Mr. Stillman's Opus

Ready to grow your wealth with confidence? Let’s talk! 👉 https://www.rosewoodwealthmanagement.com/schedule-an-appointment ☎️ 919-391-3446   After 40+ years in the same home, the idea of packing up and moving somewhere new—like Florida—can feel both exciting and overwhelming. The tax savings might look great on paper, but there’s a lot more to consider than just the financial side. Today, John wal...

Ready to grow your wealth with confidence? Let’s talk! 👉 https://www.rosewoodwealthmanagement.com/schedule-an-appointment ☎️ 919-391-3446   You can’t go back and fix the past, but you can make smarter decisions moving forward. John tackles a question a lot of people quietly wrestle with: how do you catch up after years of not saving? This isn’t about chasing quick wins or risky bets. It’s about u...

Ready to grow your wealth with confidence? Let’s talk! 👉 https://www.rosewoodwealthmanagement.com/schedule-an-appointment ☎️ 919-391-3446   You inherit a home, and suddenly you’ve got options. In this episode, John walks through one of the most common questions people face in this situation: whether to turn it into an Airbnb or take a different path. It’s a decision that goes beyond potential inc...

Ready to grow your wealth with confidence? Let’s talk! 👉 https://www.rosewoodwealthmanagement.com/schedule-an-appointment ☎️ 919-391-3446   When you leave a job, one of the biggest financial questions you face is what to do with your old 401(k). Should you roll it into an IRA? Leave it where it is? Or move it somewhere else entirely? The answer isn’t always obvious, and like most financial decisi...

Ready to grow your wealth with confidence? Let’s talk! 👉 https://www.rosewoodwealthmanagement.com/schedule-an-appointment ☎️ 919-391-3446   You’ve probably had this conversation. The family wants a pool, but you’re wondering if it makes financial sense. But here’s the bigger question: does every dollar you spend have to be an “investment?” In this episode, John unpacks the difference between fina...

Ready to grow your wealth with confidence? Let’s talk! 👉 https://www.rosewoodwealthmanagement.com/schedule-an-appointment ☎️ 919-391-3446   When a parent dies, it’s not just the photo albums and memories that get unpacked. The house usually comes with it. And that’s where feelings and finances start bumping into each other. John tackles a listener question about whether selling an inherited home...

Ready to grow your wealth with confidence? Let’s talk! 👉 https://www.rosewoodwealthmanagement.com/schedule-an-appointment ☎️ 919-391-3446   Living off interest sounds great, until you realize you’ve built a retirement plan that can easily collapse the moment life hits. In this episode, John uses a chicken-and-egg analogy to explain why relying solely on dividends and interest can sabotage your fi...

Ready to grow your wealth with confidence? Let’s talk! 👉 https://www.rosewoodwealthmanagement.com/schedule-an-appointment ☎️ 919-391-3446   Ever feel like you’re missing something right under your nose? On the farm, knowing all the hidden spots for eggs means a bigger haul every day, and your investments work the same way. If you know where to look and ask the right questions, you’ll uncover thos...

Ready to grow your wealth with confidence? Let’s talk! 👉 https://www.rosewoodwealthmanagement.com/schedule-an-appointment ☎️ 919-391-3446   John takes an everyday problem—keeping plants alive—and uses it to explain why slow, steady wealth building actually works better than chasing quick wins. He breaks down why “fake growth” never lasts and why mastering money in small doses matters far more tha...

Ready to grow your wealth with confidence? Let’s talk! 👉 https://www.rosewoodwealthmanagement.com/schedule-an-appointment ☎️ 919-391-3446 What should you do first when your income suddenly skyrockets? Is waiting until age 70 for Social Security always worth it? In this episode, John answers a fresh round of listener questions, each one highlighting the real-life financial decisions people wrestle...

Ready to grow your wealth with confidence? Let’s talk! 👉 https://www.rosewoodwealthmanagement.com/schedule-an-appointment ☎️ 919-391-3446   John’s okra plants usually thrive, but this year nearly every seed failed to sprout. In this short episode, John shares how his gardening mishap illustrates one of the most important principles in investing — diversification. Whether it’s okra or your portfol...

Ready to grow your wealth with confidence? Let’s talk! 👉 https://www.rosewoodwealthmanagement.com/schedule-an-appointment Medicare can feel like alphabet soup—Part A, Part B, Part D, Advantage, Supplement—how do you make sense of it all? John talks with Ryan Nutter of Cornerstone Senior Advisors , one of the most knowledgeable Medicare specialists in the country. Together, they cut through the co...

