Retire Well

What happens when a concert ticket mix up turns into a front row upgrade? On this episode of Retire Well, Josh Bretl shares a funny story from a recent family outing that perfectly sets the stage for today's discussion: turning stressful situations into major financial wins. Josh and Mark Elliott break down the latest headlines about the Social Security trust fund and explain why fear-based, emoti...

Major life milestones, like dropping a child off at summer camp or watching twins head to college, bring an undeniable wave of emotional change. Retirement is no different, representing one of the most pivotal life transitions you will ever navigate. In this episode, Josh Bretl and Mark Elliott discuss how to manage the emotional weight of these milestones while keeping your financial strategy on...

Retirement is one of the most significant life transitions you will ever face, bringing a unique mix of excitement and uncertainty. In this episode, Josh Bretl compares preparing for retirement to dropping his daughter off at sleepaway camp, showing how deliberate preparation is what makes any new chapter successful. We look at recent financial headlines, including the intense media hype surroundi...

What do old school donut shops, the movie Top Gun, and your estate plan have in common? They're all on the table in this episode of Retire Well! Hosts Josh Bretl and Mark Elliott share stories about family traditions before diving into some critical retirement realities. A recent study reveals that nearly 60% of people retire earlier than they planned, often due to layoffs or health changes. Josh...

Welcome to Retire Well with Josh Bretl and Mark Elliott. This week, Josh shares a story from a recent family trip to Universal Studios, illustrating how exceptional personal care changes your perspective. That same level of dedication is exactly what you should expect from your retirement team. Josh and Mark break down the critical shift from saving a pile of money to generating a reliable monthly...

What is your retirement magic number? In this episode of Retire Well, Josh Bretl and Mark Elliott break down why relying on a single savings target might be a myth. True financial security is not just about the size of your nest egg, it's about how much you spend in relation to what you have. Josh shares insights on navigating major life transitions and explains the core pillars of the Wellment Wa...

A recent report shows that most Americans fear outliving their savings more than death itself. It makes sense. For decades, you knew exactly how much money was coming in from your paycheck. In retirement, that predictable income disappears, and the responsibility shifts entirely to you. This week, Josh Bretl breaks down how to transition from a saving mindset to an income mindset. He shares a simp...

Josh Bretl begins this episode with a story from a recent Social Security workshop in Wheaton where the room hit 85 degrees, the fans sounded like a hurricane, and his laptop died mid-presentation. While it felt like a disaster, sitting down with the audience led to a profound connection with a recent widow who felt lost in the complexity of retirement. We explore why confidence in retirement is p...

In this episode of Retire Well , Josh Bretl and Mark Elliott discuss the fundamental shift in retirement planning over the last few decades. With traditional pensions largely a thing of the past, today’s retirees must act as their own pension managers. Josh breaks down the recent Federal Reserve Beige Report and explains why emotional reactions to global uncertainty often lead to costly mistakes....

Life has a way of surprising us when we least expect it. This week, Josh Bretl shares a story about an unwelcome visitor in his car that serves as a perfect metaphor for the unexpected challenges of retirement. Whether it is a mechanical failure at home or a sudden shift in the stock market, being prepared is the key to maintaining your peace of mind. Josh and Mark Elliott dive deep into what expe...

In this episode of Retire Well, Josh Bretl and Mark Elliott discuss how to find clarity when you are feeling out of sorts due to market volatility or headline driven anxiety. Josh shares a personal story about a family dinner reset involving a tableside Parmesan cheese wheel that turned a lethargic Sunday into a great start to the week . We then dive into the unique challenges of the retirement ma...

This week on Retire Well, Josh Bretl shares highlights from a family road trip to Louisville, Kentucky, including scouting reports from Mammoth Cave and the Louisville Slugger factory. Back in the office, Josh and Mark Elliott discuss the impact of economic cycles on consumer confidence and how inflation in energy costs has hit the headlines recently. Josh shares his perspective on why these perio...

