Make It Personal Podcast

You’re helping everyone, but who’s helping you? If you’re a Gen Xer, you might feel like the glue holding it all together, launching kids, checking in on aging parents, grinding at work, and still trying to save for your own retirement. This episode dives into the invisible load so many Gen Xers carry, and what it’s costing them. In this episode of Make It Personal , we unpack the quiet sacrifices...

If you're in retirement, or approaching it, you know about Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs). The IRS says you have to start withdrawing money from your retirement accounts. But what if you don’t actually need the money right now? What if it feels more like a tax trap than a reward for decades of saving? You're not alone, and you’re not stuck. In this episode of Make It Personal , we tackle th...

Roth or traditional: how do you choose? If you've ever wondered when it's time to shift from a traditional 401(k) to a Roth, you're not alone. In this listener-led episode of Make It Personal , we tackle a smart, real-life question from Nicholle about taxes, timing, and how to plan ahead for retirement without getting stuck in a higher tax bracket down the road.  In this episode, you’ll learn: →...

You planned, saved, and sacrificed for decades, so why is spending in retirement so hard?  After a lifetime of discipline and diligent saving, retirement arrives… and with it, an unexpected emotional hurdle: switching from saving to spending . Not because the numbers don’t add up, but because the mindset does. In this episode of Make It Personal , we dive deep into one of retirement’s most overlo...

They did it, the Bridstons paid off their home in Southern California. No loan. No mortgage. Just freedom. But what happens after the big goal is reached? In this episode of Make It Personal , we explore the surprising truth about life after paying off your house, and why the hardest (and most important) financial planning starts after the last payment. What You’ll Learn / Highlights → Why financi...

What if the things that make us feel good right now are quietly stealing our future joy? From one-click purchases to endless scrolling, we’re surrounded by temptation, and it’s costing us more than we realize. In this episode of Make It Personal , we uncover “The Instant Gratification Trap”, and how to build real peace, patience, and purpose in a world that’s always chasing “now.” What You’ll Lear...

If your money could work for you while you sleep, would you let it?  In this episode, you’ll learn how to start investing , even if you’ve never bought a single stock or still think you’re “bad with money.” This is your beginner-friendly roadmap to build wealth confidently, one simple, personal step at a time. What You’ll Learn / Highlights → Why saving alone rarely builds wealth, and how compoun...

Want to retire together on your timeline and still build generational wealth? This episode breaks down a real couple’s plan, cars, handbags, pension choices, and all, to show exactly what works. For professionals who earn well but want a coordinated retirement plan that actually lasts. What You’ll Learn / Highlights → The simple math behind a 7-year retirement target, and why “savings only” falls...

Financial stress isn’t “just in your head”, it’s your brain doing ancient survival work in a modern money world. In this episode, biologist and author Dr. Rebecca Heiss breaks down the science of financial stress and how to retrain your mind for calmer, smarter decisions. For anyone who’s ever felt that knot-in-your-stomach money moment, this one’s for you. What You’ll Learn / Highlights → Why you...

How Do Lower Interest Rates Actually Affect You ?  Ever heard the news say, “The Fed cut rates,” and wondered what that means for your everyday life? This episode breaks it all down, no jargon, no confusion, just real talk about how the Federal Reserve’s decisions affect your mortgage, credit cards, and even your savings account. In Episode 45 of the Make It Personal Podcast , we dive into what “...

What if the secret to becoming a millionaire has nothing to do with luck, and everything to do with daily, quiet decisions? Here’s the truth: most millionaires don’t look like the ones you see on social media. No flashy sports cars, no massive mansions, and no viral success stories. About 80% of millionaires are self-made, and they’ve built wealth by following simple, repeatable habits that anyone...

Is your legacy something you’re building... or something you’re hoping will just happen? Most people say they want to leave a legacy. But here’s the hard truth: nearly 70% never take steps to define what that means for them, or put a plan in place to make it happen. In this episode of Make It Personal , we’re challenging the narrow idea that legacy is just about money. Because when you pause and a...

We say we want to protect our families. So why don’t we feel ready to? 9 out of 10 Americans feel a deep responsibility to protect their loved ones, but only 2 in 10 believe they’re financially prepared to do it. That disconnect is more than just a stat, it’s a wake-up call. In this episode of Make It Personal , we get honest about the gap between good intentions and real-life readiness, and how t...

