How Long Will You Live After Retirement?

35 snips

Apr 29, 2026

Dr. Bobby Du Bois, physician and longevity coach who advises on cardiac risk and dementia considerations, joins to rethink how long to plan for. They explore lifespan assumptions, mortality trade-offs for money versus time, using actuarial and cardiac tools to personalize estimates. Practical steps and a simple framework help you choose conservative or moderate planning horizons.

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INSIGHT

We Plan For Running Out Of Money Not Running Out Of Life

Retirement plans obsess over outliving money but rarely consider the higher probability of outliving life expectations.
Roger frames longevity as a core planning variable that changes trade-offs between saving, spending, and working longer.

INSIGHT

Small Age Changes Lead To Large Retirement Cost Swings

Longevity assumptions dramatically change required nest‑egg size: planning to 90 raises needed savings ~40% versus planning to 79.
Example scenario: 65-year retiree spending $100k with $48k Social Security; big differences in capital required.

ADVICE

Be Cautious With Dementia Gene Testing

Consider testing dementia risk (APOE) only if you and close family are prepared for the psychological and insurance implications.
Genetic results are nondeterministic and can motivate beneficial lifestyle changes but may affect insurability.

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Roger Whitney explores one of the most overlooked variables in retirement planning: longevity, and how assuming you’ll live too long can quietly force you to save more, spend less, and potentially miss out on life. Through a conversation with Dr. Bobby Du Bois, he challenges default planning assumptions, walks through the real trade-offs, and introduces a practical way to think about lifespan so you can better align your money with how you actually want to live.

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN

(00:00) This show is dedicated to helping you not just survive retirement, but have the confidence to lean in and rock it.
(01:13) Roger introduces the idea that we plan heavily for running out of money but rarely consider the probability of running out of life.
(02:04) Roger recognizes everyone who reached out about Sherlock’s passing and plays an audio message from a listener.

ROCKING RETIREMENT IN THE WILD

(03:50) Jerry shares how returning to backpacking in retirement helped him reconnect with friends and stay physically and mentally engaged.

PRACTICAL PLANNING SEGMENT WITH DR. BOBBY

(05:50) Roger and Dr. Bobby explore why longevity assumptions are often flawed and how they directly impact how much money you think you need.
(23:54) The conversation shifts to the limits of predicting lifespan and the emotional and behavioral implications of trying to do so.
(29:55) Real-life examples illustrate how longevity assumptions influence major life decisions like when to retire and how to spend your time.

ROGER’S LONGEVITY FRAMEWORK

(35:25) Roger introduces a practical approach to making more thoughtful longevity assumptions without overcomplicating the process.

SMART SPRINT

(53:10) Use a simple longevity calculator to form a baseline assumption and decide how conservative you want to be in your planning.

ON THE BOOKSHELF

(54:35) Roger shares what the team is reading.

REFERENCES

BOOKS

Note: The opinions expressed are for informational purposes only and should not replace personalized advice from licensed professionals.