Karen Kreider Yoder, Stephen Kreider Yoder The first few years in retirement are often the most difficult. But they also can set the stage for how you'll fill the years ahead—both financially and psychologically. Stephen Kreider Yoder, 68, a longtime Wall Street Journal editor, joined his wife, Karen Kreider Yoder, 69, in retirement in late 2022. In this monthly Retirement Rookies column , they chronicle some of the issues they are dealing with early in retirement.