Many retirees unknowingly walk away from life insurance policies without realizing they may still hold value. For women navigating retirement, widowhood, or major life changes, understanding every available option can make a meaningful difference.

In this episode, I talk with Lisa Rehburg, President of Rehburg Life Insurance Settlements, about how life insurance settlements work and why they are often misunderstood or overlooked. We explore when this strategy may be appropriate, how it fits into retirement planning, and why timing and education matter. Lisa also explains the legal foundation, tax considerations, and the role advisors play in helping clients make informed decisions.

This conversation is about awareness, asking better questions, and making thoughtful choices before letting a policy lapse or be surrendered.

Key takeaways:

• Why many seniors let life insurance policies lapse and what may be missed
• How life insurance settlements work and when they may apply
• Legal foundations behind selling a life insurance policy
• Tax considerations and the importance of coordinating with professionals
• How this option may help fund retirement or long-term care needs
• And more!

Resources:

• Get Your FREE Simply Retirement Roadmap
• The Simply Retirement Community Facebook Group
• 2026 Tax and Retirement Planning Cheat Sheet
• Life Insurance Settlement Association (LISA)

Connect with Eric Blake:

• www.TheSimplyRetirementPodcast.com
• Join the Simply Retirement Newsletter
• Ask a Question or Suggest a Topic for the Podcast
• Blake Wealth Management
• YouTube

Connect with Lisa Rehburg:

• LinkedIn: Lisa Rehburg
• Website: Rehburg Life Insurance Settlements
• Facebook: Rehburg Life Insurance Settlements

About our Guest:

Lisa Rehburg is President of Rehburg Life Insurance Settlements, a life insurance settlements broker. Ms. Rehburg is passionate about assisting financial, insurance, legal, and non-profit professionals to help their clients benefit from their unwanted or unneeded life insurance policies. Lisa has been in the health and life insurance industries for over 30 years. She has presented to hundreds of organizations, including various Financial Planning Associations, Fiduciary Associations, Estate Planning Councils, Planned Giving Roundtables, NAPFA, NAIFA, and Health Underwriters Associations, to raise the visibility of life insurance settlements as an option for clients, when appropriate. She has held executive roles at carriers, general agencies, and TPAs. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Finance and a Master of Arts degree in Organizational Development.

RMDs are one of those retirement rules that feel simple on the surface, until the tax consequences show up years later.

In this episode, I walk through what required minimum distributions are, when they start, and why missing or mismanaging them can quietly raise taxes, Medicare costs, and long-term financial stress. I explain how planning early creates flexibility, especially for women navigating retirement transitions, widowhood, or income changes. We also cover practical strategies that can help reduce the tax impact without turning retirement upside down.

Key takeaways:

• How required minimum distributions work and when they begin under current law
• The penalties and long-term damage caused by missed or unplanned RMDs
• How RMDs can increase taxes on Social Security and Medicare premiums
• Using qualified charitable distributions to reduce taxable income
• Timing strategies like Roth conversions and filling lower tax brackets
• And more!

Resources:

• Get Your FREE Simply Retirement Roadmap
• www.thesimplyretirementpodcast.com/RMD
• #52 – I Have Inherited an IRA—Now What? 5 Steps to Avoid Costly Mistakes
• #73 – Roth IRAs and Retirement: What You Need to Know
• #91 – 2026 Retirement Contributions Explained: How to Prioritize Accounts & Help Reduce Lifetime Taxes

Connect with Eric Blake:

• www.TheSimplyRetirementPodcast.com
• Join the Simply Retirement Newsletter
• Ask a Question or Suggest a Topic for the Podcast
• Blake Wealth Management
• YouTube

This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute tax advice. Converting to a Roth IRA is a taxable event and may increase your current-year tax liability. Roth conversions cannot be undone. Individuals should consult a qualified tax professional regarding their specific circumstances.

Most people know they should be saving for retirement, but fewer understand how contribution rules, taxes, and prioritization actually work together.

Small decisions, like where you save first or how you respond to changing tax brackets, can shape long-term outcomes far more than people realize.

In this episode, I walk through the 2026 retirement contribution limits and explain how to prioritize different retirement accounts when you cannot fund everything at once. I break down common misconceptions around employer matches, Roth versus pre-tax contributions, and the belief that taxes are always lower in retirement. We also explain how spousal IRA rules can keep savings moving even during caregiving or time away from work.

Key points:

• How to prioritize retirement contributions when you have limited cash flow
• Why an employer match matters, but does not tell the whole story
• How tax brackets influence Roth versus traditional decisions
• Why retirement planning should focus on progress, not perfection
• How spousal IRA rules apply during caregiving or career pauses
• And more!

Resources:

• Get Your FREE Simply Retirement Roadmap
• 2026 Tax and Retirement Planning Cheat Sheet

Connect with Eric Blake:

• www.TheSimplyRetirementPodcast.com
• Join the Simply Retirement Newsletter
• Ask a Question or Suggest a Topic for the Podcast
• Blake Wealth Management
• YouTube

This information is for general educational purposes only and is not legal, tax, or individualized financial advice. Roth IRA contribution and withdrawal rules, eligibility, limits, and tax treatment are subject to IRS requirements and may change. Qualified withdrawals depend on meeting specific conditions, and non-qualified withdrawals may result in taxes or penalties. Consult a qualified tax or financial professional before making contribution or withdrawal decisions