Don't Retire...Graduate! - podcast cover

Don't Retire...Graduate!

Eric Brotmanbrotmanmedia.com
Don’t Retire… Graduate! is the podcast that invites you to rethink what retirement really means. Hosted by Certified Financial Planner Practitioner Eric Brotman, we’re here to guide you in transforming the traditional concept of retirement into an exciting and enriching graduation—a time to embark on new adventures, embrace lifelong passions, and define what success and happiness look like in this new chapter of life. Retirement isn’t just about stepping away from a career; it’s about stepping into a life filled with purpose, joy, and fulfillment. Whether you're on the brink of retirement or just starting to think about it, this podcast will help you discover what it takes to not just survive, but thrive in your post-career years. We’ll explore how to live a fun, productive, and meaningful life by setting new goals, pursuing passions that light you up, and building a legacy that truly reflects who you are. Each episode features in-depth conversations with a diverse range of guests—from award-winning authors and financial experts to influencers and everyday people with remarkable money stories. Together, we’ll uncover strategies for reaching financial independence, managing your wealth, and making informed decisions that support your dreams. You’ll learn practical tips on everything from saving money and paying down debt to raising financially literate children and growing your wealth at any age. From personal finance and investing to retirement readiness, taxes, and more, we’re here to provide the knowledge and tools you need to confidently step into this exciting new phase of life. Topics include everything from budgeting, credit, and debt to health savings accounts, insurance, social security, the FIRE movement, and the latest in fintech and finance apps. But we don’t stop at finances. Don’t Retire… Graduate! also dives deep into the emotional and psychological aspects of retirement. We’ll discuss how to maintain your mental and physical health, nurture relationships, and stay connected to your community. You’ll gain insights on how to design a lifestyle that keeps you engaged, curious, and excited about the future. Our mission is to help you figure out what you want to be when you grow up—even if you’re already grown. We believe that work should become optional, not just because you've reached a certain age, but because you’ve achieved the freedom to choose how you spend your time and energy. Whether it’s volunteering, starting a new hobby, traveling the world, or launching a second career, this podcast is your guide to creating a retirement that’s anything but retiring. In addition to full episodes, we offer bonus content every other week where you get to meet the team of financial advisors at BFG Financial Advisors and hear their real stories from the frontlines of financial planning.  Retirement is not the absence of work, but the absence of needing to work. So why not graduate into a life of purpose, passion, and financial freedom? Tune in to Don’t Retire… Graduate! and let’s make your retirement the best years of your life.
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Episodes

Spending Your Assets: Understanding Safe Withdrawal Rates

In today’s Office Hours, Eric answers April's question: “Why do some advisors say that taking 5% or more of your retirement nestegg out every year is dangerous?” Determining a reasonable withdrawal rate depends on factors including your asset level, retirement timeline, and age. Eric explains three different asset structuring strategies that can help you avoid outliving your money. Have a question? Tweet it to us at @BrotmanPlanning or post it on our Facebook and it may be used in a future episo...

Jul 21, 20228 minSeason 4Ep. 23

Marrying Your Finances: Navigating Engagements, Marriages, and Divorces as a Couple (Rerelease)

Welcome back to Don’t Retire... Graduate! As part of our summer throwback series, we’re bringing back our very own Lena Nebel, CFP®, Chief Operating Officer here at BFG Financial Advisors. This episode, originally released in Season 3, dives into the topics around marriage that people don’t necessarily want to talk about, like how much to spend on the engagement ring, how to ask for a prenup, and what to do when you and your partner don’t agree on money topics. In this episode we’ll talk about: ...

Jul 14, 202235 minSeason 4Ep. 23

What You Need to Know About Student Loans

In today’s Office Hours, Eric answers Shelby's question: “what do you think every student should know before taking out student loans?” Student loans can be confusing and there is a lot to know. We're talking about a few different factors including return on investment and whether or not the loan is subsidized. Have a question? Tweet it to us at @BrotmanPlanning or post it on our Facebook and it may be used in a future episode of Office Hours! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm...

Jul 07, 20227 minSeason 4Ep. 22

Making it Work: Discovering New Opportunities to Build a Business at Any Age (Rerelease)

Summer is in session but we’re not taking off! Throughout the season, we’ll be bringing back listeners’ favorite episodes from past seasons and answering brand new Office Hours questions! Today’s episode from season 2 (originally released at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic) features Cait Lockwood (formerly Caitlin Pyle), founder of Work-at-Home School and Proofread Anywhere, talking about how she went from being fired from a job to building a seven-figure company she could run from home. Lis...

Jun 30, 202233 minSeason 4Ep. 22

How Much Money Should You Have in an Emergency Fund?

