The Asset Preservation Hour

In this episode of The Asset Preservation Hour, financial advisor Stewart Willis and host Spike Spengel pick up their conversation on required minimum distributions and why the timing of your very first RMD can create a surprise tax problem. Stewart explains the special rule that lets you delay that first withdrawal until April of the following year, and why doing that can force you to take two RM...

In this episode of The Asset Preservation Hour, financial advisor Stewart Willis and host Spike Spengel dig into why so many Americans are delaying retirement and what it really means to be ready. Stewart talks about clients who keep working long after they can afford to, the difference between financial readiness and emotional readiness, and why losing the community of coworkers can make retireme...

In this episode of The Asset Preservation Hour, financial advisor Stewart Willis and host Spike Spengel tackle the headlines around BlackRock, ESG investing and the booming world of private credit and private equity. Stewart explains why values based investing matters, how ESG funds have actually performed, and why your portfolio should never include investments that conflict with your personal be...

In this episode of The Asset Preservation Hour, financial advisor Stewart Willis and host Spike Spengel unpack the real differences between S&P 500 ETFs and traditional mutual funds, especially when it comes to taxes in your non retirement accounts. Stewart explains why mutual funds can generate phantom capital gains even when you do not sell, how ETF structures give you more control over when...

In this episode of The Asset Preservation Hour, financial advisor Stewart Willis explains why most people think they have a financial plan when in reality they only have investments and a stack of statements. Stewart breaks down what a true written plan must include, from professional money management and diversification to year round tax strategy and proper estate planning.  You’ll learn why rely...

In this episode of The Asset Preservation Hour, financial advisor Stewart Willis and host Spike Spengel unpack how government shutdown talk and political drama really affect retirees. From Social Security payments to the stock market’s reaction, Stewart explains why headlines can be scary, but your personal retirement plan matters far more than whatever is happening in Washington. You will learn h...

In this episode of The Asset Preservation Hour, financial advisor Stewart Willis breaks down what the latest Fed rate cuts really mean for retirees, from disappearing five percent money markets to why falling rates could spark a bond rally. He also explains why today’s strong annuity rates may not last and why now could be the ideal time to refinance your retirement before insurance companies adju...

In this episode of The Asset Preservation Hour , financial advisor Stewart Willis joins Spike Spengel to tackle some of the toughest financial questions retirees face today. From deciding whether crypto belongs in your portfolio to understanding the real risks of investing in a friend’s business or buying that “dream” retirement property, Stewart breaks down what’s smart, what’s risky, and what’s...

In this episode of The Asset Preservation Hour , financial advisor Stewart Willis and host Spike Spengel tackle some of the most common and costly mistakes retirees make with their investments. From leveraged ETFs and variable annuities to the emotional allure of gold, Stewart explains why some popular strategies can do more harm than good, especially for those nearing or in retirement. Hear real...

On this episode of The Asset Preservation Hour, financial advisor Stewart Willis tackles the massive transfer of wealth underway and what it really takes to protect your money and your relationships. From the importance of involving spouses and adult children to aligning your investments with your actual life goals, Stewart shares how true fiduciaries guide clients beyond products and into purpose...

In this episode of The Asset Preservation Hour, financial advisor Stewart Willis shares why a Beach Boy’s advice about retirement housing got his wife rethinking everything, and why that could matter for your retirement, too. Stewart and host Spike Spengel dive into key retirement decisions, from whether to downsize or upsize, to how the Federal Reserve’s interest rate decisions could reshape your...

In this episode of The Asset Preservation Hour , financial advisor Stewart Willis breaks down the truth about RILAs—Registered Index-Linked Annuities—and why they may not offer the protection you think. Learn the key differences between RILAs, fixed indexed annuities, and variable annuities, and why Stewart favors a barbell strategy for both growth and security in retirement. You’ll also discover:...

In this episode of The Asset Preservation Hour , financial advisor Stewart Willis dives into the hidden costs lurking inside your 401(k). While employer-sponsored retirement plans are great tools for building wealth, many investors are unknowingly overpaying in fees, or holding underperforming funds, simply because they don’t know what to look for. Stewart breaks down what you need to know about i...

