Tag: Financial Guidance

Feature Image
What Women Are Telling Us About Retirement: Their Goals and What Keeps Them Up at Night (Ep. 127)

What Women Are Telling Us About Retirement: Their Goals and What Keeps Them Up at Night (Ep. 127)

By |

Retirement can bring a surprising mix of excitement and uncertainty. 

Having enough money matters, but so do the questions about health, purpose, family, taxes, and whether you’re making decisions you’ll feel comfortable living with.

In this episode, I share what women in the Simply Retirement Community told me about their biggest retirement goals and worries. I walk through themes including financial independence, travel, health, Social Security, Medicare, taxes, and investment decisions. I also explain why defining what you want retirement to look like can help you ask better questions, evaluate your choices, and understand how the different pieces of your retirement plan fit together.

Key points:

  • How defining what you want your money to support can make the question of “enough” more personal and useful
  • Why travel, health, mobility, independence, family, purpose, and legacy shape retirement beyond the numbers
  • How Social Security, Medicare, healthcare, taxes, and long-term care create overlapping retirement decisions
  • Why understanding a financial recommendation includes asking what it costs, what you give up, and what could change
  • How education, good questions, and clear explanations can help you make decisions when retirement feels uncertain
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Eric Blake: 

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: RSS | More

Feature Image
The Essentials of Social Security: An Insider’s Insights to Help You Plan with Confidence (Ep. 32)

The Essentials of Social Security: An Insider’s Insights to Help You Plan with Confidence (Ep. 32)

By |

Are you leaving money on the table with your Social Security benefits?

Join host Eric Blake as he engages with Nolan Russell, a former Social Security Administration employee and author of “The Essentials of Social Security: Insider Insights to Help You Plan with Confidence.” Nolan shares his 25 years of experience, shedding light on the complexities of Social Security and offering practical advice to help you make informed decisions.

Key Highlights:

  • Understanding Social Security: Discover why Social Security is a crucial yet often undervalued source of retirement income that adjusts for inflation
  • Challenges in Information Accuracy: Learn about the difficulties in obtaining accurate information from the Social Security Administration and strategies to overcome them
  • Nolan’s Background: Gain insight into Nolan’s extensive experience with the SSA and his motivation for writing his book to help people better understand their benefits
  • SSA Staffing Challenges: Understand the impact of staffing issues at the SSA on the availability and accuracy of information
  • Effective Preparation: Get tips on how to prepare for interactions with Social Security representatives by having a clear vision of your retirement goals and neccessary information ready
  • Missed Entitlements: Learn about the common issue of missed entitlements and how to ensure you receive all the benefits you’re eligible for
  • And much more!

Listen in for actionable advice on optimizing your Social Security benefits and navigating the complexities of retirement planning with confidence.

Resources:

Connect with Eric Blake: 

Connect with Nolan Russell: 

About our Guest: 

Nolan Russell is a former Social Security employee with more than 25 years of experience. He began his career in a Field Office as a Claims Representative and, later, as a Technical Expert. Then, he worked in a Regional Office as a Regional Program Analyst and Medicare Coordinator, providing program expertise on a regional and national level in the agency. Thereafter, he served as a Teleservice Center Manager, overseeing service on Social Security’s 800 number phone network. His last assignment was managing a small, rural Field Office in Colorado where he was responsible for maintaining service to several mountain communities. Regardless of his position, Nolan has a passion for using his knowledge and experience to help people be successful when working with Social Security.

Nolan has been married to his wonderful bride over 32 years, has four grown children and no grandchildren (yet). He is an avid DIYer, always looking for ways to fix just about anything.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: RSS | More