Cortburg Speaks Retirement

6 Retirement Mistakes That Could Cost You Later

• Miguel Gonzalez, MBA, AIF®, CPFA®, CRC® • Season 2026 • Episode 279

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Many retirement mistakes aren’t dramatic — they’re quiet. And they often go unnoticed for years.

In this episode, Miguel Gonzalez highlights common retirement planning mistakes people don’t realize they’re making — from outdated beneficiaries to overlooked tax considerations and scattered workplace accounts. A few small adjustments today can help you stay organized, reduce stress, and protect your long-term financial goals.

Miguel Gonzalez is a Certified Retirement Counselor (CRC) with over 20 years of experience helping individuals and families plan for retirement income, investment management, and long-term financial clarity. He is the Managing Partner of Cortburg Retirement Advisors, a boutique firm focused on retirement planning, tax strategy awareness, and financial organization.

#RetirementPlanning #RetirementMistakes #CortburgSpeaksRetirement #FinancialWellness #MiguelXGonzalez #WealthPlanning

Welcome to Cortburg Speaks Retirement Podcast 
with Miguel Gonzalez, MBA, AIF®, CPFA®, CRC®

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Welcome to Cortburg Speaks Retirement

An audio podcast about investing in the stock market, financial planning, money management and retirement planning.  Each Wednesday, we help investors at all stages of life learn how to potentially grow and preserve their money from first job through retirement.

Now here is your host, Miguel Gonzalez.

 HOST

Good morning and welcome to the CORTBURG SPEAKS RETIREMENT audio podcast.   

Today I want to highlight some of the most common retirement mistakes people make — often without realizing it.

1. Forgetting to Update Beneficiaries

Life changes such as marriage, divorce, or the birth of a child can all impact who you want listed on your financial accounts.

But many people forget to update beneficiary information, sometimes for decades.
 Keeping these designations current ensures your accounts reflect your present-day wishes.

 

2. Losing Track of Old Workplace Accounts

In today’s world, it’s common to change jobs several times throughout a career.
 Each job may come with its own retirement plan, and if you’re not careful, these accounts can become scattered or forgotten.
 Keeping an organized list of every workplace retirement account helps you maintain a clear view of your long-term savings.

3. Not Understanding Contribution Limits

Retirement accounts each have their own rules, and contribution limits can change from year to year.
 Some people assume they are saving “enough” without realizing they may be under-contributing based on what the IRS allows.
 Others may not realize that catch-up contributions become available once you reach age 50, offering an additional opportunity to boost savings later in your career.
 Staying aware of annual limits, catch-up opportunities, and how they apply to your specific account types can make a meaningful difference over the long term.

4. Overlooking Tax Considerations 

The difference between Traditional and Roth accounts is more than just terminology — it changes when you pay taxes.
 Traditional accounts are typically taxed in retirement when withdrawals are taken, while Roth accounts are funded with after-tax dollars and follow different rules.
 
 Understanding the general tax treatment of your accounts helps you plan more intentionally and avoid surprises down the road.

5. Not Planning for Lifestyle Changes

Retirement isn’t just a financial shift — it’s a lifestyle shift.
 How do you want to spend your time? What hobbies, activities, or routines matter to you?
 Your day-to-day lifestyle choices often influence your expenses more than any other variable in retirement planning.

6. Waiting Too Long to Get Organized 

Many people wait until they’re close to retirement to gather documents, review accounts, or think through their long-term plan.
 But organization doesn’t have to be complicated — it simply needs to be consistent.
 Taking small steps early, such as consolidating accounts, reviewing old statements, or identifying what you want your retirement to look like, helps reduce stress later.
 In Closing

Awareness is one of the strongest tools you have.
 By staying mindful of these common mistakes, you can make more informed decisions and build a retirement strategy that supports your long-term goals and lifestyle.

This is Miguel Gonzalez, Certified Retirement Counselor (CRC) and Managing Partner, with Cortburg Retirement Advisors signing off for this week’s educational podcast.  

End of video disclosures:
CRC conferred by The International Foundation for Retirement Education.


 Securities offered through LPL Financial. Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advice offered through Private Advisor Group, LLC, a registered investment advisor.
 
 

Private Advisor Group, LLC and Cortburg Retirement Advisors, Inc. are separate entities from LPL Financial.
 
 

The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual.
 
 

All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however, LPL Financial makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy.

 

Contributor

Miguel Gonzalez, MBA, AIF®, CPFA®, PPC®, CRC®

Host