Cortburg Speaks Retirement

In this episode, Miguel Gonzalez explains five important factors to consider before taking on a new monthly payment. From interest rates and loan terms to hidden expenses and financial trade-offs, understanding the true cost of financing can help you make more informed decisions about major purchases, including cars, home improvements, and other large expenses. Miguel Gonzalez is a Certified Retir...

In this episode, Miguel Gonzalez explains five important things to understand about your 401(k) after retirement, including your account options, potential tax consequences, investment decisions, and how your retirement savings can become part of your overall retirement income strategy. Miguel Gonzalez is a Certified Retirement Counselor (CRC) with over 25 years of experience helping individuals a...

In this episode, Miguel Gonzalez discusses five factors to consider when evaluating housing affordability, including total housing costs, take-home pay, existing debt, financial goals, and household expenses. Understanding how housing fits into your overall budget can help you make more informed financial decisions. #HousingAffordability #HousingCosts #MortgagePayment #RentBudget #CostOfLiving #Pe...

In this episode, Miguel Gonzalez discusses five retirement expenses people often underestimate, including healthcare, home maintenance, travel and entertainment, helping family members, and the long-term impact of inflation. Considering these costs ahead of time can help create a more realistic retirement budget. Miguel Gonzalez is a Certified Retirement Counselor (CRC) with over 25 years of exper...

In this episode, Miguel Gonzalez shares five money moves to consider before the end of the year, including reviewing financial goals, retirement contributions, beneficiaries, important documents, and your overall financial picture. A few simple steps now can help you start the new year feeling more organized and prepared. Miguel Gonzalez is a Certified Retirement Counselor (CRC) with over 25 years...

In this episode, Miguel Gonzalez discusses the potential hidden costs of holding excess cash, including inflation, lost purchasing power, missed opportunities, and the impact on long-term financial goals. He also explains why finding the right balance between liquidity and long-term planning is so important. Miguel Gonzalez is a Certified Retirement Counselor (CRC) with over 25 years of experience...

In this episode, Miguel Gonzalez shares five habits that can help make tax season easier—from organizing financial documents and tracking major life changes to keeping charitable giving records and meeting with financial and tax professionals before year-end. Miguel Gonzalez is a Certified Retirement Counselor (CRC) with over 25 years of experience helping individuals and families with retirement...

In this episode, Miguel Gonzalez discusses how emergency savings, interest rates, debt, long-term goals, and changing financial priorities can help determine where your extra money should go. He also explains why the answer doesn't always have to be all-or-nothing. Miguel Gonzalez is a Certified Retirement Counselor (CRC) with over 25 years of experience helping individuals and families desig...

In this episode, Miguel Gonzalez explains six things every adult should consider including in a financial emergency file—from a list of financial accounts and insurance policies to estate planning documents, recurring bills, professional contacts, and secure digital access information. Taking the time to organize these essentials now can make important financial information much easier to locate w...

Reviewing your beneficiary designations may take just a few minutes—but overlooking them could have lasting consequences. In this episode, Miguel Gonzalez discusses some of the most common beneficiary mistakes people make, including failing to update beneficiaries after major life events, relying solely on a will, overlooking contingent beneficiaries, forgetting old retirement accounts, and assumi...

In this episode, Miguel Gonzalez discusses six important financial decisions that often deserve a second opinion before moving forward. From changing jobs and buying a home to claiming Social Security, making major investment changes, taking on debt, and preparing for retirement, taking the time to review your options can help you make more informed financial decisions. Miguel Gonzalez is a Certif...

In this episode, Miguel Gonzalez discusses seven important financial accounts that deserve an annual review—from checking and savings accounts to retirement plans, investment accounts, insurance policies, HSAs, FSAs, and beneficiary designations. A simple yearly review can help you stay organized, identify potential issues, and keep your financial plan aligned with your long-term goals. Miguel Gon...

