Retirement Quick Tips with Ashley

This week on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, I'm pulling back the curtain and telling exactly how I manage my 401k as a financial advisor. Today, I'm talking about: how I invest my 401k as a financial advisor.

This week on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, I'm pulling back the curtain and telling exactly how I manage my 401k as a financial advisor. Today, I'm talking about: why I max out my Roth 401k as a financial advisor.

This week on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, I'm pulling back the curtain and telling exactly how I manage my 401k as a financial advisor. Today, I'm talking about: how much I contribute to my 401k as a financial advisor.

This week on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, I'm pulling back the curtain and telling exactly how I manage my 401k as a financial advisor. Today, I'm talking about: how often I login (not enough to even remember how much I have in there…is it $200,000? $300,000? $500,000? I don't know. Somewhere in there I think.

Welcome to a new week here on the Retirement Quick Tips podcast! I'm your host, Ashley Micciche. One thing I believe in strongly is eating your own cooking—or in other words, putting your money where your mouth is. So this week on the podcast, I'm pulling back the curtain and sharing exactly how I manage my own 401(k) as a financial advisor. I'll walk you through: How often I check my accounts and log in How much I contribute to my 401(k) Whether I choose Roth or traditional contributions—and why What I'm currently invested in and the philosophy behind those choices How often I rebalance Why I personally avoid target date funds, even though I recommend them for most 401(k) participants in most situations I'll also share a few extra tips and tools, like: Whether it's a good idea to link your accounts so you can view everything in one place Why it's critical to check and update your beneficiaries Why I would exhaust every other option before ever considering a 401(k) withdrawal or loan

Time for the Fed to start cutting interest rates…what does that mean for investors, retirees, and Americans getting close to retirement? The situation in the economy is not great right now, and the Fed is in a tough spot where they need to act. ABC news reporting on September 11th: Applications for jobless benefits jump to 263,000 last week, most in nearly 4 years In another grim sign for the U.S. labor market, jobless claim applications jumped to their highest level in almost four years last week, virtually assuring the Federal Reserve will cut its benchmark interest rate next week. Fed officials recently have expressed greater concern about the deteriorating labor market than inflation, and while a rate cut could spur economic growth and boost the job market, economists fear it could push inflation even farther above the Fed's target of 2%. The BLS's revised figures showed that U.S. employers added 911,000 fewer jobs than originally reported in the year ending in March 2025, with the biggest weakness coming from the leisure and hospitality sector, professional and business services and retail. The report showed that job gains were tapering long before President Donald Trump rolled out his far-reaching tariffs on U.S. trading partners in April. The themes for much of 2025 have been that the economy is still growing, but slowly, the labor market is clearly deteriorating, and that appears to be accelerating, inflation has come down to a more manageable 3%, but it remains sticky. So what is the Fed to do? It appears this week as I record this Podcast episode that it is pretty much guaranteed that the Fed is going to cut rates by a quarter of a percent or 25 basis points. The problem with the timing of this is that the expected inflation from tariffs has not been canceled but just delayed. I talked about that a couple months ago when I did the mid year market and economic update, and it appears that the expected inflation from tariffs has not yet fully entered the economy. Which means that if the Fed were to lower interest rates they're walking on a tightrope – A stagflation like risk which would be horrible to put it mildly is not off the table. So this week on the podcast I'm going to talk about the expected rate cut which by the time you listen to this podcast will likely have already happened. I'll talk about some of the possible scenarios that come along with a cut in interest rates, and most importantly I'll talk about what that means for investors and savers and retirees. What does that mean for your investment portfolio what does that mean for stocks and bonds. What does that mean for housing and mortgage rates. I'll talk about all of that in this week's episode…

Welcome to a new week here on the Retirement Quick Tips podcast! I'm your host, Ashley Micciche. This week on the podcast, we're looking at private equity and cryptocurrencies as investment options in your 401k - is this a big opportunity or a hard pass? On August 7, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order titled Democratizing Access to Alternative Assets for 401(k) Investors. This order paves the way for allowing 401(k) plans to include alternative investments like cryptocurrency and private investments in 401(k) plans. Which begs the question: Is this a good idea for investors? Alternatives and private investments have a track record of higher fees, illiquidity, and higher risk for investors. Their complexity could create problems and additional risks for investors if 401(k) plan trustees eventually move to add these investments to their plan offerings. So let's explore this a little more, because you might see these options popping up in your 401ks in the near future, and it's important to think through the potential benefits and risks so you can make the right decision about how to invest your 401k for your retirement. Next Monday, I'll be back with a new theme - at this point, the Fed will almost certainly lower interest rates when they meet this week, and by the time you're listening to this episode, perhaps they already have. So we'll talk about what that means for inflation, bonds, stocks, mortgage rates, and your retirement next week. I hope you have a blessed week. My name is Ashley Micciche, this is the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast.

