The Retirement Wisdom Podcast

How much have you invested for the financial side of your retirement? How about the non-financial side? Join us for six Fridays starting on October 3rd and get moving on your roadmap. Learn more here. ____________________ Transitions are rarely easy, whether you’re leaving your career or any other life chapter that has helped define you. Cassidy Krug knows this firsthand. A 2012 Olympian in diving, she grew up immersed in the sport—coached by her parents, competing at Stanford, and training for years beyond. When she reached her dream of competing at the London Games, she also knew it was time to move on. In this conversation, Cassidy Krug shares the lessons she learned about navigating major life transitions—from sport to career, and from an “all-in” life to an “à la carte” one. She talks candidly about the identity shifts, the uncertainty of new beginnings, and the importance of reflection, interpretation, and community. Her story offers inspiration and practical wisdom for anyone facing their own turning points, especially those contemplating or entering retirement. Cassidy Krug joins us from Los Angeles. _______________________ We Discuss The emotional challenges of retiring from something when you still love what you do Why we tend to cling too long to what we do—and what helps us let go The critical role of interpreting your story, not just reacting to change How asking for help (and informational interviews) opened new doors in her career Creating an “à la carte” life after diving, balancing career, creativity, and relationships The value of curiosity and trying new things—even when you’re used to being an expert Why investing in community matters so much after leaving a team or workplace The best advice she received (and what she wishes she had) about embracing change _________________________ Bio  Cassidy Krug is the author of Resurface: A Guide to Navigating Life’s Biggest Transitions. She is a former Olympic diver, a writer, and a brand and innovation strategist based in Los Angeles. She graduated from Stanford with an English degree and she won two NCAA diving titles there. ___________________________ For More on Cassidy Krug Resurface: A Guide to Navigating Life’s Biggest Transitions Website ____________________________ Podcast Conversations You May Like The Portfolio Life – Christina Wallace Strategic Quitting – Julia Keller Edit Your Life – Elisabeth Sharp McKetta The Skill Set for Life’s Transitions – Bruce Feiler _____________________________ About The Retirement Wisdom Podcast There are many podcasts on retirement, often hosted by financial advisors with their own financial motives, that cover the money side of the street. This podcast is different. You’ll get smarter about the investment decisions you’ll make about the most important asset you’ll have in retirement: your time. About Retirement Wisdom I help people who are retiring, but aren’t quite done yet, discover what’s next and build their custom version of their next life. A meaningful retirement doesn’t just happen by accident. Schedule a call today to discuss how the Designing Your Life process created by Bill Burnett & Dave Evans can help you make your life in retirement a great one — on your own terms. About Your Podcast Host Joe Casey is an executive coach who helps people design their next life after their primary career and create their version of The Multipurpose Retirement.™ He created his own next chapter after a 26-year career at Merrill Lynch, where he was Senior Vice President and Head of HR for Global Markets & Investment Banking. Joe has earned Master’s degrees from the University of Southern California in Gerontology (at age 60), the University of Pennsylvania, and Middlesex University (UK), a BA in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and his coaching certification from Columbia University. In addition to his work with clients, Joe hosts The Retirement Wisdom Podcast, ranked in the top 1% globally in popularity by Listen Notes, with over 1.6 million downloads. Business Insider recognized Joe as one of 23 innovative coaches who are making a difference. He’s the author of Win the Retirement Game: How to Outsmart the 9 Forces Trying to Steal Your Joy. ___________________________ Wise Quotes On Transitions “Change is something that happens to you. Transition is how you choose to react to that change. But the real work is in interpretation—deciding how you want to remember and carry that story forward.” On Redefining Success “First of all, just by asking the question, what does success look like for me? What do I want in my retirement? And it’s not going to be a status quo answer that’s given to you by your career. Maybe for a very long time, you wanted to get the next promotion to get the next pay raise, or to have more responsibility. And all of a sudden, like that ladder is gone and you ask yourself, what does success look like for me now? Maybe success looks like showing up as well as I can and having a positive impact on my family. Maybe success looks like finding people who are still in the workforce and mentoring them and helping them to guide them to make the right decisions. Maybe success looks like making an impact in a totally different sphere, but bringing all the skills that I learned in the workplace to a non-profit or to a different arena. But you really do have to sit and reflect and ask that question of yourself and not expect that the world is necessarily going to tell you anymore what it means to live a successful life.” On Quitting “Every time I’ve quit something, it’s directed my life in ways I didn’t see coming—and that I’m immensely grateful for.” On Moving Forward “Don’t try to replace what you’re leaving behind. Honor it. Then look for the pieces you loved and carry them into your next chapter.” On Interpreting Your Story “And for me, I choose to think back on the Olympic experience as one that I’m really proud of, rather than one that I messed up and I’m regretful for. Absolutely, it takes choice. It takes a lot of reflection. It takes taking the first swell of emotions, whatever that might be, and questioning it, and looking at  from a broader perspective with a longer lens, but I do think that we,  always have a choice in how we interpret our own stories.  And I think it’s so important to get that right according to how we want to feel about ourselves.” On Trying New Things…and an à la carte life “..at first it’s scary because when you have an all-in-one life, so many decisions are made for you. So many choices are just obvious because you have only one thing at the middle. And so when you don’t anymore, the balancing of things, the trying to decide what the right path is, you have all those questions more often. But I think answering those kind of questions constantly –  Am I doing what I want to do? Am I being fulfilled? How do I shift maybe some time and energy away from this and into this other thing? That’s been such a fulfilling part of what my life has been since I started living this à la carte life. In general, I don’t love trying new things. I love being good at things. And so it’s always hard to put myself in that situation where I don’t feel the same level of accomplishment as I did when I was the best in the world diver. That said, for me, once I get into them a little bit, so once, you’re in day two, day three, day four, once I started trapeze and started to feel the process of learning and growing and was exploring new sides of myself, then it grew into a passion for me.”

