Don't Retire...Graduate!
Eric Brotman
Don’t Retire… Graduate! is the podcast that invites you to rethink what retirement really means. Hosted by Certified Financial Planner Practitioner Eric Brotman, we’re here to guide you in transforming the traditional concept of retirement into an exciting and enriching graduation—a time to embark on new adventures, embrace lifelong passions, and define what success and happiness look like in this new chapter of life.
Retirement isn’t just about stepping away from a career; it’s about stepping into a life filled with purpose, joy, and fulfillment. Whether you're on the brink of retirement or just starting to think about it, this podcast will help you discover what it takes to not just survive, but thrive in your post-career years. We’ll explore how to live a fun, productive, and meaningful life by setting new goals, pursuing passions that light you up, and building a legacy that truly reflects who you are.
Each episode features in-depth conversations with a diverse range of guests—from award-winning authors and financial experts to influencers and everyday people with remarkable money stories. Together, we’ll uncover strategies for reaching financial independence, managing your wealth, and making informed decisions that support your dreams. You’ll learn practical tips on everything from saving money and paying down debt to raising financially literate children and growing your wealth at any age.
From personal finance and investing to retirement readiness, taxes, and more, we’re here to provide the knowledge and tools you need to confidently step into this exciting new phase of life. Topics include everything from budgeting, credit, and debt to health savings accounts, insurance, social security, the FIRE movement, and the latest in fintech and finance apps.
But we don’t stop at finances. Don’t Retire… Graduate! also dives deep into the emotional and psychological aspects of retirement. We’ll discuss how to maintain your mental and physical health, nurture relationships, and stay connected to your community. You’ll gain insights on how to design a lifestyle that keeps you engaged, curious, and excited about the future.
Our mission is to help you figure out what you want to be when you grow up—even if you’re already grown. We believe that work should become optional, not just because you've reached a certain age, but because you’ve achieved the freedom to choose how you spend your time and energy. Whether it’s volunteering, starting a new hobby, traveling the world, or launching a second career, this podcast is your guide to creating a retirement that’s anything but retiring.
In addition to full episodes, we offer bonus content every other week where you get to meet the team of financial advisors at BFG Financial Advisors and hear their real stories from the frontlines of financial planning.
Retirement is not the absence of work, but the absence of needing to work. So why not graduate into a life of purpose, passion, and financial freedom? Tune in to Don’t Retire… Graduate! and let’s make your retirement the best years of your life.
Retirement isn’t just about stepping away from a career; it’s about stepping into a life filled with purpose, joy, and fulfillment. Whether you're on the brink of retirement or just starting to think about it, this podcast will help you discover what it takes to not just survive, but thrive in your post-career years. We’ll explore how to live a fun, productive, and meaningful life by setting new goals, pursuing passions that light you up, and building a legacy that truly reflects who you are.
Each episode features in-depth conversations with a diverse range of guests—from award-winning authors and financial experts to influencers and everyday people with remarkable money stories. Together, we’ll uncover strategies for reaching financial independence, managing your wealth, and making informed decisions that support your dreams. You’ll learn practical tips on everything from saving money and paying down debt to raising financially literate children and growing your wealth at any age.
From personal finance and investing to retirement readiness, taxes, and more, we’re here to provide the knowledge and tools you need to confidently step into this exciting new phase of life. Topics include everything from budgeting, credit, and debt to health savings accounts, insurance, social security, the FIRE movement, and the latest in fintech and finance apps.
But we don’t stop at finances. Don’t Retire… Graduate! also dives deep into the emotional and psychological aspects of retirement. We’ll discuss how to maintain your mental and physical health, nurture relationships, and stay connected to your community. You’ll gain insights on how to design a lifestyle that keeps you engaged, curious, and excited about the future.
Our mission is to help you figure out what you want to be when you grow up—even if you’re already grown. We believe that work should become optional, not just because you've reached a certain age, but because you’ve achieved the freedom to choose how you spend your time and energy. Whether it’s volunteering, starting a new hobby, traveling the world, or launching a second career, this podcast is your guide to creating a retirement that’s anything but retiring.
