Ep. 706 | Veterans, Money & Moving Forward

This week on The Senior Zone, Shawn Perry brings together two meaningful conversations centered around veteran care, financial freedom, and thriving after 50.

First, Shawn welcomes Vamsee Potluri, Medical Center Director of the Washington DC VA Medical Center, to discuss healthcare access, caregiver support, mental health resources, and the VA’s commitment to improving the veteran experience throughout the DMV.

Then, Chris Miles — founder of Money Ripples and nationally known “Cash Flow Expert” — joins the show to challenge traditional retirement thinking and explain how older adults can create greater financial flexibility and passive income in today’s economy.

Plus:
🎂 Birthdays of the Week
 💌 Dear Grave Woman featuring Joel Simone
 🌟 Later Life Lowdown

📻 Listen live every Monday from 10am–11am EST on WYCB 1340AM
 🌐 Stream live at MySpiritDC
🎧 Podcast available immediately after the broadcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Amazon Music and more.

Thank you for listening and until we meet again…keep your head high, your heart full, and always — be someone who makes someone else look forward to their tomorrow.
 

Transcript

Opening Remarks & Weekly Vitamin

SPEAKER_10 0:23

So get ready to take notes note on the senior zone.

SPEAKER_04 0:31

Good morning, good morning, my good people, and welcome once again to the Senior Zone, the DMV's number one weekly radio program serving our beloved 50 plus community. I am your host, Sean Perry, and as always, it is a blessing to spend this time with you every Monday morning. Family, life has a way of testing all of us eventually. Sometimes it's our health, sometimes it's our finances, sometimes it's caregiving responsibilities, sometimes it's simply trying to figure out what this next chapter of life is supposed to look like. And the truth is, a whole lot of older adults are carrying heavy things quietly. And that's why this conversation today matters. Real conversations, honest conversations, conversations that help people feel informed, encouraged, and a little less alone. And that's what we're all about here on the Stina Zone. And also, let me remind you, real quick, if you ever missed a live broadcast, don't worry about it. The StenaZone podcast is now available immediately following the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Amazon Music, and other major platforms across the country. Now, folks, it is time for your weekly vitamin, and here we go. You know, sometimes moving forward in life doesn't require a giant leap. Sometimes it simply means refusing to quit on yourself, still believing, still growing, still showing up, still trusting that your life has purpose, because it does. And family, hear me when I say this your age does not cancel your value. There is still wisdom in you, still purpose in you, still impacting you. So keep moving forward. Alright, family, that was your weekly vitamin. On today's show, we've got two important conversations lined up for you. First up, we're talking about our veterans, especially older veterans throughout the DMV and the importance of healthcare access, caregiver support, mental health resources, and improving the veteran experience. Joining us will be Vamsi Potlori. He is the Medical Center Director for the Washington, D.C. VA Medical Center, and we'll discuss what the VA is doing to better serve our veterans and their families throughout our region. And then in segment two, we are talking money because many older adults are asking serious questions right now about retirement, financial security, and whether traditional advice still works in today's economy. Our guest will be Chris Miles, nationally known as the cash flow expert. He joins us to discuss passive income, financial flexibility, and creating more freedom after 50. And of course, before we get out of here today, we're gonna have our birthdays of the week, Dear Grave Woman, featuring Joelle Simone and your later life lowdown with news and resources impacting older adults throughout the DMV. And before we take this quick break, I gotta send some love and gratitude to our sponsors and partners. So thank you, Legal Counsel for the Elderly, AARP of the District of Columbia, AARP of the State of Maryland, Compassion and Choices, Jewish Council for the Aging, and the DC Department of Aging and Community Living. Folks, we'll be right back after this short break, brought to you by Legal Counsel for the Elderly, providing free legal and social work services to DC residents most in need. We'll be right back.

SPEAKER_07 4:09

Legal Counsel for the Elderly champions the dignity and rights of DC elders by providing free legal and social work services to those in need. Worried about eviction or foreclosure? Need help obtaining social security or veterans benefits? Call Legal Counsel for the Elderly at 202-434-2120. Income eligibility applies. LCE is an affiliate of AARP 202-434-2120.

SPEAKER_09 4:40

Attention, listeners, criminals are consistently developing new ways to steal your hard-earned money and personal information. But the AARP Fraud Watch Network is here to help you protect yourself and your loved ones. Deal or report scams in your area with our scam tracking map. Get guidance from our trained fraud specialists and sign up to receive information on the latest scams. Knowledge is power. If you can spot a scam, you can stop a scam. Get more tips and resources at AARP.org slash fraudwatch network.

SPEAKER_04 5:13

All right,

Vamsee Potluri | DC VA Medical Center

SPEAKER_04 5:14

family. Welcome back. It's now the Veteran Zone on the Senior Zone. Now listen, whenever we talk about our veterans, especially our older veterans, we're talking about people who've sacrificed, served, carried burdens quietly, and in many cases, still don't always ask for help when they need it. So today's conversation is an important one. Joining us this morning is Famsi Potlori, Medical Center Director of the Washington, D.C. VA Medical Center. And by the way, congratulations are in order because I've recently heard that he was recognized by the American College of Healthcare Executives for Emerging Healthcare Leadership. This morning, we're talking about improving access to care, the veterans' experience, mental health, caregiver support, and what the VA is doing to better serve veterans throughout the DMV. Mr. Potlory, welcome to the senior zone. Good morning, sir, and thank you so much for having me. Honored to be here. It's an honor to have you here. So uh uh uh Mr. Potlory, may I call you Famsi? Sure. Please feel free to call me V as well. All right, okay, Famsey. So for listeners who who may not know you yet, tell us uh about your journey into healthcare leadership and what personally drives your commitment to serving our veterans.

