What’s the biggest threat to retirement: the system… or the strategy?

In this episode, Rod and I pull back the curtain on the two forces that quietly shape most retirement outcomes. First, we look at the systemic side—the stuff you can’t control but absolutely need to understand: political influence in pensions, underfunded plans, longer lifespans, inflation, and even the way the financial “game” is tilted toward those with the most money and influence.

Then we turn the spotlight inward—because the other threat is the one most people don’t expect: traditional planning itself. The accumulation-only mindset, over-reliance on the stock market, liquidity traps inside qualified plans, and the habit of building retirement plans on long chains of assumptions (returns, inflation, taxes) that nobody can actually guarantee—especially when sequence-of-returns risk hits early.

And here’s the good news: this doesn’t have to be a doom-and-gloom conversation. The point isn’t fear—it’s control. We walk through what you can do: diversify beyond “just stocks,” build income diversification, create tax diversification, and lean into cash-flowing assets so you’re not forced to live by a single fragile strategy (or a single institution’s rules).

Key Takeaways

• Retirement risk comes from two places: systemic issues and traditional planning assumptions.
• Inflation, healthcare costs, and longevity make “just hit a number” planning shaky.
• Over-reliance on the stock market + sequence-of-returns risk can derail retirement early.
• Liquidity constraints in qualified plans can trap your money when you need it most.
• The solution is income + tax diversification across truly different asset classes—not just different funds.

Money Insights is a strategic planning firm that is founded on the principle that "off-the-shelf" products and solutions often do not meet the needs of high-income earners. The Money Insights team works to collaboratively design customized financial solutions that will leave a lasting impact on each of their unique clients. Visit Money Insights and take the Investor Quiz at https://moneyinsightsgroup.com! Listen to the Money Insights podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or at https://moneyinsightsgroup.com/podcast/