Welcome to a new week here on the Retirement Quick Tips podcast! 

I’m your host Ashley Micciche, co-owner of True North Retirement Advisors, an independent financial advisory practice managing $340 million in client assets. I’m a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor, and I started this podcast because I love helping people just like you gain clarity and make a plan for the retirement you envision. 

The theme this week on the podcast is: When Should I Hire A Financial Advisor?

Many years ago when my husband and I were newlyweds and living in our first home, we decided it was time to clean the gutters. Actually it was sort of an emergency, get-it-done-right now situation because our gutters were totally clogged, and there was a big fall storm coming to our area with heavy rainfall in the forecast. Even with light rain our gutters had been overflowing. So we got out there on the ladder, and we decided that I would get up on the ladder, grab the sludge out of the gutter and my husband would stand below as I plopped handfuls of God-only-knows into a bucket. 

At first it was a bit of an adventure, and it felt good to be DIYing this important home care task. But that’s where the fun ended. Just as I was beginning to have fun, I pulled a dead bird out of the gutter and nearly vomited on my husbands head. Reaching into the gutter for mystery handfuls after that was making me cringe, and I just wanted to get the job done. 

Then my husband had to move a large pot in our driveway so the ladder could fit. Well, he ended up throwing out his back, fell to the ground, laid in the driveway for about 10 minutes, until I helped him limp inside. 

He could barely move for the next couple of weeks, and after abandoning the rest of the gutter cleaning, and hundreds of dollars for physical therapy later, we decided that we would hire someone in the future to clean our gutters, rather than doing it ourselves. 

Knowing when to hire a financial advisor can be tricky to figure out. You’ll need to weigh the cost and benefits of hiring an advisor vs. going it alone. Some things in life are worth tackling on your own, and other things are best left to someone who has done the job thousands of times and has the expertise to do a good job. 

So this week, I’ll talk about:

• Hiring A Financial Advisor vs. DIY
• Benefits Of Hiring A Financial Advisor
• Several different life situations where hiring a financial advisor is essential in my opinion
• And if you’ve made the decision that you need to consider hiring a financial advisor, I’ll give you some Questions To Ask A Financial Advisor Before Hiring One

That’s it for today. Thanks for listening! Come on back tomorrow where I’ll talk about when to hire a financial advisor and when to go it alone. 

My name is Ashley Micciche...and this is the Retirement Quick Tips podcast.

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>>> Visit the podcast page: https://truenorthra.com/podcast/ 

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Tags: retirement, investing, money, finance, financial planning, retirement planning, saving money, personal finance

It’s Sunday, which means...it’s recap time here on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast

This week the theme was: 5 Personal Finance Rules for 20-Somethings

Thank you so much for listening this week! If you’re enjoying the podcast, chances are someone else you know who is getting close to retirement could also benefit from checking it out, so please share the show with a friend, a neighbor, your sister, or your boss. Just go to your favorite podcasting app, hit the share icon, then text or email the show link to someone you know who is eyeing retirement. 

Thanks for sharing the love and spreading the word. I hope you have a blessed Sunday. My name is Ashley Micciche, this is the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast.

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>>> Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2DI2LSP

>>> Subscribe on Amazon Alexa: https://amzn.to/2xRKrCs

>>> Visit the podcast page: https://truenorthra.com/podcast/ 

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Tags: retirement, investing, money, finance, financial planning, retirement planning, saving money, personal finance

The theme this week on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast is: 5 Personal Finance Rules for 20-Somethings.

Today’s final money rule is: Never forget: God is the owner of everything. You are a steward

• What does this mean?
• My kids are my kids, in the sense that they don’t belong to anyone else. But they are also God’s children, and are entrusted to me. I have a tremendous responsibility to raise them in the faith and do everything I can to ensure that by the time they reach adulthood, they have a deep relationship with Jesus.
• Money works the same way. It’s your money in the sense that you have property rights and your house, car, 401k, etc. have your name on them. But the ultimate owner of everything you have is God. 
• I talked to one of my clients recently. She’s in her 40s, single, no kids, and makes about $350,000 a year. I was scratching my head because she had less than $100,000 saved for retirement, and is only saving about 3% of her income each year. At her age and income level, she should have a lot more saved. When I dug a little deeper, I discovered that she spends virtually everything she makes and has no breathing room in her finances for anything else. 
• Having the breathing room in your finances no matter if you make $350,000 or $35,000 a year is key to not being stressed about money all the time. 
• That breathing room is essential for living in a gospel-centered way with the income that you are a steward of, because it will allow you to be generous with your giving and make saving for the future possible. No breathing room means that every dollar you earn is selfishly spent on you and your needs alone. You are not being a steward, you are only acting in your own self-interest. 
• Practically this means that when you look at your finances, where is your money going every month. A good place to start is to make sure you’re not spending more on entertainment or eating out, or your particular fun category, than you are on charitable giving to your parish and other causes. If you flew first class on your last vacation, but you only put $5 a week in the collection basket, you’re not acting like a steward. 

