The Cranberry Wealth Retirement Show

What happens when two spouses are living on completely different retirement clocks? Kelton Burgess explains how age gaps can complicate retirement planning, from coordinating Medicare and private health insurance to making Social Security decisions and preparing for a surviving spouse. Plus, discover why couples may need to think beyond a single retirement timeline when building an income strategy...

That Medicare notice in your mailbox could reveal changes worth a closer look. Kelton Burgess of Cranberry Wealth discusses why retirees should review their Medicare coverage during open enrollment rather than simply letting it renew. He explains how premiums, deductibles, prescription costs, formularies, and Part D coverage can shift from year to year, and why a lower premium does not necessarily...

Could rising interest rates be creating risks in places retirees least expect? Kelton Burgess breaks down how Federal Reserve rate hikes affect both stocks and bonds, why headline-driven investing can lead to emotional decisions, and the questions retirees should ask about portfolio risk. The conversation explores the challenges of relying on traditional stock-and-bond allocations, the limitations...

What if your retirement date disappears years before you planned for it? Kelton Burgess discusses why more than half of retirees end up leaving the workforce earlier than expected, often due to health issues, layoffs, or family caregiving responsibilities. The conversation explores the gap between retirement expectations and reality, the impact of rising costs and inflation, and why flexibility ma...

Is the popular 4% retirement withdrawal rule built for a world that no longer exists? In this episode, Kelton Burgess examines the long-standing retirement income strategy and explains why he believes changing economic conditions, market volatility, inflation, taxes, and longer life expectancies make a one-size-fits-all approach worth reconsidering. Kelton discusses the origins of the rule, how re...

Claiming Social Security at the wrong time could quietly cost couples thousands, especially when spousal benefits enter the picture. Kelton Burgess explains the key differences between personal and spousal Social Security benefits, why waiting longer does not always increase a spousal benefit, and how early claiming can permanently reduce payments. Using real-life scenarios and practical examples,...

What if the biggest obstacle to retirement isn’t your savings balance, but the fear that it still won’t be enough? More Americans say they plan to work longer because they worry about outliving their money, even after years of saving. Kelton Burgess examines why retirement anxiety remains so common, how inflation, debt, market downturns, and unexpected expenses have reshaped retirement...

Could claiming Social Security too early create a bigger retirement challenge than most people realize? In this episode, Kelton Burgess breaks down the uncertainty surrounding Social Security, why taxes may have a larger impact on retirement than many expect, and how investment priorities often shift as retirement approaches. He also discusses the importance of planning for healthcare costs, marke...

Could AI change your retirement timeline before you're ready? In this episode, Kelton Burgess explores how artificial intelligence is reshaping the workforce and why workers in their 50s and 60s may need to rethink their retirement plans. The conversation covers career transitions, early retirement concerns, Social Security timing, and the importance of building flexibility into a financial strate...

What happens to your retirement income when inflation keeps shrinking the purchasing power of every dollar? Kelton Burgess explains why retirement planning is about more than generating income, it’s about preparing for rising costs over time. Using the impact of energy prices and inflation as a backdrop, he discusses cost-of-living adjustments, flexible income strategies, and the importance...

What happens to your retirement income when inflation keeps shrinking the purchasing power of every dollar? Kelton Burgess explains why retirement planning is about more than generating income—it’s about preparing for rising costs over time. Using the impact of energy prices and inflation as a backdrop, he discusses cost-of-living adjustments, flexible income strategies, and the import...

The biggest drain on your retirement savings might be the one you never see. Hidden fees—from advisor charges to fund expenses—can quietly erode your portfolio over time. Kelton Burgess breaks down where these costs hide, why most investors don’t fully understand what they’re paying, and how transparency impacts performance. He discusses industry shifts toward fee-based adv...

