Retire Well

Josh Bretl
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Our weekly show dedicated to giving you the confidence to make retirement the best part of your life.

  1. 4 DAYS AGO

    Sweating the Small Stuff: Lessons from an 85 Degree Seminar

    Josh Bretl begins this episode with a story from a recent Social Security workshop in Wheaton where the room hit 85 degrees, the fans sounded like a hurricane, and his laptop died mid-presentation. While it felt like a disaster, sitting down with the audience led to a profound connection with a recent widow who felt lost in the complexity of retirement. We explore why confidence in retirement is plummeting for 39% of American workers. Josh breaks down the truth about Social Security cuts and Medicare surcharges, explaining why your tax strategy is just as important as your investment strategy. We also dive into the Wellment Way, a holistic approach that covers income, assets, taxes, healthcare, and legacy planning. Learn how to separate your must haves from your nice to haves to ensure you never outlive your money. 📞 Ready to talk? Call (630) 478-9599 to schedule your complimentary 15 minute call with a Wellment advisor.

    52 min

  2. 9 MAY

    Beyond the Pension: Building Your Own Retirement Paycheck

    In this episode of Retire Well, Josh Bretl and Mark Elliott discuss the fundamental shift in retirement planning over the last few decades. With traditional pensions largely a thing of the past, today’s retirees must act as their own pension managers. Josh breaks down the recent Federal Reserve Beige Report and explains why emotional reactions to global uncertainty often lead to costly mistakes. We dive deep into the Wellment Way, specifically the strategy of income blending across different tax buckets to minimize your lifetime tax liability. You will learn about the three tax buckets (Tax Me Now, Tax Me Later, and Tax Free) and how a written strategy can provide the clarity you deserve. Whether you are ten years out or already retired, this conversation offers a clear path toward financial freedom. 📞 Ready to talk? Call (630) 478-9599 to schedule your complimentary 15-minute call with a Wellment advisor.

    52 min

  3. 2 MAY

    Unexpected Visitors and the Most Dangerous Decade

    Life has a way of surprising us when we least expect it. This week, Josh Bretl shares a story about an unwelcome visitor in his car that serves as a perfect metaphor for the unexpected challenges of retirement. Whether it is a mechanical failure at home or a sudden shift in the stock market, being prepared is the key to maintaining your peace of mind. Josh and Mark Elliott dive deep into what experts call the most dangerous 10 year period of your financial life: the five years before and the five years after you retire. They discuss why this window is so critical for your long-term success and how the sequence of returns risk can impact your lifestyle. The conversation also covers the four big questions every retiree eventually faces, ranging from the size of your nest egg to the security of your loved ones. We explain why retirement is less about a math problem and more about the freedom to live life on your terms. 📞 Ready to talk? Call (630) 478-9599 to schedule your complimentary 15-minute call with a Wellment advisor.

    52 min

  4. 25 APR

    The Parmesan Reset and the Women’s Retirement Marathon

    In this episode of Retire Well, Josh Bretl and Mark Elliott discuss how to find clarity when you are feeling out of sorts due to market volatility or headline driven anxiety. Josh shares a personal story about a family dinner reset involving a tableside Parmesan cheese wheel that turned a lethargic Sunday into a great start to the week . We then dive into the unique challenges of the retirement marathon for women, focusing on the specific financial whammies that hit when transitioning from a married to a single filer. From a last minute office wedding that saved a couple eighty thousand dollars in taxes to timeless wisdom from Ben Franklin on plugging financial leaks, this conversation is all about making retirement the best part of your life . We simplify the complex so you can focus on what truly matters most. 📞 Ready to talk? Call (630) 478-9599 to schedule your complimentary 15-minute call with a Wellment advisor.

    52 min

  5. 18 APR

    Lessons from Louisville and the Switch from Saving to Spending

    This week on Retire Well, Josh Bretl shares highlights from a family road trip to Louisville, Kentucky, including scouting reports from Mammoth Cave and the Louisville Slugger factory. Back in the office, Josh and Mark Elliott discuss the impact of economic cycles on consumer confidence and how inflation in energy costs has hit the headlines recently. Josh shares his perspective on why these periods occur and how the Wellment Way is designed to help retirees stay focused on their personal goals rather than market noise. We also tackle the reported rise in healthcare costs for retirees, which can reach an estimated $345,000 for a couple, and why medical expenses are often cited as a significant cause of financial strain in retirement. Finally, our mailbag addresses the psychological shift required to move from saving to spending, the potential complexities of acting as a "family bank" for your children, and strategies for managing Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs). 📞 Ready to talk? Call (630) 478-9599 to schedule your complimentary 15-minute call with a Wellment advisor.

    52 min

  6. 4 APR

    From Movie Night to Legacy Planning: Navigating Life Transitions

    In this episode of Retire Well, Josh Bretl and Mark Elliott explore the personal side of retirement planning, starting with a Saturday night in downtown Elmhurst that served as a reminder of how quickly life transitions occur. We dive into the often difficult topic of legacy and estate planning, discussing why clear documentation is the only way to protect your family from the courtroom battles that have plagued even the most famous estates. Josh also breaks down the concept of portfolio risk using a highway analogy. Are you driving your investments at 80 miles per hour when you should be slowing down for the residential streets of retirement? We discuss how to identify your unique risk score and why the Rule of 100 is just a starting point. Finally, we celebrate Financial Literacy Month by simplifying the complex: it is not about technical jargon, it is about understanding your spending to ensure you can live fully. Ready to talk? Call (630) 478-9599 to schedule your complimentary 15-minute call with a Wellment advisor.

    52 min

  7. 28 MAR

    The Power of the Reset: Navigating Volatility and Legacy Blunders

    Josh Bretl and Mark Elliott are back to help you navigate the bumps of retirement. After a snowy Chicago weekend that forced a much-needed family reset, Josh shares why every retiree needs a mental break from the noise. We dive into the current geopolitical headlines and why structuring your income matters more than timing the market. The main event today is legacy planning, the 5th step of the Wellment Way. Whether it is avoiding the tax traps for a surviving spouse or ensuring a child with special needs is protected, we cover the blunders that catch people off guard. Legacy planning is not just for the folks in mansions, it is for anyone who wants to leave their family with a plan instead of a mess. 📞 Ready to talk? Call (630) 478-9599 to schedule your complimentary 15-minute call with a Wellment advisor.

    52 min

  8. 21 MAR

    The Tax Trap: Why Your 401k Isn't All Yours

    Retirement used to be simpler when everyone had a pension. Today, we are living in a world of IRAs and 401k plans, which means you are now in a partnership with Uncle Sam that you might not have signed up for. This week on Retire Well, Josh Bretl explains why taxes are the single biggest variable in your retirement success. We discuss the hidden taxes that surprise many families, like the 10 year rule for inherited IRAs and the single filer tax hike that hits after losing a spouse. Whether you are two years out from your target date or already enjoying your free time, it is time to stop looking in the rearview mirror with tax prep and start looking ahead with tax planning. We also answer your questions about co-signing student loans and why a second opinion on your finances might be the key to marital harmony. Ready to talk? Call (630) 478-9599 to schedule your complimentary 15-minute call with a Wellment advisor.

    52 min
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About

Our weekly show dedicated to giving you the confidence to make retirement the best part of your life.

Information

  • Creator
    Josh Bretl
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    88
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Josh Bretl
  • Show Website
    Retire Well
  • Provider