Retirement investing can bring many questions, especially when your savings need to support your lifestyle for decades. How do you balance growth, income, taxes, and market uncertainty when planning for life after work?

In this episode, I share my recent webinar from the New York Public Library’s Investing A-Z program, in which I discuss seven essential strategies for investing in retirement. I explain how a financial plan should guide investment decisions, why inflation can affect long-term purchasing power, and how retirees can think differently about market risk. I also cover the role of stocks, dividend growth investing, tax planning strategies, Roth conversions, charitable giving, and important questions to consider when working with a financial advisor.

Throughout the presentation, I focus on creating a thoughtful approach to retirement investing that connects financial decisions with the lifestyle you want to support.

Key points:

• How a financial plan can guide retirement investment decisions instead of focusing only on portfolio performance
• Why inflation and rising costs can affect retirement income needs over several decades of life
• How retirees can measure investment risk by considering years of income during market downturns
• The role of stocks, dividend growth investing, and long-term thinking in retirement portfolios
• How tax strategies, Roth conversions, and charitable giving may influence retirement planning decisions
• And more!

Resources:

• Get Your FREE Simply Retirement Roadmap
• Website: Savvy Ladies
• Website: The New York Public Library
• Webinar Recording: 7 Retirement Investing Strategies for a More Successful Retirement

Connect with Eric Blake:

• www.TheSimplyRetirementPodcast.com
• Join the Simply Retirement Newsletter
• Ask a Question or Suggest a Topic for the Podcast
• Blake Wealth Management
• YouTube

For women approaching or already in retirement, Social Security decisions can feel harder when tax questions, funding projections, and proposed legislation all appear in the headlines at once.

How do you separate information that affects your plan from news that simply deserves your attention?

In this episode, I answer a listener’s question about Social Security tax withholding while working at age 70. I explain what it really means when up to 85% of Social Security may be taxable, how withholding choices work, and why your broader tax picture matters. I also break down the 2026 Social Security Trustees Report, what the projected funding shortfall actually means for benefits, and what the proposed PROMISE Act could change. Most importantly, I explain why retirement decisions should be based on your circumstances and current law rather than headlines or predictions.

Key points:

• Why delaying Social Security until age 70 can increase monthly income for life and potentially affect survivor benefits
• What “85% of Social Security is taxable” actually means and how provisional income affects federal taxation
• How the five Social Security withholding options differ and why your full income picture should guide the choice
• What the 2026 Trustees Report says about future benefits and why a funding shortfall doesn’t mean benefits disappear
• How to think about the proposed PROMISE Act without changing your retirement plan based on legislation that isn’t law
• And more!

Resources:

• Get Your FREE Simply Retirement Roadmap
• #54 — How Social Security Gets Taxed: What You Need to Know
• 2026 Social Security Quick Reference Guide
• Ultimate Guide to Women’s Social Security Success

Connect with Eric Blake:

• www.TheSimplyRetirementPodcast.com
• Join the Simply Retirement Newsletter
• Ask a Question or Suggest a Topic for the Podcast
• Blake Wealth Management
• YouTube

If you’re a woman planning for retirement and an annuity has been recommended to you, the hardest part may not be understanding how it works. It may be deciding whether it actually belongs in your retirement plan.

Asking better questions can help you understand what you’re considering before you commit.

In this episode, I explain how to evaluate whether an annuity fits within your retirement plan. I walk through the questions I want you to ask about the retirement need you’re trying to address, other available options, what an annuity actually provides, what you may give up in return, how fees and surrender charges work, and what could happen if your circumstances change. I also explain why reviewing the contract and understanding your free look period can give you time to make a more informed decision.

Key points:

• Start by identifying the retirement need you want an annuity to address before evaluating the product itself.
• Compare an annuity with other ways of accomplishing the same retirement goal before making your decision.
• Understand exactly what the contract protects or provides, including income, principal, and access to money.
• Review rider fees, commissions, advisory fees, and surrender charges so you know what you’re paying for.
• Consider how changing health, family needs, or cash needs could affect whether the annuity still fits your plan.
• And more!

Resources:

• Get Your FREE Simply Retirement Roadmap
• #115 – Understanding Annuities Before You Decide if They Belong in Your Retirement Plan
• #116 – Which Type of Annuity Fits Your Retirement Plan?
• #118 – How Are Annuities Taxed? A Simple Guide for Retirement
• Does an Annuity Fit Within My Financial Plan?
• 2026 Tax and Retirement Planning Cheat Sheet

Connect with Eric Blake:

• www.TheSimplyRetirementPodcast.com
• Join the Simply Retirement Newsletter
• Ask a Question or Suggest a Topic for the Podcast
• Blake Wealth Management
• YouTube

Annuities are insurance products issued by insurance companies and involve costs, fees, limitations, and contractual terms that vary by product. Guarantees are backed solely by the claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company. Before purchasing an annuity, investors should carefully consider their financial objectives, risks, charges, expenses, and contract features, and consult with their financial, tax, and legal professionals.