Care Conversations with Clarity is a TV show and podcast hosted by Amanda Stilwell, founder and financial adviser at Clarity Financial Solutions. Designed to guide you through the complexities of retirement, this show blends expert education with real-life emotion, offering the tools you need to confidently navigate decisions about Medicare, long-term care, distribution planning, and more. Each episode dives deep into aspects of retirement planning, helping you protect your assets and create a fulfilling life beyond your working years. Join the conversation by sending in your questions and scenarios—this is your journey, and we're here to help you along the way.
Overcoming Retirement Anxiety: Real Stories from Judy Morast-Morin and David Morin
In this heartfelt episode, host Amanda Stilwell is joined by longtime clients Judy Morast-Morin and David Morin as they open up about their personal journey into retirement—what Amanda lovingly calls “life after work.” Amanda guides Judy and David through an honest discussion about the emotions and challenges that come with leaving the workforce, reevaluating financial security, and redefining what the next phase of life looks like. From a chance seminar invitation about Social Security to me...
31 Jul 2025
Retiring With Intention: Dora Villegas Discusses Planning, Family, and Finding Happiness
In this episode, host Amanda Stilwell sits down with Dora Villegas, who shares her unique journey into retirement after a lifetime of hard work, cross-country moves, and big life changes—including moving from Colombia to the US and navigating life after divorce. Dora opens up about the emotions and uncertainties she faced as she transitioned from her career in healthcare to “life after work,” including concerns about health insurance, Social Security, and replacing her income. In their candid...
24 Jul 2025
Retirement Realities: Facing Fears, Budgets, and the Unknown with Beverly and Darrell Kuch
In this episode, host Amanda Stilwell sits down with Beverly and Darrell Kuch, a couple who recently transitioned into retirement a little earlier than most. Together, they shed light on the unexpected emotions and challenges that come with moving from a lifetime of saving to finally spending what you’ve worked so hard for. Darrell, a self-proclaimed spreadsheet enthusiast, and Beverly, more cautious when it comes to finances, share their journey of building confidence, creating a workable re...
17 Jul 2025
Planning, Panic, and Peace: How Jack Withey Found Retirement Confidence
In this episode, Amanda Stilwell sits down with Jack Withey, a recent retiree, to discuss the emotional and practical journey from a long career into life after work. Jack shares his experience of working for 45 years, managing his own investments, and the challenges he faced when transitioning from accumulation to distribution in retirement. Together, they dive into topics like Medicare, Social Security, required minimum distributions, and creating an income plan for peace of mind. Jac...
10 Jul 2025
Transitioning to Retirement: Real Stories from Phil and Valerie Adams
In this heartwarming episode, host Amanda Stilwell sits down with Valerie and Phil Adams to explore their unique journey into retirement. From initial fears about finances and navigating the complexities of health insurance to the relief and peace of mind that comes with having a supportive advisor, the Adamses share candidly about their experiences, challenges, and triumphs as they enter this new phase of life. Tune in as Amanda helps demystify retirement planning, guiding listeners through ...
3 Jul 2025
Finding the Right Guide: How Brenda Waters Prepared for a Fulfilling Retirement
Brenda Waters shares her personal journey navigating the emotional and financial decisions of retirement, including overcoming fears and building trust with a financial advisor, in an interview with Amanda Stilwell.
26 Jun 2025
Real Retirement Stories: Welcome to Season 2
Host Amanda Stilwell introduces season two of the podcast, focusing on empowering listeners by addressing common retirement concerns like Medicare and Social Security, and emphasizing the value of support.
13 Feb 2025
Journey from Work to Retirement: Assessing Financial and Emotional Impact
This episode marks the conclusion of our insightful first season, where we've guided you from confusion to clarity on crucial retirement topics. Throughout this season, we've built a strong foundation by exploring Medicare, long-term care planning, Social Security maximization, and tax strategies for retirement. These elements come together to form the unique tapestry of your retirement journey. In this final episode, we recap the season's essential discussions, reflecting on the shifts from ...
6 Feb 2025
Navigating Tax Challenges in Retirement: Understanding Brackets and Planning
In this episode, we continue our exploration into the intricacies of retirement, with a special focus on the topic that often leaves many retirees scratching their heads: taxes in retirement. We're diving into the common misconceptions about tax brackets after retirement, the impact of various policy changes, and the importance of strategic planning to manage your tax obligations effectively. We'll also discuss Medicare options, Social Security maximization, and the surprising ways your...
30 Jan 2025
The Art of Retirement: Balancing Income, Taxes, and Lifestyle
In this episode, Amanda sheds light on the multifaceted phases of retirement: from the lively go-go years to the more tranquil no-go years. The focus is sharpened onto planning for unforeseen challenges such as inflation and healthcare costs, while dissecting the tax implications of retirement income sources including Social Security, IRAs, and annuities. We'll unravel common misconceptions like expecting a lower tax bracket in retirement and dive into effective strategies for maximizing...
