Healthcare costs are one of the biggest sources of anxiety for people heading into retirement—and in this episode, I'm breaking down exactly what you need to know to prepare without panicking.

I dive deep into Medicare's alphabet soup (Parts A, B, C, and D), revealing the costly mistakes that can haunt you for life—like late enrollment penalties that never go away. I also introduce you to IRMAA, those income-related surcharges that can double or even triple your Medicare premiums based on a two-year lookback. If you're within five years of turning 65, this timing discussion is absolutely critical.

For my LGBTQ+ listeners, I address the unique dynamics we face: single retirees dealing with higher per-person costs, the reality of chosen family versus traditional caregiving structures, and the uneven access to employer benefits many of us have experienced throughout our careers. These factors make strategic healthcare planning even more essential for our community.

I'm also joined by Carly Roszkowski from AARP, who shares invaluable insights about older workers navigating today's challenging job market. We discuss how AI is transforming the job search process—both as a challenge and as a powerful tool—and what resources are available for those looking to work longer or return to the workforce.

This is part one of our healthcare series, and in the next episode, we'll tackle long term care coverage and other critical decisions you need to make. Don't miss it.

Remember: you can control the things you can control—and healthcare planning is definitely one of them.

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

--

Request your free RSSA Roadmap for Social Security optimization
Watch full episodes on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@TakePrideinRetirementShow
Follow on BlueSky, Threads, Facebook, Instagram — just search Take Pride in Retirement

--

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.

In the last episode, we talked about why inflation still matters — especially for LGBTQ+ retirees. In this episode, we move from awareness to action.

I walk through real strategies you can use to protect your retirement from rising costs, including how Social Security cost-of-living adjustments actually work (and where they fall short), how to build income streams that keep up with inflation, and why diversification and disciplined planning are critical over the long run.

We also dive into one of the biggest drivers of healthcare inflation: prescription drug costs. I sit down with Antonio Ciaccia of 46brooklyn Research to unpack the hidden role pharmacy benefit managers play in drug pricing — and why it matters for your retirement plan.

If you want to protect your purchasing power, build a resilient income strategy, and create a plan designed for real LGBTQ+ life experiences — this episode is packed with insights to help you take the next step.

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

--

Request your free RSSA Roadmap for Social Security optimization
Watch full episodes on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@TakePrideinRetirementShow
Follow on BlueSky, Threads, Facebook, Instagram — just search Take Pride in Retirement

--

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.

Inflation may not dominate the headlines like it did a few years ago — but make no mistake, it’s still reshaping retirement outcomes in a big way. In this episode, I break down why inflation remains one of the biggest long-term threats to financial security, especially for members of the LGBTQ+ community.

From healthcare and housing to groceries and travel, rising costs don’t just impact your budget — they impact your independence. And for LGBTQ+ retirees who may be more likely to be single, rely on chosen family, or have faced career or legal barriers in the past, inflation can quietly shrink the margin for error even more.

I’ll walk through how inflation compounds over time, why your personal inflation rate matters more than national averages, and how to stress-test your retirement plan so it holds up in uncertain economic conditions. Plus, we feature a recession-readiness report with practical steps to stay prepared no matter what the economy does next.

If you want a retirement plan built specifically for your life, your identity, and your goals — this episode is for you.

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

--

Request your free RSSA Roadmap for Social Security optimization
Watch full episodes on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@TakePrideinRetirementShow
Follow on BlueSky, Threads, Facebook, Instagram — just search Take Pride in Retirement

--

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.

In this episode of Take Pride in Retirement, I’m diving into a topic that can quietly do more damage to your retirement than market volatility: taxes.

We talk about “tax drag” — how even small inefficiencies can reduce your income over time — and why it matters especially for LGBTQ+ retirees who may face unique planning challenges around filing status, survivor planning, and income strategy.

I break down how required minimum distributions (RMDs), Social Security taxation, and Medicare IRMAA surcharges can all impact what you actually take home in retirement. We also talk about Roth accounts, rollovers, and the importance of having a personalized tax strategy instead of relying on one-size-fits-all advice.

