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Golden Years, Golden Places: The Top 5 U.S. Cities for a Fulfilling Retirement

by Eric Seyboldt, MBA

Retirement is a relocation of purpose. And where that new chapter unfolds matters just as much as how you fund it. Whether you're aiming for better weather, lower taxes, more community, or simply a higher quality of life, the right retirement destination can add years to your life—and life to your years.

While some dream of white-sand beaches and others crave mountain vistas or vibrant downtown strolls, the best retirement cities blend affordability, health care access, walkability, culture, and community. This article explores five U.S. cities that consistently deliver for retirees, with real-life examples of how they meet the diverse needs of today’s modern retirees.

1. Asheville, North Carolina: The Artful Mountain Escape

Why it stands out:
Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville offers natural beauty, a vibrant arts scene, and four seasons without the harsh winters of the Northeast. Its low property taxes and absence of estate taxes make it financially attractive for retirees with sizeable assets.

Real-life example:
Dale and Marianne from Pittsburgh sold their high-maintenance home and bought a cozy craftsman bungalow in Asheville’s West End for half the price. Now they spend mornings hiking and evenings attending bluegrass concerts at Pack Square.

Financial insight:
North Carolina does tax retirement income, but Asheville’s lower cost of living, access to top-rated Mission Hospital, and abundance of free outdoor activities help balance the budget.

2. Venice, Florida: Gulf Coast Charm Without the Crowds

Why it stands out:
While Florida is no secret among retirees, Venice offers a quieter, more affordable alternative to Sarasota or Naples. Florida has no state income tax, no estate tax, and no tax on Social Security benefits—making it a triple win for retirees on fixed incomes.

Real-life example:
Tom, a retired firefighter from Chicago, purchased a villa in a 55+ community for $275,000. He bikes the Legacy Trail daily and enjoys nearby golf without the crowds or costs of South Florida hotspots.

Financial insight:
The median home price is lower than the national average, and hurricane insurance costs are lower than in coastal areas farther south. Add in free public beach access, and Venice offers sunshine and serenity with financial sanity.

3. Greenville, South Carolina: Big City Amenities, Small Town Feel

Why it stands out:
Greenville has quietly become one of the South’s most livable cities. Its walkable downtown, low taxes, and strong sense of community have made it a magnet for retirees who want a mix of city life and southern hospitality.

Real-life example:
Lana, a retired school principal from New Jersey, traded a $12,000 annual property tax bill for $1,800 in Greenville. She now volunteers at the local children’s museum and meets friends for coffee along the Reedy River.

Financial insight:
South Carolina offers generous retirement income deductions, and property taxes are among the lowest in the country. The city also ranks high for health care access and has seen steady growth in age-friendly housing.

4. Boise, Idaho: The Western Hidden Gem

Why it stands out:
Boise blends scenic beauty, low crime, and excellent quality of life. While not always top-of-mind, its dry climate and access to outdoor recreation appeal to active retirees seeking a slower pace but with amenities nearby.

Real-life example:
Steve and Linda, engineers from Portland, cashed out of a hot West Coast market and bought a newer home in Boise’s North End. They live mortgage-free, ski Bogus Basin in the winter, and kayak the Boise River in the summer.

Financial insight:
Idaho doesn’t tax Social Security income, and retirees over 65 receive additional property tax relief. Boise's health care system is expanding rapidly, and the city has developed multiple age-friendly initiatives.

5. Lancaster, Pennsylvania: A Quiet, Quirky Powerhouse

Why it stands out:
Lancaster is consistently ranked among the best places to retire due to its balance of affordability, low crime, quality health care, and proximity to larger cities like Philadelphia and Baltimore. It offers rural charm with urban convenience.

Real-life example:
Marie, a widow and former nurse, downsized from a four-bedroom colonial in northern New Jersey to a historic rowhome in downtown Lancaster. She now walks to Central Market for fresh produce and attends senior classes at Franklin & Marshall College.

Financial insight:
Pennsylvania exempts all retirement income from taxation, including IRAs, pensions, and Social Security. Lancaster’s housing costs are reasonable, and the city boasts one of the highest concentrations of retirement communities in the country.

Your Money Goes Where You Go

Retirement is more than just a financial decision—it’s a lifestyle choice. Whether you're seeking warmth, walkability, culture, tax savings, or just a place that feels like home, the geography of retirement plays a vital role in how fulfilling those golden years become.

Each of these five cities proves that you don’t need a million-dollar nest egg or a beachfront mansion to retire well. What you do need is a thoughtful plan, a sense of adventure, and a city that fits not just your budget—but your soul.

Still deciding where to plant your retirement flag?
Start with a strategy session to align your income, assets, and location preferences. The right city paired with the right financial plan can help you retire to something—not just from something.

