The On-Track Retirement Show

What if the biggest threat to your retirement isn't a market crash—but inflation? While inflation rarely makes headlines every day, it quietly chips away at your purchasing power year after year. In this episode of the On-Track Retirement Show , Pat and Jay explain why inflation is one of the most underestimated risks retirees face and how it can impact your income, healthcare costs, taxes, and ov...

You've spent decades building your career, raising a family, and preparing financially for retirement—but have you prepared emotionally? In this episode of the On-Track Retirement Show, Pat Schmidt and Jay Curatti explore one of the biggest challenges retirees face: the Retirement Identity Crisis. While many people carefully plan their finances, few take time to consider what life will actually lo...

In this episode of the On-Track Retirement Show, Pat Schmidt and Jay Curatti tackle one of the biggest retirement blind spots most people ignore: long-term care and rising healthcare costs. From Medicare misconceptions to the true cost of assisted living, memory care, and home healthcare, this conversation shines a light on the risks that can derail even the strongest retirement plan. You’ll learn...

Have you spent decades building your retirement savings… only to discover your IRA could become one of your biggest tax liabilities? In this episode of the On-Track Retirement Show, Pat Schmidt and Jay Curatti break down the hidden tax dangers many retirees never see coming — including required minimum distributions (RMDs), the “widow’s penalty,” and how inherited IRAs can create massive tax burde...

Are you worried about turning your retirement savings into reliable income that lasts? You’re not alone. In this episode of the On-Track Retirement Show, Pat Schmidt and Jay Curatti break down one of the biggest fears retirees face: running out of money in retirement. From understanding your monthly income needs to maximizing Social Security, pensions, and retirement income strategies, this conver...

Are annuities a smart retirement strategy… or one of the biggest mistakes you can make with your money? In this episode of the On-Track Retirement Show, Pat Schmidt and Jay Caratti break down one of the most misunderstood and debated topics in retirement planning: annuities. From the “good, bad, and ugly” of annuities to the differences between fixed, variable, immediate, and fixed index annuities...

What if retirement lasts 30 years… or more? In this episode of the On-Track Retirement Show, Jay and Pat tackle one of the biggest risks retirees face — living longer than expected. While many people plan for retirement, far too few truly plan for longevity, rising healthcare costs, inflation, long-term care, and the hidden impact of investment fees over time. If you retire at 65 and live to 95, t...

What if you could retire with $1 million… and still run out of money? In this episode of the On-Track Retirement Show, Jay Curatti and Pat Schmidt break down one of the biggest retirement mistakes people never see coming — believing that having a large nest egg automatically guarantees financial security. The truth? Retirement isn’t just about how much money you have. It’s about having a plan for...

Most people think retirement planning starts at 65… But what if the most important financial decisions actually happen before you ever get there? In this episode of the On-Track Retirement Show, we break down why age 60 might be the most financially dangerous window of your life— and how the 5 years leading up to retirement can determine whether you experience confidence… or uncertainty for decade...

What if nothing went wrong… …but your taxes still doubled? In this episode of the On-Track Retirement Show, we unpack one of the most overlooked—and uncomfortable—risks in retirement planning: the widow’s tax penalty. It’s not caused by bad investments. It’s not caused by poor planning. It happens when life changes—and your tax situation changes with it. “Her lifestyle didn’t change… but her taxes...

What if the biggest threat to your retirement… isn’t the market—but something you don’t even see? In this episode of the On-Track Retirement Show, Pat and Jay uncover what they call the “silent killer” of retirement: hidden fees. What most people think is a simple 1% fee can quietly turn into 2%–2.5% or more—costing tens of thousands of dollars every single year. And here’s the problem… Most retir...

Are you really diversified… or does it just feel that way? In this episode of the On-Track Retirement Show, Pat and Jay unpack one of the biggest misconceptions in retirement planning: the illusion of diversification. A client came in with 18 different mutual funds—on the surface, it looked impressive. But after a deeper analysis, they discovered something shocking… 👉 Nearly 90% of his portfolio...

What would you do if the market dropped tomorrow… and your retirement plan dropped with it? At 9:50 AM, the markets open—and within minutes, your portfolio is down six figures. That moment forces a different question: 👉 Not “How much did I lose?” but… “Am I still okay?” In this episode of the On-Track Retirement Show, hosts Pat Schmidt and Jay Curatti walk you through a powerful Retirement Readin...

Are you unknowingly making mistakes that could quietly derail your retirement? In this episode of the On-Track Retirement Show, hosts Pat Schmidt and Jay Curatti break down the 5 most common (and costly) retirement planning mistakes—and how to avoid them before it’s too late. Because here’s the truth: Retirement doesn’t usually fall apart overnight… it unravels slowly. One missed detail. One delay...

What if the biggest threat to your retirement… isn’t the market? In this episode of the On-Track Retirement Show, we break down 5 common retirement myths that quietly derail even the most well-intentioned plans. These aren’t reckless mistakes—they’re assumptions that feel safe, familiar, and widely accepted. But here’s the truth: Comfort doesn’t equal clarity. And assumptions don’t equal a strateg...

If you’ve ever laid awake at night wondering… “Are we actually going to be okay?” — you’re not alone. The truth is, most people heading into retirement have done everything right—saved, worked hard, sacrificed—and still feel uncertain. In this episode of the On-Track Retirement Show, we break down the 4-step framework to real financial freedom—not flashy, social-media freedom… but the kind that he...

If the market dropped 25% tomorrow, would your retirement plan change… or just your stress level? That single question reveals the difference between hoping your retirement works and having a strategy built to withstand uncertainty. In this episode of The On-Track Retirement Show, Pat Schmidt and Jay Curatti break down the 5 smart money moves every retiree should understand to build a more confide...

Have you ever laid awake at night wondering: “What if we’ve missed something in our retirement plan?” You’re not alone. Many people spend decades saving for retirement, but still feel uncertain about whether they’re truly on track. The truth is, most people don’t fail at retirement because they didn’t save enough — they struggle because they lack clarity. In this inaugural episode of The On-Track...