Written by Stina Antonopoulos
Founder of Roots & Wealth | Retirement Income Planning | Author of What If? (Coming August 2026)

The Retirement Experiment Has Changed

More than 4 million Americans are turning 65 each year.

It's a demographic wave known as Peak 65.

But there's something different about this generation of retirees.

Many are reaching retirement without something their parents and grandparents often had:

A pension.

For generations, retirement could look relatively straightforward.

You worked.

You retired.

Social Security arrived.

Your pension arrived.

And those checks continued.

Today, millions of Americans instead retire with a 401(k), IRA, or other savings—and suddenly face a question they may never have been taught to answer:

How do I turn this pile of money into a paycheck?

A 401(k) Wasn't Designed to Make the Decisions for You

During your working years, the instructions were fairly simple:

Save.

Invest.

Keep contributing.

Don't panic when markets fall.

Retirement changes the question.

Now you have to decide:

How much can I withdraw?

Which account should I use first?

How much should stay invested?

How much should remain liquid?

What happens if the market drops?

What happens if I live to 95?

What happens to my spouse if I die first?

That's a completely different financial problem.

Retirement income research in your existing educational material makes this same distinction: the distribution stage introduces risks that don't operate the same way during accumulation.

There Are Many Ways to Create Retirement Income

Retirement income can come from:

Social Security

Pension benefits, if you're fortunate enough to have them

Interest

Investments

Retirement-account withdrawals

Rental property

Business income

Part-time work

Insurance-based lifetime income

The objective isn't to find the one "best" source.

It's to determine which job each source needs to perform.

That principle is already central to the Retirement Income Masterclass you're developing: retirement income, liquidity and future needs are intentionally separated rather than asking one asset to accomplish everything.

Can You Create Your Own Pension?

Not literally.

A personal retirement strategy isn't the same thing as an employer's defined-benefit pension plan.

But you can potentially build a retirement income system designed to accomplish some of the same objectives.

Start with Social Security.

Add any existing pension income.

Then determine the gap between those sources and the monthly income you actually need.

That gap is the problem your retirement assets need to solve.

Certain insurance products can convert a portion of savings into contractual lifetime income.

That can effectively give that portion of your assets a very specific job:

Pay me for as long as I live.

But there is a trade-off.

Money committed to producing lifetime income may not provide the same liquidity, growth potential, or legacy value as money assigned to other purposes.

That's why I don't believe every retirement dollar should be treated the same.

Every Dollar Needs a Job

I believe retirement becomes easier to understand when you stop asking:

"What's the best investment?"

and start asking:

"What does this money need to do for me?"

Some money may have the job:

Pay me every month.

Some:

Be there when something goes wrong.

And some:

Take care of Future Me.

Income.

Liquidity.

Future growth and legacy.

Different jobs.

Different tools.

Different trade-offs.

This Is Why I'm finishing up My Next Book

My upcoming book, Create a Pension: Get A GLIP, is being written for this generation.

Not to tell retirees what product to buy.

Not to convince everyone to use the same strategy.

And certainly not to suggest there's one perfect retirement answer.

The intention is much more important:

I want to put retirees back in the driver's seat.

For decades, many people were told what to do with retirement money.

Save more.

Invest more.

Hope the market cooperates.

Then retirement arrives and suddenly they're expected to make some of the biggest financial decisions of their lives—often without ever having been taught how retirement income actually works.

I want to change that.

The purpose of the book is to help readers understand the choices in front of them, understand the trade-offs, ask better questions, and ultimately feel capable of making informed decisions about their own money.

Because knowledge shifts power back to the retiree.

You Don't Need One Perfect Product

You need a plan.

Maybe Social Security covers most of your essential expenses.

Maybe it doesn't.

Maybe part of your savings needs to create lifetime income.

Maybe you value liquidity more.

Maybe leaving money to your children matters enormously.

Maybe it doesn't matter at all—you worked for this money and want to maximize the retirement it provides.

Those are personal decisions.

And that's exactly why retirement planning should begin with you, not with a product.

The Bottom Line

Peak 65 isn't simply a demographic statistic.

It represents millions of people entering a retirement system fundamentally different from the one their parents experienced.

Many won't receive a pension.

But that doesn't mean they have to enter retirement without a paycheck strategy.

