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March 28, 2026 56 mins

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Speaker 1 (00:12):
This is coming to us, so.

Speaker 2 (00:20):
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Safe Money Strategies on WRKO.
I'm William Kelly and it's an honor to carry on
a family legacy rooted in real world values and practical advice.
Kelly Financial was founded in two thousand and three by
my parents, my late father Bill Kelly and my mother
Kelly Kelly and Braintree and Burlington, Massachusetts. Just two years later,

(00:41):
Dad launched Safe Money Strategies on WRKO as a no
nonsense call in radio show focused on common sense planning
and protecting wealth. Over the past two decades, Dad became
a pillar in New England finance, an engineer turned entrepreneur,
author and philanthropist who believed in giving back and walking
the talk. Since our show has remained a Saturday morning staple,

(01:02):
offering insight and empowerment. Here at Kelly Financial, we help
steward over eight hundred million dollars across our affiliated business,
including more than six hundred million dollars managed by our
sec registered investment advisory, where fiduciary care and our family
first philosophy guides us on safe money strategies. You'll hear
candid conversations with the team my mother Kelly, myself, advisors

(01:26):
Charlie Gable, Mike Ducett, Greg Workman, Greg Murray, my sister
Mary Madeline, and Tom Schlager. We live by two rules,
never quit and carry on, and we're here to help
you do the same when it comes to your money.
Stick around, take notes and join the conversation. To learn
more or get our free guides or schedule consultation, visit

(01:46):
Kelly Financial dot org or call us at eight eight
eight eight hundred one eight eight one. This is Safe
Money Strategies. Next up Forever Young with Kelly Kelly and myself,
William Kelly Junior.

Speaker 3 (02:02):
Safe Money Strategies with William Kelly and Kelly Kelly eight
eight hundred eighteen eighty one.

Speaker 4 (02:14):
Each week on Safe Money Strategies, we take a moment
to step back from the headlines and have a real conversation,
the kind you might have around the kitchen table. This
is a part of the show we call Forever Young
is where I sit down with my handsome son, William
Kelly Junior, and we talk about life, what's going on
in the world, in our family, and what really matters

(02:36):
most when you're planning for the future sometimes as light,
sometimes is thoughtful, but is always real. Good morning William.

Speaker 5 (02:44):
Good morning Mom. How are you.

Speaker 4 (02:45):
I'm doing great? How about yourself?

Speaker 2 (02:47):
I've been fine. It's been a great week. I've had
a lot of exciting experiences.

Speaker 4 (02:50):
Good. Good.

Speaker 2 (02:52):
So my history final and my political science finals, those
are all coming up where I've been done. My History
final was due on Friday, and it was a take
home exam. The first one's going to be take home
open notes, the second one will be in person close notes.
And so that went really well. My political science one

(03:13):
was really thorough. That was take home, but you had
to submit your second round essay with it. Okay, you
know it's a big deal. You got to answer all
the questions with that we learned in class and with
the videos, and he does video lectures that we have
to watch. So he's a very thorough professor. I like
it a lot.

Speaker 4 (03:28):
Good.

Speaker 2 (03:28):
So those went well. I have an ECON final next
week on Friday. So he released a study guide and
it's been very helpful.

Speaker 5 (03:36):
I'm going to pus attention to that.

Speaker 2 (03:38):
And besides academics. On Wednesday, I got to golf for
the first time in just about a decade.

Speaker 4 (03:47):
Long time.

Speaker 5 (03:48):
It's been a while.

Speaker 2 (03:49):
I know a lot of you folks who have been
listening for over a decade knew that I golfed and
Dad made it very He was.

Speaker 5 (03:56):
Very proud of that, and I did pretty well.

Speaker 4 (03:58):
Yeah, you and your Ben Hogan's.

Speaker 5 (04:00):
Yes.

Speaker 2 (04:00):
I remember Dad had a video of Ben Hogan and
I had to mimic it exactly. My dad had those
coaching apps where he would draw lines so he could
do analysis or analyses.

Speaker 5 (04:11):
And it had to be exactly like his.

Speaker 2 (04:14):
And actually, I will say to some that might sound extreme,
and to be honest, he was an extreme coach in
a good way, but it actually helped my drive. It
gave me a solid drive because Ben Hogan's drive was perfect.

Speaker 5 (04:27):
It was just incredible. He was such a great golfer.

Speaker 2 (04:30):
So and Arnold Palmer as well. I had to watch
a lot of his videos. Dad would find these four
minute videos on YouTube just breaking down the swing, and
so I would watch that with him.

Speaker 1 (04:41):
Reluctantly.

Speaker 5 (04:41):
I'm like, Dad, I don't want to watch this.

Speaker 2 (04:43):
He's like, it's four minutes, come on, We're going to
watch it.

Speaker 5 (04:45):
So it was exciting.

Speaker 2 (04:47):
I didn't play as well as I thought I would
since it's literally been a decade. But it was a
lot of fun. I was happy to bond with my friends.
That's what counts exactly.

Speaker 4 (04:56):
That's what counts, and who knows you could get back
into it.

Speaker 5 (04:59):
That's true, That is very true.

Speaker 4 (05:01):
We'll see about that. Well, we have some girls coming
over later today to start celebrating Mary Madaline's twenty ninth birthday.

Speaker 2 (05:10):
Gosh, I can't believe she's twenty nine now, I know.
Time flies. Feels like yesterday she got her car and
we were going to Chili's together.

Speaker 4 (05:19):
That was a long time ago.

Speaker 5 (05:20):
That was yeah, fun times. But it's going to be
leading night at the Keller.

Speaker 2 (05:25):
Yeah.

Speaker 4 (05:25):
Well, I think John Boubadris may be coming. You're kidding, No, No,
he may come. He's been dying to see you since
your birthday.

Speaker 5 (05:34):
That's true.

Speaker 4 (05:35):
So we'll have a bunch of dogs.

Speaker 2 (05:38):
Yeah. John is one of the most busy people on
the planet. He has a million projects and I know
he's on top of his stuff, but sometimes it's hard
to schedule with him just because he's such a he's
always doing something on learnt from John.

Speaker 4 (05:52):
It's still up in the air, but most likely we'll
see him. But I think we have like some arts
and crafts planned making, some kind of magnets came up
with that, so I just needed to have parchment paper
for the table. So what have that? And then we're
going to our favorite place Alfournos Nope, nope, another grill.

(06:15):
No McDonald's will yam what Donald's I think not? You're crazy.
One more guess Oyster Bar. No, I can't believe it.
The cook House.

Speaker 2 (06:27):
Oh, that is a really nice restaurant. Yeah, that I
can't believe I missed that. I know what a birthday treat.

Speaker 4 (06:36):
I know, I know. I'm looking forward to it myself.

Speaker 2 (06:39):
Anytime we have a special occasion, we have like a
list of restaurants in our mind. And for the super
most nice occasions, Capitol Grill doesn't get better than the
Capitol Grill. If they seat you, if they put you
at the bar or in the secondary room, it's not
as good. So ladies and gentlemen always try to get
to the main room.

Speaker 5 (06:57):
Clark cook Hows.

