086: Beyond the Pension: Building Your Own Retirement Paycheck

086: Beyond the Pension: Building Your Own Retirement Paycheck

From Retire Well by Josh Bretl

May 9, 2026 · 52 min · Episode 86

About this episode

Josh Bretl and Mark Elliott discuss the shift in retirement planning and strategies for building a retirement paycheck.

In this episode of Retire Well , Josh Bretl and Mark Elliott discuss the fundamental shift in retirement planning over the last few decades. With traditional pensions largely a thing of the past, today’s retirees must act as their own pension managers. Josh breaks down the recent Federal Reserve Beige Report and explains why emotional reactions to global uncertainty often lead to costly mistakes. We dive deep into the Wellment Way, specifically the strategy of income blending across different tax buckets to minimize your lifetime tax liability. You will learn about the three tax buckets (Tax Me Now, Tax Me Later, and Tax Free) and how a written strategy can provide the clarity you deserve. Whether you are ten years out or already retired, this conversation offers a clear path toward financial freedom. 📞 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

Guest: Mark Elliott

Topics covered

  • retirement planning
  • pensions
  • tax strategies
  • financial freedom
  • income blending

Keywords

  • retirement
  • pension management
  • tax buckets
  • financial strategy
  • lifetime tax liability

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Federal Reserve, Wellment

Books & works: Beige Report

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