Retirement Answer Man Roger Whitney, CFP®, CIMA®, RMA, CPWA®, AIF®

Nobody wants to face life as a widow or widower. However, it is an unfortunate reality that many must face. Successfully navigating widowhood could be easier if you could prepare yourself in advance. In this Widowed in Retirement series, we aim to do just that. 
Today you’ll learn how you can start life again on your own. Mark Trautman joins me again to discuss his experience moving forward after the death of your spouse. He touches on prioritizing actions to take, setting up a summarized retirement plan, and rebuilding your life as a single person. 
While we didn’t have time for Listener Questions today, we have a bonus interview with Chris Bentley from Wings for Widows as well as a chat with Lori Mage in our Bring It On segment.
Listen in to learn what you can do to rebuild your life and begin again.
OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN PRACTICAL PLANNING SEGMENT A CHAT WITH MARK TRAUTMAN [5:16] Our time is finite - make use of it [7:42] Could people have reacted better? [10:55] What were short-term actions [18:02] A retirement plan summary document [20:39] Going forward A CHAT WITH CHRIS BENTLEY FROM WINGS FOR WIDOWS [23:04] How he decided to create Wings for Widows [31:52] Working with the financially illiterate  [38:02] How to plan for widowhood BRING IT ON WITH LORI MAGE [41:02] On relationships [43:33] What Lori did to build a relationship with herself TODAY’S SMART SPRINT SEGMENT [50:30] When you mess up say it was a mis-take Resources Mentioned In This Episode Lori Mage
Heroic App
Wings for Widows
Foundation for Financial Planning
BOOK - The Leadership Challenge by James Kouzes
BOOK - After the Death of Your Spouse by Mike Piper
BOOK - Option B by Sheryl Sandberg
Rock Retirement Club
Roger’s YouTube Channel - Roger That
BOOK - Rock Retirement  by Roger Whitney
Roger’s Retirement Learning Center

If you are married, chances are you or your spouse will have to suffer through widowhood. The Widowed in Retirement series aims to help you navigate this difficult transition as best you can. Today, Mark Trautman joins me again to discuss how to work through the huge financial changes that result from losing a spouse. 
There are myriad financial considerations to be aware of during this change, so this may be an episode that you want to bookmark to refer back to later or send to a friend in need. Press play to listen.
OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN PRACTICAL PLANNING SEGMENT [3:26] A common myth of widowhood [5:11] What changes occur when you go from two to one [9:27] Expenses don’t change [16:44] Creating a new financial plan [20:20] Tax planning [25:25] Social Security benefits LISTENER QUESTIONS [36:55] A 59 ½ IRA withdrawal rule question [38:52] How to calculate the 5-year rule for a Roth IRA [40:27] How to handle the cash bucket in a down market  [45:03] Healthcare before Medicare BRING IT ON WITH MARK ROSS [49:11] What is passion? [51:23] How to explore your passions [55:15] Building boundaries around your passions so they don’t become work TODAY’S SMART SPRINT SEGMENT [58:45] Put dabble on your calendar Resources Mentioned In This Episode BOOK - After the Death of Your Spouse by Mike Piper
BOOK - Taking Stock by Jordan Grumet
BOOK - AARP Checklist for My Family by Sally Balche Hurme
BOOK - So Good They Can’t Ignore You by Cal Newport
BOOK - How to Think Like Leonardo Da Vinci by Michael Gelb
Everplans
Episode 477 - Navigating Life Changes
Rock Retirement Club
Roger’s YouTube Channel - Roger That
BOOK - Rock Retirement  by Roger Whitney
Roger’s Retirement Learning Center
 

Even though it is difficult to think about it, at some point, those of us who are married will have to think about one of you transitioning from two to one. 
This week we’re exploring the nonfinancial impacts of this transition with someone who has walked this journey. Rock Retirement Club member, Mark Trautman shares his personal journey through his life-changing experience. 
Mark shares the challenges and the tools that have helped him get through this heartbreaking part of his life so that he can move forward and rock retirement on his own. 
After the main segment, you’ll hear our listener questions and then we’ll Bring It On with Dr. Bobby Dubois. Dr. Bobby will help us understand why sleep is so important and what we can do to improve the quality of our sleep. Don’t miss out on this important episode. 
OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN PRACTICAL PLANNING SEGMENT [3:27] The more open you are the more you can deal [7:58] What you lose when you lose a spouse [11:38] Redefining goals after widowhood [16:23] Dealing with grief [21:33] Building community  LISTENER QUESTIONS [31:20] My response to a scathing review on Retirement Plan Live [34:54] Another Retirement Plan Live review [37:28] How to replenish funds  [44:48] A question about Rosie’s HELOC loan [46:31] Insight on huzzah! BRING IT ON WITH DR. BOBBY DUBOIS [48:41] Why is sleep so important [51:52] How to improve sleep [58:33] How to get to sleep [1:04:30] Dealing with chronic pain and sleep TODAY’S SMART SPRINT SEGMENT [1:14:59] Use Bobby’s tips to experiment with your sleep Resources Mentioned In This Episode Examine.com
BOOK - Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker
Leeds sleep evaluation questionnaire
BOOK - Taking Stock by Jordan Grumet
Rock Retirement Club
Roger’s YouTube Channel - Roger That
BOOK - Rock Retirement  by Roger Whitney
Roger’s Retirement Learning Center