Six Fridays This Fall to Design What You’ll Be Retiring To Starts on October 3rd Learn more here – Limited to 10 participants. Take the first step toward shaping your future – register now. ________________________ On this episode of The Retirement Wisdom Podcast, we’re joined by Carl Landau, creator and host of I Used to Be Somebody. Carl brings warmth, humor, and introspection as he explores the twists and turns of retiring after an entrepreneurial journey. He shares why letting go of your work identity, redefining purpose, and discovering a mix of new creative outlets—like podcasting, documentary filmmaking, and pickleball—can light up your retirement. Carl reminds us that slowing down doesn’t mean stopping, and that reinvention can be both fun and fulfilling. What You’ll Learn How Retirement is an Evolving Process—finding your way takes some time, especially for high achievers Why Setting Boundaries is Key —how to avoid turning hobbies into a new full-time job… and losing your freedom How Letting Go Frees You—who you were doesn’t define who you’ll be next Why Saying “No” is a Game Changer— create space for what truly matters now to you, not for other people’s agendas How to Build Your New Life  — develop a meaningful life plan, not just a financial one for retirement Carl Landau joins us from Sacramento, California. _________________________ Bio Carl Landau is the founder of Pickleball Media. He has been an entrepreneur since the age of 26 and started and sold three successful media companies, published five magazines (software development, winemaking and craft brewing industries). He currently hosts the popular podcast I Used to be Somebody, inspiring 50-plus-year-olds how to build their (un)retirement good life. He’s the co-author of the book, Pickleball for Dummies. ________________________ For More on Carl Landau I Used to Be Somebody Pickleball for Dummies ________________________ Podcast Episodes You May Like Your Identity Beyond Your Job Title – Laverne McKinnon Lessons Learned in Retirement That Can Help You – Judith Nadratowski The Art of a Balanced Life in Retirement – Dr. Marybeth Crane ________________________ About The Retirement Wisdom Podcast There are many podcasts on retirement, often hosted by financial advisors with their own financial motives, that cover the money side of the street. This podcast is different. You’ll get smarter about the investment decisions you’ll make about the most important asset you’ll have in retirement: your time. About Retirement Wisdom I help people who are retiring, but aren’t quite done yet, discover what’s next and build their custom version of their next life. A meaningful retirement doesn’t just happen by accident. Schedule a call today to discuss how the Designing Your Life process created by Bill Burnett & Dave Evans can help you make your life in retirement a great one — on your own terms. About Your Podcast Host Joe Casey is an executive coach who helps people design their next life after their primary career and create their version of The Multipurpose Retirement.™ He created his own next chapter after a 26-year career at Merrill Lynch, where he was Senior Vice President and Head of HR for Global Markets & Investment Banking. Joe has earned Master’s degrees from the University of Southern California in Gerontology (at age 60), the University of Pennsylvania, and Middlesex University (UK), a BA in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and his coaching certification from Columbia University. In addition to his work with clients, Joe hosts The Retirement Wisdom Podcast, ranked in the top 1% globally in popularity by Listen Notes, with over 1.6 million downloads. Business Insider recognized Joe as one of 23 innovative coaches who are making a difference. He’s the author of Win the Retirement Game: How to Outsmart the 9 Forces Trying to Steal Your Joy. ___________________________ Wise Quotes On Identity in Retirement “About three months ago, I was playing [pickelball] with this guy and explaining to him how to play a short game…He’s a big time like doctor, and all I had absolutely no idea. And no one makes a big deal what they did. And no one cares. So I think that’s sort of a surprise too.” On Mistakes to Avoid “The other big regret is people don’t think in advance about what they want to do in retirement. In retrospect, they didn’t get give enough thought to it, and  felt like they wasted that first year – and wish that they hadn’t, especially with longevity. If you’re in your 60s, and you’re in pretty good health, there’s a good chance you’re going to  live to 90. It’s a long time. So you want to get the most out of it. We’ve said it a million times: more people think about that two week vacation than they ever think about what to do for the next 25 years. So I think that’s the biggest mistake people make.” On Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone “About four years ago, I saw this ad on Facebook. The local theater in Sacramento, was offering for the first time, a Stand Up Comedy Workshop. And I knew if I thought about it long enough, I would not do it. And this is something that I’ve talked about for a long time. In your family, they’re just rolling their eyes at this point because you’ve said this like a dozen times. So my whole thing is like to do it. So I just paid the 400 bucks to take the workshop. And it was just five classes. And then the final was that we had to do stand up, at least a five minute stand up, for over a hundred people, in a live audience. And mine ended up being 14 minutes. The guy had me close it – and it was incredible. It was one of the scariest things I’ve ever done. But boy, what a high when it’s done. And Joe, the really funny thing is the guy who taught it, who’s a professional comedian, said, Hey, you’re really good. You should do this. You could do this. And I have zero interest in doing it. I just wanted to try it and do it. And that’s all I needed to do. And that was really nice.”

