Becoming Centsible

What comes to mind when you hear the word “millionaire”? A luxury car? A big house? An expensive lifestyle?In this episode of Becoming Centsible, we explore the idea behind The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko—and what it can teach us about building wealth right here in Kansas.We break down five habits commonly associated with building wealth.💰 Spend less than you earn and be intentional about where your money goes.📈 Creating steady habits over time, not getting rich overnight.💸 Remember that earning a lot of money doesn't necessarily mean you've built lasting wealth.🪞 Focus on what your money can do for you rather than what it can buy to impress others.🎯 Set clear financial goals and build habits that support them.The millionaire next door may not drive the nicest vehicle or live in the biggest house. They may have something far more valuable: financial independence.Tune in for a conversation about what wealth really looks like, the habits that can help you build it, and why financial success doesn't always look the way you might expect._______________Have a topic you'd like us to discuss? Let us know!Schwarz Investment Partners | Professional Retirement Planning Services in Silver Lake, Kansas#BecomingCentsible #TheMillionaireNextDoor #PersonalFinance #BuildingWealth #Kansas #BecomingAMillionaire

Can you really retire at 55 in Kansas?In this episode of Becoming Centsible, we walk through a fictional Kansas couple hoping to retire at 55 with KPERS and their existing investment accounts.We explore what it would take to make an early retirement work — including:💰 What they may need to sacrifice to retire that early💰 How waiting a few more years could change their options💰 How the types of retirement accounts they have can affect their timeline💰 How to bridge the gap for healthcare and other expenses before Medicare💰 And why good retirement planning sometimes means hearing “not yet” — especially if the goal is to enjoy retirement rather than simply spend as little as possibleRetirement isn't just about whether you can stop working. It's about whether your financial plan can support the retirement you actually want.Have a topic you'd like us to discuss? Let us know!______Schwarz Investment Partners | Professional Retirement Planning Services in Silver Lake, Kansas#RetirementPlanning #Investing #BecomingCentsible #KansasRetirement #RetirementReady #RetirementIncome

What does it actually mean to be “retirement ready”?

In this episode of Becoming Centsible, we walk through three fictional Kansas households — public employees, a farm family and small-business owners — and explore the different challenges each faces as they approach retirement.

We discuss pensions, farmland, business assets, Social Security, taxes, healthcare, retirement income and timing — and why there isn't one magic number that determines whether someone is ready to retire.

Retirement planning is personal. The right plan depends on how all the pieces fit together.

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Schwarz Investment Partners | Professional Retirement Planning Services in Silver Lake, Kansas

#RetirementPlanning #Investing #BecomingCentsible #KansasRetirement #RetirementReady #RetirementIncome

How early should you start teaching your kids about money? Probably earlier than you think.In this episode of Becoming Centsible, we talk about the importance of helping kids develop healthy money habits from an early age — including how to save, spend, give and invest.Mark and Joe discuss practical ways parents can make money an interactive learning experience, from opening an investment account when kids are young and showing them how compound growth works to letting older children invest a small amount of their own money.They also discuss:Why talking openly with your kids about money matters- How to introduce kids to saving, spending, giving and investing- The power of starting early and giving compound interest more time to work- How 529 plans can help parents save for education- Roth IRAs for older kids who have earned income- Ways to encourage kids to become interested in investing- Why letting kids experience both the ups and downs of the market can be part of the learning processThe goal isn't to turn kids into financial experts. It's to help them build confidence, curiosity and good habits around money — one lesson at a time.Have a topic you'd like us to discuss? Let us know!#RetirementPlanning #Investing #BecomingCentsible #KidInvestors

When you think about investment risk, what comes to mind? A market downturn? Watching your account balance fall? Volatility?

👇 Read Mark's article "What is Real Risk?":

https://schwarzinvestmentpartners.com/what-is-the-real-risk/

In this episode of Becoming Centsible, we take a closer look at what risk really means—and why the risks that matter most may not always show up on your investment statement.

We discuss the difference between short-term market volatility and the longer-term risks that can affect your financial future, including inflation, longevity, and the consequences of making investment decisions based on fear.

Based in Silver Lake, Kansas, Schwarz Investment Partners works with individuals and families throughout Midwest Kansas and beyond.

🎙️ Becoming Centsible is a podcast from Schwarz Investment Partners, where we talk about investing, retirement, money, and the financial decisions that matter in everyday life.

Have a topic you'd like us to discuss? Let us know!

#marketvolatility #investing #financialrisks

Retirement isn’t just about saving enough money—it’s about knowing how to use it once you get there.After years of earning, saving and investing, retirement flips the equation. Instead of building your portfolio, you’re now relying on it to help support your lifestyle.So how do you turn your retirement savings into a reliable paycheck?In this episode of Becoming Centsible, we talk through some of the most common retirement withdrawal strategies, including:💰 The 4% rule and how it can be used as a starting point🪣 The bucket strategy for organizing retirement savings📊 Flexible withdrawals and sequence-of-returns risk💵 Living off dividends, interest and other investment income🧾 How taxes and different account types can affect withdrawal decisions🎧 Listen to Becoming Centsible:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BecomingCentsibleApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/becoming-centsible/id6802724171👍 Enjoy the episode? Follow Becoming Centsible so you don't miss the next topic!💬 Have a question about money, investing, or retirement? Let us know—we may answer it on a future episode.Professional Retirement Planning Services in Silver Lake, KS#RetirementPlanning #Investing #BecomingCentsible

Saving money sounds simple—but what are you really saving for?In this episode of Becoming Centsible, we take a closer look at the role saving plays in building wealth and creating financial freedom. Saving isn't just about retirement or reaching a specific financial goal. It's about giving your future self more options, creating a margin for life's unexpected moments, and gaining greater control over your time.We talk about why you don't always need a specific reason to save, the difference between looking wealthy and actually building wealth, how lifestyle inflation can work against you, and why your savings rate may matter more than chasing the perfect investment return.Because the ultimate benefit of saving may not be having more money someday—it may be having more choices when that day comes.Becoming Centsible is a podcast located in Silver Lake, Kansas covering topics about money, investing, and life. Real conversations from right here in the Midwest.Subscribe to follow along with future episodes.#BecomingCentsible #SavingMoney #PersonalFinance #FinancialFreedom #Investing #BuildingWealth

How much is enough?It’s a simple question—but one that can be surprisingly difficult to answer.In this episode of Becoming Centsible, we explore the idea of “enough” and why constantly chasing more can sometimes keep us from enjoying what we’ve already built. We discuss the importance of knowing when you have enough to live the life you actually want.Money isn’t just about having more. It’s about security, freedom, options, and time.We’ll talk about:

• What “enough” really means
• Why there’s always a temptation to want more
• The difference between financial success and financial security
• How lifestyle inflation can change our definition of enough
• Why knowing your personal “enough” can be one of the most important financial decisions you make

#BecomingCentsible #Investing #FinancialSuccess

Building wealth doesn't happen overnight—and successful investing isn't necessarily about finding the next big winner.In this episode of Becoming Centsible, we talk about the incredible power of compounding, why Warren Buffett's greatest advantage may have been time, and what it really means to stay invested through market downturns, uncertainty, and life's unexpected detours.We also explore three ways to become a more resilient investor: building a financially unbreakable foundation, creating a plan that expects setbacks, and staying optimistic about the future while preparing for what could go wrong.Because when it comes to growing wealth, sometimes the most important thing you can do is simply stay in the game.