The Simply Retirement Podcast

Understanding Your Social Security Statement and What It Really Means (Ep. 106)

Your Social Security statement might look simple, but the details behind it can shape your entire retirement plan. Are you only looking at the benefit numbers, or are you missing the bigger picture that could impact your future income? In this episode, I walk through how to properly read your Social Security statement and what it is really telling you beyond just your projected benefits. I explain how eligibility works, what assumptions are built into the estimates, and why your earnings history matters more than most people realize. We also cover how missing income years can affect your benefit, how to correct errors, and how continued work can change your outcome. Key takeaways: * Why your Social Security statement shows more than just benefit estimates and what those details mean * How eligibility for retirement, disability, survivor benefits, and Medicare is determined * The impact of missing or incorrect earnings history and how it can reduce your future income * Why estimates assume continued earnings and how changes in work affect projections * How working longer can increase benefits by replacing lower-income years in your record * And more! Resources: * Get Your FREE Simply Retirement Roadmap [https://blakewealthmanagement.com/simply-retirement-roadmap]  * Social Security Administration Website [https://www.ssa.gov/] * Ultimate Guide to Women’s Social Security Success [https://thesimplyretirementpodcast.com/ultimate-guide-to-womens-social-security-success] Connect with Eric Blake:  * www.TheSimplyRetirementPodcast.com [http://www.thesimplyretirementpodcast.com] * Join the Simply Retirement Newsletter [https://pages.blakewealthmanagement.com/simply-retirement-newsletter-subscribe] * Ask a Question or Suggest a Topic for the Podcast [https://thesimplyretirementpodcast.com/ask-eric] * Blake Wealth Management [https://blakewealthmanagement.com/] * YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@blakewealthmanagement]

Gray Divorce and Retirement: Redefining Your Life and Identity (Ep. 105)

There are moments in life when everything shifts at once: your identity, your roles, and your plans for the future. What happens when the life you expected changes, and you’re left asking what comes next? In this episode, I sit down with Oona Metz, LICSW, CGP, licensed clinical social worker and certified group psychotherapist, to talk about the emotional journey women face during divorce and how it connects to retirement planning. We explore the role of shame in financial decision-making, the power of community through support groups, and how women can begin to rebuild their identity. Oona also shares practical ways to reduce overwhelm, reconnect with purpose, and move forward with clarity. Key takeaways: * How shame around money can prevent women from asking questions or seeking guidance after divorce * Why support groups help women feel less isolated and more connected during life transitions * The emotional impact of gray divorce and identity shifts tied to an empty nest and retirement * Simple exercises that help women reconnect with purpose, meaning, and personal identity * Why asking for help and building a trusted support system is essential during uncertain times * And more! Resources: * Get Your FREE Simply Retirement Roadmap [https://blakewealthmanagement.com/simply-retirement-roadmap]  * 2026 Tax and Retirement Planning Cheat Sheet [http://www.thesimplyretirementpodcast.com/retirementcheatsheet] * Book: Unhitched: The Essential Divorce Guide for Women by Oona Metz [https://www.amazon.com/dp/1668075385] Connect with Eric Blake:  * www.TheSimplyRetirementPodcast.com [http://www.thesimplyretirementpodcast.com] * Join the Simply Retirement Newsletter [https://pages.blakewealthmanagement.com/simply-retirement-newsletter-subscribe] * Ask a Question or Suggest a Topic for the Podcast [https://thesimplyretirementpodcast.com/ask-eric] * Blake Wealth Management [https://blakewealthmanagement.com/] * YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@blakewealthmanagement]  Connect with Oona Metz:  * LinkedIn: Oona Metz  [https://www.linkedin.com/in/oona-metz-licsw-cgp-6a14a41b/] * Website: Oona Metz [https://www.oonametz.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] * Email: oonametz@oonametz.com [oonametz@oonametz.com]  About our Guest:  Oona Metz is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker, a Certified Group Psychotherapist, and a Fellow of the American Group Psychotherapy Association. She brings 30 years of experience working with individuals, families, and groups. Her private practice offices are located in Brookline and Arlington, Massachusetts. She is actively involved in numerous committees and boards related to group therapy and is committed to ongoing learning in diversity, equity, and inclusion. Her practice focuses on individual adults and group therapy. She specializes in working with women+ who are navigating life transitions. Whether transitioning from college to graduate school or into the workforce, beginning or ending a relationship or job, becoming a parent or adjusting to an empty nest, or coming out to family and friends, she views these experiences as opportunities for reflection, insight, and meaningful change.