In this episode of Retire Well , Josh Bretl and Mark Elliott explore the personal side of retirement planning, starting with a Saturday night in downtown Elmhurst that served as a reminder of how quickly life transitions occur. We dive into the often difficult topic of legacy and estate planning, discussing why clear documentation is the only way to protect your family from the courtroom battles t...

Josh Bretl and Mark Elliott are back to help you navigate the bumps of retirement. After a snowy Chicago weekend that forced a much-needed family reset, Josh shares why every retiree needs a mental break from the noise. We dive into the current geopolitical headlines and why structuring your income matters more than timing the market. The main event today is legacy planning, the 5th step of the We...

Retirement used to be simpler when everyone had a pension. Today, we are living in a world of IRAs and 401k plans, which means you are now in a partnership with Uncle Sam that you might not have signed up for. This week on Retire Well , Josh Bretl explains why taxes are the single biggest variable in your retirement success. We discuss the hidden taxes that surprise many families, like the 10 year...

What is the biggest risk to your retirement? According to Josh Bretl, it is usually the thing you haven't even thought of yet. This week on Retire Well , Josh shares a sobering story about a neighbor's home ruined by a burst pipe while they were away for the winter. It's a powerful reminder that a solid retirement plan must account for more than just the good times. We also dive into the shifting...

Walking into retirement can feel a lot like watching your child’s first dance. It's a mix of pride, nerves, and a lot of questions about what comes next. This week on Retire Well , Josh Bretl and Mark Elliott dive into the emotional and financial shifts that happen when you stop punching the clock. We talk about why your retirement strategy needs to change once you move from the "growth" phase to...

What if you're a millionaire and don't even know it? This week on Retire Well, Josh and Mark unpack the idea of the hidden millionaire. Many hardworking savers quietly build significant wealth through 401k contributions, home equity, and years of disciplined habits without ever feeling rich. They also explore how Gen X is stepping into the retirement spotlight, what Social Security could look like...

Retirement is not built on one account. It is built on a strategy. In this episode of Retire Well, Josh Bretl shares a personal story about visiting his wife’s childhood neighborhood and uses it to highlight a powerful financial truth. There is more than one way to grow up, and more than one way to retire. Josh and Mark break down why a 401k is a tool, not a full retirement plan, how market volati...

Retirement is not just about hitting a number. It is about stepping into a new season of life with clarity and confidence. In this episode of Retire Well, Josh Bretl and Mark Elliott explore what it truly means to be ready for retirement. From the financial basics of spending, income, and taxes to the emotional side of purpose, identity, and relationships, they walk through the four questions near...

Retirement is often treated like a finish line. Josh Bretl sees it differently. In this episode of Retire Well, Josh and Mark Elliott unpack what retirement really means and why it has less to do with quitting work and more to do with freedom, flexibility, and cash flow. Josh shares a personal story about Chicago winters, unexpected family routines, and how small moments can turn into the most mea...

This week on Retire Well with Josh Bretl, Josh and Mark Elliott tackle two of the most emotionally charged and misunderstood parts of retirement planning. Legacy decisions and reliable income. Josh opens the show with a personal story about his daughter Maggie’s first gymnastics competition, drawing a powerful parallel between preparation, effort, and enjoying the moment. From there, the conversat...

Retirement brings freedom, but it also brings questions. In this episode of The Own Your Retirement Show, Josh Bretl and Mark Elliott explore why so many retirees feel uncertain about the future and what can actually restore confidence. Josh shares a recent family story from an indoor rock climbing gym that perfectly mirrors retirement itself. Pushing past fear, adapting to change, and trusting yo...

Have you ever looked at the price of a burger and wondered if you accidentally walked into a five star steakhouse? On this episode of Retire Well, Josh Bretl and Mark Elliott dive into the reality of rising costs and why a plan that worked in the nineties might be running out of gas today. Josh shares some fun stories from a recent family trip to Las Vegas and explains how a magician’s performance...

On this episode of Retire Well, Josh Bretl and Mark Elliott dig into what most people really mean when they say they want a “comfortable retirement.” It turns out, it almost always starts with income. Josh shares personal stories, including childhood memories at Wrigley Field, to explain why meaningful experiences matter in retirement and why those experiences depend on having reliable income you...