Retirement Success Blueprint With Michael Stewart

We always talk about the money side of financial and retirement planning. But what about the mental aspect of that big life change? Today we’ll break down an article written by a Licensed Professional Counselor (Kate Schroeder) for Psychology Today, titled The Psychological Investment In Retirement.   Contact Info: Website:  https://crystallaketax.com/ Phone Number: 815-526-3092

Being a good advisor isn’t about winning a popularity contest or just saying the same things that everyone else in the industry says. It’s about giving the best advice that you can for each individual situation. On today’s show, we’re going to peel back the curtain to discuss some areas where a good financial advisor’s opinions might go against the grain with mainstream ideas in the industry.   Co...

You’ve most likely heard plenty of “rules” you’re supposed to follow to retire successfully. Some of these rules are stated so confidently, you’d be crazy not to immediately accept them as fact. But we don’t mind the threat of being called crazy, so let’s dive into some of the most popular retirement “rules of thumb” to see if they truly lead us down the path of good financial guidance or run a ch...

It’s no secret the stock market is in turmoil. We’re in a bear market and the R-word (recession) is getting thrown around daily. So, what can you do to survive bear markets like the one we’re in now? We’ve collected advice from various commentators and “experts” from across the country. You might have even heard some of this advice yourself. But should you follow it or proceed with caution? We’ll...

Don’t dread this as much as you hated hearing these words as a kid, but it’s time for a pop quiz! We’re putting retirement planning preparedness under the microscope with 5 critical questions to which you need to know the answers. So sharpen those pencils and let’s see how ready you are for retirement.   Contact Info: Website:  https://crystallaketax.com/ Phone Number: 815-526-3092

Let’s see if your tolerance for risk matches your financial plan. What should you do if that balance is out of whack? What if you’re a natural risk taker, but you really shouldn’t be when it comes to your finances? We’ll explore all of these angles as we break down the role of risk in your financial and retirement plan.   Contact Info: Website:  https://crystallaketax.com/ Phone Number: 815-526-30...

In some ways, retirement planning was easier for past generations. Let’s explore how a good financial advisor helps people overcome the additional challenges of today. Our parents and grandparents may not have had to face these things, so just relying on the experiences of family members might not be enough to help us achieve our own financial success.   Contact Info: Website:  https://crystallake...

There are plenty of external factors that often negatively influence our chances of having a successful retirement. But often, failure comes from within. On this episode, we’ll talk about some of the common ways people get in their own way when it comes to financial planning.   Contact Info: Website:  https://crystallaketax.com/ Phone Number: 815-526-3092

We’ve assembled a list of priorities to keep in mind as you count down the days to retirement.   Contact Info: Website:  https://crystallaketax.com/ Phone Number: 815-526-3092

Housing is a really important topic for a lot of retirees because, for many of us, it’s the biggest asset we’ll ever own or manage. On this episode, we’ll cover some common housing questions from retirees and hopefully hit on an issue that might also be on your mind.   Contact Info: Website:  https://crystallaketax.com/ Phone Number: 815-526-3092

We all know some of the basic secrets of eating healthier to lose weight, limit disease, and live longer. Avoid empty calories, try to limit your added sugar, and lower those pesky trans fats are just some examples. But how can we spot similar unhealthy habits in the financial world? We’ll talk about it on this episode and help you fix some of your unhealthy financial habits. We will also discuss...

Most people, when trying to plan their retirement, have to guess about the answers to some important questions. Let’s talk about some of those questions and why you need to have a better answer than just a guess. Contact Info: Website:  https://crystallaketax.com/ Phone Number: 815-526-3092

When it comes to your money, you might have several different voices in your head— maybe the voice of greed, or the voice of fear, and sometimes the voice of wisdom. Let’s look at some things we might hear from the voice of greed so you know how to recognize it when you hear it… Contact Info: Website:  https://crystallaketax.com/ Phone Number: 815-526-3092

Some people feel that they’ll save money by handling their investments themselves instead of working with an advisor. Others may like the challenge of doing it themselves. Still others just don’t know who to trust so they end up not working with anyone. Let’s talk about some reasons that you might need an advisor. Contact Info: Website:  https://crystallaketax.com/ Phone Number: 815-526-3092

We all should realize that planning for retirement is relatively complex. There are a lot of different moving parts and factors to consider. Adjusting any of these variables can impact the end result. But is there one part of the retirement planning process that’s most important? We’ve assembled several opinions on the topic from across the internet. Let’s see if the advice hits the mark or needs...

Time for a little fun on this episode. We’ll use some fill in the blank prompts to spark good discussion about relationships between advisors and their clients, the stock market, common planning mistakes, and much more! Contact Info: Website:  https://crystallaketax.com/ Phone Number: 815-526-3092

In football, teams are extra careful not to make a mistake when they get within about 20 yards of scoring points (known as the Red Zone). They’ve typically worked hard to get to that point and don’t want to cost themselves by throwing an interception or fumbling the ball and giving it to the other team. On this episode, we’ll explore the financial equivalent of the Red Zone and discuss how you can...

We see a lot of people who aren’t getting the kind of advice and service from their financial advisor that they should be. In a lot of cases, the advisor is only “managing the investments,” but not providing guidance in other areas. Let’s talk about some of the things that your advisor should be doing. Contact Info: Website:  https://crystallaketax.com/ Phone Number: 815-526-3092

Certainly, none of our podcast listeners would be guilty of making unreasonable requests, but let’s talk about some of the unreasonable requests we hear from others in the financial world. We’ll explore what makes them unreasonable and what proper expectations look like instead. Contact Info: Website:  https://crystallaketax.com/ Phone Number: 815-526-3092

Proverbs 16:18 says “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” Let’s talk about some of the ways that pride might manifest itself in your financial planning in the form of overconfidence. Contact Info: Website:  https://crystallaketax.com/ Phone Number: 815-526-3092

Have you heard someone say they’re risk averse? Do you know what it really means in the context of the financial world? We’ll explore this important buzzword on today’s show and explain why it’s so important to have a good grip on just how risk averse you are. Contact Info: Website:  https://crystallaketax.com/ Phone Number: 815-526-3092

There’s an old quote that says, “Age is the price of wisdom.” Let’s talk about how that applies to the financial world. Contact Info: Website:  https://crystallaketax.com/ Phone Number: 815-526-3092

Most people understand that a customized retirement plan is much better than a one-size-fits-all approach. And yet, most people don’t have a plan that’s truly customized. Let’s talk about some of the things that need to be considered if you’re going to build a truly customized plan. Contact Info: Website:  https://crystallaketax.com/ Phone Number: 815-526-3092

Everyone has a different reason, goal or something they want to accomplish in retirement. Let’s explore some of the various motivations people have in retirement and how your financial advisor can help you accomplish what you set out to do. Contact Info: Website:  https://crystallaketax.com/ Phone Number: 815-526-3092

So much focus in the financial world revolves around accumulating money. There’s all sorts of advice, how-to guides and guardrails in place when it comes to saving and investing, but a lot less resources out there to help retirees navigate the period of time after retirement. This is known as decumulation, the spending down and managing of the assets you’ve accumulated through your life. And on th...