Retire With Purpose - The Retirement Podcast

Are your investment habits quietly shaping the way you live — and could a few mindset shifts help you build a more patient, resilient, and fulfilling retirement?  In this episode, you'll learn:  How investing principles translate into life decisions Using stress and uncertainty as tools instead of threats Why margin of safety matters beyond your portfolio The difference between being rich and bein...

Today, I'm thrilled to welcome Ron Pevny to the podcast. Ron is the founder and director of the Center for Conscious Eldering, a certified Sage-ing Leader with Sage-ing International, and a longtime guide for individuals navigating life's most meaningful transitions. With a master's degree in integral counseling and psychotherapy, Ron has spent decades helping people move through major life passag...

Join us for our "Anchors of Retirement Confidence" series, where we discuss four areas of retirement uncertainty plus strategies to replace your anxiety with clarity and control. In part 1, we tackle how to create a flexible spending system that adapts with you.  In this episode, you'll learn:  Why safe withdrawal "rules" can create unnecessary stress How to find your personal sustainable spending...

What if the key to a calmer, more meaningful retirement isn't having all the answers, but learning how to trust yourself when you don't?  In this episode, we discuss:  Why retirement feels more uncertain than working life How identity shifts after 50 can create anxiety What's  true  vs. what's just  loud How to focus on what you can control — in life and money A 4-step practice to calm fear and re...

Will 2026 deliver another strong bull-market year — or a long-overdue reality check as AI, market valuations, and global shifts collide?  In this episode, we discuss:  2026 S&P 500 predictions (15.2% vs. 6.7%) AI's explosive growth The Magnificent Seven's shrinking dominance Why equal-weighted investing reduces volatility Why bonds, gold, and diversification matter again How pre-retirees can prote...

What if the real measure of a successful retirement isn't what you've built, but who you've been, and how your money supports the life you want to be remembered for?  In this episode, we discuss:  Resume virtues vs. eulogy virtues Why many retirees feel "lost" after achieving everything they worked for How purpose changes the way you think about money, work, and time Using financial planning to cr...

Today, I'm excited to welcome Dr. Sharon Bergquist to the podcast. Sharon is a board-certified physician, research scientist, founder of Emory Lifestyle Medicine & Wellness, and an internationally recognized leader in lifestyle medicine.  She has led or co-led over a dozen clinical trials that have received $61 million in funding to evaluate lifestyle interventions and identify early biomarkers fo...

You saved diligently for decades — so why does giving yourself permission to spend still feel so hard?  In this episode, we discuss:  Why many retirees underspend despite having a secure financial plan Emotional and psychological barriers to spending How lifelong, "saver" habits impact retirement decisions Low-risk strategies to help build spending confidence Today's article is from the Kitces blo...

What can our top five Retire With Purpose Podcast episodes of 2025 teach you about avoiding regrets, spending confidently, and living with purpose as you head into 2026?  In this episode, we discuss:  The most common retirement regrets How to generate flexible, reliable income in retirement The Surplus Bucket Strategy and why it can help spending confidence How to understand your level of retireme...

If retirement is supposed to bring freedom, why do so many people still feel unsettled, and what's behind that tension?  In this episode, we discuss:  Why fear persists even with a strong financial plan Dangers of letting the news cycle shape your outlook Why retirees often search for a "true sage" — and why that search fails The "Yada" reflective framework and techniques for cultivating presence,...

Could a counterintuitive tax move today potentially lead to thousands in savings — or an unexpected tax trap tomorrow?  In this episode, we discuss:  Why some retirees intentionally harvest capital gains How the 0% bracket really works When it may make sense to pay capital gains taxes now How to evaluate tax gain harvesting vs. Roth conversions using long-term projections Key tax-planning windows...

What if the biggest obstacle to a joyful retirement isn't your money — but the belief that you never have enough of it?  In this episode, we discuss:  Why "having enough" is both a financial and emotional question When saving "too well" creates new problems The FIRE movement cautionary tale The role of curiosity, creativity, and craft in a purposeful retirement Today's article is from The Root of...

