Broadcast Retirement Network

In this thought-provoking conversation, Lawrence Quill, co-director of the Loneliness Project at San Jose State University dives deep into the modern loneliness epidemic and the surprising role technology plays as both the cause and potential cure. Drawing on ancient philosophy and cutting-edge insights, we explore why so many people—from the "feral generation" to Gen Z—feel more isolated than ever, how our phones and social media may be quietly rewiring our relationships, and whether AI companions and chatbots could genuinely ease loneliness or make it worse.

What is your child's school app really doing with their data? BYU Information Systems Professor Justin Giboney breaks down a groundbreaking study—conducted with Mark Keith and the Utah State Board of Education—that compared what EdTech apps promised against their actual network traffic, uncovering student data flowing to advertisers, data brokers, and identity-resolution firms, often without app makers realizing it. policymaker.

A clear, practical look at the largest farmland transfer in generations and what it means for you. President of Farmers National Company Paul Schadegg explains how America's farmers are doing today, breaks down the scale of the coming generational wealth transfer, and reveals whether landowners are truly prepared to pass down their land. You'll learn how to assemble the right team of professionals, why location and state-specific rules can dramatically affect your outcome, and what really happens when an owner dies without an estate plan. Plus, you'll walk away with actionable advice for younger farmers and a reminder of why revisiting your plan regularly is essential to protecting your land, your legacy, and your family's future.

What happens when the tools you built start to outpace you? Astronomer J. Xavier Prochaska, Professor of Astronomy & Astrophysics at UC Santa Cruz, reveals how artificial intelligence is transforming science at breathtaking speed — writing code, drafting research proposals, and uncovering exoplanets in decades-old data — pushing him to work "100 times" faster than ever before.

In this interview, Andrew G. Biggs, PhD., Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, explains why the number of workers without a 401(k) or other formal retirement plan doesn’t tell the whole story. He discusses how age, income, student loans, homeownership, inflation, and other financial priorities influence when people save.

Can AI accurately measure America's retirement readiness? In this episode, we put Claude Opus 4.8 to the test on key questions about the U.S. workforce and retirement coverage, then had one of the nation's leading retirement economists fact-check every number. Our guest, Andrew G. Biggs, PhD, Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, breaks down where the AI got it right, where it fell short, and what the real data actually reveals about how prepared Americans truly are for retirement.

Are you prepared for what happens if you stop paying your student loans? In this eye-opening interview, college finance expert Mark Kantrowitz breaks down the serious consequences of default—including wage garnishment, seized tax refunds, and how the government can take up to 15% of your Social Security benefits at any age.

Are your credit cards actually working for you—or just draining your wallet with sky-high annual fees? In this episode, Nick Ewen, Editor-in-Chief of The Points Guy, breaks down everything you need to know about navigating today's increasingly complex credit card landscape. From the eye-popping $895 Amex Platinum annual fee to the smart way to negotiate a downgrade (and score a retention offer), Nick shares insider strategies for getting real value out of your cards.

Should you wait to book Thanksgiving or Christmas travel? Don't. In this interview, Nick Ewan, Editor-in-Chief of The Points Guy, breaks down why holiday airfares are already spiking — up 13% for Thanksgiving and nearly 20% for Christmas and New Year's — and shares insider strategies to score the best deals, track prices even after you book, and get money back when fares drop (he personally saved $95 on a family flight to Denver!).

Dr. Daniel W. Jones, M.D., FAHA — Professor Emeritus and former Dean of the University of Mississippi School of Medicine — joins us to break down the American Heart Association's new high blood pressure guidelines. As chair of the committee that wrote them, he explains why 130/80 is the new target, the surprising link between blood pressure control and lower dementia risk, why an arm cuff beats your smartwatch, and the simple lifestyle changes that make a difference. Informational only — always consult your clinician.

Daniel Kline, Co-Editor-in-Chief of TheStreet and TravelHost, reveals why travel insurance is a must-have for anyone booking a cruise. Daniel breaks down how a single medical emergency at sea can cost $30,000–$50,000, what happens if you miss your ship's departure, and how the right coverage can save your trip—and your wallet. From real-life stories to insider pro tips on filing claims and finding the best value, this video gives you the essential knowledge to cruise with confidence and avoid costly mistakes before you ever step aboard.

