The Games of Life

What if retirement isn't about reaching the finish line, but about making sure life doesn't send you back to start? In part two of this Sorry! series, Ambar Reddekopp explores the biggest “sorry cards” retirees face and how to plan around them before they become financial setbacks. From market downturns and inflation to taxes, long-term care costs, and longevity, Ambar explains why ret...

What if retirement is less about reaching the finish line and more about avoiding the “Sorry” cards that can send you back to square one? In this episode of The Games of Life , Ambar Reddekopp uses the classic board game Sorry! to explain some of retirement’s biggest risks. From inflation and long-term care costs to taxes and longevity, Ambar explores the unexpected events that c...

Are you asking the right questions about your retirement, or are you trying to solve the puzzle with half the clues? In this episode of Games of Life , Ambar Reddekopp uses the classic game Guess Who? to explain how Colorado PERA members can better understand their retirement benefits. From membership dates and years of service to retirement goals, family considerations, and plan changes, Ambar sh...

Think you've figured out your retirement plan? What if someone changes the rules halfway through the game? In this episode of Games of Life , Ambar Reddekopp uses the classic game of UNO to explain the often-confusing world of Colorado PERA retirement benefits. From retirement timing and years of service to survivor benefits, service credit purchases, and ever-changing plan rules, Ambar breaks dow...

Are you building your financial future with intention or just adding pieces as you go? In this episode, Ambar Reddekopp uses the game 7 Wonders to explain how life insurance fits into your bigger financial picture. She walks through different types of policies and helps you understand why each one serves a different purpose depending on your goals. The real takeaway: it’s not about buying a...

What financial “preservation cards” do you have in place when life throws something unexpected your way? In this episode, Ambar Reddekopp uses a creative board game analogy to break down real-world money strategies, like insurance, life insurance, long-term care, and building the right support team. She explains why growing wealth isn’t enough if you don’t preserve what you...

Knowing when to move may be one of the most important, and most overlooked decisions in retirement. In this episode, Ambar Reddekopp continues the Monopoly series by exploring how timing, planning, and proactive conversations can shape where and how you age. The discussion highlights the emotional and practical realities of leaving a longtime home, from rising maintenance costs to changing health...

What if your home could help fund your retirement, without selling it? In this episode, Ambar Reddekopp breaks down modern reverse mortgages (HECM loans) and how they’ve evolved since 2008. Using a Monopoly-inspired analogy, the conversation explores how retirees can tap into home equity to supplement income, cover expenses, or plan for long-term care. Ambar also addresses common misconcepti...

What if playing Monopoly without a strategy is exactly how many people approach real estate investing? In part two of her 4-part series on real estate, Ambar Reddekopp breaks down the realities behind property investing—and why it’s far more complex than buying everything you land on. She explores the importance of having a clear strategy, understanding cash flow versus long-term appre...

What if the game of Monopoly is actually teaching you how to buy real estate the wrong way? In this episode of the Games of Life , investment advisor representative, Ambar Reddekopp, uses the classic board game to break down the realities of purchasing a home. She explores why buying without a plan can lead to costly mistakes, how lending limits don’t always equal affordability, and the hidd...

Investing has more in common with poker than you might think—and playing by emotion is how people lose both games. In this episode of  The Games of Life Podcast , investment advisor representative, Ambar Reddekopp uses poker as a powerful analogy to unpack risk tolerance, emotional decision‑making, and long‑term investing discipline. She explores the difference between bravery and capac...

When the market gets shaky, too many investors react without a plan—and that’s when mistakes happen. In this episode of  The Games of Life Podcast , investment advisor representative, Ambar Reddekopp uses the childhood game “The Floor Is Lava” as a powerful metaphor for market volatility. She unpacks why volatility isn’t the enemy, how fear and headlines often ca...