Don’t leave your retirement to chance. Design It. Join us for six Fridays starting on October 3rd and get moving on your roadmap. Learn more here. __________________________ On this episode of The Retirement Wisdom Podcast, we’re joined by Nathalie Martin, author of The Inspired Retirement, an excellent new book that will help you reframe what it means to retire well. In today’s conversation, she challenges the assumptions many people bring to retirement—and shares how mindfulness, clarity, and intention can lead to a more inspired next chapter. What You’ll Learn Why the ‘three plagues’ of aging are avoidable How three non-financial pillars of retirement are gamechangers How mindfulness and movement can enhance your life Why one-size-fits-all approaches to purpose miss the mark—and what to do instead A practical exercise to prioritize what matters most in your life as you plan for retirement Nathalie Martin joins us from New Mexico. __________________________ Bio Nathalie Martin is a chaired professor at the University of New Mexico School of Law, where she teaches mindfulness and law as well as elder law, commercial law, and consumer law. A longtime yoga and meditation teacher and practitioner, she also teaches contemplative practices in varied settings, from hospitals and senior centers to law school classrooms. Nathalie is the author of over forty articles and nine books, including Lawyering from the Inside Out and Yoga for Lawyers, and her legal scholarship has been cited by the US Supreme Court. With The Inspired Retirement, Nathalie brings her decades of experience and expertise to a general audience. __________________________ For More on Nathalie Martin The Inspired Retirement: Purpose and Passion in Your Next Adventure Website: nathaliemartinmindfulness.com ___________________________ Podcast Conversations You May Like Retiring: Creating a Life That Works for You – Teresa Amabile Happier Hour – Cassie Holmes, PhD Live Life in Crescendo – Cynthia Covey Haller ____________________________ Mentioned in This Podcast Conversation Being Mortal by Atul Gawande ____________________________ About The Retirement Wisdom Podcast There are many podcasts on retirement, often hosted by financial advisors with their own financial motives, that cover the money side of the street. This podcast is different. You’ll get smarter about the investment decisions you’ll make about the most important asset you’ll have in retirement: your time. About Retirement Wisdom I help people who are retiring, but aren’t quite done yet, discover what’s next and build their custom version of their next life. A meaningful retirement doesn’t just happen by accident. Schedule a call today to discuss how the Designing Your Life process created by Bill Burnett & Dave Evans can help you make your life in retirement a great one — on your own terms. About Your Podcast Host Joe Casey is an executive coach who helps people design their next life after their primary career and create their version of The Multipurpose Retirement.™ He created his own next chapter after a 26-year career at Merrill Lynch, where he was Senior Vice President and Head of HR for Global Markets & Investment Banking. Joe has earned Master’s degrees from the University of Southern California in Gerontology (at age 60), the University of Pennsylvania, and Middlesex University (UK), a BA in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and his coaching certification from Columbia University. In addition to his work with clients, Joe hosts The Retirement Wisdom Podcast, ranked in the top 1% globally in popularity by Listen Notes, with over 1.6 million downloads. Business Insider recognized Joe as one of 23 innovative coaches who are making a difference. He’s the author of Win the Retirement Game: How to Outsmart the 9 Forces Trying to Steal Your Joy. ___________________________ Wise Quotes On Mindset & Joy “And I even quote Dr. Seuss that It’s fun to have fun, but you have to know how. And so we really do have to return to that childlike state, when we can remember what it felt like not to have a lot of obligations. So that’s what I think of joy as and also the mindset issue that we talked about, Joe, that it’s so important not to assume that from here on out, it’s just downhill. And that can add years to our lives.” On Mindfulness Practices “I’m going to start by just telling you what the science says are the primary benefits of these practices. I mean the first thing is reducing stress, that’s kind of the entry point for most people. It does calm us, but it also improves brain function. So reduces stress, improves the brain. Second one, increases productivity, so you can get more work done in less time, and who doesn’t want that. And then finally, it helps us learn more about ourselves, and as a result, find more meaning and purpose in our lives. And I’ve benefited from all of these things. I am very Type A by nature and have really learned the hard way that you can miss a lot of stuff when all you do is work. I just felt like something had to change, like a lot of other lawyers and other professionals who just work all the time. So these practices literally changed my life. I mean, they even helped me change my professional life to something that was more suited to what really was important to me. And it’s just been amazing.” On Retirement “Step out of the fast lane and into the vast lane.” _________________________    

Design Your Next Chapter  Joe Tarantino joins us to share his retirement journey – going from balancing family and work responsibilities to embarking on an ambitious cycling goal.  A lifelong learner, Joe opens up about how setting a personal moonshot goal helped him transition into retirement with purpose. He wrote a book chronicling his cycling experiences. He offers candid insights on caregiving, identity shifts, and why it’s essential to replace the structure and social interactions that work once provided. Joe Tarantino joins us from Ohio. _________________________ Bio Joe Tarantino has cycled through all 50 U.S. states, crisscrossing a vast network of roads and trails. With 25 marathons and other endurance events under his belt, he retired from a successful 35-year career in the aerospace industry as a chemist, engineer, and operations manager, in response to God’s call to a different direction in his otherwise comfortable life. While pursuing his cycling, he seeks to inspire others to chase their dreams through his writing. __________________________ For More on Joe Tarantino Pale Pink Roads __________________________ Podcast Conversations You May Like Unlock Positive Aging with Outdoor Adventure – Caroline Paul Not Too Late – Gwendolyn Bounds The Benefits of a New Challenge – Joe Simonetta Big Goals – Caroline Adams Miller ___________________________ About The Retirement Wisdom Podcast There are many podcasts on retirement, often hosted by financial advisors with their own financial motives, that cover the money side of the street. This podcast is different. You’ll get smarter about the investment decisions you’ll make about the most important asset you’ll have in retirement: your time. About Retirement Wisdom I help people who are retiring, but aren’t quite done yet, discover what’s next and build their custom version of their next life. A meaningful retirement doesn’t just happen by accident. Schedule a call today to discuss how the Designing Your Life process created by Bill Burnett & Dave Evans can help you make your life in retirement a great one — on your own terms. About Your Podcast Host Joe Casey is an executive coach who helps people design their next life after their primary career and create their version of The Multipurpose Retirement.™ He created his own next chapter after a 26-year career at Merrill Lynch, where he was Senior Vice President and Head of HR for Global Markets & Investment Banking. Joe has earned Master’s degrees from the University of Southern California in Gerontology (at age 60), the University of Pennsylvania, and Middlesex University (UK), a BA in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and his coaching certification from Columbia University. In addition to his work with clients, Joe hosts The Retirement Wisdom Podcast, ranked in the top 1% globally in popularity by Listen Notes, with over 1.6 million downloads. Business Insider recognized Joe as one of 23 innovative coaches who are making a difference. He’s the author of Win the Retirement Game: How to Outsmart the 9 Forces Trying to Steal Your Joy. _______________________ Wise Quotes On the Challenge of Early Retirement “You leave the work site, and you just don’t have the social interaction that you used to.” On Finding Purpose “Don’t settle for all these good things when there’s something great you could be going after. You’ve got all this open time. Make sure it’s spent doing good stuff, even great stuff.” ________________________ The views and opinions expressed by guests on The Retirement Wisdom Podcast are solely those of the guests and do not reflect the opinion of the host or Retirement Wisdom, LLC. The Retirement Wisdom Podcast primarily covers the non-financial aspects of retirement. From time to time we may invite guests who discuss other aspects of retirement planning, solely for educational purposes. Listeners are advised to consult qualified financial and/or medical professionals on those matters.  

