Retirement Results

A bigger Social Security check doesn’t necessarily mean more breathing room in your budget. In this podcast extra, Retirement. Radio’s Matt McClure talks with Bill Sweeney, AARP’s senior vice president of government affairs, about the 2027 cost-of-living adjustment and the financial pressures facing retirees. They discuss why the annual increase may fall short of what many older Americans need, ho...

This Halloween-themed financial vignette explores the financial fears many Americans face, from market volatility and inflation to unexpected expenses and retirement uncertainty. Featuring insights from interviews with financial industry leaders, this month's vignette offers a message of optimism and emphasizes how proactive retirement planning can help turn financial uncertainty into confidence....

You’ve spent decades saving for retirement—but how do you turn that money into income you can confidently spend? Retirement. Radio’s Matt McClure talks with bestselling author and AARP personal finance columnist Jean Chatzky about her new book, The Forever Paycheck . They explore why retirees often struggle to spend their savings, ways to build or buy a retirement paycheck, and how a dependable in...

The fall season is upon us, and among the normal fall cleanup of a financial portfolio is an equally important but often overlooked part of retirement planning:  building and maintaining an emergency fund in retirement. This month's vignette discusses how an emergency fund can help cover unexpected expenses without forcing someone to sell investments at an unfavorable time, and why having a clear...

Back-to-school season can put added pressure on the family budget—but a little planning can help keep those costs under control. Retirement. Radio’s Matt McClure talks with Lora Monfared, Consumer Credit Card Executive at Bank of America, about practical ways parents and grandparents can save on school supplies, technology, clothing and other essentials. They also discuss how to teach teens the ba...

As prices continue to challenge household budgets, finding practical ways to save money has never been more important. In this podcast extra, Retirement. Radio's Matt McClure sits down with Stephen Perrine, executive editor of AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin, to discuss AARP's annual  99 Great Ways to Save  guide.  The conversation covers: Smart grocery shopping strategies that can help reduce...

New Medicaid work requirements are scheduled to take effect in 2027, and some healthcare experts are raising concerns about how they could affect cancer patients and survivors. Retirement. Radio's Matt McClure sits down with Dr. Julie Gralow, Chief Medical Officer and Executive Vice President of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), to discuss the potential consequences of these change...

Retirement. Radio’s Matt McClure speaks with Dr. Ryan Potter about the growing issue of hearing loss among first responders and why protecting hearing health is so important in high-pressure emergency situations. Dr. Potter explains that long-term noise exposure impacts an estimated 80% of law enforcement officers, 40% of firefighters, and 45% of EMS providers, creating challenges that can affect...

May is Military appreciation month, a time to honor the men and women who serve and have served our great nation…And while we honor those associated with the military, members and veterans are fighting a different battle: finances, and purpose. Key Points Covered: Finding a purpose -  For many who leave the military, the biggest challenge isn’t just money — it’s finding purpose in a new civilian w...

April is National Financial Literacy Month. It started back in the early 2000s when Congress realized too many Americans were leaving school without the first clue about how to manage a paycheck, a credit card, or a financial future.  Fast-forward to 2026, and the problem hasn’t gone away. Nearly half of U.S. adults still give themselves a C-minus or worse on money knowledge… Key Points Covered: R...

Spring has arrived, and while your home gets its annual refresh, your finances might be collecting their own quiet clutter… First, clean up your accounts - If your money is scattered across multiple banks, and brokerage firms, it can feel chaotic. Next, declutter your debt - Multiple credit cards, loans with varying interest rates, and different due dates can create unnecessary pressure. Organize...

This week on Retirement Results , we tackle a critical question: how would your portfolio respond if the market dropped tomorrow? As you move closer to retirement, managing risk becomes just as important as generating returns. Ford Stokes and Sam Davis explain why understanding your true exposure to market volatility is essential and how stress-testing your retirement plan can reveal vulnerabiliti...

Artificial intelligence is transforming the workplace faster than ever — and for older workers, that shift can feel both exciting and intimidating. Retirement. Radio ’s Matt McClure sits down with Carly Roszkowski, VP of Financial Resilience Programming at AARP, to unpack how AI is reshaping the job market and what it means for workers over 50. They explore new research showing that many older wor...

