A month ago, I wrote about my retirement from full-time blogging and made the following statement:
“I don’t know exactly what that means yet, but I’m going to explore it for a while to see where it leads.”
On the morning I published that post, I celebrated my “Retirement 2.0” by mountain biking on the Piney Knob trails of Western North Carolina. As I rode, I thought about this blog and its direction. I didn’t want to write as frequently, but I didn’t want the blog to fade into obscurity. I wasn’t sure how to balance those conflicting goals, but I determined to keep myself open to new opportunities and see where things led.
Little did I know that as I was riding, a friend was thinking about the same thing, and those thoughts would lead to an exciting new direction for this blog.
Before I go there, I’ll share a pic from the trail to help you join vicariously in the moment:
Celebrating “Retirement 2.0” on my MTB as I ponder the future.
As I came off the trail, I received a text from a friend that changed everything, and I couldn’t be more excited about where it’s led. That text led to an email exchange, and an exciting new path was established for this blog.
In short, we’re going to conduct an experiment. If you’re a regular reader, you know how often I encourage folks to experiment and try new things in retirement. Seems appropriate, then, that we’d do the same thing with the blog. The exciting part is that you get to participate, and your feedback is always welcome (I’ll see you in the comments).
Today, I’m sharing the plans for the next chapter of The Retirement Manifesto – we’re doing an experiment. Share on X
I suspect many of you know the friend who sent the text. She’s a true “Rock Star” in the world of retirement planning, and her book was one of the best books I read as I was planning my retirement. She has been writing as an expert on retirement-related topics since 2008 and has created tremendous content in the field. I was a huge fan of hers long before she knew who I was, and I’m honored to consider her a friend now.
I’m even more excited to have her as a partner (hold that thought, I’ll explain more in a minute).
Her name?
The infamous Dana Anspach, a Certified Financial Planner, Founder of Sensible Money, and author of Control Your Retirement Destiny (Amazon Affiliate link), one of the best books I’ve read on retirement planning. I first discovered her when she was writing the “MoneyOver55” column on About.com, and have followed her writing since 2010. She’s long been one of my favorite writers in the field, and in the second half of this post, you’ll get an opportunity to read her writing yourself.
Hint: It won’t be the last time you’ll read her content on The Retirement Manifesto.
Dana Anspach – Rock Star
Ironically, after years of helping thousands of people retire successfully, she’s now at the same point I was when I started this blog. She’s still working, but she’s thinking seriously about when she can retire. She’s a talented writer, and in her text, she floated the concept of having her share her journey and thoughts via posts on this blog.
I immediately agreed.
What is it like for a retirement professional to personally go through the retirement transition? After years of helping others, how is it different when you go through it yourself? Thanks to this partnership, we’ll all gain some insight. I’m excited for the journey.
We’re keeping the new “partnership” informal, with no money changing hands and no commitments. Either of us can cancel the agreement at any time, though I suspect that won’t happen. We’ll play it by ear and see how it goes. If things work well, we’ll consider a more formal agreement in a year or so. Stay tuned.
The Bottom Line: We all stand to benefit:
Dana gets a platform to share her thoughts as she prepares for retirement.
Fritz gets a talented writer to create new content and keep the blog interesting.
You get insight as a retirement professional plans her transition into retirement.
The Retirement Manifesto 2.0
At this point, here’s how we envision things happening.
Both Dana and I will contribute to this blog, and we’ll have complete freedom to write whatever is on our minds. I suspect having Dana onboard will give me more energy than if I were to continue solo, and I already have a few draft articles saved on topics I’d like to address. I realize it will take a while for you to get used to a new “voice” on the blog, and I ask for your patience as we conduct this experiment. Dana is an excellent writer and has more experience in this field than almost anyone I know. Participating in her retirement transition will provide value for all of us.
In short, The Retirement Manifesto is moving from a solo act to a duet.
I hope you like the new music.
PS – To make it easier for you, we’ll add the writer’s name as a byline below the title of each post. If you were paying attention, you’d have caught Dana’s name below the title of today’s post. I wonder how many readers noticed that?
This isn’t the first time Dana and I have collaborated. A year ago, I was a guest on a webinar she hosted discussing “The 5 Keys to Retirement Success” (YouTube link below). I met Dana in Phoenix a month before we recorded, and we hit it off immediately. I’m proud of the content we created, and I am excited about what the future holds.
With that introduction out of the way…
via GIPHY
Discovering The Retirement Manifesto
I’m not sure when I first came across Fritz’s blog—probably 2016, a year or so after he began writing.