Own your retirement. Design It. Join us for 6 Fridays starting on October 3rd and get unstuck. Registration is open for the next two Design Your New Life in Retirement Groups. The Very Early Bird discount ends on 7/31. Learn more here. _________________________ On this episode of The Retirement Wisdom Podcast, we explore the transformative mindset that can reshape retirement from a winding-down phase into a period of renewal and growth. Cyn Meyer unpacks why purpose and energy—not just finances—should drive your post-career life, sharing the Rewire Retirement Method and the neuroscience behind deliberate reinvention. What You’ll Learn Cyn’s backstory that led her to get involved in the retirement space Why your retirement can be a spiral upward, not a slow fade down How her Five Rings of Retirement redefine life after work The science of neuroplasticity and how it supports intentional change How tuning into your inner energy can spur you forward How daily gratitude practices, especially with your partner, can deepen connection Cyn Meyer joins us from California. _______________________ Bio Cyn Meyer is the creator of the Rewire My Retirement program and is a modern certified life coach committed to helping older adults turn their retirement years into their best years, full of purpose and passion. She founded Second Wind Movement in 2018 as a valuable resource dedicated to older adults who are striving for healthy, active, and engaged retirement lives. _______________________ For More on Cyn Meyer The Rewire Retirement Method _______________________ Podcast Episodes You May Like The New Happy – Stephanie Harrison Retiring: Creating a Life That Works for You – Teresa Amabile Growing Old, Staying Rad – Steven Kotler _______________________ About The Retirement Wisdom Podcast There are many podcasts on retirement, often hosted by financial advisors with their own financial motives, that cover the money side of the street. This podcast is different. You’ll get smarter about the investment decisions you’ll make about the most important asset you’ll have in retirement: your time. About Retirement Wisdom I help people who are retiring, but aren’t quite done yet, discover what’s next and build their custom version of their next life. A meaningful retirement doesn’t just happen by accident. Schedule a call today to discuss how the Designing Your Life process created by Bill Burnett & Dave Evans can help you make your life in retirement a great one — on your own terms. About Your Podcast Host Joe Casey is an executive coach who helps people design their next life after their primary career and create their version of The Multipurpose Retirement.™ He created his own next chapter after a 26-year career at Merrill Lynch, where he was Senior Vice President and Head of HR for Global Markets & Investment Banking. Joe has earned Master’s degrees from the University of Southern California in Gerontology (at age 60), the University of Pennsylvania, and Middlesex University (UK), a BA in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and his coaching certification from Columbia University. In addition to his work with clients, Joe hosts The Retirement Wisdom Podcast, ranked in the top 1% globally in popularity by Listen Notes, with over 1.6 million downloads. Business Insider recognized Joe as one of 23 innovative coaches who are making a difference. He’s the author of Win the Retirement Game: How to Outsmart the 9 Forces Trying to Steal Your Joy. _______________________ Wise Quotes On Gratitude “When we are in a state of gratitude, fear is obliterated, right? They are polar opposites. The fear cannot exist while you’re in a state of gratitude.  I always say you have your own passions, purpose, and growth path in retirement. Your spouse has theirs, and then you have your couple’s activities together, right? And so sometimes things get intermingled and very challenging. And we feel that we don’t have control over our spousal dynamic, right? Because we have ours, they have theirs, and then, but we’re sharing life together. And so I highly recommend Gratitude Journaling , but gratitude, gratitude journaling about your spouse specifically, because that really changes the dynamic. And you really end up focusing on, you know, the wonderful aspects about them, and it really obliterates the annoyances while you’re in that state. So if we like literally put in our reps and practice that, it changes the dynamic in addition to you doing your own work on your own growth path. That just makes it more seamless I have found.” On Retirement “Retirement is not the end—it’s the beginning of a new growth journey.” On Energy “What energizes you are your authentic wants; what drains you are the external ‘shoulds.’” On Identity “You may leave the workforce, but your uniqueness has never left you.”    

