This episode of the Rock Your Retirement show dives into a topic that many people shy away from but is absolutely crucial: estate planning and what happens when we’re no longer here.

Host Kathe Kline, accompanied by Barb Mock, welcomes guest David Edee, who brings his personal and professional experience to the discussion. David shares his own difficult story of settling his parents’ estate—an ordeal that involved seven years in court, ten court appearances, and $50,000 in legal fees, all exacerbated by a lack of preparation and open conversation within his family. This deeply personal account sets the tone for a candid exploration of why estate planning matters not only for ourselves, but even more so for those we leave behind.

Throughout the conversation, the hosts and David stress the importance of having tough but necessary discussions with family members well before a crisis hits. Barb provides a real-life perspective as someone currently navigating these conversations with elderly relatives, and Kathe underscores the need for advance directives, powers of attorney, and plans for incapacity, not just death. David highlights that establishing a will, preparing an executor, and keeping essential documents and digital information organized are all parts of the “greatest gift of love” we can offer our families.

They discuss the emotional and logistical burdens left on loved ones when these steps are neglected, sharing examples of messy inheritances, family rifts, and even children taking parents to court over perceived threats to their future inheritance.

Practical tips abound in the episode—from updating wills and considering trusts to keeping everything an executor would need in a brightly colored folder, including access to digital assets. Kathe and Barb reflect honestly on their own preparations, discussing tools like password managers and the challenge of choosing the right person to serve as executor.

David also introduces the powerful concept of “legacy letters”—handwritten notes to loved ones passing on memories, advice, and sentiments that transcend legalities and financial matters.

Ultimately, the episode is about more than death and money; it’s about caring for the people you love and ensuring family unity endures beyond your lifetime.

With a mix of vulnerability, practical guidance, and even humor, the conversation empowers listeners to face estate planning head-on and leave behind an organized, thoughtful legacy rather than family discord or chaos.

Listeners are encouraged to start the uncomfortable discussions, get their affairs in order, and consider creating their own legacy letters.

David’s book “Executor Help” and his resources are mentioned as helpful next steps for anyone looking to get started.

This episode is sponsored by CertifiedMedicareAgents.com

1. Meeting In Person After Years of Virtual Friendship

• Kathe and Barb finally meet after years of online interaction.

• Barb celebrates her 45th wedding anniversary and plans the trip near Kathe.

• The logistics of how the meetup came about.

• The experience of being welcomed into each other’s homes.

• Sharing meals, both healthy and indulgent, and enjoying local restaurants.

• Compatibility while traveling together, both between Barb and Kathe, and their husbands.

• Post-surgery recovery and plans for future golf trips.

• The pleasure of spontaneous, relaxing days where time is forgotten.

• Learning about the abundant history of the area (Civil War, War of Independence).

• Visiting prominent nearby cities (Charleston, Savannah).

• Recommendations for connecting with distant friends or family through travel.

• The value in taking chances, stepping outside routines, and doing something new.

• Encouragement for listeners to connect with people, try new experiences, and allow for spontaneity in life and travel.

This episode is a warm, engaging travelogue and testament to deepening friendships in retirement—a blend of heartfelt connection, travel insight, and life perspective.

This episode is sponsored by CertifiedMedicareAgents.com

In this episode of "Rock Your Retirement," host Kathe Kline and co-host Barb are joined by special guest Angela Andrieux, a fine art photographer and photography coach who works with Mylio Photos.

The conversation centers around a problem many retirees—and really, anyone with a camera—face: what to do with the countless photos accumulated over a lifetime, scattered across different devices, albums, and platforms.

Barb shares her personal struggle with organizing photos spanning decades, from physical albums in her motorhome to digital files on old computers, Facebook, Shutterfly, and her phone. She confesses the overwhelm that comes from trying to sort, organize, and ultimately create meaningful albums, especially with an eye toward leaving behind a curated photo legacy for her family.

Angela introduces listeners to the Mylio Photos application, explaining how it serves as a digital asset manager for organizing, tagging, and backing up all types of photos—from scanned prints to digital snapshots. She details how Mylio’s powerful features, including facial recognition, manual and batch tagging, and the creation of albums (similar to playlists), can help users corral their photo chaos into a well-structured, easily navigable library. As Angela points out, Mylio runs across all major platforms (Mac, Windows, iOS, Android) and doesn’t lock photos into a proprietary system; instead, all organizational data is written as standard metadata, ensuring lasting accessibility even if you leave the service.

The discussion also covers practical aspects, like different ways to categorize photos (by date, event, location, or subject), how to reclaim images from places like Facebook, and the importance of not relying on a single cloud-based service for storage. Angela reassures listeners that while there is some upfront work—especially batch and manual tagging of faces—Mylio helps speed up the process and offers onboarding assistance and ongoing support. For anyone feeling especially overwhelmed, there’s even an option to connect with a professional photo manager for more hands-on help.

