Cracking the Retirement Nest Egg
Cracking the Retirement Nest Egg
Your retirement nest egg is one of your greatest financial assets—knowing how to manage it can make all the difference. Our panelists will discuss how fear and financial habits can influence retirement decisions, common challenges, strategies for building a sustainable retirement income, and ways to make more confident financial choices. Attendees will leave with practical insights and actionable strategies to help strengthen their retirement plan and navigate the road ahead with greater confidence.
The webinar is moderated by Award-winning Journalist Donna Lowry. Speakers for this free webinar include Shardea Ages, CFP®, Founder & Principal, Ages Legacy Advisors and Ricky Smith, AAMS®, CEPA, Founder and Managing Partner of Inspired Wealth Planning.
Panelists
Moderator
Donna Lowry is an award-winning journalist who combines a passion for storytelling and a desire to empower others with communication and critical thinking skills surrounding political, educational, and financial issues.
Through her firm, Donna Lowry Communications, she provides consulting, writing, and producing services for educational, media, professional, and business outlets.
Donna serves as host/producer for several programs, including Lawmakers on Georgia Public Broadcasting.
Donna is an eight-time Emmy award winner, a three-time national Gabriel Award recipient, and has garnered honors from countless organizations, including the National Association of Black Journalists, Atlanta Association of Black Journalists, Georgia Associated Press, Society of Professional Journalists, Georgia Association of Educators (GAE), and the Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE).
Her media peers inducted Donna into the prestigious NATAS Southeast Silver Circle to recognize her lasting contributions to the broadcast industry.
Donna has a master's in Journalism from Northwestern University and a Bachelor's in Mass Communications and Administration and Management from Chatham University.
Her professional affiliations include the Atlanta Press Club, the Atlanta Association of Black Journalists, the National Association of Black Journalists, and the Southeastern Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS SE).
In her 15th year as a Girl Scout Leader, Donna has led girls ranging in age from kindergarten through 12th grade. Her community service affiliations also include Magnolia (GA) Chapter of Links, Inc., and Nu Lambda Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.
Donna and her husband, Army Major (Ret) Bennet W. Reid, Jr., are the parents of three daughters.
Founder & Principal, Ages Legacy Advisors
Shardéa Ages is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® and the Founder of Ages Legacy Advisors, a wealth management firm built to serve women who aren't just building wealth — they're building legacy.
With 17 years in financial services, Shardéa has advised affluent individuals, business owners, and executives across investment management, retirement planning, tax strategy, and estate coordination. Her career began in 2008 during the Great Recession; a defining moment that shaped her commitment to disciplined, long-term financial stewardship.
Her work is also deeply personal. As a widow and the first high-income earner in her family, she brings lived experience to the intersections of grief, wealth, and generational mobility. She has built her practice around helping women create financial structures resilient enough to hold both success and uncertainty.
Prior to founding Ages Legacy Advisors, Shardéa co-founded Collective Wealth Partners and Bridging Financial Gaps, a nonprofit focused on financial literacy access. Her earlier career includes roles at JPMorgan Chase, PNC Bank, and Merrill Lynch.
She has been recognized as a Five Star Wealth Manager, an InvestmentNews 2024 Rising Star, and a Marquis Who's Who honoree. She currently serves as a Commissioner on the CFP® Board's Ethics and Disciplinary Commission and has collaborated with the Georgia Secretary of State and the North American Securities Administrators Association on investor education initiatives.
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Center for Financial Planning, Inc. owns and licenses the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®, and CFP® (with plaque design) in the United States to Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., which authorizes individuals who successfully complete the organization’s initial and ongoing certification requirements to use the certification marks.
Founder and Managing Partner of Inspired Wealth Planning
Inspired Wealth Planning is group of likeminded veteran financial advisors who serve their clients and local communities across Georgia and now even Ohio.
Before founding Inspired, Ricky worked as a financial advisor for 39 years. Primarily as an employee of a nationwide financial firm. Wanting to have more control over the outcomes for clients, his team and his own career, he left the employee model to join an independent firm - Kestra Private Wealth Services.
After opening the Kestra based office, other advisors inquired about joining Inspired. Within the first 36 months, Inspired grew to 7 locations, 10 advisors, 14 support staff and over $1.2 billion in assets under care.
In February 2026, Inspired was selected as the Outstanding Business of the Year for Kestra Financial (the parent company of Kestra Private Wealth). This was the first time that any firm from Kestra Private Wealth had ever been selected for that award.
In early April the firm was on the cover of Advisor Hub magazine and i n mid-April, Ricky was selected for the Forbes/Shook Best in State Wealth Advisors for the state of Georgia. An Honor that he has received 3 times in the past 5 years.
Ricky lives in Cordele Georgia with his wife, Patti and their tuxedo cat Oreo. They have a daughter, Brooke, who lives in Maryland.
Ricky has been a loyal member and participant with the local Chamber of Commerce for 42 years, serving a s chairman in 1999. He and Patti are long-time members of Cordele First Church and supporters of the local chapter of Celebrate Recovery.