The On-Track Retirement Show

Pat Schmidt & Jay Curatti

5.0 (2)
Investing
Updated Weekly

Hosted by Pat Schmidt and Jay Curatti of Lasting Mark Retirement Group, The On-Track Retirement Show delivers weekly insights on tax planning, retirement income, long-term care, and smart investing. Whether you're nearing retirement or refining your current plan, we give you the tools and confidence to pursue the retirement of your dreams. New episodes every Tuesday at 8:00 AM.

1d ago

The Sequence of Returns Trap: The Risk Nobody Talks About

Two retirees. Same savings. Same average returns. Completely different retirement outcomes. Why? Timing. In this episode of the On-Track Retirement Show, Pat Schmidt and Jay Curatti break down the sequence of returns trap—one of the biggest risks retirees can face when they begin taking income from their investments. Using a simple example of two retirees who each begin with $1 million and withdraw $60,000 per year, they demonstrate how experiencing market losses early in retirement can create a dramatically different outcome—even when the average returns are identical. In this episode, you'll discover:Why the first few years of retirement can have an outsized impact on your financial futureHow identical average returns can produce very different retirement outcomesWhy “average rate of return” doesn't always tell the whole storyHow withdrawals can amplify market lossesWhy your income strategy may be just as important as your investment strategyHow retirement guardrails and stress testing can help prepare your plan for market downturnsWhy a customized retirement income plan can help you prepare for the unexpectedRetirement shouldn't depend on hoping the market cooperates at exactly the right time. The goal is to build a plan designed to help you get on track, stay on track, and have a confident retirement. Want a second opinion on your retirement plan? 👉 FOR A COMPLIMENTARY ON-TRACK RETIREMENT REVIEW Visit MyOnTrackRetirement.com to schedule your complimentary On-Track Retirement Review. Subscribe for more conversations designed to help you make informed decisions as you approach and move through retirement. Thanks for listening! If today's episode was helpful, subscribe so you never miss a Tuesday episode. Ready to build your retirement plan? Visit us at myontrackretirement.com
Aug 11

The Retirement Stress Test: 7 Questions Every Family Should Answer

What would happen to your retirement plan if the market dropped 30%? What if taxes rise, inflation stays elevated, or you or your spouse suddenly need long-term care? A confident retirement isn’t necessarily about reaching a magic savings number. It’s about having a plan that can handle the unexpected. In this episode of the On-Track Retirement Show, Pat Schmidt and Jay Curatti walk through seven important questions every retiree and pre-retiree should be able to answer before stepping into retirement. They discuss: • What happens to your retirement income if the market takes a major downturn • How losing a spouse could affect income, Social Security, pensions, and household finances • Whether your retirement income plan is prepared for years of inflation • How a long-term care need could affect your family and your savings • Why taxes on 401(k)s, IRAs, and other retirement accounts deserve attention before retirement • The importance of getting spouses and family members aligned on retirement goals • The ultimate question: If retirement started tomorrow, would you feel confident? Retirement isn’t simply a financial finish line—it’s a major life transition. The goal isn’t to eliminate every unknown. It’s to build a plan that reduces unnecessary surprises and gives you greater clarity about what comes next. Want a second opinion on your retirement plan? 👉 Schedule a complimentary On-Track Retirement Review at MyOnTrackRetirement.com During your review, the On-Track Retirement team can help you evaluate your current strategy, identify potential retirement roadblocks, and determine whether you’re truly on track for the retirement you want. If this episode helped you, be sure to like, subscribe, and share the On-Track Retirement Show with someone who is preparing for retirement. Thanks for listening! If today's episode was helpful, subscribe so you never miss a Tuesday episode. Ready to build your retirement plan? Visit us at myontrackretirement.com
Aug 4

