Travel Smarter in Retirement: Making Every Dollar—and Every Reward Point—Count

Summer travel is in full swing—but so are higher prices. On this episode, Matt flies solo once again while Josh recovers, and welcomes Shikha Narula, Head of Rewards at Bank of America, for a conversation about how Americans are making travel happen despite rising costs. They discuss travel rewards, budgeting strategies, flexible planning, and why experiences continue to be a priority for so many families. After the interview, Matt explains how travel fits into a comprehensive retirement plan, why rewards points should supplement—not replace—a sound financial strategy, and how LGBTQ+ retirees can intentionally build travel goals into their long-term financial future. Because retirement isn't just about having enough money—it's about having the freedom to create unforgettable experiences. -- Request your free RSSA Roadmap for Social Security optimizationWatch full episodes on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@TakePrideinRetirementShowFollow 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.