This year's Fourth of July carries a little extra weight as we celebrate 250 years of American independence, and that's worth a moment. But between the hot dogs, the parades, and the fireworks, we started thinking about how many of our favorite holiday traditions have a pretty natural financial parallel. So that's what we're doing today… and the comparisons might surprise you.

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SPC Investing: http://spcinvesting.com/  

Schedule A Visit: https://talkstomike.com/

It's summer — and nothing says summer quite like Tom Cruise as Maverick soaring across the sky in Top Gun. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the original film, and with Tom Cruise's birthday on July 3rd, we figured it was the perfect excuse to revisit some of the most iconic quotes from the franchise and see what they have to say about your financial life.

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SPC Investing: http://spcinvesting.com/  

Schedule A Visit: https://talkstomike.com/

When retirement is around the corner, some of the biggest decisions aren’t about when to retire; they’re about how income continues if one spouse is gone. Pension options can look straightforward on paper, but the tradeoffs behind them are anything but. Today, we’re walking through a listener question that highlights a common decision couples face.

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SPC Investing: http://spcinvesting.com/  

Schedule A Visit: https://talkstomike.com/

We're doing something a little different today. Three listeners wrote in with variations of the same question- am I ready to retire in 2026? Same question, three very different situations, three very different answers.  

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SPC Investing: http://spcinvesting.com/  

Schedule A Visit: https://talkstomike.com/

We heard from a listener who has managed their own money for years and done well. So why would they need an advisor now that retirement is around the corner?

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SPC Investing: http://spcinvesting.com/  

Schedule A Visit: https://talkstomike.com/

A new proposal out of Washington is adding a fresh angle to the Social Security solvency debate. Today, we're breaking down what's proposed, if it might cost you money in the future, and what questions it raises for anyone planning around Social Security right now.

Show Links & Info:

SPC Investing: http://spcinvesting.com/  

Schedule A Visit: https://talkstomike.com/

This week on Strategic Planning, the team answers listener questions about smart financial decisions as retirement approaches. They discuss what to do with extra cash flow after paying off your mortgage, options for covering health insurance if you retire before Medicare eligibility, and how taxes work when withdrawing money from retirement accounts. Tune in for practical insights to help you think through these common retirement planning challenges.

Show Links & Info:

SPC Investing: http://spcinvesting.com/  

Schedule A Visit: https://talkstomike.com/

Nobody likes tax season. But for new retirees, it can come with a few unwelcome surprises. The rules have changed, the income sources have shifted, and strategies that made sense during your working years may no longer apply. Today we're looking at some of the biggest tax mistakes retirees make as discussed in a recent Kiplinger article and whether these match what we see in the real world. 

Show Links & Info:

SPC Investing: http://spcinvesting.com/  

Schedule A Visit: https://talkstomike.com/

When a parent passes away, emotions and finances tend to collide, especially when real estate is involved. One of the most common things that stalls families is fear of taxes, even when that fear isn’t fully understood. Today’s listener question is about an inherited home and hesitant siblings.

Show Links & Info:

SPC Investing: http://spcinvesting.com/  

Schedule A Visit: https://talkstomike.com/

Everyone’s got an opinion about money (especially the people with a book deal or a TV show). Some of that advice is useful. Some of it sounds better on a stage than it works in real life. Let’s break it down.

Show Links & Info:

SPC Investing: http://spcinvesting.com/  

Schedule A Visit: https://talkstomike.com/