Is your financial future safe in the hands of a robot? With all the hype around artificial intelligence, it’s tempting to think AI might soon handle everything, even your money. But can it really replace the personal insight, emotional intelligence, and deep care that a human financial advisor brings to the table? In this episode of Make It Personal , Mark Zagurski explores the limits of artificia...

Ever wonder if the Tooth Fairy could double as a financial advisor? That first wiggly tooth isn’t just a rite of passage, it’s a golden opportunity to start teaching your kids about money. While you’re fumbling for spare change and sneaking into bedrooms by moonlight, there’s a bigger story unfolding… one that could shape your child’s relationship with money for life. In this episode of Make It Pe...

You’ve done everything “right”, steady job, 401(k), a house, maybe even an emergency fund. So why does it feel like you’re stuck on a financial treadmill, running hard but not getting ahead? Welcome to the middle-class trap , where you're technically wealthy, but not actually free. In this eye-opening episode, host Mark Zagurski exposes the hidden tension so many middle-class earners feel: fin...

Is early retirement the ultimate freedom, or a financial mirage? We’ve all seen the highlight reels: 35-year-olds living it up on tropical beaches, posting #retiredlife on Instagram. But behind the filtered photos is a deeper question: Is early retirement everything it’s cracked up to be… or are there hidden costs that could derail your future? In this episode, we take a real-world look at the gro...

Ever wonder why you keep making the same money mistakes, even when you know better ? Why saving feels so hard, spending feels so easy, and your paycheck seems to disappear without a trace? In this episode, we’re digging deep into the surprising science of why we make bad financial decisions, and how to stop. Our brains weren’t built for modern money. They were designed for survival, not savings ac...

Are you navigating your finances without a map? For many, the path to retirement feels like a maze, filled with confusing options, emotional decisions, and the constant fear of falling behind. In our final episode of the “Game of the Decade” mini-series, we unpack Play #7: Finding a Financial Coach to Help You Plan in Decades , and show why this step may be your most important move yet. Host Mark...

Retirement isn't just about the money, it's also about managing the health challenges that come with aging. And if you’re not prepared, healthcare costs can sneak up and derail your financial plans. So the real question is: do you have a strategy for healthcare in retirement? In this episode of Make It Personal , Mark Zagurski walks you through Play #6: Planning for Healthcare in Retiremen...

More and more Americans are asking a game-changing question: What if I don’t want to wait until 65 to retire? In today`s episode of Make It Personal , we tackle the bold and often misunderstood concept of early retirement, not as an escape, but as a purposeful pivot toward “time freedom.” What happens when retirement comes earlier than expected, whether by choice or circumstance? Mark Zagurski div...

Is there really a “right age” to claim Social Security? It’s one of the biggest decisions you’ll make as you approach retirement, and one of the easiest to get wrong. Play #4 in our “Game of the Decade” series zooms in on how to optimize your Social Security benefits and why this move could make or break your financial security in retirement. In this episode, Mark Zagurski, Director of Strategy an...

In this episode, Mark Zagurski tackles Play #3 of the Seven Plays series: mastering the do’s and don’ts of retirement taxes. Taxes can be one of the biggest expenses in retirement, especially with pre-tax accounts like 401(k)s and IRAs. Mark explains the importance of asset location, strategically choosing taxable, tax-deferred, and tax-free accounts to minimize tax liability. He debunks the myth...

Mark Zagurski explores Play #2 of the Seven Plays series: determining how much money you need in retirement. He challenges the conventional rule of thumb of replacing 70-80% of pre-retirement income, citing Morningstar research showing replacement rates vary from 54% to 87% based on lifestyle and expenses. Mark discusses the “go-go,” “slow-go,” and “no-go” phases of retirement and how expenses lik...

In this episode, Mark Zagurski dives into Play #1 of the Seven Plays series: maximizing the five years before and after retirement, dubbed the "Game of the Decade." He explains the shift from the accumulation phase (saving and investing) to the distribution phase (generating income) and the challenges of modern retirement, including longer life expectancies and the decline of pensions. M...