Speaker 2 (06:58):
Is certainly up there. It's a very nice place. This
is a very special occasion, so it's well deserved.

Speaker 4 (07:03):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (07:03):
The Oyster Bars right in front of the Red Parrot.
For those who are familiar with Newport.

Speaker 4 (07:07):
That's a great place.

Speaker 5 (07:08):
It truly is.

Speaker 4 (07:08):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (07:09):
Oh, it's so tasty and it's just a good, you know,
low key place if you want to get a drink,
if you want to just have some really good seafood
and just enjoy time and Newport. Nothing too crazy. It's
a very nice place. Nonetheless, it is McDonald's is. It's
tough to get reservations over there, but I'm sure you
guys can figure it out.

Speaker 5 (07:26):
If you have any questions, don't hesitate to email.

Speaker 4 (07:29):
Us and you are hilarious.

Speaker 2 (07:32):
Alfourno's is a hidden gym. Don't ever go to Alfornos.
It's so good leaf space for us ladies, I know,
but seriously, we highly recommend it.

Speaker 4 (07:41):
Oh yes, oh yeah.

Speaker 2 (07:43):
A lot of it's it's kind of its own dining experience.

Speaker 4 (07:46):
I know it's hard to get reservations there, but you
can go early.

Speaker 2 (07:50):
They reserve a certain amount for walking. Yes, yeah, that's
probably the best way to do it.

Speaker 5 (07:55):
Honestly.

Speaker 2 (07:56):
They are also very uh I just I don't even
not to explain. They just do everything the right way.

Speaker 4 (08:01):
They like every waiter or waitress we've ever had there.
They know their stuff. They are they love it there.
You can tell they love the food and when they,
you know, give you the rundown of what they're offering.
They know, they are quite enthusiastic and knowledge.

Speaker 5 (08:20):
Oh you know, they work really hard.

Speaker 2 (08:21):
So that's that's always kind of refreshing to see when
you go to a restaurant like that. So anyways, just
stones and recommendations out there, that's exciting. I can't wait
to see everybody. I can't believe it's Emmon's birthday.

Speaker 4 (08:31):
I know we're celebrating a few days early.

Speaker 5 (08:34):
That's true, that's true, but still but it's.

Speaker 4 (08:35):
Tough when your birthday's week during the week. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Speaker 5 (08:40):
But still it's the It's basically the same thing.

Speaker 4 (08:44):
I know, I know exactly.

Speaker 2 (08:46):
So Mom, how are the animals doing. I haven't seen them.

Speaker 4 (08:50):
They are doing fantastic.

Speaker 5 (08:52):
It's good. I wish Marshall and Georgia.

Speaker 2 (08:54):
I wish they Georgia gets.

Speaker 4 (08:55):
Her steps in. She's like she still wears that the
figh caller, as you know. But I think our many
of our listeners know she's How long has.

Speaker 1 (09:06):
She had that?

Speaker 4 (09:06):
I'd say about a yes, yes, it's been at least
a year and h it was very competitive.

Speaker 5 (09:15):
Very she's back.

Speaker 4 (09:16):
She's back. Last time I checked, I think she was
like number ten in Rhode Island. Yes, her numbers are
looking good.

Speaker 5 (09:25):
That's good.

Speaker 2 (09:27):
Good Georgia, very very great dog. Doesn't get better than Georgia. Seriously,
We're blessed. She's very smart, she's keen, very.

Speaker 5 (09:34):
Athletic as well.

Speaker 2 (09:36):
Her parents were show dogs, but Georgia didn't make the
cut when she was a puppy because she sat to
the left a little bit on her hip, and so
the judges said, Nope, she can't. She has to be
a family dog, not a show dog.

Speaker 4 (09:46):
And I'm so glad.

Speaker 5 (09:47):
We were so relieved.

Speaker 4 (09:48):
I wish she's a wonderful family dog.

Speaker 5 (09:51):
She truly is.

Speaker 2 (09:52):
And I remember she grew up, picked her up in
Connecticut back in twenty eighteen.

Speaker 4 (09:56):
We did, we did.

Speaker 2 (09:58):
She's been a loyal g companion. I just I'm so
happy we have her and Marshall. Marshall just kind of
he's always there. Would you call him a companion, Yeah,
I call him a companion. That was a little hesitant mom. Yeah,
he likes to sit next to you when you do work.
He's kind of like your assistant a little bit.

Speaker 4 (10:17):
He does.

Speaker 2 (10:17):
Sometimes he'll sit on your laptop. That's when he's a
little unhelpful, but that's true. And then whenever he sits
on your clothes, they get a lot of hair on it.
But you know what, animals aren't perfect. We love them nonetheless.

Speaker 4 (10:27):
I know, I know they're part of your family's right, Yeah,
it's right. I think everyone feels the same way about
their pets.

Speaker 2 (10:35):
Oh yeah, they can have a million things in annoying,
but at the end of the day, you still love them.
Oh you do, and they're always there for you.

Speaker 4 (10:41):
So do keep us on your dial. We've got a
lot of great content coming your way. Mike do set in.
Greg Workman will break down how to turn your savings
into a reliable retirement paycheck and the key decisions that
can help your income. Last, Mary, Madeline Kelly and Greg
Murray will walk the five of the most important financial

(11:03):
decisions you may face and how thoughtful planning around them
can help shape your future. When William and I return,
we will talk about why retirement looks different for women
and the simple steps you can take to feel more
prepared and more in control. And of course we'll close
the hour with some win and wisdom from the late

(11:23):
Bill Kelly. His words continue to inspire and guide us.
That's a wrap for forever. Young thank you for listening,
and William, thank you for joining me. We'll be back
with more great content. I love you, Honey, I.

Speaker 6 (11:38):
Love you too.

Speaker 7 (11:40):
All right, Boston, let's talk about your money. Washington just
passed what the President calls the one Big Beautiful Bill,
and yes, there are significant tax changes in it. Lower
rates remain in place. There's a new deduction for Americans

(12:02):
over sixty five. State exemptions are expanding. That could mean
more of your hard earned money staying where.

Speaker 5 (12:09):
It belongs with you. But here's the reality.

Speaker 7 (12:13):
Even tax relief requires thoughtful planning. Some provisions may sunset
in the coming years. Healthcare eligibility rules are evolving. How
will all these changes apply to your retirement income. That's
why Kelly Financial created a new guide unlock your tax savings.
Call now to get your copy eight eighty eight, eight

(12:36):
hundred and eighteen eighty one or email Kelly at Kelly
Financial dot org.

Speaker 5 (12:42):
Kelly at Kelly Financial dot.

Speaker 8 (12:44):
Org ready to enjoy your golden years without worry. At
Kelly Financial, we know retirement planning can be overwhelming. With
more than twenty two years of experience. Our friendly team
of advisors makes it easy and rest free. Trust us
to help you create a secure and enjoyable future. For

(13:05):
a free initial retirement consultation called eight eight eight eight
hundred eighteen eighty one or email Kelly at Kellyfinancial dot org.
We're Kelly Financial. Come retire with us.

Speaker 1 (13:17):
Welcome back to save money strategies.

