The Simply Retirement Podcast

Hosted by Eric Blake

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Episodes

111

Latest episode

Jun 2026

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EN-US

About the show

The Simply Retirement Podcast is a top retirement podcast for women, hosted by Certified Financial Planner™ Eric Blake. The show helps women navigate retirement with greater confidence & control, for women planning with a spouse, managing finances independently, or adjusting to major life changes. Unlike many retirement podcasts that focus only on money, The Simply Retirement Podcast explores both the financial and personal sides of retirement. Through practical guidance and conversations with leading retirement voices, listeners gain insight into retirement income planning, Social Security, taxes, investing, Medicare, estate planning, caregiving, widowhood, divorce, & the many decisions that shape life after work. Financial security is only one part of retirement. Making informed decisions, adapting to life’s changes, and creating a future that aligns with your goals are equally important. Visit thesimplyretirementpodcast.com to listen to past episodes and access retirement resources.

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60 recent

June 10, 202630 min

Social Security Q&A: What You Need to Know About Work, Taxes, and Medicare (Ep. 108)

Planning for retirement often raises more questions than answers, especially when income, taxes, and timing all collide. How do working years, Social Security decisions, and required withdrawals shape your financial picture? In this episode, I walk through real questions from a recent Social Security webinar and explain how these decisions connect to your overall retirement plan. I cover how working impacts benefits, what to know about Medicare premiums, and how required minimum distributions can affect your income. We also break down how Social Security is taxed and why planning ahead matters more than reacting later. Key takeaways: How working before full retirement age can reduce Social Security benefits through the earnings test Why Medicare premiums are based on income from two years prior and how that impacts planning How provisional income determines how much of Social Security becomes taxable income What required minimum distributions mean for your future income and tax situation Why retirement decisions should be made as part of a bigger financial picture, not in isolation And more! Resources: Get Your FREE Simply Retirement Roadmap Ultimate Guide to Women’s Social Security Success Webinar: Savvy Social Security Planning for Women 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

June 3, 202636 min

The Hidden Cost of Caregiving and Why Families Need a Plan (Ep. 107)

Caregiving often starts quietly, but its impact can quickly reshape careers, finances, and family dynamics. How prepared are you if a health event forces immediate decisions? And who is included in the conversations that matter most? In this episode, I speak with Lina Supnet-Zapata, Chief Executive Officer of Mir Senior Care Management, Inc. & Care Consultants, about the realities families face when caregiving begins without a plan. We explore how women often step into caregiving roles unexpectedly, the risks of leaving family members out of financial conversations, and why care planning must be integrated with financial and legal strategies to avoid costly, reactive decisions. Key takeaways: How caregiving responsibilities often surface unexpectedly, forcing women to pause careers and shift priorities quickly Why financial conversations should include multiple generations before a crisis occurs or decisions are needed The difference between transactional advice and relationship-based guidance during emotional life transitions How reactive care decisions can lead to higher costs and added stress without a structured care plan in place Why collaboration between financial, legal, and care professionals leads to better outcomes for families And more! Resources: Get Your FREE Simply Retirement Roadmap 2026 Tax and Retirement Planning Cheat Sheet 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 Lina Supnet-Zapata: 512-615-6116 LinkedIn: Lina Supnet-Zapata Website: Mir Care Consultants Website: Aging Life Care Association About our Guest: Lina Supnet Zapata leads a team of Aging Life Care Professionals, care strategists, who step in when complexity, crisis, or long-term planning demands more than surface-level solutions. With over 30 years in healthcare and a decade in hospice leadership, her work sits at the intersection of care, systems, and strategy where real-life decisions meet real-world consequences. Lina’s guidance and leadership at Mir Care Consultants has become a trusted resource for clients, families, and professional partners alike. Lina partners with attorneys, financial professionals, and healthcare systems not only to ensure that every legal, financial, or medical plan can actually be lived out, but to protect all parties involved. Her work plays a critical role in mitigating vertical liability for the professional partners she aligns with, providing the care expertise and documentation that shields clients and collaborators from gaps in oversight, advocacy, and follow-through. When professionals refer to Mir, they refer with confidence — knowing their clients are protected and their own professional integrity is safeguarded. Her role is to bring clarity to chaos, structure to uncertainty, and advocacy to those who need it most. Complex care is not a challenge Lina navigates around it is where she and her team excel. Through Mir, her team delivers: Comprehensive Aging Life Care Management Guardianship of Person & Estate Benefit Navigation (Medicaid, SSDI, and beyond) Crisis intervention and long-term care planning Support for solo agers and complex family systems This work is done ethically, transparently, and without referral bias. Trust is the foundation of everything they do. That trust has been earned and sustained since 2004, built one client, one family, and one professional partnership at a time. Beyond her work at Mir, Lina serves in leadership with the Aging Life Care Association®, helping elevate the standard of aging life care management nationally. She is also a speaker, educator, and collaborator, working to ensure care is not an afterthought, but a central part of every professional conversation. Her work is about building systems of care that hold, over time, across generations, and through every stage of life. Complex care demands expertise, accountability, and trust. That is precisely what Lina Supnet Zapata and Mir Care Consultants deliver and have delivered, without compromise, for over two decades.

May 27, 202628 min

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 Social Security Administration Website Ultimate Guide to Women’s Social Security Success 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

May 20, 202628 min

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 2026 Tax and Retirement Planning Cheat Sheet Book: Unhitched: The Essential Divorce Guide for Women by Oona Metz 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 Oona Metz: LinkedIn: Oona Metz Website: Oona Metz Email: 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.

May 13, 202630 min

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 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 Carolyn Daly: (973) 474-5003 LinkedIn: Carolyn Daly Website: Cohen Seglias Email: 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.

May 6, 202631 min

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 2026 Tax and Retirement Planning Cheat Sheet Retirement tax return review checklists: Retired Retirement tax return review checklists: Still Working #54 – How Social Security Gets Taxed: What You Need to Know #75 – Year-End Tax Planning Checklist for 2025 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

April 29, 202632 min

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 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 On the Other Side: A Woman’s Guide to Rediscovering Strength and Success Beyond Adversity by Claudia Porter 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 Claudia Porter: LinkedIn: Claudia Porter Website: RFG Advisory 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.

April 22, 202641 min

When Work Becomes Optional: Redefining Retirement with Bernadette Joy (Ep. 101)

What happens when retirement stops being a finish line and starts being a choice? What if the biggest barrier between you and financial freedom isn’t the math, it’s the mindset? In this episode, I sit down with Bernadette Joy, author and CEO of CRUSH Your Money Goals®, for a candid conversation about what it really takes to take control of your finances, redefine what retirement means to you, and finally stop waiting for the “right” time to live the life you actually want. We talk about the moment Bernadette discovered she had $72,000 in student loan debt she didn’t know was growing, how she paid off $300,000 in debt and reached financial independence, and why she believes financial fluency matters far more than financial literacy. This conversation will challenge how you think about money, work, and what retirement could actually look like for you. Key takeaways: How a shocking student loan balance became the turning point that led Bernadette to pay off $300,000 in debt Why learning finances is more like learning a language than solving a math problem, and what that means for women approaching retirement How the loss of a client changed Bernadette’s perspective on waiting for the “right time” to retire What financial independence actually looks like when work becomes optional, not obligatory Why women advocating for themselves in financial conversations is not just empowering, it is essential And more! Resources: Get Your FREE Simply Retirement Roadmap 2026 Tax and Retirement Planning Cheat Sheet 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 Bernadette Joy: LinkedIn: Bernadette Joy Website: CRUSH Your Money Goals® YouTube: Bernadebtjoy About our Guest: Bernadette isn’t your typical financial expert—she’s a powerhouse with real-world experience. With two business degrees and a background in psychology, Bernadette knows how to blend academic knowledge with street smarts. As a first-generation Filipino American and former corporate employee, she intimately understands the stress of financial uncertainty, even when the paycheck looks promising. She’s a featured money expert on CNBC, CNET, Forbes, MarketWatch, Yahoo Finance and has taken the stage at FinCon, SXSW, NASDAQ and TEDxHouston (just like Brene Brown!) But here’s where Bernadette truly shines: she’s walked the walk. In just three years, she obliterated $300,000 of debt. And by her thirties, she achieved a net worth of over $2 million—all while working part-time hours. That’s right—she clocks in just 20 hours a week.

April 15, 202642 min

100 Episodes, One Mission (Ep. 100)

One hundred episodes in. More than a milestone, this is a window into the heart behind the work. In this episode, I reflect on what it means to reach Episode 100 of the Simply Retirement Podcast, alongside the people who know me best, my family, Dawn Blake, Kaitlyn Blake-Lolliot, and Eric L. Blake. We talk about why helping women feel confident around money matters so deeply, how communication and compassion shape our work, and what it means to build a business rooted in trust. This conversation also pulls back the curtain on the personal side of Blake Wealth Management, from client relationships to family legacy. More than anything, this episode highlights the values that have carried us this far and the purpose that continues to guide what comes next. Key takeaways: Why making financial conversations easier to understand helps women feel more confident asking questions and making decisions How respect, communication, and legacy shape the way Blake Wealth Management serves clients What it means to support clients through life changes like widowhood, divorce, health issues, and other difficult transitions How Dawn, Kaitlyn, and Eric Lowell each bring a different perspective to the family business and client experience Why Episode 100 is both a celebration of the journey so far and a reflection on the future of a multi-generational firm And more! Resources: Get Your FREE Simply Retirement Roadmap 2026 Tax and Retirement Planning Cheat Sheet Ultimate Guide to Women’s Social Security Success Connect with Eric Blake: LinkedIn: Eric Blake www.TheSimplyRetirementPodcast.com Join the Simply Retirement Newsletter Ask a Question or Suggest a Topic for the Podcast Blake Wealth Management YouTube Meet the Team: About Our Firm About our Guests: As the Client Success Coordinator at Blake Wealth Management, Dawn Blake’s goal is simple: to make your life just a little easier and ensure every interaction you have with our firm feels personal and meaningful. Whether she’s helping schedule a meeting, coordinating a transaction, or just checking in to see how you’re doing, Dawn wants you to feel like our only client. As Client Service Associate at Blake Wealth Management, Kaitlyn Blake-Lolliot’s role is all about making sure the client experience behind the scenes is just as thoughtful and smooth as the one our planning team delivers up front. Whether she’s managing schedules, processing paperwork, streamlining internal systems, or solving the daily challenges that come with running a growing firm, Kaitlyn’s goal is to support both our clients and team with clarity, efficiency, and care. As a Paraplanner at Blake Wealth Management, Eric L. Blake supports our planning team by helping build retirement plans, conducting investment research, and analyzing the tax and financial information that guide the strategies we deliver to clients. A large part of his work involves organizing data, running projections, and making sure every detail behind the scenes aligns with the goals, values, and long-term needs of the families we serve.

April 8, 202633 min

Should You Keep the House After Divorce? A Smarter Way to Decide (Ep. 99)

When divorce puts the future of your home into question, the biggest risk is making decisions before you fully understand your options. In this episode, I sit down with Stacey Ellison, Certified Divorce Lending Professional and Divorce Mortgage Planner at Divorce Mortgage Solutions, to walk through how mortgage planning, settlement language, and income rules can shape what is actually possible when it comes to keeping a home. We talk through how assets, support payments, and loan strategies factor into qualification, especially for women navigating this transition later in life. We also address the emotional pull of the family home and how to balance that with long-term financial stability. Key takeaways: Why divorce mortgage planning should happen before the settlement agreement is finalized How settlement language can affect whether support, assets, or other funds count as qualifying income What options may be available when someone wants to keep the house, including loan assumptions, FHA, and asset depletion strategies Why emotions around the marital home can lead to costly decisions if long-term affordability is not considered How women going through gray divorce can use retirement income, Social Security, and other assets to qualify more effectively And more! Resources: Get Your FREE Simply Retirement Roadmap 2026 Tax and Retirement Planning Cheat Sheet 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 Stacey Ellison: (908) 229-2705 LinkedIn: Stacey Ellison Website: Divorce Mortgage Solutions Instagram: Divorce Mortgage Solutions Facebook: Stacey Ellison, Certified Divorce Lending Professional About our Guest: Stacey Ellison, CDLP®, is a Certified Divorce Lending Professional and Divorce Mortgage Planner with a deep understanding of the financial complexities that arise during and after divorce. With over 30 years of experience in the mortgage industry, Stacey brings a unique blend of technical knowledge and compassionate guidance to individuals navigating one of life’s most challenging transitions. Since earning her CDLP® designation in 2020, Stacey has worked closely with family law attorneys, mediators, financial planners, and other divorce professionals to provide strategic mortgage guidance tailored to each client’s needs. Her role is to ensure that both parties in a divorce understand their options when it comes to home equity, mortgage qualification, and long-term housing goals. Whether helping a client determine if they can keep the marital home, qualify for a new mortgage, or explore equitable buyout solutions, Stacey provides clarity, structure, and confidence in the decision-making process. Her goal is to help divorcing homeowners make sound financial choices that support both their immediate needs and long-term stability.