Retirement Wellness and Financial Planning: Nurturing Wholeness in Life's New Phase

Why This Episode Is a Must-Watch

Are you rethinking what retirement means?

Forget the “end-of-the-road” narrative. Today’s retirement is about launching a purposeful, fulfilling new chapter on your own terms.

In this episode of Inspired Money, host Andy Wang brings together a expert panel of retirement planning, financial wellness, and lifestyle experts to share actionable strategies for creating a holistic, sustainable, and satisfying retirement.

Whether you’re decades away from hanging up your hat or already on your early-retirement path, this discussion will challenge how you think about mind, body, and money—and what it really takes to thrive in your next chapter. 

Meet the Expert Panelists

Christine Benz is Director of Personal Finance and Retirement Planning at Morningstar, where she has helped millions of investors make smarter decisions through her writing, speaking, and podcast, The Long View. She is the author of the forthcoming book How to Retire: 20 Lessons for a Happy, Successful, and Wealthy Retirement, and has been recognized by Barron’s as one of the most influential women in finance.  https://www.morningstar.com  

Pete Neuwirth, FSA, FCA, is a senior consulting actuary with over 35 years of experience helping Fortune 500 companies design and fund executive and retirement benefit programs. A thought leader in holistic financial wellness, he is the author of What’s Your Future Worth? and Money Mountaineering, and continues to consult, write, and speak on retirement, longevity, and decision-making in a complex world.  https://neuwirthassociates.consulting 

Jason Vitug is a bestselling author, wellness advisor, and storyteller who empowers people to live with purpose, financial confidence, and emotional well-being. As the author of You Only Live Once and Happy Money Happy Life, and founder of Phroogal and The Smile Lifestyle, he blends personal finance, travel, mindfulness, and self-development to inspire holistic living.  http://phroogal.com 

Jordan Grumet, MD is a hospice physician, personal finance educator, and host of the acclaimed Earn & Invest podcast, where he explores the intersection of money, purpose, and meaning. He is the author of “Taking Stock: A Hospice Doctor’s Advice on Financial Independence, Building Wealth, and Living a Regret-Free Life” and "The Purpose Code,” blending his unique medical and financial perspectives to inspire intentional living.  https://jordangrumet.com

Key Highlights:

1. Social Wellness: The Overlooked Retirement Strategy
   Christine Benz emphasizes that while most people obsess over the money piece, “relationships and social connections are a very underrated component of life satisfaction and happiness.” Long before you retire, invest as much in your social life and purpose as you do in your portfolio.
   
   
2. The Holistic, Multi-Dimensional Approach
   Jason Vitug stresses the interconnectedness of mental, emotional, physical, and financial well-being: “If we let go of one area or focus too much on one dimension, that has a negative ripple effect on the others when we neglect them.” He urges proactive self-care for a genuinely fulfilling retirement, not just a financially secure one. 
   
   
3. Planning for Risk and Flexibility
   Pete Neuwirth reveals that successful retirement involves more than numbers: “It's really all about managing the risks in the decumulation in the retirement phase, including sequence of returns, but also longevity, spike expense and other things like taxes.” He recommends home equity and part-time work as often-underused “buffer” assets. 
   
   
4. Emotional Preparedness: Redefining Identity Post-Career
   Jordan Grumet and Christine highlight the emotional side: retirees often struggle with identity and purpose once their work routines and roles fall away. Jordan suggests revisiting childhood passions. Christine recommends testing meaningful activities in advance so retirement transitions are smoother and more joyful.

Call-to-Action

Here’s your one thing you should do this week: Take 20 minutes to write down your vision for retirement... not just the numbers, but the life. What does a meaningful day look like? Who are you with? What are you doing? Then ask: What small step can I take now to start living that vision today? Then reverse engineer that back to your finances. 

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Find the Inspired Money channel on YouTube or listen to Inspired Money in your favorite podcast player. Andy Wang, Host/Producer of Inspired Money