Speaker 9 (13:19):
I'm Mike ju Said, joined as always by my colleague
and investment advisor Greg Workman. If you missed last week's show,
we spent some time walking through what we call the
three stages of retirement, and Greg, I think that really
resonated with people.

Speaker 6 (13:33):
It always does, Mike, because it helps people visualize retirement
not just as one long, static period, but as something
that evolves over.

Speaker 1 (13:42):
Time exactly, and just as a quick recap.

Speaker 9 (13:45):
For our listeners, last week, we broke retirement into three phases. First,
the go go years. That's early retirement. This is when
people are active, traveling, spending, checking off the bucket list right.

Speaker 6 (13:56):
Then we move on to these slowgo years, where things
start to settle down a bit. You're still enjoying life,
but maybe traveling less spending becomes.

Speaker 5 (14:05):
More moderate and your priorities begin to shift.

Speaker 9 (14:08):
And then eventually the nogo years, that's when health becomes
more of a factor.

Speaker 1 (14:13):
Mobility may be limited.

Speaker 9 (14:14):
And often healthcare becomes one of the biggest expenses people face.

Speaker 6 (14:18):
And here's the key takeaway from that conversation. Your retirement
isn't just a single number. Your expense is your lifestyle,
and your risks change depending upon what stage you're in.

Speaker 9 (14:28):
Which leads us directly into today's topic. Because no matter
what stage you're in, go go, slowgo or no go,
you need one thing to make it all work. A paycheck,
that's right, and that's what we're going to talk about today.
How do you actually build a retirement paycheck? Because Greg,
this is where a lot of people feel uncertain.

Speaker 5 (14:47):
They really do.

Speaker 6 (14:48):
You spend thirty or forty years in the workforce getting
a paycheck every couple of weeks and then one day
it stops and now it's on you to replace it.

Speaker 1 (14:57):
And that's a big psychological shift.

Speaker 5 (15:00):
It's huge.

Speaker 6 (15:00):
During your working years, it's all about accumulation, saving and
contributing to your four oh one k or ira. You're
building up your nest egg. But once you retire, the
game completely changes. Now it's about distribution. How do you
turn that nest egg into a reliable stream of income?

Speaker 9 (15:20):
And this is where we hear the same question over
and over again, do I have enough?

Speaker 5 (15:25):
Exactly?

Speaker 6 (15:26):
But what people are really asking is can I generate
enough income from what I've saved to support my lifestyle?

Speaker 9 (15:34):
Because it's not just about the size of the portfolio,
not at all.

Speaker 6 (15:37):
You could have two retirees with the exact same amount
of money saved and one runs out of money while
the other one is perfectly fine. So what's the difference
income planning? How they structured their retirement paycheck.

Speaker 9 (15:49):
Let's walk through an example, because I think this is
where it really clicks for people absolutely.

Speaker 6 (15:54):
So let's take a hypothetical example. We'll call them John
and Lisa. This is not an actual client, but a
representative example of what we see day in and day out.

Speaker 9 (16:05):
John and Lisa are both sixty five years old, recently retired.
They've done a good job saving They've got about a
million between their four oh one k iras and some savings.

Speaker 5 (16:16):
That's pretty typical of what we see.

Speaker 6 (16:18):
They also have Social Security available to them, but they're
trying to figure out how to turn it all into
a steady paycheck.

Speaker 9 (16:24):
And like a lot of people, their first instinct is
to say, Okay, I've got a million dollars, I'll just
take four percent a year and live on that.

Speaker 6 (16:32):
That's the old rule of thumb. And while it's a
starting point, it's not a defined strategy. Why not because
it ignores too many variables. It doesn't account for market conditions,
it doesn't adjust for different stages of retirement, and it
assumes a level consistent withdrawal, which we just talked about
last week. Isn't how retirement actually works.

Speaker 1 (16:53):
Right, Because spending is higher in the go go years exactly.

Speaker 6 (16:57):
John and Lisa may want to travel more in the
first ten years of retirement.

Speaker 5 (17:02):
Maybe they want about eighty.

Speaker 6 (17:03):
Thousand or so early on, but later in the slowgo
years that might drop, say to sixty thousand, and then
in the nogo years, expenses might shift. Get again, let's travel,
but more healthcare related expenses.

Speaker 9 (17:18):
So instead of a flat paycheck, it's more like a
changing paycheck over time.

Speaker 6 (17:23):
That's exactly right, And that's why building a retirement paycheck
isn't just about picking a percentage.

Speaker 5 (17:29):
It's about creating a strategy So.

Speaker 1 (17:31):
Let's break this down. When we talk about.

Speaker 9 (17:33):
A retirement paycheck, where does that income actually come from?

Speaker 6 (17:37):
Great question. For most people, it comes down to three
main sources. First, guaranteed income things like Social Security and
for some folks a pension.

Speaker 5 (17:46):
Second, investment income.

Speaker 6 (17:48):
This includes withdrawals from your various accounts iras, Form one ks.

Speaker 5 (17:53):
Dividends and interest.

Speaker 6 (17:54):
And third personal decisions like when you claim Social Security,
how you withdraw, and how you manage risk.

Speaker 9 (18:02):
Let's talk about the first one, social Security, because that's
a big piece for almost everyone.

Speaker 5 (18:06):
It is, and one of.

Speaker 6 (18:08):
The biggest mistakes we see is people taking Social Security
too early without fully understanding the long term impact.

Speaker 1 (18:16):
Because you can take it as early as sixty two.

Speaker 6 (18:18):
You can, but if you do, your benefit could be
permanently reduced up to thirty two percent. On the flip side,
if you delay, your benefit grows each and every year
up to age.

Speaker 9 (18:30):
Seventy, So that decision alone can have a major impact
on your paycheck.

Speaker 6 (18:33):
A huge impact for John and le So the difference
between claiming early versus waiting could mean thousands of dollars
per year for the rest of their lives.

Speaker 1 (18:45):
And that's guaranteed income. Which is important exactly.

Speaker 6 (18:48):
The more guaranteed income you have, the less pressure you
put on your investments to perform.

Speaker 1 (18:53):
But here's the challenge.

Speaker 9 (18:54):
If someone delays social Security, how do they cover income
in the meantime.

Speaker 5 (18:59):
That's what we call ridging the gap.

Speaker 6 (19:01):
You may use your savings strategically in those early years
so you can maximize your guaranteed income later.

Speaker 9 (19:07):
So it's not just about taking income, it's about timing
it correctly.

Speaker 5 (19:11):
That's right. Every decision impacts the next one.

Speaker 1 (19:14):
So where do people typically go wrong with all of this?

Speaker 6 (19:17):
The biggest mistake is treating retirement like a do it
yourself paycheck. Without a plan. They just start pulling money
from accounts as they.

Speaker 1 (19:25):
Need it, kind of winging it.

Speaker 5 (19:27):
And that could work.

Speaker 6 (19:27):
For a while, but it exposes you to risks like
market downturns, running out of money, or paying more in
taxes than necessary.

Speaker 9 (19:35):
And those risks are different depending on what stage of
retirement you're in.

