STOP Buying This Before Retirement

Retirement can sneak up on you fast, especially in a post-COVID work world where burnout is real and the pace of change feels nonstop. If you are within five years of retiring, the decisions you make right now can either protect your future or create payments and regrets you carry for decades. We get practical and direct about what to pause before you “pull the trigger,” even when the purchase feels earned. We walk through seven common pre-retirement spending traps: buying a brand new luxury vehicle, taking on a major home remodel you do not truly need, putting vacations and lifestyle on a credit card, and helping adult children in a way that puts your own financial independence at risk. Then we move into the risks people overlook when retirement is close, including speculative investments you do not fully understand, the hidden upkeep of a second home or vacation property, and anything that locks up your money without a clear retirement purpose. Along the way, we tie everything back to what matters most in retirement planning: creating a reliable monthly paycheck. That means coordinating your retirement income plan with Social Security, Medicare awareness, tax planning, and a real decumulation strategy so your savings can last for 20 to 40 years. If you are asking, “Can I retire now?” or “Should I buy this right before I retire?” this conversation gives you a clear framework to pressure test the math. If you found this helpful, subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, share it with a friend who is close to retirement, and leave a review so more people can find the show. What purchase are you debating right now, and what would you want a second opinion on? Send us Fan Mail To learn more about Brad Pistole and the Ozark Retirement Group, please visit www.ozarksretirement.com