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© Copyright 2026 Josh Bretl
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Our weekly show dedicated to giving you the confidence to make retirement the best part of your life.
79 Episodes
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Walking into retirement can feel a lot like watching your child’s first dance.It's a mix of pride, nerves, and a lot of questions about what comes next.This week on Retire Well, Josh Bretl and Mark Elliott dive into the emotional and financial shifts that happen when you stop punching the clock.We talk about why your retirement strategy needs to change once you move from the "growth" phase to the "income" phase.Josh breaks down the common leaks in retirement buckets, from hidden tax traps to the reality of Social Security cost of living adjustments.Whether you are worried about outliving your money or just want to make sure your family is protected, we explore how a holistic plan provides the freedom to actually enjoy your hard earned savings.It is about moving past the math and getting back to what matters most.📞 Ready to talk? Call (630) 478-9599 to schedule your complimentary 15-minute call with a Wellment advisor.
What if you're a millionaire and don't even know it?This week on Retire Well, Josh and Mark unpack the idea of the hidden millionaire.Many hardworking savers quietly build significant wealth through 401k contributions, home equity, and years of disciplined habits without ever feeling rich.They also explore how Gen X is stepping into the retirement spotlight, what Social Security could look like in the future, and how the quietly wealthy think differently about spending, taxes, and long term planning.If retirement is creeping up on you, this episode will help you see your full financial picture more clearly.📞 Ready to talk? Call (630) 478-9599 to schedule your complimentary 15-minute call with a Wellment advisor.
Retirement is not built on one account. It is built on a strategy.In this episode of Retire Well, Josh Bretl shares a personal story about visiting his wife’s childhood neighborhood and uses it to highlight a powerful financial truth.There is more than one way to grow up, and more than one way to retire.Josh and Mark break down why a 401k is a tool, not a full retirement plan, how market volatility impacts real people, and why taxes, Social Security, and income timing matter more than most retirees realize.They also explore how Olympic cities and athletes face unexpected costs, and why your retirement needs to be ready for surprises too.📞 Ready to talk? Call (630) 478-9599 to schedule your complimentary 15-minute call with a Wellment advisor.
Retirement is not just about hitting a number. It is about stepping into a new season of life with clarity and confidence.In this episode of Retire Well, Josh Bretl and Mark Elliott explore what it truly means to be ready for retirement.From the financial basics of spending, income, and taxes to the emotional side of purpose, identity, and relationships, they walk through the four questions nearly every retiree asks:When can I retire?Have I saved enough?Will my money last?And will my loved ones be okay if something happens to me?If you want retirement to feel intentional instead of uncertain, this conversation is a must-listen.📞 Ready to talk? Call (630) 478-9599 to schedule your complimentary 15-minute call with a Wellment advisor.
Retirement is often treated like a finish line. Josh Bretl sees it differently.In this episode of Retire Well, Josh and Mark Elliott unpack what retirement really means and why it has less to do with quitting work and more to do with freedom, flexibility, and cash flow.Josh shares a personal story about Chicago winters, unexpected family routines, and how small moments can turn into the most meaningful parts of life.That same idea carries into retirement planning. Listeners learn how to think beyond a magic number, focus on monthly income needs, and understand key considerations like health care before Medicare, debt, and taxes.The conversation also explores how retirement has changed without pensions, why income planning matters more than ever, and how blending income from different tax buckets can help create clarity and confidence.The mailbag segment tackles real listener questions about involuntary retirement, Medicare confusion, cognitive decline, and couples navigating different financial comfort levels.📞 Ready to talk? Call (630) 478-9599 to schedule your complimentary 15-minute call with a Wellment advisor.
This week on Retire Well with Josh Bretl, Josh and Mark Elliott tackle two of the most emotionally charged and misunderstood parts of retirement planning. Legacy decisions and reliable income.Josh opens the show with a personal story about his daughter Maggie’s first gymnastics competition, drawing a powerful parallel between preparation, effort, and enjoying the moment.From there, the conversation turns to why families avoid talking about inheritance and how clear planning and communication can remove stress for everyone involved.In the second half, Josh and Mark break down the real challenges facing today’s retirees, including longevity, inflation, tax risk, and the decline of traditional pensions.They explain why retirement planning is ultimately income planning and how smart tax strategies, Social Security decisions, and thoughtful withdrawal planning can help retirees feel more confident about the years ahead.Ready to talk? Call (630) 478-9599 to schedule your complimentary 15-minute call with a Wellment advisor.