In addition to full episodes, we offer bonus content every other week where you get to meet the team of financial advisors at BFG Financial Advisors and hear their real stories from the frontlines of financial planning.
Retirement is not the absence of work, but the absence of needing to work. So why not graduate into a life of purpose, passion, and financial freedom? Tune in to Don’t Retire… Graduate! and let’s make your retirement the best years of your life.
Episodes
Mentioned books
May 12, 2022 • 8min
Lump Sum or Annual Payments? How Lottery Winners Should Claim their Fortune
In today’s Office Hours, Eric answers Mark's question: "if you won the lottery and had the option of $30 million upfront or a million dollars a year for 30 years, which is actually the better option?" Unfortunately this is not a circumstance many of us will see ourselves in, but let's talk about it anyway. What are the realities of winning the lottery? Have a question? Tweet it to us at @BrotmanPlanning or post it on our Facebook and it may be used in a future episode of Office Hours! Visit dontretiregraduate.com for a full transcript of this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 5, 2022 • 34min
One Good Thing: Gamifying Your Budget, Playing Financial Tetris, and Learning to Laugh at Money with Emily Guy Birken
Welcome back to Don’t Retire... Graduate! We have a very fun episode today and couldn’t be more excited to have Emily Guy Birken here. She is a lifelong money nerd, award-winning writer, and the co-author of STACKED: Your Super Serious Guide to Modern Money Management, written with longtime DRG friend, Joe Saul-Sehy. Emily joined us to talk about how to look at your money like a game of Tetris, the way gamification can be a powerful tool for change, and, of course, to set the record for the number of times “hemorrhoid” has ever been said on this show. In this episode we’ll talk about: • Emily’s goals for every day • How to see your finances as a Tetris game and use it to help with budgeting • How an emergency fund is the Easy Spin of budgeting • Taking control of your money rather than seeing it as something out of your control • Gamification of money and when it is good versus when it can be harmful • The mental activation that comes with gamification and identifying what behavior is being rewarded • Hiring an advisor who won’t bleed you dry and the three questions you should ask a financial advisor • How to know if your advisor is actively doing the work to help you meet your goals and recognize your money values • Why you want an advisor who works with people similar to you • Paying attention to professional designations and understanding the regulations and standards that come with them • Why a CFP (Certified Financial Planner) is the gold standard of financial advisors • Understanding what an advisor does for his/her clients • Who the perfect Stacked reader is • Emily’s retirement readiness checklist and the things you should be thinking about to be ready to retire • Identifying one good thing everyday No Stacking Benjamins hosts were harmed in the making of this episode. Visit dontretiregraduate.com for a full transcript of this episode. Download Emily's Retirement Readiness Checklist at emilyguybirken.com/DRG About Emily Guy Birken Emily Guy Birken is a former educator, lifelong money nerd, and a Plutus Award-winning freelance writer who specializes in the scientific research behind irrational money behaviors. Her background in education allows her to make complex financial topics relatable and easily understood by the layperson. She is the author of several books, including The 5 Years Before You Retire, End Financial Stress Now, and the brand new book Stacked: Your Super Serious Guide to Modern Money Management, written with Joe Saul-Sehy. Emily lives in Milwaukee with her family. www.emilyguybirken.com Facebook: Emily Guy Birken Twitter: @EmilyGuyBirken Instagram: @EmilyGuyBirken LinkedIn: Emily Guy Birken Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 28, 2022 • 6min
Employee Benefit Options You Need to Stop Ignoring
In today’s Office Hours, Eric answers Felix's question: what is the most valuable employee benefit I should take advantage of? This is a great question and the answer varies by person, but there are a few employee benefit options that most people underutilize and even ignore. Find a full transcript of this episode at dontretiregraduate.com. Have a question? Tweet it to us at @BrotmanPlanning or post it on our Facebook and it may be used in a future episode of Office Hours! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 21, 2022 • 32min
FIRE Success Story: Taking the Trip of a Lifestyle at Age 29
