The retirement game is changing.
For decades, Americans followed a familiar formula work, contribute to a 401(k), build Social Security benefits, pay off the house, and hope you've accumulated enough to comfortably retire.
Carlos Cortez Jr. argues that relying on that formula alone may no longer be enough.
On this episode of Scriptures & Wall Street, Carlos challenges both younger generations and current retirees to think seriously about financial independence, ownership, and who ultimately controls their retirement. His message is simple
Build your retirement intentionally nowor risk having your options determined for you later.
The conversation begins with today's economic pressures. Carlos discusses elevated oil prices, inflation, the Federal Reserve, higher interest rates, agriculture, and rising costsand why those pressures can eventually reach everything from transportation and food to household budgets and retirement portfolios.
He then turns to precious metals and IRAs, explaining why investors need to understand the difference between collectible coins and bullion, account value versus melt value, premiums, liquidity, and the risks of building an entire retirement around a prediction that gold or silver will eventually save the day.
But this episode goes beyond today's markets.
Carlos discusses concerns about the future of Social Security, universal basic income, AI and automation changing the workforce, digital financial systems, and increasing dependence on technology. Some of the broader control scenarios he describes are presented as his opinions and predictions rather than established outcomes. His takeaway is to focus on what individuals can control today saving, building assets, creating income, understanding risk, and preparing earlier.
That's where the Color of Money comes back into the conversation.
Rather than speculating with an entire retirement portfolio, Carlos discusses Green Money as the princi