Retirement brings freedom, but it also brings questions.In this episode of The Own Your Retirement Show, Josh Bretl and Mark Elliott explore why so many retirees feel uncertain about the future and what can actually restore confidence.Josh shares a recent family story from an indoor rock climbing gym that perfectly mirrors retirement itself. Pushing past fear, adapting to change, and trusting your footing as you move forward.The conversation then turns to important financial updates for 2026, including higher IRA and 401(k) contribution limits, changes to Medicare Part D, Social Security cost of living adjustments, and expanded senior tax deductions and charitable giving rules.Josh explains why understanding these changes matters, especially as tax laws continue to evolve.They also tackle one of the biggest fears retirees face. Running out of money.From sequence of returns risk to the loss of pensions, Josh explains how building a diversified income strategy and a reliable income floor can help retirees spend with more confidence and less anxiety.📞 Ready to talk? Call (630) 478-9599 to schedule your complimentary 15-minute call with a Wellment advisor.
Have you ever looked at the price of a burger and wondered if you accidentally walked into a five star steakhouse?On this episode of Retire Well, Josh Bretl and Mark Elliott dive into the reality of rising costs and why a plan that worked in the nineties might be running out of gas today.Josh shares some fun stories from a recent family trip to Las Vegas and explains how a magician’s performance actually relates to your financial strategy.We talk about the speed limit of your portfolio: are you driving 80 miles per hour into a school zone? We also break down the rule of 100 and why your neighbor’s investment strategy might be a total disaster for your specific situation.It is all about shifting from the working years to a lifestyle of clarity and confidence.📞 Ready to talk? Call (630) 478-9599 to schedule your complimentary 15-minute call with a Wellment advisor.
On this episode of Retire Well, Josh Bretl and Mark Elliott dig into what most people really mean when they say they want a “comfortable retirement.”It turns out, it almost always starts with income.Josh shares personal stories, including childhood memories at Wrigley Field, to explain why meaningful experiences matter in retirement and why those experiences depend on having reliable income you can count on.The conversation breaks down the four pillars of a strong retirement plan. Income, protection, growth, and liquidity.Josh explains why no single financial institution can provide all four and how retirees need to understand the role banks, Wall Street, and insurance companies each play.They also explore common retirement fears, tax planning over a lifetime, and why clarity around spending can give you permission to actually enjoy retirement.📞 Ready to talk? Call (630) 478-9599 to schedule your complimentary 15-minute call with a Wellment advisor.
This week on Retire Well, Josh Bretl pulls back the curtain on a big change with a very familiar purpose. The firm formerly known as FSR Wealth Strategies is now Wellment Financial, a name that better reflects what retirement planning is really about.Not just numbers, but clarity, confidence, and living fully in the years ahead.Josh shares the story behind the rebrand, the firm’s roots as a CPA practice started in 1988, and how it evolved into a retirement focused firm built on three pillars.Smart tax focused planning, managing your entire financial life under one roof, and creating a community where retirees feel supported.The conversation also dives deep into the tax challenges retirees face today, from required minimum distributions and Roth conversions to Social Security taxation and planning after the loss of a spouse.It is a thoughtful, practical episode about why retirement should feel as good as it is planned.📞 Ready to talk? Call (630) 478-9599 to schedule your complimentary 15-minute call with an FSR advisor.
Retirement should feel more like a holiday break and less like a stressful countdown.In this festive episode of The Own Your Retirement Show, Josh Bretl and Mark Elliott use the Christmas season to explain what real retirement freedom looks like and how to plan for it.Josh shares personal stories about family, freedom, and why retirement is not about hitting a magic number but understanding monthly spending and reliable income.The conversation covers income planning, taxes, healthcare, Social Security decisions, and long-term care, along with listener questions about gifting, charitable giving, and legacy planning.It is a warm, practical discussion designed to help you check your retirement list twice and feel confident about the years ahead.📞 Ready to talk? Call (630) 478-9599 to schedule your complimentary 15-minute call with an FSR advisor.
This week, Josh Bretl and Mark Elliott break down the end of year planning moves every retiree should know.They explain how Roth conversions, RMDs, capital gains planning, and charitable giving all work on different timelines and how a quick mock tax return can reveal smart opportunities before December 31.Josh also talks about the emotional side of retirement and the natural shift from the go go years to the slow go and no go years.From real stories to practical tax tips, this episode helps you understand what to prioritize now so you can stay confident and prepared for the road ahead.📞 Ready to talk? Call (630) 478-9599 to schedule your complimentary 15 minute call with an FSR advisor.
This week, Josh and Mark use the Thanksgiving table as a fun and surprisingly practical way to break down the key parts of a strong retirement plan.From investments as the main course to income, taxes, and even emergency savings as the essential sides, they show how every piece of your financial picture works together.Josh also shares five tips for a happier, more confident retirement, including health, purpose, social connections, and planning ahead with family.Ready to talk?Call (630) 478-9599 to schedule your complimentary 15 minute call with an FSR advisor.
