode will help you understand how to build a retirement income plan that is designed to last.

In this episode you'll discover:

Why retirement is an emotional transition—not just a financial one

How to build multiple retirement income streams

Monthly income ETFs vs. dividend-growth ETFs

Why growth still matters in retirement

How cash can buy you time during market downturns

A simple Bucket Strategy for retirement income

George's biggest lesson about living confidently in retirement

🎙 New episodes of The Infinite Income Podcast drop every Friday. Be sure to follow the show so you never miss a conversation designed to help you make better financial decisions with greater confidence.

Most investors think the biggest threat to their financial future is a stock market crash.

But what if the real danger is something far less dramatic—and far more persistent?

In this episode of The Infinite Income Podcast, George Mayfield and Autumn Bennett explain how inflation quietly erodes your purchasing power over time and why it's one of the greatest challenges facing both investors and retirees.

Financial freedom isn't just about growing your portfolio.

It's about making sure your money can continue to support the lifestyle you've worked so hard to build.

Join us as we discuss one of the most overlooked topics in personal finance—and how you can position your portfolio to stay ahead of inflation.

This show breaks down how AI is changing investing in simple, everyday language. If you’re a regular investor who wants to understand what’s real and what’s hype, this guide is for you.

In this episode of The Infinite Income Podcast, George Mayfield and Autumn Bennett break down how AI is reshaping the investing world in ways that everyday investors can actually understand. We look at what’s truly changing, what’s simply getting more attention, and why the market feels more concentrated than ever — especially inside the S&P 500.

You’ll learn how AI affects diversification, concentration risk, international investing, small‑cap opportunities, and the role of cash and gold in a modern portfolio. Most importantly, we explain why chasing the latest AI trend isn’t a long‑term strategy — and what regular investors should focus on instead.

The Next Trillion-Dollar Investments: SpaceX, Nvidia, AI Chips & The Future of Wealth

In this episode of The Infinite Income Podcast, George Mayfield and Autumn Bennett break down the next wave of trillion‑dollar opportunities — from SpaceX and AI chips to the companies powering the future of global innovation. We explain these trends in simple, everyday language so regular investors can understand what’s actually happening beneath the headlines.

You’ll learn how breakthroughs in space, semiconductors, and artificial intelligence are reshaping long‑term wealth creation, what risks come with these fast‑growing sectors, and how everyday investors can think about diversification, concentration, and opportunity without chasing hype.

Most investors think the biggest threat to their passive income is a stock market crash. But the real dangers are quieter, more common, and far more destructive — even when the market is doing just fine.

In this episode of The Infinite Income Podcast, George Mayfield and Autumn Bennett break down the hidden risks that can quietly erode wealth and derail financial freedom. We explain these threats in simple, everyday language so regular investors can understand what truly matters.

You’ll learn why inflation, lifestyle creep, taxes, emotional investing, and poor decision‑making often do more damage than any bear market ever could — and what you can do to protect your income for the long run.

Because building passive income is only half the battle. Protecting it is where real financial freedom begins.

Most investors start with a number—$5,000 a month, $8,000 a month, maybe even more. But where did that number come from? And does it actually fit your life?

In this episode of The Infinite Income Podcast, George Mayfield and Autumn Bennett walk through how passive income needs change through different stages of life—from the growth years in your 20s and 30s to the transition years approaching retirement.

This episode is all about matching your portfolio to your stage of life.

Because growth builds wealth…

And income protects freedom.