Is $1 Million Enough to Retire? The REAL Answer

Retirement Done Right w/ David & Pat

Retirement Done Right w/ David & Pat
Is $1 Million Enough to Retire? The REAL Answer
Oct 10, 2025
David Rath, CMT®, CFA® & Patrick Kalish, CFP®

How much do you really need to retire? The classic $1 million benchmark is a starting point, but is it your finish line? In this episode of Retirement Done Right, hosts David Rath and Pat Kalish, moderated by Andrew Heuss, tear apart the one-size-fits-all retirement number to reveal the hidden factors that truly determine if your nest egg is sufficient.

We dive deep into the questions you need to be asking, including:

  • The Lifestyle Test: Why your retirement spending habits matter more than any magic number.
  • The Tax Reality Check: The dramatic difference between having $1 million in a Roth IRA versus a Traditional IRA.
  • Social Security Strategy: When it actually makes sense to claim early versus delaying benefits until 70.
  • The Psychology of Spending: How to mentally prepare for the shift from saving your money to spending it down.
  • Location, Location, Location: Why $1 million can feel like a fortune in Iowa but fall short in California.
  • The Healthcare Wildcard: Planning for the one expense that can derail even the best-laid retirement plans.

Featuring expert insight from Pat Kalish: *"$1 million isn't a destination—it's a starting point for conversation. The real question is: what lifestyle do you want, and does your plan support it through 30+ years of retirement?"*

Tune in to move beyond the generic advice and get the real, nuanced answers you need to build a confident retirement.

Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Consult a qualified financial professional before making any retirement decisions

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Disclosure

The information provided is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice and it should not be relied on as such. It should not be considered a solicitation to buy or an offer to sell a security. It does not take into account any investor's particular investment objectives, strategies, tax status, or investment horizon. You should consult your attorney or tax advisor.

Continuum Wealth Advisors, LLC (“Continuum”) is a registered investment advisor. Advisory services are only offered to clients or prospective clients where Continuum and its representatives are properly licensed or exempt from licensure.

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