How To Build Your Own Paycheck: From Saver to Spender | Fritz Gilbert & Dana Anspach | 171

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Oct 5, 2025

Dana Anspach, a CFP and founder of Sensible Money, and Fritz Gilbert, creator of The Retirement Manifesto, delve into the nuances of transitioning from saving to spending in retirement. They explore the intricacies of drawdown strategies and emphasize that success hinges on a hundred small financial decisions. Key discussions include managing taxes, understanding social security's impact, and avoiding common pitfalls that lead to underspending. Their big takeaway? Document your plan, automate cash flow, and enjoy life’s ‘go-go’ years.

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INSIGHT

Decumulation Is A Different Game

Decumulation carries higher stakes because mistakes are harder to undo and recovery time is limited.
Retirement requires many small decisions rather than a single choice, shifting strategy from accumulation to paycheck construction.

INSIGHT

Spend During Your Go-Go Years

Spending during the healthy “go-go” years is often optimal because money exists to fund life experiences.
Staying too frugal early in retirement risks missing peak health years for bucket-list events.

ADVICE

Track Actual Spending Pre-Retirement

Track every spending category before retiring to build realistic retirement expenses.
Adjust for lifestyle changes like travel, housing, and healthcare when projecting future costs.

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If you're within ten years of retirement (early or traditional age) or just want to get a head start on going from being a saver to a spender, this episode is for you. Decumulation without drama—that’s the mission as retirement pros Dana Anspach (Sensible Money) and Fritz Gilbert (The Retirement Manifesto) join the show to turn “build-your-own paycheck” into a repeatable process. Dana lays out why drawdown is a hundred small decisions, not one big leap; and Fritz brings in the field notes. Together they demystify:

Tax Pitfalls
Timing Social Security
Asset Allocation and Location
Why Most Retirees Underspend

The big takeaway: document the plan, automate the paycheck, and give yourself permission to enjoy the “go-go” years—because money’s job is to fund a life, not gather dust.

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