

Spending Drops in Retirement, but Satisfaction Doesn't
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
Connect with Benjamin Brandt
- 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