9 Jan 2025
Social Security Sustainability and Strategic Planning with guest Hamilton Morales
In the episode, our host Amanda Stilwell is joined by expert Hamilton Morales from the Financial Independence Group. As a specialist in Social Security benefits, Hamilton provides invaluable insights to assist financial advisors and individuals nationwide in navigating the intricate landscape of Social Security. In this episode, we delve into the complexities of Social Security decisions and explore personalized strategies for maximizing benefits. Hamilton sheds light on key topics such as sp...
2 Jan 2025
Understanding Social Security: Calculations, Benefits, and Planning for Your Future
Today, we're diving deep into the basics of Social Security—a cornerstone of retirement income—and addressing key questions about its future, how benefits are calculated, and the strategic timing for applying.As many rely heavily on Social Security, understanding how benefits work is crucial. We'll break down the complex calculations, including average indexed monthly earnings and primary insurance amounts, to clarify how factors like earnings history and retirement age impact your benefits. ...
26 Dec 2024
Empowerment Through Planning: Alecia Barnette on Modern Long-Term Care Options
In today's discussion, host Amanda Stilwell is joined by Alecia Barnette, a distinguished expert with 27 years of experience in the long-term care sector. Together, they aim to demystify the intricacies surrounding long-term care options and stress the importance of proactive planning.This episode will guide you through the benefits of asset-based solutions in comparison to traditional policies, emphasizing the significance of protection, flexibility, and efficient financial planning. Alecia ...
19 Dec 2024
Long Term Care Explained: From Daily Needs to Financial Preparation
In this episode, Amanda unpacks the essentials of what long term care really means, the types of assistance it entails, and why it's a crucial consideration for families navigating retirement planning. With startling statistics revealing that 70% of Americans over 65 will need long term care, yet only a fraction believe they will require it, Amanda highlights the gap between expectation and reality. She emphasizes the importance of having a plan in place to avoid financial strain and r...
12 Dec 2024
The Emotional and Financial Implications of Long-Term Care
In this episode of Care Conversations, join Amanda Stilwell and guest Shantel Haines as they tackle the vital topic of long-term care, dispelling common misconceptions and revealing why it's crucial to have a plan in place. With an engaging discussion that balances both the emotional and financial considerations, Amanda and Shantel decipher what long-term care truly entails and explore the variety of care options available. By integrating expert insights with real-life anecdotes, they illustr...
5 Dec 2024
Medicare Coverage Gaps: Exploring Solutions with Supplements and Advantage Plans
Welcome to another insightful episode of "Care Conversations" with your host, Amanda Stilwell. Today, we're diving deep into the intricacies of Medicare, a crucial topic for anyone planning their retirement effectively. Joined by our guest, Shantel Haines, we'll explore the various components of Medicare, including Parts A, B, C, and D, and clarify common misconceptions that can affect your healthcare planning. From understanding the implications of the Inflation Protection Act on your premiu...
21 Nov 2024
Understanding Medicare: Shantel Haines Shares Her Unique Perspective and Passion
Welcome back to Care Conversations with Clarity Financial Solutions. In today's episode, we're diving deep into the complex world of Medicare with our special guest, Shantel Haines. She's not only a retirement professional at Clarity Financial Solutions but also a passionate advocate for Medicare education. With her personal experiences and professional insights, Shantel sheds light on the importance of understanding Medicare options, especially for veterans and those navigating the intricate...
14 Nov 2024
Understanding Medicare: Navigating Health Coverage in Retirement
Welcome back to Care Conversations with Clarity Financial Solutions! I'm your host, Amanda Stilwell, and in today's episode, we're diving deep into the essentials of Medicare. As our health needs evolve, understanding Medicare becomes crucial for protecting our retirement assets. We’ll demystify the foundational building blocks of Medicare, including the ins and outs of Parts A and B, and the crucial differences between Medicare Advantage and Supplement plans. Get ready to take notes and...
22 Sept 2024
Navigating Retirement with Confidence and Clarity
Welcome to the inaugural episode of Care Conversations, a show brought to you by Clarity Financial Solutions. I'm your host, Amanda Stilwell, founder and financial adviser. In this first season, we'll be diving into the complexities of retirement, bringing education and emotion together to help you navigate this crucial phase of life with confidence.In today's episode, I'll share my journey from working in home health and hospice to becoming a financial adviser. We'll discuss the often-overwh...
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
408
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Podcast Authority Score: 55 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
65
Social presence
91
YouTube
66
Engagement
0
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