In this episode of Take Pride in Retirement, I walk you through a focused LGBTQ+ year-end financial checklist to help you finish 2025 strong and step into 2026 with clarity and confidence. I cover the key moves to make before the calendar turns — from budgeting and debt reduction to maximizing retirement contributions, planning for RMDs, updating beneficiaries, and protecting your legal and financial documents.

I also share encouragement for anyone who feels like they “started late,” break down the holiday scams hitting our community especially hard, and take a fun look at this year’s PNC Christmas Price Index.

If you’re ready to build a retirement you can truly take pride in, visit TakePrideInRetirement.com or call 855-246-9211 for your free consultation.

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Request your free RSSA Roadmap for Social Security optimization
Watch full episodes on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@TakePrideinRetirementShow
Follow on BlueSky, Threads, Facebook, Instagram — just search Take Pride in Retirement

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Take Pride in Retirement is proud to be named one of the top Pride podcasts on the internet by FeedSpot. For more, go to https://blog.feedspot.com/pride_podcasts

About Take Pride in Retirement:
Take Pride in Retirement is a podcast dedicated to retirement planning solutions for the LGBTQ community. Host Matt McClure, a licensed fiduciary financial advisor, shares strategies to protect your hard-earned money while pursuing market-like growth.

Matt holds the RSSA® credential as a Registered Social Security Analyst®, helping clients optimize their Social Security filing strategies to potentially increase lifetime income. He’s also a Certified Annuity Specialist® (CAS®), a designation earned through a 135+ hour graduate-level program in fixed-rate and variable annuities from the Institute of Business & Finance.

Based in Georgia with his husband and two dogs, Matt spent over a decade in New York City, working with The Wall Street Journal Radio Network, NY1, and WCBS Newsradio 880. A career highlight includes reporting from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.

In this episode, Matt McClure sits down with Bank of America’s Mary Hines Droesch to explore the latest holiday shopping trends—from the rise of “dupe culture” to how Gen Z and millennials are reshaping gift-giving.

Then, Matt breaks down the five biggest first-year retirement surprises LGBTQ+ retirees face, including emotional transitions, healthcare shocks, relationship shifts, tax complications, and spending patterns.

Packed with practical tips, LGBTQ+-specific insights, and steps to build a more confident retirement.

Schedule your free financial consultation at TakePrideInRetirement.com or call 855-246-9211.

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Request your free RSSA Roadmap for Social Security optimization
Watch full episodes on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@TakePrideinRetirementShow
Follow on BlueSky, Threads, Facebook, Instagram — just search Take Pride in Retirement

--

Take Pride in Retirement is proud to be named one of the top Pride podcasts on the internet by FeedSpot. For more, go to https://blog.feedspot.com/pride_podcasts

About Take Pride in Retirement:
Take Pride in Retirement is a podcast dedicated to retirement planning solutions for the LGBTQ community. Host Matt McClure, a licensed fiduciary financial advisor, shares strategies to protect your hard-earned money while pursuing market-like growth.

Matt holds the RSSA® credential as a Registered Social Security Analyst®, helping clients optimize their Social Security filing strategies to potentially increase lifetime income. He’s also a Certified Annuity Specialist® (CAS®), a designation earned through a 135+ hour graduate-level program in fixed-rate and variable annuities from the Institute of Business & Finance.

Based in Georgia with his husband and two dogs, Matt spent over a decade in New York City, working with The Wall Street Journal Radio Network, NY1, and WCBS Newsradio 880. A career highlight includes reporting from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.

In this Thanksgiving-week episode of Take Pride in Retirement, host and fiduciary advisor Matt McClure breaks down the 2026 Social Security changes and what they mean specifically for LGBTQ+ retirees and pre-retirees.

Matt explains how cost-of-living adjustments, Medicare premium increases, and new tax deductions intersect with the lived financial realities of LGBTQ+ adults—many of whom face wage gaps, career interruptions, discrimination, and lower lifetime earnings that directly impact Social Security benefits.

