Retirement Realities

Retirement is often portrayed as the finish line after decades of work, but for many people, it's actually the beginning of an entirely new chapter. The challenge isn't simply having enough money to retire. It's knowing what you'll retire to. This week on Money Sense, Karen Ellenbecker sits down with Jim Smith, a retired executive, mentor, craftsman, and lifelong learner, to discuss what retirement has truly looked like beyond the financial plan. Jim shares the unexpected realities of leaving a long career, adjusting to a new daily routine, finding purpose outside of work, and discovering the importance of relationships, community, and meaningful projects. From mentoring young people and building woodworking projects to writing children's stories and embracing new technology, Jim's story is a powerful reminder that retirement doesn't have to be about slowing down. Instead, it can be an opportunity to learn, teach, create, give back, and invest your time in the things that matter most. Episode Highlights 0:00 | The biggest surprises Jim experienced after retiring 1:05 | Why purpose, relationships, and meaningful work matter in retirement 3:10 | How priorities shift as we age and why "bucket list" thinking changes over time 4:15 | The importance of relationships, community, and avoiding isolation 5:40 | Strengthening your relationship with your spouse after retirement 10:24 | Mentoring young people and finding purpose by sharing skills and experience 12:05 | The value of effort, community impact, and giving back 13:42 | Retiring early and turning an unexpected transition into an opportunity 15:37 | Why retirement became a new beginning rather than an ending 17:14 | Embracing new opportunities, lifelong learning, and second careers 20:27 | How curiosity and technology continue to open new doors in retirement 22:12 | Navigating the emotional transition and grief that can accompany retirement 23:59 | Why retirees should think of retirement as a new career, not a slowdown 24:08 | Lessons from a 98-year-old artist: it's never too late to learn something new 27:35 | Investing your time wisely and creating a life filled with purpose ELLENBECKER INVESTMENT GROUP Presenter of the Money Sense Podcast. Ellenbecker Investment Group (EIG), a registered investment advisor, provides comprehensive financial planning and fiduciary wealth management services for individuals, families, businesses, and charitable organizations. EIG's planning-first approach helps clients align their financial decisions with their values, goals, and long-term vision for the future. Website: ellenbecker.com This podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered legal, tax, or financial advice. Guest opinions represent the views of the individuals speaking and do not necessarily reflect the views of Ellenbecker Investment Group. Before making financial, tax, retirement, or investment decisions, consult with qualified professionals familiar with your individual circumstances.

The third quarter delivered no shortage of market-moving headlines. Rising energy prices, geopolitical uncertainty, persistent inflation concerns, evolving Federal Reserve policy, and continued enthusiasm around artificial intelligence all influenced investor sentiment and market performance. This week on Money Sense, Nik Kibardin, Wealth Services Advisor and Development Leader at Ellenbecker Investment Group, is joined by Mike Roth, Partner and Founder of Stark Investments. Together, they take a closer look at the major themes that shaped the third quarter, including the impact of oil prices on inflation, interest rates, consumer costs, and overall market performance. The conversation also explores the growing influence of AI on corporate earnings and productivity, the concentration of market leadership among a small group of technology companies, and what investors should focus on as they head into the fourth quarter. Mike shares his perspective on navigating uncertainty and explains why discipline, diversification, and long-term thinking remain critical regardless of market conditions. Episode Highlights 0:41 | The biggest market takeaway from the third quarter: oil remains a major market driver 4:27 | Why rising oil prices continue to influence inflation, interest rates, and investor expectations 8:40 | How higher energy costs are affecting consumers, businesses, and the broader economy 13:37 | What the Fed is watching and how interest rate policy could evolve in the months ahead 16:51 | Why investors should avoid building portfolios around specific market outcomes 17:32 | A look at third-quarter market performance, earnings growth, and continued AI-driven leadership 21:40 | Strong economic growth: positive for markets or a new inflation concern? 23:00 | The AI investment story, productivity gains, and what it means for long-term investors 28:58 | Key considerations for retirees and investors approaching retirement 29:14 | Why discipline, diversification, and a long-term perspective matter during uncertain markets 32:05 | The two factors Mike is watching most closely heading into the fourth quarter: oil and earnings ELLENBECKER INVESTMENT GROUP Presenter of the Money Sense Podcast. Ellenbecker Investment Group (EIG), a registered investment advisor, provides comprehensive financial planning and fiduciary wealth management services for individuals, families, businesses, and charitable organizations. EIG's planning-first approach helps clients align their financial decisions with their values, goals, and long-term vision for the future. Website: ellenbecker.com This podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered legal, tax, or financial advice. Guest opinions represent the views of the individuals speaking and do not necessarily reflect the views of Ellenbecker Investment Group. Before making financial, tax, retirement, or investment decisions, consult with qualified professionals familiar with your individual circumstances.