It's Sunday and I'm wrapping up the week by summarizing this week's theme: Are You Being Too Frugal in Retirement? In case you missed any episodes this week, here's the recap…

This week on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, I'm talking about the all-too-common problem of being too frugal and underspending in retirement, how this frugality can rob you of a fulfilling retirement, and steps you can take to find a better balance with spending and preserving financial security in retirement. Today, I'm talking about my Top Tips To Start Enjoying Your Nest Egg More

This week on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, I'm talking about the all-too-common problem of being too frugal and underspending in retirement, how this frugality can rob you of a fulfilling retirement, and steps you can take to find a better balance with spending and preserving financial security in retirement. Today, I'm talking about how generosity when practiced consistently, can help relieve a tendency toward over frugality in retirement.

This week on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, I'm talking about the all-too-common problem of being too frugal and underspending in retirement, how this frugality can rob you of a fulfilling retirement, and steps you can take to find a better balance with spending and preserving financial security in retirement. Today, I'm talking about intentional spending = meaningful life. I touched on this yesterday, but I want to continue with intentionality today, because I think it's really the key to living an anti-frugal and fulfilling retirement.

This week on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, I'm talking about the all-too-common problem of being too frugal and underspending in retirement, how this frugality can rob you of a fulfilling retirement, and steps you can take to find a better balance with spending and preserving financial security in retirement. Today, I'm talking about finding the right balance between overspending and over-frugality in retirement.

This week on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, I'm talking about the all-too-common problem of being too frugal and underspending in retirement, how this frugality can rob you of a fulfilling retirement, and steps you can take to find a better balance with spending and preserving financial security in retirement. Today, I'm talking about why it's so hard to spend for so many of you.

Welcome to a new week here on the Retirement Quick Tips podcast! I'm your host, Ashley Micciche. Nearly two in three Americans (64%) worry more about running out of money than death, according to the 2025 Annual Retirement Study from the Allianz Center for the Future of Retirement. I talked about this at length in last week's theme. This week, I want to continue that discussion and talk about one of the unfortunate and all-too-common outcomes of a deep fear of running out of money in retirement - being too frugal and not enjoying your retirement years as you should because you underspend.

It's Sunday and I'm wrapping up the week by summarizing this week's theme: Americans Now Fear Running Out of Money MORE than Death! In case you missed any episodes this week, here's the recap…

This week on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, I'm talking about a study from the Allianz Center for the Future of Retirement that found something striking: 64% of Americans are more worried about running out of money in retirement than they are of death itself. Today…So far this week, I've talked about how you can address the very common fear of running out of money in retirement. There are a number of strategies you can use, but their effectiveness really depends on how close you are to retirement. For example, saving more makes the biggest impact the farther away you are. So if I'm talking to someone my age—around 40—the advice is simple: reduce expenses, cut out the things that are keeping you from saving more, and then be more aggressive with how much you save. That alone can take you a long way toward reaching your goal of accumulating enough so you don't have to worry so much about running out of money in retirement. But if you're closer—say one to five years out—saving more won't move the needle nearly as much. At that stage, the best solution is usually just to work a little bit longer. A couple extra years of work can have an outsized impact on retirement security. Now, what we haven't yet addressed this week is: what if you're already retired? Many baby boomers in this survey, all over 60 now, are in that exact situation. They're still worried—rightly so—about running out of money. But it's too late to save more, and too late to delay retirement. At that point, the one arrow left in the quiver is maintaining a safe withdrawal rate. That is the key to not running out of money once you're retired.

This week on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, I'm talking about a study from the Allianz Center for the Future of Retirement that found something striking: 64% of Americans are more worried about running out of money in retirement than they are of death itself. I When you're worried or fearful about anything in life, one of the best ways to kill that fear is to build some knowledge and better understand what you need to do in order to conquer that fear. And it's no different with planning for retirement. I think a lot of the fear about running out of money in retirement comes from the simple fact of not knowing. Not knowing when I can retire. Not knowing how much money I can spend in retirement. Not knowing how much is enough.

