Retirement Matters With Michael Stewart

It’s been said that if you don’t have an income plan, you don’t really have a retirement plan. We’ll tackle that mentality on this episode to see if it’s true and further explore why so many retirees and pre-retirees don’t understand the importance of an income plan, nor how to properly construct one. This is a foundational topic for anyone preparing for retirement, so make sure you hear this one.   Contact Info: Website: https://crystallaketax.com/ Phone Number: 815-526-3092

With the new year here, we thought it would be a good idea to cover our top 10 checklist for New Year planning. Break out the notepad, you won't want to miss out on any of these tips.   Contact Info: Website: https://crystallaketax.com/ Phone Number: 815-526-3092

Market volatility became the norm in 2022. Are we in for more of the same in 2023? We’ll talk about the market outlook for the next 12 months, plus share tips on how you can best prepare for potential future volatility.   Contact Info: Website: https://crystallaketax.com/ Phone Number: 815-526-3092

As we celebrate Thanksgiving and the holiday season, have you found yourself expressing thanks for those who provide financial leadership in your life? If not, perhaps it’s time to explore why and whether you’re getting enough value from your relationship with your financial advisor or other advice-givers. On this episode, we’ll explore some of the top reasons you should be thanking your financial advisor.   Contact Info: Website: https://crystallaketax.com/ Phone Number: 815-526-3092

Sometimes you need to find a new financial advisor. Other times, you might think you need a new advisor, but really, you’re just guilty of thinking that the grass is greener on the other side. Let’s discuss some common scenarios and whether they’re legitimate reasons for leaving your advisor.   Contact Info: Website: https://crystallaketax.com/ Phone Number: 815-526-3092

In this episode, we will discuss some of the more common questions about taxes during retirement planning.   Contact Info: Website: https://crystallaketax.com/ Phone Number: 815-526-3092

Too many folks misunderstand bonds, how they work, and what role they play in a proper financial plan. We’ll address some of those bond related issues on today’s show.   Contact Info: Website: https://crystallaketax.com/ Phone Number: 815-526-3092

We’re bombarded with ads each day in all forms of media. But have you ever taken a closer look at these messages? If we unpack some of these headlines and ads a little bit more, we’re able to clearly understand what emotions they’re trying to elicit. More importantly, we can figure out what companies are trying to sell us. For this episode, we just perused the internet for a couple of hours and kept track of various financial planning, investing and retirement ads we came across. Let’s pick apart these messages that popped up and see if it helps us become savvier savers.   Contact Info: Website: https://crystallaketax.com/ Phone Number: 815-526-3092

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.   Contact Info: Website: https://crystallaketax.com/ Phone Number: 815-526-3092

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 chance of leading us astray.   Contact Info: Website: https://crystallaketax.com/ Phone Number: 815-526-3092

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 breakdown the guidance to provide some important context and perspective.   Contact Info: Website: https://crystallaketax.com/ Phone Number: 815-526-3092

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: 815-526-3092

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://crystallaketax.com/ Phone Number: 815-526-3092

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 some important birthdays you should pay attention to in your retirement planning. Contact Info: Website: https://crystallaketax.com/ Phone Number: 815-526-3092

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