The Simply Retirement Podcast

Retirement taxes aren’t always as straightforward as they seem. A decision that looks harmless today could create unexpected tax consequences, higher Medicare premiums, or reduced flexibility later. How do income sources, tax brackets, Social Security, and healthcare costs all work together in retirement? What happens when a major life event changes your filing status and reshapes your finan...

Healthcare decisions can become overwhelming quickly once retirement enters the picture, especially when one spouse is nearing Medicare eligibility, and the other is not. What happens if you lose employer coverage earlier than expected? How do you compare COBRA, Medicare, and ACA plans without creating confusion later? In this episode, I walk through the healthcare decisions many couples face befo...

Retirement brings freedom and flexibility, but it also raises important questions about how and where you want to live as life changes over time. What happens if your current home no longer fits your needs? How do you balance emotional attachment, financial realities, and practical lifestyle decisions while planning for the future? In this episode, I discuss how choosing where to live in retiremen...

Outdated Social Security advice can create costly mistakes, especially when rules have changed, but old strategies are still being shared today. Have you ever heard someone say, “I was told I could do this with Social Security”? What if that advice no longer applies and could affect your retirement income for years to come? In this episode, I explain several Social Security filing strategies that...

Planning for retirement often raises more questions than answers, especially when income, taxes, and timing all collide. How do working years, Social Security decisions, and required withdrawals shape your financial picture? In this episode, I walk through real questions from a recent Social Security webinar and explain how these decisions connect to your overall retirement plan. I cover how worki...

Caregiving often starts quietly, but its impact can quickly reshape careers, finances, and family dynamics. How prepared are you if a health event forces immediate decisions? And who is included in the conversations that matter most? In this episode, I speak with Lina Supnet-Zapata, Chief Executive Officer of Mir Senior Care Management, Inc. & Care Consultants, about the realities families fac...

Your Social Security statement might look simple, but the details behind it can shape your entire retirement plan. Are you only looking at the benefit numbers, or are you missing the bigger picture that could impact your future income? In this episode, I walk through how to properly read your Social Security statement and what it is really telling you beyond just your projected benefits. I explain...

There are moments in life when everything shifts at once: your identity, your roles, and your plans for the future. What happens when the life you expected changes, and you’re left asking what comes next? In this episode, I sit down with Oona Metz, LICSW, CGP, licensed clinical social worker and certified group psychotherapist, to talk about the emotional journey women face during divorce and how...

Divorce can feel overwhelming, especially when emotions and financial uncertainty collide. How do you make clear decisions when everything feels uncertain? And how can the right guidance help you avoid costly mistakes along the way? In this episode, I sit down with Carolyn Daly, Managing Partner at Cohen Seglias, to talk through how women can approach divorce with clarity and structure. We cover t...

Most people think tax season ends when the return is filed, but that may be where the real opportunity begins. What if your tax return could guide smarter financial decisions instead of sitting untouched for a year? In this episode, I explain how your tax return can become a valuable planning tool instead of something you file away. I walk through how to review your return for accuracy, compare it...

Facing major life changes can feel overwhelming, especially when the future is unclear and the stakes are high. How do you move forward when fear, finances, and identity are all shifting at once? In this episode, I chat with Claudia Porter, CFP®, CDFA®, Wealth Advisor at RFG Advisory, about navigating divorce, financial uncertainty, and rebuilding life with purpose. She shares her personal journey...

What happens when retirement stops being a finish line and starts being a choice? What if the biggest barrier between you and financial freedom isn’t the math, it’s the mindset? In this episode, I sit down with Bernadette Joy, author and CEO of CRUSH Your Money Goals®, for a candid conversation about what it really takes to take control of your finances, redefine what retirement means...

One hundred episodes in. More than a milestone, this is a window into the heart behind the work. In this episode, I reflect on what it means to reach Episode 100 of the Simply Retirement Podcast, alongside the people who know me best, my family, Dawn Blake, Kaitlyn Blake-Lolliot, and Eric L. Blake.  We talk about why helping women feel confident around money matters so deeply, how communication an...

When divorce puts the future of your home into question, the biggest risk is making decisions before you fully understand your options. In this episode, I sit down with Stacey Ellison, Certified Divorce Lending Professional and Divorce Mortgage Planner at Divorce Mortgage Solutions, to walk through how mortgage planning, settlement language, and income rules can shape what is actually possible whe...

When life feels noisy, the real issue is not always a lack of time; it is often a lack of clarity. The biggest decisions in life rarely get solved by doing more. They get solved by cutting through the clutter, focusing on what matters most, and taking one small step at a time. In this episode, I talk with Jill Beck, founder of Go Long, about why so many women stay stuck during major life transitio...

Many women approaching retirement worry that Social Security may not be there when they need it most. That uncertainty can make retirement planning feel overwhelming. But what do the numbers actually say? In this episode, I break down the real projections behind Social Security and what they mean for women approaching retirement. I explain why benefits are not expected to disappear, how potential...

Many people ask whether retiring early will help them live longer. The real conversation is much bigger than that. Statistics and social media posts often push simple conclusions, but retirement decisions are rarely simple. Health, caregiving responsibilities, longevity, and financial readiness all play a role. In this episode, I explore a study about retirement timing and longevity and explain wh...

Many women enter retirement assuming life insurance is no longer necessary, only to discover that the real issue is not coverage, but access to cash when it matters most. In this episode, I walk through how the purpose of life insurance changes as you approach and enter retirement. I explain why the real question is not whether you should keep a policy, but what risks still exist in your plan. I s...

Choosing a financial advisor is one of the most important decisions you’ll make as you approach retirement, especially if you’re navigating it on your own.  Yet many women don’t realize how much clarity and confidence can come from simply asking the right questions before committing to a long-term relationship. In this episode, I walk through seven essential questions every woman should consider b...

Many retirees unknowingly walk away from life insurance policies without realizing they may still hold value. For women navigating retirement, widowhood, or major life changes, understanding every available option can make a meaningful difference. In this episode, I talk with Lisa Rehburg, President of Rehburg Life Insurance Settlements, about how life insurance settlements work and why they are o...

RMDs are one of those retirement rules that feel simple on the surface, until the tax consequences show up years later. In this episode, I walk through what required minimum distributions are, when they start, and why missing or mismanaging them can quietly raise taxes, Medicare costs, and long-term financial stress. I explain how planning early creates flexibility, especially for women navigating...

Most people know they should be saving for retirement, but fewer understand how contribution rules, taxes, and prioritization actually work together. Small decisions, like where you save first or how you respond to changing tax brackets, can shape long-term outcomes far more than people realize. In this episode, I walk through the 2026 retirement contribution limits and explain how to prioritize d...

Divorce later in life is not just a legal event; it is an emotional and financial turning point that reshapes identity, confidence, and long-term planning. In this episode, I sit down with Mardi Winder, a strategic divorce consultant and founder of Positive Communication Systems, to discuss what really happens before, during, and after a gray divorce.  We explore why so many women feel stuck in fe...

Social Security decisions can feel overwhelming, especially when trying to understand spousal and survivor benefits.  What benefits are you entitled to based on your spouse’s record? When should you claim them? In this Q&A episode, I address two common Social Security questions that women face. I walk through the step-by-step process for determining spousal benefits for married couples a...

Major life transitions can leave you feeling lost and uncertain about your financial future. How do you move forward when everything feels overwhelming? What questions should you even be asking when you’re navigating divorce, widowhood, or any significant financial change? In this episode, I sit down with Tony Steuer, Author and Host of The Get Ready Podcast. Tony shares his perspective on w...