The Hidden $1M Most Retirees Forget to Count

The Hidden $1M Most Retirees Forget to Count

From Retirement Made Simple by Kevin Lum, CFP®

February 28, 2026 · 10 min

About this episode

This episode discusses a more comprehensive way to calculate net worth for retirement, highlighting the value of Social Security and pension benefits.

Most people calculate their net worth by adding up their 401(k), IRA, and home equity, then subtracting debt. But that number is incomplete — and it might be causing you to spend less, worry more, and make worse retirement decisions than you need to. In this video, I walk you through a better way to calculate your net worth that includes the portfolio equivalency of your Social Security and pension benefits. For the couple in this example, that "hidden" wealth added up to over $1 million — a 72% increase over their traditional net worth.

People in this episode

Host: Kevin Lum

Topics covered

  • net worth calculation
  • retirement planning
  • Social Security
  • pension benefits
  • financial decision making

Keywords

  • retirement
  • net worth
  • financial planning
  • Social Security
  • pension
  • wealth calculation
  • investment

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