Leading Retirement Travel Experts

For the past six years, my family and I have lived and traveled continuously around the world, visiting every continent in a 13-month span and documenting the experience as full-time travel creators. Along the way, our YouTube channels have grown to more than 700,000 subscribers, drawn not to glossy brochure travel, but to the real version: the logistics, the decisions, the tradeoffs, and the moments that don’t fit neatly into an Instagram square. After decades spent running digital marketing agencies, I co-founded ABC Trips, a luxury and adventure travel agency focused on high-touch, experience-driven travel—polar expeditions, African safaris, expedition cruising, private yachts, and deeply cultural itineraries designed for solos, couples, groups, and families. The work sits at the intersection of brokerage, storytelling, and logistics, with a strong bias toward knowing what’s genuinely worth the splurge—and what’s just good marketing. Along the way, I’ve served as a quoted travel industry source for major publications, appeared on network news segments and podcasts, and collaborated closely with leading travel brands, lodges, and expedition operators worldwide. My commentary often focuses on luxury and expedition travel, family and multigenerational travel, travel trends, and what it actually takes to design a location-flexible life that works long-term. These days, my time is split between: - Advising clients on exceptional luxury and adventure travel through ABC Trips - Serving as a media source and collaborator for journalists and brands - Continuing to explore the world with my family—still learning, still curious I’m not especially interested in chasing trends or shouting into the void. I value thoughtful questions, smart conversations, and people who care about doing things well—and enjoying the ride while they’re at it. If our paths cross, there’s a good chance we’ll have something interesting to talk about.

Licensed, insured, and bonded professional travel agent. I love to travel whether it be for adventure or relaxation. I love to share my passion of traveling with others. I have experience in booking travel of all kinds.

With 25 years in the travel industry across Europe, I have recently started my own business as a travel consultant. Leveraging my experiences as a tour guide in France, Norway and the Benelux, as well as resort work in other countries, I now help plan itineraries for independent travelers to Europe,

I’m a FINMA-licensed financial advisor based in Switzerland, specializing in retirement and pension planning for individuals and companies. Through Invexa, I help clients build clear, sustainable long-term financial strategies that integrate both investment and insurance components. My approach combines personalized wealth planning with regulated insurance brokerage services to deliver practical, compliant, and goal-oriented solutions for every stage of life.

I’ve spent over seven years at Yonder Travel Insurance mastering the 'fine print' so travelers don't have to. My expertise lies in deconstructing complex policy language into clear, actionable advice, whether I’m recommending the ideal plan for a unique itinerary or guiding a client through the intricacies of the claims process. By maintaining key partnerships with top insurance providers, I stay at the forefront of industry trends to provide unbiased, expert insights that help travelers maximize their benefits and navigate the unexpected with confidence. I use this experience to craft insightful responses on behalf of Yonder to further educate the public on travel insurance, which you can explore in my featured articles section.

I'm passionate about helping families build generational wealth through strategic retirement planning. As a retirement income strategist, I specialize in self-directed retirement solutions that give people more control over their financial future. My approach is pretty straightforward - I believe everyone deserves access to the financial strategies that the wealthy have been using for generations. I focus on showing clients how to leverage their existing assets, whether that's an old 401(k), home equity, or other resources, to create multiple streams of retirement income. What really drives me is seeing families break free from traditional financial limitations. I love educating people about options they didn't even know existed, like self-directed 401(k)s and velocity banking strategies. It's amazing to watch someone's eyes light up when they realize they have more control over their financial destiny than they thought. I take pride in sitting on the same side of the table as my clients - their success is my success. Whether we're mapping out a debt elimination strategy or creating a retirement income plan, my goal is to empower people with the knowledge and tools they need to build lasting wealth.

My goal is to assist clients/investors in their quest for financial freedom and creating generational wealth through one on one consultation and an abundance of online tools to educate. For the past 6 years I have been a private pension plan consultant with Self Directed Retirement Plans working directly with my partner Rick Pendykoski (owner). Through the years I have travelled across the United States speaking to tens of thousands of people at a vast amount of REI and general investment groups. I have personally supported thousands of clients with self-directing their retirement accounts. As a result, they have achieved true investing freedom to invest in what they want, when they want with 100% checkbook control.

