What does it really mean to be risky? That question almost sounds like when people say, what is the meaning of life in our world. But what I want to do is give you two definitions and ask you which one resonates most with you. So here's the first one. Client came to me. When I asked them, what does risk mean to you? They said, Ari, risk means that my money doesn't go up and down a whole bunch because once I retire, I don't have as much

time for that money to recover. So I just would prefer less fluctuation. I said, hey, that's pretty good.

I asked another client, hey, what does risk mean to you? They said, risk means that I'm not

unnecessarily leaving money on the table. I don't want to see my money go up and down a whole bunch.

At the same time, I do recognize that there is value to being invested in a very specific allocation, and I don't want to be in my 80s going, why don't I have millions of more dollars if they're not investing well? And I said, wow, that's another really good definition. It's not that one's right or one's wrong, but it's the same reason that I tell everyone, you cannot have a cookie cutter approach. And if you're watching this on YouTube, you may have seen this ahead of time. And if you're just listening on the podcast app, I'll explain. Someone sent me this anti-cookie cutter jar. And I'm zooming in on it on my camera right now. And it was sent to me, and I just thinks it's awesome because I often say it,

but I didn't know I said it this much where someone sent me a jar and it's because I don't believe in the cookie cutter approach. I don't believe in what's your age and risk tolerance. I don't think that's going to help you retire a whole lot, you know, with a whole lot more confidence, should I say. Let's assume I say, hey, what's your risk tolerance?

I'm at two today and a 10 tomorrow.

That's not really helping me retire.

I don't really... with a whole lot more confident, should I say. Let's assume I say, hey, what's your risk tolerance? You're like, I'm a two today and a 10 tomorrow.

That's not really helping me retire. I don't really do the scale. To me, I think you have to be a whole lot more intentional and that creates confidence because a lot of people come to me. They go, Ari, I've ran some projections on my own. I'm pretty confident with my planning. And it says I have a 99% chance of success.

I go, why don't you go retire then?

And they go, well, I, what if something's wrong? confident with my planning. And it says I have a 99% chance of success.

I go, why don't you go retire then?

And they go, well, what if something's wrong? What if I'm in that 1%? And I'm finding a lot of people are going, hey, I want to make sure I'm doing the right things. And if I miss one thing, does that mean I'm going to have to go back to work? And there are instances where exactly that happens. and I talked about it last week on my sequence of return

risk episode, which is the concept that you get unlucky. And now, because markets didn't perform

well in the same years, you're trying to travel and spend more on health insurance before

Medicare kicks in, that your portfolio is being drained too quickly. So what I want you to do today

is if any of you are going, hey, I've ran some projections on my own.

Looks like I'm in a good spot. I also don't want you to be mad at me when you're in your 80s and 90s going, hey, Ari, or whoever your advisor is, I've got a ton of money. Why didn't you tell me I could have spent more if I was in a good spot to spend? I don't want to overspend, but I tell everyone in retirement there's a cheat code.

And you're like, what's the cheat code? The cheat code is it's as if you're going bowling. Now, I'll always start my episodes. When I say always, mainly, if I have a story that could come to mind that I think would be helpful. I like to start with a story, a quick one, and then I want to go through a financial example with you, and then I want to go through the logic behind that. And I try to keep these 10 to 15 minutes. Sometimes I go 20, 25. I do outline all of these, but sometimes I just think it makes sense to go with my stories. So hopefully you've enjoyed the format of the show. I'll go through a few reviews in just a moment, but just too excited, so I want to tell you guys this.

So when So hopefully you've enjoyed the format of the show. I'll go through a few reviews in just a moment, but just too excited.

So I want to tell you guys this. So when someone comes to me, I'll say, hey, are you a big bowler? And by the way, no one's ever said yes to that. So I could pick a new analogy at this point. But I just find this works. And so they're like, no. Has anyone ever said yes? I'm like, no.

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