Retirement Red Flags — 5 Signs You're Not Ready Yet

Retirement isn't just about stepping away from your job — it's about building a life you actually enjoy and knowing how your finances will hold up when the paychecks stop. A lot of people think they're ready… until they realize they're not. We're walking through five warning signs that could throw your retirement off track. From skipping over withdrawal strategies to carrying debt into retirement — and maybe the biggest one? Not having a plan for what your days will look like once work is off the table. We'll break each one down with real examples, why it matters, and offer practical ways to course-correct — so you can head into retirement with confidence, not guesswork. Key moments: (02:13) Most retirees underestimate their early retirement spending — and it adds up fast (06:55) Without an inflation plan, retiring today at 60 could cut your purchasing power nearly in half by 80 (8:57) A smart withdrawal plan accounts for taxes, market downturns, and required minimum distributions (15:42) Carrying debt into retirement means high fixed costs that drag down your freedom (19:11) Retirement's not a finish line, it's a new chapter — think about how you'll spend your time Like the show? There are several ways you can help! Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Amazon Music Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts Subscribe to the newsletter Feeling helpless when it comes to your student loans? Try our free student loan calculator Check out our refinancing bonuses we negotiated Book your custom student loan plan Get profession-specific financial planning Do you have a question about student loans? Leave us a voicemail here or email us at [email protected] and we might feature it in an upcoming show!