Making Better Divorce Decisions to Protect Your Financial Future (Ep. 104)

Divorce can feel overwhelming, especially when emotions and financial uncertainty collide. How do you make clear decisions when everything feels uncertain? And how can the right guidance help you avoid costly mistakes along the way? In this episode, I sit down with Carolyn Daly, Managing Partner at Cohen Seglias, to talk through how women can approach divorce with clarity and structure. We cover the importance of understanding your assets, avoiding emotional decisions, and working with the right professionals early. Carolyn also shares how alternative processes like mediation can reduce stress and costs, along with practical ways to move forward with confidence and protect your financial future. Key takeaways: * Why understanding all assets early helps avoid confusion and poor decisions during divorce settlements * How emotional attachment to the house can lead to long-term financial strain and missed opportunities * The importance of reviewing tax implications, especially capital gains, when dividing investment assets * Why delays in the process often increase stress, conflict, and overall costs for both parties * How mediation and arbitration can offer more control, reduce conflict, and speed up resolution timelines * And more! Resources: * Get Your FREE Simply Retirement Roadmap [https://blakewealthmanagement.com/simply-retirement-roadmap]  Connect with Eric Blake:  * www.TheSimplyRetirementPodcast.com [http://www.thesimplyretirementpodcast.com] * Join the Simply Retirement Newsletter [https://pages.blakewealthmanagement.com/simply-retirement-newsletter-subscribe] * Ask a Question or Suggest a Topic for the Podcast [https://thesimplyretirementpodcast.com/ask-eric] * Blake Wealth Management [https://blakewealthmanagement.com/] * YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@blakewealthmanagement]  Connect with Carolyn Daly: * (973) 474-5003 * LinkedIn: Carolyn Daly [https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolynndaly/] * Website: Cohen Seglias [https://www.cohenseglias.com/] * Email: cdaly@cohenseglias.com [cdaly@cohenseglias.com]  About our Guest:  Carolyn Daly is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and Seton Hall University School of Law. She is admitted to practice in both New Jersey and New York, with a primary focus on New Jersey, and is certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Matrimonial Law Attorney. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and previously served as president of the New Jersey Chapter. Carolyn is an active member of the New Jersey State Bar Association, including its Family Law Section and Family Law Executive Committee. She also serves on the New Jersey Courts’ Supreme Court Family Practice Committee. Her professional involvement extends into the community, where she volunteers with the battered women’s legal assistance project. She has also contributed to the Morris County Child Support Partnership Committee, participated in a domestic violence task force, and supported the Morris Family Justice Center. Carolyn has written for the New Jersey Family Lawyer, including an article titled “College Contribution: A Contrarian View,” and contributed a chapter titled “What To Do When Your Spouse Says “I’m Out of Here!” to a book focused on navigating financial crises. Her practice is centered on family law matters, including divorce, custody, domestic violence, grandparents’ rights, and non-dissolution issues. She is also a trained mediator and an AAML-certified arbitrator.

How to Turn Your Tax Return into a Planning Tool (Ep. 103)

Most people think tax season ends when the return is filed, but that may be where the real opportunity begins. What if your tax return could guide smarter financial decisions instead of sitting untouched for a year? In this episode, I explain how your tax return can become a valuable planning tool instead of something you file away. I walk through how to review your return for accuracy, compare it year to year, and identify missed items that could impact your taxes.  We also share how understanding key numbers like income and tax rates can shape better decisions, and how building a “base case” early in the year helps you plan ahead and avoid last-minute tax surprises. Key takeaways: * Why reviewing your tax return after filing can uncover missed details and potential savings opportunities * How comparing year-to-year returns helps identify changes, errors, or missing income and deductions * What key numbers like taxable income and tax brackets reveal about future planning decisions * How small reporting mistakes like Roth conversions or QCDs can lead to unnecessary taxes * Why using your return early in the year creates a base case for proactive tax planning  * And more! Resources: * Get Your FREE Simply Retirement Roadmap [https://blakewealthmanagement.com/simply-retirement-roadmap]  * 2026 Tax and Retirement Planning Cheat Sheet [http://www.thesimplyretirementpodcast.com/retirementcheatsheet] * Retirement tax return review checklists: Retired [https://thesimplyretirementpodcast.com/articles/as-a-retiree-what-issues-should-i-consider-when-reviewing-my-tax-return] * Retirement tax return review checklists: Still Working [https://thesimplyretirementpodcast.com/articles/as-someone-who-is-working-what-issues-should-i-consider-when-reviewing-my-tax-return] * #54 – How Social Security Gets Taxed: What You Need to Know [https://thesimplyretirementpodcast.com/podcasts/54-how-social-security-gets-taxed-what-you-need-to-know] * #75 – Year-End Tax Planning Checklist for 2025 [https://thesimplyretirementpodcast.com/podcasts/75-year-end-tax-planning-checklist-for-2025] Connect with Eric Blake:  * www.TheSimplyRetirementPodcast.com [http://www.thesimplyretirementpodcast.com] * Join the Simply Retirement Newsletter [https://pages.blakewealthmanagement.com/simply-retirement-newsletter-subscribe] * Ask a Question or Suggest a Topic for the Podcast [https://thesimplyretirementpodcast.com/ask-eric] * Blake Wealth Management [https://blakewealthmanagement.com/] * YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@blakewealthmanagement]

