The Retirement Insiders

In Part II of The Retirement Insiders , the conversation shifts from success to significance. What does it actually look like to live well. N ot just early in life, but all the way through it? This episode unpacks the quiet disciplines and unexpected moments that shape a meaningful second half. Along the way, you’ll hear stories that challenge conventional thinking about retirement revealing why t...

By the time most of us were figuring out high school, Dr. Ik-Whan G. Kwon was completely alone in a war torn country, facing a choice that would define the rest of his life. He chose the harder road. Fast forward to today he plays golf in the early mornings, stays in touch with hundreds of former students and gathers his entire family together every other Thanksgiving. From the outside, it looks p...

The Retirement Insiders closes out 2025 with a Best Of episode built around the core theme of life stewardship. David Alexander and Tony Kalinowski revisit the moments that stayed with them long after recording, including Skip Vaccarello’s call to pursue “calling” over performance, the Brewers’ honest reflections on caregiving and why support matters, and Eric Camfield’s leadership lesson from Alt...

In this continuation of The Retirement Insiders generosity series, David Alexander interviews Tony Kalinowski and shifts the conversation from philosophy to practice. Part II explores how retirees can build a disciplined, repeatable operating system for giving, one that sustains impact year after year. Tony shares how he uses sponsorships strategically, why he treats generosity like a structured f...

In this KIT (Key Insights for Today) episode of The Retirement Insiders , David Alexander podcast producer and turns the mic toward Host Tony Kalinowski to unpack his personal framework for strategic generosity. Rather than reacting to every year-end appeal and experiencing what he calls “giving fatigue,” Tony walks through how he built a disciplined, conviction-driven approach to giving that alig...

In Part I, Dr. Leanne Clark-Shirley of the American Society on Aging (ASA) outlined the broad vision for aging in America. ASA has been a steady voice in the national conversation on aging since 1954. Today, under Dr. Clark-Shirley’s leadership as President and CEO, the organization is shaping what many call the “North Star” for practitioners in the field. With more than 4,000 members spanning hea...

The American Society on Aging (ASA) has been a steady voice in the national conversation on aging since 1954. Today, under the leadership of President and CEO Dr. Leanne Clark-Shirley, the organization is shaping what many call the “North Star” for practitioners in the field. With more than 4,000 members representing health, housing, caregiving, technology, academia, philanthropy, and government,...

Host Tony Kalinowski and Co-Host and Producer David Alexander continue the conversation with Eric Camfield of Altar Fly Fishing. Part I traced Eric’s path from the Yankees to the pastorate to founding Altar, why these retreats are not vacations, and how a weekly pause improved Tony’s effectiveness. In Part II, we examine the always “on” culture and what Eric calls soul thresholds, the daily cadenc...

Former Yankees player Eric Camfield traded the baseball field for fly fishing and soul care. Now the founder of Altar Fly Fishing, Camfield helps leaders pause, reflect, and reset through retreats that combine solitude, group reflection, and spiritual rhythm. These experiences are not escapes but intentional spaces for restoration. Host Tony Kalinowski shares his firsthand experience at Altar’s re...

In Part II of Navigating Senior Care, the focus shifts from helping our parents to preparing for our own future care. Host Tony Kalinowski and co-host David Alexander are joined again by Brad and Christy Brewer, co-authors of Home to Home: The Step-by-Step Senior Housing Guide , to discuss how early planning can help prevent stress and confusion later in life. Brad, a Residential Assisted Living S...

When caring for aging parents, the heart often wrestles with the head, and the weight of those decisions can feel overwhelming. In this deeply personal episode of The Retirement Insiders , host Tony Kalinowski and co-host David Alexander open the door to a conversation many families are quietly navigating behind closed doors. Joining them are Brad and Christy Brewer, a husband and wife team bringi...

Finding the right financial adviser can make all the difference in securing a successful retirement. But with so many options, how do you know who to trust? In this Key Insights Today (KIT) episode, Co-Host and Producer David Alexander sits down with Tony Kalinowski, a seasoned financial expert with over 30 years of experience, to uncover the essential steps to choosing the right adviser and build...

Discover how Skip Vaccarello, Silicon Valley pioneer and author of Finding God in Silicon Valley , integrates faith and innovation into a purposeful retirement. Host Tony Kalinowski and Co-Host David Alexander explore Skip’s journey from VisiCorp to founding the Silicon Valley Prayer Breakfast and mentoring the next generation. Learn his actionable advice for transitioning from career success to a...

