💬 Show Notes

In this episode, Roger Whitney explores the psychology of loss aversion and how it affects financial decision-making. He introduces the new Retirement Toolbox segment, offering practical, actionable tools to help you strengthen your retirement plan. We also cover the benefits of Qualified Charitable Distributions and answer listener questions on retirement planning and asset allocation. Don’t miss this insightful discussion designed to help you confidently navigate and optimize your retirement!

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN

• (00:00) This show is dedicated to helping you not just survive retirement, but rock it

PRACTICAL PLANNING SEGMENT

• (01:00) Roger breaks down loss aversion and how it relates to retirement.

THE RETIREMENT TOOLBOX

• (04:35) Roger launches a new segment on essential financial tools, starting with the Qualified Charitable Distribution, a timely, tax-smart way to give at year-end.

LISTENER QUESTIONS

• (11:53) Wes asks how to build retirement reserves before retirement without triggering higher taxes.
• (17:12) Roger responds to John’s critique of the “Process Over Panic” episode, clarifying why a retirement plan should be treated as a living, flexible guide rather than a rigid set of rules.
• (22:52) Feedback from David highlights why factoring early losses in Monte Carlo simulations can boost confidence despite slight double-counting.
• (26:35) Thoughtful listener disagreements are welcomed as a way to deepen understanding and improve retirement planning insights.
• (27:43) Thomas has some questions about getting started with a retirement planner.

SMART SPRINT

• (36:07) In the next seven days, anyone within three years of retirement should map out their liquidity and consider reallocating assets to protect against market swings in the early years, avoiding unnecessary risk if funds will be needed soon.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

• (37:05) I've been building a personal library of classics, including fiction and nonfiction, and welcome book suggestions via The Noodle to help expand the reading list.

REFERENCES

• Submit a Question for Roger
• Sign up for The Noodle
• The Retirement Answer Man
• Thinking, Fast and Slow- Daniel Kahneman
  
  

💬 SHOW NOTES

In this episode, Roger Whitney explores the art of retirement goal setting with his signature blend of practical advice and thoughtful reflection. He sits down with Cesar Aguirre, who shares how leaving a corporate career led to a purposeful and fulfilling retirement, the evolution of his book, and the importance of aligning goals with personal values rather than just chasing big achievements. Roger also addresses listener questions on planning, discretionary spending, and shifting mindsets around money, offering actionable insights to help create a retirement that’s intentional, joyful, and aligned with personal values.

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN

• (00:00) This show is dedicated to helping you not just survive retirement, but rock it
• (01:07) The cost-of-living adjustment for Social Security was announced.

ROCKIN’ RETIREMENT IN THE WILD WITH CESAR AGUIRRE

• (02:05) Roger talks with Cesar about his book and how he is rockin’ retirement.
• (02:41) Roger introduces Cesar Aguirre, author of Retirement with Purpose: The 10 R's for a Joyful Retirement.
• (05:55) At 65, Cesar realized many people approached retirement without a plan, inspiring him to document his process so others could find structure and clarity in their own journey.
• (08:35) The pandemic slowed Caesar’s busy career, prompting him to shift from focusing on leaving work to discovering what he was retiring to.
• (11:35) Caesar shares how a five-year assignment abroad led to a permanent move to the U.S. in the early ’90s, marking a pivotal shift in his life and career.
• (12:25) Caesar reflects on cultural views of retirement, blending Mexico’s family-centered “jubilación” with the U.S. ideal of independence to create a more balanced, proactive approach to this new season of life.
• (14:51) There are 10 R’s in the book, starting with Review.
• (17:25) Roger asks Cesar how to answer the question, “What do I want?”
• (20:17) Caesar explains that creating his book with a service, not business, purpose removed pressure, letting him focus on making it useful, reach a broader audience, and now develop a Spanish edition.
• (21:56) Caesar encourages newly retired listeners to create structure, revisit plans, and embrace retirement as a journey with purpose.

LISTENER QUESTIONS

• (24:18) In an audio question, Gary, who will retire in 2026, shares how managing “old” retirement savings feels different from spending a paycheck and asks for guidance on navigating this shift in mindset.
• (33:56) A listener, who chose to remain anonymous, asks how to distinguish between the essentials of a “base great life” and the discretionary spending that falls into the “wants” category.’
• (35:55) A listener praised Roger’s shift from chasing big goals to focusing on values and creating conditions to explore life personally and meaningfully.
• (38:20) Dennis asks about the Retirement Podcast Network, and Roger explains that while it’s still active, he and Taylor Schulte decided to prioritize other projects and let this one remain on the back burner.

SMART SPRINT

• (40:01) In the next seven days, reflect on the phrase, “you can’t take it with you.”

BONUS

• (41:03) In this wrap-up, Roger addresses listener feedback from a past episode on organic food.

REFERENCES

• Submit a Question for Roger
• Sign up for The Noodle
• The Retirement Answer Man
• Retirement With Purpose: The 10 R's for a Joyful Retirement: A practical and thoughtful guide to rediscovering yourself and flourishing in the retirement stage.- Cesar Aguirre

💬 Show Notes

In this episode, Roger Whitney wraps up our four-week series on smarter retirement goal setting. He dives into the ideas of buoyancy and Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, showing how they play a role in planning a retirement that actually works for you. Using two relatable avatars – the Grinder and the Dreamer – Roger shares practical, real-world strategies to help navigate the twists and turns of retirement planning. Tune in for insights that will help you make your retirement not just secure, but truly rock!

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN

• (00:00) This is the last of a four-week series on better retirement goal setting

PRACTICAL PLANNING SEGMENT

• (01:58) The first concept for today is the concept of buoyancy.
• (04:50) Roger talks about Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.
• (07:50) A look inside the Advice Lab Roger runs with his work team.

AVATAR CASE STUDY- THE GRINDER AND THE DREAMER

• (10:10) Introduction of two avatars created by the team — the Grinder and the Dreamer.
• (10:58) First, Roger breaks down the Grinder.
• (14:27) What are triggers that might help a grinder reevaluate retirement planning?
• (16:57) What do Grinders crave?
• (18:50) How do you navigate as a Grinder or as someone in a relationship with a Grinder?
• (21:50) The pillars of retirement are a helpful framework when it comes to Grinders.
• (27:00) Next, Roger breaks down the avatar of the Dreamer.
• (29:30) What are the triggers that a Dreamer faces?
• (32:30) Roger breaks down the retirement pillars for Dreamers.
• (37:00) Roger reflects on how his partnership with Tanya mirrors the Dreamer and Grinder archetypes, showing how balancing vision and execution can lead to better communication and more effective retirement goals.

LISTENER QUESTIONS

• (38:14) You can submit questions at AskRoger.me
• (38:40) Barbara shares thoughts on a recent episode.
• (42:04) Roger shares an audio clip from Tom.
• (44:27) One listener shares that drawing down the accounts is a mental challenge.
• (45:49) Rod asks what portion of a 71-year-old’s $5–6M retirement portfolio could go into low-risk private credit.

SMART SPRINT

• (48:38) In the next seven days, reflect on where you fall between Dreamer and Grinder and consider that when setting or refreshing your retirement goals, so you can better balance your approach.

REFERENCES

• Sign up for our next Webinar!
• Submit a Question for Roger
• Sign up for The Noodle
• The Retirement Answer Man
• Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs