Don't Retire...Graduate!
Eric Brotman
Don’t Retire… Graduate! is the podcast that invites you to rethink what retirement really means. Hosted by Certified Financial Planner Practitioner Eric Brotman, we’re here to guide you in transforming the traditional concept of retirement into an exciting and enriching graduation—a time to embark on new adventures, embrace lifelong passions, and define what success and happiness look like in this new chapter of life.
Retirement isn’t just about stepping away from a career; it’s about stepping into a life filled with purpose, joy, and fulfillment. Whether you're on the brink of retirement or just starting to think about it, this podcast will help you discover what it takes to not just survive, but thrive in your post-career years. We’ll explore how to live a fun, productive, and meaningful life by setting new goals, pursuing passions that light you up, and building a legacy that truly reflects who you are.
Each episode features in-depth conversations with a diverse range of guests—from award-winning authors and financial experts to influencers and everyday people with remarkable money stories. Together, we’ll uncover strategies for reaching financial independence, managing your wealth, and making informed decisions that support your dreams. You’ll learn practical tips on everything from saving money and paying down debt to raising financially literate children and growing your wealth at any age.
From personal finance and investing to retirement readiness, taxes, and more, we’re here to provide the knowledge and tools you need to confidently step into this exciting new phase of life. Topics include everything from budgeting, credit, and debt to health savings accounts, insurance, social security, the FIRE movement, and the latest in fintech and finance apps.
But we don’t stop at finances. Don’t Retire… Graduate! also dives deep into the emotional and psychological aspects of retirement. We’ll discuss how to maintain your mental and physical health, nurture relationships, and stay connected to your community. You’ll gain insights on how to design a lifestyle that keeps you engaged, curious, and excited about the future.
Our mission is to help you figure out what you want to be when you grow up—even if you’re already grown. We believe that work should become optional, not just because you've reached a certain age, but because you’ve achieved the freedom to choose how you spend your time and energy. Whether it’s volunteering, starting a new hobby, traveling the world, or launching a second career, this podcast is your guide to creating a retirement that’s anything but retiring.
In addition to full episodes, we offer bonus content every other week where you get to meet the team of financial advisors at BFG Financial Advisors and hear their real stories from the frontlines of financial planning.
Retirement is not the absence of work, but the absence of needing to work. So why not graduate into a life of purpose, passion, and financial freedom? Tune in to Don’t Retire… Graduate! and let’s make your retirement the best years of your life.
Retirement isn’t just about stepping away from a career; it’s about stepping into a life filled with purpose, joy, and fulfillment. Whether you're on the brink of retirement or just starting to think about it, this podcast will help you discover what it takes to not just survive, but thrive in your post-career years. We’ll explore how to live a fun, productive, and meaningful life by setting new goals, pursuing passions that light you up, and building a legacy that truly reflects who you are.
Each episode features in-depth conversations with a diverse range of guests—from award-winning authors and financial experts to influencers and everyday people with remarkable money stories. Together, we’ll uncover strategies for reaching financial independence, managing your wealth, and making informed decisions that support your dreams. You’ll learn practical tips on everything from saving money and paying down debt to raising financially literate children and growing your wealth at any age.
From personal finance and investing to retirement readiness, taxes, and more, we’re here to provide the knowledge and tools you need to confidently step into this exciting new phase of life. Topics include everything from budgeting, credit, and debt to health savings accounts, insurance, social security, the FIRE movement, and the latest in fintech and finance apps.
But we don’t stop at finances. Don’t Retire… Graduate! also dives deep into the emotional and psychological aspects of retirement. We’ll discuss how to maintain your mental and physical health, nurture relationships, and stay connected to your community. You’ll gain insights on how to design a lifestyle that keeps you engaged, curious, and excited about the future.
Our mission is to help you figure out what you want to be when you grow up—even if you’re already grown. We believe that work should become optional, not just because you've reached a certain age, but because you’ve achieved the freedom to choose how you spend your time and energy. Whether it’s volunteering, starting a new hobby, traveling the world, or launching a second career, this podcast is your guide to creating a retirement that’s anything but retiring.
In addition to full episodes, we offer bonus content every other week where you get to meet the team of financial advisors at BFG Financial Advisors and hear their real stories from the frontlines of financial planning.
Retirement is not the absence of work, but the absence of needing to work. So why not graduate into a life of purpose, passion, and financial freedom? Tune in to Don’t Retire… Graduate! and let’s make your retirement the best years of your life.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Mar 30, 2023 • 9min
Office Hours: What Do I Do With My 401(k) When I Change Jobs?
In today’s Office Hours, Eric answers James's question: “What do I do with my 401(k) when I change jobs?”
There are several things to consider regarding your 401(k), including whether or not you've vested in the matched contributions and if you should move it somewhere else or leave it where it is.
Tweet it to us at @BrotmanPlanning or post it on our Facebook and it may be used in a future episode of Office Hours!
[embed]https://youtu.be/QFQPr5llMFg?si=gQedJ7pEc_dXpIBP[/embed]
Mar 23, 2023 • 37min
The Tipped Economy: Bringing Service Industry Employees into the Personal Finance Conversation with Barbara Sloan
Welcome back to Don’t Retire… Graduate! Today’s guest is an advocate and educator for a community that is often left out of the traditional financial journey: service industry workers.
Barbara Sloan is the author of Tipped: The Life Changing Guide to Financial Freedom for Waitresses, Bartenders, Strippers, and All Other Service Industry Professionals. She went from homeless at age 15 to six figures of debt at 20 and worked every tipped position available as she navigated the world of personal finance. She is now a business owner and a financial coach that focuses on empowering those who don’t have access to traditional employee benefits or regular paychecks.
Her story and insights are truly valuable, so listen now!
In this episode we’ll talk about:
• The unique financial circumstances faced by those in the tipped economy
• How the traditional personal finance conversations exclude those who work for tips, like 401(k)s, HR departments, predictable incomes, and employee benefits
• How skills you develop in the service industry can translate into business
• The difference between financial advisors and investment advisors
• How to find financial literacy resources
• A debate on whether or not “budget” should be a bad word
• Understanding debt and the mindset behind it
• Financial legitimacy for people who make their money in single dollars
• Sorting out your “why” to move forward in your financial life
• The impact current government conversations could have on tipped workers
[embed]https://youtu.be/ra6bRlRQRak?si=KRI340L4FzLz7Rkl[/embed]
Visit dontretiregraduate.com for a full transcript of this episode.
About Barbara Sloan:
Barbara Sloan is the author of the book Tipped: The life changing guide to financial freedom for waitresses, bartenders, strippers, and all other service industry professionals. A homeless teen, who danced for dollars, and definitely did not graduate from college. She is now a personal finance expert and money coach that spent two decades working in every imaginable position in the Service Industry all over the country. In addition to owning and running a badass women owned Construction company in the heart of Manhattan, she helps Tipped workers achieve Financial Freedom, like she did. She is passionate about all of the amazing aspects of Tipped work and passionate about all of the terrible aspects of Tipped work. She lives in New York City with her wife of 10 years, an esteemed corporate finance exec, and together they are a couple of adorable money nerds who point out every dog they see.
www.tippedfinance.com
@tippedfinance on all socials
Mar 16, 2023 • 8min
Office Hours: What Should I Do With My Tax Refund?
In today’s Office Hours, Eric answers Olivia's question: “what should I do with my tax refund?”
There are plenty of ways to answer this question: spend it, invest it, save it... But Eric's #1 piece of advice is not to have one at all.
Have a question? Tweet it to us at @BrotmanPlanning or post it on our Facebook and it may be used in a future episode of Office Hours!
Visit www.dontretiregraduate.com for a full transcript of this episode.
[embed]https://youtu.be/rgyzg7qDATY?si=1gSNB9EnPrkYB-cP[/embed]
Mar 9, 2023 • 37min
Financial Infidelity: Red Flags to Look Out for in a Marriage with Tracy Coenen
Welcome back to Don’t Retire… Graduate! While nobody goes into a marriage thinking about divorce, it’s one of only two ways every marriage ends (the other being death, of course). Today’s guest Tracy Coenen has seen her fair share of divorce and is here to talk about a common cause for marriages to end: financial infidelity.
As a forensic accountant, Tracy is here to share red flags you can look for if you suspect your spouse or partner of hiding money, how you can do your own forensic accounting, and her experience navigating this marriage minefield.
Don’t run out and make a secret email address right away, but definitely listen to this episode!
In this episode we’ll talk about:
• Which gender is more likely to hide money in a marriage
• The differences seen by financial advisors and forensic accountants
• The importance of discussing finances in a marriage/partnership and why it should be a regular conversation
• What financial infidelity means
• Red flags to look out for if you suspect your spouse of financial infidelity
• What a forensic accountant does and how to find your spouse’s hidden money
• The best ways for a couple to title or share their money and bank accounts
• What to do if you suspect your husband or wife is hiding money and how to assess if there is fraud or dishonesty
• How to prepare for a potential divorce
[embed]https://youtu.be/OW3ghzdtioo?si=zY5OeH9wCuaWiM0G[/embed]
About Tracy Coenen:
Tracy has been investigating fraud for more than 25 years, but she didn’t always want to be a forensic accountant. With a dream of one day being a prison warden, Tracy went to Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI to get a criminology degree. A class on financial crime investigations reminded her how much she loved Encyclopedia Brown books as a kid. She continued her criminology degree, but added accounting and economics courses so she could sit for the CPA exam… and here Tracy is, finding money in cases of corporate fraud, high net worth divorce, and other financial shenanigans.
Resources:
Visit dontretiregraduate.com for a full transcript of this episode.
https://www.divorcemoneyguide.com
https://www.instagram.com/divorcemoneyguide
Mar 2, 2023 • 8min
Office Hours: Are Financial Advisors Becoming Obsolete?
In today’s Office Hours, Eric answers Kate's question: “Will financial advisors become obsolete? ”
With the growth of FinTech and robo-advisors, the role of a financial advisor does seem to be changing but it may also be becoming more important to have someone in your corner.
Have a question? Tweet it to us at @BrotmanPlanning, or post it on our Facebook and it may be used in a future episode of Office Hours!
[embed]https://youtu.be/W7oabZq8aVU?si=qmDFhElwdO4YJXp3[/embed]
Feb 23, 2023 • 38min
Being a Financial Grownup: The Money Conversations We Should Be Having with Bobbi Rebell
Welcome back to Don’t Retire… Graduate! Today’s guest is Bobbi Rebell, a fellow University of Pennsylvania alum, is here for a reunion to talk about topics that we’re all thinking about (at least, we money nerds are): financial wellness, student loans, stress, and how to prepare the next generation for the future.
Bobbi is the host of the Money Tips for Financial Grownups and author of her new book, Launching Financial Grownups: Live Your Richest Life by Helping Your (Almost) Adult Kids Become Everyday Money Smart, and a financial wellness advocate. Listen to her share her story and then go check out her podcast (specifically, Eric’s episode of course).
In this episode we’ll talk about:
• Bobbi’s background and how she became a journalist, CFP®, writer, and financial
• Financial influencers, the finance media, and how dangerous it can be to talk about money when you don’t have credentials
• Bobbi’s book, Launching Financial Grownups, and how it came to be
• The change from helicopter parenting to concierge
• The student loan crisis and how to get young adults to understand the impact
• Negotiating merit scholarships and financial aid for college
• Financial Wellness Strategies
• Financial stress in the workplace and how it affects a company
• Getting the next generation ready to inherit wealth and take over financial decision making
[embed]https://youtu.be/K3YfnhmTOEI?si=tttiniPAeuRLNpZ0[/embed]
Visit dontretiregraduate.com for a full transcript of this episode.
About Bobbi Rebell:
Bobbi Rebell, CFP® is the founder of Financial Wellness Strategies and the author of Launching Financial Grownups: Live Your Richest Life by Helping Your (Almost) Adult Kids Become Everyday Money Smart. She is a financial wellness advocate, the host of the Money Tips for Financial Grownups podcast and the founder of GrownupGear.com. Bobbi was previously a global business news anchor and personal finance columnist at Reuters and held various journalist positions at top news outlets including CNBC, CNN and PBS.
Bobbi Rebell Website
Bobbi Rebell Instagram
Bobbi Rebell Twitter
Bobbi Rebell LinkedIn
Bobbi Rebell TikTok
Feb 16, 2023 • 7min
Office Hours: What Are Fee-Only and Fee-Based Financial Advisors?
In today’s Office Hours, Eric answers Morgan's question: “What's the difference between a fee-only and a fee-based financial advisor?”
This is a great question and understanding the different fee structures for financial advice and when they are appropriate can help you choose your advisor.
Have a question? Tweet it to us at @BrotmanPlanning or post it on our Facebook and it may be used in a future episode of Office Hours!
[embed]https://youtu.be/XY4tglXslsQ?si=_2mi6gIHLH8C3wOj[/embed]
Feb 9, 2023 • 32min
Married to Military: The Financial Challenges Unique to Military Spouses and Families with Lacey Langford
Welcome back to Don’t Retire… Graduate! Today’s guest is a military veteran, military spouse, and financial coach who works to help the military community gain control and confidence around their money.
Lacey Langford, AFC® shares her story of military service, the challenges she has seen and helped military couples overcome throughout her career, and the conference she launched to combat some of those challenges.
In this episode we’ll talk about:
• Lacey’s experience in the military
• The different experiences that military families have with money that are different from civilians
• Why military spouses are often under- or unemployed or not allowed to work
• The decisions that have to be made when a servicemember is relocated
• Planning for transitions and handling transitions that you cannot control
• Having a plan for a post-military career
• Resources available within the military
• The MilMoney Conference and how you can get involved (https://milmoneycon.com/)
[embed]https://youtu.be/ZRPMiMq0cPA?si=lB9Ycj9RrHHPn-QX[/embed]
Visit dontretiregraduate.com for a full transcript of this episode.
Please visit https://bfgfa.com/discount-programs/ to learn about our Hometown Heroes discount programs for veterans, active duty military, military families, and first responders.
About Lacey Langford:
Lacey Langford, AFC® is a financial coach, veteran, military spouse, and entrepreneur who changes people’s mindset from being fearful of money to having control and confidence with it. She’s an Accredited Financial Counselor® with over 15 years of financial planning, counseling, and coaching experience. Military and money are her jams.
Lacey’s the founder and CEO of the Military Money Show, a podcast dedicated to helping the military community with personal finance, and MilMoneyCon, a national conference for financial professionals united by military service.
Lacey Langford, AFC® is a financial coach, veteran, military spouse, and entrepreneur who changes people’s mindset from being fearful of money to having control and confidence with it. She’s an Accredited Financial Counselor® with over 15 years of financial planning, counseling, and coaching experience. Military and money are her jams.
Lacey’s the founder and CEO of the Military Money Show, a podcast dedicated to helping the military community with personal finance, and MilMoneyCon, a national conference for financial professionals united by military service.
Guest Resources:
Lacey Langford Website
The Military Money Expert Podcast
Lacey Langford LinkedIn
Lacey Langford's Twitter
Military Money Show Twitter
Military Money Show Facebook
Military Money Show Instagram
Feb 2, 2023 • 9min
Office Hours: Shoud I Invest in Stocks or Real Estate?
In today’s Office Hours, Eric answers Juan's question: “Is it better to skip investing in the stock market and buy real estate instead?”
It's not necessarily wise to go all in for either option, and Eric explains the pros and cons of each.
Have a question? Tweet it to us at @BrotmanPlanning or post it on our Facebook and it may be used in a future episode of Office Hours!
[embed]https://youtu.be/zHaMgTe8CYA?si=04NyizOq7LHMrIMI[/embed]
Jan 26, 2023 • 37min
Coming Out Of Hiding: A Story Of Recovery And Resilience With Laura Cathcart Robbins
Welcome back to Don’t Retire… Graduate! Today’s guest is the inspirational Laura Cathcart Robbins, host of The Only One in the Room podcast and author of the upcoming memoir Stash: My Life in Hiding.
Laura opens up about her struggle with addiction—a story she’ll share in depth in her book—and her journey out of hiding and into a career as a podcast host and writer. She is truly a remarkable person with a great message of recovery, resilience, and grace that we all could benefit from.
In this episode we’ll talk about:
•Eric’s appearance on The Only One in the Room and how he’s calling out the male-dominated industry
•Laura’s story as growing a career in writing and public relations as a high school drop out
•Her experience living with a pill and alcohol addiction, checking into rehab, and going through a divorce within the public eye
•How being the only black woman in a room of 600 people led to her launching her podcast, The Only One in the Room
•The process of writing her memoir
•Being vocal when you find yourself in a room lacking diversity
Continue the conversation with Eric's appearance on The Only One in the Room: https://brotmanmedia.com/the-only-one-in-the-room/
[embed]https://youtu.be/HprAn4gEzeE?si=7DvS_Fx7aOsQWJBl[/embed]
Visit dontretiregraduate.com for a full transcript of this episode.
About Laura Cathcart Robbins:
Laura Cathcart Robbins is the host of the popular podcast, The Only One In The Room, and author of the forthcoming Atria/Simon & Schuster memoir, STASH (March 7, 2023). She has been active for many years as a speaker and school trustee and is credited for creating The Buckley School’s nationally recognized committee on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice. Her recent articles in Huffpo and The Temper on the subjects of race, recovery, and divorce have garnered her worldwide acclaim. She is a 2022 TEDx Speaker, and LA Moth StorySlam winner. Currently, she sits on the advisory boards of the San Diego Writer’s Festival and the Outliers HQ podcast Festival. Find out more about her on her website, or you can look for her on Facebook, on Instagram and follow her on Twitter.
Laura Cathcart Robbins (@lauracathcartrobbins)
https://theonlyonepod.com/
https://www.youtube.com/@TheOnlyOneintheRoomPodcast
https://www.instagram.com/theonlyoneintheroom/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheOnlyOneInTheRoomPodcast
https://twitter.com/TheOnlyOnePodc1
https://www.huffpost.com/author/laura-cathcart-robbins
http://www.lauracathcartrobbins.com/
https://www.tiktok.com/@theonlyoneintheroom
