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Good morning, Simply Retirement Community!
Welcome to the weekly newsletter that reminds us that retirement is not the end of the road; it is the start of a new journey.
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Listening to “they” is risky — and not just when it comes to investment tips or stock market opinions.
This week was a good reminder that “they say…” advice can cause real problems in areas far beyond the markets. Two different clients made decisions based on what they said you “had to do,” and both situations could have led to expensive, long-term consequences. And neither had anything to do with investing.
One client is turning 65 and was told she had to enroll in Medicare because “you have to apply when you turn 65.” She had been stressing about this for weeks — losing sleep, worried she’d be penalized or make the wrong decision — and assumed she had no other choice. What she didn’t realize is that signing up, even for just Part A, would immediately end her ability to contribute to her HSA while she continues working. A short conversation not only cleared it up, but it also prevented a mistake that would have shut down a valuable tax-planning opportunity. Most importantly, it gave her back a sense of calm once she understood her real options.
Another couple is navigating a common transition: the husband is retiring and moving onto Medicare, while his wife isn’t yet eligible and needs her own health coverage after years on his employer plan. The agent they were working with — the same one many people in our area use — provided quotes based on the full, unsubsidized premium of approximately $1,400 per month, for one person. What wasn’t discussed was how their planned income for next year could dramatically change those costs. Once we walked through their retirement income strategy together, we were able to intentionally plan their 2026 income in a way that made them eligible for substantial Affordable Care Act tax credits. The difference in their projected premiums was significant, and it created options they didn’t realize were possible.
These aren’t investment issues, but they’re the kinds of decisions that truly shape a confident and financially stable retirement. It’s a reminder that our work together goes far beyond portfolios — it’s about helping you avoid hidden pitfalls, finding the right resources, and making decisions based on your goals and situation, not what “they” say you should do.
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Investing in Retirement - Part 3: The Building Blocks of Your Retirement Portfolio
💬 From Episode 82:
“While the daily noise can be unsettling, the story over decades has been one of growth, income, and compounding.” - Eric Blake Investing in retirement requires a completely different mindset, one focused on income, not just preservation.
In this episode, I continue our Seven Strategies for Successful Investing in Retirement series by explaining Strategy #4: Understanding the Role of Stocks in Retirement, and Strategy #5: The Value of Dividend Growth Investing.
Together, these two approaches show how stocks can generate sustainable income and growth throughout your retirement years.
Tune in to learn:
- Why stocks shouldn’t be viewed like gambling, and what their long-term record actually shows
- How a balanced stock and bond mix can fuel income growth over decades
- The real-world power of dividends to combat inflation and support retirement income
- Why reacting emotionally during market downturns often hurts long-term outcomes
- How dividend growth investing can provide ongoing income, compounding, and stability
- And more!
You can catch every episode of The Simply Retirement Podcast on the website - or on your favorite podcast app.
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Related Links & Resources
- 👉 Work with us!
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📄 Read
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🎧 Related Episodes
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👩👩👧👦 Connect & Participate
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The Retirement Toolbox
👉 Where Should I Withdraw My Next Dollar From For Retirement Expenses?
Making tax-efficient retirement withdrawals can significantly impact your long-term financial success. Whether the need is for income, healthcare, education, or charitable giving, each withdrawal decision comes with implications that can affect your portfolio longevity and taxation.
This flowchart helps you walk through the decision of where to make your next retirement withdrawal. It covers:
- Common retirement expenses such as income needs, medical costs, education, and charitable giving
- Tax treatment of accounts like IRAs, Roth IRAs, HSAs, and 529s
- How to avoid penalties and be cognizant of AGI thresholds and tax bracket shifts
- Strategic use of QCDs and capital gains harvesting
- How to minimize taxes while meeting short- and long-term goals
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Have more questions about retirement planning? Just hit reply to this email. I read and respond to every message. 😃
Keeping Retirement Simple,
Eric Blake, CFP®
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Content here is for illustrative purposes and general information only. It is not legal, tax, or individualized financial advice; nor is it a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any specific security, or engage in any specific trading strategy.
All investing involves risk including loss of principal. Results will vary. Past performance is no indication of future results or success. Market conditions change continuously.
Information here is provided, in part, by third-party sources. These sources are generally deemed to be reliable; however, neither Blake Wealth Management nor RFG Advisory guarantee the accuracy of third-party sources. The views expressed here are those of Blake Wealth Management. They do not necessarily represent those of RFG Advisory, their employees, or their clients.
This commentary should not be regarded as a description of advisory services provided by Blake Wealth Management or RFG Advisory, or performance returns of any client. The views reflected in the commentary are subject to change at any time without notice.
Advisory services offered by Investment Advisory Representatives of RFG Advisory, LLC ("RFG Advisory" or "RFG") a registered investment advisor. Blake Wealth Management and RFG Advisory are unaffiliated entities. Advisory services are only offered to clients or prospective clients where RFG Advisory and its representatives are properly licensed or exempt from licensure. No advisory services may be rendered by RFG Advisory unless a client agreement is in place.
RFG Advisory is an SEC-registered investment adviser. SEC registration does not constitute an endorsement of RFG by the Commission, nor does it indicate that RFG or any associated investment advisory representative has attained a particular level of skill or ability.
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