A practical learning path to help working people prepare for retirement, complete the retirement transition, and live confidently after retiring.
Joe Says
"Retirement planning isn't something you start a year before you retire. It's a process that works best when you understand the system, know what decisions are coming, and give yourself time to make them deliberately."
Course Map
Work through the full curriculum at your own pace. Each lesson builds on the last.
Lesson 1 of 24
Understand when retirement planning should begin and why starting earlier gives you more options.
Lesson 2 of 24
Learn the main sources of retirement income and how they work together to fund your retirement.
Lesson 3 of 24
What defined benefit plans are, how they calculate your benefit, and the key decisions you will face.
Lesson 4 of 24
How 401(k), 403(b), 457, and similar plans work and what your choices mean for retirement income.
Lesson 5 of 24
How Social Security works, what it pays, and how your claiming age affects your lifetime benefit.
Lesson 6 of 24
How to plan for health coverage in the years before Medicare eligibility at 65.
Lesson 7 of 24
What Medicare covers, its parts, and how to enroll without triggering late-enrollment penalties.
Lesson 8 of 24
How to estimate what retirement will actually cost and whether your income sources are sufficient.
Lesson 9 of 24
A structured review of the financial, benefits, and personal factors that indicate readiness to retire.
Lesson 10 of 24
How to select a retirement date that aligns with your benefits, finances, and personal goals.
Lesson 11 of 24
How to sequence and coordinate pension, Social Security, savings, and healthcare decisions.
Lesson 12 of 24
The forms, applications, and deadlines you must manage to start your retirement benefits on time.
Lesson 13 of 24
How to move from employer-sponsored health coverage to Medicare or other coverage at retirement.
Lesson 14 of 24
Understanding survivor benefit options in pensions and how these choices affect your spouse or dependents.
Lesson 15 of 24
Practical steps to take in your final weeks of work to ensure a smooth retirement transition.
Lesson 16 of 24
A complete review of everything you need confirmed before your retirement date arrives.
Lesson 17 of 24
What to expect in your first year and how to navigate the adjustment period successfully.
Lesson 18 of 24
How to manage multiple income streams, timing withdrawals, and making your money last.
Lesson 19 of 24
How retirement income is taxed and strategies for managing your tax burden in retirement.
Lesson 20 of 24
Managing Medicare, supplemental coverage, out-of-pocket costs, and long-term care considerations.
Lesson 21 of 24
What returning to work means for your pension, Social Security, and Medicare benefits.
Lesson 22 of 24
Common scams targeting retirees and the practical steps to protect your retirement savings and identity.
Lesson 23 of 24
Wills, beneficiaries, powers of attorney, and the documents every retiree should have in place.
Lesson 24 of 24
Building a fulfilling retirement life — financially, physically, and socially.