Josh kicks off the show with a story from his annual father daughter camping trip, a reminder of why intentional time matters.He then breaks down the Federal Reserve’s latest quarter point rate cut and why this one is surrounded by controversy.With the government shutdown limiting economic data, markets and policymakers are reacting with mixed opinions.Josh explains how interest rates influence retirees and why planning around income, investments, taxes, healthcare, and legacy needs can help reduce the impact of outside forces.The show also explores increasing longevity, withdrawal strategies, and real listener questions about planning for a long, fulfilling retirement.📞 Ready to talk? Call (630) 478-9599 to schedule your complimentary 15-minute call with an FSR advisor.
In this week’s episode of The Own Your Retirement Show, Josh Bretl and Mark Elliott talk optimism - yes, optimism - in a world full of gloomy headlines.From a fourth-grade Greek mythology presentation to the latest Federal Reserve moves, Josh shares why he believes retirees have more reasons to feel hopeful than fearful.He explains how technology and consistent tax laws can actually work in your favor, and how smart planning can protect your income, reduce taxes, and keep your retirement on track even when the news says otherwise.The episode also digs into strategies for managing RMDs, Social Security taxation, and Medicare’s IRMAA rules, all with FSR Wealth’s signature clarity and humor.📞 Ready to talk? Call (630) 478-9599 to schedule your complimentary 15-minute call with an FSR advisor.
This week, Josh Bretl and Mark Elliott dive into what truly makes a confident, successful retirement.After sharing a funny story from a family trip to Cabo San Lucas, Josh draws a surprising connection between family planning and financial planning, both take effort, but they’re worth it.The conversation shifts to a Yahoo Finance report revealing how wealthy retirees think differently, focusing on guaranteed income, lifetime tax planning, and legacy.Josh also shares when it might be time to re-evaluate your financial advisor and what to look for in one who specializes in retirement.📞 Ready to talk? Call (630) 478-9599 to schedule your complimentary 15-minute call with an FSR advisor.
Retirement isn’t a short pit stop anymore, it can last 20 to 30 years or more.In this week’s episode of The Own Your Retirement Show, Josh Bretl and Mark Elliott dig into the evolving realities of retirement planning and why old rules like “the 4% rule” don’t hold up today. From managing income and taxes to preparing for healthcare and long-term care, Josh explains how planning must adjust to life’s phases — the go-go, slow-go, and no-go years.The pair also share family stories, book talk, and practical advice for retirees who want to enjoy life now while still protecting their future.📞 Ready to talk? Call (630) 478-9599 to schedule your complimentary 15-minute call with an FSR advisor.
What can a middle-school novel teach us about retirement?A lot more than you’d think!In this episode, Josh Bretl and Mark Elliott start with a heartwarming story about Josh’s family reading time and a surprising book set in a retirement village.The story sparks a conversation about connection, communication, and legacy, before diving into how those same themes apply to retirement planning.From the rising cost of healthcare to the changing role of 401(k)s and pensions, Josh breaks down how to plan for the expected and the unpredictable with clarity and confidence.📞 Ready to talk? Call (630) 478-9599 to schedule your complimentary 15-minute call with an FSR advisor.
This week on The Own Your Retirement Show, Josh Bretl and Mark Elliott dig into one of the trickiest parts of retirement: understanding interest rates and creating dependable income.Josh opens with a funny story about his son Alex discovering blackjack at a music festival, an eye-opening reminder of how tempting “gambling” can be, both at the card table and in the markets.From there, Josh explains how today’s interest rate changes impact retirees as both savers and borrowers, and why the shift from saving to spending is such a major life transition.Listeners will learn why guaranteed income can boost happiness, how to avoid relying on one-size-fits-all rules, and what the five pillars of the Own Your Retirement planning process are.📞 Ready to talk? Call (630) 478-9599 to schedule your complimentary 15-minute call with an FSR advisor.
Josh Bretl kicks off this week’s show with a story about a once-in-a-lifetime dinner at a world-famous restaurant, but it’s not just about food.It’s about rethinking the old way of doing things, just like retirement planning needs a fresh, thoughtful approach.In this episode, Josh explains how integrating proactive tax strategies with investment planning can significantly improve your retirement outcome.He also dives into the importance of understanding what you spend, why income is more important than rate of return, and how to find the right advisor to help you build a plan that lasts.Retirement is personal, and this episode is a reminder that your plan should reflect that.📞 Ready to talk? Call (630) 478-9599 to schedule your complimentary 15-minute call with an FSR advisor.
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