Speaker 6 (19:39):
They are, which is why everything we talked about last week,
the go Go slogo and Nogo years needs to be
reflected in how you build your paycheck.

Speaker 9 (19:48):
So today we've really laid the foundation understanding that your
retirement paycheck has to evolve just like your retirement does.

Speaker 6 (19:56):
And in Part two we're going to get more specific.
We'll talk about how to structure with Darles, how to
think about taxes, and how to create a paycheck that's
designed to last.

Speaker 9 (20:07):
Because at the end of the day, it's not just
about having money, it's about knowing how to use it exactly.

Speaker 1 (20:12):
And if you're listening.

Speaker 9 (20:13):
Today and thinking I'm not sure I've built my retirement
paycheck the right way, We've put together a great resource
for you. It's called the Safe Money Strategies Workbook. It
walks you through these concepts step by step.

Speaker 6 (20:25):
It's a great starting point to help you think through
your own plan.

Speaker 9 (20:30):
You can get your copy today, just reach out to
us and we'll send it your way.

Speaker 1 (20:33):
Thanks for joining us this week on Safe Money Strategies.

Speaker 9 (20:36):
We'll be back with Part two, building your retirement paycheck.

Speaker 1 (20:40):
So stay tuned.

Speaker 3 (20:45):
Kelly Financial Services eight hundred eighteen eighty one.

Speaker 7 (20:50):
It's sorry what you've done that's important, but it's the
challenge it has been.

Speaker 8 (20:54):
Sir Edmund Hillary said those words after reaching the summit
of Mount Everest, but didn't The decent is just as
perilous as the acent, and the same is true in
retirement planning.

Speaker 5 (21:06):
Learn why Call.

Speaker 8 (21:07):
Kelly Financial Services today for a retirement consultation.

Speaker 5 (21:11):
Call eight eight eight eight.

Speaker 8 (21:12):
Hundred eighteen eighty one or visit Kellyfinancial dot org. What
goes up Must come down. We're Kelly Financial. Come retire
with us.

Speaker 4 (21:20):
I'm Kelly Kelly from Kelly Financial. Is your financial advisor
a fiduciary? In other words, are they legally required to
act in your best interest? My complimentary book, Retire Your Fear,
Plan Your Future explains what a fiduciary is and will
help you understand if an advisor is really putting you first.
For the book, call eight eight eight eight hundred eighteen

(21:43):
eighty one or email Kelly at Kelly Financial dot org.
We're Kelly Financial. Come Retire with us.

Speaker 3 (21:51):
The Money Wrap with Kelly Financial Advisors Greg Murray and
Mary Madeline Kelly.

Speaker 10 (21:58):
Hello, this is Greg Murray, vice President and Chief Confliance
Officer at Kelly Financial Services. Joining me today is Mary
Madeline Kelly, one of our wealth advisors. How are you
doing today?

Speaker 11 (22:07):
I'm doing great, Greg. I've had a few decent ski
days recently. Up North is still getting some snow, which
has been a very nice surprise as we're now into
spring and I hear you're doing some spring skiing yourself
this weekend.

Speaker 10 (22:20):
Absolutely every year we make our way up the Loud
Mountain for a full weekend dedicated to celebrating all things
that are eighties, and it's one of the highlights of
the year. From the moment we arrived, the whole place
is full of music in nostalgia. There's an awesome eighties
cover band that plays all the classics that you really
can't help us sing along with.

Speaker 11 (22:36):
I have participated in that in the past few years,
but sadly we'll not be joining you this weekend since
I'll be celebrating my twenty ninth birthday with friends and family.

Speaker 1 (22:46):
And honestly, weekends like.

Speaker 11 (22:47):
This, whether it's skiing, music or time with people you
care about, are a great reminder of why we plan
financially in the first place, which actually leads really nicely
into today's topic, because while there's so many financial decisions
people face, when you zoom out, a handful of them really.

Speaker 2 (23:04):
Drive the majority of outcomes.

Speaker 1 (23:06):
That's exactly right.

Speaker 10 (23:07):
Today, we're talking about the five most important financial decisions
you'll ever, make the ones that can have the biggest
long term impact on your financial future.

Speaker 11 (23:14):
And what's interesting is that these decisions aren't about picking
the perfect stock or timing the market. They're about foundational
choices that shape everything else.

Speaker 10 (23:22):
So let's jump into the first one. How much you save.

Speaker 11 (23:25):
This is probably the most important factor overall. You can't
control markets, but you can control your savings rate. Consistently
saving a portion of your income over time is what
builds financial flexibility into opportunity, and.

Speaker 10 (23:37):
Even small adjustments can make a big difference over the
long term, especially when combined with compounding exactly.

Speaker 11 (23:43):
The second big decision is how you.

Speaker 4 (23:45):
Invest that money.

Speaker 10 (23:46):
Asset allocation, how much you have in stocks, bonds, cash,
and other investment plays a much larger role in outcomes
than trying to pick individual winners, and of.

Speaker 11 (23:54):
Course investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principle,
but having a thoughtful, diverse fight approach aligned with your
goals can help manage that risk over time.

Speaker 10 (24:03):
The third important decision is how you manage your debt.

Speaker 4 (24:06):
Yes, not all debt is the same.

Speaker 11 (24:08):
Some debt, like a mortgage, can be manageable within a plan,
while high interest debt can quickly become a major obstacle.
Understanding how debt fits into your overall financial picture is key.

Speaker 10 (24:19):
The fourth decision is how you plan for your taxes.

Speaker 11 (24:21):
This is one that people often overlook. It's not just
about how much you earn or invest, it's about how
much you keep after taxes. Decisions around retirement accounts, withdrawals
and timing can have a significant impact over time.

Speaker 10 (24:34):
And the fifth decision is how you protect what you've
built exactly.

Speaker 11 (24:37):
This includes insurance, estate planning, and making sure your assets
are set up to transfer according to your wishes. Without protection,
even a strong plan can be vulnerable.

Speaker 10 (24:47):
So when you put those five together, saving, investing, managing debt,
planning for taxes, and protecting assets, you really have the
foundation of a comprehensive financial plan.

Speaker 11 (24:56):
And what's important to remember is that these decisions are ongoing.
It's not something you decide once and forget. Life changes
and your plan should evolve with it exactly.

Speaker 10 (25:05):
Career changes, family changes, market conditions. All of these can
affect how those decisions play out over time, and the.

Speaker 11 (25:11):
Goal isn't perfection, it's consistency and alignment. Making thoughtful decisions
and revisiting them.

Speaker 10 (25:17):
Regularly, because ultimately, financial success isn't about getting one thing
exactly right. It's about getting the big things generally right
over time, and when those.

Speaker 11 (25:26):
Five areas are working together, everything tends to feel more
organized and more manageable.

Speaker 10 (25:31):
And as always, we want to remind listeners that every
financial situation is unique and investing of all's risk, including
the potential loss of principle. These decisions should be made
in the context of your personal goals and circumstances.

Speaker 1 (25:42):
But the takeaway is simple.

Speaker 11 (25:44):
If you focus on these core decisions, you're addressing the
areas that matter most, and that's where.

