We'll walk through the ten questions I'd ask if you were sitting across from me right now. Some of them take two minutes to answer. A couple of them could save you real money. None of them require you to become a Medicare expert.

There's an envelope sitting in your mailbox right now, or it will be there within the next three weeks. It's from your Medicare plan. It's probably twenty pages long, it's printed in small type, and roughly nine out of ten people set it on the counter, glance at the first page, and eventually throw it away. That envelope is called the Annual Notice of Change, and it's the single most valuable piece of mail you'll receive all year. Learn why!

In this episode of Next Chapter Retirement breaks down the massive financial impact of Social Security claiming decisions. While 26% of people rush to claim at 62, doing so locks in a permanent 30% benefit reduction. By contrast, waiting until age 70 acts as longevity insurance, boosting your benefit by 8% per year and dramatically increasing the lifetime survivor benefit for your spouse.

We unpack the critical difference between the average $1,377 monthly check at age 62 and the $2,188 check at age 70, debunk the fear-mongering headlines about the 2032 trust fund depletion, and reveal the dangerous Medicare "red-ink" rule that catches late claimers off guard. Don't make a permanent, six-figure mistake at your kitchen table—get the facts and build a clear five-step action plan to optimize your retirement wealth

Healthcare is one of the largest expenses in retirement, and one of the least planned for. In this episode, we walk through four healthcare costs that catch retirees off guard: the deductibles and coinsurance built into Medicare itself, the dental/vision/hearing gap Original Medicare leaves open, the long-term care costs Medicare largely won't cover, and the coverage gap for anyone retiring before 65.

Medicare's temporary GLP-1 Bridge covers Wegovy and Zepbound for a $50 copay. We explain who qualifies, the catches, and why it's not as simple as it sounds.

In this episode, we break down IRMAA (Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount), an income-based surcharge added to your Medicare Part B and Part D premiums. You'll learn the mechanics of how this surcharge is calculated, why it catches so many diligent savers by surprise, and the proactive planning steps you can take to manage it. Most importantly, we explain how and when you can appeal an IRMAA surcharge using Form SSA-44 if your income has dropped due to a qualifying life-changing event like retirement.

Retirement used to be fairly short, but today it can last 30 years, and that changes everything about how you plan.

In this episode, we share the longevity numbers most people underestimate, the real cost of health care over a long retirement.

Learn the 3 simple shifts that separate a retirement you endure from one you truly enjoy:

1. Retire to something instead of from something
2. Treating your health as a financial asset
3. Planning for the different phases of retirement.

In this episode of Next Chapter Retirement, we'll break down the five quietest and most expensive Medicare mistakes that retirees make. These aren't dramatic errors; they are silent decisions, often made from a lack of information, that can lead to lifetime penalties, denied claims, and higher premiums. The podcast explains Medicare's underlying rules, and offers actionable strategies to help you navigate your Medicare transition with absolute confidence.

Today I’m joined by Colette Burris. Colette and her husband recently transitioned into Medicare and retirement after years of thoughtful planning and preparation. In this episode, we talk less about financial formulas and more about the real-world decisions, habits, and mindset shifts that helped make the transition smoother

Today's guest is Debbie Hellman, who has a background in nutrition, movement, and overall wellness. In this episode we focus on what really matters—how to stay active, eat well, and feel your best in retirement.