Episodes

Learn how to find meaning and purpose in retirement after a life in public service with retired librarian and current retirement coach Susan Hawk Schneider. For most, retirement is a release from the necessity of a job that paid your way through the life you and your family desired. For people who dedicated their working lives to jobs in public service, retirement can be a little more complicated. On this episode of Retirement Revealed, I had the pleasure of speaking with Susan Schneider, who d...

Discover the power of viewing retirement as a rebirth instead of an ending with retirement coach Karen Carr. When we hear the word “retirement,” many of us imagine a full stop—a conclusion to the long career we’ve built. However, if we shift our perspective, retirement can represent something far more inspiring: a new beginning. In this week’s episode of the “Retirement Revealed” podcast, I had the privilege of sitting down with Karen Carr, a retirement coach who turned a traumatic experience i...

Discussing the hot button investing topics of 2025 with “Let’s Talk Money!” advisor Joseph Hogue. As a financial advisor, I often encounter questions that range from timing the stock market to whether retirees should invest in cryptocurrencies. There is a lot of confusing information available to anyone interested in exploring the multitude of investing options available in today’s market–so how do you know what is right for you? I sat down with Joseph Hogue, host of the popular YouTube channel...

Unlocking the power of relationships to enrich your retirement and reap the health & wealth benefits of social fitness with Susan Hogan. Everyone will enter their retirement years thinking about health and fitness to some extent. Susan Hogan believes that putting a concerted effort into your social wellbeing will have a ripple effect on your quality of life that is unmatched by any diet or exercise can bring you. In this episode of “Retirement Revealed” Susan sits down with me to explain why re...

Author and CEO of Childfree Wealth® Dr. Jay Zigmont explains the unique financial planning needs and strategies used in childfree wealth management. 75% of people are likely to pursue the typical American trajectory of financial planning: save for retirement, retire, leave wealth for the next generation. But what do you do if you’re a part of the 25% who is childfree? In this episode of Retirement Revealed, I had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Jay Zigmont, a financial advisor specializing i...

Author and estate planning expert Mark Shiller shares how to leave wealth to your kids and prepare them for success Is there a sweet spot in leaving wealth to the next generation? In this week’s episode of Retirement Revealed I had the pleasure of speaking with Mark Shiller, a lawyer, author and estate planning expert with nearly 30 years of experience. Let’s dive into some of the key takeaways and strategies Mark shared and how you can utilize them to leave a legacy you can be proud of. What’...

Author and executor advisor David Edey shares how to prepare your estate and your executor to leave a legacy behind instead of a mess. Nobody likes a messy house. When your journey in this life ends and you’ve left your estate to your executor, wouldn’t you rather leave a lasting legacy instead of an acute headache? Today, I’m thrilled to share insights from my conversation with author and executor advisor David Edey, whose personal journey of navigating his parents’ estate taught him invaluable...

Learn how to build a fulfilling retirement by utilizing a growth mindset – with Wendy Leggett Retirement is often viewed as a finish line—a destination we’ve been racing toward for decades. But what if I told you it’s not just about arriving? I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Wendy Leggett, who shared transformative insights into embracing retirement with intention, purpose, and a growth mindset. Defining a Successful Retirement Many people feel pressure in retirement as they compare...

Learn how to tap into the soul of wealth to build a life that breeds happiness and purpose with Dr. Daniel Crosby. When we think about money, the first thoughts that come to mind often revolve around numbers: savings accounts, investments, and expenses. But as I recently discussed with Dr. Daniel Crosby on the Retirement Revealed podcast, money is about so much more than just numbers. Dr. Crosby’s new book, The Soul of Wealth, explores the deeper meaning behind our financial decisions and how ou...

Discover your purpose outside of your occupation and live your best life yet in retirement. How do you come out of your career into a retirement that fulfills all of your dreams and expectations? My guest on this week’s episode of “Retirement Revealed” is Kevin Lyles, a retired corporate attorney who took a hands-on approach to realizing his retirement dreams. After retiring at the age of 55, Kevin has found a calling in guiding others on their retirement journey. Let me break down our conversa...

Take advantage of the power of your time in retirement with these mindset re-directs from retirement coach and author David Buck. People often expect that it’s going to be the greatest feeling in the world to have all this free time on their hands when they retire. My guest on this week’s episode of “Retirement Revealed” has seen the numbers and heard the stories–aimless time isn’t the release-on-life many people imagined it would be in retirement. David Buck, author and retirement coach, has c...