I’m Jeremy Keil, CFP®, CFA®, a retirement financial advisor, and author of Retire Today: Create Your Retirement Master Plan in 5 Simple Steps. Known as Mr. Retirement on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@mrretirement), I show retirees how to make great retirement decisions with math-based financial planning, not myth-based financial planning. Got questions on Retirement, Social Security, Tax Planning, Longevity, Retiree Healthcare, Investments or Interest Rates? I explain complex financial matters in a way your reader can understand. Check out my podcast, Retire Today, and by book, Retire Today. Talk soon! - Jeremy

Will Lane is a seasoned financial expert with over 20 years of experience across the financial sectors of banking, investments and insurance. He leads educational workshops across the country focused on helping Black families build, protect, and pass down generational wealth. Specializing in retirement planning, estate planning strategies and life insurance, Will is known for his ability to make complex financial concepts practical, relatable, and easy to understand. His work centers on empowering families with the knowledge needed to move from short-term financial planning to long-term financial security. Will has been featured in national publications such as Yahoo Finance, Business Insider, and American Business Stars, where he shares insights on the importance of financial literacy, legacy planning, and closing the racial wealth gap. A key aspect of his approach is helping individuals identify and overcome self-sabotaging financial patterns so they can make confident decisions about protecting their families, preparing for retirement, and leaving a lasting legacy. Through his education-first approach and no-nonsense delivery, Will has become a trusted voice for podcasts, panels, and publications focused on financial education, wealth building, and economic empowerment within the Black community.

My goal is to assist clients/investors in their quest for financial freedom and creating generational wealth through one on one consultation and an abundance of online tools to educate. For the past 6 years I have been a private pension plan consultant with Self Directed Retirement Plans working directly with my partner Rick Pendykoski (owner). Through the years I have travelled across the United States speaking to tens of thousands of people at a vast amount of REI and general investment groups. I have personally supported thousands of clients with self-directing their retirement accounts. As a result, they have achieved true investing freedom to invest in what they want, when they want with 100% checkbook control.

I have a role as a senior Risk and Assurance Advisor at Wesley Mission Queensland. I have been a Forensic Accountant with over 25 years experience in litigation support, fraud investigation, fraud risk assessments and criminal defence. I have a special interest in preventing fraud in Not-for-Profit organisations.

Earl Owens is a self-taught investor who retired at age 52 after a high-intensity 10-year "catch-up sprint." He is the creator of the 8-Day Financial Freedom Boot Camp and writes at EarlyRetirementEarl.com. Earl provides "battle-tested" financial advice for Gen X and Millennial parents who feel behind on their retirement goals, focusing on debt elimination, aggressive index investing, and the psychological shift from survival mode to building wealth.

Deborah Dennis is a UX researcher, product designer, travel writer, and Airstream-roving photographer who’s spent 25+ years turning complex experiences—digital and real-world—into stories people can actually feel. A former Silicon Valley designer, Deborah has led research and design for major organizations, including Visa, Intel, Teladoc Health, MetLife, and Arizona State University, specializing in translating messy, data-heavy systems into clear, human-centered tools. When she’s not interviewing users or mapping enterprise workflows, Deborah is on the road with her Airstream and her dog, Wally, documenting immersive, first-person travel adventures for Only In Your State and her blog Travels With Wally. Her experiential storytelling and original photography bring readers straight into the forests, coastlines, deserts, and small towns she explores. Deborah’s expertise spans UX strategy, AI-driven product design, solo travel, national parks, RV life, outdoor adventure, and women-over-50 travel culture. Whether she’s testing a health platform or tracking lions in Botswana, her work blends curiosity, clarity, and a deep belief in the power of lived experience. She is available for expert commentary on: UX research, digital product design, AI and user experience, travel storytelling, RV life, national parks, outdoor adventures, and women’s solo travel.