Speaker 10 (25:48):
We can help. At Kelly Financial. We work with clients
to bring all of these pieces together into one coordinated plan.

Speaker 11 (25:54):
Because when everything is aligned, it's much easier to move
forward with confidence.

Speaker 10 (25:58):
Well said, that's going to wrap things up for today.
If you'd like ol reviewing these key decisions and how
to apply them to your situation, give us a call.
We'd be happy to talk with you.

Speaker 4 (26:05):
Absolutely well.

Speaker 1 (26:06):
Greg, have fun skiing this weekend.

Speaker 10 (26:08):
Enjoy celebrating a birthday.

Speaker 3 (26:09):
To get in touch with Greg Murray or Mary Madeline
Kelly or any member of the Kelly Financial Team Call
aightat eight eight hundred, eighteen eighty one Safe Money Strategies
with William Kelly and Kelly Kelly Call the Team on
eight eight eight hundred, eighteen eighty one Take Care.

Speaker 4 (26:37):
Welcome back to Save Money Strategies. I'm Kelly Kelly alongside
my son William Kelly Junior, and today in honor of
Women's History Month, we wanted to take a step back
and talk about something that really doesn't get enough attention,
and that is how retirement looks different for women and mom.

Speaker 2 (26:58):
This is such an important conversation because for a long time,
retirement planning was built around a very specific model and
it didn't always reflect real life, especially for women.

Speaker 4 (27:07):
That's exactly right if you think about it. For decades,
retirement planning was often based on a traditional career path,
steady income, fewer interruptions, and a very predictable timeline. But
for many women, life doesn't follow that path. Women are
often balancing careers with raising children, helping aging parents, and

(27:33):
managing so many responsibilities at home.

Speaker 5 (27:36):
And those aren't just small things.

Speaker 2 (27:38):
They're major life commitments that can impact income, savings and
even social security over time.

Speaker 4 (27:43):
Exactly and even today, women still earn less on average
than men, which means it's harder to build retirement savings
over time. But here's a key point, and I really
want people to hear this. It's not a lack of discipline,
is not poor planning.

Speaker 5 (28:02):
It's life, that's right, it's real life.

Speaker 2 (28:05):
And when you look at all of that together, it
creates what's often called the retirement gap for women, where
many women reach retirement with fewer resources, even though they've
played such a critical role in both their families and
their careers.

Speaker 4 (28:16):
And that's why retirement planning has to reflect real lives,
because women's lives often follow a very different financial path. Now, William,
one of the biggest differences we see, and this really
changes everything, is longevity.

Speaker 2 (28:35):
Women tend to live longer than them often by several years,
sometimes more, depending on health and family history.

Speaker 4 (28:41):
And that's a blessing. It really is more time with family,
more time with grandchildren, more time to enjoy life. But
it also means your retirement savings may need to last
twenty five, even thirty years.

Speaker 2 (28:56):
And when you think about that, it's not just big
expenses ever, housing, food, travel, day to day living, and
then healthcare leader in life.

Speaker 4 (29:05):
That's right. So while living longer is one of life's
greatest blessings, it also means your resources may need to
stretch further than you originally expected. And William, this connects
to something else that a lot of women don't necessarily
think about early.

Speaker 2 (29:22):
On, and that's the reality that many women will eventually
navigate retirement on their own.

Speaker 4 (29:27):
This is a big one. Statistically, most men pass away married,
but many women end up single later in life, and
that means at some point many women are managing finances independently,
sometimes for the first time, and.

Speaker 2 (29:44):
That transition can become emotional but also financial. Suddenly you're
responsible for decisions, accounts, income streams, things that maybe you're
spouse handled before exactly.

Speaker 4 (29:55):
And we've seen this firsthand with clients. Even when everything
is in good shape financially, there can still be uncertainty
where are the accounts, what does this policy do, how
does this income work? And that's why preparation matters so much,
you know, William, I've lived this personally. When your dad passed,

(30:19):
I was fifty five years old and he was sixty five.
And know you're never emotionally prepared for something like that,
but we had taken the time to get organized, we
had conversations, we had a plan, and in the middle
of a very, very difficult time, that made a difference.
It didn't remove the emotion, but it removed a lot

(30:41):
of the uncertainty.

Speaker 2 (30:43):
And I remember that, and I think that's such an
important point because preparation isn't about expecting the worst.

Speaker 5 (30:49):
It's about being ready for life as it happens.

Speaker 4 (30:51):
That's exactly right. Your dad and I always said, you
prepare for the worst and pray for the best, and
that's really what planning is all about. Now, another piece
of this, and this is something women do beautifully, but
it does have an impact, is caregiving.

Speaker 2 (31:09):
Women make up a large majority of caregivers, whether it's
for parents, spouses, or other family members.

Speaker 4 (31:15):
And caregiving often means adjusting work schedules, stepping away from
a career, or even retiring earlier than planned.

Speaker 2 (31:24):
Which can affect income, retirement contributions, and long term savings.

Speaker 4 (31:29):
And again, this is important. Is not a negative thing.
Caregiving is one of the most meaningful roles someone can
take on, but it does have long term financial implications
and we need to acknowledge that when planning for retirement.

Speaker 2 (31:45):
And there's one more trend that's really been changing the
retirement landscape, especially in recent years.

Speaker 4 (31:50):
Yes, what's often called gray divorce. We're seeing more divorces
happening later in life, and that can significantly change retirement.

Speaker 2 (31:59):
Plans because now, instead of one household being supported by
those savings, you're potentially supporting.

Speaker 4 (32:05):
Too exactly, and that can impact everything housing decisions, lifestyle
and timing. And for women who may already have had
career interruptions due to caregiving, the financial impact can be
even greater.

Speaker 2 (32:22):
So when you step back to look at all of
this career paths, longevity, independence, caregiving, and life transitions, it
becomes clear that retirement planning is not a one size
fits all.

Speaker 4 (32:32):
Not even close. Retirement planning isn't just about numbers. It's
about life, and for women, those life paths often look
very different and deserve to be planned for thoughtfully.

Speaker 2 (32:47):
And that's exactly what we'll talk about when we come back.

Speaker 4 (32:50):
That's right, when we return, we'll walk through practical steps,
real things women can do to feel more confident, more prepared,
and more in control of their financial future.

Speaker 5 (33:03):
Stay with us, we'll be right back.

Speaker 3 (33:08):
Safe money strategies brought to you by Kelly Financial Services.
Call eight eight eight eight hundred eighteen eighty one or
visit Kelly Financial dot or.

Speaker 8 (33:18):
There's nothing like running the Boston Marathon on mark. Even
before crossing the start line, we must spend months planning
in advance, training your body, becoming familiar with the terrain,
preparing for all weather conditions, adjusting fuel and hydration, and
testing your gear. Many runners visualize their race, setting that

(33:40):
personal record and seeing themselves finishing strong. When it comes
to your retirement, what do you see? A fulfilling retirement
requires the same kind of planning, preparing, adjusting, testing, and
goal setting as for a marathon. Let the retirement coaches
at Kelly Financial Services help you cross the finish line

(34:02):
in the greatest race of your life. So call eight
eight eight eight hundred eighteen eighty one or visit Kellyfinancial
dot Org. On your mark, get set, go to Kelly
Financial Services, Come retire with us. I'm John Boudris, and
welcome to a new edition of Kelly Financial's What would

(34:23):
Bill Say? The wit and wisdom of the late Bill Kelly.
Today we'll address fact from fiction.

