In this episode of the podcast, Nick, Tori, and Connie explore a provocative idea: what if the key to happiness in retirement isn’t saving more, but spending differently? Drawing on new research and real client experiences, the team discusses how money can be used intentionally to boost well-being, connection, and meaning in retirement.

Tune in to hear how retirees can shift their mindset — and their spending habits — to find more joy and purpose in the years ahead.

Some topics covered:

• Why “more money” isn’t always the answer

• The surprising results of the global $10,000 study

• Which spending categories actually boost happiness

• How retirees can align their money with their values

• Four powerful reflection questions to guide more joyful spending

In this Q&A session, Tori and Nick sit down with Connie to answer real questions about how our firm approaches retirement withdrawals using a risk-based guardrail strategy. Watch this podcast to gain a fuller understanding of how our dynamic withdrawal approach works, how it adapts to market conditions, and why it gives retirees more clarity and confidence without relying on rigid rules of thumb.

Some topics covered:

What are guardrails and how do they work?

How do we adjust withdrawals during market ups and downs?

Why flexibility matters more than precision.

Whether you’re approaching retirement or already in it, this conversation will give you a clearer picture of how we help clients enjoy their money—without the fear of running out.

How will I handle market drawdowns in retirement? This is a question we hear often. People want to know what their retirement plan will do when the market takes a downturn. They want to know what their plan will be. Will they have a bucket of money sitting somewhere? Will they make adjustments to their portfolio?

One question we hear often is “Will my SS be taxed?” When you retire and begin taking your SS benefits, will the government want to tax that? After all, haven’t you already paid taxes on this money?

Add to that—there’s been some talk about NOT taxing SS benefits at all! How might that impact your retirement? And is it as good as it sounds?

Today, we’re tackling a big question: Should I gift money now or wait until later? You want to give gifts to loved ones or to charities--- but you’re questioning when the right time would be for that. When could they best use that money? Will I need that money someday?

Today, we’re talking about investing in stocks during retirement. People ask about balancing growth vs safety in retirement. You hear all of this negative stuff about the stock market. Should I keep investing in retirement?” that’s the question we’re answering today.

People ask if they should work an extra year or not. We hear it a lot--- and the answer is not just about money—it’s about your lifestyle, your health and what you want your retirement to look like.

If you’ve ever been told, “ A Roth conversion is the best thing you can do for your retirement, “ this episode is for you…. Because you also need to know when they might NOT be a good idea.

While converting your Traditional IRA or your 401k into Roth has some fantastic benefits, there are times when it might not be a good idea… Today we will talk about the scenarios where it might actually work against you.