Today, I'm thrilled to welcome Fritz Gilbert back for his second appearance on the podcast. Fritz is an award-winning blogger and author of The Retirement Manifesto, one of the most influential retirement blogs in the country. He has now been retired for six years, and while many people think the big transition ends the day you leave the workforce, Fritz's journey proves that retirement continues...

With talk of bubbles, corrections, and overvaluation dominating the headlines, we unpack how you can stay confident, stay invested, and stay sane when markets feel anything but predictable.  In this episode, we discuss:  Reasons why you might reduce stock exposure Poor (or dangerous) reasons to move to cash The biggest threat to your portfolio Practical investment frameworks to leverage in today's...

Discover why the biggest barrier to deeper relationships after 50 isn't conflict — it's the certainty we cling to without even realizing it.  In this episode, we discuss:  Why certainty "hardens" as we age How to navigate generational divides How fear shapes our beliefs and actions Viewing values as flexible filters vs. rigid rules Today's article is from our very own blog titled,  The "Unforgivab...

Gold has been surging lately, but is it truly a golden opportunity for retirees, or just another glittering distraction? Join us as we break down what's really driving gold's rise, explore its role as a diversification tool, and reveal what the data says about whether it deserves a spot in your portfolio.  In this episode, we discuss:  Gold's big run Historical data of gold vs. equity returns Infl...

Could striving for the "perfect" portfolio be holding you back from the fulfilling, financially confident life you've worked so hard for? Join us as we explore why embracing a "good enough" mindset can lead to greater happiness, balance, and confidence in retirement.  In this episode, we discuss:  The myth of the "perfect" portfolio  Satisficers vs. Maximizers  The Boglehead Paradox  Your life's "...

Today, I'm speaking with David McKnight. David is a best-selling author, world-renowned tax strategist, and financial educator who challenges some of the most popular (and misleading) retirement gurus and influencers in the financial advice space. He's also a great friend, and beloved guest on the show and I'm excited to welcome him back for a 3rd time on the podcast. David is well known as the au...

Discover what new research reveals about how retirees  actually  spend their money — and why front-loading your retirement income plan could be the key to enjoying your healthiest, most fulfilling years first.  In this episode, we discuss:  Pitfalls of traditional retirement income plans What to know about the "retirement spending smile" Spending regret factors for retirees Health and longevity pe...

What if the key to a fulfilling retirement isn't about relaxation — but about doing the hard things you'd rather avoid? From rewiring your brain to deepening your sense of purpose, discover how challenges — big or small — can restore meaning, resilience, and joy in your next chapter of life.  In this episode, we discuss:  Why comfort can erode resilience How to leverage "controlled challenges" Way...

What's really holding you back from taking that next financial step? Join us as we explore how avoidance slowly erodes confidence, why shame and fear create roadblocks, and how to replace procrastination with purposeful progress.  In this episode, we discuss:  Why avoidance = erosion, not explosion The Hurricane vs. Tornado analogy How to conduct a "Shame Audit" Why small steps can create big fina...

The belief that more data equals more control is an illusion. Our obsession with finding the "perfect" financial plan and receiving constant information often leads to anxiety, not peace. Join us as we explore why embracing uncertainty, focusing on what you  can  control, and leading with purpose can help create true financial (and emotional) freedom.  In this episode, we discuss:  How to balance...

Today, I'm speaking with Edward McQuarrie. Ed is the Professor Emeritus at Santa Clara University, where he taught in the marketing department for more than three decades before retiring in 2016. After stepping away from teaching, Ed pursued a new passion in researching financial market history and retirement income planning.  His work has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, MarketWatch, and...

What if the common advice to wait until age 70 for Social Security isn't always the best move? Could claiming earlier actually give you  more  freedom and peace of mind in retirement?  In this episode, we discuss:  Risks of "blanketed" Social Security advice Determining your expected value vs. expected utility Mortality, sequence of returns, and policy risks Pinpointing your "personalized discount...

Retirement is about more than finances — it's about meaning and growth. Join us as we explore common "belief traps" that can hold you back, how to reframe your story, and expand what's possible in the years ahead.  In this episode, we discuss:  How the echo chamber and certainty traps limit perspective and growth Why the comfort trap keeps you stuck — and how to break free The danger of the perfec...