The 6 Retirement Mistakes To Avoid (Ep. 177)

The market is unpredictable; your retirement plan shouldn’t be.

In this episode of Retirement Unlocked, host Larry Heller, CFP®, CDFA®, breaks down six of the most common (and costly) mistakes people make when planning for retirement. From underestimating how much you can spend to failing to optimize your Social Security benefits, Larry shares why these pitfalls occur and how a process-based retirement plan can help you avoid them.

Whether you’re approaching retirement or already there, this episode provides actionable strategies to help you invest wisely, reduce emotional decision-making, and stay aligned with your long-term financial goals.

Key conversations in this week’s release include:

• The importance of knowing how much you can truly spend in retirement [00:00:47]
• Why creating a total return strategy beats relying solely on income [00:03:20]
• The pitfalls of being too conservative with your investment portfolio [00:07:02]
• When to start withdrawing from your retirement accounts—not just when RMDs kick in [00:10:32]
• How to optimize Social Security for the best possible outcome [00:13:17]
• The critical need for a comprehensive estate plan [00:15:51]
• And more

Connect with Larry Heller: 

• [phone]
• Schedule a 20-Minute Call
• Heller Wealth Management
• LinkedIn: Larry Heller, CFP®, CDFA®, CPA
• YouTube: Life Unlimited with Larry Heller, CFP®