Save your Retirement with Pat Strubbe

With rising costs and longer lifespans, the old rules for retirement income no longer apply. The key to a secure retirement in 2025 isn't just about how much you've saved – it's about creating reliable, monthly income.

Americans now believe they need $1.46 million to retire comfortably — a jump of more than 15% from last year’s estimate. Nearly half of Americans don't feel ready to retire, and almost half fear they'll outlive their savings. In this episode, Pat explains why chasing a single "magic number" can leave you exposed, and how an income-focused plan can help outlast whatever figure the headlines throw a...

The finish line is in sight, but one of the most dangerous parts of your financial journey may have just begun. During this critical ten-year window surrounding your retirement date, a single market crash can permanently impact your life savings. In this episode, Melissa & Pat expose the reality of sequence-of-returns risk. They reveal why the five years before and the five years after you stop wo...

In a time when growing government debt is almost certainly paving the way for higher taxes, helping ensure the protection of your retirement savings is more important than ever. How you manage the potential taxation of your nest egg could define the reality of your retirement years.

Imagine a master carpenter showing up to a job site with the most expensive tools money can buy—titanium hammers, high-end saws—but no blueprints. Without a plan, those tools are useless. Many people approach retirement the same way: they have financial "tools" like 401(k)s and IRAs, but no actual strategy to build a confident future.

We have a special guest today, Mission Lexington! We'll highlight their 48-year commitment to holistic community support and share an example of purposeful giving in retirement, along with our usual financial guidance. Enjoy!

Legacy planning can be a tough conversation, but necessary. No one wants to think about death or what happens after they’re gone. This episode discusses ways you can help ensure your wishes are carried out.

With more and more uncertainty about where tax rates are headed in the future, people are taking a hard look at Roth conversions to provide tax-free growth and eventual income. The issue is that you have to pay taxes on that money now instead of putting it into tax-deferred accounts. Pat takes a look at this strategy and how you can determine if a Roth is right for you.

For high-net-worth retirees and pre-retirees, a mid-year financial review isn’t just a good habit. It’s a critical checkpoint. This is the time to make sure your income, taxes, legacy plan and more are all working together the way they should. In this episode, Pat walks us through some of the essential aspects a retirement plan should have – because, for those with significant assets, small oversi...

The numbers are in. Consumer prices have risen 4.2% in the past year – the largest annual rate in three years. Inflation isn’t just a headline. For retirees and those nearing retirement, it’s a three-sided threat. In this episode, Pat breaks down exactly how inflation is hitting retirement plans from every angle — and what wealthy retirees can do right now to help protect what they’ve built.

Retirement is a time to enjoy life, but financial missteps can turn it into a source of stress. This week, Pat joins Melissa to discuss the top retirement mistakes that could drain your nest egg—and how to avoid them.

A recent study shows that thirty percent of people are less optimistic about whether their retirement financially will be as good as it was when they were working. Inflation, longevity, taxes and risk are all major factors. Pat takes a look at how best to handle your savings, including true diversification of investments and working with a financial professional to help put together as many stream...

This remains the number one fear of people going into retirement, and with longer lifespans, inflation, and the possibility of increased tax rates in the future, your savings may need to stretch for longer periods of retirement. Pat takes a look at how proper planning can help that money last.

It’s time to face a few hard financial truths head-on. Social Security is not stretching as far as it used to, future benefits may face pressure, withdrawal strategies are getting tighter, and healthcare can take a much bigger bite out of savings than you may expect. In this episode, Pat explains what these challenges mean and, more importantly, what you can do now to help build a retirement plan...

The finish line is in sight, but one of the most dangerous parts of your financial journey may have just begun. During this critical ten-year window surrounding your retirement date, a single market crash can permanently impact your life savings. In this episode, Pat exposes the reality of sequence-of-returns risk. He reveals why the five years before and the five years after you stop working may...

Do you want tax free income in retirement? Roth conversions are the way to go, but there is a method as to how to do them. Pat breaks down what they are and the strategy for doing them in the most tax advantaged way, so you save money both now and in the future.

The stock market inevitably goes through ups and downs, but the downturns don’t have to derail your financial future if the right preparations are made ahead of time. Pat discusses how putting a plan together can help deal with potential market corrections so your money will still be ready to work when you need it.

It’s not what you make, but what you keep that counts, especially in retirement. Pat discusses how to turn your savings into reliable income, and how working with the right financial professional can help.

Across the country, a gap is opening between the retirement Americans dreamed of and the one they’re living. Faced with persistent inflation, mounting debt, and terrifying headlines about the future of Medicare and Social Security, both workers and current retirees are losing faith. In this episode, Pat breaks down the latest data and provides actionable, empowering solutions to help you take back...

After a look at whether a recession may be looming in the near term, Pat takes a look at Social Security, and how retirees can optimize their benefits depending on their situation in regards to age, marital status and other factors.

Prediction markets are showing a 37% chance of a recession in the United States in the near future, and many pre-retirees and retirees are concerned about their financial future. Pat takes a look at the current financial landscape, the chance of stagflation occurring, and ways that a written plan can help to recession-proof your savings before anything hits.

The recent conflict in Iran may have people wondering what may happen, especially those who are living off retirement savings. Pat takes a look and reinforces the importance of not only having a plan, but sticking to it in uncertain times.

People build up savings for 30 to 40 years while they’re working, but savings by itself it not a retirement plan. Pat takes a look at how that savings can turn into actual income to help augment Social Security or pensions so that you will have money to live your lifestyle throughout your retirement.

It’s the number one fear of Americans as they get set for retirement, and there are many factors as to why that is, including longevity, inflation and taxes among others. Pat discusses these and other areas and how planning for them as best as possible can help alleviate some of the fears and help better set people up for their post working years.

Cooling inflation sounds like good news, but for millions of retirees, it could mean a much smaller Social Security check increase next year. Early estimates predict the smallest COLA since 2016, while costs for essentials like groceries and utilities are still climbing. In this episode, Melissa and Pat reveal what a small COLA really means for your budget and why your retirement income plan is mo...