At the time, I wrote as the MoneyOver55 Expert for About.com, something I’d done since 2007, when the site was owned by The New York Times. All of us “experts” maintained a blog, where we were encouraged to share our personal voice along with stories and anecdotes, and we wrote “evergreen” content – for me, that meant covering core topics like Social Security, 401(k) withdrawals, and all things retirement.
I loved it. Writing was one of the most rewarding parts of my week. Constantly on the lookout for fresh topics and inspiring voices in the retirement space, I found The Retirement Manifesto and featured the blog in a “top retirement blogs” piece.
What drew me in? Fritz was out there being real—sharing his journey with transparency and vulnerability, and allowing us all to come along for the ride.
A Different Kind of Retirement Conversation
While I was steeped in the mechanics of retirement income planning—tax efficiency, income distribution strategies, and cash flow modeling—Fritz was writing about the emotional side of the transition. About finding identity and purpose. His Ten Commandments of Retirement post struck a chord. It showcased the depth of thought he and his wife applied to their retirement and who they wanted to become.
That idea resonated with me. I lived by my own version of a manifesto—I called it my Operating System. It included things like:
Be the best me I can be.
Spread a little sunshine wherever you go.
I believe I’m 100% responsible for my life—my life is a reflection of the choices I make.
The thought of applying this same kind of intentionality to designing retirement life felt like a mini sparkle bomb going off in my head. “Of course,” I thought. “That is the way!”
And yet, while I referred many people to Fritz’s work, when it came to my own retirement – it felt far, far away. When I tried thinking about it… I felt blank. I help others plan for retirement. But for me? Nope, I couldn’t picture it.
The Shift: From “Nope, Never” to “Maybe One Day”
Until, at the age of 53, one vacation changed everything, I’ll share that story in a future post.
After that trip, I began thinking about retirement more. By “more” I mean I went from “Retirement for me–nope, never” to “Holy cow, I actually want to retire one day!” This was a fundamental shift.
I wondered: Could I blog about my journey, just like Fritz had?
But, I no longer had a personal blog. You see in 2012, the New York Times sold About.com to IAC—a digital media conglomerate that owns everything from Match.com to Investopedia. Like many corporate transitions, the tone shifted. Our blogs were taken away. The platform became more transactional. I kept writing for a few years, then stepped away as it lost its luster and personal feeling.
Over the years, Fritz and I exchanged a few notes on Twitter (now X). We emailed occasionally and met in person during his 2024 visit to Scottsdale.
His genuine nature shines through in person just as it does within his writing.
So, when I saw his post about retiring from blogging, another sparkle bomb went off. Could I pick up where he left off?
I tapped out a text, and after a short exchange, we decided to do something we each value: experiment. No financial ties. No obligations. Just an experiment.
I’d share my thoughts and stories about retirement. When inspired, he might share his. In a year, we’ll check in and see what we think.
I’m excited to blog again—it feels like Fourth of July sparklers inside.
What My Plan Is—And Isn’t
My only hesitation: how might this be received? I’m the founder and CEO of a firm specializing in retirement planning. While we welcome new clients, this is not a sales pitch, and I don’t want anyone feeling that way.
Yet, I’m sure I’ll talk about my work—it’s a huge part of my life, and I’m proud of it. But my belief is this: we’re all wired differently.
Some of us are well-suited to handle our own planning.
Others benefit immensely from delegating.
Either way, good advice is good advice. We can all learn from one another—with respect, kindness, and encouragement.
I plan to share my hopes, stories, and reflections about my retirement journey—and snippets from the hundreds of households I’ve learned from.
Let’s See Where This Leads
Let’s see where this experiment leads. I hope you’ll join me on the journey.
And, stay tuned. Shortly, I’ll share my own personal awakening about retirement and how it shifted my entire way of thinking.
Conclusion
Fritz here, jumping in with some final thoughts. Throughout my blogging career, I’ve been fascinated by the exciting opportunities that spring up just by being “out there.” The countless podcast interviews, webinars, and new friends I’ve made. By taking that first step in April 2015, I’ve created something that’s brought true purpose and meaning to my retirement.
By being willing to experiment and try new things, I’ve discovered the rewarding feeling that comes from “Helping People Achieve A Great Retirement” (my byline). As a result, I’ve learned to embrace change, to be willing to experiment, and to take risks. I hope that you’ve all benefited as a result.
After years of being a solo act, I’m embracing the opportunity of singing in a duet.
I hope you enjoy the experiment.
Your Turn: I’d love your input as we launch this new chapter in the life of The Retirement Manifesto. Have you read Dana’s material in the past, or is this your first introduction? What do you think of the approach? I appreciate your support as we conduct this experiment, and encourage you to learn to hear a new voice on this blog. I think you’ll enjoy the music…