Welcome back to Don’t Retire... Graduate! We have two guests today, Steven and Lauren Keys, who did something pretty incredible: retired before they turned 30. They came on the podcast to talk about how they reached financial independence at a young age, how they saved their nest egg without large salaries, and their plan for the rest of their retirement. In this episode we’ll talk about: • Cutting expenses to save money and pay off debt • Living frugally without sacrificing your lifestyle • Using your passions to bring in extra income • How to make a full-time income with part-time work • Dispelling the myth that retirement means not working at all • Living with an abundance mentality rather than a scarcity mentality • Employee benefits without an employer • Insurance considerations when in an early retirement • How money experiences growing up can affect your perspective on money as an adult • Gamifying your finances to motivate you towards your goals • Overconsumption and how to avoid it • Using money to buy freedom rather than stuff • The Financial Roadmap Steven & Lauren's Financial Roadmap: https://www.tripofalifestyle.com/roadmap/ Visit dontretiregraduate.com for a full transcript of this episode. About Lauren ad Steven Keys: We’re Lauren and Steven, a middle-class couple who managed to bank enough money to retire from our full-time jobs at age 29. By making a few lifestyle tweaks soon after graduation, we grew a buffer of cash and investments that gave us a ton of flexibility and enabled us to do some really fun stuff too, like taking six months off to explore Hawaii and another seven months to travel to every National Park in the US. Now we’re hoping to help other people (like you!) do something similar. TripofaLifestyle.com Facebook: Trip Of A Lifestyle Twitter: TOALifestyle Instagram: Trip Of A Lifestyle Linked In: Trip Of A Lifestyle Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 14, 2022 • 7min
Is Your Financial Advisor a Fiduciary?
In today’s Office Hours, Eric answers Gary's question: Are all financial advisors and planners fiduciaries? This is a great question and the simple answer is no. Listen to hear Eric explain what a fiduciary is, why it's important to know if your advisor is a fiduciary, and how you can tell. Have a question? Post it in the comments, tweet it to us at @BrotmanPlanning, or post it on our Facebook and it may be used in a future episode of Office Hours! Find a full transcript of this episode at dontretiregraduate.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 7, 2022 • 29min
One Point Better: Gender Differences, Money Histories, and How to Get a Little Better Every Day with the Chief Financial Mom
Welcome back to Don’t Retire... Graduate! Today’s guest is the most educated individual we know in this industry. Dr. Mary Bell Carlson is a financial behavioral expert who has worked with the government, military, and financial educational organizations, is an adjunct professor of financial planning, and is the founder of Chief Financial Moms. She’s here to talk about gender differences in personal finance, money histories, and how we can get just one point better every day. In this episode we’ll talk about: •The asset shift from baby boomer men to women that will be taking place over the next decade •How women and men look at financial advice and manage money differently •The need for women in financial planning •Personal financial literacy education and how to know if your school is teaching it •Understanding your money history and starting conversations about it as a couple •How you can get even half a point better each day Visit dontretiregraduate.com for a full transcript of this episode. Resources mentioned in this episode: https://checkyourschool.org/ https://www.jumpstart.org/ https://freeguide.chieffinancialmom.com/ About Mary Bell Carlson Dr. Mary Bell Carlson is a financial behavior expert and has worked in both the military and government communities for the last decade. From the bowels of the Pentagon to international audiences, Dr. Carlson has presented numerous financial seminars and worked on a variety of financial planning and education projects. After getting married and having her two daughters, she started Chief Financial Mom.com, a personal finance education platform to help busy moms. Currently, she also works as adjunct faculty for the financial planning programs at both the University of Georgia and Texas Tech University. ChiefFinancialMom.com Facebook @ChiefFinancialMom Twitter @ChiefFinanceMom Instagram @ChiefFinancialMom YouTube Channel @Chief Financial Mom Linkedin @Mary Bell Carlson, Ph.D., CFP®, AFC® Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 31, 2022 • 7min
Worst Money Mistakes People Make Every Day
In today’s Office Hours, Eric answers Alex's question: As a financial advisor, what is the most common mistake you see people making with their personal finances? This was a hard question to answer because there are a LOT of mistakes people make. The common factor for all of them? Emotions. Have a question? Post it in the comments, tweet it to us at @BrotmanPlanning, or post it on our Facebook and it may be used in a future episode of Office Hours! A full transcript of this episode can be found at dontretiregraduate.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 24, 2022 • 35min
