Ep 523: The Hidden Retirement Risk: What Happens To Your Money When You Can No Longer Manage It?

Ep 523: The Hidden Retirement Risk: What Happens To Your Money When You Can No Longer Manage It?

From HerMoney with Jean Chatzky by Jean Chatzky Her Money

April 15, 2026 · 34 min · Episode 523

About this episode

This episode discusses the impact of cognitive decline on retirement planning and offers practical steps to protect finances.

You’ve planned for retirement. You’ve built your savings, mapped out your Social Security strategy, and thought through market risks. But what happens if one day, you can’t manage your money at all? It’s an uncomfortable question – and one many people avoid. Yet, research shows that cognitive decline can quietly undermine financial decision-making, often earlier than we expect, and with serious consequences. On this special episode of HerMoney, sponsored by LIMRA, Dr. Chris Heye, LIMRA Retirement Income Institute Fellow and CEO of Whealthcare Planning and Wealthcare Solutions, explains why health risks – especially cognitive decline – may be one of the biggest blind spots in retirement planning today. Then, Erin Gilmore Smith, Head of Estate Planning for Edelman Financial Engines, joins us to share practical steps you can take now to protect your finances, your family, and your future self. In this episode, they’ll highlight: Why health risks – and especially cognitive decline – might matter more than the markets How cognitive decline shows up in our finances, before we realize we have it Why women are more challenged when it comes to the risk of cognitive decline – and how we…

People in this episode

Host: Jean Chatzky

Guests: Dr. Chris Heye, Erin Gilmore Smith

Topics covered

  • retirement planning
  • cognitive decline
  • financial decision-making
  • health risks
  • women's financial challenges
  • protected income

Keywords

  • retirement
  • cognitive health
  • financial stability
  • health risks
  • decision-making
  • women's health

Sponsors

LIMRA

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Edelman Financial Engines, Whealthcare Planning, Wealthcare Solutions

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