SPEAKER_05 6:34

Sure. So uh my journey in VA and healthcare leadership actually started when I was a graduate student before going back to medical school, uh going to medical school. Uh I started volunteering at the VA. And I really quickly started to understand veteran culture, VA culture, the amazing things that VA does when it comes to clinical care, quality outcomes, but really the full range of health care spectrum that we provide. And very quickly, I I realized my calling, I want to be in the VA and I wanted to serve in the VA. Since that time, I uh was a volunteer without compensation employee, joined uh following graduate school. I've worked at the Maryland VA, I've worked at the Cleveland VA, I've worked at the Indianapolis VA, and prior to coming to the DC VA, I was the uh permanent director at the Wilmington VA, covering Delaware and southern New Jersey. So just an honor to be a part of the DC team where I actually started as an administrative fellow.

SPEAKER_04 7:37

Yeah, and I think uh Vamsey that that personal connection uh matters uh because our veterans want to know the people leading the institutions, uh, you know, truly, truly uh care. You know, many of our older veterans came from generations where you quote unquote toughed things out and often avoided asking uh for help. I know that very, very well. What are you seeing today when it comes to seniors finally reaching out for health care and support to the VA?

SPEAKER_05 8:05

Sure. And I I you know I'll start with everything happens at the rate of trust. And it's my obligation, it's our obligation uh as a DC VA Medical Center to reach out. We do a significant amount of outreach, but also to earn the trust of veterans. And we're really proud. We continue to see incremental increase in the percent of veterans that use our VA healthcare system saying that they trust us. One way is trust scores, but two, I think people vote in volume. So when we talk about the number of veterans choosing Washington, D.C. VA Medical Center andor healthcare system for care, we've seen an increase over two years from about 114,000 veterans to this year, we're projecting over 130,000 veterans.

SPEAKER_04 8:50

Wow. Wow. You know, one concern I hear of AMSI is uh access, getting appointments, navigating uh the systems, right? Or simply knowing where to start, where to begin. And I know the DCVA has identified several strategic priorities, including access to care and improving the veteran experience. Talk to us about that and what that looks like in practical, everyday terms for the veterans you serve.

SPEAKER_05 9:16

Sure. So as I mentioned, we're gonna serve 130,000 veterans this year, and we do that in many ways, from pharmaceutical benefits to outpatient care, where we'll have over 1.5 million touch points per year this year to operations and or procedures, to inpatient care, to even long-term care, where some of our veterans call the DCVA Medical Center in our community living center their home. So we do a whole host of offerings uh in our system. But when we talk about access, generally we talk about outpatient access and inpatient access. And in many of those domains, at a very high level, but also simplifying it, we look at primary care access, how long does it take for you to get into primary care, mental health access, medical subspecialties, surgical subspecialties, radial radiologic and or diagnostic um clinics and opportunities. And in each of those areas, we're working very aggressively and we've reduced the wait time for veterans to get care. So whether within VA at a VA medical center, virtually, andor when we purchase and provide care for veterans in the community. So when veterans are waiting over a certain amount, drive or need to drive over a certain amount, we offer them purchased care or community care and coordinate that care for them.

SPEAKER_04 10:42

Yeah. You know, I asked that question, uh, Vamsey, because when someone is older, and I'm now an older person as well, uh, overwhelmed or just dealing with multiple health conditions, simplicity as well as responsiveness, you know, matters, probably more so than anything else. So I thank you for addressing that question. Another uh topic, mental health continues to be a major issue among veterans of all ages. Talk to us about the importance of emotional wellness, especially for older veterans who may be dealing with things like isolation, grief, PTSD, or even depression later in life.

SPEAKER_05 11:19

These are all things that are extremely important to us. And I really uh the reason I mentioned I joined VA and I wanted to be in VA is I think we are really the best example of true health care. Right? And when we look at the health of a veteran, we don't just say diagnosis A or B, but we look at the whole health of the veteran, right? And you're mentioning mental health. We're very we're we're really leading the country in many ways with the advances in mental health care that we provide care uh provide. But in addition, I'm hearing some of the things that you're mentioning regarding community belonging. And we have various programs designed such as recreation therapy, integrated health and wellness. But also, in addition to healthcare, we provide an opportunity for veterans to continue and come back serving other veterans through our volunteer programs. So uh there's a lot of opportunity in the VA. But one part of that is we are being more intentional about getting to where our veterans live and meeting them where they're at. So we have outreach teams, um the leadership team and I will be coming to local VSOs to host town halls where one, we can meet you, hear you, take your feedback, need improvement, but also a good opportunity for veterans using VA or not using VA to connect with one another.

SPEAKER_04 12:42

Yeah, I'm gonna ask that you extend an invite to me so I can come and observe and watch as well. So put that, note that uh as well. I asked that question because over the years of doing the senior zone uh Am Z, you know, I've learned that uh emotional battles, that's what I'll call it, don't fully surface until retirement years, you know, slow life down. And now you have time with your head, right? So that's why I asked that question because it it it it does become tougher uh as you you know navigate through one's seniorhood. Let's talk about technology. Uh it's becoming a larger part of healthcare, online portals, uh virtual appointments, uh apps, uh electronic communications, et cetera. But many seniors still struggle with technology. How is the VA helping older veterans stay connected without feeling left behind?

SPEAKER_05 13:34

For sure. And uh, if you look at our missions within VA, we do a significant amount of clinical care, we do a significant amount of education and workforce development, but we also do a significant amount of education for our veterans because we think that's important. When it comes to technology, we actually have an entire team committed to helping veterans shoulder to shoulder work through their needs, work through the applications, work through the trainings and the offerings that we have. I highly encourage that if you're one of those veterans that needs just a little bit more help, reach out through your primary care team or any contact that you have to our connected care team so we can get you trained up on My Healthy Vet, which is a wonderful VA uh platform. Understanding secure messaging, VA online scheduling, to name a few. But uh, there's so many offerings and we're here for you, and we're happy to do it in person um at the medical center or at your next visit.

SPEAKER_04 14:31

Yeah, you know, because you know, digital access shouldn't be uh or become another barrier to uh healthcare that's already tough enough in and of itself. You know, caregivers, I I'm I'm hopping around uh with you because I want to maximize the time that we have. Caregivers are often the unsung heroes in a veteran's life spouses, adult children, friends, even neighbors. What resources or support systems, uh Famsi, are available through the VA for caregivers themselves?