In this episode Chris Tobe, CFA, CAIA breaks down how AI-driven misinformation and “fake signals” can end up creating real fiduciary risk in retirement planning. Chris explains what makes retirement information vulnerable in the age of AI—how false or misleading inputs can distort the way people (and systems) interpret plan details—and why that matters for compliance and decision-making. He also shares practical guidance on how consumers can use AI tools more wisely: verifying claims, stress-testing recommendations, and looking for trustworthy signals before acting on retirement-related information.

Are your grocery bills finally getting some relief — or is more price pressure on the way? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. David Anderson, economist and professor at Texas A&M University, to break down what's really happening with food prices in America.

Philip Snyder, Senior Vice President at The Warner Companies, breaks down one of retirement's most overlooked needs: long-term care. With roughly 70% of retirees expected to need care, Philip explains why a pension or Thrift Savings Plan alone won't cover it, why nursing home costs rising above inflation make early planning essential, and how today's hybrid life insurance policies build cash value and pass unused benefits to beneficiaries. Practical guidance for federal employees and everyday Americans on how—and when—to fund the care they may one day need.

Professor Brad Humphreys of West Virginia University breaks down the explosive growth of legalized sports betting and its hidden dangers. Backed by Arnold Ventures, his research uses a rare dataset of millions of anonymized bets to study "loss chasing" — the risky behavior of placing bigger bets after a loss. This conversation covers why sports betting can't be beaten long-term, why Gen Z wrongly treats it as investing, and what it all means for your finances.

Dr. Megha Sata—registered dentist, American Dental Association council member, and dental educator—returns to the Broadcast Retirement Network to explore how artificial intelligence is transforming dentistry. From AI-powered cavity and bone-loss detection to HIPAA privacy concerns, clinical documentation, and the future of dental education, Dr. Sata offers an evidence-based perspective on balancing cutting-edge technology with the irreplaceable human touch. She also breaks down trending topics like fluoride alternatives, hydroxyapatite toothpastes, the rise of cosmetic dentistry, and practical tips for maintaining your oral health—even without dental insurance.

With roughly 19 million students heading to college, car insurance and coverage are among the most overlooked parts of the transition. In this conversation, Adrienne K. Woodland of AAA – The Auto Club Group breaks down what every parent and student should check before move-in day—from confirming whether an existing auto policy actually covers a student away at school, to understanding how each state's insurance rules can affect your coverage. Adrienne explains why sitting down with an agent to review your household policy is one of the smartest moves you can make when a major life change like college happens.

In this powerful conversation, autistic therapist and author Jessica Penot, LPC-S, opens up about masking, conformity, and what it really means to thrive as an autistic adult. Jessica Penot, LPC-S is the founder of Tree of Life Behavioral Health and the Neuroaffirmative Autism Resource Center, as well as the author of "The Unmasking Workbook for Autistic Adults." She breaks down the hidden "taxes of conformity" that autistic people pay every day, the serious mental health toll of masking, and the eye-opening "double empathy problem" that reframes how we think about autistic and neurotypical communication.

Social Security is heading toward a critical deadline: without action, the Trust Funds are projected to run dry by 2032, triggering an automatic 22% benefit cut that could cost a typical retired couple roughly $18,500 a year. In this conversation, Brett Loper, Executive Vice President for Policy at the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, breaks down what's driving the shortfall—an aging population and a worker-to-retiree ratio falling from 4-to-1 to just over 2-to-1—and why the program's original design is under strain. Drawing on the successful 1983 Greenspan Commission fix, Loper explains how the challenge can be solved with practical, bipartisan solutions.

Is your bank account secretly damaging your brain? In this eye-opening interview, Dr. Jacques Wells breaks down groundbreaking research revealing that financial hardship isn't just stressful — it may be a direct driver of cognitive decline. We explore why the feeling of money worry can be more harmful than your actual income, how constant financial stress crowds out the mental "brain space" needed for protective activities, and why decades of accumulated hardship take a measurable toll on your mind. If you've ever felt overwhelmed by bills, this conversation will change how you think about the connection between money and your mental health.