In today’s Office Hours, Eric answers Jenna's question: “how much should I have in an emergency fund?” This can vary based on a lot of factors, and emergency funds don't need to just be in the form of savings accounts. Eric explores the different layers that can make up your emergency fund and the rules of thumb for how much money is safe. Have a question? Tweet it to us at @BrotmanPlanning or post it on our Facebook and it may be used in a future episode of Office Hours! Learn more about your a...

Jun 23, 20228 minSeason 4Ep. 21

The Behavioral Investor: How Our Minds and Emotions Can Ruin Our Investment Portfolios with Dr. Daniel Crosby

Welcome to the season four finale of Don’t Retire... Graduate! We’ve had amazing guests this season and couldn’t be more excited to finish with today’s guest. Dr. Daniel Crosby is a psychologist and behavioral finance expert who helps organizations understand the intersection of mind and markets and explores the way our brains affect our choices when it comes to money. He is here to talk about the way mental biases can affect our decision making and make us uniquely stupid when it comes to money...

Jun 16, 202235 minSeason 4Ep. 21

Financial Planning for the Do-It-Yourselfer

In today’s Office Hours, Eric answers Jason's question: “what are a few basic aspects of a financial plan that I can create myself?” The truth is, you can do it all yourself or with the help of a few vendors. A financial planner is not necessarily needed. But which way is right for you? Have a question? Post it in the comments, tweet it to us at @BrotmanPlanning, or post it on our Facebook and it may be used in a future episode of Office Hours! Visit dontretiregraduate.com for a full transcript ...

Jun 09, 20228 minSeason 4Ep. 20

M is for Money: Teaching Personal Finance to Kids in School and at Home with Rob Phelan

Welcome back to Don’t Retire... Graduate! Today we’re going back to school with Rob Phelan, a high school math and personal finance teacher and author of the children’s book M is for Money. Rob is here, live from his classroom, to talk about money and the roadblocks we’re facing while advocating for personal finance education for kids. In this episode we’ll talk about: •The difference between math and personal finance •Why we overestimate our abilities in nearly all aspects, but doubt our abilit...

Jun 02, 202233 minSeason 4Ep. 20

Paying Over Asking Price For a House: Good or Bad Idea?

In today’s Office Hours, Eric answers Matthew's question: “is it better to pay over the asking price for a house or just rent?" There is so much going on in the market right now that is making purchasing a home -- especially your first home -- particularly difficult and expensive. Do you go for it or wait it out? Have a question? Tweet it to us at @BrotmanPlanning or post it on our Facebook and it may be used in a future episode of Office Hours! A full transcript of this episode can be found at ...

May 26, 20229 minSeason 4Ep. 19

True Grit: Blazing a Trail from Homelessness to Award-Winning Financial Educator with Sharita Humphrey

Welcome back to Don’t Retire... Graduate! Our guest today did what nobody thought was possible: left Eric speechless. Sharita Humphrey has a remarkable story of grit and resilience. From a homeless mother of two living out of a motel, Sharita promised her sons that she would change their situation and did not rest until she did. The now award-winning financial educator is here to share that story and spread her message that just because you lose things, you can never lose hope. In this episode w...

May 19, 202236 minSeason 4Ep. 19

Lump Sum or Annual Payments? How Lottery Winners Should Claim their Fortune

In today’s Office Hours, Eric answers Mark's question: "if you won the lottery and had the option of $30 million upfront or a million dollars a year for 30 years, which is actually the better option?" Unfortunately this is not a circumstance many of us will see ourselves in, but let's talk about it anyway. What are the realities of winning the lottery? Have a question? Tweet it to us at @BrotmanPlanning or post it on our Facebook and it may be used in a future episode of Office Hours! Visit dont...

May 12, 20228 minSeason 4Ep. 18

One Good Thing: Gamifying Your Budget, Playing Financial Tetris, and Learning to Laugh at Money with Emily Guy Birken

Welcome back to Don’t Retire... Graduate! We have a very fun episode today and couldn’t be more excited to have Emily Guy Birken here. She is a lifelong money nerd, award-winning writer, and the co-author of STACKED: Your Super Serious Guide to Modern Money Management, written with longtime DRG friend, Joe Saul-Sehy. Emily joined us to talk about how to look at your money like a game of Tetris, the way gamification can be a powerful tool for change, and, of course, to set the record for the numb...

May 05, 202234 minSeason 4Ep. 18

Employee Benefit Options You Need to Stop Ignoring

In today’s Office Hours, Eric answers Felix's question: what is the most valuable employee benefit I should take advantage of? This is a great question and the answer varies by person, but there are a few employee benefit options that most people underutilize and even ignore. Find a full transcript of this episode at dontretiregraduate.com. Have a question? Tweet it to us at @BrotmanPlanning or post it on our Facebook and it may be used in a future episode of Office Hours! Learn more about your ...

