Align Your Retirement

Align Your Retirement

Hazel Secco, CFP®, CDFA®

Episodes 18
Avg. Duration 13m
Activity Highly Active
Since Aug 2023
Latest Episode Jun 2026

Publishing Details

Schedule
Every 2 Weeks
Format
Episodic
Consistency
78%
Hosting
rss.buzzsprout.com

About This Podcast

Align Your Retirement is the retirement podcast for women in their 40s and 50s who've done a lot right with their money — and know retirement is too important to wing.

If you're the CFO of your household — whether you're married, single, divorced, or widowed — you already know the voices:

"I'll run the real numbers after Q4."
"My 401(k) is fine — I check it."
"I'll handle Social Security timing when I'm closer."
"The inherited IRA can sit in cash until I figure out the 10-year rule."

Every one of those voices is quietly moving your retirement date. Each episode is a direct, specific conversation about one retirement decision that costs more than it needs to when you carry it alone — Social Security timing, Roth conversion windows, sequence-of-returns risk, tax-efficient drawdowns, pension elections, asset location, the inherited IRA, healthcare before Medicare.

The decisions. The tradeoffs. The numbers. From a fiduciary who runs these with clients every week.

Hosted by Hazel Secco, CFP®, CDFA®, founder of Align Financial Solutions — a fee-only, fiduciary firm built for women in their 40s and 50s. Serving clients virtually across the U.S. from Hoboken, NJ — the mile-square city just across the Hudson from NYC.

Two ways to go deeper:
📋 Retirement Readiness Assessment — free, self-paced, 5 minutes. Link in every show note.
📞 Align Call — 15 minutes with Hazel. One conversation. No pitch. You'll leave knowing where you stand.



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Recent Episodes

S3E4 Why Two Identical Portfolios End in Completely Different Retirements

Jun 02, 2026 17m Transcript

Send us Fan MailTwo women retire at 62. Same $2 million, same index funds, same 7% average return, same $80,000 a year. One dies at 92 with more than she started with. The other runs out at 82.The…

S3E3 When to Claim Social Security: Why the Math Is Different for Women

May 19, 2026 14m Transcript

Send us Fan MailEvery Social Security break-even calculator is giving you the wrong answer — because the life expectancy table it's using isn't yours. In this episode, Hazel walks through why the…

S3E2 The Roth Conversion Window: Why Your 50s Are the Most Important Tax Decade of Your Life

May 12, 2026 14m Transcript

Send us Fan MailIf you're a woman in your 40s or 50s with $1.5M or more in pre-tax retirement accounts, the Roth conversion window is the single highest-leverage tax decision you will make. It opens…

S3E1 When Should You Hire a Financial Advisor? The 3-Pillar Framework

Apr 28, 2026 15m Transcript

Send us Fan MailWhen Should You Hire a Financial Advisor? The 3-Pillar FrameworkIf you've been asking yourself "Is it finally time to hire a financial advisor?" — this episode is your answer.Hazel…

S2E6 Your Financial Plan Won't Work Until You Fix This

Apr 14, 2026 18m Transcript

Send us Fan MailYou know what you should be doing with your money. You're still not doing it. That gap has a name — and it's the most overlooked factor in whether your financial plan actually…

S2E5 Why Every Woman Needs a Fee-Only Financial Advisor

Apr 01, 2026 17m Transcript

Send us Fan MailNot all financial advisors are built the same — and most women don't know the difference until it costs them.In this episode, Hazel Secco, CFP®, CDFA® breaks down what "fee-only"…

S2E4 Why Most Financial Plans Fall Apart (And How to Make It Stick)

Mar 10, 2026 16m Transcript

Send us Fan MailMost financial plans don't fall apart because the math was wrong. They fall apart because they were built on someone else's values — what you thought you should want, what your family…

How to Overcome a Scarcity Mindset: Why Your Money Mindset Matters More Than Your Bank Account

Mar 03, 2026 15m

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Her Honest Money Talk, Hazel Secco, CFP®, CDFA®, breaks down the psychology behind why earning more money doesn't always solve money stress. If you struggle with…

S2E2 Find Your Enough Number: How to Calculate Your Financial Freedom Number

Feb 17, 2026 14m

Send us Fan MailHow much is truly enough?In this episode of Her Honest Money Talk, Hazel Secco explores the powerful concept of your enough number, the personal financial target that allows you to…

S2E1 True Wealth = Options, Not Just Money ✨💜 #HerHonestMoneyTalk

Feb 03, 2026 7m

Send us Fan Mail"The freedom to design your relationship with work based on meaning, not just necessity."If you’ve worked hard to get where you are, you deserve a financial plan that gives you…

S1E7 Her journey to becoming a mission-driven financial advisor

Mar 22, 2024 36m

Send us Fan MailJoin Hazel on "Her Honest Money Talk" as she goes into her journey of becoming a financial advisor. She shares how it has shaped her into the passionate advocate for women's financial…

S1E6 EP 06. Finding Your Financial Wellness: Tips for Choosing the Right Financial Planner

Feb 26, 2024 25m

Send us Fan MailIn today's episode of "Her Honest Money Talk," we're diving into the critical process of selecting a financial planner or advisor. The episode features a conversational style between…

Her Honest Money Talk with Hazel Secco Trailer

Feb 16, 2024 1m

Send us Fan MailIntroducing "Her Honest Money Talk" with Hazel Secco, CFP, CDFA, where financial clarity meets candid conversation. Join Hazel as she demystifies the world of personal finance with…

S1E5 EP 05. Barbie Unboxed: Financial Advocate and Feminist Views

Nov 17, 2023 21m

Send us Fan MailJoin us in this candid episode of Her Honest Money Talk as we dissect the movie 'Barbie' from the unique vantage points of a financial advocate for women and feminist ideals. Delve…

S1E4 EP 04. Financial Advisor vs. Financial Planner

Nov 02, 2023 9m

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of "Honest Money Talk," host Hazel Secco, founder of Align Financial Solutions, delves into the crucial question of finding the right financial advisor or consultant.…

S1E3 EP 3: Emotions and Financial Decisions

Oct 05, 2023 4m

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of "Her Honest Money Talk," we delve deep into the significance of comprehending the intricate connection between emotions and financial decision-making. When we take…

S1E2 EP 2: Financial Advisor Compensation Demystified

Sep 05, 2023 3m

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of "Her Honest Money Talk," we take a deep dive into the intriguing world of financial advisor compensation. Join us as we uncover the various ways financial advisors…

S1E1 EP 1. Navigating Market Realities: Unveiling the Unspoken Truths

Aug 29, 2023 3m

Send us Fan MailJoin Hazel Secco, founder of Align Financial Solutions, in this eye-opening episode of "Honest Money Talk." In a world where financial advisors often paint a rosy picture, Hazel…

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Align Your Retirement have?

Align Your Retirement has published 18 episodes since August 2023, covering topics in Business, Investing.

Is Align Your Retirement still active?

Align Your Retirement is currently highly active with new episodes every 2 weeks. Average episode length is 13m.

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