Speaker 12 (34:30):
You can always make money if you haven't, if you
lose it all. It's very difficult to do that. So
you have to have a plan. If the market goes
up quite a bit or down quite a bit, you
have to be ready. And how do you sort fact
from fiction?

Speaker 8 (34:43):
Download Kelly Financial's consumer Guide simply called the value of
an objective opinion. With so much at stake with your
retirement future, you don't just want any financial advice, but
objective financial advice, and as a fiduciary, Lly Financial puts
your interests above all else. Go to Kellyfinancial dot org

(35:06):
or call eight eight eight eight hundred and eighteen eighty
one to get the guide.

Speaker 12 (35:10):
Ladies and gentlemen sort fact from fiction.

Speaker 8 (35:12):
We are Kelly Financial Services. Come retire with.

Speaker 3 (35:16):
Us Safe Money Strategies with William Kelly and Kelly Kelly.
Call the team on eight eight eight eight hundred, eighteen
eighty one.

Speaker 6 (35:27):
Take in care.

Speaker 4 (35:31):
Welcome back to Save Money Strategies. I'm Kelly Kelly here
with my son William Kelly Junior. In our last segment,
we talked about why retirement can look different for women,
longer lifespans, caregiving responsibilities, and often navigating retirement independently. Now

(35:52):
we want to shift the conversation to something just as important,
and that is what you can actually do about it.

Speaker 2 (36:00):
And that's the key, because once you understand the challenges,
the next step is taking control where you can, and
one of the most important places to start is simply
understanding your financial picture.

Speaker 4 (36:10):
That's right, one of the most important things you can
do is just become informed and engaged. That means knowing
where your accounts are, understanding your income sources, and having
access to important documents. Now, in many households, responsibilities are divided,

(36:31):
and that's completely fine, but both people should have a
clear understanding of how things work.

Speaker 2 (36:37):
And even something as simple as sitting down once or
twice a year and reviewing everything together can make a
big difference. It keeps both people informed and avoids that
situation where one person is suddenly trying to figure everything
out on their own.

Speaker 4 (36:50):
Exactly because knowledge doesn't just help you make better decisions,
it gives you peace of mind. Now, another important step,
especially for women, is planning with longevity and.

Speaker 2 (37:03):
Mind right, since women tend to live longer. Retirement planning
isn't just about reaching retirement. It's about sustaining a lifestyle
for potentially decades, and.

Speaker 4 (37:12):
That includes more than finances. It's about how you live,
staying active, maintaining relationships, continuing to learn, staying engaged. Those
things matter just as much as the numbers, and.

Speaker 2 (37:27):
We're seeing more people create flexible retirements, whether that's part
time work, consulting, volunteering, things that keep structure and purpose
in their lives.

Speaker 4 (37:36):
That's right. A fulfilling retirement isn't just about how long
you live, it's about how actively and meaningfully you live. Now.
Another area that can have a major impact is housing,
and for.

Speaker 2 (37:50):
Many people, that's the largest expense of retirement.

Speaker 4 (37:53):
Exactly so thinking ahead is important. Some people choose to downsize,
others look at communities that offer more support and social opportunities,
and some want to stay right where they are but
may need to make adjustments to do that comfortably.

Speaker 2 (38:12):
The key is making those decisions ahead of time, rather
than being forced into them later.

Speaker 4 (38:16):
That's exactly right. The best decisions are the ones made
before they become necessary. Another topic we touched on earlier caregiving,
and this is a.

Speaker 2 (38:27):
Big one because many women find themselves in that role
at some point.

Speaker 4 (38:31):
Yes, and planning ahead can make a meaningful difference. Having
conversations within the family, who will help, what resources are available,
what support systems are in place. Those are important discussions.

Speaker 2 (38:46):
And there is also community resources, support groups, senior services
programs that can help lighten the load.

Speaker 4 (38:53):
Exactly because caregiving is much easier to navigate when families
plan together rather than react in the moment. Now, William,
I think one of the most important pieces of all
of this is confidence.

Speaker 2 (39:09):
It is and interestingly, a lot of studies show that
women sometimes feel less confident when it comes to financial decisions,
but that gap can close very quickly with education and involvement.

Speaker 4 (39:19):
That's exactly right, because women bring so many strengths to
financial planning, discipline, patience, long term thinking, and when you
combine that with knowledge and engagement, it creates real confidence.

Speaker 2 (39:35):
And that confidence comes from understanding the plan and understanding
your role in it.

Speaker 4 (39:40):
And that really brings us to something we've put together
to help with this conversation. We've created a guide called
Women Retire Too, and it walks through many of the
things we've talked about today, longevity, caregiving, independence, and how
to prepare for them in a thoughtful, practical way.

Speaker 2 (40:02):
It's designed to help bring clarity so that you can
better understand where you are, what to consider, and how
to start putting a plan together.

Speaker 4 (40:09):
If you'd like a copy of that guide, you can
simply email us at Kelly at Kellyfinancial dot org and
we'll be happy to send it to you. Is something
we put together to help educate and support you as
you think through these decisions.

Speaker 2 (40:26):
As we talked about today, this isn't about having everything perfect.
It's about being informed, being prepared, and taking steps forward.

Speaker 4 (40:34):
That's exactly right, because life doesn't always go according to plan,
but when you have a plan in place, it can
make all the difference. And I've seen that not just professionally,
but personally as well. Preparation may not prevent life surprises,
but it gives you the strength to face them.

Speaker 5 (40:55):
And that's really what this is about.

Speaker 4 (40:56):
It is and as always, if you have any questions
or want to learn more, we're here for you. Thanks
so much for joining us today.

Speaker 5 (41:05):
We'll see you next time.

Speaker 3 (41:08):
Safe Money Strategies brought to you by Kelly Financial Services.
Call eight eight eight eight hundred eighteen eighty one or
visit Kellyfinancial dot org.

Speaker 9 (41:20):
Welcome back to Safe Money Strategies. I'm Mike du Set
here with Greg Workman. Today, we're continuing our conversation on
building your retirement paycheck.

Speaker 1 (41:29):
In part one, we.

Speaker 9 (41:30):
Talked about the shift from saving to spending the importance
of creating income, and we introduced our hypothetical couple John
and Lisa recently retired with about a million dollars saved, and.

Speaker 6 (41:42):
More importantly, Mike, we talked about the idea that retirement
isn't just one long phase. It evolves, so your paycheck
has to evolve with it.

Speaker 1 (41:51):
Exactly. So let's pick up there. We've got John and Lisa.

Speaker 9 (41:54):
They understand they need income, but now the question becomes
how do they actually structure it.

Speaker 5 (41:59):
The first thing we do is segment their money.

Speaker 6 (42:02):
Instead of looking at one big pool of assets, we
break it into buckets based on when they'll need the income.

