Leadership Circle Podcast

You're Not Afraid of Being Known, You're Afraid of This | Chris Maduri

Chris Maduri · April 24, 2026

Finance · Life Coach · Wellnessin

Interview with Chris Maduri

You're Not Afraid of Being Known, You're Afraid of This | Chris Maduri

Podcast: Leadership Circle Podcast

April 24, 2026 · 38 min

In this enlightening conversation, Jeannette Meier and Chris Maduri explore the themes of co-creation, authenticity, and the importance of living from the heart. They discuss the courage it takes to be vulnerable and the transformative power of heart-centered connections in…

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You're Not Afraid of Being Known, You're Afraid of This | Chris Maduri
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Key topicsNothing Coming In — The Fear That Arrives With the First Retirement WithdrawalChris Maduri has spent nearly two decades walking people from earning money to living off it, and he finds the anxiety starts with the first withdrawal, long before markets do anything. Most preparation treats retirement as a maths problem, when the harder change is that after 30 years of watching a balance grow, people now have to watch it fall on purpose. He explains how that feeling drives real decisions, from cutting spending they could comfortably afford to reaching for returns they do not need. Across 15 years and work with about 70 insurance companies, he has seen which plans hold up once people start drawing on them and which only ever worked on paper. Listeners leave able to name what is actually making them uneasy, and knowing which decisions to make before the feeling makes them.Which Retirement Plans Survived 2008, and Which Quietly Broke?Chris Maduri began his career just before the 2008 financial crisis, and spent his first years watching plans that looked solid on paper come apart under pressure. That start shaped how he judges risk: not by what a projection promises in a good year, but by what a plan still delivers in a bad one. He walks through what actually broke in 2008 for people close to retirement, why the damage landed hardest on those drawing income rather than still saving, and what the survivors had in common. Nearly two decades and about 70 insurance companies later, he can show which structures earned their place and which were sold on optimism. Listeners leave with a way to stress test their own plan against the year nobody plans for.Twelve Months to Drawdown — The Five Retirement Decisions That Get the Money Down the MountainChris Maduri compares retirement to climbing: years of preparation go into reaching the summit and almost none into getting back down, which is exactly where people get hurt. In nearly two decades of retirement planning, and as the founder of Vibrant Retirement, he has seen the final twelve months before the paycheck stops do more damage than any bad market year. He walks through the five decisions that belong in that window — when income starts, what is guaranteed, what stays invested, what covers care, and what the day after work actually looks like — and why leaving them until the last month is too late. Having worked with about 70 insurance companies across 15 years, he can say plainly which structures hold on the way down and which were only ever built for the way up. Listeners leave with a twelve-month order of operations they can start from whatever month they are in.View all topics →

About Chris Maduri

Chris Maduri, podcast guest

Helping People Navigate Retirement, Identity Shifts, and Intentional Living

Nearly 20 years Helping people prepare for retirement4 Pillars of sustainable retirement planning3 Buckets in his wealth-building approachSales Director Named by Financial Marketing Group in 2013

Chris Maduri has spent nearly two decades helping people prepare for one of life’s biggest transitions: retirement—the moment when work no longer defines the structure of your days.

He began his career just before the 2008 Financial Crisis, an experience that shaped how he sees risk. Watching well-built plans unravel under pressure taught him early that markets don’t always cooperate—and assumptions don’t always hold. Since then, his focus has been clear: build plans rooted in predictability, reliable income, and the ability to hold up in real-world conditions—not just ideal ones.

Over time, Chris noticed something deeper. The people who thrive in retirement aren’t just financially prepared—they’re personally prepared. Because retirement doesn’t just change your income… it changes your identity, your routine, your sense of purpose, and how you relate to your time and the people around you.

That’s why Chris frames retirement as the “fourth quarter of life”—and, if you’ve done things right, a little overtime. In his view, the goal isn’t just to retire from something, but to step intentionally into something meaningful. A great plan answers a simple but powerful question: What are you retiring to?

He also helps people understand that risk evolves. During your working years, volatility is something you ride through. In retirement, it feels different. You’re no longer accumulating—you’re drawing down.

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About this episode

In this enlightening conversation, Jeannette Meier andChris Maduriexplore the themes of co-creation, authenticity, and the importance of living from the heart. They discuss the courage it takes to be vulnerable and the transformative power of heart-centered connections in both personal and professional relationships. The dialogue emphasizes the significance of listening, presence, and the journey of self-discovery, while also touching on the balance between prayer and meditation. Ultimately, they highlight the beauty of embracing change, growth, and unconditional love in our lives.

Takeaways

✨Co-creation is a heart-centered process that transcends expectations.

✨Living in the unknown can lead to magical experiences.

✨Authenticity is liberating and fosters creativity.

✨Vulnerability in leadership can transform relationships.

✨Listening and being present are powerful tools for connection.

✨Self-discovery is a continuous journey of growth.

✨Embracing change is essential for personal evolution.

✨Active meditation can enhance awareness and presence.

✨Each individual's path is unique and should be respected.

✨Unconditional love is the foundation of meaningful relationships.

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Guest: Chris Maduri

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