He also tackles the big question: “Will Social Security always be there?” and offers clear, actionable steps LGBTQ+ individuals and couples can take to build financial independence beyond government benefits—so Social Security becomes the cherry on top, not the entire sundae.

Plus, the episode includes a Quote of the Week from Maya Angelou, some heartfelt Thanksgiving reflections, and a surprising breakdown of 2024 Thanksgiving dinner costs (spoiler: turkey is cheaper, peas are not!).

This episode blends financial clarity, LGBTQ+ awareness, and holiday gratitude to help you design a retirement you can truly take pride in.

Schedule your free, no-obligation consultation today at TakePrideInRetirement.com or call (855) 246-9211. Build the retirement you deserve—with clarity, confidence, and pride.

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Request your free RSSA Roadmap for Social Security optimization
Watch full episodes on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@TakePrideinRetirementShow
Follow on BlueSky, Threads, Facebook, Instagram — just search Take Pride in Retirement

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Take Pride in Retirement is proud to be named one of the top Pride podcasts on the internet by FeedSpot. For more, go to https://blog.feedspot.com/pride_podcasts

About Take Pride in Retirement:
Take Pride in Retirement is a podcast dedicated to retirement planning solutions for the LGBTQ community. Host Matt McClure, a licensed fiduciary financial advisor, shares strategies to protect your hard-earned money while pursuing market-like growth.

Matt holds the RSSA® credential as a Registered Social Security Analyst®, helping clients optimize their Social Security filing strategies to potentially increase lifetime income. He’s also a Certified Annuity Specialist® (CAS®), a designation earned through a 135+ hour graduate-level program in fixed-rate and variable annuities from the Institute of Business & Finance.

Based in Georgia with his husband and two dogs, Matt spent over a decade in New York City, working with The Wall Street Journal Radio Network, NY1, and WCBS Newsradio 880. A career highlight includes reporting from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.

• (00:00:00) - Take Pride in Retirement
• (00:00:57) - Take Pride in Retirement: LGBTQ+ Issues
• (00:03:27) - Thanksgiving Wish List
• (00:05:17) - Maya Angelou's "Be Present in All Things"
• (00:07:06) - Social Security for LGBTQ+ Retirees
• (00:10:42) - Social Security and Medicare: Changes coming up for LGBTQ+ retirees
• (00:15:13) - Will Social Security Always Be There? LGBTQ+ Adults Plan Their Retirement
• (00:19:10) - Planning Your Retirement With Pride
• (00:20:07) - Thanksgiving Meal Costs this Year
• (00:24:58) - To Take Pride in Retirement

Your credit isn’t just a number — it’s a key part of your financial security. And for LGBTQ+ individuals and couples, strong credit can provide access, protection, and freedom, especially as you plan for retirement.

This time around, Matt sits down with Margaret Poe, Head of Consumer Credit Education at TransUnion, to break down how to safely check and monitor your credit, what red flags to look for, and what to do if something doesn’t look right. With holiday scams and online fraud on the rise, this is must-know information for anyone trying to protect their financial future.

After the interview, Matt shares LGBTQ+-specific insights on why credit monitoring is essential for retirement planning — from housing options to relocation, name changes, and the unique financial challenges our community faces.

Resources Discussed:
• AnnualCreditReport.com
• TransUnion Credit Essentials (free daily monitoring)

Schedule your free consultation at 855-246-9211 or TakePrideInRetirement.com.

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Take Pride in Retirement is proud to be named one of the top Pride podcasts on the internet by FeedSpot. For more, go to https://blog.feedspot.com/pride_podcasts

About Take Pride in Retirement:
Take Pride in Retirement is a podcast dedicated to retirement planning solutions for the LGBTQ community. Host Matt McClure, a licensed fiduciary financial advisor, shares strategies to protect your hard-earned money while pursuing market-like growth.

Matt holds the RSSA® credential as a Registered Social Security Analyst®, helping clients optimize their Social Security filing strategies to potentially increase lifetime income. He’s also a Certified Annuity Specialist® (CAS®), a designation earned through a 135+ hour graduate-level program in fixed-rate and variable annuities from the Institute of Business & Finance.

