When should you take Social Security? What exactly does Medicare cover? And who pays if you eventually need long-term care?

These are three of the biggest - and often most confusing - questions that come with planning for retirement. And as Laura Johnson explains in this episode of Be The Hummingbird, there isn't a single "right" answer that works for everyone.

Laura starts with Social Security, tackling the question she hears all the time: When SHOULD I start collecting? Everyone seems to have an opinion - take it as early as possible, wait until 70, or worry that Social Security won't even be there when you need it. But the decision isn't just about predicting the future. It's about understanding your future.

What resources do you have? When do you want to retire? What will retirement look like for you? What is your health situation? And perhaps most importantly - if you started receiving Social Security today, what would that money allow you to do?

Laura breaks down concepts such as Full Retirement Age (FRA), early retirement, delaying benefits, and the idea of a break-even age, while sharing personal stories that illustrate why Social Security decisions should be part of your overall financial plan - not made in isolation.

Then it's on to Medicare, health insurance, and what happens when you reach age 65. Laura readily admits she isn't a Medicare specialist - and explains why she believes working with someone who specializes in Medicare is so important. She walks through the basics of Parts A, B, and D, the "alphabet soup" of supplemental plans, income-related Medicare premiums, and some of the decisions you will need to make as you transition away from employer-provided health insurance.

Finally, Laura tackles an expense many people would rather not think about: long-term care. Medicare and traditional health insurance generally aren't designed to cover the ongoing custodial care someone may need when they can no longer manage activities such as bathing, eating, or dressing independently. Laura discusses how long-term care insurance has evolved and why today's options may look very different from the expensive traditional policies people remember from years ago.

The common thread through all three topics is simple: What does YOUR situation look like?

There is no perfect age when everyone should take Social Security. There isn't one Medicare solution that works for everyone. And there isn't a magic birthday when you suddenly need to start thinking about long-term care.

Your resources, your health, your family, your goals, and the retirement you envision all matter.

Retirement planning isn't about finding the answer that worked for someone else. It's about understanding your choices, asking the right questions, and making decisions that support YOUR financial plan and YOUR journey.

And sometimes the smartest thing you can do is ask someone to help you figure it out.

What do financial advisors wish their clients would do sooner?

It's not about nagging you, judging your financial decisions, or expecting you to have everything figured out. In fact, it's just the opposite. The goal of financial planning isn't to give you more to worry about - it's to help you worry less.

In this episode of Be The Hummingbird, Laura Johnson shares the financial decisions she wishes more people would tackle before they have to. From starting to plan when you think you "don't have enough money", saving for retirement earlier, and building an emergency fund, to having difficult conversations with aging parents, getting estate documents in place, understanding Social Security, considering Long-Term Care, and being honest with your financial advisor - Laura talks candidly about the things people tend to put off until "later".

She also dives into the conversations we avoid: life insurance, money and marriage, relying on your children in retirement, and waiting for the elusive "perfect time" to retire.

Drawing from her own personal stories and years of experience as a financial advisor, Laura reminds listeners that financial planning isn't about predicting everything or getting every decision exactly right. Money can be messy. Life is unpredictable. Good financial planning is about putting things in place today that give you more choices tomorrow.

The takeaway? Earlier doesn't mean perfect - and it's never too late. Earlier simply means before you have to.

You don't need to tackle all 12 things today. Pick one. Have one conversation. Make one appointment. Take one step that you've been putting off.

Because sometimes the best financial decision you can make is simply asking for help before you become completely overwhelmed.

In this honest and personal episode of Be The Hummingbird, Laura Johnson, owner of Hummingbird Wealth Management, shares a recent experience that serves as a reminder that financial stress doesn't disappear just because you work in the financial industry.

From paying down debt accumulated through building a business, home repairs, and unexpected expenses to facing the reality of financing a vehicle while working toward becoming debt-free, Laura opens up about the emotional side of financial decision-making and the curveballs life can throw our way.

This episode isn't about perfection - it's about resilience, adaptability, and making thoughtful decisions when life doesn't go according to plan.

