Who is Ebby
Husband, father, Arizonan, and lifelong student of retirement. I like plain-English explanations, honest conversations, and coffee on the back patio.
Meet Ebby
A guide, not a salesman.
I'm Michael "Ebby" Eberhardt Sr. For nearly three decades I've sat across the table from retirees trying to make sense of Social Security, income, taxes, trusts, and everything else that comes with this chapter of life.
GuidingRetirees is where I share what I've learned — freely, honestly, and without trying to sell you anything.
A little more about me.
29 years helping retirees
I've walked hundreds of families through decisions about when to file, how to draw income, and how to plan for what happens when one spouse is gone.
Why Guiding Retirees exists
Too many retirees get sold to instead of educated. I built this site to be the opposite — a place to ask questions and get real answers.
Why I no longer sell products
When you're paid to sell something, you tend to see that something everywhere. I stepped away so I can give advice without a hidden scoreboard.
Why education comes first
The best retirement decisions come from people who understand their own situation. My job is to help you understand yours.
Family
My son Michael Jr. and I share the belief that retirees deserve honesty over pitches. Family is a big part of why we do this work.
29
years guiding retirees
1000+
retirement conversations
0
products sold today
100%
of my time on education
What you can expect from me.
You can expect straight answers. You can expect me to tell you when something isn't a good idea — even when it would benefit someone else to say otherwise.
You can expect me to send you to an attorney, a CPA, or a specialist when that's what your situation actually calls for. And you can expect me to never treat a conversation like a sales opportunity.
If that sounds like the kind of help you've been looking for, I'd love to hear your question.
Have a question?
Ask Ebby a retirement question.
Type your question — get an honest, educational answer in Ebby's voice. No sign-up. No sales pitch. No obligation.