There's a 7-minute animated short that got nominated for an Oscar this year called Retirement Plan. It's free on YouTube, narrated by Irish actor Domhnall Gleeson, and it follows a middle-aged man named Ray who spends his days listing everything he plans to do once he finally retires. Ryan uses the short as a jumping-off point for a bigger conversation about the expectations we build around retirement and the life we’re living right now.

Here’s what we discuss in this episode:

💵 Pension Planning: Why understanding your retirement benefits matters before making permanent decisions

✈️ Travel Goals: Turning “I’ll travel more someday” into an actual financial plan

❤️ Giving Back: Using retirement assets strategically when charitable giving matters to you

⚖️ Life Balance: Saving for the future without sacrificing everything you could enjoy today

🕰️ More Time: Learning how to say yes—and no—when retirement gives you greater control of your schedule

🌅 Present Living: Why the film’s message about being “aggressively present” hits especially hard

📝 Your Own List: Using the short film as inspiration to think about what you want retirement to look like

“Retirement Plan” (2026 Oscar Nominee) | The New Yorker -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Mqa4zfJdx4

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