Blog The Top 5 Overlooked Factors That Can Derail Your Retirement (and How to Address Them) Zoha KhanApril 23, 20250570 views Credit:pt.dreamstime.com Table of Contents Toggle By Elisabeth Dawson, CEO of Copia Wealth Management & Insurance Services1. Inflation: The Silent Wealth Killer2. Healthcare Costs: The Expense No One Sees Coming3. Taxes: The Hidden Threat to Your Nest Egg4. Longevity Risk: Outliving Your Money5. Emotional Blind Spots: Fear, Procrastination, and Hope-As-A-StrategyFinal Thoughts: Retirement Should Be a Reward, Not a Risk By Elisabeth Dawson, CEO of Copia Wealth Management & Insurance Services When most people think about retirement planning, they think about investing. Stocks. Bonds. Real estate. Maybe even crypto. But if that’s all you’re focused on, you might be missing the forest for the trees. Because the truth is—your retirement doesn’t depend solely on the markets. It depends on you. On your plan. Your strategy. Your foresight. After over two decades of helping clients retire not just comfortably—but confidently—I’ve seen the same blind spots show up time and again. Here are the top 5 most overlooked (and dangerous) retirement derailers, plus how to protect yourself from each. 1. Inflation: The Silent Wealth Killer You’ve probably heard someone say, “A dollar today won’t buy what it did ten years ago.” That’s not just a saying—it’s a warning. Inflation slowly eats away at the purchasing power of your savings. And while it may only creep up 2-3% a year (sometimes much more), over the course of a 20- to 30-year retirement, that erosion adds up in a big way. What to do: Your retirement income plan should automatically adjust for inflation. At Copia, we call this Retirement by Design—we help you build a plan that accounts for your needs now and protects your lifestyle later. This is exactly what our Retirement Income for Life Blueprint is designed to address. 2. Healthcare Costs: The Expense No One Sees Coming Did you know the average couple retiring today will need over $300,000 just for healthcare expenses during retirement? Medicare doesn’t cover everything. Long-term care? Dental? Vision? Prescription drugs? They’re all additional—and expensive. What to do: You must build healthcare planning into your retirement strategy—before you retire. At Copia, we integrate insurance solutions and Medicare strategies right into your wealth plan to ensure these costs don’t come as a surprise. 3. Taxes: The Hidden Threat to Your Nest Egg Most people save for retirement in tax-deferred accounts like IRAs or 401(k)s. But here’s the catch: when you take that money out, Uncle Sam takes his cut. And if taxes go up in the future (which many believe they will), your “retirement number” might not stretch as far as you thought. What to do: Tax planning is not just for the wealthy—it’s for the wise. We show our clients how to reclaim thousands of dollars every year with smarter tax strategies. Want to stop giving away money unnecessarily? Start with your free Retirement Income for Life Blueprint. 4. Longevity Risk: Outliving Your Money It’s not the most fun thing to talk about—but it’s vital: What if you live longer than you expected? According to the Social Security Administration, one in three 65-year-olds today will live past age 90. That’s a 35-yearretirement. What to do: Build income streams that last. At Copia, we design your plan to account for a long and abundant life—combining guaranteed income strategies with flexible investments that grow and protect your wealth over time. 5. Emotional Blind Spots: Fear, Procrastination, and Hope-As-A-Strategy Too many people enter retirement hoping it will all work out. Or they delay planning because it feels overwhelming. Or they keep working—not because they want to—but because they have to. This is what I call the “I wish I met you a decade earlier” effect. It’s what we hear all the time from new clients. What to do: Invest in yourself now. Stop hoping and start knowing. With the right guidance, you can reclaim control and clarity. That’s why we created the Retirement Income for Life Blueprint—a customized roadmap designed to uncover the “found money” hiding in your current plan and convert it into lasting abundance. Final Thoughts: Retirement Should Be a Reward, Not a Risk You worked hard for this phase of life. You deserve to enjoy it—not stress about whether your money will last, whether your plan is complete, or whether you’re making the right decisions. At Copia Wealth Management, we believe in more than just investments. We believe in you. In your goals. Your peace of mind. And your abundant future. Let’s make sure you retire with confidence. Schedule your complimentary consultation or get started with your free Retirement Income for Life Blueprint today. 👉 Click here to book your free consultation Elisabeth DawsonCEO | Money Coach | Author of Retirement by DesignCopia Wealth Management & Insurance Services CA LIC #0C71264, #0G81294 Investment advice offered through Copia Wealth Management Advisors, Inc.Copia Wealth Management Advisors, Inc. is a registered investment advisor.