This week on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, I'm talking about a study from the Allianz Center for the Future of Retirement that found something striking: 64% of Americans are more worried about running out of money in retirement than they are of death itself. Yesterday, I talked about how spending less and saving more is one of the best ways to prepare for retirement and avoid running out of money. But here's the catch—that strategy works best if you still have plenty of time before retirement. Let me give you an example. If you start saving just $100 a month at age 20, and it grows at 7% a year, by age 65 you'll have around $350,000—even without ever increasing that contribution. That's the magic of compounding. But what if you don't start until much later? Let's say you add $1,000 a month, but you're only five years away from retirement. At the same growth rate, that only gets you about $70,000. The lesson? Time is the real driver of growth. Without it, saving more—while still important—has a much smaller impact. So what do you do if you're close to retirement and feeling behind? The answer is simple: work longer.

This week on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, I'm talking about a study from the Allianz Center for the Future of Retirement that found something striking: 64% of Americans are more worried about running out of money in retirement than they are of death itself. Yesterday, I talked about the fear of running out of money in retirement, and why so many of us struggle to save enough. A big reason comes down to current expenses—too much house, too much debt, or just day-to-day costs that crowd out long-term saving. Retirement feels far away, until suddenly it's here—and then it's too late to catch up. So what's the solution? Especially if you're still at least 5 years or more from retirement, the answer is simple: spend less and save more. I know that sounds obvious, but many people don't realize where their money is actually going.

This week on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, I'm talking about a study from the Allianz Center for the Future of Retirement that found something striking: 64% of Americans are more worried about running out of money in retirement than they are of death itself. Today, I want to dig a little deeper into why that fear is so common…

Welcome to a new week here on the Retirement Quick Tips podcast! I'm your host, Ashley Micciche. Nearly two in three Americans (64%) worry more about running out of money than death, according to the 2025 Annual Retirement Study from the Allianz Center for the Future of Retirement. Some of the key findings in the study: 62% say they are not saving as much for retirement as they would like 54% say inflation contributes to their fear of running out of money This fear is most prominent among Gen Xers (70%) who are in their 40s and 50s and fast approaching retirement. Millennials aren't far behind…66% of them fear running out of money more Boomers - the youngest of whom just turned 60 last year and who are now mostly retired, curiously had the lowest fear % of the generations approaching or in retirement - yet (61%) of Boomers are still more afraid of running out of money than they are of dying. This week on the podcast, I'll be talking about…ways you can reduce this fear in your own situation.

Welcome to a new week here on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast! I'm your host, Ashley Micciche. This past weekend, I was camping in 100-degree heat with my kids, while my husband had the wisdom to stay home in the air conditioning with our youngest. I was busy packing and stuffing four bikes, three camping totes, two propane tanks, and—yes—basically a partridge in a pear tree into our minivan. So instead of the usual short daily episodes, I'm mixing things up this week and bringing you one longer episode. One of the realities of being a financial advisor is death. Clients die, and it usually happens at least a couple of times a year. When it does, and there's a surviving spouse, part of my job is to make the financial transition as seamless and stress-free as possible. Because when you're grieving the death of a spouse, the last thing you want to worry about is money—or worse, the power being shut off because you couldn't log in to pay the electric bill. Over the years, I've helped many widows and widowers through this transition, and I've developed a Widow's Financial Roadmap. The key is to have this roadmap in place before something happens—before you get sick, become incapacitated, or pass away. If you don't, your spouse may be left without the information they need to keep the household running smoothly, and the stress of grief will be compounded by financial confusion. If you're new to the podcast, a quick introduction: I'm the co-owner of True North Retirement Advisors, a fee-only fiduciary financial advisory firm managing over $450 million in assets. For 17 years, I've helped my clients retire with confidence. And here on the podcast, I take complex retirement topics and turn them into clear answers in just a few minutes each day—so you can spend less time stressing about money and more time living. If you know someone who would benefit from this week's topic, please share the show. And if you have a burning question about your own retirement, visit truenorthra.com where you can book a free 15-minute call with me. Now, let's talk about the roadmap. I'm going to lay this out in order—what to do first, and what comes next. Hopefully, you've already checked some of these items off, but there may be a few you haven't thought about. Step 1: Create a Financial Inventory I've talked about this on the podcast before, but it's worth repeating. A financial inventory is essentially a table of contents for your finances. It should include: Bank and investment accounts (with balances, account types, and where they're held). Insurance and annuity policies. Will or trust. Social Security information. Tax returns. Marriage certificate. And eventually, your death certificate. Without this inventory, assets can be forgotten or lost. For example, maybe you still have a 401(k) at a former employer that your spouse doesn't know about. Without documentation, that money could remain unclaimed. This inventory should also include a list of your key advisors and their contact information—your financial advisor, CPA, attorney, insurance agents, and even the phone number for the bank where your checking account is held. One mistake I often see, especially later in life, is not consolidating accounts. People keep money scattered across five different institutions, a handful of bank accounts, and maybe an online savings account. That's a recipe for disaster. The more accounts you have, the greater the chance your spouse won't be able to find or access them. Once you've created your financial inventory, maintaining it is easy. Just update it once a year—adjust balances, note any new or consolidated accounts, and make sure contact information is current. It usually takes less than an hour. This is the single most important step for the long-term financial health of your surviving spouse. Step 2: Ensure Cash Flow Needs Are Met The next step is making sure bills continue to get paid. Your spouse needs a list of all recurring bills with: The name of the bill (mortgage, utilities, insurance, etc.). The approximate amount. How it's paid (auto-draft, ACH, check). The due date and frequency. This isn't just a budget—it's a cash flow map for your surviving spouse. When paired with the financial inventory, it allows them to step in immediately and manage the household without the lights getting shut off or the mortgage falling behind. On the flip side, you'll also want to document income sources—Social Security, pension payments, portfolio withdrawals, or other income. That way, your spouse knows not just what bills are due, but also what money is coming in, from where, and when. Step 3: Set Up a Password Manager If you remember nothing else from this episode, remember this: set up a password manager. A password manager securely stores all of your logins, and you only need to remember one master password. Some of the top options include 1Password, NordPass, and Dashlane. This tool is invaluable while you're alive because it improves securi