Happy New Year! Join The Retirement Insiders as we celebrate the most inspiring moments of the show in 2024. This special episode takes you through some of the year’s highlights, starting with Jeff Chosid’s story of wandering the streets of Paris and embracing a life of curiosity and intention. Later, we heard from leaders at Road Scholar, who shared how group travel fosters connection and transfo...

Welcome back to The Retirement Insiders, where we uncover the secrets to a vibrant and purposeful retirement. In this special Part II episode, we continue our insightful discussion with Dr. Daniel Zimmerman, Senior Vice President and Chief Science Advisor at Reinsurance Group of America (RGA) and Managing Director of the Longer Life Foundation. Building on Part I, where we explored life expectancy...

Welcome to The Retirement Insiders , where we uncover the secrets of living a vibrant, purposeful retirement. In this special episode, we’re thrilled to have Dr. Daniel Zimmerman, Senior Vice President and Chief Science Advisor at Reinsurance Group of America (RGA) and Managing Director of the Longer Life Foundation, share his expertise on longevity and healthspan. Dr. Zimmerman’s extensive experi...

Today’s guest is Mike Smith, a pioneer whose career began during one of America’s most thrilling technological revolutions. Hosts Tony Kalinowski and David Alexander sit down with Mike to uncover his journey from a self-taught programmer to a leader in tech and marketing, with first-hand experiences that included listening to Gemini launches and working on flight simulations during the height of t...

Welcome back to The Retirement Insiders ! We’re thrilled to continue our conversation with Kyle McClellan, former MLB pitcher, 2011 World Series champion, and dedicated philanthropist. In Part I of “Stewarding Impact,” Kyle provides an inspiring update on how the $100,000 matching campaign, fueled by listener support, is creating meaningful change for families in North St. Louis. Today, Kyle revea...

In this episode of The Retirement Insiders , we’re excited to welcome back Kyle McClellan, former MLB pitcher and 2011 World Series champion, who now champions a new field: philanthropy. Kyle discusses his nonprofit organization, Brace for Impact 46, which has made significant strides in Haiti and North St. Louis. Listeners will hear updates on how funds, including the $100,000 matching campaign r...

In this episode of The Retirement Insiders, host Tony Kalinowski and co-host David Alexander speak with Gary Sirak, author of How to Retire and Not Die: The 3 Ps That Will Keep You Young. Gary explores the importance of Purpose, Passion, and Planning in retirement, sharing stories that underscore the value of having mentors and staying active during this life stage. Whether you're on the go o...

In today’s episode, we feature an inspiring conversation with Brad Budde, former NFL player for the Kansas City Chiefs and now a dedicated physical therapist specializing in senior care. Join Host Tony Kalinowski and Co-Host/Producer David Alexander as they explore Brad's unique journey from a successful football career to a fulfilling role in physical therapy. Discover how his experiences on...

This past Sunday, we celebrated Father's Day, and in light of that, we're releasing a special KIT (Key Insights Today) episode titled "What My Father Taught Me." Join us as Tony shares personal lessons from his father that transcend generations and are valuable for everyone. From cherished childhood memories to core values, this episode is filled with heartfelt stories and life...

We often talk on The Retirement Insiders about the importance of friends, family, and fun as part of our core pillars. In today’s episode, we feature an inspiring conversation with Road Scholar's Director of Public Relations Kelsey Perri, alongside Sally Matts, a retired Human Resources professional and one of the organization's Ambassadors. Road Scholar's educational travel experie...

Don Guenther's professional story is about an accomplished career as an inventor, entrepreneur and sales executive with $500 million+ in sold goods and services. But he tells us that’s not the important part of life. He is living on purpose serving others in a rich retirement. His formula? A life woven with faith, family, friends, fitness, finance, and fun. Don is deeply engaged with his comm...

Join us for a special Key Insights for Today episode on The Retirement Insiders, where Co-Host David Alexander interviews Host Tony Kalinowski as Tony shares his personal experience on the benefits of staying active, balanced, and engaged with remote work as an alternative to full retirement.  We also explore the benefits of part-time work and the top states in the U.S.  where you might want to li...