Your First Year of Retirement: Don’t Screw It Up

Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:

😬 Retirement Readiness & Common Fears: tackling the unknowns of retirement

🕰️ First Year of Retirement: emotions, spending habits, and big decisions

🤖 AI & Planning: AI can assist, but it lacks the human touch and often misses context

🤝 Working with Professionals: don’t go into retirement alone, have a trusted professional by your side

Equipping Points:

Retirement is approaching and how you get started could have a huge impact on the rest of your retirement. Today, Eric shares the do’s and don’ts of entering retirement and explains why the first year is one of the most critical times in your financial life. He breaks down the common pitfalls in managing emotions, spending, taxes, investments, and health coverage, and shares how to steer clear of them. Think you can DIY your retirement? Eric explains why a clear plan, and real guidance, matter more than ever, especially in the age of AI.

If you have any questions about what we discussed on the show or want to follow up with any financial planning questions of your own, get in touch with us and schedule a visit here. 

Today’s Takeaway:

Related Episodes:

Famous Last Words: Retirement Phrases That Can Cost You

Age 62: An Important Retirement Milestone

Five People You Meet In Retirement

More From Eric:

The host: Eric Peterson - Contact - Call: (515) 226-1500

Subscribe To The Podcast:

Apple Podcasts  -  Google Podcasts  -  Spotify  -  Stitcher  -  iHeartRadio  -  TuneIn

Check out some other recent episodes

The Hidden Costs of Mutual Funds in Retirement

March 12, 2026

Retirement decisions aren’t made in spreadsheets alone. They’re shaped by mood, headlines, memories, and personal experiences, often more than we realize. Eric focuses on the emotional side of financial planning and why awareness matters just as much as strategy.

Retirement & Emotions: How Feelings Can Derail (or Improve) Your Plan

March 5, 2026

Retirement decisions aren’t made in spreadsheets alone. They’re shaped by mood, headlines, memories, and personal experiences, often more than we realize. Eric focuses on the emotional side of financial planning and why awareness matters just as much as strategy.

Why Retirees Struggle to Spend Their Money

February 26, 2026

You’ve saved diligently for retirement, but now it’s time to spend. For many retirees, that transition is harder than expected. In this episode, Eric breaks down one of the most overlooked challenges in retirement: actually enjoying the money you worked so hard to build.

Mailbag: Inherited Farmland, AI Planning, and Retirement Readiness

February 19, 2026

What do you do when financial decisions aren’t just about the numbers? Today, Eric pulls from the mailbag and takes on high-stakes decisions: what to do with family farmland, how much to save, and whether AI belongs in your financial life.

How Advisors Get Paid

February 12, 2026

In this episode, Eric explains the primary ways financial advisors earn compensation, including commission-based and fee-based models, how those structures work in practice, and what they mean for clients.

What Snow Days Teach Us About Money

February 5, 2026

There’s something special about a snow day. They’re somewhat unexpected, memorable, and a break from the routine. Eric borrows a few classic snow-day moments and uses them as metaphors for building a strong financial life.

Controversial Financial Takes: Are Kiyosaki, Orman, Sethi & Ramsey Right?

January 29, 2026

Some of the loudest voices in personal finance aren’t shy about strong opinions, but are those opinions actually helpful? Eric reacts to controversial advice from some of the most recognizable names in money and retirement conversations. The discussion focuses on why one-size-fits-all guidance often misses the mark and how real planning differs from financial entertainment. Just because advice sounds confident doesn’t mean it fits your situation.

Start the Year Right: A Smarter Financial Checklist

January 22, 2026

A new year is the perfect time to make sure your financial plan is still working the way it should. In this episode, Eric walks through a simple (yet impactful) checklist to help you reset, refocus, and avoid common mistakes that can sneak up over the course of the year. Miss these now, and they can quietly cost you later.

Financial Truths Hidden in Famous Songs

January 15, 2026

Money shows up in our favorite songs for a reason. It captures the emotions, tensions, and tradeoffs we all feel when it comes to finances. In this episode, Eric has some fun pulling financial lessons from iconic lyrics and exploring what they reveal about real-life money decisions. You might never hear these songs the same way again.

Are You Falling for Financial “Shiny Objects?”

January 8, 2026

In a world full of flashy promises and polished marketing, how do you know what actually matters when choosing a financial professional? In this episode, Eric tackles “shiny object syndrome” in retirement planning- the glossy brochures, impressive projections, testimonials, awards, and alphabet soup of credentials that can distract investors from what really counts. Eric breaks down which tools can be helpful, which deserve skepticism, and why trust, process, and real-world experience ultimately outweigh hype.

Leave a Comment