Because financial confidence isn't about avoiding challenges. It's about having the tools, perspective, and plan to navigate them when they arise.

If you've ever felt frustrated by a financial setback or wondered if you're the only one trying to make progress while life keeps happening, this episode is for you.

In this episode of Be The Hummingbird, Laura Johnson of Hummingbird Wealth Management explores a question many people ask as retirement approaches: "How much do I need to retire?" But what if retirement readiness is about more than a number?

Join Laura as she discusses why true retirement confidence comes from understanding your income, planning for longevity, and creating a financial strategy that supports the life you want to live. Through thoughtful insights and practical guidance, she'll help you shift the conversation from simply accumulating assets to building the confidence and freedom to make choices in retirement.

Because retirement isn't just about reaching a financial milestone - it's about creating a future filled with purpose, flexibility, and peace of mind.

What does retirement really mean to you?

In this special episode of Be The Hummingbird, host Laura Johnson is joined by fellow Hummingbird Wealth Management advisor, Laura Beall, for a thoughtful conversation about retirement - and why it's about so much more than reaching a certain age or hitting a specific financial number.

Together, they share insights from real conversations with clients who often focus on the dollars and cents of retirement while overlooking some of the most important questions: What will your lifestyle look like? What will give you purpose? What kind of legacy do you want to leave behind?

Laura Johnson also shares a personal story about losing her mother at the age of 71 and the powerful reminder that none of us has a crystal ball when it comes to time. The Lauras discuss why retirement planning should include healthcare considerations, travel goals, family relationships, passions, and the life you want to create - not just the money needed to fund it.

They also explore retirement planning challenges unique to women, including longer life expectancies, caregiving responsibilities, financial confidence, and the risks many women face after becoming widowed. For business owners, the conversation highlights the importance of creating an exit strategy alongside a retirement strategy.

Whether retirement is decades away or right around the corner, this episode will encourage you to think beyond the numbers and start building a plan centered on freedom, purpose, and legacy.

Tune in and discover how to create a retirement that's not just financially secure - but deeply meaningful.

Testimonials are based upon an individual client experience and may not represent the experience of other customers and should not be considered a guarantee or indication of future performance or success.

In this episode of Be The Hummingbird, host Laura Johnson, owner of Hummingbird Wealth Management, tackles the realities of being part of the "sandwich generation" - the people caught between caring for aging parents, supporting children, managing careers, and somehow trying to plan for their own future.

Laura explores the emotional, physical, and financial pressures that come with being the one everyone depends on. From caregiver burnout and setting healthy boundaries to protecting your retirement while helping loved ones, this episode offers practical guidance, heartfelt encouragement, and a reminder that taking care of yourself is not selfish - it's necessary.

If you've ever felt pulled in a dozen different directions at once, this conversation will remind you that you're not alone and that small, intentional steps can help you find balance in the midst of chaos.

Because caring for everyone else shouldn't mean losing yourself in the process.

Laura Johnson, joint host and owner of Hummingbird Wealth Management, shares her insights on the five most common financial mistakes people make. She explains that these errors are rarely due to recklessness or irresponsibility but often stem from life's challenges—stress, overwhelm, grief, or the duty of supporting a family member. She highlights that the five key mistakes include aiding adult children, succumbing to lifestyle inflation, neglecting estate planning, emotional spending, and delaying financial decisions. Ultimately, financial missteps are human, not a lack of intelligence, and understanding this fosters compassion and growth.

Join host and owner of Hummingbird Wealth Management, Laura Johnson, as she shares stories of how a lack of communication about final wishes has brought families to blows. She draws on decades of professional and personal experience to explain why it is not only important to complete your estate planning documents, but also to communicate your wishes and those documents to the people named in them and other loved ones. Laura then explains the documents that include a will, revocable trust, durable power of attorney, health care power of attorney, and advanced directive. Communication is powerful, and failing to share your wishes with your loved ones can destroy relationships once you are gone. So be sure to get your affairs in order and communicate your wishes to your friends and family!

Testimonials are based upon an individual client experience and may not represent the experience of other customers and should not be considered a guarantee or indication of future performance or success.