The Retirement Red Zone
From Dollars & Common Sense by Wealthway Financial Advisors
February 12, 2026 · 43 min
About this episode
This episode discusses the critical financial decisions to make during the Retirement Red Zone, emphasizing coordination over performance for retirement success.
In this episode, we define the Retirement Red Zone—the five years before and after retirement—when financial decisions become larger, more permanent, and far less forgiving. We walk through the five critical choices that can make or break retirement: when to claim Social Security, how to turn savings into reliable income, managing taxes and RMDs, preparing for healthcare and longevity risk, and ensuring control and continuity if life interrupts the plan. The central message is clear: retirement success is driven less by chasing performance and more by coordination across income, taxes, healthcare, and family decisions. If you’re approaching retirement—or already there—this episode offers a structured framework to avoid costly missteps and replace uncertainty with clarity and confidence.
Topics covered
- Retirement
- Financial Planning
- Social Security
- Income Management
- Healthcare
Keywords
- Retirement Red Zone
- financial decisions
- taxes
- RMDs
- longevity risk
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