The Asset Preservation Hour

In this episode of The Asset Preservation Hour , financial advisor Stewart Willis and host Spike Spengel explore a surprising reality revealed by a national retirement confidence study: nearly half of retirees feel anxious about spending the money they worked their entire lives to save. Even in a strong market environment, many retirees fear running out of money more than they fear not enjoying re...

In this episode of The Asset Preservation Hour , financial advisor Stewart Willis and host Spike Spengel break down why proper diversification and proactive tax planning are more critical than ever for retirees and pre-retirees. With global uncertainty, political headlines, and ongoing market volatility, Stewart explains why reacting emotionally to short-term market moves can derail even well-fund...

In this episode of The Asset Preservation Hour , financial advisor Stewart Willis and host Spike Spengel explain why personalized, human guidance is still essential in retirement planning, especially as investors face new tax laws, shifting deductions, and increasingly complex financial decisions. As the new year begins, Stewart breaks down why relying solely on AI tools, robo-advisors, or generic...

In this episode of The Asset Preservation Hour , financial advisor Stewart Willis is joined by Colorado-based advisor Josh Park to discuss how retirees and pre-retirees can protect what they’ve built after years of strong market performance. With markets near all-time highs and uncertainty about what comes next, the conversation focuses on when it makes sense to take risk off the table and how pre...

In this episode of The Asset Preservation Hour , financial advisor Stewart Willis and host Spike Spengel take on one of the most overlooked challenges facing retirees today: longevity. With Americans living longer than ever, Stewart explains why the real risk in retirement is not dying too soon, but living long enough to face rising healthcare costs, long-term care needs, and increased financial s...

In this powerful episode of The Asset Preservation Hour , financial advisor Stewart Willis and host Spike Spengel explore why having money alone does not guarantee a fulfilling or secure retirement. Stewart explains how retirement readiness is less about net worth and more about cash flow, purpose, timing, and the people you want to enjoy life with. You’ll hear a deeply personal story that highlig...

In this episode of The Asset Preservation Hour , financial advisor Stewart Willis and host Spike Spengel explore how political cycles influence market performance and what that means for your retirement plan. With emotions running high around elections and leadership changes, Stewart explains why investors often react more to headlines than historical data and how that behavior can lead to costly...

In this episode of The Asset Preservation Hour , financial advisor Stewart Willis breaks down the estate planning strategies every family should understand to avoid probate, protect privacy, and reduce conflict after you’re gone. Joined by host Spike Spengel, Stewart explains why revocable living trusts are the foundation of most solid estate plans and when irrevocable trusts may make sense. You’l...

In this episode of The Asset Preservation Hour, financial advisor Stewart Willis examines why so many retirees and pre retirees hesitate to seek professional financial advice, even as uncertainty and financial anxiety continue to rise. Stewart and Spike Spengel break down recent findings from the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies that reveal just how few Americans over 50 work with an adv...

In this episode of The Asset Preservation Hour, financial advisor Stewart Willis explains how to determine whether you are truly ready to retire and why retirement readiness goes far beyond hitting a savings number. Stewart and Spike Spengel discuss the emotional and behavioral challenges retirees face, including the fear of spending money, anxiety over taxes, and concerns about Medicare penalties...

In this episode of The Asset Preservation Hour, financial advisor Stewart Willis explains how Social Security cost of living adjustments, rising Medicare premiums, and required minimum distributions can quietly reduce your retirement income. Stewart breaks down why a Social Security raise does not always mean more money in your pocket and how Medicare increases and IRMA penalties can create a net...

In this episode of The Asset Preservation Hour, financial advisor Stewart Willis breaks down the most common tax and retirement planning mistakes he sees during the busiest season of the year. From understanding why tax preparation and tax planning are two very different things to knowing when a Roth conversion actually makes sense, Stewart explains why proactive planning is critical while today’s...

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...