Retirement Ready

Betty White may never have officially retired, but her humor and outlook offer several valuable lessons for anyone planning the next stage of life. Today, Eric explores why retirement readiness involves more than building an investment portfolio. A fulfilling plan should help you prepare for change while continuing to support the people, purpose, and experiences that matter to you.

Here’s some of what we discuss in this episo...

A layoff close to retirement can feel like a financial emergency, but it may not be as damaging as it first appears. Eric explains why layoffs are happening and walks through the key financial decisions that follow. He also shares a practical checklist for evaluating whether returning to work is necessary, or whether retirement may already be possible.

Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:

⚠️ Economic Uncertainty: ...

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Should you open a HELOC before retirement? Is a revocable trust really necessary? And how can you support a financially irresponsible family member without jeopardizing your own future? In this mailbag episode, Eric answers listener questions about borrowing after retirement, avoiding unnecessary taxes on large IRA withdrawals, ...

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Retirement can be exciting, but it can also come with new challenges. In this episode, Eric discusses some of the most common ways people can accidentally ruin retirement. Some are mental, while others are mathematical. He also covers how a proactive planning strategy can help retirees avoid costly mistakes.

Here’s some of...

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Whether you're visiting one of the 63 national parks this summer or just hitting a local trail, a lot of the best practices for a great hike apply just as well to your retirement plan. Today, Eric “walks” through a few. The people who get the most out of a national park trip aren't the ones who show up and figure it ...

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What happens if you make a retirement decision you can't undo? And how do you know when you've done enough research before making an important financial move? In this mailbag episode, Eric answers two listener questions—one from a military retiree looking to protect his spouse after declining a survivor pension benefit, an...

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Can classic movie quotes actually teach valuable retirement lessons? In this episode, Eric takes memorable lines from films like The Terminator, When Harry Met Sally, and The Wizard of Oz and uses them to explain key retirement-planning concepts. From preparing for inevitable market downturns to understanding why every retiremen...

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Sometimes, the most valuable retirement lessons come from the questions people are asking every day. In this mailbag episode, Eric tackles listener questions covering investment organization, diversification, and pursuing new opportunities later in life. Along the way, he shares practical insights on making smarter financial dec...

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What does "guaranteed income" really mean in retirement, and is it actually possible to create a paycheck you can count on for life? In this episode, Eric breaks down the different sources of retirement income, including Social Security, pensions, investments, rental properties, and insurance-based solutions. He explains the ris...

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In this mailbag episode, Eric tackles a variety of listener questions about retirement and financial planning.

He breaks down complex topics into clear, practical guidance to help you make more confident money decisions.

You’ll hear discussion around balancing risk, managing income needs, and aligning your strategy with yo...

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Sometimes the best financial lessons come from the most unexpected places. Walt Disney built one of the most recognizable brands in history, but some of his most memorable quotes offer lessons that extend far beyond theme parks and animated characters. Today, Eric shares several famous Walt Disney quotes and explains how t...

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A lot of people think they’ll work forever, until life changes the plan. In this special mailbag episode, Eric answers listener questions about retirement timing, backup planning, target date funds, and how to think about risk as retirement gets closer. Retirement confidence often comes less from having perfect inves...

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Losing a spouse is one of the hardest realities anyone can face, and it can create major financial changes that you may not see coming. In this episode, Eric walks through the potential financial impact of becoming suddenly single in retirement, including Social Security changes, tax surprises, IRA rules, beneficiary updat...

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Today, Eric discusses why old financial accounts deserve a second look. He explains how reviewing these accounts can uncover missed opportunities, improve efficiency, and help create a more coordinated financial plan. Tune in for a practical conversation about making sure old accounts are still working for your future, not...

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Not all bad financial advice comes from bad sources. Sometimes it comes from the people you trust the most. Eric breaks down how well-meaning input from family, friends, professionals, and even the media can lead to the wrong decisions. Learn how to filter advice and understand what actually applies to your situation, beca...

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Life doesn’t always go according to plan, and your finances need to be ready when things change. Eric walks through some of the biggest life events that can impact your financial future and why each one is a moment to revisit your plan. The goal isn’t to predict every twist and turn; it’s to be prepared w...

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Mark Twain once said, “It’s not what you don’t know that gets you into trouble, it’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so.” How can this wisdom apply to retirement planning? Eric exposes some of the most common misconceptions people have about retirement, including why rules of thum...

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Not all financial advice is created equal, and sometimes the difference comes down to the questions being asked. Too often, conversations with advisors focus on performance and returns, while the bigger picture gets overlooked. Eric walks through the key questions that can reshape how you think about your plan and explains...

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In today’s 24/7 news cycle, financial headlines are designed to grab attention, not guide smart decisions. The result? Decisions driven more by noise than by strategy. In this episode, Eric explores how media influence, emotional reactions, and misunderstood risk tolerance can quietly derail a financial plan. It&rsqu...