Most people have an idea of when they'd like to retire, but life doesn't always follow the timeline we have in mind. Health concerns, job loss, workplace changes, burnout, or family caregiving responsibilities can all lead to retirement happening earlier than expected, making preparation for the unexpected an important part of retirement planning. This week on Money Sense, Nik Kibardin, CFP®, and Amy Bremmer, CFP®, Wealth Advisors at Ellenbecker Investment Group, discuss how to prepare for retirement on your own terms rather than being forced into it by circumstances beyond your control. They explore four common reasons people may leave the workforce earlier than planned and how today's retirement can look very different from previous generations. The conversation also outlines seven steps that can help you prepare for greater flexibility in retirement, from creating a personalized financial plan and diversifying retirement income to developing a tax strategy, maintaining your employability, and planning for family responsibilities. Whether retirement is years away or quickly approaching, thoughtful preparation can help you navigate the unexpected with greater clarity and confidence. Episode Highlights: 0:38 | Why retirement may happen earlier than expected 3:03 | Four common reasons people are forced into early retirement 6:25 | Workplace changes, burnout and career disruption 7:41 | How caregiving responsibilities can change retirement plans 9:41 | The changing face of retirement today 10:13 | “Light switch or dimmer?” Rethinking the transition into retirement 12:51 | Seven steps to help you retire on your own terms 13:15 | Building a personalized retirement plan 14:52 | Preparing financially for the unexpected 17:09 | Diversifying your sources of retirement income 17:44 | Creating a tax strategy for retirement 18:36 | Investing in your skills and future employability 20:33 | Planning for family and caregiving responsibilities 23:38 | Choosing the right financial professional 24:16 | Final thoughts on preparing for the retirement you want ELLENBECKER INVESTMENT GROUP Presenter of the Money Sense Podcast. Ellenbecker Investment Group (EIG), a registered investment advisor, provides comprehensive financial planning and fiduciary wealth management services for individuals, families, businesses, and charitable organizations. EIG's planning-first approach helps clients align their financial decisions with their values, goals, and long-term vision for the future. Website: ellenbecker.com This podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered legal, tax, or financial advice. Guest opinions represent the views of the individuals speaking, and references to specific products, services, legislation, or organizations do not imply endorsement by Ellenbecker Investment Group. Before making financial, tax, or estate planning decisions, consult with qualified professionals familiar with your individual circumstances.

