What happens when you've spent your entire life working... but still can't afford to retire?

For generations, the American retirement plan seemed pretty simple: Work hard, save money, and eventually enjoy your golden years.

But for millions of Americans, that dream is becoming increasingly difficult to achieve.

Between rising living expenses, healthcare costs, inflation, and the pressure to keep up with today's lifestyle, retirement is starting to feel less like a guarantee and more like a luxury.

In this episode of The Pursuit of Progress, Adam and Ben are talking about why retirement planning matters more than ever, the financial habits that can quietly derail your future, and what you can start doing TODAY to put yourself in a better position.

🎧 In this episode, we're covering:

✅ Why turning 65 doesn't automatically mean you're financially ready to retire

✅ Why Social Security alone may not be enough to support your ideal retirement

✅ How starting early and taking advantage of compound growth can make a huge difference

✅ Why it's never too late to start taking retirement planning seriously

✅ How lifestyle inflation can quietly eat away at your future savings

✅ Why your mortgage, housing decisions, and monthly expenses matter just as much as your retirement account balance

✅ Simple ways to start building a more financially secure future, regardless of your age

Here's something worth thinking about: Two people could retire with the exact same amount of savings but experience completely different lifestyles depending on their debt, housing costs, and monthly expenses.

And while saving more money is important, building a retirement you can actually afford is about much more than just the size of your investment accounts.

The goal isn't simply to stop working someday. It's to have the financial freedom to decide how you want to spend your time.

Whether you're 25, 45, or 65, this episode is a reminder that the decisions you make today can have a major impact on the life you're able to live tomorrow.

🎙️ The Pursuit of Progress — Real conversations about money, business, personal growth, and creating a life with more purpose and possibility.

Retirement isn't just about reaching a certain age. It's about reaching a point where working becomes a choice.