Are your target date funds really working for you—or just running on autopilot? On this episode of Broadcast Retirement Network, we sit down with MarketWatch financial journalist Alisa Wolfson to unpack the "set it and forget it" mindset that millions of investors rely on. Alisa explains why these popular funds only account for one thing—your expected retirement year—while overlooking crucial personal factors like your pension, Social Security timing, and individual risk tolerance. If you have a 401(k), this conversation will change the way you think about your retirement savings.

Financial journalist Jane King, founder of LilaMax Media, joins Broadcast Retirement Network to break down the latest jobs report—and why the numbers aren't as bad as they seem. The U.S. lost 23,000 jobs last month, but most cuts came from local government and education, while manufacturing added jobs and unemployment held at 4.1%. Jane explains why Wall Street sees this weaker report as a positive: it likely takes a September rate hike off the table.

Is your state doing enough to support working families? In this eye-opening conversation with Laura Valle Gutierrez, a fellow at The Century Foundation, we break down the third annual State Care Report Card—a comprehensive ranking of all 50 states on childcare, paid family leave, and elder/long-term care. The verdict? Not a single state earned an "A."

Sanctioned by Russia while still a teenager, Alexander Browder has become a leading voice in the fight against crypto-fueled financial crime. As the founder of the Global Cryptocurrency Laundering Database and author of a Henry Jackson Society report on illicit finance in crypto markets, he reveals how authoritarian regimes are exploiting digital currencies on a staggering scale — from North Korea pulling a third of its government revenue through crypto schemes, to Russia moving billions to fund its war machine.

In this exclusive interview, Henry Chin, PhD., Global Head of Research at CBRE, breaks down the forces shaping commercial real estate in 2026 and reveals why he's betting big on the U.S. market. From surging data center demand fueled by the AI boom to record-breaking industrial absorption and a surprising retail comeback, Dr. Chin shares data-driven insights on where the smart money is heading. He also unpacks the uneven office recovery, explaining why prime CBD assets are thriving while suburban space struggles — and what it all means for investors navigating today's uncertain global economy.

Could artificial intelligence transform the way we care for people with dementia? In this eye-opening conversation, neurologist and memory expert Dr. Jason Karlawish explores the promise—and the peril—of AI in dementia care. From tireless AI companions that ease caregiver burnout to the ethical dangers of handing caregiving over to machines, he shares candid insights every family, caregiver, and healthcare professional needs to hear.

In this episode, we break down a startling labor market trend with Dr. Nicholas Eberstadt, a labor economist and Henry Wendt Chair in Political Economy at the American Enterprise Institute. We discuss why hundreds of thousands of Americans aren’t in the labor force (NILF) and—most importantly—the much deeper problem affecting prime-age adults (25–54), including the “NEET” group that is neither employed nor in education or training.

University of Virginia's Maximillian Brichta's explains that digital nomads aren’t just remote workers—they’re educators, coaches, solopreneurs, and community builders who use their skills to create autonomy and a more meaningful life. In this video, we break down what digital nomads actually do for work, how they think about freedom beyond location, and why their “knowledge economy” approach often looks like answering the question, “How do I do it?” for others. You’ll also hear what drives people to make the leap, how they navigate real-life tradeoffs, and why community and fulfillment are so central to the nomad experience.

Jessica Calabrese of FIS Global joins us to unpack what’s changing in retirement plan technology and why participant expectations are evolving so quickly. In this session, we explore the biggest drivers shaping modern retirement experiences—especially the shift toward fast, intuitive, mobile-friendly access to information, plus smarter education and guidance that feels more like the consumer apps people use every day.

In this episode, Lisa Wenstrup, PhD., an audiologist with UC Health (University of Cincinnati), shares how hearing changes as we age—often starting with difficulty hearing high frequencies and understanding speech in background noise. You’ll learn why hearing loss isn’t always “just an older-person” issue, how earbuds and modern listening environments can contribute, and what early signals like muffled sounds may mean for your day-to-day life.

