Saturday State of Mind

After building generational wealth and creating trusts, you expect to leave a lasting legacy and provide for your beneficiaries. But today’s episode reveals how even the best intentions can unravel in ways no estate documents can prevent. We’re thrilled to welcome back attorney Liz Nolin of Nolin Law to discuss the Nathan Carman case—a chilling and unsettling New England story where money, mental...

Retirement is often thought of as a dream season of life—but what happens when couples have different visions of what that dream looks like? Whether it’s disagreements about spending, travel, or simply how one person is more active than the other, these differences can quickly escalate from small frustrations into ongoing tension. In this episode, we explore how couples can navigate conflict and f...

Retiring early might sound like a great idea to those who are in a position to do so, but most people don’t realize that there are hidden costs associated with making that decision. From outrageous healthcare premiums to the cost of claiming Social Security early, there are significant expenses that can erode the nest egg that you’ve worked so hard to create. Today, we’re exploring the lesser-know...

When most pre-retirees begin preparing for retirement, they often assume their income tax bills will be lower in the future. Which is a fair assumption because if the regular paychecks stop, then the taxes owing should be lower, right? But that’s not always the case. In this episode, we’re breaking down why that assumption doesn’t apply to everyone and how taxes can quietly sneak back into your li...

Have you ever felt like you knew someone pretty well, and then sat down with them in a different setting, only to be blown away by how much you didn’t know? That’s what happened to us when we sat down with Jim and Vicki Gotay. If we had to pick a theme for this episode, it would be about the beauty and power of second chances. And Jim and Vicki Gotay’s story is a testament to their resilience and...

For most, retirement planning means focusing on saving, sacrificing, and delaying gratification. Yet when the paycheck stops, many retirees unexpectedly struggle with the confidence to spend the money they’ve worked so hard for.  In this episode, we’re exploring the emotional roadblocks that prevent retirees from fully enjoying their wealth, ranging from fear of running out of money to waitin...

When it comes to estate planning, many people procrastinate or avoid the conversation altogether. The reality is that most of the hesitation comes from myths—false beliefs that estate planning is only for the wealthy, that a will is enough, or that creating a trust means giving up control. These misconceptions prevent families from taking the necessary steps to protect their loved ones and assets....

When planning for retirement, most people focus on saving, investing, and ensuring their money lasts. However, what is often overlooked is just as important—your health. Without the right habits, routines, and proactive decisions, even the best financial plan can fall apart if poor health gets in the way of enjoying retirement.  In this episode, we’ll explore the critical connection between y...

Growing up in large families with modest incomes, Tom and Tracy Untiet learned early on that while they didn’t have much, they always had what they needed. From sharing space in multi-family homes to parents stretching paychecks with side jobs, these experiences shaped their outlook on money and instilled lifelong habits of working hard, budgeting, and saving money whenever possible. In this episo...

When most people think about estate planning, their minds go straight to wills, trusts, and what happens after they’re gone. But what about protecting yourself and your family while you’re still living? A medical crisis can come out of nowhere, and without the right documents in place, loved ones often deal with confusion, delays, and heartbreaking decisions they were never prepared to make. In th...

Talking about money with your family can be a sensitive and uncomfortable topic. But when it comes to inheritance, avoiding the conversation often leads to confusion, conflict, and unnecessary stress. Many parents assume their kids will “figure it out,” but today we’ll explain why leaving an inheritance as a surprise often does more harm than good. In this episode, we’re talking about why talking...

What if you could prevent one of the biggest regrets retirees face and spend more of their money early on in retirement? Too often, the fear of the unknown prevents people from enjoying the wealth they have worked so hard to build. So today, we’re talking about a very common challenge that many retirees face: spending with confidence.  We discuss the popularity of the “jar system” for saving...

When Kim White unexpectedly inherited money from her father, she found herself grappling with an unexpected emotion—guilt. Burt and Kim spent their lives working hard, living modestly, and saving diligently, so they had to adjust to the idea of having “extra” money.  In this heartwarming conversation, Kim describes how her initial guilt gradually evolved into a purposeful passion for giving....

