Behind The Designs

Whether you are considering a retirement community for yourself or your parents, it can be a hard conversation to start. In this episode, Michelle interviews Royce the process of retiring and having to downsize, how she picked the community, and what the experience has been like for her and her family.  💥 DOWNLOAD our free retirement planning guide: https://financialdesignstudio.com/two-questions...

Retirement is not just a financial transition, it’s also relational. In this episode, Michelle interviews Dave and Diane about how they are preparing their marriage for retirement. They share the financial milestones they've struggled through, and the ways they are building towards the future, together. 💥 DOWNLOAD our free retirement planning guide: https://financialdesignstudio.com/two-ques...

As your teen or college student begins to make their own money, you want to continue to teach them wisdom with their money. In this episode, we cover finding a job and eventually a career, banking and credit cards, and how plan for big savings goals.  💥 DOWNLOAD our free retirement planning guide: https://financialdesignstudio.com/two-questions-we-ask-every-client-before-they-retire/ 🚀 WORK WITH...

Long before kids earn their first dollar, they’re forming beliefs about money. In this episode, we explore how children ages 0–12 begin forming their understanding of money, and how you can instill good habits for giving, saving, spending.  💥 DOWNLOAD our free retirement planning guide: https://financialdesignstudio.com/two-questions-we-ask-every-client-before-they-retire/ 🚀 WORK WITH US: https:...

How do you care for someone well in the middle of a crisis? In this episode, Michelle interviews Anna Lewis, about what she’s learned after her mom spent a month in the ICU with severe pancreatitis. We explore the ways both community and finances shaped the way her family was supported.  💥 DOWNLOAD our free retirement planning guide: https://financialdesignstudio.com/two-questions-we-ask-every-cl...

As trustee, your role is to distribute someone else's money. But the emotions, expectations, and estate rules can make this role more complex than you expected. In this episode we explain how the legal process of inheritances work, how to manage beneficiary relationships, and how to accomplish all this in a tax efficient way.  💥 DOWNLOAD our free retirement planning guide: https://financiald...

If your spouse knows how your finances work, what happens after they pass? In this episode, we helped our fictional client Renee, a recent widow, understand the moving parts of her financial picture, work through the inheritance process, and adjust her taxes for the individual tax bracket. 💥 DOWNLOAD our free retirement planning guide: https://financialdesignstudio.com/two-questions-we-ask-every-...

In this episode, we walk through all the years of planning we've done for two fictional clients near the end of their retirement. Adam & Alice have saved super well but don't have any family to pass these assets onto. Their plan covers how to give everything away, healthcare in your older years, and building estate plans.  💥 DOWNLOAD our free retirement planning guide: https://finan...

In this fictional case study, we repair an outdated, one time, DIY retirement plan for recently retired professionals. With us on their side, its easy to repair common mistakes, start implementing strategies, and have peace of mind while enjoying retirement.  💥 DOWNLOAD our free retirement planning guide: https://financialdesignstudio.com/two-questions-we-ask-every-client-before-they-retire/ 🚀 W...

In this fictional case study, we help a couple nearing retirement decide how to fund the purchase of a new home, as they adjust to relocating to care for aging parents, without taking on debt and pushing back their retirement date.  💥 DOWNLOAD our free retirement planning guide: https://financialdesignstudio.com/two-questions-we-ask-every-client-before-they-retire/ 🚀 WORK WITH US: https://financ...

In this fictional case study, we walk you through a financial plan for two executives retiring in five years. They wonder how they will retire early without dealing with large withdrawal penalties or taxes on short term gains. And while they feel good about how much they saved, they still worry that they won't have enough after they start traveling in their retirement years.  💥 DOWNLOAD our...

You might think about taxes once a year, but as financial advisors, we think about it all year round! In this episode, we share what we noticed while filing 2024 tax returns and how, in light of upcoming legislative changes, you can start your 2025 tax planning today.  💥 DOWNLOAD our free retirement planning guide: https://financialdesignstudio.com/two-questions-we-ask-every-client-before-they-re...

Luxurious, regular travels might be more possible than you realize. Ism Shovan is a digital nomad that slow travels the world with his family using credit card points. In this episode, he talks about the travel lifestyle, how he plans his trips and funds them using points and miles.  💥 DOWNLOAD our free retirement planning guide: https://financialdesignstudio.com/two-questions-we-ask-every-client...

If you have a retirement account, one day you will face Required Minimum Distributions. And the sooner you plan for these the better it will be for your taxes! In this episode, we walk you through how RMDs work, how to plan for them in advance, and how all this works for inherited accounts as well!  💥 DOWNLOAD our free retirement planning guide: https://financialdesignstudio.com/two-questions-we-...

How can executives make the best use of their company stock? In this episode, we break down a few common forms of granting stock, and strategies for how to exercise them in a tax efficient way. But that's not all, so take a listen for a crash course on equity compensation!  💥 DOWNLOAD our free retirement planning guide: https://financialdesignstudio.com/two-questions-we-ask-every-client-befo...

The cost of healthy living be an expensive commitment. But you might find its worth it for your retired self. In this episode, our guest, Rachel Staycheff-Hamm shares how a diagnosis changed how she lives. She shares the ways she focuses on health for her family, from food to medicine, and the resources they use to achieve this.  💥 DOWNLOAD our free retirement planning guide: https://financialdes...

More isn't always better. Maybe living more really means living with less. In this episode, Anna breaks down the history of consumerism and where the dangers lie, as well as ways that you can chose to live differently.  💥 DOWNLOAD our free retirement planning guide: https://financialdesignstudio.com/two-questions-we-ask-every-client-before-they-retire/ 🚀 WORK WITH US: https://financialdesig...

Living a full life isn't about what you keep, it's about what you give. In this episode, we interview Marsha McClary who knows how to get involved, from her local town politics to international non-profits, like Feed My Starving Children. She shares her story, why she cares to make an impact, and ways that others can look to get started.  💥 DOWNLOAD our free retirement planning guide: h...

Memorable gatherings leave you with stories for years. And this is what Chris and Kathy work to accomplish through their legendary parties, and their decor, themes, and guest lists. In this episode, these seasoned hosts share how they do holiday hosting, as well as a few stories and lessons learned from across the years. 💥 DOWNLOAD our free retirement planning guide: https://financialdesignstudio...

In this episode, we interview Steve Smalenberger, the CFO and tax specialist at FDS. Get to know the man behind the scenes as he talks about his expereinces caddying, starting his own company, and training new accountants.  💥 DOWNLOAD our free retirement planning guide: https://financialdesignstudio.com/two-questions-we-ask-every-client-before-they-retire/ 🚀 WORK WITH US: https://financialdesign...

The 2024 presidential election results are in. Whichever candidate you voted for, we want to look at the next four years from a purely financial standpoint. In this episode, we talk though the market's historical trends, how potential initiatives will impact the economy, and what changes we might see to financial policies.   💥 DOWNLOAD our free retirement planning guide: https://financialdes...

What do you need to know before taking a hobby full time or launching a start up? In this episode, we break down the financial side of how to start a business. From finding funding, to deductions and distributions, and tax implications, we share our expertise as planners and experience as business owners.  💥 DOWNLOAD our free retirement planning guide: https://financialdesignstudio.com/two-questi...

Providing healthcare for aging parents (or yourself!) can be the most expensive part of your financial plan. In this episode, Leah McNamara, an ICU nurse, shares her story and the options you have for finding the right care for both your family and your budget.  💥 DOWNLOAD our free retirement planning guide: https://financialdesignstudio.com/two-questions-we-ask-every-client-before-they-retire/...

Expensive insurance seems to be the new normal. In this episode, Ryan Delp, an insurance agent, talks with us about why that is the case, ways you can look to lower your own high insurance costs, and what we might see going forward.  💥 DOWNLOAD our free retirement planning guide: https://financialdesignstudio.com/two-questions-we-ask-every-client-before-they-retire/ 🚀 WORK WITH US: https://finan...

I have a mortgage but . . . whether you want to refinance, purchase a second home, or are getting divorced, you have a lot of options. In this episode,  Tom Cramer, a mortgage officer at Wintrust, explains what is currently effecting the lending industry and what you can do with the mortgage you have.  💥 DOWNLOAD our free retirement planning guide: https://financialdesignstudio.com/two-questions-...