Based in Georgia with his husband and two dogs, Matt spent over a decade in New York City, working with The Wall Street Journal Radio Network, NY1, and WCBS Newsradio 880. A career highlight includes reporting from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.

• (00:00:00) - Take Pride in Retirement
• (00:00:53) - Take Pride in Retirement
• (00:02:20) - LGBTQ + Financial and Retirement Planning
• (00:03:44) - Take Pride in Retirement to Your Retirement
• (00:06:00) - Check Your Credit Regularly
• (00:06:53) - Why is it important to check your credit report and score regularly?
• (00:11:43) - Are Credit Report Red flags Signifying Identity Fraud?
• (00:14:17) - Do You Need to Improve Your Credit Score?
• (00:15:56) - Tips for Credit Monitoring
• (00:16:39) - Your Credit Report and the LGBTQ+ Community
• (00:19:47) - Take Pride in Retirement! 4 Action Items
• (00:24:20) - Take Pride in Retirement

Talking about money isn’t always easy — especially for LGBTQ+ couples who often bring unique financial histories, family dynamics, and life experiences into their relationships. In this powerful episode of Take Pride in Retirement, host and advisor Matt McClure breaks down the conversations every LGBTQ+ couple and family needs to have to build a strong, unified, and confident retirement plan.

Matt dives into the emotional side of money, the legacy of financial trauma in our community, why communication patterns matter, and how to create healthier, more effective ways to talk about goals, long-term care, family of origin, chosen family, and legal protections.

You’ll learn how to have “money dates,” how to align retirement goals, how to navigate unsupportive family members, and why beneficiary updates are one of the most powerful actions you can take.

Whether you’re married, partnered, or planning for your future solo, this episode is packed with practical tools — and LGBTQ+-affirming guidance — to help you take control of your financial future with clarity and confidence.

Schedule your free consultation at 855-246-9211 or TakePrideInRetirement.com.

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Take Pride in Retirement is proud to be named one of the top Pride podcasts on the internet by FeedSpot. For more, go to https://blog.feedspot.com/pride_podcasts

About Take Pride in Retirement:
Take Pride in Retirement is a podcast dedicated to retirement planning solutions for the LGBTQ community. Host Matt McClure, a licensed fiduciary financial advisor, shares strategies to protect your hard-earned money while pursuing market-like growth.

Matt holds the RSSA® credential as a Registered Social Security Analyst®, helping clients optimize their Social Security filing strategies to potentially increase lifetime income. He’s also a Certified Annuity Specialist® (CAS®), a designation earned through a 135+ hour graduate-level program in fixed-rate and variable annuities from the Institute of Business & Finance.

Based in Georgia with his husband and two dogs, Matt spent over a decade in New York City, working with The Wall Street Journal Radio Network, NY1, and WCBS Newsradio 880. A career highlight includes reporting from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.

Caring for a loved one can be one of life’s most meaningful experiences — but it can also be emotionally and physically exhausting. In this episode of Take Pride in Retirement, host Matt McClure sits down with Dr. Michael Gabriel, National Medical Director of Carelon Palliative Care, to talk about caregiver burnout, available support systems, and the important difference between palliative care and hospice.

Matt also opens up about his own experiences with caregiving in his family, highlighting a reality many LGBTQ+ individuals face — stepping into the caregiver role for aging parents, partners, or chosen family members.

In this heartfelt and practical episode, you’ll learn:

• The most common signs of caregiver burnout — and how to recognize them early
• The role of palliative care in improving quality of life for patients and caregivers alike
• How to find resources and community support to share the caregiving burden
• Why preparation, communication, and compassion matter most

Plus, Matt shares a reminder that as the holidays approach, you should be focused on family, not financial stress — and how the Active Wealth Management team can help simplify your end-of-year planning.