SPEAKER_05 14:59

Yes, we have a wonderful caregiver support program. So again, VA Caregiver Support Program. And you can learn a lot about this through the following link that I'll provide you www.caregiver.va.gov and or give us a call and let me read that number out for you. 2027 four five eight thousand extension 55926. And we have a wonderful dedicated caregiver support team that is there for you to look at your situation, what your needs may be, and help walk you through the process to ensure that we're taking care of not just our veterans, but also we're taking care of our caregivers.

SPEAKER_04 15:44

Let's give that number out one more time, folks. That number was 202-745-8000. Extension 55926. That's 202-7458000. Extension 55926. Let's talk about trust for a moment. You mentioned it earlier in our discussion of AMC. Some veterans still carry frustration or skepticism from past experiences with the VA uh system. What would you say to veterans who may have checked out years ago and haven't come back?

SPEAKER_05 16:19

Yeah. One concept that we talk a lot about here, and we're on our journey, is becoming and continuing to be a highly reliable organization. And I understand that in in every encounter we may not have gotten it perfectly, but I want you to give us another shot. Right? And if you want to reach out directly to me, I'm happy to drop my email in the in the the chat or mention it. It's V-A-M S-E-E dot l-U-R-I at V A.gov. Email me directly and I will respond. I will work through the concern or historical um item that you mentioned, and I want to re-earn and regain your trust. And the reason I mention that is because we know veterans do better and thrive when they're engaged in VA, not just with the VA healthcare, but with the VA community and other veterans. So we're really proud of the care that we deliver. We're really proud of the improvements that we're making, and we will continue to become better if and when you give us your feedback. So it's really important.

SPEAKER_04 17:25

That says a lot, Vamsey, that you're willing and able to give out your personal email address. Uh, that right there, in and of itself, you know, in my opinion, uh rebuilds uh trust. That's just as important as delivering uh care. So thank you, thank you, thank you uh for that, uh, my new friend. We also know that, you know, uh housing insecurity, we hear it on the news all the time, as well as homelessness, continue affecting veterans nationwide, right? What role is your medical center, the DCVA medical center, playing in helping vulnerable veterans find you know stable uh uh you know uh facilities to reside and the supports that you provide around homelessness?

SPEAKER_05 18:08

Yeah, wonderful. This is one of our number one one of our top clinical priorities. And when you talk about housing or veterans that are at risk of being unsheltered, housing is healthcare. I think we've heard that term and we know that to be true. It impacts the entire veteran. Um, we have a dedicated HUD VASH and healthcare for homeless veteran team that not only provide care at a VA location, the VA Medical Center, our VA clinics situated around our catchment area, but we have a dedicated community resource and referral center, the acronym is CRRC, located at 1500 Franklin Street, Northeast, that veterans can walk into and get the full host of offerings and support that they need. But also, as I mentioned, our health care for homeless veteran team is constantly doing outreach every single day. But a few examples of this that we would welcome veterans and or community partners to engage with us on is one, we have a a pit count, a point-in-time count, where I and other leaders and other clinical professionals canvas the street of Washington, DC, to identify and support veterans that are maybe at risk. And two, we have an annual winter haven event that has been ongoing for over a decade in November, where we bring together a whole host of clinical, community, and administrative resources for veterans that may be experiencing or at risk for homelessness. So we look forward to doing that this November as well. But this is a marathon that is occurring every single day, not just appointing a time count for Winter Haven, but we have a dedicated team that's extremely committed to this effort.

SPEAKER_04 19:54

Yeah, you know, and for you know, older veterans, especially older uh veterans, stable housing can literally become a health issue. And so it's so, so important. Thank you for addressing that. You know, your medical center, the DC VA strategic priorities, as I've just learned recently, also focus on healthcare infrastructure, reliability, quality, as well as stewardship. As the medical center director, how do you balance, uh Bamsey, all of those responsibilities while still making veterans feel personally cared for and valued?

SPEAKER_05 20:27

Yeah, so I think the fifth one of those is stewardship, access, quality, um, reliability, experience. And when you look at all of those in access, they're all intertwined like a Venn diagram. They're all enablers to access, sorry, to experience. So when we give you high-quality healthcare, when we give you a um uh timely access, when we have a modernized facility with the latest and greatest, when we're good stewards and efficient with resources and veterans' time, that leads to an overwhelmingly good experience, right? So I want you to know going back to veteran trust, patient satisfaction, veteran experience, but also tying it to employee experience. Um I think they're all interlinked and uh enablers to one another.

SPEAKER_04 21:17

Yeah, you know, in in in my years, uh, and I'm much older than you are, uh Vam C, you know, I've learned that leadership is ultimately, ultimately about impact and not just titles. And I don't think you're just wearing that title. That's just my instinct right now, my friend. Uh I want to hold you to account because I care about my veterans, uh, certainly they're uh but finally, uh uh Vam C for the veteran listening this morning who may feel disconnected, who may feel forgotten, or just uncertain about where to turn, what message would you want to leave with them today?

SPEAKER_05 21:52

If I haven't made it clear, I want to just state it one more time. Please do not hesitate to reach out. You have my email. I'll say it one more time. V-A-M-S-E-E dot l-U-R-I at V A.gov. There's a number of VA resources as well, but reach out. I'm happy to connect with you. I'm happy to see how we can support you. And I didn't say this in the beginning, but the reason I'm in VA is I was raised by veterans in many, many different ways, professionally and personally. I wouldn't be here without veterans. So that's my calling. And I'm honored and I would love the chance to give back to any individual veteran andor the population of veterans that we serve. So please reach out.

SPEAKER_04 22:34

Yeah. You know, sometimes just one encouraging message can become the very thing that helps somebody take that next step. So thank you for sharing and sharing your personal story as well. You know, family, what an important conversation today. We need to extend it uh on a regular basis. I want to thank Fancy Potlori, Medical Center Director of the Washington, D.C. VA Medical Center for joining us here on the Veteran Zone on the Senior Zone. That's what I'm calling it. And to all of our veterans, as well as military families listening today, please remember you earn these benefits and services through your sacrifice and service to this country. For more information about healthcare services, caregiver support, mental health resources, or eligibility, visit the Washington, D.C. VA Medical Center. Vam C. Potlory, thank you, my friend.