Speaker 9 (42:09):
So this is where strategy really starts to take shape.

Speaker 5 (42:13):
Exactly. Think of it like this.

Speaker 6 (42:15):
Short term money that's one bucket and that could comprise
the next one to three years, Mid term money could
look forward to ten years out, and finally there's the
long term money, the final bucket, which could be ten
plus years.

Speaker 1 (42:29):
And why is that important?

Speaker 5 (42:31):
Because it helps manage risk.

Speaker 6 (42:32):
If John and Lisa need income this year, we don't
want that money exposed to market volatility. That short term
bucket should be stable and reliable.

Speaker 1 (42:42):
So they're not forced to sell investments when the market
is down.

Speaker 6 (42:45):
Exactly. That's one of the biggest risks in retirement.

Speaker 9 (42:48):
Let's talk about that because this is something people don't
always understand sequence of returns risk.

Speaker 5 (42:53):
It's critical.

Speaker 6 (42:54):
If John and Lisa retire and the market drops early
in retirement, they're pulling income at the same time. That
combination can do real damage to their portfolio, even.

Speaker 1 (43:05):
If the market recovers later.

Speaker 6 (43:06):
Even then, because they've locked in losses by withdrawing during
the downturn.

Speaker 1 (43:12):
So the order of returns MATT is just as much
as the returns.

Speaker 5 (43:15):
Themselves, exactly.

Speaker 6 (43:16):
That's why having short term income in that first bucket
is so important. It gives you time for the rest
of your portfolio to absorb the ups and downs of
the market.

Speaker 9 (43:28):
Now, let's layer in another piece, taxes, because where you
take money from MATT is just as much as how
much you take.

Speaker 5 (43:34):
It, really does.

Speaker 6 (43:36):
Most people have different types of accounts pre tax accounts
like four to one KS and iras after tax savings
and sometimes.

Speaker 1 (43:45):
Roth IRA, and each one is taxed differently.

Speaker 6 (43:48):
Exactly, if John and Lisa just start pulling everything from
their IRA, they could end up pushing themselves into a
higher tax bracket.

Speaker 9 (43:56):
So it's not just about income, it's about net income.

Speaker 6 (44:00):
That's right, What do you actually keep after taxes?

Speaker 1 (44:04):
So how might this look for John and Lisa.

Speaker 6 (44:07):
Let's say they need seventy thousand a year, maybe forty
thousand incomes from Social Security once they turn it on.

Speaker 1 (44:12):
That leaves a thirty thousand dollars gap exactly.

Speaker 6 (44:15):
Instead of pulling the entire thirty thousand from their IRA,
we might split it some from the IRA, some from
after tax savings, and maybe even some from ROTH depending
upon the situation.

Speaker 1 (44:28):
So you're controlling their tax bracket.

Speaker 5 (44:30):
That's the goal.

Speaker 6 (44:31):
Over time, that can make a significant difference in how
long their money lasts.

Speaker 9 (44:35):
Now, let's go back to something we talked about last week,
the stages of retirement. Because income shouldn't stay flat forever.

Speaker 6 (44:42):
It should, John and Lisa might spend more in their
go go years, travel hobbies, experiences, moving.

Speaker 1 (44:48):
Around than spending slows down.

Speaker 6 (44:50):
Right In the slogo years, expenses often decrease or drop
off a bit, and then in the nogo years, spending shifts,
let's discretionary fun stuff and more healthcare.

Speaker 1 (45:02):
Related, so their paycheck needs to adjust along the way.

Speaker 5 (45:05):
Exactly.

Speaker 6 (45:06):
A good plan builds in flexibility instead of assuming a
fixed withdrawal.

Speaker 1 (45:10):
Forever, that word flexibility keeps coming up.

Speaker 5 (45:13):
Because retirement is unpredictable.

Speaker 6 (45:16):
Markets change, expenses change, and health changes, so.

Speaker 1 (45:20):
A rigid plan can break exactly.

Speaker 6 (45:22):
For example, if the market has a strong year, maybe
John and Lisa can take a little extra for travel.
If the market is down, maybe they pull back slightly
and rely more on their safer income sources.

Speaker 1 (45:34):
So it's dynamic.

Speaker 6 (45:35):
That's the key. A retirement paycheck shouldn't be set on autopilot.
It should be monitored and adjusted over time.

Speaker 5 (45:42):
So when you pull all of.

Speaker 9 (45:43):
This together, segmenting assets, managing risk, planning for taxes, adjusting
over time, what does that really give someone confidence? That's
what people are really looking for, not just a number
on a statement.

Speaker 6 (45:56):
Exactly. They want to know, can I spend this money?
Am I going to be okay ten, twenty thirty years
from now?

Speaker 9 (46:02):
And that confidence comes from having a plan, not guessing.
So if you're listening today, here's the question you should
be asking yourself, have I actually built a retirement paycheck
or am I just taking withdrawals?

Speaker 6 (46:14):
Because there's a big difference, and if your plan doesn't
account for market risk, taxes, or how you're spending your
money over time, you could leave yourself exposed.

Speaker 9 (46:25):
That's why we put together the Safe Money Strategies workbook.
It's designed to help you start thinking through these decisions,
how to turn your savings into income, and how to
build a plan that evolves with you.

Speaker 6 (46:35):
It's a great resource whether you're close to retirement or
you're already there.

Speaker 9 (46:40):
You can get your copy today. Just reach out to
us and we'll send it your way. Thanks again for
joining us on Safe Money Strategies.

Speaker 1 (46:46):
We'll see you next week.

Speaker 4 (46:52):
I'm Kelly Kelly. Now that spring is in the air,
many families are thinking about fresh starts, not just financially,
but how we can pair the next generation for life.
At Kelly Financial, our work has always been about helping
families make thoughtful long term decisions, including how the next
generation gets started. And while all investing involves risk, including

(47:13):
the potential loss of principle, we believe education and good
habits are the foundation for smart choices over time. That's
why we're offering Only the Good invest Young, a book
written by my son, William Kelly Junior. It's a clear,
encouraging guide to the basics of money, responsibility and habits
that matter over time. If you have a child, a grandchild,

(47:34):
for someone just beginning, this is a thoughtful place to start.
We're offering a complimentary signed copy to our WRKO listeners
and clients. Call eight eight eight eight hundred and eighteen
eighty one or email Kellie at Kellyfinancial dot org.

Speaker 7 (47:50):
Joining us now as she always does at this time.
She is the co founder, CEO, and president of kel
Financial Services. And yes, that is her wonderful name, Kelly Kelly.

Speaker 4 (48:08):
Kelly, How are you good morning, Jeff. I am good.
With March being Women's History Month, we've been talking about
something that really deserves more attention, how retirement looks different
for women. The reality is women tend to live longer,
They're more likely to step away from work to care

(48:30):
for family, and many find themselves managing finances on their
own later in life. Those are important factors, and while
they don't make retirement harder, they do make planning even
more important. That's exactly why we've created our investor Guide
Women Retire Too. It walks through some of these unique

(48:52):
challenges and offers thoughtful insights to help women approach retirement
with more clarity and comp efidence. If you'd like a
complimentary copy, give us a call or email us at
Kelly at Kellyfinancial dot org. Jeff, have a wonderful weekend,
My best Grace, send the kiddos.

