Retirement Income – The Simply Retirement Podcast

Which Type of Annuity Fits Your Retirement Plan? (Ep. 116 | Pt. 2)

By The Simply Retirement Podcast | August 5, 2026

When people hear the word annuity, they often picture a stream of retirement income. While that’s certainly part of the story, there are important decisions that come long before those payments ever begin.

How do the different types of annuities work? Which one might fit your retirement goals? And what questions should you answer before comparing products?

In this episode, I continue our annuity series by explaining the different types of annuities and how each one is designed to solve a different retirement planning challenge. I clarify the difference between an annuity as a financial concept and an annuity as a financial product, explain how immediate, deferred, fixed, fixed indexed, and variable annuities work, and return to one guiding question that can bring greater clarity to every retirement decision: What are you trying to accomplish?

Key takeaways

How viewing annuities as financial products changes the decisions involved before purchasing one
Why immediate and deferred income annuities serve different retirement income objectives
How fixed indexed annuities balance market participation with protection from direct market losses
Why variable annuities may appeal to investors seeking tax-deferred growth opportunities
How identifying your retirement goal first helps narrow the annuity choices that may fit your plan
And more!

Resources:

Connect with Eric Blake:

Annuities are insurance products issued by insurance companies and involve costs, fees, limitations, and contractual terms that vary by product. Guarantees are backed solely by the claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company. Before purchasing an annuity, investors should carefully consider their financial objectives, risks, charges, expenses, and contract features, and consult with their financial, tax, and legal professionals.

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Understanding Annuities Before You Decide if They Belong in Your Retirement Plan (Ep. 115 | Pt. 1)

By The Simply Retirement Podcast | July 29, 2026

Annuities often become part of the retirement conversation during major life changes, yet many people still aren’t sure what they actually are or when they make sense.

In this episode, I begin a four-part series designed to help you understand annuities before you ever evaluate a specific product. We discuss what an annuity actually is, why insurance companies created them, how they can provide retirement income, and why every decision should begin with your retirement goals rather than product features.

We also explore accumulation versus income phases, tax deferral, and the questions you should ask before deciding whether an annuity belongs in your retirement plan.

Key takeaways:

How annuities work as insurance contracts that may provide retirement income now or later
Why retirement planning should begin with your goals before discussing financial products
How accumulation and income phases affect the way annuities function over time
Why tax deferral should be viewed as one feature rather than the primary reason to buy
Questions that help determine whether an annuity belongs in your retirement strategy
And more!

Resources:

Connect with Eric Blake:

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Helping Women Make Better Retirement Decisions After Life Changes (Ep. 114)

By The Simply Retirement Podcast | July 22, 2026

Retirement decisions often happen during life’s most emotional moments. When you’re grieving, retiring, or suddenly making financial choices on your own, how do you know you’re asking the right questions or talking to the right people?

In this episode, I share a story from a recent anniversary trip that reminded me why retirement planning is about much more than investments.

Through conversations with women facing divorce, widowhood, and retirement, I explain how decisions around Social Security, beneficiary designations, retirement accounts, taxes, and financial guidance are often connected in ways people don’t realize. We also talk about why every financial advisor approaches retirement differently, why asking the right questions matters, and how finding guidance that fits your situation can influence retirement for years to come.

Key takeaways:

Why retirement decisions made after losing a spouse deserve thoughtful guidance before taking action
How Social Security timing can affect lifetime retirement income and future financial flexibility
Why beneficiary designations and retirement accounts often create unexpected challenges for widows
How communication between financial and tax professionals can improve retirement decisions
Questions women should ask before choosing retirement guidance during major life transitions
And more!

Resources:

Connect with Eric Blake:

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Inherited IRA Options Every Widow Should Understand (Ep. 113)

By The Simply Retirement Podcast | July 15, 2026

Losing a spouse often brings emotional and financial decisions that can affect your future for years to come.

What happens when one of the largest assets you inherit is a retirement account? How do you know which choices may affect taxes, healthcare costs, income planning, and retirement flexibility?

In this episode, I discuss one of the most important financial decisions many widows face after losing a spouse: what to do with an inherited IRA or retirement account. I explain the unique options available to surviving spouses, how inherited IRAs differ from rolling assets into your own IRA, and why those choices can influence retirement income, taxes, healthcare costs, and required distributions.

We also share a real client example, common mistakes to avoid, and five key questions every surviving spouse should ask before making a permanent decision about inherited retirement assets.

Key Takeaways:

Why surviving spouses often have retirement account options unavailable to other beneficiaries
How inherited IRA decisions may affect taxes, healthcare costs, and retirement income flexibility
Why age differences between spouses can influence future required minimum distributions
Common mistakes widows make when using inherited retirement assets for large expenses
Five questions that can help guide decisions before making permanent account changes
And more!

Resources:

Connect with Eric Blake:

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Retirement Tax Cliffs: The Hidden Costs Every Woman Should Understand (Ep. 112)

By The Simply Retirement Podcast | July 8, 2026

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 financial picture?

In this episode, I discuss several retirement tax cliffs that can quietly affect retirement income planning, especially for women who are widowed, divorced, or managing finances independently. I explain how required minimum distributions, Social Security taxation, Medicare IRMAA surcharges, and healthcare subsidies can interact in ways many retirees don’t anticipate. We also share planning considerations that may help create greater flexibility, reduce surprises, and improve long-term retirement income decisions.