SPEAKER_05 23:24

Thank you.

SPEAKER_04 23:25

We truly appreciate you. All right, take care and have a great day. All right, family, stay with us. We've got more coming up right here on the scene to zone. This next break is brought to you by Compassion and Choices, empowering everyone to chart their own end of life journey. We'll be right back.

SPEAKER_11 23:40

And life choices matter. Compassion and Choices is here to support you on your journey. Our organization provides a wealth of resources to help you navigate difficult decisions with compassion and understanding. Need guidance on end-of-life choices? Visit our website at compassionatechoices.org for a range of informative articles, toolkits, and personal stories. Our compassionate team is just a call away, ready to assist you. Because, let's face it, talking about death is not gonna kill you. Compassionate choices, empowering you to make choices that reflect your values.

SPEAKER_03 24:15

Hi, neighbor. I'm inviting you and your wife to my husband's 65th birthday party next week.

SPEAKER_08 24:20

Great! Has he applied for Medicare yet?

SPEAKER_03 24:23

Not yet. It's very confusing.

SPEAKER_08 24:26

Call Montgomery County Ship. They help me with questions about my Medicare coverage.

SPEAKER_03 24:31

What's Montgomery County Ship?

SPEAKER_08 24:33

It's ship like a boat. Montgomery County State Health Insurance Assistance Program. They help seniors like us, or people with disabilities, or caregivers and families with Medicare insurance questions.

SPEAKER_03 24:46

Can anyone call them?

SPEAKER_08 24:47

Sure, as long as you live in Montgomery County. You can call them at 301-255-4250. Or check out their website at www.medicareabcd.org.

SPEAKER_03 25:00

What's that number again?

SPEAKER_08 25:02

Montgomery County Ship. 301-255-4250. Made possible with a grant from the U.S. Administration for Community Living through the state of Maryland and Montgomery County.

SPEAKER_02 25:14

When you hear the chirp, it's time to do some work. Change the battery. Working smoke alarms save lives, including yours. For more information on smoke alarms and other fire prevention and safety tips, contact the DC Fire and EMS Department Fire Prevention Division at 202-727-1614. Or email us at FEMS.fireprevention at DC.gov.

Chris Miles | Cash Flow & Financial Freedom

SPEAKER_04 25:44

All right, family, welcome back to the Senior Zone, and I am your host, Sean Perry. Now, let me say this: when it comes to money, especially for those 50 and better, we've been told the same story for decades. Save, invest, wait, and maybe you'll be okay someday. But what if that plan isn't enough? What if there's a smarter way to create income now, not just later? Well, my next guest is here to challenge everything you thought you knew about financial planning. Chris Miles is known as the cash flow expert and unapologetic anti-financial advisor. He's the founder of Money Ripples, author of the Work Optional Blueprint, and a man who retired twice before the age of 40 by focusing on passive income instead of traditional investing. And today he's here to help you understand how to stop working for money and start making money work for you. Chris, welcome to the Senior Zone, my friend. Hey, appreciate you being here. It's a pleasure to have you. So, Chris, let's start right here because this is going to shake some folks up, I believe. You call yourself the anti-financial advisor. What does that mean? And why should our listeners, especially those over 50, lean in instead of tune out?

SPEAKER_06 27:05

Yeah, what it means is you shouldn't have listened to me 20 years ago when I was a financial advisor. That's what it means. Um I learned firsthand, you mentioned retiring twice by the time I was 40. It was actually by doing the opposite of what I was trained to do as a financial advisor. Now understand, like I was the guy that drank the Kool-Aid. I believed that if you just said and forget it, save it forever, save everything you can, put away at least 10, 15, 20% a year of your money, and eventually you'll retire with millions of dollars. Well, four years into that journey, um my dad reached out to me and he says, Well, when are you going to advise me? So I flew back to Oregon. That's where I grew up, and I flew back there and I sat down with him at his table and I started looking at his finances for the first time in my life. Now, understand my dad was the post-depression era kind of guy, right? He was the guy that bought everything on sale. You throw away nothing. Uh he just literally passed away last December and he threw away nothing. Worth now throwing away everything, you know? Um, and so he was just saving, he was always that saver. That's what he taught me to do, which is why it was so easy for me to become a financial advisor, was just save, save, save, save, save, never have debt, right? And that was what he did. He was 100% debt-free, paid off his mortgage even early. Um, he also had stuffed money in his 401k, getting the company match like every good boy should. And then as I look at everything, because he'd tell me, he's like, Chris, listen, I'm I'm stressed out. Like this, the stress of this job is literally killing me. I've already had heart attacks and strokes by this point. I'm 61, I want to be done. And I looked at all of his numbers and I said, Dad, here's the deal. If you try to retire today, you're gonna have to die in about five or six years because you'll run out of money then.

SPEAKER_01 28:40

Wow.

