New Year, New Focus

Episode Highlights with Timestamps

[00:00] Introduction: Cleared for Takeoff

• The episode begins with a friendly welcome from Bill and Pete Bush.
• Reflecting on the transition into 2025: New beginnings, fresh plans, and the excitement (and challenges) of the New Year.

[02:00] Why New Year's Resolutions Fail

• Pete discusses Steven Pressfield’s The War of Art and the concept of “Resistance,” the internal force that challenges personal growth and improvement.
• How to recognize and overcome resistance to stay committed to your goals.

[04:00] Start the Year with a Financial Check-In

• Bill shares his habit of tracking account balances in a spreadsheet to monitor progress over the years.
• Key steps for an annual financial check-up:
• Review account balances (emergency savings, retirement plans, etc.).
• Evaluate progress year-over-year.
• Adjust contributions to retirement plans, leveraging auto-escalation or increasing savings rates after raises.

[06:30] Chapter Spotlight: "Where Are You Now?"

• Revisiting the book chapter that emphasizes the importance of reassessing your financial position regularly.
• Discussion on adapting to changes, such as career shifts, family events, or market fluctuations, and their impact on financial planning.

[08:45] Health Goals: Making it to and Through Retirement

• The importance of proactive healthcare and maintaining physical fitness.
• Bill and Pete share personal habits, including annual physicals and regular checkups.
• Insights into the connection between health span (active, healthy years) and financial planning.
• Fun ways to stay active, including pickleball, which Pete is excited to pursue further.

[11:30] The Role of Relationships in Longevity

• The hosts explore how building and maintaining healthy relationships can lead to a longer, happier life.
• The importance of socialization: spending time with friends, family, and community members.
• Encouraging listeners to connect with others and avoid the isolation often amplified by social media.

[13:45] Who Not How: Leveraging Your Network

• Discussion on Dan Sullivan’s Who Not How and the value of enlisting the help of others to accomplish goals.
• Using this approach to strengthen relationships while lightening your workload.

[15:30] Pickleball and Social Fitness

• Bill and Pete share their experiences with pickleball and how it blends fitness with social interaction.
• Pete jokes about his deceptive left-handed gameplay and encourages listeners to challenge them to a match.

[18:00] Three Years of Podcasting

• Celebrating the upcoming three-year anniversary of The Runway Decade Podcast.
• Encouraging listeners to revisit earlier episodes featuring unique and inspiring guests who shared insights into navigating their 50s.
• Reflection on the commonalities and differences in experiences among people in their 50s.

[20:45] Looking Ahead to 2025

• Bill and Pete express excitement for the year ahead, both for the podcast and their work at Horizon Financial Group.
• Setting goals for the future and the importance of reassessing plans regularly.

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Notable Quotes

• “Resistance shows up when you're doing something meaningful. Recognize it, and push through.” – Pete Bush
• “You’re saving for retirement, but are you going to make it there in good health? And when you do, will you have people to enjoy it with?” – Bill Bush
• “Health span is about living an active, healthy life for as long as you can, not just extending a sick life.” – Pete Bush

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Resources Mentioned

• Books:
• The War of Art by Steven Pressfield
• The Runway Decade: Building a Pre-retirement Flight Plan in Your Fifties – Buy the book
• Tools and Strategies:
• Auto-escalation for retirement contributions.
• Setting phone reminders for periodic financial or health check-ins.

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Call to Action

• Explore Past Episodes: Visit TheRunwayDecade.com to listen to previous episodes featuring inspiring guests.

Contact Us: Have questions or want to connect? https://www.runwaydecade.com/#contact