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Take Pride in Retirement is proud to be named one of the top Pride podcasts on the internet by FeedSpot. For more, go to https://blog.feedspot.com/pride_podcasts

About Take Pride in Retirement:
Take Pride in Retirement is a podcast dedicated to retirement planning solutions for the LGBTQ community. Host Matt McClure, a licensed fiduciary financial advisor, shares strategies to protect your hard-earned money while pursuing market-like growth.

Matt holds the RSSA® credential as a Registered Social Security Analyst®, helping clients optimize their Social Security filing strategies to potentially increase lifetime income. He’s also a Certified Annuity Specialist® (CAS®), a designation earned through a 135+ hour graduate-level program in fixed-rate and variable annuities from the Institute of Business & Finance.

Based in Georgia with his husband and two dogs, Matt spent over a decade in New York City, working with The Wall Street Journal Radio Network, NY1, and WCBS Newsradio 880. A career highlight includes reporting from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.

As 2025 winds down, the clock is ticking for retirees to make key financial moves before December 31st. In this episode, host and advisor Matt McClure breaks down your year-end checklist—from required minimum distributions (RMDs) and Roth conversions to charitable giving and tax-loss harvesting.

Plus, Bank of America’s Shikha Narula, Head of Rewards, joins the show to discuss holiday travel strategies, maximizing credit card rewards, and using smart planning to make your trips more affordable.

For LGBTQ+ individuals and couples, this is the time to act—because every dollar saved and every tax break captured means more freedom and confidence in retirement.

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Take Pride in Retirement is proud to be named one of the top Pride podcasts on the internet by FeedSpot. For more, go to https://blog.feedspot.com/pride_podcasts

About Take Pride in Retirement:
Take Pride in Retirement is a podcast dedicated to retirement planning solutions for the LGBTQ community. Host Matt McClure, a licensed fiduciary financial advisor, shares strategies to protect your hard-earned money while pursuing market-like growth.

Matt holds the RSSA® credential as a Registered Social Security Analyst®, helping clients optimize their Social Security filing strategies to potentially increase lifetime income. He’s also a Certified Annuity Specialist® (CAS®), a designation earned through a 135+ hour graduate-level program in fixed-rate and variable annuities from the Institute of Business & Finance.

Based in Georgia with his husband and two dogs, Matt spent over a decade in New York City, working with The Wall Street Journal Radio Network, NY1, and WCBS Newsradio 880. A career highlight includes reporting from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.

In this episode of Take Pride in Retirement, host Matt McClure sits down with Kai Walker, Managing Director of Workplace Benefits Research and Inclusion Transformation at Bank of America, to discuss the latest Workplace Benefits Report. The findings reveal how American workers are coping with financial anxiety, managing debt, and preparing for retirement amid persistent inflation.

Kai shares insights on how employees can make the most of workplace benefits, the power of Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), and why understanding your company match is crucial for building long-term wealth. Matt connects these lessons to the unique financial challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community — from nontraditional family structures to planning for retirement security without traditional support systems.

Whether you’re an employee looking to get the most out of your benefits or an LGBTQ+ professional planning for a secure future, this episode delivers practical steps to help you take pride in your financial journey.

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Take Pride in Retirement is proud to be named one of the top Pride podcasts on the internet by FeedSpot. For more, go to https://blog.feedspot.com/pride_podcasts

About Take Pride in Retirement:
Take Pride in Retirement is a podcast dedicated to retirement planning solutions for the LGBTQ community. Host Matt McClure, a licensed fiduciary financial advisor, shares strategies to protect your hard-earned money while pursuing market-like growth.

Matt holds the RSSA® credential as a Registered Social Security Analyst®, helping clients optimize their Social Security filing strategies to potentially increase lifetime income. He’s also a Certified Annuity Specialist® (CAS®), a designation earned through a 135+ hour graduate-level program in fixed-rate and variable annuities from the Institute of Business & Finance.

Based in Georgia with his husband and two dogs, Matt spent over a decade in New York City, working with The Wall Street Journal Radio Network, NY1, and WCBS Newsradio 880. A career highlight includes reporting from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.