This week, we have a listener Q&A episode that tackles the questions people ask most as they get closer to retirement or try to make sense of it once they're there.

This ClearPath Retirement Radio covers when to really start planning, how much money you actually need, the biggest mistakes people make in the years before retirement, and a full retirement readiness checklist.

From there they dig into the big three: Social Security timing, Medicare enrollment, and what to do with an old 401(k) after you leave a job.

We also talk through paying off a mortgage before retirement, how to turn savings into a real paycheck, and how to protect against running out of money later in life.

If you've ever wondered whether you're missing something in your own plan, this episode may answer more of your questions than you expected.

In This Episode:
→ When to start serious retirement planning, and why 10 years out is ideal
→ How much money you actually need to retire, and why the "4% rule" falls short
→ The biggest retirement planning mistakes, including underestimating healthcare costs and inflation
→ A real retirement readiness checklist, starting with understanding your expenses
→ When to take Social Security, and why the decision can't be undone
→ How Medicare Part A and Part B actually work, and when to sign up
→ Whether to pay off your mortgage before retiring
→ What to do with an old 401(k) when you leave a job
→ How to turn your savings into a monthly "paycheck" in retirement
→ How to plan for longevity risk so you don't outlive your money

Timestamps:
→ 00:00 Welcome and episode format
→ 01:00 When to start retirement planning
→ 02:00 How much money do you actually need to retire?
→ 05:00 Biggest mistakes made before retirement
→ 09:00 Real retirement readiness checklist
→ 15:00 Social Security: when to take it
→ 21:00 Medicare Part A and Part B explained
→ 25:00 Should you pay off your mortgage before retiring?
→ 28:00 What to do with your old 401(k)
→ 34:00 Turning savings into a retirement paycheck
→ 38:00 Longevity risk: not outliving your money
→ 42:00 Closing thoughts

Stewart Smith, LUTCF®, RICP®, and Mitch Davies have spent 25+ years helping South Carolina retirees build real, comprehensive retirement plans — looking at all of your assets, your taxes, your income sources, and your goals before any conversation about managing money ever comes up.

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ClearPath Retirement Planning helps retirees and pre-retirees in the Upstate SC and Columbia areas and Western NC create tax-efficient retirement income strategies.

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Important Disclosure:

Investment advisory services offered through Alphastar Capital Management, LLC, a SEC-registered investment adviser. SEC registration does not constitute an endorsement of the firm by the SEC nor does it indicate that the adviser has attained a particular level of skill or ability. Fixed insurance products are offered through Clearpath Retirement Planning, LLC and Alphastar Capital Management is not involved in the offer, recommendation, sale or management of commission-based fixed Insurance products. Alphastar Capital Management and Clearpath Retirement...