How do you turn your retirement savings into a steady paycheck that lasts? I’ve had a lot of questions about this lately—and for good reason. Without a well-thought-out withdrawal plan, people risk running out of money too soon, paying more in taxes than necessary, or simply feeling uncertain about how to manage their nest egg. Shifting from saving to spending isn’t always easy, and I want to help people feel confident in their approach.

That’s why I like to keep things simple and intentional. In this episode, I’ll walk through a practical way to organize retirement savings into different “buckets” based on when the money will be needed. I also share a real example of how someone ended up paying thousands more in taxes than necessary—just because of the way they withdrew their money. With a little planning, retirees can make their savings last and still have the freedom to enjoy life.

• (0:00) Intro
• (1:10) Sources of Income
• (3:05) Costly Withdrawal Mistakes
• (7:50) The Spending Mindset Shift
• (12:10) The Three-Bucket Method
• (18:40) Which Accounts to Use First
• (24:00) Adjusting Over Time

• 3 Steps to Retirement Planning
• Retirement Budgeting Tool
• 2025 Market Outlook from LPL Financial
• Episode 72: The Bucket Strategy

• Email at: Gregg.gonzalez@lpl.com
• Podcast: https://RetirementMadeEasyPodcast.com
• Website: https://StLouisFinancialAdvisor.com
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