Kaili Killpack

Fri, May 30, 2025, 1:30 PM4 min read

When a 65-year-old woman named Dottie wrote in to Suze Orman's "Women & Money" podcast, she was looking for reassurance about her retirement savings. What she got was much more: a strong reminder that financial success is about more than just the numbers in your bank account.

Here's what Dottie shared — and why Orman believes her situation is stronger than she thinks.

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Dottie described herself as a newly single 65-year-old woman in good health. She works part time and brings in about $3,000 a month from her job, along with $1,600 in Social Security. She plans to continue working for another three to four years.

Her savings include:

• $350,000 in certificates of deposit

• $250,000 in an IRA

She owns her car outright, has no debt, and although she rents, her living expenses are low. She even makes sure to enjoy herself and spend on fun activities.

Her question for Orman was simple: "How far behind am I in retirement savings at this stage?"

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Orman's response was immediate and enthusiastic.

"Oh, Dottie," she began, "it's not how far behind you are in retirement savings at this stage. It's how far behind you happen to be in comparing yourself to others."

Orman explained that many people judge their financial situation by comparing it to others — those who appear wealthier or live more extravagantly. But appearances can be deceiving. Someone might own multiple homes and drive a luxury car, but still be drowning in debt.

"You, my dear, are so far ahead," Orman said. "You have no debt. You own your car outright. You have $250,000 in your IRA. You have $350,000 in CDs, and you're going to get Social Security. Are you kidding me? You are going to be just fine as long as your expenses are always less than the money that you have coming in."

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Throughout her career, Orman has emphasized a key lesson: your expenses matter more than your income. It's not about how much you earn or have saved — it's about what that money needs to cover.