Key takeaways:

How widowhood or divorce can trigger tax changes that affect income, Medicare costs, and planning flexibility
Why required minimum distributions may create ripple effects beyond simply increasing taxable income
How Social Security taxation can rise unexpectedly when additional retirement income enters the picture
Why Medicare IRMAA surcharges often surprise retirees years after a financial decision is made
Ways proactive tax planning may help create flexibility and reduce unintended retirement expenses
And more!

Resources:

Connect with Eric Blake:

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Should You Stay in Your Home in Retirement? What Women Need to Consider (Ep. 110)

By The Simply Retirement Podcast | June 24, 2026

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 retirement should be viewed as an ongoing process rather than a one-time decision. I share real conversations from our retirement planning practice about downsizing, staying in the family home, healthcare access, mobility concerns, and the emotional side of relocating later in life.

We also explain why planning ahead can help retirees maintain independence and avoid difficult decisions during stressful moments.

Key takeaways:

Looking beyond downsizing and focusing on how daily life may change throughout retirement
Preparing a current home for aging needs before mobility or health concerns become urgent
Weighing emotional attachment against financial and practical retirement decisions
Considering proximity to family, healthcare, and community support when relocating
Understanding how housing costs affect retirement income and long-term flexibility
And more!

Resources:

Connect with Eric Blake:

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Social Security Rules That No Longer Apply (Ep. 109)

By The Simply Retirement Podcast | June 17, 2026

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 used to work but no longer apply for many women today. I walk through common misunderstandings around ex-spousal benefits, deemed filing rules, restricted applications, and survivor benefits. I also clarify the important differences between rules for married spouses and divorced spouses, along with how filing early can reduce benefits.

Key takeaways:

Why outdated Social Security strategies can create costly retirement income mistakes today
How the deemed filing rules changed spousal and ex-spousal benefit claiming options
The difference between survivor benefits and spousal benefits after divorce or widowhood
Why filing before full retirement age can permanently reduce monthly benefits
How working before full retirement age may temporarily reduce Social Security income
And more!

Resources:

Connect with Eric Blake:

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Understanding Your Social Security Statement and What It Really Means (Ep. 106)

By The Simply Retirement Podcast | May 27, 2026

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 how eligibility works, what assumptions are built into the estimates, and why your earnings history matters more than most people realize.

We also cover how missing income years can affect your benefit, how to correct errors, and how continued work can change your outcome.

Key takeaways:

Why your Social Security statement shows more than just benefit estimates and what those details mean
How eligibility for retirement, disability, survivor benefits, and Medicare is determined
The impact of missing or incorrect earnings history and how it can reduce your future income
Why estimates assume continued earnings and how changes in work affect projections
How working longer can increase benefits by replacing lower-income years in your record
And more!

Resources:

Connect with Eric Blake:

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How to Turn Your Tax Return into a Planning Tool (Ep. 103)

By The Simply Retirement Podcast | May 6, 2026

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 year to year, and identify missed items that could impact your taxes.

We also share how understanding key numbers like income and tax rates can shape better decisions, and how building a “base case” early in the year helps you plan ahead and avoid last-minute tax surprises.

Key takeaways:

Why reviewing your tax return after filing can uncover missed details and potential savings opportunities
How comparing year-to-year returns helps identify changes, errors, or missing income and deductions
What key numbers like taxable income and tax brackets reveal about future planning decisions
How small reporting mistakes like Roth conversions or QCDs can lead to unnecessary taxes
Why using your return early in the year creates a base case for proactive tax planning
And more!

Resources:

Connect with Eric Blake:

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Should You Keep the House After Divorce? A Smarter Way to Decide (Ep. 99)

By The Simply Retirement Podcast | April 8, 2026

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 when it comes to keeping a home.

We talk through how assets, support payments, and loan strategies factor into qualification, especially for women navigating this transition later in life. We also address the emotional pull of the family home and how to balance that with long-term financial stability.

Key takeaways:

Why divorce mortgage planning should happen before the settlement agreement is finalized
How settlement language can affect whether support, assets, or other funds count as qualifying income
What options may be available when someone wants to keep the house, including loan assumptions, FHA, and asset depletion strategies
Why emotions around the marital home can lead to costly decisions if long-term affordability is not considered
How women going through gray divorce can use retirement income, Social Security, and other assets to qualify more effectively
And more!

Resources:

Connect with Eric Blake:

Connect with Stacey Ellison:

About our Guest:

Stacey Ellison, CDLP®, is a Certified Divorce Lending Professional and Divorce Mortgage Planner with a deep understanding of the financial complexities that arise during and after divorce. With over 30 years of experience in the mortgage industry, Stacey brings a unique blend of technical knowledge and compassionate guidance to individuals navigating one of life’s most challenging transitions.

Since earning her CDLP® designation in 2020, Stacey has worked closely with family law attorneys, mediators, financial planners, and other divorce professionals to provide strategic mortgage guidance tailored to each client’s needs. Her role is to ensure that both parties in a divorce understand their options when it comes to home equity, mortgage qualification, and long-term housing goals. Whether helping a client determine if they can keep the marital home, qualify for a new mortgage, or explore equitable buyout solutions, Stacey provides clarity, structure, and confidence in the decision-making process. Her goal is to help divorcing homeowners make sound financial choices that support both their immediate needs and long-term stability.

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