Financial information can be valuable, but understanding how it fits into your bigger financial picture is what makes it meaningful. In this installment of the Money Sense series, Behind the Scenes at EIG, Brett Engelking, Director of Systems, Operations and Investments at Ellenbecker Investment Group, is joined by Christina Schnuckel, Director of Client Experience. Together, they explore how EIG helps clients stay informed and engaged through consolidated reporting, technology, ongoing meetings and educational resources. Brett and Christina also discuss how technology has changed financial services while EIG's personalized approach has remained. From the value an advisor provides beyond investment performance to the growing role of artificial intelligence, they share how technology can create efficiencies while human connection and collaboration remain at the center of the client experience. Episode Highlights: 0:27 | Continuing Behind the Scenes at EIG with a closer look at client reporting and technology 1:12 | Why monthly investment statements may not tell the complete performance story 2:28 | EIG's Consolidated Asset Summary and Total View portal 3:43 | Accessing financial information through the EIG mobile app 4:08 | Seeing the complete household financial picture 4:35 | The difference between EIG's investment and tax portals 5:36 | Ongoing client meetings and reviewing investments, taxes, cash flow and retirement projections 7:16 | How technology has transformed financial services and the EIG client experience 9:52 | Why EIG doesn't take a one-size-fits-all approach to investing 11:08 | The value of a financial advisor beyond investment performance 13:07 | Incorporating tax strategy, charitable giving and risk management into financial planning 14:05 | The human side of financial planning 14:48 | Client education, seminars and financial resources 16:48 | Preparing for the transition into retirement 17:28 | Artificial intelligence in financial services 18:14 | How EIG is using AI behind the scenes 19:47 | Navigating financial information and advice online 20:30 | Why AI can't replace human collaboration and professional coordination 22:00 | What's ahead in the Behind the Scenes at EIG series ELLENBECKER INVESTMENT GROUP Presenter of the Money Sense Podcast. Ellenbecker Investment Group (EIG), a registered investment advisor, provides comprehensive financial planning and fiduciary wealth management services for individuals, families, businesses, and charitable organizations. EIG's planning-first approach helps clients align their financial decisions with their values, goals, and long-term vision for the future. Website: ellenbecker.com This podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered legal, tax, or financial advice. Guest opinions represent the views of the individuals speaking, and references to specific products, services, legislation, or organizations do not imply endorsement by Ellenbecker Investment Group. Before making financial, tax, or estate planning decisions, consult with qualified professionals familiar with your individual circumstances.

Financial planning is about more than choosing investments. A thoughtful financial plan considers where you are today, where you want to go, and the many pieces of your financial life that need to work together to help you get there. In the first installment of a new Money Sense series, Behind the Scenes at EIG, Brett Engelking, Director of Systems, Operations and Investments at Ellenbecker Investment Group, is joined by Christina Schnuckel, Wealth Advisor and Director of Client Experience. Together, they pull back the curtain on the EIG client experience, from determining whether a client and advisor are the right fit to developing a holistic financial plan before investment recommendations are made. The conversation explores EIG's planning process, team-based approach, estate and tax planning, and investment philosophy. Brett and Christina also discuss the importance of diversification, risk management, transparent fees and building an investment strategy designed for both strong and challenging markets. Along the way, they share some of the "aha moments" clients experience when they begin to see how investments, taxes, estate planning and other financial decisions work together as part of a bigger picture. Episode Highlights: 0:30 | Introducing Behind the Scenes at EIG, a new Money Sense series exploring the people, processes and philosophy behind Ellenbecker Investment Group 1:24 | What makes someone an ideal EIG client and why the right fit is about more than investable assets 2:41 | Why financial planning isn't only for people who already have significant wealth 3:15 | The Wealth Seed and helping people build a strong financial foundation at the beginning of their financial journey 4:10 | Why emergency savings, estate planning and financial protection come before investing 6:15 | What prospective clients can expect from EIG's multi-meeting financial planning process 6:48 | Why understanding a client's full financial picture is essential to making recommendations in their best interest 7:13 | The discovery meeting and the questions that help shape an individualized financial plan 8:34 | Why EIG builds the financial plan before focusing on investment management 9:36 | Estate planning as a foundational part of a comprehensive financial plan 11:23 | EIG's team approach and the roles of wealth advisors, advisor associates and operations associates 12:57 | Creating continuity so clients don't have to tell their financial story over and over again 14:39 | Shifting behind the scenes to EIG's approach to investing 15:02 | What diversification really means and why owning different stocks doesn't necessarily mean you're diversified 16:59 | Diversification as a core component of EIG's investment philosophy 17:13 | The risk of choosing investments based primarily on past performance 17:57 | Why investors may unknowingly own more of the same companies they already hold through mutual funds 18:42 | Chasing market performance and the danger of moving toward the latest "hot" investment 19:57 | How investment models help create diversified portfolios based on risk and return objectives 20:29 | Balancing the desire for growth with protection during down markets 22:11 | EIG's five pillars of investment philosophy: high-quality dividend-paying stocks, diversification, efficient and transparent fees, income protection and tax planning 23:46 | How newer in...