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Spending Drops in Retirement, but Satisfaction Doesn't

Episode 410 of the Retirement Starts Today podcast, hosted by Benjamin Brandt CFP®, RICP®, titled "Spending Drops in Retirement, but Satisfaction Doesn't" was published on July 21, 2025 and runs 16 minutes.

July 21, 2025 ·16m · Retirement Starts Today

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New research from David Blanchett, head of retirement research at PGIM, challenges one of the biggest assumptions in retirement planning: that happiness in retirement depends on maintaining a constant—or even increasing—level of spending.

⬇️ Upon entering retirement, households experience a median consumption decline of about 20%.

This drop is often viewed as a red flag in traditional financial planning models.

However, Blanchett argues that this decline is not necessarily problematic, especially when you look at how financial well-being changes over time.

☎️ Then on our listener question, we hear from a 34-year-old investor who's been all-in on stocks since taking Dave Ramsey's advice early in their career. Now, they're wondering how and when to start easing into a more balanced portfolio with bonds. 

We'll talk strategy, psychology, and sprinkle in some data on market highs that might surprise you.

Resource:

Article by John Manganaro from ThinkAdvisor: Spending Drops in Retirement, but Satisfaction Doesn't: Blanchett

 

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