Women and Finances – The Simply Retirement Podcast

The Truth Behind Social Security Increases and What They Mean for Your Retirement (Ep. 87)

By The Simply Retirement Podcast | January 14, 2026

That annual Social Security increase announcement can be confusing.

Is it a bonus? Will it cover your rising costs? More importantly, how does it really affect your decisions about when to retire and when to claim your benefits?

In this episode, I unpack the new 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment for 2026. We explore how Social Security benefits grow differently before and after age 62, why the inflation measure might not match your personal expenses, and how your early work years still count. We provide clarity on how delaying your claim and continuing to work can increase your lifetime benefits, especially important for married couples planning for survivor income.

Key Points Covered:

The meaning behind the 2026 2.8% COLA and why personal inflation may be higher
How Social Security uses CPI-W, an inflation index for workers, which can undervalue senior expenses like healthcare
The role of wage indexing in growing your pre-retirement benefits and the “gap” from age 60 to 62
The powerful impact of delaying your filing age on your monthly benefit and future COLA dollar amounts
How working in your 50s, 60s, or 70s can replace low-earning years and permanently increase your benefit
And more!

Resources:

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Taking Control During Divorce: How Coaching Can Help You Make More Confident Decisions (Ep. 86)

By The Simply Retirement Podcast | January 7, 2026

Divorce doesn’t have to be devastating.

It can be empowering when approached with clarity and the right support.

In this episode, I sit down with Karen Covy, divorce coach, attorney, and mediator, to explore how women can take control of the divorce process. We talk about choosing the right process for your situation, understanding your finances, and why preparation and strategy make all the difference in creating a smoother transition and stronger future.

Key Takeaways:

The importance of choosing the divorce process that best fits your goals and circumstances
Why most lawyers promote only the process they practice, and how coaching helps you find the right one for you
How planning early and understanding your financial picture can prevent years of regret
What it means to become the “CEO of your own divorce” and coordinate your full team
Practical first steps to start regaining confidence and clarity if you feel stuck or afraid to move forward
And more!

Resources:

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About our Guest:

Karen Covy is a Divorce Coach, Lawyer, Mediator, Author, Speaker, and Podcaster. She coaches busy professionals and business owners all over the world to make clear, confident decisions about their most important relationships. She also helps them navigate through divorce with less conflict, unnecessary expense, and needless drama so that they can create the life they truly desire sooner rather than later. Karen is the author of When Happily Ever After Ends: How to Survive Your Divorce Emotionally, Financially, and Legally. She is also the creator of the online divorce programs, The Divorce Road Map 3.0 and How to Successfully Mediate Your Divorce, as well as the host of the podcast, Off the Fence: Mastering Decision-Making Divorce and More.

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Social Security: Essential Rules for Women and Divorcees (Ep. 85)

By The Simply Retirement Podcast | December 31, 2025

Understanding Social Security can feel complicated, especially when life events like divorce or widowhood come into play.

In this episode, I join Karen Covy on her podcast, Off The Fence, to walk through the rules that often matter most for women.

We discuss how full retirement age works, how spousal, ex-spousal, and survivor benefits are determined, and what to know about the 10-year marriage rule. Our conversation also covers the Social Security Fairness Act and how it affects certain workers with pensions.

Together, we outline key considerations that can help listeners better understand their options when planning for future income.

Key Topics:

How full retirement age determines your benefit amount and why this number is critical to every Social Security decision
The difference between spousal, ex-spousal, and survivor benefits, and how remarriage affects your eligibility
The 10-year marriage rule for divorced individuals, and what documentation you need to claim benefits
How the Social Security Fairness Act eliminated penalties that primarily affected women with pensions
Strategic timing considerations when you’re still working and approaching retirement age
And more!

Next week, Karen will be joining me on the Simply Retirement Podcast to discuss how women can move forward with strength and strategy after divorce. Make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss it.

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About our Guest:

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REPLAY: Social Security Fairness Act (Ep. 84)

By The Simply Retirement Podcast | December 24, 2025

Many people nearing retirement are unsure how recent rule changes might affect what they can receive.

What happens when long-standing limits disappear, and families finally gain access to benefits they were denied for years?

In this special replay, we revisit one of our most crucial and widely discussed episodes of the year: the one focusing on the Social Security Fairness Act.

I walk through the details of the Social Security Fairness Act and highlight its significant impact, especially on survivor and spousal benefits for women across the country. I explain how removing the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO) could open new income opportunities. Additionally, I discuss what these potential changes mean for teachers and public sector workers, and the immediate steps listeners should consider taking now.

Key takeaways:

How eliminating WEP and GPO shifts eligibility for many women previously reduced or blocked from benefits
Why survivor and spousal payments may now be available even if pensions once prevented them
How timing, age, and filing strategies still influence benefit amounts
Action steps for reviewing statements, applying promptly, and preparing for retroactive payments
Why staying informed is essential as Social Security adjusts to this major policy change
And more!

Resources:

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Investing in Retirement – Part 4: Putting the Pieces Together for a Successful Retirement (Ep. 83)

By The Simply Retirement Podcast | December 17, 2025

Retirement planning doesn’t end once you stop working; it evolves.

In this episode, I wrap up my seven essential strategies for successful investing in retirement, focusing on two of the most pivotal: managing your tax burden and deciding whether to work with an advisor.

I share how to plan ahead for taxes, the importance of timing withdrawals, and why every woman deserves a seat at the financial table.

Key Takeaways:

Why emotional decisions during market downturns often lead to poor outcomes
How to manage your lifetime tax liability, not just your yearly one
Why your retirement income plan should start 2–5 years before retiring
The key questions to ask before hiring a financial advisor
The importance of involving both spouses, especially women, in financial conversations
And more!