SPEAKER_06 28:41

Said, well, thanks, Mr. Sunshine. That's not what I wanted to hear. What do I do? I said, I don't know. Work longer, save more. I mean, that's all you can do. I was like, you can't, you know, cash out the equity of your house and invest in the mutual funds because that's illegal. You can't do that. They'll make you sign things that say you're not borrowing money to put it money there. And uh, and and so I was at a loss. I didn't have an answer for them. Well, just a month later, I reached out to a friend, you know, this was in 2005, by the way, so this was like Christmas time. I wish I went to wish him Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, you know, all that kind of stuff. And as I'm talking with him, I'm hoping to hear that, because he he actually used to work for me as a financial advisor, but then he quit to go do real estate investing. So I was hoping to hear that he went broke. I heard the opposite. He started telling me that he and his dad had partnered on some real estate deals and had doubled his dad's income at the local university. I said, Come on, that's too good to be true. There's no way that's possible. And he finally stopped me. He said, Chris, how many of your clients are financially free where they don't worry about money? I said, Well, even the retired ones worry about running out of money too soon. So I would say, none of them. Okay, great. I didn't expect you to be honest. All right, well, how about this, Chris? How many of you guys, as financial advisors, are financially free, not off the commissions you're earning from setting these people up in these plans, but from actually doing the investments you've been recommending. And I started kind of doing a mental inventory. There's about a hundred people in our office. Some have been there since the 1970s. And I said, Well, I don't think any of them are close to retiring. Well, there's your problem. Yeah. And so I started taking like that matrix red pill. I started going down that rabbit hole a little bit, right? And uh and started going down more like alternative investments like real estate and things like that, which are more main street investing versus Wall Street investing. And as I started going down that path, I realized, like, wait a minute, it's not about accumulating this huge nest egg and living on less of the interest of like three or four percent a year if you're lucky. No, it's about how do we create income. Much like what you read in the book Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki, but you know, he never really tells you how to do it. And uh, and so I started to do those same things. I started to realize I could do things with my money with even with being hands-off real estate investor, even. And uh later that next year, 28, almost 29 years old, I was able to retire. I had enough passive income coming in from my investments that I didn't have to keep work anymore. I was now what I could refer to as work optional, where you have enough passive income to work because you want to, not because you have to. And that's where I started teaching people how to get out of the rat race. Obviously, the recession hit as I started up a new business in 2007, focused on real estate investors specifically. And uh that business started to fail because banks stopped lending money and uh that specific, those specific real estate investors were going broke. So our company was going under. I went from really like retired financially free to all of a sudden by 2008 on welfare.

SPEAKER_04 31:30

Yeah. Well, let me jump in there real uh real quick because that's you know, that right there, what you've shared, you know, uh uh is you know, challenges a lifetime of thinking for many of us and those that are listening. Uh, but I want to talk to those, uh, Chris, uh uh for a moment. Those that, you know, have the traditional mindset of save and wait, wait until you're 65 or 70. That model, right, that I've learned through you and maybe even through my own self falls short a bit, especially in today's economy. Can you talk to that in uh a little bit?

SPEAKER_06 32:08

Yeah. I mean, isn't it interesting? You mentioned today's economy, but we've had the longest bull run in the stock market in history right now. We are at the best it's ever been in history with the way the stock market's been the last 17 years. Because in 17 years, we only had one little blip in 2022 and it popped right back up, and most people have forgotten about it already. Um, and so that's interesting is that the the stock market, if you're investing in the stock market, is at the best it's ever been. This is pretty much the best you'll probably see in your entire lifetime. If it keeps going up, you should be more worried because that means the government's just printing more dollars to drive up and inflate everything, including the stock market. And that should scare you. And so you're right. Um, the reason that my dad couldn't do it, and like so many others, and by the way, Fidelity, um, I looked at their numbers recently. They just came out saying that they now have 1.1 million millionaires, meaning people have at least a million dollars in their account. That was supposed to be like the gold standard, right? Um, 1.1 million people is just so you know, they have 50 over 50 million clients. So this means about 2% of these people have at least a million dollars. What's interesting is that Trans America did an independent survey of these people, and over one-third of those people said they don't have any hope for retirement. They say they'll quote unquote take a miracle to be able to retire.

SPEAKER_01 33:28

Wow.

SPEAKER_06 33:29

Why? Because the traditional mindset that we've all been taught, um, I mentioned like the three or four percent you pull out. Well, people talk about the four percent rule. Do you know that was debunked years ago? Um, unless, unless it's the guy that actually created, which was never meant to be a rule, even he admits it. It was just like a guideline he used based on the running numbers from 1926 to 1976, you know, which is 50 years ago. Um, so they're outdated. Um, now it's a 3% rule. If you try to retire in your 60s, you can only pull out 3%. Meaning if you have a million dollars, you can only live on 3% or $30,000 a day.

SPEAKER_01 34:00

$3,000, right? That's not enough. You know, it's not enough. Not enough.

SPEAKER_06 34:04

And that's why people think it'll take a miracle because they realize the reality, because financial advisors are now saying, no, if you're in your 60s, 3%, you have to wait till your 70s to pull out 4% because we're living longer and inflation's higher than it was in 1976.

SPEAKER_12 34:17

Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 34:17

Or especially from the 20s to 70s, right? So that's where we're running to that problem. Here's the difference. And that's kind of where you're asking with this question, and this is what I learned, and this is what gave me more hope was that when I mentioned it was about income, because that's ultimately what we all want. It's not about building a big nest egg and live on less than interest. That's what the financial companies want you to do because they make money off their money, whether you make money or not. They want you to keep your money in with them forever. They don't want you to pull that money out. They want you to pull off less than interest because that's the way they guarantee that their fees keep growing. Your money may or may not, but their fees will keep keep paying out, whether you make money or not. So here's the difference. Um, I had a guy that reached out that he was actually in the military. He was one of the top-ranking uh generals in the state of California, in the National Guard. And uh he uh retired, he was at 60, and when he retired, he had pretty much exactly a million dollars. His financial advisor says, You can live on 30,000 a year. He says, Well, I live in California. It's like living in DC, you know. It's like I'm gonna live in California. There's no way I can live on 30,000 a year. And uh and so he started looking for answers. He found my Money Ripples podcast, and then he reached out and became a client. And uh, and so as we're looking at it, we're like, well, here, here's other places you can go to create more income. So, for example, he bought a couple of duplexes that he does not manage. So they're called turnkey real estate properties where he buy he buys these properties, somebody else manages it for him. Uh, he also uh got into some apartment deals as well, like what they call a syndication where people pool their money together and you get a share of that equity in that deal, um, a share of that ownership. And then he also got into oil and gas. And between all of these things, he went from going from what his financial advisor said, living on $30,000 a year to now over a hundred and thirty thousand a year of income coming in. That's the difference.

