The Retire Memo Desk
Retirement is a series of specific, often irreversible decisions. We explain each one clearly, with the rules and the trade-offs, so you can make it on your own terms.
Retire Memo grew out of a stack of handwritten notes. When one of our founders helped their parents through retirement — claiming Social Security, choosing between Medicare Advantage and Medigap, deciding what to do with a pension — they kept a memo for every decision: the deadline, the rules, the options and what they chose.
Those memos turned out to be useful to friends, then to friends of friends. This site is the public version. Each article tackles one decision people face in their 60s and 70s and explains the rules, the timing and the trade-offs in plain English.
We are writers and planners, not your personal advisers. Benefit amounts, premiums and thresholds change every year, so we point you to the official sources — the Social Security Administration, Medicare.gov and the IRS — to confirm the current figures before you act.
What We Cover
Our team covers Social Security, Medicare, Retirement Income, Life After Work. Every article goes through editorial review to make sure it's accurate, well-researched, and genuinely useful.
Our Editorial Standards
We take accuracy seriously. Our writers research each topic thoroughly, drawing on credible sources and real-world expertise. We don't publish clickbait or exaggerated claims. If you spot an error, let us know — we review and correct promptly.
Advertising
Retire Memo is supported by advertising, including Google AdSense ads. This allows us to keep publishing free content. Ad revenue does not influence our editorial decisions.
Meet the Team
David Stern
Retirement income and withdrawals
David spent 20 years in employee-benefits administration and now writes about pensions, retirement accounts and income planning.
Clara Jenkins
Medicare and health coverage
Clara volunteered as a Medicare counselor for eight years and helps readers understand enrollment rules and coverage choices.
Elias Vance
Social Security and life after work
Elias retired from teaching at 62 and writes about Social Security decisions and the practical and emotional side of leaving work.
Questions or content suggestions? We'd love to hear from you — hello@retirememo.com