A viral claim keeps making the rounds: that a 1% advisory fee will drain hundreds of thousands of dollars from your retirement savings.

The math looks alarming... and that's exactly the point.

But as with most things in finance (and life!), the truth is more nuanced than a headline or social media post makes it seem.

In this episode, I break down research from Derek Tharp, Ph.D., CFP®, that puts this widely shared math to the test and reveals where it falls apart.

Here's what you'll learn:

→ The misleading assumptions behind the popular "1% fee" calculation

→ How alternative fee models can be 3x more expensive using the same math

→ What academic research says about quantifying the value of a good advisor

→ A smarter way to evaluate whether hiring an advisor makes sense for your specific situation

This episode isn't about defending any particular fee model.

It's about making sure you have the right information to evaluate the cost, the value, and the role financial advice may play in your retirement planning.

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📆 BOOK A CALL WITH OUR TEAM:

Your retirement involves complex, interconnected decisions—taxes, income, healthcare, estate planning, investments.

See how they fit together in one coordinated strategy built around your numbers.

👉 Learn More and Book a Call

***

EPISODE RESOURCES:

→ Grab the Episode Show Notes

→ Join the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter

→ Learn About the Total Retirement System™

Saving for retirement is one challenge.

Feeling comfortable (and confident) enough to actually enjoy it is another.

Even when the numbers say you're okay, uncertainty about the future can make it hard to use money for the things that matter most.

Today, I'm revisiting a conversation with Dr. Daniel Crosby where we talk about money, happiness, and why spending is often harder than saving.

It's especially relevant for me as my family currently navigates some big financial decisions... and a birthday trip for my oldest son that almost didn't happen. 🫣

In this episode, we discuss:

→ What the research gets wrong about the link between money and happiness

→ Why certain types of spending leave a bigger impact than others

→ A simple mindset shift that can make spending feel safer in retirement

→ What people near the end of life rarely regret—and what they wish they had done more of

This conversation is a good reminder that money is a tool, and the goal is to use it to support the life you truly value.

***

📆 BOOK A CALL WITH OUR TEAM:

Your retirement involves complex, interconnected decisions—taxes, income, healthcare, estate planning, investments.

See how they fit together in one coordinated strategy built around your numbers.

👉 Learn More and Book a Call

***

EPISODE RESOURCES:

→ Grab the Episode Show Notes

→ Join the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter

→ Learn About the Total Retirement System™

If you're in or near retirement, one bad investment decision can have lasting consequences.

And new research shows just how risky stock picking can be:

Over the last 100 years, nearly 60% of all U.S. stocks underperformed Treasury bills—one of the safest investments you can own.

Even more surprising, fewer than 4% of companies created all of the stock market's net wealth.

In other words, the odds of consistently picking the right stocks are far lower than most people realize.

In this episode, I'm breaking down this eye-opening research and what it means for protecting your portfolio and retirement plan.

Here's what you'll learn:

→ Why owning a handful of well-known, familiar stocks can be far riskier than it feels

→ What the research reveals about where long-term market returns actually come from

→ The 3 actions you can take to better position and optimize your portfolio for the years ahead

Because in retirement, successful investing isn't about hitting home runs—it's about avoiding unnecessary mistakes and stacking the odds in your favor.

***

📆 BOOK A CALL WITH OUR TEAM:

Your retirement involves complex, interconnected decisions—taxes, income, healthcare, estate planning, investments.

See how they fit together in one coordinated strategy built around your numbers.

👉 Learn More and Book a Call

***

EPISODE RESOURCES:

→ Grab the Episode Show Notes

→ Join the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter

→ Learn About the Total Retirement System™