087: Sweating the Small Stuff: Lessons from an 85 Degree Seminar

087: Sweating the Small Stuff: Lessons from an 85 Degree Seminar

From Retire Well by Josh Bretl

May 16, 2026 · 52 min · Episode 87

About this episode

Josh Bretl shares insights from a challenging Social Security workshop, discussing the importance of confidence in retirement and holistic financial planning.

Josh Bretl begins this episode with a story from a recent Social Security workshop in Wheaton where the room hit 85 degrees, the fans sounded like a hurricane, and his laptop died mid-presentation. While it felt like a disaster, sitting down with the audience led to a profound connection with a recent widow who felt lost in the complexity of retirement. We explore why confidence in retirement is plummeting for 39% of American workers. Josh breaks down the truth about Social Security cuts and Medicare surcharges, explaining why your tax strategy is just as important as your investment strategy. We also dive into the Wellment Way, a holistic approach that covers income, assets, taxes, healthcare, and legacy planning. Learn how to separate your must haves from your nice to haves to ensure you never outlive your money. 📞 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

  • retirement planning
  • Social Security
  • tax strategy
  • investment strategy
  • holistic approach
  • financial confidence

Keywords

  • retirement
  • Social Security cuts
  • Medicare surcharges
  • tax strategy
  • investment strategy
  • financial planning
  • Wellment Way

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Social Security, Medicare

Books & works: Wellment Way

Places: Wheaton

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