It's Sunday and I'm wrapping up the week by summarizing this week's theme: A Financial Advisor Ranks The Worst Investments For Retirees In case you missed any episodes this week, here's the recap…

This week on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, I'm ranking the worst investments for retirees. These investments are ones that I have never recommended and it's because after 17 years, I've seen them backfire - and in some cases, ruin someone's finances in retirement. Today, I'm talking about private investments…

This week on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, I'm ranking the worst investments for retirees. These investments are ones that I have never recommended and it's because after 17 years, I've seen them backfire - and in some cases, ruin someone's finances in retirement. Today, I'm talking about structured notes…

This week on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, I'm ranking the worst investments for retirees. These investments are ones that I have never recommended and it's because after 17 years, I've seen them backfire - and in some cases, ruin someone's finances in retirement. Today, I'm talking about high yield bonds, and more generally, high yield anything…

This week on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, I'm ranking the worst investments for retirees. These investments are ones that I have never recommended and it's because after 17 years, I've seen them backfire - and in some cases, ruin someone's finances in retirement. Today, I'm talking about annuities.

This week on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, I'm ranking the worst investments for retirees. These investments are ones that I have never recommended and it's because after 17 years, I've seen them backfire - and in some cases, ruin someone's finances in retirement. Today, I'm starting with a controversial one: investment properties. Most often this is residential - so a rental home, a duplex, vacation rental, etc.

Welcome to a new week here on the Retirement Quick Tips podcast! I'm your host, Ashley Micciche. One of the fun things about being a financial advisor is that I get to peek into the financial lives of many different people, even before they become a client. One of the first things I request from a new potential client is a copy of their investment account statements so I can see what types of accounts they have (brokerage accounts, IRAs, Roths, etc), and how they're invested across those accounts. And sometimes, an uncomfortable conversation I have with a new potential client involves getting the backstory on why they're invested the way they are. Most of the time, I'm trying to figure out their preferences and risk tolerance, but occasionally, I'm trying to figure out why they own a particular investment that is not appropriate for them. This week on the podcast, I'll be talking about the worst investments for retirees

It's Sunday and I'm wrapping up the week by summarizing this week's theme: College Now Costs $153,000! Here's How To Pay For ALL Of It Before High School Graduation In case you missed any episodes this week, here's the recap…

This week on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, I'm talking about how to pay for college before little junior ever sets foot on a college campus. Yesterday, I talked about my favorite way to save up and invest for college or post high-school education of any kind - including trade schools, vocational schools, and the like - and that's the 529 college savings plan. For 9 out of 10 people, the 529 plan makes the most sense. But for those of you who aren't comfortable with the taxes and penalties if you DON'T use the money for education and you want more control and flexibility, then a regular brokerage account (or a trust account if you want even more control), is another good route.

This week on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, I'm talking about how to pay for college before little junior ever sets foot on a college campus. Today, I'm sharing with you how I'm paying for most, hopefully all of my kids college or post high school education before their high school graduation - 529 plans.

This week on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, I'm talking about how to pay for college before little junior ever sets foot on a college campus. Today, I'm talking about the steps I am taking and will take in the future to ensure that all 4 of my kids finish school with zero debt.

This week on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, I'm talking about how to pay for college before little junior ever sets foot on a college campus. Today, I want to run the numbers with you on and why you should do this.