What’s next? Design it. The Very Early Bird discount ends today 7/31. Get unstuck. Learn more here. Register here. ___________________________ What if you stepped out of your comfort zone? Lee Gale Gruen shares her inspiring journey from 37 years as a probation officer to becoming an actor, author, lecturer, dancer, and a Physics Club member in retirement. Initially lost after retiring, she stumbled upon a senior acting class that changed everything—helping her find a new identity, connection, and new pursuits. Her story offers the template for a roadmap for retirees who may be struggling to find purpose by stepping up to try new things, overcoming fear, and staying curious. Because let’s face it,  retirement is not the end of the line — it’s an opportunity to reinvent yourself. You’ll Learn: What it’s like to be a docent How volunteering can unlock new purpose The importance of trying new (and returning to old) interests What to do when fear holds you back How to find opportunities using local resources Lee Gale Gruen joins us from California. __________________________ Bio Lee Gale Gruen (Lee Gale is her first name) lives in the East San Francisco Bay area. She has two children and three grandchildren. She graduated from UCLA and had a 37-year career as a probation officer. After retiring, she became an actress, author, speaker, and blogger. She has appeared in television, films, commercials, theater, and print. She performs regularly at medical schools, portraying patients for student training, and was one of six supporting exercise/dancers in the  Jane Fonda Prime Time Firm & Burn” workout DVD. Her transition to becoming an actress in her senior years has been written about in Time Magazine, the Los Angeles Times newspaper, AARP Life Reimagined, and in Marlo Thomas’ book, which profiles women who have reinvented themselves. Lee Gale has had several articles and short stories published, including in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. She is also a public speaker, lecturing on senior reinvention. She has published a memoir as well as a self-help book that complements her public lectures on senior reinvention. She has written a screenplay of her memoir titled the same as the book: “Adventures with Dad.” Lee Gale blogs at LeeGaleGruen.wordpress.com under the same title as her lecture and self-help book, “Reinventing Yourself in Your Retirement Years.” _____________________________ For More on Lee Gale Gruen Reinventing Yourself and Your Retirement Years: Find Joy, Excitement, and Purpose After You Retire Website ______________________________ Podcast Episodes You May Like The Second Fifty – Debra Whitman Make Your Next Years Your Best Years – Harry Agress, MD Retirement Rookies – Stephen & Karen Kreider Yoder _______________________________ About The Retirement Wisdom Podcast There are many podcasts on retirement, often hosted by financial advisors with their own financial motives, that cover the money side of the street. This podcast is different. You’ll get smarter about the investment decisions you’ll make about the most important asset you’ll have in retirement: your time. About Retirement Wisdom I help people who are retiring, but aren’t quite done yet, discover what’s next and build their custom version of their next life. A meaningful retirement doesn’t just happen by accident. Schedule a call today to discuss how the Designing Your Life process created by Bill Burnett & Dave Evans can help you make your life in retirement a great one — on your own terms. About Your Podcast Host Joe Casey is an executive coach who helps people design their next life after their primary career and create their version of The Multipurpose Retirement.™ He created his own next chapter after a 26-year career at Merrill Lynch, where he was Senior Vice President and Head of HR for Global Markets & Investment Banking. Joe has earned Master’s degrees from the University of Southern California in Gerontology (at age 60), the University of Pennsylvania, and Middlesex University (UK), a BA in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and his coaching certification from Columbia University. In addition to his work with clients, Joe hosts The Retirement Wisdom Podcast, ranked in the top 1% globally in popularity by Listen Notes, with over 1.6 million downloads. Business Insider recognized Joe as one of 23 innovative coaches who are making a difference. He’s the author of Win the Retirement Game: How to Outsmart the 9 Forces Trying to Steal Your Joy. __________________________ Wise Quotes On Finding a New Direction “Find something that excites you, that sets you on fire. That will motivate you.” On Stepping Outside Your Comfort Zone “Try something you’ve never done before. You may discover a whole new world that you never knew about…I had no idea. I stumbled my way through and I discovered all kinds of things. And I hope some of the things that I’ve said today will. help people and encourage people to take that giant step. It’s not a wilderness, it’s full of opportunities.” ___________________________  

Are you ready to unlock a great life in retirement — or are you stuck in neutral? Registration is open for the next two Design Your New Life in Retirement Groups. The Very Early Bird discount ends on 7/31. Get unstuck. Learn more here. Register here. ___________________________ It turns out that one of the hardest habits to break in retirement isn’t work — it’s saving. Richard Sheffield joins us to share his deeply personal and sometimes humorous story of transitioning from a performance-driven corporate career to a more intentional and enjoyable life in retirement. A former executive at UPS, and author of Spend Your Damn Retirement Money!: Beat the Spending Fear to Find Your Dream Retirement, Richard opens up about his struggle to shift from a lifelong saver’s mindset to embracing enjoying the money he worked so hard to accumulate. He discusses how outdated retirement plans, old success signals, and societal expectations can lead us astray, even long after we’ve walked away from work. But through self-reflection, rewriting his financial plan, and reconnecting with what brings him joy, Richard found the freedom to spend boldly, live fully, and say yes more often. You’ll discover: Why many retirement plans need to be reviewed periodically – and sometimes reworked The emotional blocks that prevent smart people from moving from accumulating to spending Why your intentional spending matters more in retirement The surprising benefits of getting creative with how you spend Why it can be wise to give now, not just later Richard Sheffield joins us from Miami. ________________________________ Bio Richard Sheffield is a former executive and writer who shares thoughtful essays on retirement, identity, and personal reinvention. After a long career in the corporate world, Richard turned to writing as a way to make sense of his experience — and to help others navigate their own journeys into retirement. He’s a popular contributor on Medium, where his honest takes on life after work resonate with thousands of readers. Now fully embracing a bigger, bolder, and more intentional approach to life, Richard writes about finding meaning beyond metrics and spending in ways that spark joy. ________________________ For More on Richard Sheffield Richard Sheffield on Medium Spend Your Damn Retirement Money!: Beat the Spending Fear to Find Your Dream Retirement __________________________ Podcast Episodes You May Like How to Retire – Christine Benz Unretired – Mark S. Walton Your Next Years Your Best Years – Harry Agress, MD ____________________________ About The Retirement Wisdom Podcast There are many podcasts on retirement, often hosted by financial advisors with their own financial motives, that cover the money side of the street. This podcast is different. You’ll get smarter about the investment decisions you’ll make about the most important asset you’ll have in retirement: your time. About Retirement Wisdom I help people who are retiring, but aren’t quite done yet, discover what’s next and build their custom version of their next life. A meaningful retirement doesn’t just happen by accident. Schedule a call today to discuss how the Designing Your Life process created by Bill Burnett & Dave Evans can help you make your life in retirement a great one — on your own terms. About Your Podcast Host Joe Casey is an executive coach who helps people design their next life after their primary career and create their version of The Multipurpose Retirement.