Emily Guy Birken: What to Do in the Five Years Before You Retire
The author and retirement expert shares a punch list for near-retirees, how to play catch-up on retirement savings, and why she has changed her mind about long-term-care insurance.
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Show Notes
Our guest on the podcast today is Emily Guy Birken. Emily’s the author of The Five Years Before You Retire. She also co-authored Stacked: Your Super-Serious Guide to Modern Money Management, with Joe Saul-Sehy. Other books include End Financial Stress Now, Making Social Security Work for You and Choose Your Retirement: Find The Right Path to Your New Adventure. Emily received her master’s degree in education from the Ohio State University and her undergraduate degree in English from Kenyon College.
Episode Highlights
00:00:00 Emily Guy Birken’s Path to Money and Retirement Writing
00:04:26 Why the Five Years Before Retirement Are Crucial and How Much Is “Enough” Savings
00:10:31 How Expectations Can Shape Happiness in Retirement
00:13:14 Key Moves for Preretirees to Cover Retirement Savings Shortfalls
00:15:58 Social Security: Benefits of Delaying and Advice for Young Workers
00:27:06 Budgets in Retirement and Irregular Expenses on a Fixed Income
00:33:14 Why Long‑Term‑Care Insurance Rarely Pays Off Today
00:36:10 Pre-Medicare Health Insurance Options
00:40:17 Early Mortgage Payoff vs. Investing in Retirement
00:42:26 How Writing About Retirement Changed Guy Birken’s Own Planning
More From Morningstar
5 Things to Do Today If You Want to Retire in 5 Years
Dan Haylett: ‘The Retirement You Didn’t See Coming’
The Best Strategies for Consistent Retirement Spending
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