Ep. 126: 7 Retirement Expenses That Catch Retirees By Surprise

Are you underestimating your retirement expenses?

One of the biggest mistakes I see pre-retirees make isn’t poor investing, claiming Social Security incorrectly, or even tax planning mistakes. It’s failing to accurately estimate what retirement will actually cost.

After 18 years helping people plan for and execute retirement, I’ve noticed the same retirement expenses catch people by surprise over and over again.

In this episode, I break down the 7 retirement expenses most retirees underestimate, including:

✅ Travel and the “Go-Go Years” of retirement

✅ Home repairs, renovations, and aging-in-place upgrades

✅ Retirement tax planning opportunities and tax surprises

✅ Financial support for adult children and grandchildren

✅ Hiring help for tasks you used to do yourself

✅ Vehicle replacement costs

✅ Healthcare, Medicare, and long-term care expenses

If you’re within 5-10 years of retirement, already retired, or trying to determine how much money you need to retire comfortably, this episode will help you build a more realistic retirement budget and avoid costly planning mistakes.

  • Why most retirees underestimate expenses
  • My own experience underestimating costs
  • The expensive “Go-Go Years” of retirement
  • Home repairs and renovations
  • Tax surprises in retirement
  • Adult children still on the payroll
  • Paying others to do things you used to do yourself
  • Vehicle replacement costs
  • Healthcare and long-term care expenses
  • Why retirement spending isn’t linear

I hope you enjoy this episode!
~ Kevin

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This is for general education purposes only and should not be considered as tax, legal, or investment advice.

Kevin Lao

I am the owner and lead financial planner @ IFS. We are an independent firm specializing in retirement planning. I also host The Planning for Retirement Podcast and can be found on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and other streaming services. I live in Chattanooga, TN with my wife, three boys and two rescue pups. I love to travel, play golf and smoke (and eat) meats.