What if the real threat to your retirement isn't a market crash, but the quiet creep of inflation? You did the math. Money in, money out, and it looked like enough. David Bezar sits down again with Sean DeBarberie,CFP®, a financial advisor at Thrive, to unpack the headwind that quietly reshapes those numbers: inflation. They get into why retirement expenses tend to climb, not fall, the healthcare costs that rise faster than everything else, and the couple who were handed a fixed $4,000-a-month plan with no room for rising prices. Sean also breaks down the bucket approach Thrive calls GPS and the written income plan, or money map, that keeps a retirement moving with the times. You get one shot to retire right, and the do-overs cost. If inflation has you wondering whether your plan can keep pace, this conversation is your starting point. Listen now. Timestamped Highlights[00:01:45] The retirement headwind baby boomers didn’t see coming[00:02:45] The inflation reading behind today’s headlines, and why it matters at the kitchen table[00:03:56] The two numbers Sean pins down before building any income plan[00:04:12] What If Your $4,000-a-Month Plan Had a Costly Blind Spot?[00:06:26] Why Sean calls the budget the B-word, and how he reframes it[00:07:20] The retirement expense that climbs almost twice as fast as everything else[00:08:08] Why, in retirement, every day starts to feel like Friday or Saturday[00:08:46] The expenses that quietly slip through the monthly math[00:13:44] The GPS approach and the single biggest mistake Sean sees retirees make[00:14:46] Where your income should come from when the market takes a dive[00:17:26] The tax trap that hits the surviving spouse[00:18:22] Why downsizing boomers may swap a 3% mortgage for a 7% one[00:20:17] The Social Security COLA gap almost no one plans around[00:22:43] The retirement rules of thumb that can quietly hurt you, from the $2M myth to the 4% rule[00:24:27] The first question to ask your advisor: where is my written income plan? Mentioned ResourcesThrive Financial Services complimentary retirement evaluation and money map. Book online at thrivefinancialservices.com. The 4% rule, from William Bengen, author of the original 4% rule study. About the GuestSean DeBarberie, CFP®, ChFC®, RICP® is a financial advisor at Thrive Financial Services, which he joined in 2024 with over 8 years of experience across the banking and financial advisory industries. He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® practitioner and also holds the Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®) and Retirement Income Certified Professional® (RICP®) designations, along with an MBA from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania. As a fiduciary, Sean focuses on designing and monitoring tax-efficient retirement income plans, simplifying the complexities of retirement so families can enjoy their retirement years. 🔗 LinkedIn | Website Important LinksConnect with David: Website | LinkedIn How to work with us on Retirement and Advanced Tax Planning Check out our Client Success Stories Disclosure: Thrive Capital Management, LLC, is an SEC-Registered Investment Advisory firm. SEC registration does not constitute an endorsement of the firm by the SEC, nor does it indicate a particular level of skill or ability. Insurance products and services offered through Thrive Financial Services, LLC. Thrive Financial Services and Thrive Capital Management, LLC are affiliated companies. For more information please visit: https://adviserinfo.sec.gov and search for our firm name. This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended as legal, tax, or investment advice, or as a recommendation of any particular security or strategy. The investment strategy and themes discussed herein may be unsuitable for investors depending on their specific investment objectives and financial situation. Information obtained from third-party sources is believed to be reliable though its accuracy is not guaranteed. Opinions expressed in this commentary reflect subjective judgments of the author based on conditions at the time of publication and are subject to change without notice. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Any references to protection benefits or lifetime income generally refer to fixed insurance products, never securities or investment products. Insurance and annuity product guarantees are backed by the financial strength and claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company. Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Center for Financial Planning, Inc. owns and licenses the certification marks CFP® and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® in the United States to Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., which authorizes individuals who successfully complete the organization’s initial and ongoing certification requirements to use the certification marks. Thrive in Retirement is an original production hosted by David Bezar. Brought to you by Thrive Financial Services. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.