This week on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, I'm talking about how to pay for college before little junior ever sets foot on a college campus. Today, I'm starting with what should be an obvious question, but one that hardly anyone asks - at least based on the conversations I have with parents of high schoolers and college age kids: Should your child even be going to college? Is it a worthwhile investment?

Welcome to a new week here on the Retirement Quick Tips podcast! I'm your host, Ashley Micciche. According to the latest figures from EducationData.org - The average cost of college* in the United States is $38,270 per student per year, including books, supplies, and daily living expenses. Multiply that by 4 years and junior's college will cost $153,080. My nephew is going to be a senior in high school this year, and will start applying to colleges in the fall. His top 3 choices are all expensive, and all but 2 are out of state. It's that time of year again - back to school, and for many of you planning for both your retirement and trying to get junior through college without mountains of debt or delaying your own retirement with that $153,000 price tag, I have some helpful suggestions this week on the best ways to save, invest, and prioritize college savings along with all of your other financial goals.

Welcome to a new week here on the Retirement Quick Tips podcast! I'm your host, Ashley Micciche. This week on the podcast, I'm on vacation, so instead of daily episodes, I'm just doing one longer episode for this week, but don't worry! I'll be back with daily episodes like you're used to next week. I'm on vacation this week with my husband and kids, my sister and her husband, their 2 kids, and my parents. It will be 12 of us in 1 house together for an entire week. I'm excited, but also deathly afraid at the same time! Vacationing with family is a lot different than vacationing with friends, and as I talk to clients who are in the early retirement years that are often filled with travel, these topics of travel and money come up. But since this a podcast about finances, I want to talk in depth about a few tips I have for traveling with friends and not letting money specifically ruin your trip, or worse, your friendship!

It's Sunday and I'm wrapping up the week by summarizing this week's theme: Marriage & Money: The One Big Beautiful Bill: What It Means for Your Money In case you missed any episodes this week, here's the recap…

This week on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, I'm talking about the key provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill that was recently signed into law and how that might impact you. Today, I'm talking about how the OBBB really hits home the importance of planning ahead and making sure you're taking full advantage of the provisions while avoiding some of the big mistakes…

This week on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, I'm talking about the key provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill that was recently signed into law and how that might impact you. Today, I'm walking about the new tax deduction for seniors 65+

This week on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, I'm talking about the key provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill that was recently signed into law and how that might impact you. Today, I'm talking about some time sensitive changes to keep in mind - especially if you're planning to do home updates, buy an EV, or buy a new car.

This week on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, I'm talking about the key provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill that was recently signed into law and how that might impact you. Today, I'm talking about how the OBBB is changing planning considerations for those of you who are interested in charitable giving.

This week on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, I'm talking about the key provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill that was recently signed into law and how that might impact you. Today, I'm talking about the biggest impact of the One Big Beautiful Bill that no one is really talking about - the impact on the markets, your 401k, and your investment portfolio.

Welcome to a new week here on the Retirement Quick Tips podcast! I'm your host, Ashley Micciche. This week on the podcast, I'm diving into the One Big Beautiful Bill, which recently passed the House and the Senate, and was signed into law on July 4th. Many provisions go into effect this year, some starting next year, and I'll try to focus on the ones this week that have the biggest impact for the core group of listeners - those of you who are getting close to and living in retirement….

It's Sunday and I'm wrapping up the week by summarizing this week's theme: Marriage & Money: Top 5 Money Issues That Can Break a Marriage In case you missed any episodes this week, here's the recap…

This week on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, my husband Troy and I are discussing the Top 5 Money Issues That Can Break a Marriage. Today, we're diving into an uncomfortable and friction-causing topic in many marriages - the intersection of family issues and money in a marriage

This week on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, my husband Troy and I are discussing the Top 5 Money Issues That Can Break a Marriage. Today, we're talking about priority differences between spouses. This is often about money personalities - who's a saver, and who's a spender, because savers and spenders will naturally have different priorities, but it;s also about other priority differences that go beyond saving vs. spending.

This week on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, my husband Troy and I are discussing the Top 5 Money Issues That Can Break a Marriage. Today, we're talking about power dynamics in marriage when it comes to money, and the problems that can create.

This week on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, my husband Troy and I are discussing the Top 5 Money Issues That Can Break a Marriage. Today, we're diving into a common marriage and money issues: materialism.

This week on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, my husband Troy and I are discussing the Top 5 Money Issues That Can Break a Marriage. Today, we're diving in with what I think is the most destructive marriage issue when it comes to money - a lack of transparency, and in many cases, financial infidelity.