Understanding how the results of the 2024 election could affect your decisions in retirement. It’s natural to wonder if political shifts will impact your financial decisions. Many are predicting major changes in legislation and economic strategy due to the results of the 2024 election, and while there is merit in anticipating major changes, I find that there are some general principles of managing your retirement plan that can help you navigate the uncertainties that come with changing winds of ...

5 Steps to prepare your savings within 12 months of your retirement. When you’re on the verge of retirement, say within the next 12 months, you might think you’ve done everything you need to do: saving diligently, investing wisely, and maybe even attending a webinar or two. But have you truly prepared for the retirement you want? Based on real-life examples from my financial planning practice, I’ve found that many retirees wait too long to make crucial decisions about their savings and investmen...

Learn how to turn your grief into goals in order to make the most of your next chapter in life. Today’s episode of Retirement Revealed touched on something deeply personal and profoundly moving. My guest, Lynn Banis, shared her story of navigating a series of heartbreaking losses: her mother, brother, dog, and husband, all within a short span of time. For anyone, that’s a staggering amount of grief to process. Yet, through it all, Lynn found a way to rebuild her life and find a new purpose. It’...

Learn how to master Medicare and get the coverage you need at the best rate available. Too many people are guilty of making Medicare either too complicated or too simple. How do you find that middle ground? Last week’s episode of “Retirement Revealed” with Melinda Caughill was an extensive deep-dive into Medicare that provided impactful information related to making your Medicare decision. This week I’m breaking down the simple 6 step process to mastering Medicare based on Diane Omdahl’s book “M...

Melinda Caughill shares the secrets of Medicare enrollment in 2024, what to avoid and how to pick the right coverage. As Medicare Open Enrollment begins, the importance of understanding Medicare and making the right decisions during the enrollment period cannot be overstated. For this week’s episode of “Retirement Revealed” I sat down with Melinda Caughill, co-founder of 65 Incorporated, to discuss her playbook for Medicare in 2024. This open enrollment period is particularly crucial due to sign...

Learn how to supercharge Social Security and capitalize on up to $200,00 that the average couple misses in retirement. Did you know that the average couple is missing out on $100,000 to $200,000 in Social Security benefits over their lifetime? If that number sounds ridiculous–or you’re worried that you’re on that same track with your benefit–this blog is for you! In today’s episode of Retirement Revealed, I’ll walk you through five strategies to help you maximize your Social Security benefits a...

Debunking 3 Medicare myths and examining the ways you can avoid falling for common Medicare mistakes. As you approach retirement, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed with the various decisions you need to make, especially when it comes to Medicare. In this post, I want to focus on three major Medicare myths that can lead to costly mistakes. Understanding these myths will help you navigate Medicare with confidence, helping you avoid unnecessary expenses and headaches. Myth #1: Medicare Is Free One of ...

David Blanchett discusses the survey results that reveal a building crisis among near retirees who are unprepared for retirement. When we hear “midlife crisis,” we usually think of people making drastic changes like buying a sports car or changing careers. But when it comes to retirement, the stakes are even higher. A financial midlife crisis can significantly impact how well you live out your golden years. So, what’s going on? Why is this happening, and more importantly, how can you avoid it? ...

Understanding the options available to civil servants entering retirement under FERS. If you’re one of the 2 million people in the federal workforce, this post is designed to help you make the most of your retirement plan by understanding the Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS). As we head toward the end of the fiscal year, it’s a great time to revisit how FERS works and how you can maximize your benefits. Breaking Down FERS: The Three Key Components Before we dive into the details, let’s...

Chet Bennetts shares insights on the study that highlights the challenges facing the average American seeking financial literacy. When it comes to retirement, knowledge truly is power. The more you understand your financial situation, the better you can navigate the complexities of retirement planning and make informed decisions. In this week’s episode of the Retirement Revealed podcast, Chet Bennetts–program director of the CFP®/ChFC® Program at The American College of Financial Services–shared...

Exploring the concept of “Infinite Banking” and comparing life insurance retirement plans to traditional retirement strategies. If you’ve been browsing TikTok, Facebook, or LinkedIn, you’ve likely seen posts promoting life insurance as the “ultimate retirement solution”. But is it really the best way to go about planning for your retirement? Let’s explore. Recently, I was asked to provide some insights for an article on life insurance retirement plans on Medium.com. This request led me to revis...

Examining the 5 reasons an earlier retirement might make sense for you. When you originally planned for retirement, chances are you spent a lot of time focusing on the cold hard dollars and cents, calculating the optimal timing for your finances and adjusting your calendar accordingly. My guest on this week’s episode of the Retirement Revealed podcast, Ashley Micciche, suggests that there might be more reason to retire earlier than you originally thought. Ashley breaks down 5 reasons to conside...