Sometimes the best lessons come from the most ordinary places, like the chicken coop. A simple thing like farm-fresh eggs can teach a powerful lesson about investing. Here’s the scoop: farm-fresh eggs can sit safely on your counter for weeks because of a natural protective coating called a “bloom.” But wash that coating off, and suddenly they spoil fast and need to be refrigerated. Your investment...

Ready to grow your wealth with confidence? Let’s talk! 👉 https://www.rosewoodwealthmanagement.com/schedule-an-appointment ☎️ 919-391-3446 For decades, families have been told college is the only ticket to success. But with skyrocketing costs, shifting job markets, and the rise of AI, the economics of higher education are more complicated than ever. Career and college coach Kristin Heimstra joins...

Ready to grow your wealth with confidence? Let’s talk! 👉 https://www.rosewoodwealthmanagement.com/schedule-an-appointment ☎️ 919-391-3446 Deciding where to live in retirement is about more than just money; it’s about lifestyle, family, and long-term comfort. In this episode, John explores the often-emotional decision of keeping the family home, downsizing, or relocating entirely. He shares real e...

Ready to grow your wealth with confidence? Let’s talk! 👉 https://www.rosewoodwealthmanagement.com/schedule-an-appointment ☎️ 919-391-3446 If you’ve ever dabbled in gardening, you know that some plants thrive together while others fight for resources. Tomatoes and potatoes? Terrible neighbors. But tomatoes and basil? That’s a match made in salad heaven. The same principle applies to your money. Ce...

Ready to grow your wealth with confidence? Let’s talk! 👉 https://www.rosewoodwealthmanagement.com/schedule-an-appointment ☎️ 919-391-3446 📕 Download our free Eat Smart, Spend Less guide: https://thirdwheelmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Eat-Smart-Spend-Less-PDF.pdf Feeling like your grocery bill needs its own 401(k)? You're not alone. In this episode, John sits down with Functional Medicine...

This week, we're back on the farm with another hands-on financial lesson, because sometimes the best way to understand money is to get your boots dirty. In part two of our Finance Lessons from the Farm series, John breaks out a literal toolbox and a little dirt to teach a big concept: using the right financial tool for the right job. He walks through common missteps, explains how these mismatches...

Ready to grow your wealth with confidence? Let’s talk! 👉 https://www.rosewoodwealthmanagement.com/schedule-an-appointment ☎️ 919-391-3446   Congress has passed and President Trump has signed the Big Beautiful Bill, which is our new tax code (along with a bunch of other things). While you might have a strong opinion on different aspects of this legislation, all we care about today is how it will i...

If you're only using your Health Savings Account (HSA) to pay for co-pays and prescriptions today, you’re missing out on its biggest superpower. In this episode, John reveals how to “hack” your HSA and turn it into a tax-free retirement goldmine. He also shares tips on contribution strategy, the portability of HSAs, what qualifies as a medical expense, and how to retroactively reimburse yourself i...

Bees might not seem like financial gurus, but when it comes to patience, long-term planning, and compound growth, they might just outsmart most investors. In this episode, John teaches on what his personal beekeeping hobby taught him about investing, and why the early years of building wealth often feel frustrating or futile. Here’s what we discuss in this episode: 🕰️ Why early returns often look...

A new tax proposal, referred to as “The Big Beautiful Bill,” has officially passed the House. But before anything’s set in stone, it has to make it through the Senate, where revisions are all but guaranteed. The bill’s main goal? To extend several provisions of the 2018 tax code, with a few adjustments and updates along the way. In this episode, John breaks down what’s currently in the bill, what...

For a lot of folks, retirement and travel go hand-in-hand, whether that’s taking a trip to Europe or rolling into every Cracker Barrel in the Southeast. But here’s the thing: dreaming is free, but the travel costs aren’t. In this episode, John shares how to build a realistic, flexible plan that supports your travel goals in retirement, whether it’s an RV road trip to national parks or annual inter...

When the market takes a dive, most people panic. But the most successful investors often see downturns differently. Being able to recognize opportunity in the middle of market uncertainty can help you make critical decisions during difficult market environments. Let’s talk about what steps you can take to strengthen your plan while others sit on the sidelines. We'll cover four smart strategies tha...

Tax season is here, but did you know that filing your 2024 return is only part of the equation? With the 2025 tax changes in place, John breaks down key areas where you may be able to reduce your tax bill. With increased standard deductions and higher retirement contribution limits, now is the time to evaluate how you can plan smarter and potentially put more money toward your future. In this epis...