In this episode of The Asset Preservation Hour , financial advisor Stewart Willis breaks down the most common retirement mistakes—and how to avoid them. From assuming you'll work forever to underestimating healthcare costs, Stewart explains why having a plan in place is more important than ever. You’ll learn how early tax planning, Roth conversions, and smart Social Security decisions can dramatic...

In this episode of The Asset Preservation Hour , financial advisor Stewart Willis takes a deep dive into the evolving world of fixed income investing. With billions flowing into bond ETFs and fixed annuities, Stewart breaks down what these moves mean for retirement planning—and whether these tools are actually helping or hurting your long-term income goals. You'll learn the real difference between...

In this episode of The Asset Preservation Hour, financial advisor Stewart Willis and co-host Spike Spengel dive into two critical topics: making sure your estate plan actually works the way you intend, and preparing for the largest wealth transfer in history. Using the recent legal battle over Jimmy Buffett’s $275 million estate as a cautionary tale, Stewart explains why even long-married couples...

In this episode of The Asset Preservation Hour, financial advisor Stewart Willis returns from Greece with fresh insight and a tan—but the conversation quickly turns serious as he and co-host Spike Spengel discuss Denmark’s new plan to raise its state pension age to 70. Could a similar shift be coming for Social Security in the U.S.? Stewart breaks down what a higher retirement age could mean for d...

In this episode of The Asset Preservation Hour, financial advisor Stewart Willis and co-host Spike Spengel dive into smart summer strategies for those 50 and older who want to strengthen their retirement plans. From maximizing catch-up contributions to reassessing your 401(k) fund selections, Stewart explains how to align your portfolio with your current stage of life, whether you’re still in grow...

In this episode of The Asset Preservation Hour, financial advisor Stewart Willis and co-host Spike Spengel explore the staggering demographic shift ahead. By 2040, over 80 million Americans will be age 65 or older. Stewart unpacks how this “retirement wave” could reshape the stock market, strain state infrastructures, and change the way we think about investing, healthcare, and long-term care plan...

In this episode of The Asset Preservation Hour, Stewart Willis and Spike Spengel break down the essential steps and tough decisions facing anyone looking to retire in the next 6–12 months. From creating a real budget (even if you’ve never tracked your spending before) to navigating market volatility, taxes, Social Security, and healthcare, Stewart offers straightforward advice for building a retir...

In this episode of The Asset Preservation Hour, financial advisor Stewart Willis is joined by fellow advisor Scott Preble and host Spike Spengel for a practical, behind-the-scenes look at the most pressing issues facing retirees and business owners right now. The team opens up about the realities of business succession—sharing stories of business partners lost, family businesses no one wants to in...

In this episode of The Asset Preservation Hour, financial advisor Stewart Willis broadcasts from the Pacific Northwest and gets straight to the point about today’s market turbulence, interest rate swings, and the sometimes-confusing world of retirement income tools. Stewart and Spike Spengel break down what’s really happening in the markets, why comparing your portfolio or annuity to past “highs”...

In this episode of The Asset Preservation Hour, financial advisor Stewart Willis tackles the growing concerns around pension plan security and what it means for today’s retirees and future generations. Broadcasting from the Pacific Northwest, Stewart shares timely stories about pension reductions, underfunded state plans, and the difficult decisions faced by both public and private sector employee...

On this episode of The Asset Preservation Hour, financial advisor Stewart Willis and host Spike Spengel dive into the most common concerns facing retirees and business owners today. Stewart shares real stories from clients and live events, including how business owners can build succession plans that preserve value (even if your kids don’t want the business) and how to set up a secure income strea...

This week on The Asset Preservation Hour, financial advisor Stewart Willis and host Spike Spengel tackle the rollercoaster of market volatility, tariffs, and changing interest rates. From navigating emotional reactions to market swings to understanding why “timing the market is a fool’s errand,” Stewart explains how long-term investing and smart strategy are key to retirement success, even when th...