Retire and Thrive

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...

In this episode of Retire and Thrive, Dan and Kamie take on some of the retirement questions people may hesitate to ask. They discuss how much money someone may need to retire, whether people can run out of money in retirement, how major financial decisions can affect a long-term plan, and why diversification and disciplined decision-making matter. They also talk about how supporting adult childre...

Are market crashes really the biggest threat to retirement? In this episode of Retire and Thrive, Kamie and Dan break down the retirement risks that can quietly do even more damage than a market downturn, including inflation, taxes, and longevity. If you are getting close to retirement or already there, this episode will help you think beyond the headlines and focus on what can actually derail a l...

In Episode 41 of Retire & Thrive, Kamie and Dan Langworthy discuss how a financial plan can help you stay grounded during uncertain markets. From downturns and diversification to retirement timing and emotional decision-making, this episode breaks down why sticking to a plan matters more than reacting to fear. In this episode: • Why your financial plan should guide your decisions during market...

How should investors respond when war overseas shakes the markets? In this episode of Retire and Thrive , Dan Langworthy and Kamie discuss market volatility, geopolitical conflict, retirement planning, and the biggest mistakes people make when fear takes over. From COVID and the 2022 Russia-Ukraine invasion to today’s uncertainty, Dan explains why abandoning your long-term financial plan can hurt...

Retirement planning is about more than hitting a number. In Episode 39 of Retire and Thrive, Cody and the team break down retirement taxes, required minimum distributions (RMDs), Roth conversions, Social Security timing, the widow’s penalty, and retirement income planning. Through real client stories, they explain why some people can retire sooner than expected, how tax traps can derail a plan, an...

In this episode of Retire and Thrive, we go beyond the numbers and into the real questions people ask right before retirement. What happens if you finally retire and realize you do not enjoy it? How do you avoid retiring from something instead of retiring to something? And what do you do when spouses are not on the same page about spending? We also talk about working in retirement, the basics of e...

In this episode of Retire and Thrive , Kamie and Dan break down three practical ways to increase retirement spending while staying confident in your long term plan. They cover the three phases of retirement spending, how to withdraw from the right accounts with taxes in mind, and why “guardrails” can work better than strict budgets. In this episode, you will learn: The Go Go, Slow Go, and No Go ph...

Ever wonder why a pro athlete can earn millions and still get hit with a surprise tax bill for a single road trip? In Episode 36, Dan Langworthy is joined by Fortress advisor Cody Schaefer (with Kamie Blair out for a week) to unpack the “athlete travel tax” and other real-world money lessons from the biggest stages in sports, from the Big Game to the Olympics. What we cover: • How athletes can owe...

In this episode of Retire and Thrive , Kamie Blair and Dan Langworthy break down three common spending mistakes that can derail retirement and what to do instead. They discuss why overspending early (especially without a plan) can create long-term problems, how underspending out of fear can keep you from enjoying the life you worked for, and why ignoring inflation can quietly erode your retirement...

Are you unknowingly locking in a permanent 30% pay cut by claiming Social Security at 62? In this episode of Retire & Thrive, we break down the specific math between claiming benefits at age 62, 67, and 70. We also cover the exact "withdrawal rate formula" you need to bridge the income gap without draining your retirement nest egg. Topics Discussed: (00:00) Should I defer Social Secu...

In this episode of Retire and Thrive , Dan Langworthy and Kamie Blair walk through three common retirement tax traps that can quietly increase what you owe—often when you least expect it. They cover how Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) at age 73 can push you into a higher tax bracket, why Social Security can become taxable (and how some states may tax it too), and how Medicare IRMAA surcharge...

In Episode 32 of the Retire and Thrive Podcast, Kamie and Dan walk through three practical tax strategies for retirees that can help you lower your tax bill, keep more retirement income, and stay in the right tax bracket—without guesswork. If you’re navigating IRA withdrawals, Roth IRA strategy, Social Security and pension income, RMDs at age 73, state income taxes, or charitable giving, this epis...

In Episode 31 of the Retire and Thrive Podcast, Dan Langworthy and Kamie Blair answer a question many people over 50 ask as retirement gets closer: pre tax vs Roth, where should your money go. This episode focuses on retirement tax planning, account selection, and how to avoid the tax surprises that hit many retirees after years of saving in 401k and traditional IRA accounts. Dan explains how to b...