Cost and value are addressed transparently. Angela outlines Mylio’s subscription pricing, the family plan for sharing access, and the unique aspect that you retain control and local backups of your photos even if you leave the service. The episode concludes with both Kathe and Barb expressing relief and newfound motivation to tackle their own photo messes, with Angela providing clear next steps and encouragement. Ultimately, the conversation is a practical and reassuring guide for anyone seeking to preserve, organize, and truly enjoy their family’s photo legacy in retirement and beyond.

This show is sponsored by CertifiedMedicareAgents.com.

In this episode of the Rock Your Retirement Show, host Kathe Kline and co-host Barb welcome Dr. Marlene Scheipel, a PhD in counseling psychology and licensed life coach, to discuss navigating the emotional and psychological aspects of retirement.

Dr. Scheipel shares her extensive experience working with clients who are approaching or already in retirement and feeling uncertain, anxious, or unprepared for the transition. She emphasizes that while the financial side of retirement is often well addressed in society, the mental health and emotional planning required is frequently overlooked.

The conversation digs into the practical steps of preparing for a meaningful retirement. Dr. Scheipel encourages listeners to first calm their minds and then take stock of what truly matters to them. She suggests making lists of activities and aspirations, drawing from childhood passions and long-held dreams, and then prioritizing these based on what’s most important. Barb shares her own experience of transitioning from a long government career, including a bold decision to buy a motor home and travel—demonstrating the importance of experimentation and being open to plan changes.

The episode also tackles the common fears and mindset hurdles that many retirees face. Dr. Scheipel provides insight into how our thoughts shape our reality and offers strategies for reframing negative thinking, emphasizing the value of resilience, curiosity, and forgiving oneself for missteps along the way. Real-life anecdotes, like a 70-year-old woman learning to swim for the first time, illustrate how overcoming self-imposed limitations can open new avenues in retirement.

To wrap up, Dr. Scheipel offers a special resource to listeners—a Retirement Readiness Checklist (https://bit.ly/retirement-readiness-checklist)—to help them assess their preparedness across different life dimensions. The lively and candid discussion reassures listeners that retirement is not just an ending, but a personalized new chapter, full of opportunities for growth, joy, and self-discovery.

This episode is sponsored by CertifiedMedicareAgents.com.

In this episode of the "Rock Your Retirement" podcast, host Kathe Kline and guest host Barbara welcome Rebecca (Becky) Blue as a special guest. Rebecca, an accomplished author and retired nurse, discusses her journey of writing a book during the pandemic. The book reflects on aging and explores the possibilities for what she refers to as the "third chapter" in life. With her background as a geriatric nurse, Becky shares her reflections and essays, drawing from a rich library of aging literature she collected over the years.

The conversation delves into Becky's childhood and her experiences growing up on a farm in the Midwest surrounded by older adults, which influenced her career choice in geriatrics. Becky shares anecdotes from her life, including a memorable encounter with a 70-year-old cyclist during a trip to New Zealand, which served as an inspiration for her to challenge societal stereotypes about aging. The episode touches on the notion of viewing age as an opportunity rather than a limitation, with Becky emphasizing the importance of telling and sharing stories to change the cultural perception of aging.

Barbara also discusses her personal journey following the inspiration from Becky's story—charting a new course for herself in retirement by purchasing a new bike and joining a bike club. The hosts discuss the transitions surrounding retirement and explore the concept of using one's experiences to enrich the third act of life. They also highlight the importance of community, volunteering, and pursuing passions during retirement.

The episode wraps up with discussions on generativity and legacy, encouraging listeners to reflect on what they've learned from the younger generation. Becky emphasizes the significance of gratitude and open communication between generations as a means to enrich and extend relationships.

With Becky's insights, the episode serves as an inspiring guide, inviting listeners to embrace the possibilities of their remaining years with vitality and purpose.

This episode is sponsored by CertifiedMedicareAgents.com

In this episode of the "Rock Your Retirement" podcast, host Kathe Kline and long term guest Barbara Mock delve into the transformative power of organization.

The conversation begins with Barbara sharing her recent accomplishments in organizing her home, particularly her closet. As she walks into her newly organized space, she describes the happiness and satisfaction it brings her. Her move and subsequent downsizing prompted her to evaluate what possessions truly matter, leading to a gradual organization process that culminated in a partnership with Closets by Design for a custom closet installation.

Barbara explains the practical steps she took to declutter, such as using a donation bag system where she regularly purges clothing items she no longer wears or needs. She emphasizes the importance of living in a clutter-free environment and reveals how eliminating excess and categorizing possessions have contributed to a sense of joy and simplicity in her life. The discussion touches on how investing in a custom organizational solution, although pricey, has significantly enhanced her quality of life.

Kathe then shares her own journey of organizing her art supplies. She recounts the challenges of having her art studio spread across her dining room and how she finally decided to take action. By purchasing modular plastic storage boxes, Kathe was able to relocate her supplies to a more suitable space, her lanai, and create an efficient way to manage her materials. Her methodical approach to inventorying her items and categorizing them allows her to avoid duplicating purchases and makes her home feel more orderly.