Finding Strength Through Uncertainty and Rebuilding After Divorce (Ep. 102)

Facing major life changes can feel overwhelming, especially when the future is unclear and the stakes are high. How do you move forward when fear, finances, and identity are all shifting at once? In this episode, I chat with Claudia Porter, CFP®, CDFA®, Wealth Advisor at RFG Advisory, about navigating divorce, financial uncertainty, and rebuilding life with purpose. She shares her personal journey from feeling financially powerless to taking control, the mindset shifts that helped her move forward, and how small steps can create momentum.  Claudia also explores the importance of support systems, journaling for clarity, and empowering women to take an active role in their financial lives. Key takeaways: * How financial control in relationships can limit independence and decision-making during major life transitions * Why taking one step at a time can help reduce overwhelm and build confidence in uncertain situations * The role of journaling in creating clarity, distance, and better decision-making during emotional periods * How building a trusted support team can provide guidance, perspective, and accountability when it matters most * Why participating in financial conversations early can help avoid stress and uncertainty later in life * And more! Resources: * Get Your FREE Simply Retirement Roadmap [https://blakewealthmanagement.com/simply-retirement-roadmap]  * WOMEN, WEALTH, AND WINNING: Essential Strategies Female Business Owners Should Know to Master Your Money, Cultivate Success, and Build a Solid Financial Future by Claudia Porter [https://www.amazon.com/WOMEN-WEALTH-WINNING-Essential-Strategies/dp/B0CJL9SY9V/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3AAIN0UPSVYA9&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.3pUBWsul4u-FwTeOXJpxcyTA-YPPXXLPuO-yV3Vo508A-CD5Zt_nfcgZ9QlH2TA13m17aiUYlzJYAYpHpFZctqoM9oQCvBXTi9kx7SCBjx-Bb3YZ3HfVWjYkXEbG0aM99VHy1RlmrpzNVgUtOm6-RRKswXfTymElQ-ZgpqqsZqZWws8gt5rBF5QXhTTEXeCoGSSAdSelxTRWY6cTWlHt9z6qhDAjp9lYu03X9-GJSqk.UTEuZEQQWVgcpkeKRCEuJfUC8NTWbjBrsNsRfK9dQ5A&dib_tag=se&keywords=women%2C+wealth+and+winning&qid=1773703797&sprefi%20x=women%2C+wealth+and+winning%2Caps%2C169&sr=8-1] * On the Other Side: A Woman’s Guide to Rediscovering Strength and Success Beyond Adversity by Claudia Porter [https://www.amazon.com/Other-Side-Rediscovering-Strength-Adversity/dp/B0DRPGDTQN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=18TJCMMZ3CI5E&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.hD2bb_8vMU3hqpIrRJYusw.B2A95IXEB6uDYgtG-IRSkcFNI7h3PUfnf6jRNaHP_8Q&dib_tag=se&keywords=On+the+other+side+Claudia+Porter&qid=1774625082&s=books&sprefix=on+the+other+side+claudia+porter%2Cstripbooks%2C138&sr=1-1] Connect with Eric Blake:  * www.TheSimplyRetirementPodcast.com [http://www.thesimplyretirementpodcast.com] * Join the Simply Retirement Newsletter [https://pages.blakewealthmanagement.com/simply-retirement-newsletter-subscribe] * Ask a Question or Suggest a Topic for the Podcast [https://thesimplyretirementpodcast.com/ask-eric] * Blake Wealth Management [https://blakewealthmanagement.com/] * YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@blakewealthmanagement]  Connect with Claudia Porter: * LinkedIn: Claudia Porter [https://www.linkedin.com/in/claudia-porter-cfp/] * Website: RFG Advisory [https://rfgadvisorywealth.com/] About our Guest:  Claudia was born and raised in West Germany. She is a Certified Financial Planner® and has been in the financial industry for 11 years and partnered with RFG Advisory in March, 2025 to go independent. She has a Master’s Degree in Teaching English and French from the University of Göttingen and a Ph.D. in Linguistics from Braunschweig Technical University. In 2014, she left academia to return to her earlier passion for financial planning and wealth management to make a more significant impact in people’s lives. For Claudia, “Success is not what you get, but the positive impact you make in other people’s lives.” She is the author of 2 books, “Women, Wealth, and Winning” and “On The Other Side: A Woman’s Guide to Rediscovering Strength and Success Beyond Adversity”. Claudia has 4 boys, 3 of whom are in college, 1 is still in high school.