That’s it for today. Thanks for listening! My name is Ashley Micciche and this is the Retirement Quick Tips podcast. 

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>>> Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2DI2LSP

>>> Subscribe on Amazon Alexa: https://amzn.to/2xRKrCs

>>> Visit the podcast page: https://truenorthra.com/podcast/ 

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Tags: retirement, investing, money, finance, financial planning, retirement planning, saving money, personal finance

The theme this week on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast is: 5 Personal Finance Rules for 20-Somethings.

Today’s money rule is: Learn how to prioritize your financial life. 

Correct order: emergency savings, eliminate debt, save for retirement, save for other goals. 

• Explain what each one means…

That’s it for today. Thanks for listening! My name is Ashley Micciche and this is the Retirement Quick Tips podcast. 

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>>> Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2DI2LSP

>>> Subscribe on Amazon Alexa: https://amzn.to/2xRKrCs

>>> Visit the podcast page: https://truenorthra.com/podcast/ 

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Tags: retirement, investing, money, finance, financial planning, retirement planning, saving money, personal finance

The theme this week on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast is: 5 Personal Finance Rules for 20-Somethings.

Today’s money rule is: Save as much as you can for retirement as early as you can. 

• Start where you are. Afford to save $10 or $20 a paycheck, do that. But the recommended amount to save for a comfortable retirement is 10% of your income each year. So the earlier you start working up to that, the less you’ll have to save over your lifetime. 
• If you have a 401k or other retirement plan at work, make sure you take advantage of any matching contributions. 

That’s it for today. Thanks for listening! My name is Ashley Micciche and this is the Retirement Quick Tips podcast. 

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>>> Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2DI2LSP

>>> Subscribe on Amazon Alexa: https://amzn.to/2xRKrCs

>>> Visit the podcast page: https://truenorthra.com/podcast/ 

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Tags: retirement, investing, money, finance, financial planning, retirement planning, saving money, personal finance

The theme this week on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast is: 5 Personal Finance Rules for 20-Somethings.

Today’s money rule is Never allow yourself to carry a balance on your credit card.

• I see the detailed finances of hundreds of my clients. No one who has built strong financial habits and is in control of their finances carries any credit card debt. The interest rates are insane, and if you have enough in emergency savings, there’s almost never a reason to not pay off your balance in full every month. If you have credit card debt, get rid of it now, and commit to never carrying a balance ever again. 

That’s it for today. Thanks for listening! My name is Ashley Micciche and this is the Retirement Quick Tips podcast. 

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>>> Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2DI2LSP

>>> Subscribe on Amazon Alexa: https://amzn.to/2xRKrCs

>>> Visit the podcast page: https://truenorthra.com/podcast/ 

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Tags: retirement, investing, money, finance, financial planning, retirement planning, saving money, personal finance

The theme this week on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast is: 5 Personal Finance Rules for 20-Somethings.

Today’s money rule is: Educate Yourself About Investment & Financial Accounts

If you don’t know what a Roth IRA is, and the difference between that and a Roth 401k, take a little time to research the basics of investing and financial accounts. 

• You don’t need to be a personal finance expert, but understanding the various investment vehicles and why you’d be crazy not to invest in a Roth will help you make smarter and more informed decisions about not just how much you save, but where those dollars will go. 

That’s it for today. Thanks for listening! My name is Ashley Micciche and this is the Retirement Quick Tips podcast. 

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>>> Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2DI2LSP

>>> Subscribe on Amazon Alexa: https://amzn.to/2xRKrCs

>>> Visit the podcast page: https://truenorthra.com/podcast/ 

----------

Tags: retirement, investing, money, finance, financial planning, retirement planning, saving money, personal finance

Welcome to a new week here on the Retirement Quick Tips podcast! 

I’m your host Ashley Micciche, co-owner of True North Retirement Advisors, an independent financial advisory practice managing $340 million in client assets. I’m a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor, and I started this podcast because I love helping people just like you gain clarity and make a plan for the retirement you envision. 

The theme this week on the podcast is: 5 Personal Finance Rules for 20-Somethings

[Intro about YCP talk]

• Back in 2013, Harold Pollack, a social scientist at the University of Chicago made a claim that all the financial advice you would ever need in life could fit onto one index card. He scribbled down his 9 pieces of advice onto a 4 x 6 index card, took a photo, shared it online, and the post went viral. 
• He then wrote a book about it and his idea is the inspiration of my own version of this, but for 20 & 30-somethings. If you can get these things right, most everything else in your financial life will fall into place.
• And most importantly, these are all habits and behaviors that are within your control, don’t require you to have a high income, and most importantly, by building a solid financial foundation early in adulthood, you won’t find yourself up to your eyeballs in debt with nothing saved for retirement when you’re 45. 

