Retirement Readiness

Are common retirement beliefs quietly putting your future at risk?

In this episode, Brigette Engstrom breaks down some of the biggest myths in retirement planning and explains how overlooked factors, like sequence of returns risk, can impact long-term financial security. This often-misunderstood risk highlights how early market downturns combined with withdrawals can significantly deplete a retirement portfolio over time. Are commo...

Are you helping your kids at the expense of your own retirement?

 You’re not alone, and the cost may be higher than you think. Studies show that nearly 27% of parents who financially support adult children delay retirement, while many sacrifice their own financial security to keep helping. From covering monthly bills to offering housing, the “Bank of Mom & Dad” has become a growing trend, but it can come ...

What does it really take to build a confident retirement plan?

In this episode, Brigette Engstrom of Blue Monarch Financial Services joins us to break down the essentials of creating a personalized retirement blueprint. From identifying reliable income sources to navigating inflation and rising healthcare costs, Bridget explains how each piece of the plan works together. The conversation dives into the real challenges retirees face...

What if the biggest retirement risks aren’t the ones you’re planning for?

In this episode, Brigette Engstrom of Blue Monarch Financial Services unpacks common myths around long-term care and why it’s more than just nursing homes; it’s about preparing for life’s unexpected turns. With healthcare costs steadily rising and Medicare expenses up significantly over time, having a thoughtful strategy matters...

What if one of the biggest risks to your retirement has nothing to do with how much you’ve saved, but when you use it?

In this episode, Brigette Engstrom of Blue Monarch Financial Services breaks down key retirement planning considerations, including sequence of returns risk and some of the most common myths surrounding retirement finances. The conversation explores how market timing, withdrawal strategies, and expectati...

What do most people get wrong about retirement planning, and how can those misunderstandings quietly derail their plans?

 In this episode, we’re joined by Brigette Engstrom of Blue Monarch Financial Services to unpack some of the most overlooked and misunderstood aspects of preparing for retirement.

Brigette breaks down common long-term care myths, explains how different income sources may work together in retirement, an...

Most people plan for retirement… but few plan for how retirement changes over time.

In this episode, Brigette Engrstrom breaks down the three often-overlooked phases of retirement—the Go-Go, Slow-Go, and No-Go years, and why understanding them can shape smarter conversations about spending, lifestyle, and health as retirement unfolds. You’ll learn what typically defines each phase, how expenses may shift, and whe...

What if the biggest risk to your retirement isn’t the market, but the order in which returns show up?

In this episode, Brigette Engstrom breaks down several retirement planning concepts that often get misunderstood, including sequence of returns risk and why the popular 4% rule may not work the same way for everyone. The conversation also explores tax‑efficient withdrawal strategies and how taxes, timing, and market condi...

Many retirees are surprised to learn they may be paying more in taxes than they expected, sometimes without realizing why. In this episode, financial professional Brigette Engstrom breaks down how taxes work in retirement and why common assumptions about lower tax brackets can miss the mark. The conversation explores three often-overlooked areas where taxes can add up, including capital gains, Roth conversion timing, and Medicare I...

What happens when family obligations and timing decisions quietly stretch retirement savings?

In this episode, Brigette Engstrom will explore the real-world financial pressures many retirees face and why thoughtful retirement planning matters long before the paycheck stops. The conversation examines how helping adult children can affect long-term income, the trade-offs among Social Security claiming approaches, and how guaranteed-i...

What if the biggest risks to retirement aren’t market swings, but the assumptions we rarely question?
In this episode, Brigette Engstrom takes a holistic look at retirement planning through the lens of longevity, rising healthcare costs, legal preparedness, and the realities of aging. The conversation explores why living longer can complicate financial decisions, how healthcare expenses can quietly reshape retirement expec...

What if the biggest risk to your retirement isn’t the market—but how you feel about it?
In this episode of Retirement Readiness, Brigette Engstrom explores the emotional side of financial decision‑making and how fear of missing out can quietly shape investment choices. She breaks down why retirement planning isn’t just about numbers, but about balancing emotion with clear strategy. The conversation takes a clos...

Retirement isn’t just about how much you save—it’s about how your money works when the paycheck stops. In this episode of Retirement Readiness, Brigette Engstrom takes a clear-eyed look at the current state of the U.S. retirement system and the growing challenges individuals face as they plan for life after work. She explains why focusing solely on account balances can miss the bigger picture and why understanding...

What if the biggest factor shaping your retirement isn’t the market—but your mindset?
In this episode of Retirement Readiness, Bridget Engstrom explores how behavioral finance influences the decisions people make as they prepare for life after work. She introduces the ideas of being “anchored” and “rooted” in financial planning, explaining how emotions, habits, and past experiences often guide...

What happens when the paycheck stops, but the decisions don’t? In this episode of Retirement Readiness, Brigette Engstrom breaks down the often-overlooked side of retirement planning: turning savings into sustainable income. She walks through the concept of a retirement blueprint, focusing on how income needs, tax considerations, and market volatility intersect once accumulation ends. The conversation explores why de‑accumula...

What happens when supporting adult children collides with planning for your own financial future?
In this episode of Retirement Readiness, Brigette Engstrom explores the balancing act many parents face as they approach retirement. She highlights why maintaining personal financial stability is essential, especially when adult children still rely on parental help. Bridget also discusses how Social Security fits into the bigger pic...

What happens when supporting adult children starts reshaping a parent’s own financial future?

In this episode of Retirement Readiness, Brigette Engstrom dives into the rising trend of parents covering expenses for grown kids, often without realizing how it strains their long‑term plans. From rent and phone bills to everyday spending, she unpacks the hidden costs, the emotional pressure behind saying “yes,” an...

Brigette Engstrom sits down with the award-winning Trisha Yearwood to reflect on her journey of personal growth, the importance of authenticity, and the balance between her music career and family life. She shares insights on how her experiences have shaped her music and her approach to life, emphasizing the significance of self-acceptance and the evolving nature of her career. 

You can order Trisha's new album, Christmastime,...

Think you’re ready to retire? Think again. In this episode of Retirement Readiness, Brigette Engstrom dives into the often-overlooked details that can make or break your retirement plans. From understanding your financial numbers to planning for healthcare costs, Bridget explains why alignment between spouses is more than just a nice-to-have; it’s essential. She also reveals five warning signs that signal you may not be...