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 face wage gaps, career interruptions, discrimination, and lower lifetime earnings that directly impact Social Security benefits.
He also tackles the big question: “Will Social Security always be there?” and offers clear, actionable steps LGBTQ+ individuals and couples can take to build financial independence beyond government benefits—so Social Security becomes the cherry on top, not the entire sundae.
Plus, the episode includes a Quote of the Week from Maya Angelou, some heartfelt Thanksgiving reflections, and a surprising breakdown of 2024 Thanksgiving dinner costs (spoiler: turkey is cheaper, peas are not!).
This episode blends financial clarity, LGBTQ+ awareness, and holiday gratitude to help you design a retirement you can truly take pride in.
Schedule your free, no-obligation consultation today at TakePrideInRetirement.com or call (855) 246-9211. Build the retirement you deserve—with clarity, confidence, and pride.
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Request your free RSSA Roadmap for Social Security optimization
Watch full episodes on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@TakePrideinRetirementShow
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Take Pride in Retirement is proud to be named one of the top Pride podcasts on the internet by FeedSpot. For more, go to https://blog.feedspot.com/pride_podcasts
About Take Pride in Retirement:
Take Pride in Retirement is a podcast dedicated to retirement planning solutions for the LGBTQ community. Host Matt McClure, a licensed fiduciary financial advisor, shares strategies to protect your hard-earned money while pursuing market-like growth.
Matt holds the RSSA® credential as a Registered Social Security Analyst®, helping clients optimize their Social Security filing strategies to potentially increase lifetime income. He’s also a Certified Annuity Specialist® (CAS®), a designation earned through a 135+ hour graduate-level program in fixed-rate and variable annuities from the Institute of Business & Finance.
Based in Georgia with his husband and two dogs, Matt spent over a decade in New York City, working with The Wall Street Journal Radio Network, NY1, and WCBS Newsradio 880. A career highlight includes reporting from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.
Chapters
- (00:00:00) - Take Pride in Retirement
- (00:00:57) - Take Pride in Retirement: LGBTQ+ Issues
- (00:03:27) - Thanksgiving Wish List
- (00:05:17) - Maya Angelou's "Be Present in All Things"
- (00:07:06) - Social Security for LGBTQ+ Retirees
- (00:10:42) - Social Security and Medicare: Changes coming up for LGBTQ+ retirees
- (00:15:13) - Will Social Security Always Be There? LGBTQ+ Adults Plan Their Retirement
- (00:19:10) - Planning Your Retirement With Pride
- (00:20:07) - Thanksgiving Meal Costs this Year
- (00:24:58) - To Take Pride in Retirement
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