That’s it for today. Thanks for listening! Come on back tomorrow where I’ll talk about…

My name is Ashley Micciche...and this is the Retirement Quick Tips podcast.

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>>> Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2DI2LSP

>>> Subscribe on Amazon Alexa: https://amzn.to/2xRKrCs

>>> Visit the podcast page: https://truenorthra.com/podcast/ 

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Tags: retirement, investing, money, finance, financial planning, retirement planning, saving money, personal finance

It’s Sunday, which means...it’s recap time here on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast

This week the theme was: How To Spot & Avoid Get-Rich-Quick Schemes

In case you missed any episodes, here’s what I covered this week:

• How Social Media Has Changed Get-Rich-Quick Scams
• Can’t Miss Signs of a Get-Rich-Quick Scheme
• The Get-Rich-Quick Scheme You’ve Already Fallen For
• 5 Get-Rich-Quick Scams To Watch Out For

The most important takeaway from this week is: Get rich quick schemes come in a lot of different flavors. Some are completely legal and others are downright fraudulent scams. But the tell-tale signs to watch out for are always there, so look out for common themes to avoid flushing your money down the toilet and feeling robbed. 

Tomorrow I’m starting a brand new weekly theme: 5 Personal Finance Rules For 20-Somethings. Most of you listening aren’t in your 20s but many of you have children who are now young adults entering the workforce and trying to manage their money for the first time with no experience and little to no real training or education on how to do so.

I shared this advice at a talk I did for young professionals last week, it was a hit, and now I’m sharing it with you, so you can pass it along to your adult children. 

Thank you so much for listening this week! If you’re enjoying the podcast, chances are someone else you know who is getting close to retirement could also benefit from checking it out, so please share the show with a friend, a neighbor, your sister, or your boss. Just go to your favorite podcasting app, hit the share icon, then text or email the show link to someone you know who is eyeing retirement. 

Thanks for sharing the love and spreading the word. I hope you have a blessed Sunday. My name is Ashley Micciche, this is the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast.

----------

>>> Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2DI2LSP

>>> Subscribe on Amazon Alexa: https://amzn.to/2xRKrCs

>>> Visit the podcast page: https://truenorthra.com/podcast/ 

----------

Tags: retirement, investing, money, finance, financial planning, retirement planning, saving money, personal finance

The theme this week on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast is: How To Spot & Avoid Get-Rich-Quick Schemes

Today, I’m closing the week with 5 get-rich-quick schemes according to moneyunder30.com. 

1. New cryptocurrencies. The crypto market is full of scammers, and some have imploded in recent months as the tide went out on the crypto market. If you must buy bitcoin, which I don't recommend, it’s best to stay away from any new-fangled cryptocurrency and just stick with the old hats. 
2. Multi-level marketing companies. I might get some hate for this, because multilevel marketing companies (aka MLMs) are so popular. I can name at least 10 people I know personally, probably more, who have been or are currently involved in a MLM. These companies include Mary Kay, Rodan & Fields, Herbalife…the list goes on. “MLMs are notorious for using psychology and manipulation to lure unsuspecting income-seekers into their midst. Then, they squeeze capital out of them on the dangling promise of eventually multiplying their returns.” All of them promise that you’ll “become your own boss, get free training, and earn six figures in your first year!” Yet, according to the consumer awareness institute, 99% of people who join a MLM lose money.
3. Third is the lottery, which I talked about yesterday. According to moneyunder30.com, “A mass study on the lottery’s net impact on society found that “the percentage of income spent on the lottery is significantly higher for players with low family incomes and low education,” hence the lottery’s ignominious nickname: “a tax on the poor.”
4. Phony job listings, which have become more widespread with technology and work from home trends. The scam works something like this: Someone reaches out to you and They either say “no experience necessary” or that you’d be perfect for it, and since they want to fill the role right away, they’ll just do the interview via a chat window. Before your start date for your high-salary role, they’ll need to add you to payroll and benefits – so you’ll need to pass along your W-9, 1099, and/or a scan of your ID.” You can probably guess what happens next, now that they have your identity information. 
5. Illegitimate online business courses…”Bad online courses always seem like good investments upfront. They’re taught by people who’ve “made it” in the industry and who promise to tell you all of their “best money-making secrets.” They’re also sold to you at a weirdly high discount (e.g. 97% off) and sometimes, you even have to apply to be in the course. But crappy online courses aren’t just dangerous due to high cost and missed expectations – they can teach you the wrong things that actually hinder your progress and take months to unlearn. 

That’s it for today. Thanks for listening! My name is Ashley Micciche and this is the Retirement Quick Tips podcast. 

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>>> Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2DI2LSP

>>> Subscribe on Amazon Alexa: https://amzn.to/2xRKrCs

>>> Visit the podcast page: https://truenorthra.com/podcast/ 

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Tags: retirement, investing, money, finance, financial planning, retirement planning, saving money, personal finance