™ He created his own next chapter after a 26-year career at Merrill Lynch, where he was Senior Vice President and Head of HR for Global Markets & Investment Banking. Joe has earned Master’s degrees from the University of Southern California in Gerontology (at age 60), the University of Pennsylvania, and Middlesex University (UK), a BA in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and his coaching certification from Columbia University. In addition to his work with clients, Joe hosts The Retirement Wisdom Podcast, ranked in the top 1% globally in popularity by Listen Notes, with over 1.6 million downloads. Business Insider recognized Joe as one of 23 innovative coaches who are making a difference. He’s the author of Win the Retirement Game: How to Outsmart the 9 Forces Trying to Steal Your Joy. __________________________ Wise Quotes On Rewriting Your Retirement Plan “I was watching my net worth go up and patting myself on the back — but I realized I was living the wrong plan. It was time to update it. None of the bad things happened. Why was I still playing defense?” On Breaking the Productivity Trap “You have to find a way to break that productivity cycle. Your worth isn’t tied to being useful anymore. Sometimes, it’s okay to just have a day where you don’t do anything.” On Giving While You’re Alive “If someone’s going to spend that money on something dumb, it might as well be you — and it might as well be fun.” _______________________ The views and opinions expressed by guests on The Retirement Wisdom Podcast are solely those of the guests and do not reflect the opinion of the host or Retirement Wisdom, LLC. The Retirement Wisdom Podcast primarily covers the non-financial aspects of retirement. From time to time we may invite guests who discuss other aspects of retirement planning, solely for educational purposes. Listeners are advised to consult qualified financial and/or medical professionals on those matters.

What’s next? Make time to design it. Early registration is now open for our next Design Your New Life in Retirement group program. The Very Early Bird discount ends on July 31st. Learn more here. Register here. __________________________ What comes after a long, successful career at the top of your field? More and more, people are redefining retirement—saying No Thanks to a traditional retirement and instead exploring new pursuits. And for some, it’s a chance to dive into something they’ve always yearned to do. In today’s conversation, meet Neal Lipschutz. Stepping away from a distinguished career, he discovered a surprising new purpose—writing fiction. With his debut novel No Write Way to Die just released, Neal shares the lessons he’s learning in a second act. What might your second act look like? Like Neal, you may discover a path that draws on your skills in a new way- and brings unexpected joy. Neal Lipschutz joins us from Ridgewood, New Jersey. _________________________ Bio Neal Lipschutz, a long-time journalist, was formerly a deputy editor-in-chief at The Wall Street Journal. He also previously served as WSJ’s ethics and standards editor. He also at one time was the top editor at Dow Jones Newswires. His short fiction has appeared in a number of publications. “No Write Way to Die” is his first novel and the first in a series of mysteries. _________________________ For More on Neal Lipschutz No Write Way to Die “This debut thriller from award-winning journalist Neal Lipschutz, former deputy editor in chief of the Wall Street Journal, combines a gripping, good old-fashioned murder mystery with the ethical consideration of just how far a person should go to protect their family.” From Headlines to Whodunits ________________________ Podcast Conversations You May Like The Vintage Years – Dr. Francine Toder Edit Your Life – Elisabeth Sharp McKetta Retiring: Creating a Life That Works for You – Teresa Amabile _______________________ About The Retirement Wisdom Podcast There are many podcasts on retirement, often hosted by financial advisors with their own financial motives, that cover the money side of the street. This podcast is different. You’ll get smarter about the investment decisions you’ll make about the most important asset you’ll have in retirement: your time. About Retirement Wisdom I help people who are retiring, but aren’t quite done yet, discover what’s next and build their custom version of their next life. A meaningful retirement doesn’t just happen by accident. Schedule a call today to discuss how The Designing Your Life process created by Bill Burnett & Dave Evans can help you make your life in retirement a great one – on your own terms. About Your Podcast Host Joe Casey is an executive coach who also helps people design their next life after their primary career and create their version of The Multipurpose Retirement.™ He created his own next chapter after a twenty-six-year career at Merrill Lynch, where he was Senior Vice President and Head of HR for Global Markets & Investment Banking. Today, in addition to his work with clients, Joe hosts The Retirement Wisdom Podcast, which thanks to his guests and loyal listeners, ranks in the top 1 % globally in popularity by Listen Notes, with over 1.6 million downloads. Business Insider has recognized Joe as one of 23 innovative coaches who are making a difference. He’s the author of Win the Retirement Game: How to Outsmart the 9 Forces Trying to Steal Your Joy. _______________________ Wise Quotes On the Transition to Retirement “The transition – it’s a big one. One of the things I really liked about my plan to go directly from a full-time work in journalism for a big company to being on my own and trying something that no one was asking me to do, was that I didn’t know I would be devoted to the process. And I knew that I would be devoting every day that wasn’t taken up with something else to doing this. So in other words, I believe that for a lot of people contemplating or just entering retirement, at least it would be for me, but I imagine for others as well, there’s that uncertainty about, Okay, I know what I’m doing tomorrow, but what about the next day? What about the next day? And for me, that problem was solved. On any given day, if I don’t have anything else planned, I’m putting in five or six hours of writing or editing or revising, or now trying to do some promotional work for the book now that it’s published. So it’s not that elongated day, but it is a different kind of work too. And as I said, to me at least, there’s some comfort in knowing what I’ll be doing tomorrow and that it’s something I’m looking forward to doing.” On Taking on a Different Kind of Work “I know that there is no traditional retirement, but one thinks of the sort of old fashioned notion of a traditional retirement of going from working full time to a period of time that are almost entirely made up of leisure type pursuits. I knew that wasn’t for me, at least not now. So I thought that looking at it as going from one type of work to another type of work was meaningful for me and I think helped in the transition. Obviously, going from an important role at a big news organization to something where I’m pretty much on my own with a laptop, where I said not exactly anybody cares in a sense if I work that day or don’t work that day. But knowing that it’s something I wanted to do for a long time and saying it’s not “retirement.” It’s switching from having worked a certain way for decades to a different kind of work in a different setting.” On a Second Act “The first thing I would say is absolutely go for it…people are generally living longer and hopefully healthier. So, if you’ve got the wherewithal and you can do it, I think a second act different from what you did much of your career is really worth pursuing. I think whatever it is, whatever you choose, whatever makes sense to you, I think could be extremely rewarding…if there are skill sets that you develop in the working world that with maybe a little bit or maybe a big twist can serve you in that second act, it seems to me that’s a kind of a step up, right?”

