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Oct 20, 2026 40 min

The surprising mistake many retired people make

from Dollars & Sense with Michelle Singletary

Marian is retired and enjoying the life she worked so hard to build. But as she watches her friends age and lose their independence, she can't stop wondering what her own version of that might look like — or how to pay for it. Michelle and Marian talk through her retirement "buckets," explore the possibilities of long term care, and whether she’s really prepared for what lies ahead. Want Michelle to answer your money question? Email [email protected] for a chance to be on the show. 00:00 Welcome to Dollars & Sense with Michelle Singletary 02:08 Meet Marian 03:31 Losing Her Husband and Estate Planning 04:56 Selling the Business During the Pandemic 06:20 Inheriting an IRA and Explaining RMDs 07:52 Social Security and Consolidating Investments 12:25 Breaking Down Marian's Current Financial Plan 15:35 The Bucket Approach 17:48 Long-Term Growth and Coverage 19:09 Grieving the Business You Built 21:13 Aging Without Kids: Who Will Look After You? 27:08 The Chapter In Between 28:12 Staying Put vs. Pivoting: Six Steps to Smart Decisions 35:15 Giving Yourself Permission to Spend 38:28 Final Thoughts: Why an Objective Third Party Matters

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This episode is 40 minutes long.

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This episode was published on October 20, 2026.

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