Apr 28, 20226 minSeason 4Ep. 17

FIRE Success Story: Taking the Trip of a Lifestyle at Age 29

Welcome back to Don’t Retire... Graduate! We have two guests today, Steven and Lauren Keys, who did something pretty incredible: retired before they turned 30. They came on the podcast to talk about how they reached financial independence at a young age, how they saved their nest egg without large salaries, and their plan for the rest of their retirement. In this episode we’ll talk about: • Cutting expenses to save money and pay off debt • Living frugally without sacrificing your lifestyle • Usi...

Apr 21, 202232 minSeason 4Ep. 17

Is Your Financial Advisor a Fiduciary?

In today’s Office Hours, Eric answers Gary's question: Are all financial advisors and planners fiduciaries? This is a great question and the simple answer is no. Listen to hear Eric explain what a fiduciary is, why it's important to know if your advisor is a fiduciary, and how you can tell. Have a question? Post it in the comments, tweet it to us at @BrotmanPlanning, or post it on our Facebook and it may be used in a future episode of Office Hours! Find a full transcript of this episode at dontr...

Apr 14, 20227 minSeason 4Ep. 16

One Point Better: Gender Differences, Money Histories, and How to Get a Little Better Every Day with the Chief Financial Mom

Welcome back to Don’t Retire... Graduate! Today’s guest is the most educated individual we know in this industry. Dr. Mary Bell Carlson is a financial behavioral expert who has worked with the government, military, and financial educational organizations, is an adjunct professor of financial planning, and is the founder of Chief Financial Moms. She’s here to talk about gender differences in personal finance, money histories, and how we can get just one point better every day. In this episode we’...

Apr 07, 202229 minSeason 4Ep. 16

Worst Money Mistakes People Make Every Day

In today’s Office Hours, Eric answers Alex's question: As a financial advisor, what is the most common mistake you see people making with their personal finances? This was a hard question to answer because there are a LOT of mistakes people make. The common factor for all of them? Emotions. Have a question? Post it in the comments, tweet it to us at @BrotmanPlanning, or post it on our Facebook and it may be used in a future episode of Office Hours! A full transcript of this episode can be found ...

Mar 31, 20227 minSeason 4Ep. 15

Buying Happiness: Using Money as a Tool to Maximize Your Lifestyle

Welcome back to Don’t Retire... Graduate! Today’s guest came ready for a debate and didn’t disappoint. Andrew Hallam, best-selling author and educator, is here to talk about his latest book, Balance, and investment techniques and ideologies that don’t necessarily match ours. If you’re interested in learning about index funds, passive asset management, and the true meaning of success in retirement (whether you’re retiring early or not), you won’t want to miss this episode. In this episode we’ll t...

Mar 24, 202235 minSeason 4Ep. 15

Protecting Your Finances from Inflation

In today’s Office Hours, Eric answers George's question: I keep hearing about inflation. Is there anything I can be doing to protect my finances? We're seeing inflation in a way we haven't for generations, and there are things you can do to be better prepared. Have a question? Tweet it to us at @BrotmanPlanning or post it on our Facebook and it may be used in a future episode of Office Hours! Visit brotmanmedia.com for a full transcript of this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit me...

Mar 17, 20227 minSeason 4Ep. 14

Financial Feminism: Looking at the Big Picture of Gender Equality

Welcome back to Don’t Retire... Graduate! We have a very special episode in honor of International Women’s Week. Kara Perez, the founder of Bravely Go, joins us to talk about financial feminism and how we can start breaking down the gender roles and inequalities we see in our culture. In this episode we’ll talk about: The meaning of financial feminism. The difference in financial power between men and women/non-binary individuals. How the wage gap can affect financial security in retirement. The...

Mar 10, 202235 minSeason 4Ep. 14

The Pros and Cons of Using a Robo-Advisor for Investing

In today’s Office Hours, Eric answers Yazan's question: What are the pros and cons of using a robo-advisor for investing? A robo-advisor has its place, and Eric explores this question from two perspectives: simple investment management and comprehensive financial planning. Have a question? Tweet it to us at @BrotmanPlanning or post it on our Facebook and it may be used in a future episode of Office Hours! Visit brotmanmedia.com/podcasts for a full transcript of this episode. Learn more about you...

Mar 03, 20227 minSeason 4Ep. 13

Passive Money, Honey: How Passive Income Streams Can Help You Retire Early with Rachel Richards

Welcome back to Don’t Retire... Graduate! Today’s guest has had an amazing journey that led to retiring at age 27. Rachel Richards is the best-selling author of Money Honey and Passive Income, Aggressive Retirement and is here to tell her story and share her tips on how you can create your own passive income streams. In this episode we’ll talk about: How Rachel retired at 27 with $20,000 of monthly passive income Self-publishing tips for personal finance writers Why Money Honey was written to be...