Dallas Salisbury of the Consumer Policy Center breaks down why unbiased retirement research matters—and what it looks like in practice. In this episode, Dallas explains how retirement policy and benefit decisions often get made with incomplete information, and why relying on objective, evidence-first analysis is so critical when the stakes affect millions of workers and retirees.

Gen Z debt is rising, credit counseling demand is at a 10-year high, and many people are discovering that debt consolidation loans don’t always stop the cycle. In this episode, Ted Rossman, Money Management International breaks down what’s driving the surge in debt management plan enrollments and counseling sessions—and what you can do to regain control of your finances before balances climb back up.

Professor Jason Kotter (BYU Marriott School of Business) breaks down what sports betting looks like in the real world—why it feels “winnable,” how commonly misunderstood odds and wager structures (like parlays) can quietly stack the deck, and the financial tradeoffs heavy bettors often make (including pulling funds from long-term savings). You’ll also hear the data-driven reasons many bettors end up losing over time—and what education and smart policy changes could do to reduce harm.

In this episode of Broadcast Retirement Network, we bring together leading voices on retirement income strategy and fiduciary considerations. Guests include John Schembari, Kutak Rock, Ed McIlveen, CFA, Francis, LLC, and Robert Scherzer, AIF of World Investment Advisors. We discuss what employers and fiduciaries should weigh when introducing (or evaluating) guaranteed lifetime income features within defined contribution plans—balancing participant needs, plan design, and real-world implementation realities.

Thomas Adam, PhD., from the University of Arkansas, joins us to explore how philanthropic foundations are shaped by donor intent—and what happens when the world changes faster than the mission. We unpack why “forever” can be both inspiring and limiting, and how legal, historical, and practical factors affect who benefits and how.

Betsy Mayotte, Founder of The Institute of Student Loan Advisors, joins Broadcast Retirement Network to discuss the sharp rise in federal student loan defaults and what it means for borrowers today. We break down the key timeline—when delinquency starts affecting credit, and when a loan officially reaches default—plus the real-world consequences like wage and tax refund garnishment, reduced borrowing options, and impacts that can ripple into housing and employment decisions.

In this video, we break down the data-driven approach to forecasting retail beef prices, highlighting how time-series and machine-learning methods can capture seasonality, demand shifts, and lagged effects. We also explore why prices often change around key consumer moments—like the weeks following July 4th—and what those patterns imply about the balance between supply and demand in the grocery market. We’re joined by David Anderson, PhD., from Texas A&M University, who explains the motivation behind the research and the practical goal of building more accurate predictions for everyday food costs. From the role of protein substitution and value cuts to the way broader economic signals can indirectly influence grocery choices, this discussion connects the modeling techniques to real shopper behavior—making the forecasting feel both understandable and actionable.

In this episode of the Broadcast Retirement Network, Phillip Snyder, CLU from The Warner Companies shares a focused, practical approach to retirement planning—centered on building reliable retirement income, protecting your financial plan from risk, and making smart decisions that can last for the long term. If you’re looking for clarity on what matters most (and what to stop overlooking), this conversation is built for you.

Chris Tobe, CFA, CAIA of the Hackett Group breaks down a critical question for retirement plan sponsors and advisors: how should “performance” really be measured and compared—especially when investment options move beyond standard mutual funds? In this episode, Chris explains why the underlying standards, reporting conventions, and incentives can materially change what the numbers mean in practice.

Long-term care is facing a staffing crunch, and it’s not just about “more funding”—it’s about the workforce pipeline and the real-world conditions that determine whether long-term care jobs can attract and retain enough people. In this episode, we break down what’s driving the demand surge, why the supply side is getting tighter over time, and what that means for families, facilities, and access to care. Yale School of Public Health's Andrew Olenski, PhD. explores who’s working in long-term care today, how foreign-born caregivers have contributed to meeting needs, and why policy proposals have struggled to match the scale of the problem. We also discuss where technology fits (and where it doesn’t), and what to watch next as legislative and funding decisions shape the future of long-term care in the U.S.

