Retire and Thrive

Retiring at 55, paying off the mortgage, moving for lower taxes, taking Social Security at 62, and downsizing can all sound like smart retirement moves. But each comes with tradeoffs that may not be obvious at first. Dan and Kamie break down six common retirement decisions and the financial, tax, family, and lifestyle questions worth considering before making them. 00:00 What's the Catch? 00:3...

If you could choose only five things to build your ideal retirement around, what would make the cut? Dan and Kamie turn retirement planning into a fantasy draft, choosing between financial security, health, purpose, freedom, travel, family, friendships, location, and hobbies while discussing how those priorities can shape life after work. Then it’s your turn: which five would you draft for your re...

How much should the news really influence your retirement decisions? In Episode 66 of Retire and Thrive, Dan Langworthy flips the script and interviews longtime news anchor Kamie Blair as they finish their round on the golf course. Kamie shares what really determines which stories become breaking news, why some headlines dominate coverage, and how ratings, social media algorithms, AI-generated con...

Market downturns, an unexpected early retirement, and rising healthcare costs can make it feel like your retirement plan is falling apart. But are those fears telling you the whole story? Dan and Kamie hit the golf course for the next round of their Back Nine of Life series, breaking down three common retirement fears and how planning, cash reserves, flexibility, Medicare considerations, and smart...

We are out of the studio and on the golf course for this special episode of Retire and Thrive. Dan Langworthy and Kamie play a few holes at Pine Island Golf Course while breaking down how your retirement strategy must evolve over time. We cover the critical differences between three major phases of retirement. You will learn how to handle the active "go go" years of your 60s, the health and consol...

In retirement, some of the most important financial conversations are not just with your advisor. They are with your family. In this episode of Retire and Thrive , we break down the family meeting retirees should consider having with their adult children before a crisis forces the conversation. We discuss what your family should know about your estate plan, where important documents are located, w...

What exactly is a Trump Account, who qualifies, and what could it mean for your children or grandchildren? In this episode of Retire and Thrive , Dan and Kamie switch roles as Kamie walks through her firsthand experience setting up a Trump Account for her newborn son, AJ. They discuss the $1,000 government seed contribution, how families can add to the account, and why parents and grandparents may...

Think you need $1 million to retire, should avoid the stock market, or can count on Medicare and Social Security to cover the bills? Dan and Kamie put eight common retirement myths head-to-head, tackling retirement income, healthcare costs, investing, estate planning, and the assumptions that can derail a retirement plan. Which belief will be crowned the biggest retirement myth? Fortress Financial...

Are you financially and emotionally ready to retire? Before leaving your career behind, consider taking a 30-day retirement trial run. In this episode of Retire and Thrive, Kamie and Dan Langworthy explain how temporarily living as though you are already retired can reveal whether your income, spending habits, daily routine, and retirement expectations are realistic. You’ll learn how to:• Track fi...

Could you recognize the voice of a family member if it had been recreated by artificial intelligence? In this episode of Retire and Thrive, Dan Langworthy and Kamie Blair examine the imposter calls, fake emergencies, suspicious bank requests, malicious email attachments, gift card demands, and wire-transfer schemes that can place retirees and their families at risk. Dan explains why scammers creat...

Can AI improve retirement planning without replacing the human relationship behind it? Dan Langworthy and Cody Schaefer share how they use ChatGPT for business decisions, workout and meal planning, and home projects, then examine the privacy, judgment, and behavioral-coaching limits that still matter when your financial life is involved. 00:00 Introduction 00:29 Why We’re Talking About AI 01:28 Bu...

Social Security can provide an important foundation for retirement income, but deciding when to claim it is rarely a simple calculation. In this episode of Retire and Thrive, Dan and Cody examine how health, life expectancy, lifestyle goals, taxes, market conditions, spousal benefits, and other sources of retirement income can influence a Social Security strategy. They also discuss whether delayin...