Reach out to us for a complimentary, 10-minute consultation call. A well-constructed retirement strategy should do more than just manage risk—it should provide clarity, confidence, and long-term stability. If you're approaching retirement or already in it, now is the time to align your portfolio with your goals. Schedule a complimentary 10-minute consultation by calling 614-943-2265. Thoughtful planning today can help ensure your retirement is built on a foundation of informed choices—not guesswork.

The 5 Biggest Investment Mistakes Retirees Make—and How to Fix Them Like a Pro

by Eric Seyboldt, MBA

Client: Eric, I’ve worked hard, saved what I could, and now that I’m retired, I don’t want to mess this up. What are the most common investment mistakes retirees make, and how do I make sure I don’t do the same?

Eric: That’s a great question—and believe it or not, it’s the question that separates folks who thrive in retirement from those who quietly run into trouble. Retirement is no longer about simply drawing down from a pile of savings. It’s about managing risk, taxes, longevity, and income in a way that makes the money last longer than you do. Let’s break down the five most common—and costly—investment blunders retirees make, with practical solutions rooted in experience, not theory.

Blunder #1: Chasing Yield Without Knowing the Price Tag

Client: You mean those 9% dividend stocks or junk bonds that sound too good to be true?

Eric: Exactly. Retirees often chase high-yield investments thinking they’re securing steady income. But they’re often buying risk in disguise—companies that are overleveraged, bonds teetering on default, or closed-end funds with hidden leverage. In 2022 alone, retirees who loaded up on high-yield bond funds saw their account balances drop 15%–20%, even though they “thought” they were being conservative.

The Fix:
Focus on reliable income, not just high income. A better approach is blending Equity-Indexed Annuities (EIAs) with laddered MYGAs (Multi-Year Guaranteed Annuities) and buffered ETFs that cap your downside while offering market-linked growth. Pair that with a dividend growth fund, not just high-dividend. The goal? Stability, sustainability, and sleep-at-night confidence. In the Midwest, we don’t go chasing storms—we build barns that weather them.

Blunder #2: Parking Too Much in Cash or CDs “Just in Case”

Client: I just feel safer with money in the bank. What’s the harm?

Eric: The harm is in what you can’t see: inflation. Cash loses purchasing power quietly but steadily. A retiree holding $300,000 in CDs at 4% interest while inflation runs at 6% is losing around $6,000 a year after tax. Over 10 years, that’s $60,000 of lost value—and the price of groceries, healthcare, and property taxes isn’t going backward.

The Fix:
Keep a 12- to 18-month cash buffer for emergencies and short-term expenses—but don’t overdo it. The rest should be working harder. Professionally structured portfolios can offer better long-term protection. In retirement, idle cash is like a tractor sitting in the shed—it might feel good to look at, but it won’t plow the field.

Blunder #3: Ignoring Sequence of Returns Risk

Client: I’ve heard the term—but I’m not sure I really understand what it means.

Eric: It’s one of the most dangerous, least understood threats in retirement. Sequence risk happens when the timing of your withdrawals aligns with a market downturn. Early losses hurt more when you're pulling money out—and unlike in your working years, there's no time to “wait it out.”

Example:
Let’s say you start retirement with $1 million and plan to withdraw 4% annually. If your first three years see double-digit market losses (like 2000–2002 or 2008–2010), your portfolio could lose 30%+—and then you’re withdrawing from a much smaller base. Recovery becomes mathematically uphill.

The Fix:
Create a withdrawal strategy with built-in buffers. Use principal-protected income tools like EIAs or fixed indexed annuities with income riders. Build a bucket plan:

• Bucket 1: 1–2 years of cash

• Bucket 2: 3–7 years of conservative, income-producing assets

• Bucket 3: Long-term growth

This lets you draw from the “safe” bucket during downturns and avoid locking in losses. Sequence risk isn’t just a theory—it’s a retirement killer if not managed early.

Blunder #4: Mismanaging Taxes in Retirement

Client: But I thought retirement meant I’d pay less in taxes?

Eric: That’s the myth. The truth is, many retirees are in the same or higher effective tax bracket—especially after they turn 73 and are forced to take Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) from their IRAs. Add in Social Security taxation and potential Medicare IRMAA surcharges, and the tax bite gets bigger over time.

Example:
A couple with $75,000 in Social Security and IRA withdrawals could see up to 85% of their Social Security taxed and pay an additional $200/month in Medicare premiums. Over 10 years, that’s $24,000 in just extra premiums.

The Fix:
Start planning before you need to. Use Roth conversions during lower-income years, typically between retirement and age 73. Harvest losses strategically. Use qualified charitable distributions (QCDs) to offset RMDs after age 70½ if you’re charitably inclined. And integrate tax-smart withdrawal sequencing—first use after-tax assets, then IRA, then Roth last. You want your tax bracket curve to be a smooth hill, not a sudden cliff.