Estate planning isn’t just for the wealthy—it’s essential for everyone, especially if you have kids. Protecting the people who depend on you means planning for what happens if you become incapacitated or pass away unexpectedly. In today’s episode, we explore why putting it off is one of the biggest mistakes you can make. We’re joined by estate planning attorney Liz Nolin of Nolin Law, a trusted pa...

Retirement is just around the corner, and the stars have aligned so that you and your spouse can retire together. Sounds perfect, doesn’t it? However, it can also become a recipe for disaster without thoroughly considering the pros and cons first. In today’s episode, we explore the perks, surprising complexities, and challenges of when married couples retire together. From enjoying newfound freedo...

What if the person managing your retirement isn’t qualified—or worse, isn’t trustworthy? In today’s episode, we’re sharing advice on how to choose a financial advisor you can actually trust. They run through some common red flags to watch out for, the importance of referrals, and how designations like CFP can be indicative of trustworthiness, but not always a guarantee of it. We’ll explain why fin...

What if your best intentions for leaving an inheritance actually led to stress, resentment, or legal battles? Today, we’re tackling the unfortunate and messy reality of estate planning, specifically inheritances. From confusing probate procedures to the unintended consequences of leaving everything to your kids “equally,” we’ll break down how to avoid chaos and preserve your legacy the right way....

In this inspirational conversation, Al Chau shares his journey from his early childhood in Peru to the transformative decision to move to the United States as a teenager with his mother and brother. Al opens up about the cultural complexity of growing up as a Chinese-Peruvian and how his experience of living in the U.S. shaped his identity into becoming the great husband and father that he is toda...

What if the beliefs you’ve built your retirement plan on were flat-out wrong? In this episode, we’re breaking down 5 of the most common myths we hear about retirement and how they can quietly sabotage your financial future if you’re not careful. From thinking you’ll spend less because your mortgage is gone, to blindly believing life is cheaper in retirement, to rushing to claim Social Security bef...

There is growing concern among Americans with recent headlines that Social Security will run out of money in the next 10 years. And rightly so. Retirees paid into it all their lives and have earned it. And yet, those who still have 10, 20 or 30 years until retirement have serious concerns about what will be left for them. In this episode, we’ll break down the factors that are contributing to Socia...

You might find this hard to believe, but most people who retire with $1M or more at retirement end up passing away with 2-3x that amount. You’d think it would be easy to spend money in retirement when you have plenty of it, but that’s not the case. It’s very common for people who have worked hard, saved well and made sacrifices in their earning years to break the habits of being frugal in retireme...

Today, we're joined by beloved friends, longtime clients, and cherished members of the Arcadia Financial family, George and Karen Morin. Their story spans decades of love, faith, hard work, and a shared devotion to building a life grounded in traditional values and strong family bonds. Growing up just a few blocks apart in Lawrence, Massachusetts, and raising two boys in New Hampshire, George and...

If there's one thing we've noticed over the years, it's that many people spend a lot of time educating themselves on the financial aspects of retirement, but when they finally get there, there's this sense of, "Great! I'm here. Now what?"  Many retirees experience periods of boredom, feeling disconnected or even purposeless in retirement. That's why it's so important to think about what you'r...

Deciding when to claim Social Security can be one of the most impactful decisions in retirement planning—but it’s not one-size-fits-all.  In this episode, we’re unpacking the pros and cons of collecting Social Security early versus delaying it. Whether you’re tempted to start at 62 or considering waiting until 70, we’ll highlight what’s at stake and why timing matters more than most people re...

In this special episode—our first-ever guest interview—we welcome Brian and Hope Bailey. The Baileys are longtime friends and clients of Arcadia Financial, and we're thrilled to have them reflect on their marriage, raising a family on a budget, and building a life rooted in values, sacrifice, and love. From Brian's early days in the Air Force and commercial airlines to Hope's teaching career in pu...