What if running your business feels productive—but you’re still guessing? Using Charades as the metaphor, this episode explores how business owners mistake activity for progress, miss critical signals, and make costly decisions without full clarity. The conversation breaks down blind spots that come from being too close to the work, why numbers are a form of communication, and how rapi...

What if a board game could explain why smart business owners still get stuck? Using Settlers of Catan as the framework, this episode breaks down how resource decisions, early positioning, and unpredictable forces mirror real-world business planning. The conversation explores why hoarding resources can stall growth, how strategic trades accelerate momentum, and why courage often matters more than p...

When everything starts going wrong at once, the real damage often comes from the decisions made under pressure. In this episode of Games of Life , Ambar Reddekopp continues the Pandemic series by focusing on crisis planning and financial decision-making when life feels out of control. Using the game as a framework, she explores how stress, decision fatigue, and panic can trigger costly financial r...

What if a board game could explain why most people are caught off guard financially? In this episode of Games of Life , Ambar Reddekopp uses the cooperative board game Pandemic to explore how financial preparedness really works. She draws clear parallels between managing a global outbreak and managing personal finances — where early preparation, boring but necessary steps, and the ability to...

Setting goals is just the opening move—staying in the game and winning takes strategy, resilience, and adaptability. In this episode, Ambar Reddekopp digs into the psychology of goal setting, from playing the long game to spotting wild cards and learning from setbacks. Discover why discipline means choosing what you want most over what you want now, how to pivot when life blocks your path, a...

Ever played Sequence and thought it was just luck? Turns out, winning—at games and in life—is all about strategy, patience, and connecting the right moves at the right time. In this episode, Ambar Reddekopp reveals how goal setting for retirement and beyond mirrors the twists and turns of a board game. Learn why small, consistent steps beat giant leaps, how to adapt when life blocks yo...

Scammers have a new secret weapon—artificial intelligence. In this episode, Amber Reddekopp reveals how AI is transforming fraud, from voice cloning and deepfakes to convincing chatbots and fake online deals. Discover real-life examples, learn why “trust but verify” is more important than ever, and get practical tips to protect yourself in a world where nothing is as it seems. If...

What if the next person trying to scam you isn’t a stranger, but someone you know—or even a computer? In this episode, Amber Reddekopp exposes the most common frauds targeting retirees and families, from investment clubs and identity theft to romance scams and tech support traps. Learn how scammers use urgency, secrecy, and “too good to be true” promises to trick victims, a...

What happens when your Medicare decision locks you in—and your health takes a turn? In part two of the Games of Life Medicare series, Ambar Reddekopp unpacks the complexities of Medicare Advantage. From alphabet soup plans to hidden co-payments and county-specific coverage, this episode explores how your health history, budget, and location shape your options. Learn why timing matters, what...

Feeling like Medicare is a game of Operation ? One wrong move and—buzz! In this episode of Games of Life , host Ambar Reddekopp, president of Journey Financial Group, sits down to dissect the complexities of Original Medicare. From navigating Parts A through D to avoiding costly prescription pitfalls and understanding optional coverages like dental, vision, and hearing, this conversation is...

Ambar Reddekopp of Journey Financial Group discusses how she helps people better their credit scores. Ambar shares the different types of credit and how managing each properly can slowly raise the score, but also how closing and opening accounts too rapidly is a bad move. Ambar also explains the difference between having debt and using credit and how the latter is a great way for people to keep a...

Ambar Reddekopp of Journey Financial Group discusses the moving target that is credit scores. Ambar shares how the way they are graded has changed over the years and is confusing and then she explains what comprises them. Then Ambar shares five factors that move credit scores and why paying one’s bills on time is the most important. Ambar also emphasizes that people should not feel guilt abo...

Ambar Reddekopp of The Journey Financial Group explains the methodical process for people that want to get out of debt. Ambar discusses the agenda for meeting new clients and simply finding out how bad their debt is and what their APR rates are. Then she shares three different keys – debt rollup plan, consolidated debt, and bankruptcy – and how each affects one’s credit score and...