Buying Happiness: Using Money as a Tool to Maximize Your Lifestyle
Welcome back to Don’t Retire... Graduate! Today’s guest came ready for a debate and didn’t disappoint. Andrew Hallam, best-selling author and educator, is here to talk about his latest book, Balance, and investment techniques and ideologies that don’t necessarily match ours. If you’re interested in learning about index funds, passive asset management, and the true meaning of success in retirement (whether you’re retiring early or not), you won’t want to miss this episode. In this episode we’ll talk about: The cost and opportunity cost associated with Ivy league education. Recognizing a financial advisor that is great and one that just wants to sell you something The role psychology plays in financial services Debating controversial topics in personal finance: passive versus active portfolio management, index funds versus value index The traditional definition of retirement, why it is unhealthy, and how to do it better FIRE community and the FIRE movement, and the life satisfaction research that suggests it may not be the best goal The four legs of the success table: money, relationships, health, and purpose https://andrewhallam.com/balance/ Visit brotmanmedia.com/podcasts for a full transcript of this episode. About Andrew Hallam: Andrew Hallam is the international best-selling author of Balance: How to Invest and Spend for Happiness, Health and Wealth; Millionaire Teacher: The Nine Rules of Wealth You Should Have Learned in School and Millionaire Expat: How To Build Wealth Living Overseas. Profiled on such media as CNBC, and The Wall Street Journal, he's also the first person to have a #1 selling finance book on Amazon USA, Amazon Canada and Amazon UAE. He has written columns for The Globe and Mail, Canadian Business, MoneySense, Swissquote and AssetBuilder. Since 2016 he has spoken at businesses and international schools in over 30 different countries. Links: https://andrewhallam.com/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/445218675653782 https://www.facebook.com/millionaireteacher https://twitter.com/aphallam https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-hallam-44b81627/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 17, 2022 • 7min
Protecting Your Finances from Inflation
In today’s Office Hours, Eric answers George's question: I keep hearing about inflation. Is there anything I can be doing to protect my finances? We're seeing inflation in a way we haven't for generations, and there are things you can do to be better prepared. Have a question? Tweet it to us at @BrotmanPlanning or post it on our Facebook and it may be used in a future episode of Office Hours! Visit brotmanmedia.com for a full transcript of this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 10, 2022 • 35min
Financial Feminism: Looking at the Big Picture of Gender Equality
Welcome back to Don’t Retire... Graduate! We have a very special episode in honor of International Women’s Week. Kara Perez, the founder of Bravely Go, joins us to talk about financial feminism and how we can start breaking down the gender roles and inequalities we see in our culture. In this episode we’ll talk about: The meaning of financial feminism. The difference in financial power between men and women/non-binary individuals. How the wage gap can affect financial security in retirement. The importance of having assets in your own name and checking your beneficiary designations. The need for large-scale financial literacy education and where it can come from. Gender roles in our culture and their effect on financial equity. Paying down debt and saving money on a low salary. How Kara founded Bravely Go, the feminist financial education company. Looking at personal finance from a broader lens. Visit brotmanmedia.com/podcasts for a full transcript of this episode. About Kara Perez: Kara Perez is the founder of Bravely Go, a feminist financial education company. Bravely Go focuses on bringing actionable, intersectional and accessible financial education to people via pop up events and online community. Kara has been featured in the New York Times, Forbes, NPR, Glamour, ABC Nightline News, and US News and World Report as a financial expert. Additionally, Kara co hosts the award winning podcast The Fairer Cents, which has been named the top money podcast for women by Forbes and The Balance. Links:https://www.instagram.com/webravelygo/ https://twitter.com/bravelygo https://www.facebook.com/webravelygo https://www.tiktok.com/@webravelygo?lang=en https://www.bravelygo.co/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
