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What do retirees who are truly happy have in common — and what do those who aren't wish they'd done differently?

In this episode, Brandon digs into the latest research on retirement success and retirement regrets to build a clearer picture of what actually separates retirees who are thriving from those who are struggling. The data tells a nuanced story — one that goes well beyond savings balances and rate-of-return targets.

You'll get a ground-level look at the current state of retirement security in America, including some eye-opening numbers on how retirees are actually spending their money versus how they planned to. From there, Brandon walks through the attributes most commonly shared by retirees reporting the highest levels of retirement happiness — and at least one of them will likely catch you off guard.

Retirement income and income planning take center stage as Brandon explores why the type of income you build matters just as much as the amount — and why the gap between guaranteed and non-guaranteed income has a surprisingly powerful impact on how retirees feel day to day.

The episode closes with retirement insights drawn from what current retirees say they'd do differently, distilled into an actionable framework for those who still have time to course-correct.

If you're building a retirement portfolio and want to protect more than just your balance sheet, this one's worth your time.

📌 CHAPTERS
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[1:18] — The State of Retirees
[4:33] — The Emotional & Social Side of Retirement
[6:31] — Two Very Different Retirement Experiences
[9:16] — What Successful Retirees Have in Common
[14:12] — The Control Factor
[16:15] — The Four Big Regrets
[23:58] — What's Ahead for Pre-Retirees
[29:29] — Your Action Plan

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When research says "the market returned 10% over 80 years," what does that actually mean for your retirement? Most DIY investors make critical assumptions about expected returns that create serious retirement planning problems.

This episode breaks down the troubling gap between advertised fund performance and real investor results. We examine research from Dalbar and Morningstar showing retail investors consistently underperform stated returns by 1-2% annually—which can mean missing out on 15-50% of potential gains depending on the asset class.

You'll learn why compound annual growth rate (CAGR) calculations don't reflect your actual experience as a periodic investor, how behavioral mistakes like panic selling and performance chasing sabotage results, and why social media success stories create dangerously unrealistic expectations.

Most importantly, we explore practical solutions: understanding money-weighted returns, accepting realistic performance gaps, focusing on adequate savings over chasing returns, and why income-focused investing shifts the conversation from rates of return to sustainable retirement cash flow.

Chapters:

[00:00] Introduction: The Return Gap Problem
[01:10] The 15% Fund Paradox: Why Your Results Differ
[03:27] Dalbar Research: The Disappointing Truth
[06:18] Morningstar's Findings: Missing 15% of Returns
[07:58] CAGR vs Money-Weighted Returns Explained
[11:09] The Rebalancing Drag Effect
[15:25] Behavioral Mistakes: Fear & Performance Chasing
[24:31] Social Media's Distortion of Expectations
[25:53] Practical Solutions for Realistic Planning
[27:43] Income-Focused Investing: A Different Approach
[29:27] The "Saving Too Much" Question Answered

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Seven percent of American retirees are returning to work—not from boredom, but because they can't afford to stay retired. That's 550,000 more people than last year facing this harsh reality. This episode breaks down the data behind un-retirement and provides actionable strategies to build a portfolio that can withstand retirement's financial pressures.

The primary culprit? Insufficient guaranteed income. Retirees with the lowest levels of guaranteed income from Social Security, pensions, or annuities face the highest un-retirement risk. But you don't necessarily need an annuity to avoid this fate—you need a strategic approach to income-focused investing combined with smart growth allocation.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:
• Cost of living drives 50% of un-retirements (vs. 15% from boredom)
• Retirees with highest guaranteed income rarely un-retire
• Income-focused portfolios can generate 6%+ yields vs. traditional 4% withdrawal rates
• A 6% yield requires only $850K for $50K annual income vs. $1.25M at 4%
• Early retirement equity allocation should be 20-40%, rising to 60-80% over time
• Starting income investing years before retirement compounds benefits significantly

CHAPTERS:

00:00:21 - Introduction: The Un-Retirement Crisis
The growing trend of retirees forced back to work and what the data reveals

00:01:11 - Why Retirees Return to Work
Breaking down the numbers: 50% can't afford retirement vs. 15% are bored

00:03:20 - The Growing Problem
7% of 55 million retirees planning to un-retire—that's Wyoming's entire population

00:04:39 - Who's At Risk?
Demographic factors and why guaranteed income matters most

00:06:10 - The Guaranteed Income Advantage
Social Security, pensions, and annuities: what the data shows about security

00:08:38 - Income-Focused Investing Strategy
Why traditional portfolios fail and how to build income-generating assets

00:23:21 - The Role of Growth Assets
Balancing sequence-of-returns risk with long-term portfolio growth (20-40% early, 60-80% later)

00:26:06 - Your Action Plan to Avoid Un-Retirement
Calculate realistic income needs, transition to income assets, consider timing advantages