Speaker 7 (49:13):
Thank you, Kelly, all the best to you and everyone
at Kelly Financial. To get a free copy of that guide,
and I urge all of you if you can do
get it call now eight eight eight eight hundred, eighteen
eighty one eight eighty eight eight hundred eighteen eighty one,
or you can actually email Kelly herself personally Kelly at

(49:35):
Kellyfinancial dot org.

Speaker 5 (49:37):
That's Kelly Kelly Financial dot org.

Speaker 3 (49:46):
Safe Money Strategies at eight eight hundred one eight eight one.

Speaker 4 (49:54):
Every week we like to pause for a moment and
hear a reflection from Bill Kelly. Bill had a special
way of reminding us that some of life's most important
lessons were not learned in a classroom, but through responsibility,
hard work, and showing up when it mattered. In this memory,

(50:14):
Bill takes us back to his paper route and the
lessons it taught him at a very young age. Here's
Bill Kelly.

Speaker 12 (50:24):
Everything I needed to know in life I learned on
my paper route. I still don't know how at age
eight and a half I could get one hundred and
fourteen papers blowed them onto my swin bike in the summer,
in the winter, in the snow, in the dark, in
the light. It was an evening paper. I rode my
bike from our farm about two miles up to a

(50:45):
lane in the middle of the country, and the newspaper
dropped the papers off. There was me and the Karen's kids,
and we sat there and waited. If it was raining, snowing,
whatever it was doing. Our parents didn't take the van
and loaded up with gas and then have us go
out and throw the papers out of the window. Those
days were not yet with us, ladies and gentlemen, so

(51:06):
we waited for those papers.

Speaker 5 (51:08):
They came.

Speaker 12 (51:08):
They were wrapped in a tight wound copper wire, which
we knew how to unwind, and then we'd fold the
copper wire put it in our paper bag. There was
a cover sheet, we'd pull that up there too. We
stacked the newspapers in our bag and then I would
fill the back of my bike. I'd roll the papers up,
fill them in the baskets, you know, if I would go.
First stop was the High Towers. The two brothers played football.

(51:33):
They were tremendous people. Missus High Tower and her daughter
were always there to answer the door. Missus High Tower,
her husband was a captain in the navy. She was
about the nicest woman on earth. They always had something
to say to me. It was great. Across the street
the Kirbys. They had a house for their mother and
they had a big colonial in which they lived, and

(51:54):
they were very high tippers. Took very good care of me.
And I'd cross the street again and go to what
we call the trailer park now there Bobble Home Park.
I'd go through all those people. They all were in
the navy pretty much, and they treated me pretty well.
The woman that ran the trailer park never gave me
a tip, but every Christmas she give me a twenty
four pack of life Savers in a little box with

(52:17):
Christmas wrapping, and off I would go down the lane.
The next one. Mister Santos and his father had a farm.
They had cows. They gave me a buck a week.
The paper was forty three cents, and I gave them
two papers, one for the father went for his son
in the house, and then down the road I went
the Smiths. Mister Gardey was the superintendent of schools. I

(52:37):
just used to pray he would be there when I
handed the paper to them, because I loved speaking with
that man. He was so well spoken, he loved education,
and he was just a great man. When he came
to school. I used to get excited. Can you imagine that,
ladies and gentlemen. I used to get excited on the
days mister Gardet would come and speak. I just love
that man so much. He was a very tall man.

(53:00):
He looked very prominent, and he knew all of us,
it seemed, and we loved him being there. Then I'd
head down at the corner of Paradise Avenue and Prospect Avenue.
I believe Missus Smith's house how she was someone that
my grandfather would monitor and make sure Missus Smith got
her paper or if it was snowing, I had to
shovel her stairways and walk on her porch before I

(53:23):
went on to the next paper customer, and my grandfather
would make sure I did that if I didn't, he
would call her and I'd have to go back and
do it. And then i'd head down Paradise Avenue mister Thorpe.
Mister Thorpe would give me a silver dollar every year
at Christmas. Can you imagine that someone would go to
the trouble going down to the bank at the time,
I guess, and getting a silver dollar for their paper

(53:44):
boy every year. And there were the Handlands, the Dwyers,
the Rooneys, they would all treat me so well. Had
a family of lawyers. They were all guys, and they
would get married off over the years. But there was
a father, his son and his son's children, and at
that house the Dwires, and they would always have something
to say, something funny. And on that leg of the

(54:07):
paper route, the last home was the publisher. I'd drop
his paper off and up the hill i'd go. So
you can imagine a blizzard or an ice storm, and
this little eight and a half year old kid with
about sixty pounds of newspapers on a swind by with
balloon tires as winter said, and it would become dark
around four o'clock four thirty, and I have to collect

(54:27):
on Thursday nights. I was generally not home till seven.
So I'm riding around the country with a thirty forty
dollars and a bag of money in the dark. And
we know that would never happen today, Ladies and gentlemen.
That was the paper route. We had to add up
the money, keep track of people paying, keep track of
people who didn't pay. We had to get the papers there,
We had to wait for the deliveries. We had to

(54:49):
go down on Saturday morning, stand in line in an alley,
turning the money, look up at the people. The guy
that ran the change machine that circled all the money
and was mean. The lady who sat in the office,
this was a pretty nice lady. But if we didn't
get a paper out there correctly, we heard about it.
So it was very different. But we did it, and
I learned a lot by doing it. I would never

(55:10):
trade that experience. And we passed that paper route down
through the family. When one fella gave it up, the
next brother in line would take it. And when I
was done with it, I sold it to a kidnamed
Docerty and it was his turn for a while. And
as the years went by, paper Roots became a thing
of the past. But I can remember every customer on
my paper root. I can remember every teacher I ever had.

(55:32):
I admired my customers. They were great, and I loved
my teachers and my school. I think it helped me
in my life to really have a depth. They say
life is measured in depth, not in length and fleeve me.
If you had the memories I had about school and
my paper route, you see that it is the depth
that's important.

Speaker 3 (55:53):
Cool Kelly Financial Services eight hundred eighteen eighty one.

Speaker 4 (55:58):
I'm Kelly Kelly from Kelly Financial. Retirement is a time
to enjoy the fruits of your labor, but is also
a period when financial stability becomes more critical than ever,
so seeking expert financial advice is essential, regardless of your age.
Professional guidance insureds your assets are allocated wisely, helping your

(56:20):
money last as long as you need it. The advisors
at Kelly Financial will help you take charge of your
financial future and preserve your hard earned wealth to enable
you to focus on the retirement you've dreamed of. We
have a free investor guide called designing your Fiscal House
to Weather the Elements, which highlights the steps needed to

(56:41):
build a balanced portfolio. For the guide and a free
consultation with a Kelly Advisor, call eight eight eight eight
hundred eighteen eighty one or email Kelly at Kellyfinancial dot org.
We're Kelly Financial. Come retire with us safe money strategy
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