Retirement Matters With Michael Stewart

If you’re of the age that your mom and dad retired 20, or 30 years ago, the world was a much different place when they walked away from their paychecks. Let’s talk about how things are different now. Contact Info: Website: https://crystallaketax.com/ Phone Number: 815-526-3092

At first glance, each of these statements seem like basic common sense that everyone agrees with. But when we look at the way people actually behave with their money, it seems that common sense is actually a bit uncommon. Contact Info: Website: https://crystallaketax.com/ Phone Number: 815-526-3092

If we take a look at the world of medicine, we can learn some valuable lessons that can be applied to your financial life. Contact Info: Website: https://crystallaketax.com/ Phone Number: 815-526-3092

Some people in the financial world speak in code. It’s important for you to learn how to crack that code. Let’s look at a few examples of what you’ll hear someone say, but breakdown what they really meant. Contact Info: Website: https://crystallaketax.com/ Phone Number: 815-526-3092

Sometimes the easiest way to learn about something is make it really simple. Like some of the first true/false tests you might have taken in school. Let’s play a round of fact or fiction to test your financial planning acuity. Website: https://crystallaketax.com/ Phone Number: 815-526-3092

Let’s talk about some of the areas of your financial life where you might be flirtin’ with disaster and don’t even know it. Website: https://crystallaketax.com/ Phone Number: 815-526-3092

Let’s look at some of the richest people in the music industry and see what lessons we can learn from them that we can apply to our own retirement planning… Website: https://crystallaketax.com/ Phone Number: 815-526-3092

We often see people making certain assumptions about retirement that just aren’t correct. Let’s explore some of those on today's show. Website: https://crystallaketax.com/ Phone Number: 815-526-3092

If you don’t know the answer to the question, then this episode is for you. On this episode, we’ll explore the three qualities of money, discuss whether you can achieve them in a single investment, and how to put the right emphasis on the different qualities. It’s really quite basic, but understanding these fundamentals can make an enormous difference in your financial life. Website: https://crystallaketax.com/ Phone Number: 815-526-3092

Sometimes numbers, figures and stats can go in one ear and out the other. But on this episode, we’ll break down 5 important statistics that are worth taking a moment to understand. They’ll underscore some very real problems people face when prepping for retirement. We’ll explore those problems and talk about possible solutions. Website: https://crystallaketax.com/ Phone Number: 815-526-3092

No industry is without its flaws, and the financial industry is no exception. Let’s explore some times where we’ve encountered annoying or frustrating elements of the financial world. Website: https://crystallaketax.com/ Phone Number: 815-526-3092

There are many more risks to guard against in retirement planning than most people realize. Let’s explore some of the planning risks we all face and how to prepare for them. Website: https://crystallaketax.com/ Phone Number: 815-526-3092

Want to grade your preparedness for retirement? Here are five key questions you need to ask yourself. Your answers will help determine how ready you are for retirement. Website: https://crystallaketax.com/ Phone Number: 815-526-3092

A lot of concern goes into trying to pick the proper investments, build a balanced portfolio, and getting the highest return. But how much time have you really put into finding the right advisor to work together with on all these tasks and more? So, we want to clear some of that up on this episode and clarify some of the ways you can evaluate your current advisor relationship and how to shop for, and find, the right advisor for you. Website: https://crystallaketax.com/ Phone Number: 815-526-3092  

On this episode, we present you with five commandments that are worth of being written on stone tablets in your retirement plan. We will also discuss the Illinois tax debate that is on the docket come this November. Website: https://crystallaketax.com/ Phone Number: 815-526-3092

Just like your iPhone or your computer can become obsolete and need to be replaced, the way that some people think about retirement is obsolete and needs to be replaced. Let’s talk about some outdated ideas that people still cling to. Website: https://crystallaketax.com/ Phone Number: 815-526-3092

Vanguard’s “How America Saves 2020” report is packed with lots of intriguing stats and findings about Americans and how they save for retirement in the crazy year that is 2020 (most of the recent data is technically from 2019 although some figures are current through the Spring of 2020). Let’s look at some of the top takeaways from the study and how you might compare to the “normal” savings behaviors of Americans. Website: https://crystallaketax.com/ Phone Number: 815-526-3092

For some people, the idea of putting together a financial plan doesn’t sound like much fun. But the idea of building a home sounds like a lot of fun. So let’s find the similarities in building a strong financial plan and a dream home. Website: https://crystallaketax.com/ Phone Number: 815-526-3092

Many financial issues impact us all the same. But, of course, other challenges have varying impacts from person to person because our situations are all unique. Let’s take a look at some of the financial and retirement challenges that are unique to women. Website: https://crystallaketax.com/ Phone Number: 815-526-3092

It is a life event that can be one of the most difficult things to go through both emotionally and financially. When one spouse dies, the remaining spouse is left to wrestle with a mountain of questions and choices. And although it’s difficult to discuss, proper planning can help make it easier to transition through this major life event. Let’s explore what someone should do in the event of a spouse’s passing, but also some of the pre-planning that can take place. Website: https://crystallaketax.com/ Phone Number: 815-526-3092