This episode is part two and the conclusion of our series on the five major retirement shifts happening right now—and how they’re affecting LGBTQ+ individuals and couples as we head into 2026.

In part one, we talked about where you live, healthcare costs, and longevity. Today, we wrap things up by diving into two topics that often cause the most confusion—and the most mistakes: Social Security and purpose in retirement.

We’ll take an honest look at:

• What Social Security was really designed to do (and what it wasn’t)
• Why relying on Social Security alone is risky
• How claiming decisions differ for single LGBTQ+ people versus couples
• Why purpose matters just as much as money in retirement
• And the biggest planning mistakes I see people making right now

Retirement isn’t just about dollars and cents. It’s about confidence, clarity, and building a life you actually want to wake up to. This episode brings it all together.

Schedule your free financial consultation at TakePrideInRetirement.com or call 855-246-9211.

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Take Pride in Retirement is proud to be named one of the top Pride podcasts on the internet by FeedSpot. For more, go to https://blog.feedspot.com/pride_podcasts

About Take Pride in Retirement:
Take Pride in Retirement is a podcast dedicated to retirement planning solutions for the LGBTQ community. Host Matt McClure, a licensed fiduciary financial advisor, shares strategies to protect your hard-earned money while pursuing market-like growth.

Matt holds the RSSA® credential as a Registered Social Security Analyst®, helping clients optimize their Social Security filing strategies to potentially increase lifetime income. He’s also a Certified Annuity Specialist® (CAS®), a designation earned through a 135+ hour graduate-level program in fixed-rate and variable annuities from the Institute of Business & Finance.

Based in Georgia with his husband and two dogs, Matt spent over a decade in New York City, working with The Wall Street Journal Radio Network, NY1, and WCBS Newsradio 880. A career highlight includes reporting from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.

• (00:00:00) - Take Pride in Retirement
• (00:00:58) - Take Pride in Retirement
• (00:02:29) - Take Pride In Retirement
• (00:04:05) - Social Security: LGBTQ+ Plans for Retirement
• (00:12:38) - LGBTQ Retirement: What You Need to Know
• (00:16:30) - Biggest Retirement Mistakes to Avoid in 2026