Resources:

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YouTube

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Investing in Retirement – Part 3: The Building Blocks of Your Retirement Portfolio (Ep. 82)

By The Simply Retirement Podcast | December 10, 2025

Investing in retirement requires a completely different mindset, one focused on income, not just preservation.

In this episode, I continue our Seven Strategies for Successful Investing in Retirement series by explaining Strategy #4: Understanding the Role of Stocks in Retirement, and Strategy #5: The Value of Dividend Growth Investing.

Together, these two approaches show how stocks can generate sustainable income and growth throughout your retirement years.

Key Takeaways:

Why stocks shouldn’t be viewed like gambling, and what their long-term record actually shows
How a balanced stock and bond mix can fuel income growth over decades
The real-world power of dividends to combat inflation and support retirement income
Why reacting emotionally during market downturns often hurts long-term outcomes
How dividend growth investing can provide ongoing income, compounding, and stability
And more!

Resources:

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The S&P 500 Index is an unmanaged index of 500 large U.S. companies. It is not possible to invest directly in an index. Index returns do not include fees or expenses.

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Investing in Retirement – Part 2: Changing the Way You Think About Retirement (Ep. 81)

By The Simply Retirement Podcast | December 3, 2025

What if the way you’ve been told to protect your money in retirement is actually putting your future at risk?

In this episode, I continue our series on the seven essential strategies for successful investing in retirement. We tackle one of the most misunderstood aspects of retirement planning, defining the real purpose of your portfolio and reframing how you think about risk. This conversation is designed to shift your perspective from fear and preservation to growth and resilience.

Key takeaways include:

Why “not running out of money” and “preserving principal” are often conflicting goals
The impact of inflation and longevity on retirement income needs
A real-life story about my grandmother’s retirement and long-term care costs
How the financial crisis illustrates the value of having a retirement “war chest”
Risk in retirement as “years of income” rather than portfolio percentages
And more!

Resources:

Data References:

Average Life Expectancy at Birth (U.S.)

Across all demographics, the average life expectancy at birth in the U.S. is in the late 70s.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Vital Statistics Reports

Inflation & Purchasing Power
- Historical U.S. inflation has averaged around 3% over the long term.
- Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI Inflation Calculator
2008 Portfolio Decline (70/30 Portfolio)
- A 70% stock / 30% bond portfolio declined approximately 24% during the Great Financial Crisis (calendar year 2008).
- Source: Can Your Retirement Portfolio Survive a Stock Market Crash? Here’s How to Tell
Great Financial Crisis Recovery Timeline
- Source: The S&P 500 at Your Fingertips

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Investing in Retirement – Part 1: It Starts with Having a Plan (Ep. 80)

By The Simply Retirement Podcast | November 26, 2025

Retirement is shifting in ways that require new thinking, new planning, and new strategies.

In this episode, I launch a new series on the seven essential strategies for successful investing in retirement. I explain how today’s retirement looks different than past generations, why the Great Wealth Transfer is so impactful for women, and why starting with a clear financial plan is more important than ever.

In this conversation, we cover:

How the retirement landscape has changed
Why investing in retirement is different than investing for retirement
The Great Wealth Transfer and its impact on women managing wealth for the first time
How values and goals form the foundation of your financial roadmap
Why a financial plan is the cornerstone of all retirement strategies
And more!

Resources:

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Creating Your Encore Chapter with Joy Levin (Ep. 79)

By The Simply Retirement Podcast | November 19, 2025

Retirement isn’t just about slowing down. It’s about stepping into a chapter that feels alive with meaning and joy.

In this episode, I speak with Joy Levin, President of Gen X Exec Encore and Certified Professional Retirement Coach, about how Gen X women can reimagine retirement as an encore to life. Together, we explore how to shift from career identity to personal fulfillment, build meaningful relationships, and create a future that truly lights you up.

Joy discusses:

The challenges Gen X professionals face when leaving long careers and redefining purpose
Her “Mix Tapes to Meaning” framework, built around the five Rs: rewind, remix, reset, reconnect, and revive
The role of consulting, volunteering, and passion projects in crafting an encore life
How small actions and social connections can transform fulfillment in retirement
Practical ways couples can align different visions of their retirement years
And more!

Resources:

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About our Guest:

Joy Levin is the Founder and President of Gen X Exec Encore. In working with Gen X high-achieving professionals, she recognizes that for many, this next phase isn’t about traditional retirement—it’s about creating an encore that blends passion, purpose, and new opportunities.

As a market research consultant and entrepreneur for nearly three decades, Joy has guided executives and business owners across industries in making strategic, well-informed decisions. Like many Gen Xers, she wants a future in which she can remain productive, explore meaningful pursuits, and build new connections. With an honest, warm, friendly and highly professional approach, she guides accomplished professionals to discover their next purpose-driven chapter, empowering them to create an encore life with confidence and clarity.

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7 Smart Giving Strategies for Family and Charities Before Year-End (Ep. 78)

By The Simply Retirement Podcast | November 12, 2025

The holiday season often inspires generosity, but how you give can make a big difference for both your loved ones and your finances.

In this episode, I explore seven actionable gifting strategies you can use before the year ends to support your children, grandchildren, and favorite charities while also being mindful of tax planning opportunities. I walk through practical examples to help you give with purpose and joy.

Keypoints:

The $19,000 annual gift exclusion and how it works with lifetime estate tax limits
Gifting appreciated assets like stocks to family or charities to reduce taxes
Paying tuition and medical bills directly to providers without gift tax concerns
Leveraging 529 accounts, custodial accounts, and new temporary Trump accounts
Charitable giving strategies, including qualified charitable distributions and donor-advised funds
And more!

Resources:

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