083: Lessons from Louisville and the Switch from Saving to Spending

083: Lessons from Louisville and the Switch from Saving to Spending

From Retire Well by Josh Bretl

April 18, 2026 · 52 min · Episode 83

About this episode

Josh Bretl discusses lessons from a family trip to Louisville and the financial implications of economic cycles on retirees.

This week on Retire Well, Josh Bretl shares highlights from a family road trip to Louisville, Kentucky, including scouting reports from Mammoth Cave and the Louisville Slugger factory. Back in the office, Josh and Mark Elliott discuss the impact of economic cycles on consumer confidence and how inflation in energy costs has hit the headlines recently. Josh shares his perspective on why these periods occur and how the Wellment Way is designed to help retirees stay focused on their personal goals rather than market noise. We also tackle the reported rise in healthcare costs for retirees, which can reach an estimated $345,000 for a couple, and why medical expenses are often cited as a significant cause of financial strain in retirement. Finally, our mailbag addresses the psychological shift required to move from saving to spending, the potential complexities of acting as a "family bank" for your children, and strategies for managing Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs). 📞 Ready to talk? Call (630) 478-9599 to schedule your complimentary 15-minute call with a Wellment advisor.

People in this episode

Host: Josh Bretl

Topics covered

  • economic cycles
  • consumer confidence
  • inflation
  • healthcare costs
  • retirement planning
  • spending vs saving

Keywords

  • retirement
  • inflation
  • healthcare costs
  • consumer confidence
  • spending
  • saving
  • financial strain
  • Required Minimum Distributions

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Wellment

Places: Louisville, Mammoth Cave, Kentucky

More episodes of Retire Well

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Retire Well podcast page.