Retirement Isn’t the Finish Line—It’s The Restart

For most of our lives, retirement feels like the finish line. We work, save, sacrifice, and look forward to the day when we finally have more freedom. But retirement is not the end of your story—it can be the beginning of an entirely new chapter. In this episode of the On-Track Retirement Show, Pat Schmidt and Jay Curatti explore the four stages many people experience after leaving the workforce: • The celebration stage • The adjustment stage • The discovery stage • The contribution stage They discuss why preparing financially is only one part of retirement planning. A truly fulfilling retirement also requires you to think about your purpose, relationships, passions, goals, and the legacy you want to leave behind. You’ll also learn why it is important to ask not only, “What am I retiring from?” but also, “What am I retiring to?”Whether your next chapter includes traveling, spending time with family, serving your community, mentoring others, pursuing a new passion, or creating a meaningful legacy, a thoughtful retirement plan can give you the freedom and confidence to make it possible.Ready for a second opinion on your retirement strategy? Visit MyOnTrackRetirement.com to schedule your complimentary On-Track Retirement Review and speak with a member of our retirement advising team. Get on track. Stay on track. Have a confident retirement. Thanks for listening! If today's episode was helpful, subscribe so you never miss a Tuesday episode. Ready to build your retirement plan? Visit us at myontrackretirement.com
Jul 28

What Retirees Regret Most And How to Avoid It

What do retirees wish they had done differently? Surprisingly, many of the most common retirement regrets have little to do with investment returns. Instead, they center on time, family, health, purpose, preparation, and having the confidence to truly enjoy retirement. In this episode of the On-Track Retirement Show, Jay and Pat discuss five of the biggest regrets they hear from retirees:• Waiting too long to retire • Not spending enough time with family and friends • Neglecting physical and emotional health • Entering retirement without a detailed plan • Living too cautiously and missing meaningful experiences Retirement planning is not simply about accumulating the largest account balance possible. It is about creating a strategy that allows you to spend time with the people you love, pursue meaningful experiences, care for your health, live generously, and enjoy your retirement with greater confidence. A comprehensive retirement plan should help answer important questions such as: Where will your retirement income come from? How could taxes affect your savings? What happens if the market declines? How will you prepare for healthcare and long-term care costs? What happens financially if one spouse passes away? The goal is not merely to have a long retirement. The goal is to have a healthy, purposeful, confident retirement without looking back and wishing you had done more. Visit MyOnTrackRetirement.com to get started. Schedule your complimentary On-Track Retirement Review at MyOnTrackRetirement.com. During your review, our retirement advising team can help you evaluate your current strategy, address your unanswered questions, and determine whether your plan is aligned with the retirement you want to experience. Get on track. Stay on track. Live a confident retirement. Thanks for listening! If today's episode was helpful, subscribe so you never miss a Tuesday episode. Ready to build your retirement plan? Visit us at myontrackretirement.com
Jul 21

The Retirement Red Zone: The 5 Years That Change Everything

In football, games are often won or lost in the red zone. The field gets tighter, the pressure increases, and every decision matters. Retirement has a red zone, too: the five years leading up to retirement and the first five years after you retire. During this critical window, financial mistakes can become magnified—and you may not have decades to recover from them. In this episode of the On-Track Retirement Show, Pat and Jay explain why the strategies that helped you accumulate wealth may not be the same strategies you need as you begin living from it. They also break down five major decisions that should be coordinated as part of your retirement game plan: • Creating a written retirement income plan • Managing market risk and protecting your savings • Developing a proactive tax strategy • Preparing for healthcare and long-term care expenses • Choosing the right time to claim Social Security Retirement planning should not be a collection of disconnected decisions. Your income, investments, taxes, healthcare strategy, and Social Security benefits all need to work together. Before you continue running the same financial plays, it may be time to call a timeout, huddle up, and make sure you have the right playbook for this stage of life. 🏈 READY TO REVIEW YOUR RETIREMENT GAME PLAN? Receive a complimentary On-Track Retirement Review and discover whether your current strategy is designed to help you successfully navigate the retirement red zone. Visit MyOnTrackRetirement.com to get started. Subscribe to the On-Track Retirement Show for more conversations designed to help you get on track, stay on track, and enjoy a confident retirement.#RetirementPlanning #RetirementIncome #FinancialPlanning #SocialSecurity #RetirementTaxes Thanks for listening! If today's episode was helpful, subscribe so you never miss a Tuesday episode. Ready to build your retirement plan? Visit us at myontrackretirement.com
Jul 14

Can You Really Retire In A Market Like This?