What if retirement really comes down to a few core trade-offs most people overlook? This episode breaks down the layered worries behind retirement planning, starting with health versus wealth and expanding into income versus longevity. Kelton Burgess unpacks how longer lifespans and fewer pensions raise the stakes for reliable income, while market volatility highlights the balance between control...

Procrastination might feel harmless, until it quietly reshapes your family’s future. Kelton Burgess breaks down why legacy planning is so often delayed, from fear of confronting mortality to the misconception that it’s only for the wealthy. Using real-world examples, the conversation highlights how avoiding wills, powers of attorney, and basic planning decisions can leave loved ones wi...

A proposed rule change could reshape how Roth accounts are managed, but is simpler always better? Kelton Burgess breaks down the potential for rolling personal Roth IRAs into workplace plans, explaining why Congress is considering the shift and what it could mean for fees, taxes, and account management. The discussion explores the appeal of consolidating assets, the importance of preserving tax-fr...

What if retirement lasts just as long as your career? Kelton Burgess explores the growing reality of 40-year retirements and why longevity is reshaping financial planning. As pensions disappear and more retirees rely on personal savings and Social Security, the pressure to make assets last has intensified. Kelton breaks down the risks of market-heavy portfolios, questions outdated rules like the 4...

Headlines scream disaster, but your retirement plan doesn’t have to. Kelton Burgess breaks down why bold financial predictions often miss the mark and how nonstop media noise can push investors toward emotional decisions. Using real-world examples of failed forecasts, he explains the importance of tuning out daily panic and focusing on a steady, long-term strategy. The conversation highlight...

Why are more financial advisors turning to a strategy they once criticized? This episode explores the growing role of annuities in today’s retirement planning landscape and why market volatility, inflation, and longevity concerns are reshaping how income strategies are built. Kelton Burgess breaks down the misconceptions surrounding annuities, explains why guaranteed income is gaining attent...

A million-dollar home can quickly become a financial burden instead of a legacy. This episode explores the real risks of passing down real estate, from hidden costs and inheritance taxes to family conflicts and illiquidity. Kelton Burgess breaks down why gifting a home during your lifetime can create major tax consequences, and how strategies like the step-up in basis can protect your heirs. The c...

Strong market gains have boosted retirement confidence, but is that confidence built on something solid? Kelton Burgess examines why recent stock market returns are making many people feel better about retirement, while inflation, taxes, and global uncertainty still keep investors up at night. Burgess discusses how market performance can create a false sense of security, why rising costs matter ju...

Most people don’t realize retirement decisions can get riskier the closer you get to the finish line. In this episode of A Slice of Advice , Kelton Burgess breaks down when it actually makes sense to start talking to a financial advisor—and why waiting too long can limit your options. Using real-world analogies and everyday examples, they explore the “retirement red zone,”...

Is there really a “right” time to start working with a financial advisor? In this episode of A Slice of Advice , Kelton Burgess breaks down why retirement planning looks very different depending on where you are on the timeline. From the “retirement red zone” analogy to common worries about market risk, lifestyle costs, and having enough saved, Kelton explores what people t...

What would you do if a surprise inheritance hit your bank account tomorrow? In this episode of A Slice of Advice , Kelton Burgess breaks down two very different paths taken after a sudden windfall—and how emotion, debt, and liquidity can quietly shape long-term outcomes. Using a real-world inheritance story, Kelton explains the difference between feeling financially relieved and remaining fi...

Most couples spend more time scrolling than talking—so what happens when retirement finally shows up? Kelton Burgess digs into why many couples assume they’re aligned on retirement, only to discover later they were picturing very different futures. From missed conversations and knowledge gaps to spending expectations and shared goals, the discussion centers on how silence can quietly s...

Trying to outsmart the market can cost more than most people realize—especially near retirement. Kelton Burgess breaks down why market timing becomes riskier as retirement approaches and introduce the concept of the “retirement red zone.” The conversation explores how volatility, early withdrawals, and missed recovery periods can quietly erode long-term savings. Kelton explains w...