Feb 24, 202234 minSeason 4Ep. 13

Realistic Lifestyle Changes that Save Money

In today’s Office Hours, Eric answers Jonathan's question: What are some realistic lifestyle changes that save money? There are two ways to look at this question, and this episode covers both. How do you create the habit itself, and what are those changes? Have a question? Tweet it to us at @BrotmanPlanning and it may be answered in a future episode of Office Hours! For a full transcript of this episode, visit brotmanmedia.com/podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoi...

Feb 17, 20227 minSeason 4Ep. 12

Stacked: Super Serious Stories About Careers, Crypto, and Getting Rich Quick with Joe Saul-Sehy

Welcome back to Don’t Retire... Graduate! Today’s guest is podcast royalty: the host of the Stacking Benjamins podcast Joe Saul-Sehy! Joe is here to talk about his latest book, Stacked, his take on the real estate and cryptocurrency crazes, and share his top tip for stacking your wealth. In this episode we’ll talk about: Joe’s journey from financial advisor to teacher to writer to podcaster Building financial careers without financial backgrounds How, despite the massive amounts of financial res...

Feb 10, 202232 minSeason 4Ep. 12

Paying Down Your Mortgage Early vs. Investing Extra Money?

In today’s Office Hours, Eric answers Sara's question: Should I be trying to pay off my mortgage early with extra payments or put that money to a different use? Of course, this is another case of "it depends." Listen to Eric explain when it may be a good idea to invest that extra money and when it's okay to make that mortgage number start falling. Have a question? Tweet it to us at @BrotmanPlanning and it may be answered in a future episode of Office Hours! Learn more about your ad choices. Visi...

Feb 03, 20227 minSeason 4Ep. 11

Good with Money: Talking About and Paying Attention to Money to Stop Being Bad with It (ft. Gaby Dunn)

Welcome back to Don’t Retire... Graduate! Today’s guest is a comedian, best-selling author, and activist who turned being told they are bad with money into a success career in finance media. Gaby Dunn hosts the Bad with Money podcast, which talks about money in a way that is raw and honest, and the author of Bad with Money: The Imperfect Art of Getting Your S*** Together. We are so excited to have them here to talk about the taboos and baggage around money and how humor may be able to change it....

Jan 27, 202237 minSeason 4Ep. 11

How to Say No to Unsolicited Financial Advice

In today’s Office Hours, Eric answers Robert's question: If your close friend is a financial advisor and keeps telling you how to manage your money, how do you get them to stop? This can be an uncomfortable situation and sometimes you don't want to mix business and friendships. And it goes both ways. Are you an advisor constantly being pestered for free advice on your time off? Here's how to handle it. Have a question? Tweet it to us at @BrotmanPlanning and it may be answered in a future episode...

Jan 20, 20227 minSeason 4Ep. 10

Debt Free or Die Trying: The Four-Step Process for Digging Yourself Out of Debt (ft. Marcus Garrett)

Welcome back to Don’t Retire... Graduate! This is our first full episode of 2022 and we’re kicking off the new year with an amazing guest. Marcus Garrett is the host of the Marcus Garrett Show and author of Debt Free or Die Trying. He dug himself out of $30,000 in debt and is here to share his experience and debt reduction process with you. In this episode we’ll talk about: Being social media-rich but bank account poor – the financial danger of “keeping up with the Joneses” The four-step process...

Jan 13, 202233 minSeason 4Ep. 10

Common Expenses We Don't Budget For (But Should!)

In today’s Office Hours, Eric answers Ken's question: What are some common expenses we don't think to budget and save for? This is a great question and a perfect time to ask it. Spoiler alert: the holiday season is on the list! Have a question? Tweet it to us at @BrotmanPlanning and it may be answered in a future episode of Office Hours! Find a full transcript of this episode on our website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...

Jan 06, 20228 minSeason 4Ep. 9

Finding Your Purpose: How to Unlock Your Inner Artist on Your Journey Towards Self-Love

Welcome back to Don’t Retire... Graduate! This is our final episode of 2021, and our guest is a mentor, coach, and accomplished artist. Peleg Top uses art and creativity to guide others in their journey towards finding their purpose, and his mantra around abundance, love, and gratitude is the perfect way to end the year. In this episode we’ll talk about: How the stories we grow up with around money shape our attitude about it in adulthood The journey of finding self-awareness and self-love Tying...

Dec 30, 202132 minSeason 4Ep. 9
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