In this week's episode, Miguel Gonzalez explains the key differences between saving and investing, including how time horizon, risk, inflation, and financial goals influence each strategy. Learn why both saving and investing play important roles in building a strong financial foundation and how understanding the difference can help you make smarter financial decisions. Miguel Gonzalez is a Ce...

In this episode, Miguel Gonzalez discusses practical ways to prepare for life's financial surprises, from building emergency savings and planning for irregular expenses to reviewing insurance coverage, managing debt, and creating flexibility within your budget. A little preparation today can help you face tomorrow's unexpected challenges with greater confidence. Miguel Gonzalez is a Cert...

In this episode, Miguel Gonzalez discusses why financial flexibility is one of the most valuable qualities of a successful financial plan. Learn how adaptable budgeting, emergency savings, periodic investment reviews, and evolving financial goals can help you navigate life's unexpected changes with greater confidence. Miguel Gonzalez is a Certified Retirement Counselor (CRC) with over 25 year...

Financial stress is something many people experience at different stages of life. Rising costs, unexpected expenses, debt, and uncertainty about the future can all create financial pressure. In this episode, Miguel Gonzalez discusses several practical financial habits that may help reduce money-related stress. Learn how spending awareness, emergency savings, automation, financial organization, and...

Life rarely stays the same for very long. Career changes, marriage, children, relocation, caregiving responsibilities, and unexpected health situations can all influence your financial priorities over time. In this episode, Miguel Gonzalez discusses how major life events can affect your financial plan and why periodic reviews are so important. Learn how changing circumstances may impact budgeting,...

Many of the most important money habits begin long before adulthood. In this episode, Miguel Gonzalez discusses valuable financial lessons parents can help teach their children, including saving consistently, understanding needs versus wants, developing responsible spending habits, practicing delayed gratification, and building financial confidence over time. These early lessons can help create a...

In this episode, Miguel Gonzalez discusses practical ways to strengthen financial confidence during uncertain times. Learn why focusing on what you can control, avoiding emotional decisions, maintaining emergency savings, and revisiting long-term goals can help you navigate changing financial environments with greater perspective. Miguel Gonzalez is a Certified Retirement Counselor (CRC) with over...

Setting financial goals is important—but reviewing them regularly can be just as valuable. In this episode, Miguel Gonzalez discusses why financial goals should evolve as life changes. Learn how career shifts, family priorities, changing expenses, market conditions, and personal milestones can all influence your financial direction. Periodic reviews can help ensure your goals remain aligned with w...

Summer is filled with vacations, family activities, dining out, and memorable experiences—but it can also be one of the most expensive seasons of the year. In this episode, Miguel Gonzalez discusses how seasonal expenses such as travel, entertainment, camps, home projects, and rising utility bills can affect your budget. Learn why planning ahead and reviewing spending habits can help you enjoy sum...

As retirement approaches, financial organization becomes more important than ever. In this episode, Miguel Gonzalez discusses how simplifying accounts, reviewing old retirement plans, updating beneficiaries, and organizing important financial documents can help create more clarity and confidence before retirement. Small organizational steps today can make managing your financial life much easier i...

 People are living longer than ever — but many retirement plans were never built for a 30-year retirement. In this episode, Miguel Gonzalez discusses longevity risk, rising healthcare costs, and the financial challenges that can come with a longer retirement timeline. Miguel Gonzalez is a Certified Retirement Counselor (CRC) with over 25 years of experience helping individuals and families design...

Healthcare is one of the most important — and often overlooked — parts of retirement planning. In this episode, Miguel Gonzalez discusses several key healthcare considerations retirees may face, including Medicare, long-term care, Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), and the importance of building flexibility into your retirement strategy. Planning ahead for healthcare costs can help bring greater clar...

As your income grows, your spending often grows with it — sometimes without you even realizing it. In this episode, Miguel Gonzalez explains how lifestyle creep can quietly impact your long-term financial goals and retirement planning. Learn how gradual spending increases, unchanged savings habits, and rising lifestyle expectations can affect your future — and how being more intentional with your...