Could heaven be an RV in a state park?

It is for Marian Barry, who became a traveling nurse after working in hospitals during the pandemic.

We share this story from a Business Insider article, pointing out that she lives on $2,972 a month in Social Security and is lovig life. "I literally live in heaven."

Key takeaways:

• Low-cost retirement living
• Lifestyle vs. possessions
• Community and mental well-being
• Flexibility in retirement
• Pursuit of happiness
• If any of this interests you - practice it first!

Then I share some of my thoughts from our Spring client meetings. I found some common threads from some our clients that seemed the most at peace - even during the reported "market turmoil".

Resource:

Article by Eliza Relman from Business Insider

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Retirement Starts Today: Your Non-financial Guide to an Even Better Retirement

New research from David Blanchett, head of retirement research at PGIM, challenges one of the biggest assumptions in retirement planning: that happiness in retirement depends on maintaining a constant—or even increasing—level of spending.

⬇️ Upon entering retirement, households experience a median consumption decline of about 20%.

This drop is often viewed as a red flag in traditional financial planning models.

However, Blanchett argues that this decline is not necessarily problematic, especially when you look at how financial well-being changes over time.

☎️ Then on our listener question, we hear from a 34-year-old investor who’s been all-in on stocks since taking Dave Ramsey’s advice early in their career. Now, they’re wondering how and when to start easing into a more balanced portfolio with bonds.

We’ll talk strategy, psychology, and sprinkle in some data on market highs that might surprise you.

Resource:

Article by John Manganaro from ThinkAdvisor: Spending Drops in Retirement, but Satisfaction Doesn't: Blanchett

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Retirement Starts Today: Your Non-financial Guide to an Even Better Retirement

There is a lot to cover in this episode, including new legislation that could impact your retirement.

Plus, 6 More Retirement Financial Myths to Avoid, and a listener with substantial assets who wants to know how to pay for a new car.

The OBBB

The One Big Beautiful Bill became public law on July 4, 2025. Included are:

• Lower Tax Brackets Are Now Permanent
• 
Larger Standard Deduction
• New Senior Bonus Deduction (2025–2028)

• Above-the-Line Charitable Deduction (2026–2028)

• Expanded SALT Deduction

• ACA Subsidy Planning Alert

• New Car Deduction 


If you’re a client of ours - we’ll go into these changes in detail during our year-end appointments. If you really like the numbers, we’ll do a before & after to calculate your specific tax savings impacted by these changes.

Article: 6 More Retirement Financial Myths to Avoid

This article by Sheryl Rowling from Morningstar addresses these six myths:

1. You Should Never Make a Big Splurge in Retirement
   2. It’s Best to Give to Charity After You Die
   3. Spending Less Is Always Better
   4. You Must Pay Off Your Mortgage Before Retiring
   5. Reverse Mortgages Are a Last Resort
   6. Your Biggest Financial Risk Is a Market Crash

Resource:
6 More Retirement Financial Myths to Avoid by Sheryl Rowling

• Get the Retire-Ready Toolkit: http://retirementstartstodayradio.com
• Subscribe to the newsletter: https://retirementstartstodayradio.com/newsletter
• Work with Benjamin: https://retirementstartstoday.com/start

Follow Retirement Starts Today in:
Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Amazon Music, or iHeart

Get the book!
Retirement Starts Today: Your Non-financial Guide to an Even Better Retirement