New Podcast Explores the Link Between Physical Wellness and Financial Longevity

Fitness & Finance Podcast, a new podcast created by husband-and-wife duo Jeff Smith and Jennifer Scherer

Picture this: your early morning workout isn’t just about hitting your fitness goals—it’s helping to future-proof your retirement. That’s the unconventional idea behind Fitness & Finance Radio, a new podcast created by husband-and-wife duo Jeff Smith and Jennifer Scherer. Together, they’re on a mission to show people how staying healthy today can mean staying solvent tomorrow.

“Our culture often separates health and wealth—diet plans on one side, retirement plans on the other,” says Jeff Smith, a financial planner and founder of The Retirement Smith. “But in reality, they’re deeply connected. Medical costs are one of the biggest threats to retirement security, and good health is a powerful financial strategy.”

Smith knows the numbers. Americans are living longer than ever, healthcare costs continue to skyrocket, and many people are behind on saving for retirement. The result? A looming crisis for millions of aging Americans. But instead of preaching doom and gloom, Fitness & Finance Radio offers listeners practical tools—and a little inspiration—to take control of both their physical and financial futures.

The podcast is a weekly conversation between Smith and Scherer, a registered dietitian, certified personal trainer, and owner of Fredericksburg Fitness Studio. Together, they tackle topics like “return on intensity,” how overeating mirrors overspending, and the surprising ways childhood habits with food and money can shape our adult behaviors.

“It’s not just theory—it’s about real, sustainable change,” says Scherer. “We want to empower people with small, achievable steps that add up over time—whether that’s building muscle or building wealth. And yes, we make it fun.”

Listeners can stream episodes on Apple Podcasts and YouTube, where the couple’s friendly, no-nonsense banter adds a personal touch to what could otherwise be intimidating subject matter. Their goal is to demystify health and finance and help people feel more confident in both areas.

Their credibility comes not just from professional expertise, but from lived experience. Smith and Scherer each run successful businesses in Virginia—his, a boutique financial planning firm focused on personalized, fiduciary-first retirement strategies; hers, a growing wellness studio that just expanded to a new downtown Fredericksburg location.

At the studio, Scherer offers personalized training, Pilates, and recovery sessions built around her signature FFS 541 Method, a holistic system rooted in five pillars: fitness, nutrition, recovery, social support, and education. It’s an approach that reflects the very same philosophy behind the podcast: that longevity isn’t just about living longer—it’s about living better.

And the stakes are real. According to the National Council on Aging, older Americans hold more than $54 billion in unpaid medical debt, despite many having health insurance. It’s a number that’s only expected to rise.

“People don’t often think about health as a retirement asset,” says Smith. “But the healthier you are, the less likely you are to drain your retirement savings on preventable medical costs. We want people to stop thinking of wellness as a luxury—it’s a necessity.”

In blending two often-siloed conversations—fitness and finance—this married team is reframing what it means to “plan for the future.” Because what you do with your body today could very well shape your bank account tomorrow.

To learn more or tune into the podcast, visit https://www.youtube.com/@fitnessfinanceradio?app=desktop.

To learn more about The Retirement Smith: https://www.theretirementsmith.com

To explore programs at Fredericksburg Fitness Studio: https://www.fburgfitness.com