The Simply Retirement Podcast

Retirement brings freedom and flexibility, but it also raises important questions about how and where you want to live as life changes over time. What happens if your current home no longer fits your needs? How do you balance emotional attachment, financial realities, and practical lifestyle decisions while planning for the future? In this episode, I discuss how choosing where to live in retirement should be viewed as an ongoing process rather than a one-time decision. I share real conversations from our retirement planning practice about downsizing, staying in the family home, healthcare access, mobility concerns, and the emotional side of relocating later in life. We also explain why planning ahead can help retirees maintain independence and avoid difficult decisions during stressful moments. Key takeaways: Looking beyond downsizing and focusing on how daily life may change throughout retirement Preparing a current home for aging needs before mobility or health concerns become urgent Weighing emotional attachment against financial and practical retirement decisions Considering proximity to family, healthcare, and community support when relocating Understanding how housing costs affect retirement income and long-term flexibility And more! Resources: Get Your FREE Simply Retirement Roadmap #21 – Navigating Senior Living Decisions with Joyce Logan #26 – Navigating the Solo Aging Journey #60 – Downsize or Rent in Retirement? 5 Key Decisions You Should Consider Connect with Eric Blake: www.TheSimplyRetirementPodcast.com Join the Simply Retirement Newsletter Ask a Question or Suggest a Topic for the Podcast Blake Wealth Management YouTube

Divorce later in life is not just a legal event; it is an emotional and financial turning point that reshapes identity, confidence, and long-term planning. In this episode, I sit down with Mardi Winder, a strategic divorce consultant and founder of Positive Communication Systems, to discuss what really happens before, during, and after a gray divorce. We explore why so many women feel stuck in fear, how financial uncertainty can drive costly decisions, and why clarity must come before action. I also share how retirement planning and divorce strategy need to work together so women can move forward with confidence, not confusion. Key Takeaways: Why high-conflict divorces often create a loss of identity after the process ends How fear around money keeps women stuck or leads to poor settlement decisions Where strategic divorce coaching fits alongside legal and financial professionals Why financial clarity should come before hiring attorneys How early guidance can prevent costly mistakes in the first months of divorce And more! Resources: Get Your FREE Simply Retirement Roadmap Tax and Retirement Planning Cheat Sheet (updated for 2026) Connect with Eric Blake: www.TheSimplyRetirementPodcast.com Join the Simply Retirement Newsletter Ask a Question or Suggest a Topic for the Podcast Blake Wealth Management YouTube Connect with Mardi Winder: LinkedIn: Mardi Winder Website: Positive Communication Systems Podcast: The D Shift: Redefining Divorce and Beyond Instagram: @divorcecoach4women Facebook: Divorce Coach 4 Women Facebook personal: Mardi Winder YouTube: @divorcecoach4women About our Guest: Mardi Winder is a Strategic Divorce Consultant and trusted authority for high-achieving individuals navigating separation and divorce. She is known for helping clients reduce the emotional and financial costs of the process by strengthening decision-making, communication, and conflict management during high-stakes transitions. With more than 30 years of experience, Mardi brings deep expertise in high-conflict, complex, and high-asset divorces. Her background spans mediation, executive and leadership coaching, conflict resolution and mediation, emotional intelligence, and strategic communication, allowing her to support clients in maintaining clarity, confidence, and control throughout divorce and beyond.

Major life transitions can leave you feeling lost and uncertain about your financial future. How do you move forward when everything feels overwhelming? What questions should you even be asking when you’re navigating divorce, widowhood, or any significant financial change? In this episode, I sit down with Tony Steuer, Author and Host of The Get Ready Podcast. Tony shares his perspective on why so many people freeze when facing financial decisions and how reframing your relationship with money, treating it like learning a new language, can transform confusion into confidence. We discuss practical steps for getting organized, recognizing red flags in advice you receive, and giving yourself permission to ask for help without shame. Key Insights: Why acknowledging overwhelm is the essential first step before making any financial decisions The concept of financial fluency and how treating money like a new language removes shame from the learning process Red flags that signal potentially harmful financial advice, including time pressure and isolation tactics Simple organizational steps to inventory your financial life and understand what you actually have How working with fee-based insurance consultants can provide unbiased reviews of existing policies And more! Resources: Get Your FREE Simply Retirement Roadmap Connect with Eric Blake: www.TheSimplyRetirementPodcast.com Join the Simply Retirement Newsletter Ask a Question or Suggest a Topic for the Podcast Blake Wealth Management YouTube Connect with Tony Steuer: Website: Tony Steuer LinkedIn: Tony Steuer The Get Ready Money Podcast The Get Ready Movement About our Guest: Tony Steuer, CLU, LA, CPFFE, is an internationally recognized financial preparedness advocate, award-winning author, podcaster and fintech advisor who is changing the way we think about money. Tony is the host of The Get Ready Money Podcast. Tony developed the Get Ready Movement to empower and educate people on all areas of personal finance. He is an Advisor at Insurance Nerds and Dingo Technologies, an expert content reviewer for Nerdwallet and Bankrate as well as a member of The Forbes Advisor Insurance Advisory Board. Tony is a five-time recipient of the Excellence in Financial Literacy Education Award as well as a member of the ThinkAdvisor’s LUMINARIES Class of 2022 as a Finalist in Thought Leadership & Education. Tony served as a long-term member of the California Insurance Department Curriculum Board.

Divorce doesn’t have to be devastating. It can be empowering when approached with clarity and the right support. In this episode, I sit down with Karen Covy, divorce coach, attorney, and mediator, to explore how women can take control of the divorce process. We talk about choosing the right process for your situation, understanding your finances, and why preparation and strategy make all the difference in creating a smoother transition and stronger future. Key Takeaways: The importance of choosing the divorce process that best fits your goals and circumstances Why most lawyers promote only the process they practice, and how coaching helps you find the right one for you How planning early and understanding your financial picture can prevent years of regret What it means to become the “CEO of your own divorce” and coordinate your full team Practical first steps to start regaining confidence and clarity if you feel stuck or afraid to move forward And more! Resources: Get Your FREE Simply Retirement Roadmap Free Divorce Process Comparison Chart Connect with Eric Blake: www.TheSimplyRetirementPodcast.com Join the Simply Retirement Newsletter Ask a Question or Suggest a Topic for the Podcast Blake Wealth Management YouTube Connect with Karen Covy: LinkedIn: Karen Covy Website: Karen Covy Facebook: Karen Covy Instagram: @karencovylawyer X: Karen Covy YouTube: Karen Covy TikTok: Karen Covy About our Guest: Karen Covy is a Divorce Coach, Lawyer, Mediator, Author, Speaker, and Podcaster. She coaches busy professionals and business owners all over the world to make clear, confident decisions about their most important relationships. She also helps them navigate through divorce with less conflict, unnecessary expense, and needless drama so that they can create the life they truly desire sooner rather than later. Karen is the author of When Happily Ever After Ends: How to Survive Your Divorce Emotionally, Financially, and Legally. She is also the creator of the online divorce programs, The Divorce Road Map 3.0 and How to Successfully Mediate Your Divorce, as well as the host of the podcast, Off the Fence: Mastering Decision-Making Divorce and More.