Spending Drops in Retirement, but Satisfaction Doesn't [Rebroadcast]

New research from David Blanchett, head of retirement research at PGIM, challenges one of the biggest assumptions in retirement planning: that happiness in retirement depends on maintaining a constant—or even increasing—level of spending. ⬇️ Upon entering retirement, households experience a median consumption decline of about 20%. This drop is often viewed as a red flag in traditional financial planning models. However, Blanchett argues that this decline is not necessarily problematic, especially when you look at how financial well-being changes over time. ☎️ Then on our listener question, we hear from a 34-year-old investor who's been all-in on stocks since taking Dave Ramsey's advice early in their career. Now, they're wondering how and when to start easing into a more balanced portfolio with bonds. We'll talk strategy, psychology, and sprinkle in some data on market highs that might surprise you. Resource: Article by John Manganaro from ThinkAdvisor: Spending Drops in Retirement, but Satisfaction Doesn't: Blanchett Connect with Benjamin Brandt Get the Retire-Ready Toolkit:

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Spending Drops in Retirement, but Satisfaction Doesn't [Rebroadcast] is an episode from Retirement Starts Today Radio by Benjamin Brandt CFP®, RICP®.

This episode is 15:50 long.

This episode was published on Dec 22, 2025.

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