Retirement Solutions for Smart People

I’ll admit I side-eyed the runtime—how much can you really cover in 79 minutes? But Kagan’s approach is so ruthlessly efficient that by minute 20, I’d already dog-eared three strategies I’d never heard from my own advisor. The standout section dissects how to use a reverse mortgage *as a line of credit* to delay Social Security, a move that could add six figures to your lifetime benefits if timed right. Reid’s delivery is spot-on: she speeds up during number-heavy explanations (like the 4% rule’s flaws) but slows for Kagan’s *‘here’s where most people mess up’* warnings, making the dense parts digestible. That said, this isn’t for everyone. Kagan’s bias toward real estate solutions (unsurprising, given his background) occasionally feels myopic—renters or those in volatile housing markets might bristle at his assumptions. And while the production is clean, the lack of supplementary PDFs for the worksheets he references is a missed opportunity. Still, for pre-retirees who’ve maxed out 401(k)s but are staring down a savings gap, this is the rare finance audiobook that leaves you with *specific* next steps—not just anxiety. Pair it with a spreadsheet and a stiff drink." "tags": [ "retirement income strategies