Alison Essner is a Travel Agent who works with busy families to help them navigate the complexity of planning a family vacation so they can have an incredible trip with no stress. Alison believes all of her clients deserve a guide to vacation planning so they feel relaxed, supported, and in-the-know. Alison has helped hundreds of families plan magical vacations all over the globe. Alison owns Magic Expeditions LLC, an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner and a Universal Parks U-Preferred agency. Alison holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree in Marketing, with a minor in Communications, from Saint Louis University. She can be contacted direct at alison@magicexpeditions.com.

Luxury travel advisor, 500hr yoga-trained, aerial instructor, community leader of 150K, international resort leader

Christina Gales is a luxury travel advisor and founder of Christina Gales Travel, a boutique travel consultancy specializing in European itineraries, Caribbean escapes, elevated family travel, milestone celebrations, and luxury ocean and river cruises. A Fora and Virtuoso-affiliated advisor based outside Chicago, Christina has planned hundreds of trips across 20+ countries and serves over 100 clients nationwide. With extensive destination training across Europe, the Caribbean, Iceland, Hawaii, and Mexico—plus specialist certifications in luxury travel, cruise planning, and ecotourism—she brings both breadth and depth to every journey. Her preferred status with 8,500+ hotels, resorts, and cruise lines globally allows her to secure exclusive perks and VIP experiences for clients. As both a travel professional and mother of five, Christina is frequently sought after for her expertise in family travel strategy, multi-generational trip design, and making luxury travel approachable for real families. She speaks regularly on European travel planning, destination trends, the psychology of travel, and the shift toward meaningful, purpose-driven travel experiences. Her itineraries favor local culture, boutique hospitality, and personalized experiences over mass-market tourism. Known for her warm, collaborative approach and concierge-level support, Christina helps travelers feel confident, connected, and inspired—from dream to departure to memories that last a lifetime

Since my inception into the travel business 45+ years ago, I have always had an unwavering passion for luxury travel experiences and making my clients happy. I derive the greatest pleasure in the feedback that I get from my clients. Beside my love of travel, I am romantic at heart. It is my unwavering passion for romance, travel, unique experiences that led me to create my business Honeymoon Islands, Inc. I think what separates me from other luxury travel advisors is my genuine love for what I do and making people happy. More important than the professional accolades, I live and breathe romance & travel and the finer things in life. I will go the distance to ensure that the travel experiences I put together for my clients creates memories for them that transcend lifetimes!

Hannah Snyder Wernecke is a Partner at Snyder Funeral Homes, Ohio’s largest family-owned funeral group, and a fourth-generation funeral director who has written thousands of obituaries published nationwide. She helps families across Ohio through life’s hardest moments while also leading the firm’s digital strategy and brand innovation. Outside of funeral service, Hannah is a world traveler (38 countries, all Seven Wonders), keeps a digital scrapbook at SeeThePyramids.org, co-creates the musical duo Vin Fiz (streaming everywhere), and co-founded the history-inspired apparel brand GhostedbyHistory.com (👻⏳🪡). Hannah speaks Spanish, ranks among the top 10% of Unsplash contributors for her travel photography, and is proudly married to Dantan Wernecke—a historian, French and Farsi linguist, and superb home chef. Her favorite film is Clue—because life rarely has just one ending.

My name is Kristen and I have traveled, lived and worked all across the globe for over a decade. In 2013, after nearly a decade building a career in corporate marketing in NYC, I left it all behind to travel solo across 3 continents and 26 countries. From there I became a scuba diving instructor, and spent the next 10 years living and working in Thailand, Mexico, St. Croix and Florida. In 2017, I was voted PADI's Inspiring Woman Diver of the Year. Beginning in 2024 I joined Fora as a luxury travel planner and have launched my own travel brand and blog, Dear Destination Travel, so that I could help inspire others to make their travel dreams and goals come to life. I have now traveled to 6 continents and over 35 countries. My website, deardestinationtravel.com, is a complete travel resource and inspiration hub.