Make it Make Cents

Just filed your taxes? That might be the most important time to start planning for next year. In this episode of Make It Make Cents , Michele Cropley and financial advisor Scott Wilson explain why tax planning shouldn’t happen once a year—and how small decisions now can lead to better outcomes later.    They cover: ●      The difference between tax preparation vs. tax planning ●      Why reviewing...

Ever get a raise—and still feel like you’re not getting ahead? In this episode of Make It Make Cents , Michele Cropley and financial advisor Cash Armstrong break down the hidden psychology behind spending—and why earning more doesn’t always translate into building wealth. They cover: ●        The psychology behind stress spending, retail therapy, and dopamine triggers ●        How anchoring and su...

Life insurance is often seen as a must-have—but do you actually need it? In this episode of Make It Make Cents , Michelle Cropley is joined by financial advisor Paul Lane to break down the role of life insurance in a financial plan—and how to decide what’s right for you. They cover: ●      The key differences between term life and whole life insurance ●      How universal and variable life policie...

Spring cleaning isn’t just for your home—it’s one of the best times to reset your finances. In this episode of Make It Make Cents , Michele Cropley and Michael Bradley walk through a practical financial checklist to help you stay organized, avoid costly mistakes, and make smarter decisions throughout the year. Also covered: ●      Why outdated beneficiaries can override your will ●      How to rev...

Stock compensation can be a powerful wealth-building tool—but it’s also one of the most misunderstood parts of your paycheck. In this episode of Make It Make Cents, Michele Cropley sits down with financial advisor Paul Lane to break down how stock compensation actually works—and how to make smarter decisions around it. They cover: ●    The key differences between stock options, RSUs, and ESPPs ●  ...

What does retirement look like when you’re going it alone—and what does it cost ? In this episode of Make It Make Cents , Michele Cropley is joined by financial advisor Scott Wilson to break down the growing trend of “solo agers”—retirees navigating life without a spouse, partner, or built-in support system. With nearly 30% of older adults living alone—and even higher percentages among women over...

In this episode of Make It Make Cents (powered by Armstrong Advisory Group), Michele Cropley is joined by financial advisor Brendan Hayes to explore one of the biggest life decisions many people face: should I retire? They examine retirement from multiple angles — financial, strategic, and emotional — and explain why the answer isn’t always as straightforward as “can I afford it?” They discuss:  ·...

In this episode of Make It Make Cents (powered by Armstrong Advisory Group), Michele Cropley is joined by financial advisor Paul Lane to discuss estate planning — and why it’s important at every stage of life. They begin with the basics for newly married couples and young families, covering foundational documents like wills, durable powers of attorney, and healthcare proxies. Paul explains why est...

In this episode of Make It Make Cents (powered by Armstrong Advisory Group), Michele Cropley is joineIn this episode of Make It Make Cents (powered by Armstrong Advisory Group), Michelle Cropley is joined by financial advisor Michael Bradley to discuss one of the most important — and often overlooked — foundations of financial stability: the emergency fund. They explain what qualifies as a true em...

In this episode of Make It Make Cents (powered by Armstrong Advisory Group), Michele Cropley is joined by financial advisor Cash Armstrong to discuss how travelers can avoid hidden fees and protect their money while abroad. From surprise ATM charges to rental car insurance confusion, Michelle and Cash walk through the financial traps that can quietly drain your travel budget — and the practical to...

Making Sense of Retirement Income Planning In this episode of Make It Make Cents (powered by Armstrong Advisory Group), Michele Cropley is joined by financial advisor Scott Wilson to explore retirement withdrawal strategies — including the well-known 4% rule and flexible withdrawal approaches. They discuss:  · What the 4% rule is and where it originated  · Why it remains popular — and its key limi...

On this episode of Make It Make Cents , Michele Cropley is joined by financial advisor Brendan Hayes to explore the emotional and behavioral side of personal finance, and how our relationship with money shapes everyday decisions. In this episode, you’ll learn: ●      How early experiences influence spending and saving habits ●      Why money should be viewed as a tool—not an identity ●      Common...

Building wealth isn’t just about math—it’s also about behavior. In this episode of Make It Make Cents, Michelle Cropley and Cash Armstrong explore how strong financial foundations and self-awareness go hand in hand. Topics include: ●    Emergency savings as a financial shock absorber ●    Consumer debt ratios and why 20% is a critical threshold ●    Housing cost guidelines and total debt-to-income...

Scams are on the rise—and they’re designed to trigger urgency, fear, and emotional decision-making. In this episode of Make It Make Cents (powered by Armstrong Advisory Group), Michele Cropley and Michael Bradley walk through the most common financial scams and the smartest ways to protect your money. Topics include: ●      Why “smart people” still fall for scams (urgency + emotion + secrecy) ●   ...

In this episode of Make It Make Cents (powered by Armstrong Advisory Group), Michele Cropley is joined by financial advisor Scott Wilson to discuss two important financial topics: navigating inherited investment accounts and setting meaningful financial goals for the year ahead. They begin by exploring what to do when you inherit an investment account — including why most decisions aren’t urgent a...

In this episode of Make It Make Sense (powered by Armstrong Advisory Group), Michele Cropley and Paul Lane cover two foundational topics: what a financial advisor does and why asset allocation matters . ●      How advisors help organize accounts, liabilities, income streams, and goals ●      Planning topics by life stage (college planning, insurance, retirement, Social Security, tax buckets) ●    ...

Are you saving enough to retire—or working longer than you really need to? In this episode of Make It Make Cents (powered by Armstrong Advisory Group), Michele Cropley and Brendan Hayes unpack the realities of early retirement planning and how to calculate the amount you actually need to retire with confidence. Topics include: ●      What “early retirement” really means vs. simply not working long...

In this episode of Make It Make Cents (powered by Armstrong Advisory Group), Michele Cropley and Cash Armstrong explain how 529 plans work and when it may make sense to move leftover 529 money into a Roth IRA. Topics include: ●      What a 529 plan is and why it’s popular for college savings ●      Tax-free growth and qualified education expenses ●      State-specific tax deductions and incentives...

In this episode of Make It Make Cents (powered by Armstrong Advisory Group), Michele Cropley and Michael Bradley cover two important retirement tax strategies: Roth contributions in an employer plan and Traditional IRA → Roth IRA conversions . ●      How Roth workplace contributions differ from traditional pre-tax contributions ●      Employer match: why it typically goes into a pre-tax bucket ●  ...