This week on Retirement Results , we discuss why retirement should never be a guessing game. Instead of hoping things work out, what if you could see your retirement results in advance? In this episode, Ford Stokes & Sam Davis explain the importance of building a “results in advance” retirement plan — one that helps you understand your income, investments and overall financial picture before y...

Recession talk is back for 2026—it may not be in every headline, but the odds aren’t at zero percent. You need to be prepared for the scenario of a possible recession. Key Points Covered: Emergency Funds ---  Start by building (or topping off) an emergency fund that covers three to six months of living expenses. Picking the Right Budgeting System –  Whether old or new, using a budgeting system can...

Retirement. Radio's Matt McClure sits down with Rod Griffin, Senior Director of Consumer Education and Advocacy at Experian, for a practical and timely conversation about emergency savings. With rising living costs, recent holiday spending, and ongoing debt repayment putting pressure on household budgets, many Americans struggle to set money aside for unexpected expenses. Matt and Rod break down c...

Retirement. Radio’s Matt McClure  sits down with Mark Steber, Chief Tax Officer of Jackson Hewitt, to break down what taxpayers need to know heading into the 2026 tax season. They discuss some of the biggest changes on the horizon, including an estimated $300 billion in refunds expected for millions of Americans — and why filing early and accurately can make a real difference. Steber walks through...

This week on Retirement Results , Ford Stokes, a Registered Social Security Analyst, walks through everything pre-retirees need to understand about Social Security as we flip the calendar into 2026. Ford explains how Social Security benefits are calculated, common mistakes people make when claiming, and why timing matters so much when it comes to maximizing your lifetime benefits. He also discusse...

This week on Retirement Results , Ford and Sam focus on how to make 2026 your year by starting the new year on the right financial footing. As a new year approaches, many people are thinking about resolutions — but when it comes to retirement and long-term financial security, the most important step is understanding where you are today. Ford and Sam walk through several simple, practical changes y...

This week on Retirement Results , Ford and Sam dive into the wave of layoffs hitting companies across the United States this year — from tech and manufacturing to financial services, retail, and transportation. With economic uncertainty lingering and several major employers reducing headcount this year, many Americans are wondering what they should do if they’ve already been laid off or fear they...

This week on Retirement Results, Ford and Sam share the story of Ed Bambas, an 88-year-old veteran who lost his pension, his wife, his home, and his financial security — forcing him back into the workforce at a local supermarket. Ed’s experience is a powerful reminder of why today’s retirees must take steps to protect their income and diversify their retirement plan. Ford and Sam explain how perso...

In this interview, Retirement. Radio’s Matt McClure speaks with Mary Hines Droesch, head of consumer and small business products at Bank of America, about holiday shopping trends. A major focus is how inflation and tariffs influence consumer behavior. The discussion also explores how dupe culture is emerging as a popular trend among younger generations who seek affordable alternatives to high-end...

In this piece, brought to you by Retirement. Radio 's Jim Tarabocchia, we explore the basics steps to take – and break them down – for further clarity on preparing for retirement.   Key Points Covered: The importance of saving for retirement – NOW Balancing your investments – How a healthy mix of riskier investments can help weather the market’s uncertainty especially as you get closer to retireme...

This week on Retirement Results, Ford and Sam address some of the most frightening financial mistakes retirees and pre-retirees make and how to avoid them. They discuss longevity risk and the real danger of outliving your money, why healthcare costs are one of the biggest threats to retirement security, and how planning for taxes and inflation can make all the difference. ✅ The biggest mistakes t...

In recognition of RSV Awareness Month, Retirement. Radio ’s Matt McClure  sits down with Dr. Leonard Friedland , Vice President and Director of Scientific Affairs and Public Health for GSK North America, and Carole , a National Senior Games athlete , to discuss how RSV (respiratory syncytial virus)  affects older adults and why prevention matters.   Dr. Friedland explains that RSV is far more than...