Most retirement advice gets it wrong. You’ve probably heard that you need a million—or two or three—dollars saved before you can retire. Or maybe you’ve been told that your investment returns will make or break your future. But here’s the truth: your retirement success doesn’t come down to your account balance or the stock market. It comes down to one number—how much you plan to spend.
Why? Because your expenses drive everything. Unlike market performance, tax laws, or inflation, spending is the one factor you can actually control. And yet, most people overlook it. They guess at a monthly figure, or assume spending will stay the same for decades, only to discover later that their assumptions were way off.
In this video, Mike Pappis, CFP® and Head of Support at Boldin, explains why spending is the single most important driver of retirement outcomes. He walks through common mistakes people make, shows you how retirement spending really unfolds across the Go-Go, Slow-Go, and No-Go years, and demonstrates how the Boldin Planner helps you move from guessing to knowing.
By the end, you’ll see that building a thoughtful spending plan isn’t just about numbers—it’s about creating flexibility, aligning your money with your values, and gaining the confidence to enjoy the retirement you’ve worked for.
What you’ll learn: ✅ Separate your “must-spend” vs. “like-to-spend” budgets ✅ Account for one-time and irregular expenses (cars, home repairs, family gifts) ✅ Adjust your plan for the Go-Go, Slow-Go, and No-Go years of retirement ✅ Factor in healthcare and long-term care costs ✅ See how spending flexibility can boost your retirement chance of success
⏱️ Timestamps 0:00 Intro: Why most retirement advice gets it wrong 1:28 Common retirement spending mistakes to avoid 3:29 Inside the Boldin Planner: Basic Budgeter walkthrough 3:56 Inside the Boldin Planner: Detail Budgeter walkthrough 4:29 Case study: Mark & Elena’s retirement spending plan 12:12 Takeaways 12:32 Final thoughts
📌 Start building your financial plan for free at Boldin: https://go.boldin.com/retirementexpenses 👍 Like this video if you found it helpful and subscribe for more insights! 🔔 Subscribe for more product demos, Office Hours, and retirement education.