Blunder #5: Underestimating Longevity and Healthcare Costs

Client: We’re pretty healthy and have Medicare. Shouldn’t that cover most of it?

Eric: Medicare is great—but it doesn’t cover long-term care, dental, vision, or custodial care. And the average 65-year-old couple today is projected to need over $315,000 for out-of-pocket medical expenses during retirement. Longevity compounds this risk. Living longer isn’t a curse—it’s a cost multiplier.

The Fix:
Plan for a 25- to 30-year retirement, not a 15-year one. Use longevity annuities that begin payouts at 80 or 85 to hedge the tail-end risk. Consider a hybrid long-term care policy that combines life insurance with an LTC rider, so you're covered even if you never need care.

A long life should be a blessing, not a budget crisis.

Retirement isn’t about riding off into the sunset with a saddlebag full of cash—it’s about managing the journey so you don’t get thrown from the horse halfway through. Most retirees don’t fail because they didn’t save enough. They fail because they didn’t adapt.

The good news? Each of these five blunders has a solution—rooted in sound strategy, not Wall Street gimmicks. Retirement isn’t a guessing game; it’s a planning game. And with the right guidance, you can sidestep the traps and live the retirement you actually planned for.

Need help building your retirement defense strategy?
Call Eric Seyboldt, MBA at 614-943-2265 to schedule a complimentary 15-minute Retirement Stress Test. No pressure. No sales pitch. Just real Midwest planning that protects what you’ve worked for.

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Fixed annuities can be an essential component of a well-rounded retirement strategy, offering security, predictability, and efficiency in financial planning.

These are current fixed annuity rates and their durations from Top A-rated carriers (subject to change at any time, not FDIC insured):

Rates Are Maxing Out! Don’t Wait To Lock These Fixed Annuity Rates In Today! 6.65% is possible now!

3-year: 5.50% (under $100k Deposited)

3-year: 5.75% (over $100k Deposited)

5-year: 6.20% (under $100k Deposited)

5-year: 6.45% (over $100k Deposited)

7-year: 6.40% (under $100k Deposited)

7-year: 6.65% (over $100k Deposited)

Please feel free to call Eric at 614-943-2265 if you’d like to ask any questions or request information on these fixed annuities or other retirement topics that are on your mind.

REAL ASSETS, Invest Like the Ultra-Wealthy

Invest Like the Ultra-Wealthy: Why Smart Money Is Flocking to Real Assets Like Gold

Let’s call it like it is: the traditional retirement game plan is starting to look outdated. Inflation keeps climbing, the dollar doesn’t stretch like it used to, and central banks continue flooding the system with liquidity. Meanwhile, the markets? Still as volatile and unpredictable as ever.

That’s why today’s smartest investors aren’t sitting on the sidelines—they’re taking action.

They’re turning to gold—a timeless, tangible asset that doesn’t disappear when Wall Street stumbles. Gold has quietly built and preserved wealth through centuries of financial upheaval.

This isn’t just a hedge. It’s a proven strategy for uncertain times.

📌 Gold has stood the test of time as a store of value across every major crisis.
📌 It provides a reliable safeguard against inflation and currency devaluation.
📌 Unlike stocks or bonds, gold is a physical asset you can see, hold, and control on your terms.

When the future feels uncertain, gold offers stability, security, and peace of mind. Make it a cornerstone of your retirement strategy today.

During market chaos, real assets don’t flinch. They thrive. History proves it. While equities tumble, hard assets often surge—shielding portfolios and delivering asymmetric returns when they're needed most.

And even in calm times? They add powerful diversification. That’s why the ultra-wealthy use them as a cornerstone—not a sideshow—in their wealth strategy.

Ask yourself:

🧠 Are you truly diversified?
🧠 What happens to your retirement if inflation stays elevated?
🧠 If the dollar weakens, what asset in your portfolio gets stronger?

If you don’t have a good answer, it’s time for a new conversation.

Allocating funds into the asset class known as “Real Assets” may be a strategy that you should consider.

Ask us how to Rollover a portion of Your IRA or 401k To a GOLD IRA (see link below) and:

• Safeguard your assets from the collapsing dollar

• Incorporate the ‘REAL ASSET’ class into your portfolio like the ultra-wealthy

• Hedge against the current high-inflation conditions

• Protect your retirement assets against economic crises

Just get in touch. We make it easier than ever.

Feedback or Questions?

You’re invited to get in touch with us if you’d like to find out how the Novus Financial Group can help you on your journey to a happy, fulfilling life in Retirement. 

Office: 614-943-2265

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Investment advisory services are offered by duly registered individuals on behalf of CreativeOne Wealth, LLC a Registered Investment Adviser.

The content we provide here isn’t financial advice and cannot be taken as such. Please speak to your financial advisor before making any investment decision. Also, note that every investment comes with its risks and drawbacks. Lastly, we would like to remind you that past results cannot guarantee future returns.

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