SPEAKER_01 36:02

Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 36:03

Um, it's just like another guy I talked to who's 59 uh recently, and he said, Chris, I just I met with my Vanguard financial advisor, and and he would not give me a time of when I could retire. And he's like, I don't get it. He's like, I've got 1.9 million sitting in my retirement accounts, and he's not giving me an answer. I said, Well, how much do you want to live on? He says, I want to live like very relaxed and comfortable. I want to live on 200,000 a year. I said, That's pretty reasonable. Well, 200,000 a year, I said, here's the problem. Either the guy doesn't know because he might be inexperienced, or two, he may not want to tell you the answer because for you to live on 200,000 a year, you would have to get your account balance to almost $7 million from $1.9 million to $7 million. Which by the way, three or four percent kind of. Yeah, I was like, I told him, like, by the way, congratulations on being in the top two percent of all savers in America. And still, you're like, oh, I may have to work for the next 11 plus years before I can finally retire. You know, I have to work, and that's what he's told me. He's like, Chris, I don't mind working until I'm 70. I just want to have to feel like I have to work until I'm 70.

SPEAKER_04 37:09

Yeah. Let me jump in real quick because I, you know, because I know we're gonna run out of time already. I can tell I'm gonna have to have you back, uh my friend. But what would you say to those that are listening right now? And we're talking to talking with regular folks here on the senior zone, but what would you say to someone who's in their 50s, in their 60s, or even 70s, who feels like they've missed a window to build wealth uh differently?

SPEAKER_06 37:33

Yeah. Well, this is why I I keep trying to educate people on this, because Wall Street does not pay as high returns. The stock market does not pay 12%. It's called right now, it's been averaging 8.3%. And here's the thing Vanguard came out with their projections, which are always optimistic. They expect the next 10 years to only be 2.8 to 4.8% per year. So my advice uh is this, and I'm not telling you to sell off all your stocks, nothing like that, right? I'm not giving you financial advice that way. But what I am saying is look for ways to get your money out of prison. You know, can you capitalize on the stock market on this huge bull run? Could you move that money elsewhere? Could you do other things with it? Um, because you know, you said, like, how about somebody who only has like I had a client who had a quarter million dollars. Actually, two people I talked to the same year both had a quarter million saved up, right? Now, any financial advisor would tell them, Good luck, you have no hope. You're living on $7,500 a year. You know, you better hope that social security saves you. Well, I had two people. One was a woman, she was in her in her mid-50s, and she said, Chris, I only really need $2,000 a month. She's like, I just want to be a health coach in the morning, because that's what her passion was. She's like, health coach in the morning, and I have the rest of the day free to do whatever I want. She's like, so I only need an extra $2,000 a month to bridge that gap to be comfortable. And uh, and I told her, I was like, Well, you've got a quarter million dollars. If you want to live on pretty much $2,000 a month, that's $25,000, you know, about $25,000 a year, you need to have about three quarters of a million dollars. You got to triple your money. Or I said, here's the thing. Um, I said, there's actually things you can do, like lending right now, they'll pay you 1% a month. You can lend your money to real estate investors. You don't even have to be the one owning the real estate. You can lend it to them. They have to pay you back. They don't pay you back, you get to foreclose on them and take their property away, just like the bank does when you they don't you don't pay a mortgage. I said, 1% a month, what's 1% of $250,000? It's like, uh, that's $2,500 a month. I'm like, bingo, you're there. I'm like, even if you only got 10% a year, even if you got that low return, that's still $25,000 a year, which is over, you're $2,000 a month. She's like, Are you kidding right now? Are you lying to me? I'm like, I'm dead serious. And uh, and so here's the thing that was a Friday I talked to her. The following Monday, she comes back, she's like, Well, I was talking with my girlfriends, and they told me just stick with what's familiar, stick with the mutual funds. I said, All right, good luck with that. That was 2019, it's now seven years later. She would have doubled her money, but she'd only be at half million. And remember, inflation went up since then. She probably doesn't want $2,000 a month anymore. It's probably closer to at least $3,000 a month. So she's still not hitting her target. Contrast with another guy, he actually worked out in Hollywood. Um, he was a set designer, he had a quarter million. He actually used that money to go and he actually bought rentals with it. And right now, as of as of this year, 2026, um, he's now got that money to almost $4,000 a month. That's currently paying him. His goal is actually just $5,000 a month to be able to quote unquote retire. He's actually now in his early 50s. Um, so he started in his mid to late 40s, now he's in his early 50s, and uh, and now he's like, yeah, the great thing is he's like, I've had interruptions. 2020, Hollywood shut down for half the year. I didn't get paid. 2023, there was a writer's strike for half the year, I didn't get paid. He's like, despite all that, he's like, my money kept paying in. I was okay. And I think that's the thing that people don't realize that your money can work a lot harder for you than you realize, but you got to get it out of prison. Don't lock it up and try to pay off your house extra early. Don't try to lock it up in 401ks where you can't access anytime soon. Unless you're over 60, then you know there might be a way to pull it out and use it. Um, but that's a different strategy altogether.

SPEAKER_04 41:07

Yeah, Chris, you know, uh, it always time flies here on the senior zone. I want to talk about your book real quick because I know in your book you discussed, you know, several ways that seniors can create passive income. And your book, The Work Optional Blueprint, uh, lays it all. I haven't read it yet, but it lays it all out. I highly suspect, my friend, with the research that I have done. What's one key takeaway from your book that our listeners can apply starting today?

SPEAKER_06 41:35

Yeah, as you mentioned, the work optional blueprint, you can find on Amazon, right? Um, I kind of mentioned one of those. The second of the three steps is get lean, get liquid, get out. So get lean means start tracking your money. Start to see what's going on with your money. Um, most people don't do it. Most people just look at the balances, but start to see how much you're spending, but also how much you're making. And are there levers you can pull? Can you find ways to improve and increase your income? Are there things you can do to reduce some expenses without having to be cheap, right? You don't have to live on rice and beans, as some people will say, right? Um get you know, when I say get liquid, that means get your money out of prison. You know, like uh like I had somebody who was trying to pay off his houses aggressively. I said, why don't we stop doing that? Pay your minimum, but instead we should probably sell one of those houses, get that money out. He sold it. It was a he had like 800,000 equity in it. He sold it, got it out, and then he was able uh able to pull it out. So then he got liquid. He was liquid with cash. He had cash in his hands, right? Not locked up in his 401k or in his equity. By the way, that investment property was paying him 200 bucks a month net. And uh that 800,000, he was able to get it out. And now, just about four years later, it's paying him over ten thousand dollars a month, that same money. Not 200 a month, 10,000 a month. And that's what get it out means. So get lean means make sure you're watching your money, be a wise steward of it, right? Um, get liquid means get that money in your possession, don't lock it up in equity, don't lock it up in trying to, you know, stuff that 401k you can't touch unless they tell you you can touch it. Get it liquid, even if it's in a bank account, and then get it out into like these passive investments, these things you can actually be hands-off.

SPEAKER_04 43:11

Yeah. L O, lean liquid out or get out, right? L L G O. That's L-O, right? Yeah, L L go. Right. So uh, Chris, finally, uh, my friend, let's bring this home for our listeners. And I do want to have you back here on the scene to zone because I want to dive a little deeper than we have uh uh today. But if you uh could shift one mindset about money for our audience, for our listeners, something that could truly change their future, even if they're 50s, 60s, or 70s, what would that mindset shift uh recommendation be?

SPEAKER_06 43:46

Shift away from the mentality of accumulation and move to acceleration, right? Like I mentioned, it's not about trying to be at this humongous nest egg, get this fat golden goose that you can't even, you know, you're only pulling out these tiny little legs, right? It's about how can we actually create income from it? That's the biggest shift, the hardest one that most people have to do because we've been brainwashed for so long with that dogma. I really think it's like dogma, it's almost like a religion of the financial advisor world of just set and forget it, put it away, get that company match. By the way, the 401k of the match because of 401k fees and because the funds actually underperform the stock market, your match just makes up for that bad performance. You could actually be making just as much money investing in those same things on your own as you would be getting a hundred percent match from your 401k. That's a whole other rabbit hole right there. But it's true. Like I've shown the numbers over and over again, especially if you have Fidelity, by the way. It's worse. So, you know, you gotta make sure that you're focusing on how do I get my money to do something today, because that's that's all we have. By the way, I mentioned that guy in California, Dan, you know, the guy that does the general, right? He actually passed away last year. He was 64 years old. And uh his friend had texted me telling letting me know what happened. He said, you know, Chris, I gotta let you know that Dan, you know, even though you guys weren't talking daily, Dan was so grateful for you. We talked about you all the time and what he learned from you. He's like, he literally got those four years of his life back. He was able to help his sons and teach them how to do it differently. They switched to acceleration mindset instead of accumulation. And he's like, now they're on a much better path than even he was on. And uh he's like, just so you know, like, you know, we're really grateful for that. And um and that's kind of why I do what I do every day is that ripple effect I want to create through people's lives.

SPEAKER_04 45:30

Yeah. Well, Chris Miles, a powerful conversation, uh, my new friend. And I'll tell you, family, this wasn't just about money. This conversation was about freedom, it was about options and peace of mind. If you've been feeling stuck, uncertain, or wondering if there's more available to you financially, let today be a wake-up call. It's not just about how much you've saved, it's about how much income you can create. To learn more about Chris Miles, his work, and the work optional blueprint. Be sure to visit his website and explore the resources he's made available. Chris, by the way, what is your website? It's moneyripples.com. Moneyripples.com, folks. Moneyripples.com. Chris, thank you for joining the senior zone. Thank you so much. All right. All right, family. We're going to take a quick break. Don't go anywhere because we've got more insight, more inspiration, and more ways to help you thrive coming right here on the senior zone. This next break is brought to you by AARP DC, your wise friend and fierce defender in Washington, D.C. When we return, it's birthdays of the week, followed by Dear Grave Woman, featuring Joelle Simone and your later life lowdown. We'll be right back.

SPEAKER_11 46:43

Today is your day to connect with AARP and DC. AARP is here in the District of Columbia working hard to make it an even better place to live, work, and play for people of all ages, and you can help. Put your skills and talents to good use as an AARP volunteer where you can help lead local events or become an advocate for the issues that matter in your community, like funding for programs that help district residents age with dignity and independence. AARP is also helping you get the most out of life. Check out their educational workshops where they can help you grow as a caregiver, find a job, and teach you about the latest technology, or enjoy a night out at any of their exciting local events, like their happy hours and free movie screenings. Today is your day to connect with your community and with AARP. So let's take on today and every day. Learn more at AARP.org slash DC.

SPEAKER_12 47:42

Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday.

Birthdays of the Week

SPEAKER_04 48:16

It's time to celebrate, recognize, and honor some very special people in our senior zone family with this week's birthday shoutouts. First up, we have Sandy Rosenberg, 76 years young. Today, May 18th from Baltimore, Maryland. Happy birthday, Sandy. A buddy here, Jill Sachs, 71. Tomorrow, Tuesday, May 19th from Urbana, Maryland. Happy birthday, Jill. Sharon Lattimore, 72, on Wednesday, May 20th from District Heights, Maryland. Happy birthday, Sharon. Nancy Connor, 59 on Wednesday, May 20th from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Happy birthday, Nancy. Sherry Snelling, 63 on Wednesday, May 20th from Newport Beach, California. My buddy here at Caregiving Club. Sherry, happy, happy birthday. Daryl Dudley, 57 on Wednesday, May 20th from Washington, D.C. Happy birthday, Daryl. Frank Smith, 63 on Friday, May 22nd from Washington, D.C. Happy birthday, Frank. Andy Johnson, a beautiful woman. 75 on Friday, May 20th from Bowie, Maryland. Happy birthday, Andy. Sheila Smith, 76 on Friday, May 22nd from Lothian, Maryland. Happy birthday, Sheila. And last but certainly not least, Franklin Garcia celebrating 57 on Sunday, May 24th from Washington, D.C. Happy birthday, Franklin. And we also want to send a very special wedding anniversary shout out to Donna and Sheila Smith celebrating an incredible 50 years of marriage on Friday, May uh 22nd. So, family, that's a blessing right there. 50 years of love, commitment, patience, partnership, and sticking together through all of life's ups and downs. So again, congratulations to you both from all of us here on The Senior Zone. And folks, remember, if you'd like your birthday or anniversary announced right here on the senior zone, simply email us, send that email to info at the seniorzone.com. That's I N F O at the SeniorZone.com. Send the full name, the age you are celebrating, birthday and anniversary date, as well as your city and state. Well, folks, it is now time, another powerful installment of the Dear Grave Woman with our very own Joelle Simone, bringing you wisdom, perspective, and heartfelt truth in only the way that she can. Joelle, take it away, my friend.

SPEAKER_00 50:49

Hey, Sean,

Dear Grave Woman featuring Joelle Simon

SPEAKER_00 50:50

and welcome back, everyone, to Dear Grave Woman. I am your host, Joelle Simone, known all over the world as the Grave Woman, and this is your three-minute segment here on the Senior Zone, where we talk about everything from life, death, grief, pre-planning for the end, and everything in between. This month is taking a little bit more of a personal tone for me. Um, and I want to share another story with you as I did last week. During my travels to Atlanta in late April, early May, I met a wonderful young man who will remain nameless and started up a conversation about near death experiences that he's had. And the reason I'm sharing this story with you all here on the senior zone is because I know that you all are passionate and eager to start making your arrangements and making sure that your final wishes are taken care of. However, it is being impressed upon me more and more every day that we need our elders and senior community to have conversations with the millennials and younger about our health, about planning for the end, whether it be retirement, whether it be how we want our lives to look at the end of our lives, and especially around funeral and burial. A relatively young man in his late 30s had a medical crisis where he was a water poor, and during his recovery, he actually passed away and was in a coma on multiple occasions. And so I'm sharing this story because I want to impress upon all of you how important it is not only to make your own arrangements, but to talk to your children, to talk to your grandchildren, and for some of you, your great-grandchildren, not just about their health, but have conversations about end of life. Unfortunately, we do not know the day or the hour, as I'm sure you've experienced throughout your life. In so many cases, um, and in so many circumstances, this is not the case. And your children, your grandchildren, your great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and loved ones aren't guaranteed to have a long life. And so, as you're making your pre-arrangements, as we prepare for the holiday and summer season for Mother's Day and Father's Day, I implore you, please have conversations with the younger generation. Even if it doesn't seem like they're listening, we are. We're taking your information in, we value your wisdom, and above all else, we want to make you proud. And if your conversation has the power to influence us, please don't be afraid to speak up. Thank you so much. And if you'd like to learn more, you can visit my website, www.thegravewoman.com. You can follow me on all social media outlets at thegravewoman. Or if you'd like to share your stories to be shared here on the senior zone, you can email me directly at thegravewoman at gmail.com. Sean, back to you for the later life lowdown.

Later Life Lowdown & Show Close

SPEAKER_04 54:05

And just like that, folks, that was Joel Simone. Always thoughtful reflections and honest conversations that continue helping people navigate life, loss, healing, and everything in between. Thank you, Joel. Now let's keep things moving with this week's Later Life Lowdown. Here's what's happening around the DMV and beyond for our older adults, seniors, caregivers, veterans, and families this week. We're going to start right here in Washington, D.C., the DC Department of Aging and Community Living. They continue offering free wellness programs, caregiver support resources, nutrition assistance, and transportation services for older adults throughout the district. For more information, call 202-724-5626. That's 202-724-5626. Legal Counsel for the Elderly, they are continuing free legal assistance and advocacy services for DC residents age 60 and older, including help with housing, public benefits, consumer protection, estate planning, and so much more. If you have a legal issue, call them 202-434-2120. That's 202-434-2120. And don't forget that older adults across the district can access free meals, health screenings, fitness classes, and social engagement opportunities throughout local senior wellness centers to locate a center near you. Call the DC Aging and Disability Resource Center at 202-724-5626. Again, that's 202-724-5626. Over in Maryland, the Maryland Department of Aging continues reminding older adults and caregivers to stay alert for scams involving Medicare fraud, fake utility shutoff notices, and cryptocurrency schemes targeting seniors. If you suspect a fraud or financial exploitation, call the Maryland Senior Medicare Patrol at 301-265-8450. That's 301-265-8450. Also in Maryland, the Maryland Access Point continues helping seniors and caregivers connect with long-term care resources, food assistance, transportation support, and in-home services. To learn more, call 844-627-5465. That's 844-627-5465. And in Prince George's County, senior activity centers continue offering free fitness programs, technology help, art classes, social activities for adult 60 and better. So if you are interested and in Prince George's County, call 301-699-2255. That's 301-699-2255. And across Northern Virginia, the Fairfax Area Agency on Aging continues providing caregiver resources, dementia support programs, transportation assistance, and benefits counseling for older adults throughout the region. Call 703-324-7948. If interested, that's 703-324-7948. Also in Northern Virginia, Senior Services of Alexandria continues offering grocery delivery support, friendly visitor programs, and wellness assistance for older adults who are living independently. For more information, call 703-836-4414. At 703-836-4414. And Arlington County's Department of Human Services continues offering free caregiver workshops and aging resource navigation services for seniors as well as family caregivers. If you are in Arlington, call 703-228-1700. That's 703-228-1700. And family, don't forget about one of the best free resources available nationwide for older adults who are trying to save money and stretch those retirement dollars. You can go to Benefits Checkup from the National Council on Aging. You may qualify for programs that help pay for food, prescriptions, utilities, healthcare, transportation, and more. Simply visit benefitscheckup.org. That's a website, benefitscheckup.org. And one more thing, the senior zone has always been about more than just a moment. It's about building something that lasts. That's why we're now available as a podcast. So these conversations they can live on, they can be revisited and shared. Just search the senior zone wherever you listen to podcasts. Well, all right, family, that is gonna do it for another edition of the Senior Zone. As always, thank you for spending part of your day with us. So until we meet again, keep your head high, keep your heart full, and always be someone who makes someone else look forward to their tomorrow. Love you. Peace.

SPEAKER_10 59:21

Be sure to join us on our next broadcast.

SPEAKER_13 59:24

Until then, live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly, leave the rest to God.

SPEAKER_10 59:31

Have a wonderful week, and God willing, the senior zone will be here for another informative and entertaining hour next Monday morning at 10 a.m.