What’s next for you? Early registration is now open for our next Design Your New Life in Retirement group program. Join us. The Very Early Bird discount ends on July 31st. Learn more here. Register here. ________________________ Retirement is about so much more than money. But where do you begin to build the life you want after you leave full-time work? Here’s what we’ve discussed with our interesting expert guests: The critical choice you’ll want to make – now – about the years ahead Why retirement is really about creating a new life structure How to use retirement as a catalyst to edit your life The four steps in a reinvention roadmap Why happiness requires knowledge and skill What longitudinal research reveals as the keys to a long and satisfying life How creating a Portfolio Life can open up new possibilities in retirement How your beliefs can affect your longevity __________________________ Want to explore any of these ideas further? Dive into any of the full podcast conversations here: Cynthia Covey Haller Teresa Amabile Elisabeth Sharp McKetta Joanne Lipman Arthur C. Brooks Marc Schulz Christina Wallace Becca Levy ________________________ Explore our Best Books on Retirement __________________ About The Retirement Wisdom Podcast There are many podcasts on retirement, often hosted by financial advisors with their own financial motives, that cover the money side of the street. This podcast is different. You’ll get smarter about the investment decisions you’ll make about the most important asset you’ll have in retirement: your time. About Retirement Wisdom I help people who are retiring, but aren’t quite done yet, discover what’s next and build their custom version of their next life. A meaningful retirement doesn’t just happen by accident. Schedule a call today to discuss how The Designing Your Life process created by Bill Burnett & Dave Evans can help you make your life in retirement a great one – on your own terms. About Your Podcast Host Joe Casey is an executive coach who also helps people design their next life after their primary career and create their version of The Multipurpose Retirement.™ He created his own next chapter after a twenty-six-year career at Merrill Lynch, where he was Senior Vice President and Head of HR for Global Markets & Investment Banking. Today, in addition to his work with clients, Joe hosts The Retirement Wisdom Podcast, which thanks to his guests and loyal listeners, ranks in the top 1 % globally in popularity by Listen Notes, with over 1.6 million downloads. Business Insider has recognized Joe as one of 23 innovative coaches who are making a difference. He’s the author of Win the Retirement Game: How to Outsmart the 9 Forces Trying to Steal Your Joy. ______________________ Wise Quotes On Reinvention  “One of the ways to start actually, and I just wrote a piece in The New York Times about this [is] the idea of thinking about your possible selves. Now that’s a psychological term, but essentially what it means is to imagine what you might be, what you could be, and to go beyond the daydream to take some sort of action on possible selves. So that means if, let’s say I’m pivoting in a career, take a course or shadow someone, or do an informational interview. Don’t just like sit with it and cogitate. You’ve got to  get out of your own brain.” – Joanne Lipman On Purpose & Meaning “Purpose or meaning actually requires challenge and trauma and hardship and pain – and actually requires unhappiness paradoxically. So these are kind of complicated phenomena, but altogether, everybody can get better at getting happy if you’ve got the knowledge and skills.” – Arthur Brooks On Relationships “The finding that we talk about most in our book, The Good Life, is that it’s very clear across this 86 years of research, and hundreds of papers, that the most important predictor of health and happiness throughout the lifespan is the quality of our relationships with others. How connected we are, how much we can rely on other support, and how much we’re able to do that are really key predictors of how happy we’ll be and how healthy we will be. And it’s all kinds of relationships. It’s not just the person who you may have been lucky enough to spend a good portion of your time with. So it’s not just our marital partners or our intimate partners, it’s friends, neighbors, people we work with, people in our communities, it’s all types of relationships that matter.” – Marc Schulz On Creating a Portfolio Life “And so it can be hard in that transition because not only have you lost the routine of what do I do with my day, you’ve also lost the community of here’s who I talk to on a regular basis – and then you’ve lost this identity. How do I describe myself? Who am I when I get out of bed? And as terrifying as it is to go through that transition and losing all three things at the same time, it’s a huge opportunity because for so many people at that cusp of retirement, they’re thinking, I’m not dead yet. I’ve got a whole life ahead of me. I still have something to offer. And, very likely, I saw a lot of things I’m really curious about that I haven’t had space for. So rather than replacing one thing for another, the opportunity here is to really think about your portfolio, literally like your financial portfolio, and you map out what do I need for this chapter? Do I need a community that will challenge me and push me to grow? Do I need that community to be in person versus one that might be online or over zoom? So you start mapping out what you need. And honestly, a lot of times you don’t know what you need until you don’t have it. So sitting in that really awkwardness of those first few weeks or months and saying, oh, I hate this. Why? What are you missing? And then after you map out what you need, you have that same opportunity to say, okay, well what do I want? What comes next? What are the things that I am interested in or parts of my Venn diagram that I haven’t been able to make use of in a while? And then you just sort of, it’s a little bit like a mashup, a mix tape.” – Christina Wallace