Both Kathe and Barbara agree on the psychological benefits of organization, noting how it can reduce stress and bring a sense of control to one’s life. They encourage listeners to assess areas in their homes that feel chaotic and suggest starting small with organization projects. Whether done on a budget or with professional help, organizing one's space is portrayed as a worthwhile endeavor that can significantly improve one's environment and emotional well-being.

This episode is sponsored by CertifiedMedicareAgents.com.

In this episode of "Rock Your Retirement," host Kathe Kline welcomes Barbara, our long-term guest who delves into the thought-provoking concepts introduced in the book "Die with Zero" by Bill Perkins.

The episode kicks off with Barbara explaining how she was recommended the book by a listener, and why its principles deviate from traditional financial advice. The book, which challenges the norm of scrimping and saving for retirement, advocates for living a rich, experience-filled life. The key premise is that individuals should aim to spend their money on creating memories and enjoying life rather than hoarding wealth that may never be fully utilized.

Kathe and Barbara discuss the idea that many people are so focused on saving for the future that they miss out on valuable experiences in the present.

Kathe, drawing on her background as a retired financial advisor, recounts stories of clients who amassed substantial savings only for that money to be quickly expended by their heirs within a short period of time. She emphasizes the importance of investing in experiences, such as family trips, which provide lasting memories, instead of purely financial inheritances.

Barbara validates these points with her own reflections and anecdotes, particularly noting how aging can diminish one's ability to enjoy certain activities and life experiences.

The conversation also highlights how the book encourages a balanced approach to spending and saving, tailored to various stages of life.

Barbara refers to a metaphorical triangle to illustrate that when people are younger, they have health but limited financial resources and time. As they grow older, they acquire more money and time but often face health constraints. Therefore, the book urges not just saving excessively for an uncertain future, but rather spending wisely to enrich one's life and the lives of loved ones in the current moment.

Furthermore, the episode doesn't solely focus on cruises or travel experiences but broadens the scope to include other ways to see tangible outcomes from one's financial resources.

Kathe mentions substantial donations to charities as an example of witnessing the fruits of one's financial contributions during their lifetime.

Through their dynamic and fluid conversation, Kathe and Barbara underline the core message of "Die with Zero": to thoughtfully spend one's money on creating a fulfilling and memorable life rather than allowing fear and uncertainty about the future to dictate a frugal existence.

In summary, this episode is an insightful exploration of how to reframe our relationship with money in the context of retirement. It aligns with the mission of the "Rock Your Retirement" podcast by encouraging listeners to maximize their present lives, challenge conventional financial wisdom, and create lasting experiences that enrich both their own lives and the lives of those around them.

This episode is sponsored by CertifiedMedicareAgents.com

In this episode of "Rock Your Retirement," Kathe Kline and Barbara Mock discuss a range of affordable living and travel options for seniors, particularly focused on those with limited financial means.

Addressing concerns about the targeted demographic of the show, Kathe and Barbara dive into practical solutions for managing housing expenses, such as selling a home and moving to a more cost-effective area or exploring reverse mortgages, despite potential inheritance implications. They also introduce the concept of "home share," where senior services connect home providers with seekers, offering shared living arrangements that reduce costs and provide added social and security benefits.

Barbara brings to light inspiring stories from her neighbors, many of whom are widows, and their adventures in affordable travel. Highlighting how one widow manages her finances by taking frequent, budget-friendly cruises, Barbara emphasizes the opportunities available through cruise casino promotions and group travel options.

This portion of the conversation showcases how seniors can enjoy fulfilling travel experiences without breaking the bank and explores the potential financial risks tied to gambling, balanced with anecdotes of friends who have mastered the art of cruising on the cheap.

Kathe also reminisces about past living arrangements resembling "The Golden Girls".

The discussion shifts to the wealth of activities offered by local senior centers, which can provide a sense of belonging and engagement without the hefty price tags of private 55+ communities.

Barbara elaborates on how she enjoys researching and participating in diverse activities, meeting new people, and maintaining an active lifestyle through various community programs.

The episode concludes with Kathe and Barbara sharing several budget-friendly travel platforms and programs. They highlight Trusted House Sitters and the Affordable Travel Club as excellent options for seniors to explore different places affordably while fostering new relationships.

Additionally, they touch on educational and cultural engagement opportunities, including auditing college courses, volunteering as docents, senior academy lectures, and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes (OLLI). Through these activities, seniors can stay mentally stimulated and socially connected.

Overall, the episode serves as a valuable resource for seniors looking to stretch their retirement dollars without sacrificing quality of life. Kathe and Barbara encourage listeners to explore the myriad of affordable options available, from housing and travel to education and volunteering, ultimately promoting an active, engaging, and fulfilling retirement.

This episode is sponsored by CertifiedMedicareAgents.com