Take Pride in Retirement

In the last episode, we talked about why inflation still matters — especially for LGBTQ+ retirees. In this episode, we move from awareness to action.

I walk through real strategies you can use to protect your retirement from rising costs, including how Social Security cost-of-living adjustments actually work (and where they fall short), how to build income streams that keep up with infla...

Inflation may not dominate the headlines like it did a few years ago — but make no mistake, it’s still reshaping retirement outcomes in a big way. In this episode, I break down why inflation remains one of the biggest long-term threats to financial security, especially for members of the LGBTQ+ community.

From healthcare and housing to groceries and travel, rising costs don’t just impact...

In this episode of Take Pride in Retirement, I’m diving into a topic that can quietly do more damage to your retirement than market volatility: taxes.

We talk about “tax drag” — how even small inefficiencies can reduce your income over time — and why it matters especially for LGBTQ+ retirees who may face unique planning challenges around filing status, survivor planning, and income strat...

In this episode of Take Pride in Retirement, I take a deep dive into one of the most overlooked threats to long-term financial security: hidden investment fees.

Even small percentages — 1% here, a fraction there — can quietly compound over time and cost you tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars in retirement. And for LGBTQ+ individuals and couples who may have fewer traditional s...

On this episode of Take Pride in Retirement, I take a deep dive into Social Security planning, with a special focus on the issues that matter most to LGBTQ+ individuals and couples. From market volatility and inflation to spousal, survivor, and divorce-related benefits, this episode is all about helping you understand how Social Security really fits into your overall retirement plan. 

I ...

On this episode of Take Pride in Retirement, I’m joined by Mark Steber, Chief Tax Officer at Jackson Hewitt Tax Service, to break down some of the most important tax changes impacting individuals and retirees heading into 2026. We talk about new deductions, who qualifies, and how missing just one line on your return could mean leaving thousands of dollars on the table. 

Before and after ...

This episode is part two and the conclusion of our series on the five major retirement shifts happening right now—and how they’re affecting LGBTQ+ individuals and couples as we head into 2026.

In part one, we talked about where you live, healthcare costs, and longevity. Today, we wrap things up by diving into two topics that often cause the most confusion—and the most mistakes: Social Se...

Welcome back to Take Pride in Retirement—the show all about helping you build a retirement you can truly take pride in.

 In this episode, I’m kicking off part one of a two-part series on the five major retirement shifts happening right now as we head into 2026—and why they matter especially for LGBTQ+ individuals and couples.

Retirement planning today isn’t just about hitting a certain a...

For many LGBTQ+ retirees, retirement planning comes with additional complexity. We weren’t always taught how to evaluate investment fees, and trusted institutions haven’t always protected our community. That’s why understanding what you’re paying — and why it matters — is so important. Fees can quietly drain your retirement income, especially once you stop working and start relying on yo...

In this episode of Take Pride in Retirement, I’m kicking off a two-part conversation around something I believe every LGBTQ+ person deserves as they approach retirement: clarity before uncertainty hits.

I call it “results in advance” retirement planning — the idea that you shouldn’t have to guess what retirement will look like or hope the markets cooperate once you stop working. Instead,...

In this episode of Take Pride in Retirement, I tackle one of the biggest mistakes I see retirees make—letting emotions drive their investment decisions. When the world feels chaotic and markets swing like a roller coaster, it’s human nature to react. But emotional investing is one of the most expensive mistakes you can make in retirement—especially for LGBTQ+ retirees, who often lack the...

Market turbulence is rising—and LGBTQ+ retirees face unique risks, from emotional investing to limited family support structures. In this episode, I share how to build predictable income, avoid sequence-of-returns risk, and create a retirement strategy centered on stability, dignity, and pride.

If you want clarity, confidence, and a plan that reflects your life—and your pride—this is you...

In this special Take Pride in Retirement Podcast Extra, I sit down with Dr. Sheehan Fisher, a psychologist with Northwestern Medicine, to shine a light on something that is far too rarely talked about: postpartum depression in new dads.

This episode is relevant to all families — LGBTQ+, straight, adoptive, blended — because mental health touches every part of our lives, including how we ...

As we head into a brand-new year, I wanted to sit down and share something a little more personal — the five financial resolutions I believe can truly transform your future, especially for LGBTQ+ folks like us who’ve often had to navigate financial hurdles that others don’t always see.

In this episode, I walk you through the SMART goal framework I personally use, why rebuilding your budg...

In this episode of Take Pride in Retirement, I walk you through a focused LGBTQ+ year-end financial checklist to help you finish 2025 strong and step into 2026 with clarity and confidence. I cover the key moves to make before the calendar turns — from budgeting and debt reduction to maximizing retirement contributions, planning for RMDs, updating beneficiaries, and protecting your legal ...

In this episode, Matt McClure sits down with Bank of America’s Mary Hines Droesch to explore the latest holiday shopping trends—from the rise of “dupe culture” to how Gen Z and millennials are reshaping gift-giving.

Then, Matt breaks down the five biggest first-year retirement surprises LGBTQ+ retirees face, including emotional transitions, healthcare shocks, relationship shifts, tax com...

In this Thanksgiving-week episode of Take Pride in Retirement, host and fiduciary advisor Matt McClure breaks down the 2026 Social Security changes and what they mean specifically for LGBTQ+ retirees and pre-retirees.

Matt explains how cost-of-living adjustments, Medicare premium increases, and new tax deductions intersect with the lived financial realities of LGBTQ+ adults—many of whom ...

Your credit isn’t just a number — it’s a key part of your financial security. And for LGBTQ+ individuals and couples, strong credit can provide access, protection, and freedom, especially as you plan for retirement. 

This time around, Matt sits down with Margaret Poe, Head of Consumer Credit Education at TransUnion, to break down how to safely check and monitor your credit, what red flag...

Talking about money isn’t always easy — especially for LGBTQ+ couples who often bring unique financial histories, family dynamics, and life experiences into their relationships. In this powerful episode of Take Pride in Retirement, host and advisor Matt McClure breaks down the conversations every LGBTQ+ couple and family needs to have to build a strong, unified, and confident retirement ...