

Decoding Retirement
Yahoo Finance
Decoding Retirement breaks down the complex and often confusing world of retirement planning to help you make smart, stress-free financial strategies. Host, Robert “Bob” Powell, has no problem telling you what no one tells you about life.. after work. Each episode provides practical and actionable tools to navigate the ever-changing retirement landscape, empowering you with the expertise to secure your financial future confidently. Every Tuesday at 3PM ET on your favorite podcast platform.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 23, 2025 • 25min
How much money do you really need to retire?
As prices and inflation continue to rise, planning ahead for retirement has become even more important. But how can people assess their eventual costs and ensure they don't exceed their sources of income when the future is so difficult to predict? On this week's episode of Decoding Retirement, host Robert "Bob" Powell speaks with Jean Chatzky, host of the HerMoney Podcast, about her proven strategies to build up the savings you will rely on through your golden years. Jean discusses the importance of calculating your day-to-day costs, valuable financial tools that could provide extra income, and whether retirees can still count on Social Security to support them.
Yahoo Finance's Decoding Retirement is hosted by Robert Powell.
Find more episodes of Decoding Retirement at https://finance.yahoo.com/videos/series/decoding-retirement.
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Sep 22, 2025 • 3min
Government shutdown: Jean Chatzky on what retirees need to know
A Federal government shutdown could be well on its way to happening in September. How will those preparing for or living in retirement be affected? In this Decoding Retirement Q&A, host Robert "Bob" Powell gets some answers from Jean Chatzky, financial expert and host of the HerMoney Podcast. Jean reveals whether government benefits will be disrupted, how retirement investments may fare, and what most worries her about a potential government shutdown.
Yahoo Finance's Decoding Retirement is hosted by Robert Powell.
Find more episodes of Decoding Retirement at https://finance.yahoo.com/videos/series/decoding-retirement.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 16, 2025 • 25min
Why $1.7 trillion is left behind in forgotten 401(k)s
Deborah Whitman, AARP's chief public policy officer and author of The Second Fifty, shares insights on crafting a fulfilling retirement. She highlights the crucial role of social connections for longevity and addresses the alarming issue of $1.7 trillion left in forgotten 401(k)s. The conversation dives into the importance of strategic planning based on personal values, exploring aging-in-place challenges, and using tools like AARP's Livability Index to ensure a comfortable life in retirement. Discover the surprising secrets to navigating this vital life stage.

Sep 9, 2025 • 25min
4 steps to rebuild your life after retirement
Elizabeth Zelinka Parsons, author of "Encore: A High Achiever's Guide to Thriving in Retirement," discusses navigating the often tricky transition into retirement. She illustrates how high achievers can redefine success beyond income, creating a rich and fulfilling 'mosaic life.' Elizabeth also shares why many professionals resist retirement and introduces a transformative four-step roadmap to find identity, restructure life, adopt a new financial mindset, and actively experiment with new possibilities. Her insights offer invaluable guidance for anyone nearing or enjoying retirement.

Sep 2, 2025 • 24min
The missing piece in your retirement puzzle: Homeowner's insurance
In this engaging discussion, Meaghan Dowd, Director of Insurance at Holistiplan and author of "Protect Your Lifestyle," dives into crucial homeowner's insurance insights for retirees. She highlights common insurance pitfalls that can derail retirement plans, like confusing replacement-cost versus actual cash value. Meaghan also emphasizes strategies for protecting assets, including using trusts and LLCs, and identifies overlooked risks like lifestyle liability. Her practical tips ensure listeners don't overlook the importance of insurance in their retirement planning.

Aug 26, 2025 • 25min
How most families get retirement wrong
Conventional wisdom can only get you so far, especially when dealing with unforeseen life events that might permanently change your plans. On this week's episode of Decoding Retirement, host Robert "Bob" Powell speaks with Keith Wargo, president and CEO of Autism Speaks, about the financial necessities of autism care. Keith discusses resources to help families affected by autism, the importance of setting up special needs trusts, and ways to stay on track for retirement. Later in the episode, Bob chats with Zvi Bodie, Boston University professor of management emeritus, about why the risks inherent in buying stocks may be higher than you think. Tune in now for two important conversations on one eye-opening episode of Decoding Retirement.
Yahoo Finance's Decoding Retirement is hosted by Robert Powell.
Find more episodes of Decoding Retirement at https://finance.yahoo.com/videos/series/decoding-retirement. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 19, 2025 • 25min
Healthcare costs can make or break your retirement
The best laid plans for retirement can be totally upended by an unexpected medical emergency, especially if you don't have a reserve of savings to draw from. On this episode of Decoding Retirement, host Robert "Bob" Powell speaks with Sudipto Banerjee, global retirement strategist at T. Rowe Price, about what you can do to factor healthcare costs into your retirement planning. Sudipto discusses maximizing tax efficiency with Health Savings Accounts, whether you should consider a Medigap policy, and whether de-risking some of your investments as you enter retirement may be the right move.
Yahoo Finance's Decoding Retirement is hosted by Robert Powell.
Find more episodes of Decoding Retirement at https://finance.yahoo.com/videos/series/decoding-retirement.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 12, 2025 • 24min
Why fears of a retirement crisis may be overblown
The steady stream of dire news about Social Security continues to affect retirement plans around the country; but one man is surprisingly optimistic about its future. On this episode of Decoding Retirement, host Robert "Bob" Powell speaks with Andrew Biggs of the American Enterprise Institute. Biggs reveals that retirees tend to be much more confident in their savings, and discusses why the doom and gloom about Social Security may be premature. For a refreshingly contrarian take on retirement in America, listen to this week's installment of Decoding Retirement.
Yahoo Finance's Decoding Retirement is hosted by Robert Powell.
Find more episodes of Decoding Retirement at https://finance.yahoo.com/videos/series/decoding-retirement.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 5, 2025 • 25min
Caregiving is the $600 billion crisis hiding in plain sight
With a rapidly aging workforce, budgeting time and money for caregiving has become even more crucial for the average American.
On this episode of Decoding Retirement, host Robert "Bob" Powell speaks with MIT AgeLab director Joe Coughlin, who shares his unique perspective on the advancements and challenges that await retirees. Coughlin also discusses the impact of unpaid caregiving on family finances, maintaining cash flow after retirement, and the financial benefits of residing in livable communities.
Yahoo Finance's Decoding Retirement is hosted by Robert Powell.
Find more episodes of Decoding Retirement at https://finance.yahoo.com/videos/series/decoding-retirement. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 29, 2025 • 28min
Dr. Oz’s plan to stop Medicare waste and rising costs
Dr. Mehmet Oz, now head of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, lays it out plain: healthcare isn’t just a cost, it’s an investment to win the future. Want to fix Medicare, Medicaid, and save America trillions? Dr Oz says get people healthy, working, and off government dependency. On Decoding Retirement, Dr. Oz tells host Bob Powell that he is cutting waste within Medicare and Medicaid - and demanding results. He backs work requirements as common sense and insists medical debt must be tackled through price transparency and enforcement. Rising Medicare premiums? He’s pushing reforms to protect seniors’ wallets. Bottom line: Oz tells Powell he’s in the “change business” - and he’s here to make healthcare work for hardworking Americans.
Yahoo Finance's Decoding Retirement is hosted by Robert Powell.
Find more episodes of Decoding Retirement at https://finance.yahoo.com/videos/series/decoding-retirement.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices