In this episode, financial advisor Mike McNamara tackles two of the biggest threats to a secure retirement: debt and the rising cost of education.
Mike explains how many people unintentionally put their own future at risk—by carrying high credit card balances, maintaining expensive lifestyles, or prioritizing their children’s college tuition ahead of retirement savings. He makes a simple but powerful case: retirement savings shouldn’t be optional. They should be treated like a monthly bill that always gets paid.
To show why planning matters, Mike walks through the history of major market downturns since 1950 and explains how volatility can damage portfolios if you’re forced to sell at the wrong time. His key takeaway for retirees is practical and reassuring: keep enough cash on hand to cover several years of expenses, so market downturns don’t derail your long-term plan.
This episode is a grounded, no-nonsense look at personal responsibility, smart planning, and how clear math—not wishful thinking—leads to financial peace of mind, the core philosophy behind McNamara Financial.
Michael J. McNamara, Ph.D., CFP®, is the founder of McNamara Financial. A seasoned financial planner with over 40 years of experience, Mike is now semi-retired and works exclusively with long-time clients and a select few new ones.
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McNamara Financial is a family-owned, independent, fee-only financial planning and investment management firm. For over 30 years, we’ve helped individuals and families on the South Shore and beyond navigate their financial futures with clarity, confidence, and care.
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