If you have been listening to this show for a while, chances are you already know how to rock your retirement. However, this can all change with the loss of a spouse. All of your best-laid plans change in an instant. That’s why this month we are focusing on going from two to one. 
Learn how to navigate your mindset–transition from this sucks, to how I will work through this, to having a great life. Press play to listen.
OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN PRACTICAL PLANNING SEGMENT [5:47] Announcements [6:44] Books I read in February LISTENER QUESTIONS [11:46] Roth conversions and taxes [17:31] Roth conversions or capital gains? [23:10] How to create a paycheck between ages 62-72 BRING IT ON WITH KEVIN LYLES [29:12] Finding meaning and purpose in retirement  [38:52] Create a mission statement TODAY’S SMART SPRINT SEGMENT [41:05] Think about your mindset Resources Mentioned In This Episode Episode 310 - The Pie Cake
Andy Panko
BOOK - Traction by Gino Wickman
BOOK - Be 2.0 by Jim Collins
BOOK - Rethinking Positive Thinking by Gabrielle Oettingen
TV SERIES - SAS Rogue Heroes on MGM streaming
TV SERIES - Shrinking on Apple TV
Rock Retirement Club
Roger’s YouTube Channel - Roger That
BOOK - Rock Retirement  by Roger Whitney
Roger’s Retirement Learning Center

Life is what happens to us when we are busy making other plans. This is especially true during transitions. As I transition to adding a new segment to this show, it’s gotten a bit messy. It’s been a bumpy road and not everything has gone according to plan.
Listen in to hear how this applies to retirement planning. While you’re at it you’ll hear how to decide whether to rebalance a portfolio and how to nurture relationships. Press play so that you can start rocking retirement.
OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN PRACTICAL PLANNING SEGMENT [0:39] Life is happening now LISTENER QUESTIONS [5:35] Should I rebalance now? [11:52] Selling rental properties [16:13] Do I take the pension or the lump sum? BRING IT ON WITH NICK KENNEDY [21:28] The 4 quadrants of relational nutrients [29:29] Take action and be present TODAY’S SMART SPRINT SEGMENT [31:50] Get the relational nutrient card and practice it Resources Mentioned In This Episode Pension or Lump Sum on YouTube
BOOK - People Fuel by John Townsend
Rock Retirement Club
Roger’s YouTube Channel - Roger That
BOOK - Rock Retirement  by Roger Whitney
Roger’s Retirement Learning Center

Do you ever feel like a curmudgeon when you hear about new technology? Listen in to find out what has me putting on my sourpuss hat this week.
We have a variety of interesting listener questions this week. Listen in to learn about purchasing brokerage CDs and CDs on the secondary market, how to decide whether to take the pension or the lump sum, and how to determine whether to become a 1099 contractor rather than a W2 employee.
In the Bring It On segment you’ll hear about what work looks like in retirement from Mark Ross. Spoiler alert: you can work in retirement!
OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN LISTENER QUESTIONS [4:06] Brokerage CDs and CDs on the secondary market [9:34] How to decide to take the pension or the lump sum [14:38] What does huzzah mean? [15:18] How to determine whether to become a 1099 contractor rather than a W2 employee BRING IT ON WITH MARK ROSS [22:31] What work looks like in retirement [24:45] How to determine whether you should work in retirement [28:49] 3 categories of work [31:00] What you can do to help you determine your work in retirement TODAY’S SMART SPRINT SEGMENT [31:53] Download the Relational Nutrient Card Resources Mentioned In This Episode Rock Retirement Club
Roger’s YouTube Channel - Roger That
BOOK - Rock Retirement  by Roger Whitney
Roger’s Retirement Learning Center