The starting question isn't:

"What should I buy?"

It's:

"What do I need my money to do?"

Once you can answer that, you can begin building a retirement designed around your life—not somebody else's.

FAQ

What is Peak 65?
Peak 65 refers to the historic demographic wave in which more than four million Americans a year are reaching age 65.

Can I retire without a pension?
Yes. A traditional employer pension is only one source of retirement income. Social Security, retirement savings, investments, work, real estate and certain insurance strategies can potentially be coordinated to create retirement income.

Can I create my own pension?
You cannot literally recreate an employer-sponsored defined-benefit pension. However, you can build a retirement income strategy intended to create predictable income, including potentially using a portion of assets for contractual lifetime income.

What are the three primary sources of lifetime income?
For many Americans, the primary sources designed to provide income for life are Social Security, a traditional pension if available, and certain insurance-based lifetime-income arrangements.

How much retirement income do I need?
Start by determining what your retirement lifestyle actually costs rather than beginning with an arbitrary account-balance target. That's the foundation of what we're calling your Retirement Income Number™.

Should I keep all of my retirement money invested for growth?
Not necessarily. Different dollars can have different purposes. Money needed for monthly income may have a different job from emergency reserves or assets intended for long-term growth and legacy.

Should I put all my retirement savings into guaranteed-income products?
No strategy automatically belongs in every retirement plan. Liquidity, growth, income, taxes, risk tolerance, legacy objectives and other circumstances should be evaluated together.

What is Create a Pension about?
My upcoming book, Create a Pension: Get A GLIP, is designed to help today's retirees understand how retirement income works, evaluate the trade-offs in front of them, and ask better questions before making permanent financial decisions.

Its purpose is simple:

Put the retiree back in the driver's seat.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

Retirement isn't just about numbers. It's about the life you've worked so hard to build.

Whether your dream is traveling more, spending time with your grandchildren, supporting the causes you care about, or simply enjoying the peace of knowing your bills are covered, your financial decisions today can shape the future you envision.

I believe every family deserves honest guidance, thoughtful education, and a retirement strategy built around their unique goals—not a one-size-fits-all recommendation.

Throughout my career, I've had the privilege of helping individuals and families navigate important financial decisions involving retirement income, life insurance, annuities, mortgages, and real estate. One thing I've learned is that every family's story is different, and every retirement plan should be too.

Before we ever talk about products or strategies, I want to understand you.

What does financial freedom mean to you? What are your biggest concerns? What kind of legacy do you hope to leave? Those conversations are the foundation of every recommendation I make because the best plans begin with listening.

My role isn't to tell you what to do. My role is to educate you, simplify complex financial decisions, and help you feel confident in the choices you make for yourself and your family.

Whether you're just beginning to plan for retirement or looking for a second opinion on your current strategy, I'd be honored to be a resource for you.

Why "Roots & Wealth"?

When I chose the name Roots & Wealth, it wasn't just because it sounded good. It reflects what I believe financial planning should be.

Just like a strong tree, lasting financial security begins with strong roots.

Those roots are built through education, thoughtful planning, meaningful conversations, and decisions that align with your values. Wealth isn't only about the size of your portfolio—it's about having choices, creating stability, protecting the people you love, and living with confidence.

Life will bring changing seasons. Markets will rise and fall. Tax laws will change. Unexpected challenges will happen. But when your financial foundation is built on strong roots, you're in a better position to weather those changes and continue growing.

That's the philosophy behind everything I do.

My goal is to help you build a retirement strategy that's deeply rooted in what matters most to you, so you can enjoy today while creating a lasting legacy for tomorrow.

If you're ready to build a retirement strategy with confidence and clarity, I'd love the opportunity to meet you. Schedule your complimentary Retirement Strategy Consultation and let's start growing your Roots & Wealth together.

Educational Disclosure

This article is for educational purposes only and is not financial, tax, or legal advice. Annuity products are insurance contracts. Guarantees are backed by the claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company. Product availability, rates, surrender schedules, withdrawal provisions, riders, caps, participation rates, spreads, and other terms vary by carrier and state. Withdrawals may be subject to surrender charges, taxes, and, if taken before age 59½, potential IRS penalties. Fixed index annuities are not stock market investments and do not directly participate in any stock or equity index. You should review your personal situation with a qualified professional before making a decision.