Professor Vikramaditya Khanna (University of Michigan Law) shares findings from a new study exploring U.S. attitudes toward cryptocurrency—what people think crypto is for, what motivates them to pay attention, and what holds them back. The conversation breaks down the gap between hearing “about crypto” and truly understanding the underlying tech.

Ready to retire overseas but not sure where to start? In this episode, Kathleen Peddicord—founder and publisher of Live and Invest Overseas—breaks down why retiring abroad is becoming mainstream and gives you a practical framework to choose the right country based on your real priorities.

Should you exercise through an injury? What's the best way to build muscle, lose weight, and stay healthy after 50? In this insightful interview, Jill Brown, founder of Jill Brown Fitness and internationally recognized fitness expert, joins Jeffrey Snyder to explain how exercise, nutrition, and healthy lifestyle habits can help you recover from injuries, preserve muscle, improve mobility, and increase longevity as you age.

Medicare’s new Part D program is aiming to cover certain GLP-1 medications for people with obesity, potentially lowering costs for eligible patients (with a co-pay mentioned around $50/month). In this episode, Liz Seegert, Health & Aging Journalist, breaks down what’s actually changing—and why access isn’t as simple as “yes, GLP-1s are covered.”

Dr. Dick Startz, an education economist at the University of California, Santa Barbara. In this episode, we explore the financial reality facing America’s colleges—from the “no cliff, but a downhill slide” demographic shift in 18-year-olds, to the sudden drop in international students and what that means for tuition revenue, and to changing federal support affecting research and student aid.

AEI's Andrew Biggs, CRFB's Marc Goldwein and CBPP's Kathleen Romig break down what Social Security’s “crisis” really means—because it’s not simply “bankruptcy.” The core issue is a funding timing problem: the program’s trust fund is projected to run down, and by around 2032, there likely won’t be enough dedicated revenue to pay the full level of scheduled benefits.

Dan Caplinger of The Motley Fool returns to discuss how exchange-traded funds have evolved—and why that evolution can matter more than most investors realize.

Medicare and Medicaid often get misunderstood when it comes to long-term care—especially assisted living. In this conversation, U.S. Government Accountability Office Director Michelle Rosenberg explains why many people assume their “regular health insurance” will cover long-term services and support, and why that’s usually not the case. Michelle breaks down what Medicare covers (and what it doesn’t), what Medicaid covers as a required benefit, and how assisted living coverage depends on the state—because Medicaid assistance with activities of daily living (like bathing, eating, and dressing) is optional at the state level. She also explains how GAO’s work is driven by Congress, how Congress uses the findings, and what future research is focused on—particularly oversight of health and welfare in assisted living when Medicaid is funding care.

Modern digital technology is reshaping our world, but it is also quietly eroding the most fundamental life skills in our children. In this thought-provoking interview, former educator and parenting expert Curby Alexander of Texas Christian University joins the program to break down the unseen consequences of our uncritical adoption of technology. He explains the shift from analog to digital habits, why the loss of cursive writing and physical map navigation alters how the human brain processes information, and how the rise of Generative AI poses a massive threat to deep critical thinking. Whether you are a parent trying to navigate screen time, an educator looking to protect classroom integrity, or anyone concerned about the future of human society, this conversation provides practical, intentional strategies to bring back baseline cognitive skills before they disappear entirely.

DOL ERISA Regulations 2026: What Every Fiduciary, Investor & Plan Sponsor Needs to Know Major new proposed regulations from the Department of Labor are currently under review, and they could significantly impact how retirement plans are managed and how private assets are utilized. In this informative interview, administrative law expert and former DOL senior staffer Andrew joins the program to break down the massive 40,000+ public comment docket. He explains the new asset-neutral framework, the potential inclusion of private market assets in target-date funds, how these rules serve as a legal safe harbor against rising ERISA litigation risk, and what this means for the future of 401(k) plans. Whether you're a financial advisor navigating fiduciary duties, a sophisticated investment consultant, a plan sponsor, or anyone focused on institutional retirement planning, this conversation provides practical guidance to help you maximize portfolio diversification while avoiding regulatory pitfalls.