Who will you become in your retirement? Registration is now open for the next two Design Your New Life in Retirement Groups. Very Early Bird discount available for a limited time. Take the first step toward Future You today. ________________________ Retirement is not an end — it’s an open canvas. In this episode, Harry Agress, MD, author of Next Years Best Years: Taking Your Retirement to the Next Level, joins us to explore how retirement can become one of the most dynamic, creative, and fulfilling phases of your life. A retired radiologist and passionate photographer, Dr. Agress shares lessons from his own retirement journey — from trying an improv class with 20-somethings to donating his art to hospitals — and offers you practical insights to help you shape a retirement that’s vibrant, purpose-driven, and truly your own. You’ll discover: How self-reflection and worksheets helped Dr. Agress navigate the transition into retirement Why embracing “The Four Freedoms” can unlock a new mindset The surprising benefits of trying new things — even improv! A simple but powerful idea: the 8-minute phone call that can rekindle relationships Why pursuing purpose — especially in service to others — fuels a more meaningful retirement Whether you’re preparing for retirement or already in it, Dr. Agress offers a compelling vision of how to make your next chapter the best one yet. Harry Agress, MD joins us from New York. ____________________________ Bio – Harry Agress, MD Following a 36-year medical career in the field of Radiology, Dr. Agress has been retired for 10 years. He is an experienced teacher and nationally recognized lecturer who takes great joy in passing on what he has learned and experienced both in medicine and in retirement. He has been profiled in The Wall Street Journal, appeared on NBC’s “The Today Show,” lectured at the 92nd St Y (NYC) and been featured and America’s Top Doctors. He is a Clinical Professor at Columbia University (NYC) and continues to voluntarily teach medical residents both at Columbia and Weill Cornell Medical Centers. In his new book, Next Years Best Years, Taking Your Retirement to the Next Level, Dr. Agress dives into the many exploits and research that he and others have discovered as they create a new post-career way of living; embracing the emotional, personal and practical side of one of the most unique opportunities of our lives. _______________________ For More on Harry Agress, MD: Next Years Best Years: Taking Your Retirement to the Next Level A Retired Physician Pursues a New Self Portrait in Photography Q&A with photographer Dr. Harry Agress _______________________ Related Podcast Episodes You May Like: The Vintage Years – Dr. Francine Toder Independence Day – Steve Lopez Retiring: Creating a Life That Works for You – Teresa Amabile ________________________ About The Retirement Wisdom Podcast There are many podcasts on retirement, often hosted by financial advisors with their own financial motives, that cover the money side of the street. This podcast is different. You’ll get smarter about the investment decisions you’ll make about the most important asset you’ll have in retirement: your time. About Retirement Wisdom I help people who are retiring, but aren’t quite done yet, discover what’s next and build their custom version of their next life. A meaningful retirement doesn’t just happen by accident. Schedule a call today to discuss how The Designing Your Life process created by Bill Burnett & Dave Evans can help you make your life in retirement a great one – on your own terms. About Your Podcast Host Joe Casey is an executive coach who also helps people design their next life after their primary career and create their version of The Multipurpose Retirement.™ He created his own next chapter after a twenty-six-year career at Merrill Lynch, where he was Senior Vice President and Head of HR for Global Markets & Investment Banking. Today, in addition to his work with clients, Joe hosts The Retirement Wisdom Podcast, which thanks to his guests and loyal listeners, ranks in the top 1 % globally in popularity by Listen Notes, with over 1.6 million downloads. Business Insider has recognized Joe as one of 23 innovative coaches who are making a difference. He’s the author of Win the Retirement Game: How to Outsmart the 9 Forces Trying to Steal Your Joy. _________________________ Wise Quotes On the Transition to Retirement “It is not a particularly simple transition unless you’ve worked on a lot of these issues before you retired, which I highly recommend. It is a time when actually it is a combination of being very happy, stress is down and everything else. But there’s a grieving process that I think a lot of people have to go through. And you just have to sort of accept it for a while that you have lost something. You have lost your career. You’ve lost some of your friendships on a daily basis and there are ways to to move on past that.” On The Four Freedoms of Retirement “One of the things that does make it easier is what I like to call The Four Freedoms, which is basically taking charge of your fears and anxieties about this new stage in your life and transferring it into freedoms. One of the  the first one is fear of failure – and we don’t have to worry about this anymore! We’re not at work anymore. You can go try all kinds of things. I decided I wanted to try improv. I did it with a group where I was three times older than the average kid in this thing and you know it was intimidating for a little bit, but I really wanted to try it. And it turned out to be fine. But at the end when they’re all signing up for the next semester. I’m out of there and I thought I liked it, I felt good I tried it. One of the good things about improv is you don’t have to memorize lines and then and one of the big points is nobody else cares you know at this stage of our life no one cares if you don’t sing well no one cares. If you don’t write well and you just have this amazing freedom where failure just does not exist. Nobody cares so do  things that you always wanted to. I think this is another great freedom – at this time you don’t have to worry about what other people think.” On Self-Reflection “One of the things you can do to help this along is think about the things you did in childhood that you really loved. And think about the things, what would you have done if you hadn’t done your career? Because the other big point I’d like to make is that this is a very dynamic process that can last for 25% of your life. This can go on for 20 or more years. So it’s not like, boom, this is just a one-time event. You’re gonna change, and I certainly did, in and out of the time that goes by in retirement. So I think it’s always a good idea to refresh, no matter what stage you’re at.”