Retirement can feel overwhelming when every headline is talking about market volatility, inflation, interest rates, and economic uncertainty. If you're asking yourself, "Can I really afford to retire right now?" you're not alone. In this episode of the On-Track Retirement Show, Pat Schmidt and Jay Curatti explain why successful retirement isn't about predicting what the markets will do next—it's about building a plan that can weather uncertainty. You'll learn: Why market volatility affects retirees differently than those still savingThe biggest mistake many pre-retirees make with their investment portfoliosHow sequence of returns risk can impact your retirement incomeWhy having an investment portfolio isn't the same as having a retirement strategyThe importance of income planning, tax planning, healthcare planning, and protecting your retirement savingsHow a coordinated retirement plan can provide confidence regardless of market conditionsInstead of reacting to every headline, discover how thoughtful planning can help you retire with greater peace of mind and confidence. 📍 Schedule Your Complimentary On-Track Retirement Review: 👉 MyOnTrackRetirement.com If you found this episode helpful, be sure to: 👍 Like this video 💬 Leave us a comment with your retirement questions 📺 Subscribe for more retirement planning insights each week Thanks for listening! If today's episode was helpful, subscribe so you never miss a Tuesday episode. Ready to build your retirement plan? Visit us at myontrackretirement.com
Jul 7

Why Your Retirement Plan May Not Survive Inflation

What if the biggest threat to your retirement isn't a market crash—but inflation? While inflation rarely makes headlines every day, it quietly chips away at your purchasing power year after year. In this episode of the On-Track Retirement Show, Pat and Jay explain why inflation is one of the most underestimated risks retirees face and how it can impact your income, healthcare costs, taxes, and overall retirement lifestyle. In this episode, you'll learn:Why inflation can be more dangerous than market volatility over timeHow a 3% inflation rate can nearly double your living expenses over 20 yearsWhy healthcare inflation deserves special attention in retirementThe hidden risks of holding too much cash or relying solely on CDsWhy true retirement planning requires both protection and long-term growthHow to create a retirement strategy designed to keep pace with inflationA successful retirement isn't just about how much you've saved—it's about creating a plan that helps your money work for you throughout retirement .👉 Schedule your complimentary On-Track Retirement Review today: MyOnTrackRetirement.com 📺 Watch more episodes of the On-Track Retirement Show for practical retirement planning strategies designed to help you retire with confidence. Thanks for listening! If today's episode was helpful, subscribe so you never miss a Tuesday episode. Ready to build your retirement plan? Visit us at myontrackretirement.com
Jun 30

The Retirement Identity Crisis: Who Are You Without Work?

You've spent decades building your career, raising a family, and preparing financially for retirement—but have you prepared emotionally? In this episode of the On-Track Retirement Show, Pat Schmidt and Jay Curatti explore one of the biggest challenges retirees face: the Retirement Identity Crisis. While many people carefully plan their finances, few take time to consider what life will actually look and feel like after the career they've built comes to an end. Join us as we discuss:Why retirement can feel unexpectedly disorientingThe difference between retiring from work and retiring to something meaningfulThe four things retirees miss most after leaving the workforceHow purpose, relationships, community, and contribution create a fulfilling retirementQuestions everyone should ask before making the transition into retirementRetirement isn't about stopping life—it's about redesigning it. The most successful retirees don't simply leave work behind; they intentionally build a life filled with purpose, connection, and meaning. 👉 Schedule your complimentary On-Track Retirement Review: MyOnTrackRetirement.com 📺 Subscribe for more retirement planning strategies that go beyond investments and taxes to help you retire with confidence. #RetirementPlanning #RetirementLifestyle #PurposeInRetirement #FinancialPlanning #OnTrackRetirement Thanks for listening! If today's episode was helpful, subscribe so you never miss a Tuesday episode. Ready to build your retirement plan? Visit us at myontrackretirement.com

5

out of 5

2 Ratings

Hosted by Pat Schmidt and Jay Curatti of Lasting Mark Retirement Group, The On-Track Retirement Show delivers weekly insights on tax planning, retirement income, long-term care, and smart investing. Whether you're nearing retirement or refining your current plan, we give you the tools and confidence to pursue the retirement of your dreams. New episodes every Tuesday at 8:00 AM.

Creator

Pat Schmidt & Jay Curatti
Years Active

2026
Episodes

24
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© 2025 Lasting Mark Retirement Group. All rights reserved.
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