Plus, I’m joined by Rod Griffin from Experian for an important conversation about building an emergency fund. We discuss why so many Americans struggle to save, and simple ways to get started — even if you’re living paycheck to paycheck.

This episode is all about helping you keep more of what you’ve worked so hard to earn and building financial confidence for the future.

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

--

Request your free RSSA Roadmap for Social Security optimization
Watch full episodes on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@TakePrideinRetirementShow
Follow on BlueSky, Threads, Facebook, Instagram — just search Take Pride in Retirement

--

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.

In this episode of Take Pride in Retirement, I take a deep dive into one of the most overlooked threats to long-term financial security: hidden investment fees.

Even small percentages — 1% here, a fraction there — can quietly compound over time and cost you tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars in retirement. And for LGBTQ+ individuals and couples who may have fewer traditional safety nets, those costs can have an even bigger impact.

I walk through where fees tend to hide, including 401(k)s, mutual funds, advisory structures, and workplace plans. We talk about how expense ratios work, why high-cost investments can reduce long-term growth, and how compounding can either help you build wealth — or work against you.

Most importantly, I explain what you can actually do about it. Because retirement planning isn’t just about how much you save… it’s about how efficiently your money is working for you.

If you’ve ever wondered whether your retirement plan is truly optimized, this episode will help you take a closer look under the hood.

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

--

Request your free RSSA Roadmap for Social Security optimization
Watch full episodes on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@TakePrideinRetirementShow
Follow on BlueSky, Threads, Facebook, Instagram — just search Take Pride in Retirement

--

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.

On this episode of Take Pride in Retirement, I take a deep dive into Social Security planning, with a special focus on the issues that matter most to LGBTQ+ individuals and couples. From market volatility and inflation to spousal, survivor, and divorce-related benefits, this episode is all about helping you understand how Social Security really fits into your overall retirement plan.

I break down why claiming decisions are never one-size-fits-all, how timing can dramatically impact your lifetime income, and why guaranteed income matters even more if your career—or your relationships—didn’t follow a traditional path. We also talk about how taxes and Medicare premiums can quietly reduce what you actually keep, and why planning ahead can help you avoid unpleasant surprises later.

No matter your relationship status, income level, or background, you deserve clarity and confidence heading into retirement. My goal with this episode is to help you replace guesswork with a strategy—and build a retirement you can truly take pride in.

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

--

Request your free RSSA Roadmap for Social Security optimization
Watch full episodes on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@TakePrideinRetirementShow
Follow on BlueSky, Threads, Facebook, Instagram — just search Take Pride in Retirement

--

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.

On this episode of Take Pride in Retirement, I’m joined by Mark Steber, Chief Tax Officer at Jackson Hewitt Tax Service, to break down some of the most important tax changes impacting individuals and retirees heading into 2026. We talk about new deductions, who qualifies, and how missing just one line on your return could mean leaving thousands of dollars on the table.

Before and after my conversation with Mark, I also dig into two critical planning topics that matter deeply for the LGBTQ+ community: managing everyday expenses in retirement and building (or rebuilding) a proper emergency fund. For many of us, retirement planning happens without traditional safety nets—no pensions, limited family support, or delayed access to spousal benefits—so flexibility and preparation are everything.

No matter who you are, where you’re from, or who you love—you deserve a retirement you can take pride in. This episode is all about giving you clarity, confidence, and control over the things you can manage.

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

--

Request your free RSSA Roadmap for Social Security optimization
Watch full episodes on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@TakePrideinRetirementShow
Follow on BlueSky, Threads, Facebook, Instagram — just search Take Pride in Retirement

--

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.

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.

--

Request your free RSSA Roadmap for Social Security optimization
Watch full episodes on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@TakePrideinRetirementShow
Follow on BlueSky, Threads, Facebook, Instagram — just search Take Pride in Retirement

--

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