The Wishing Game

Most people don't struggle with retirement because they failed to save enough. They struggle because they're trying to move forward without clarity.
In The Wishing Game, financial advisor and founder of East Valley Retirement Undrea Smith, RICP(R), offers a different way to think about retirement, one grounded not in market predictions or quick fixes, but in responsibility, guidance, and real-life decision-making.
Drawing on decades of client stories and deeply personal experiences, Undrea explores the emotional side of retirement that often goes unspoken. The fear of getting it wrong. The guilt around spending. The uncertainty that shows up when work ends and structure disappears. Through steady guidance and thoughtful reflection, he shows readers how to replace guessing with understanding and anxiety with confidence.
This is not a book about chasing returns or beating the market. It's about building a retirement that actually holds together when life changes.
Inside, you'll discover how to:

• Move from saving money to creating reliable retirement income you can trust.
• Navigate healthcare, taxes, and long-term care decisions before they become crises.
• Overcome hesitation and fear around spending the money you worked so hard to build.
• Understand why clarity matters more than perfection when making retirement decisions.
• Create a legacy that protects the people you love, not just the assets you leave behind.

Through clear explanations and real client experiences, The Wishing Game reframes retirement as a season of responsibility and permission. Permission to slow down. Permission to ask better questions. Permission to stop carrying uncertainty alone.
Undrea also challenges the traditional view of financial advice, redefining the advisor-client relationship as a lifelong partnership built on trust, stewardship, and follow-through. When done right, guidance doesn't end at retirement. It evolves with you.
If you've ever wondered whether the future you're planning for will actually work when it matters most, The Wishing Game is an invitation to stop wishing and start moving forward with confidence.