The Games of Life

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...

Ambar Reddekopp of The Journey Financial group relates being in an escape room to one of the most cumbersome and dangerous parts of people’s financial health: debt. Ambar explains how amortized debt is structured to make paying it off hard and for big companies to profit. She also defines the difference between APR and interest and shows how people can get stuck paying mostly APR and not pri...

Ambar Reddekopp relates the strategy and duties of pieces in the game of chess to the trickiness and gravity of estate or legacy planning. She shares how one’s documents are like pawns – the first line of defense. And Ambar shares how wills, trusts, taxes, and the entire plan itself fit onto the chess board. She also shares how an advisor is like a football coach and a lawyer is like o...

Ambar Reddekopp finishes up the game of Trouble in retirement with a discussion on long-term care. Ambar explains the who, what, when, where, and how of the subject. She shares examples of how the “when” – as in when to stop driving or to move out of one’s home – and the “how” – especially how to pay for this expensive care – can be very tricky...

Ambar Reddekopp begins a two-part series on two major trouble spots in any budget, especially in retirement. She talks about the trickiness of taxes and the biggest lie told about taxes in retirement. Ambar explains how required minimum distributions can become a sneaky burden and why people should use a financial advisor for tricky maneuvers, such as Roth conversions. Click  here to schedule...

Ambar Reddekopp talks about more facets in the retirement game of Risk. She explains what “comfy accounts” are meant for and the types of places to hold them. Then she explains “growth accounts” and how Journey Financial can help people determine the proper amount of risk with their money. Ambar also talks about how whacky Colorado weather is, as spring comes into full bloo...

Ambar Reddekopp discusses what people should consider when creating their retirement paycheck plans. Ambar talks about the importance of determining monthly needs and the sources to pay, along with filling the gap between what people have and what they need. She also talks about why money should have its job and stick to it. Click  here to schedule your complimentary meeting with Ambar and th...

Ambar Reddekopp discusses retirement budgeting and planning enough income to last people for 30 years. She talks about “three territories” in retirement: steady paycheck, long term care, and legacy planning. And she talks about the differences between a paycheck account, a comfy account, and a growth account. Ambar also talks about her recent trip to Disney World – without kids....