Charting Ulta Beauty Retirement Success: Five Essential Reads

Healthcare Provider Update: Healthcare Provider for Ulta Beauty: Ulta Beauty primarily offers health insurance through its employee benefits program, with coverage managed by various insurers depending on the specific plans selected. This includes partnerships with major insurance providers, ensuring Ulta employees have access to comprehensive healthcare options. Potential Healthcare Cost Increases in 2026: As Ulta Beauty employees prepare for 2026, they should brace for a significant rise in healthcare costs. A perfect storm of factors, including the anticipated expiration of enhanced federal premium subsidies and rising medical costs, may result in out-of-pocket premiums soaring by over 75% for many individuals. Industry reports indicate that substantial premium increases, some exceeding 60% in certain states, will likely compel employers like Ulta to pass more healthcare expenses onto employees through higher deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums. This is set against a backdrop of rapid inflation in healthcare service costs, a situation that underscores the importance of early preparation and strategic planning for upcoming health benefits. Click here to learn more

“By integrating disciplined market strategies, proactive healthspan practices, and a clear sense of purpose, Ulta Beauty employees can create a retirement plan resilient enough to weather uncertainty and enrich their post-career life” – Paul Bergeron, a representative of The Retirement Group, a division of Wealth Enhancement.

“Ulta Beauty employees who blend disciplined saving approaches with proactive healthspan management are poised to achieve both financial confidence and improved well-being” – Tyson Mavar, a representative of The Retirement Group, a division of Wealth Enhancement.

In this article we will discuss:

1. The challenges of market volatility, rising health care costs, and potential entitlement changes on retirement planning.

2. Five must-read books offering strategies on investing, longevity, benefit planning, and lifestyle alignment.

3. How to integrate financial discipline, healthspan management, and purposeful living for a fulfilling retirement.

For those who are saving for the future, these are uncertain times. Concerns about whether current nest egg tactics will be adequate have increased due to volatile markets, growing health care expenses, and continuous talks about possible reductions to government entitlements. Twenty-five percent of adults with retirement savings have only saved one year’s worth of their current income for the years ahead, according to research by Northwestern Mutual. ¹

The financial or lifestyle planning book is one tool that is frequently overlooked during times of market volatility. In addition to providing timeless truths, a well-chosen title can offer readers practical advice, serve as a reminder of important ideas, and present fresh approaches to decision-making. Senior advisors at Wealth Enhancement—Patrick Ray, Tyson Mavar, and Brent Wolf—have chosen the following five books to aid Ulta Beauty professionals in navigating the current environment because of their blend of academic rigor and usefulness.

Mastering the Market Cycle  by Howard Marks explores the psychological factors that influence cyclical changes in asset values. According to Marks, investor sentiment—which fluctuates between excitement and fear—often determines the timing and size of market movements, even when underlying value is important. “Fear can take over; it’s to be expected during the lifetime of any long-term investor,” says Brent Wolf. Long-term objectives can be safeguarded by knowing when and why to rebalance or de-risk a portfolio, even though market timing is still difficult to anticipate. Ulta Beauty employees can benefit from the clear distinction this book makes between purely emotional reactions and strategic adjustments, essential for remaining disciplined when prices change.

Winning the Loser’s Game  by Charles D. Ellis is sometimes written off as outdated, but it still holds valuable lessons. Tyson Mavar praises it as an “unsung classic,” highlighting how it reinforces core investing principles that have stood the test of time. Ellis promotes long-term dedication, diversification, and steering clear of expensive practices like market timing. His strongest endorsement is for passive investing with inexpensive index funds, which can shield investors from transient noise. For Ulta Beauty staff seeking to focus on techniques that boost compounding power and lessen the drag of fees and emotional trading, this book offers a timeless roadmap.

Outlive: The Art and Science of Living a Long Life  by Dr. Peter Attia and Bill Gifford reminds readers that physical health directly impacts retirement readiness. “What good is a healthy portfolio if your body can’t keep up?” asks Patrick Ray. Drawing on clinical data and epidemiological studies, the authors provide evidence-based suggestions for increasing lifespan and healthspan—strength training, mobility exercises, optimal sleep, and targeted nutrition. Actionable procedures for evaluating metabolic health, increasing muscle resilience, and reducing chronic disease risk can help Ulta Beauty team members better match longevity forecasts with retirement funding plans and lower the likelihood of incapacitating health events.

Cookin’ Up Your Retirement Plan  by Marcia MacDonald Mantell approaches Medicare and Social Security elections in a conversational, kitchen-table manner. Tyson Mavar also recommends her sequels— What’s the Deal With Women’s Social Security?  and  Developing Your Medicare Recipe —for anyone seeking guidance on making the most of benefits. Mantell breaks down complex regulations into manageable chunks, reducing the possibility of costly errors. While these books don’t directly address market volatility, they reinforce that successful retirement from companies like Ulta Beauty depends on more than just investment returns; it also requires well-informed decisions and careful lifestyle alignment.

The Good Life  by Dr. Robert Waldinger and Marc Schulz shifts the emphasis from balance sheets to life satisfaction. Based on an 80-year Harvard study of adult development, it finds that strong connections, meaningful hobbies, and community involvement often indicate long-term happiness more powerfully than financial prosperity. According to Patrick Ray, this book serves as an essential reminder for Ulta Beauty retirees that money is just one component of a fulfilling retirement. Cultivating purpose, social ties, and enriching interests can yield non-linear returns unmatched by any portfolio.

When combined, these five books offer complementary perspectives on investment methodology, market behavior, healthspan management, and the socioeconomic factors influencing retirement decision-making. Each title has been recommended by seasoned advisors who have guided clients through both bull and bear markets, offering Ulta Beauty employees lessons on purpose, cost-effective investing, preventive health care, efficient benefit management, and emotional discipline.

And here's one bonus publication: With more than 1.5 million copies in circulation, Morgan Housel’s  The Psychology of Money  was placed #1 on BookWeb’s Indie Personal Finance Bestseller List in April 2025, reflecting growing demand for behavior-focused investment insights that supplement conventional planning techniques.

Discover five highly regarded retirement planning books that provide professional insights on market cycles, passive index fund strategies, longevity optimization, Social Security elections, and Medicare planning—equipping Ulta Beauty pre-retirees and retirees with tried-and-true advice for long-term retirement resilience and portfolio fortitude.

Consider the process of preparing a solid ocean vessel for a long journey: understanding the market cycle gives you the compass you need to navigate choppy waters;  Winning the Loser’s Game  supplies the provisions and medical kit to endure the journey;  Outlive  strengthens the hull against health risks;  Cookin’ Up Your Retirement Plan  equips your lifeboats with Social Security and Medicare expertise; and  The Good Life  charts rewarding ports of call—helping you sail comfortably through both calm seas and storms for Ulta Beauty professionals.

Featured Video

Articles you may find interesting:

Sources:

1. Northwestern Mutual.  Planning & Progress Study 2025 . 14 Apr. 2025, pp. 1–2.

Other Resources:

1. Baker, Brian F. “ Principles of Investing .”  Marriott Alumni Magazine , BYU Marriott School, June 2025, pp. 9–10.

2. Kennedy, Robert. “ 2024 Retiree Health Care Cost Estimate .”  Fidelity Investments , 8 Aug. 2024, pp. 1–2.

3. LeValley, Donna. “ Five Changes to Social Security in 2025 .”  Kiplinger , 3 Jan. 2025, pp. 1–2.