When should you take Social Security? Should you consider Roth conversions in retirement? How do required minimum distributions affect your tax picture later in life? In this episode of Retire and Thrive, Dan Langworthy is joined by Cody Schaefer, CFP®, RICP®, to talk through some of the retirement planning decisions people often wish they had understood earlier. The conversation focuses on Social...

Can you retire at 62 with $800,000 saved? In this episode of Retire and Thrive, Kamie and Dan walk through common retirement questions that do not always have simple yes-or-no answers. From sustainable withdrawal rates to pension decisions, Social Security timing, spending confidence, and couples retiring at different times, this conversation focuses on the real-life decisions people face as retir...

Retirement is not just a financial decision. It is a relationship transition. Dan and Kamie discuss five conversations couples should have before retirement, including where to live, how to spend, how to handle time together, how kids and grandkids shape decisions, and why health and long-term care planning should not be avoided. This episode is for informational purposes only and should not be co...

Most retirement bucket lists focus on travel, hobbies, and big adventures, but the most meaningful parts of retirement may be the ones people rarely plan for. In this episode of Retire and Thrive, Dan Langworthy and Kamie talk about building a better retirement bucket list, one that includes relationships, health, personal growth, meaningful experiences, and purpose. They also discuss why retirees...

Should you stay in your current home, downsize, move, or buy a second home in retirement? Dan and Kamie talk through the financial and emotional side of retirement housing decisions, including why downsizing is not always cheaper, when a cabin or snowbird property may make sense, and why modeling the decision inside your retirement plan matters. The information in this episode is for general infor...

What happens after the excitement of retirement starts to fade? In this episode of Retire and Thrive, Dan Langworthy and Kamie Blair discuss the first year of retirement, including the “honeymoon phase” many retirees experience and why it does not always last. Dan shares what he has seen retirees struggle with most, including identity, purpose, financial confidence, and the shift from receiving a...

In this milestone 50th episode of Retire and Thrive , Kamie and Dan look back at the biggest retirement lessons from the first 50 episodes, including why retirement is not just a financial event, but an emotional and lifestyle transition too. Dan shares why many people may not need “more money” as much as they need a better retirement income strategy, why health and relationships play such a major...

What do you want your family to remember about you after you’re gone? Dan Langworthy and Cody Schaefer discuss why retirement legacy is about more than estate planning, wills, trusts, or the money you leave behind. From grandchildren and family values to ethical wills, life stories, and the powerful exercise of writing your own obituary, this conversation challenges retirees to think intentionally...

When you leave your career, are you leaving your default social circle behind? In Episode 48 of the Retire and Thrive podcast, Dan and Cody dive into the fourth perspective of retirement planning: your Inner Circle. Your financial portfolio dictates when you can retire, but the people around you dictate how well you retire. Moving from daily coworkers to a fulfilling "retirement tribe" d...

Retirement planning is about more than your portfolio, taxes, or income strategy. It is also about deciding how you want to spend your time, energy, and freedom once work no longer structures your day. In this episode, we discuss why retirees should audit what gives them energy, what drains it, and how to build a retirement that is financially sound and personally meaningful.

Retirement is more than a number. It’s an identity shift. In this episode of Retire and Thrive , Dan and Cody break down one of the most overlooked questions in retirement planning: Who are you after work? They discuss how retirees can lose their sense of identity, why purpose matters as much as portfolio income, and how to “test drive” retirement before making a hard stop. In this episode, you’ll...

In Episode 45 of Retire and Thrive, Cody and Dan explore the “Tuesday Question” and why retirement planning is about more than having enough money. This conversation looks at purpose, daily routine, and retirement cash flow, and why being intentional with your time may be one of the most important parts of a successful retirement. In this episode: • What the “Tuesday Question” means • Why retireme...

Confused by the SECURE Act and what it means for your retirement plan? Dan and Cody break down inherited IRA deadlines, Roth catch-up rules for higher earners, the 529-to-Roth strategy, updated RMD penalties, and why your tax plan may need a fresh review. If you are retired or getting close, this episode is a practical reset on the retirement rule changes worth reviewing now with your CPA, advisor...