The Asset Preservation Hour

In this episode of The Asset Preservation Hour, financial advisor Stewart Willis and host Spike Spengel take on one of the most overlooked challenges facing retirees today: longevity. With Americans living longer than ever, Stewart explains why the real risk in retirement is not dying too soon, but living long enough to face rising healthcare costs, long-term care needs, and increased financial strain.

The conversation dives into the realities of long-term care planning, including why so many families are unprepared for dementia, Alzheimer’s, and extended care situations. Stewart shares powerful real-world examples that highlight what can happen when caretakers are unavailable, plans are incomplete, or families assume loved ones will simply “figure it out.”

You’ll also learn why estate planning documents, medical directives, and powers of attorney are essential to protecting your wishes and relieving your family of impossible decisions. The episode addresses solo retirees, blended families, and the risks of assuming the wrong person will step in during a crisis. Plus, Stewart breaks down why preservation-focused investing matters in retirement and how taking too much risk late in life can undo decades of hard work.

If you want to protect your family, your independence, and your financial security as you live longer, this episode offers clear guidance on how to plan ahead and avoid becoming a burden on those you love.

📞 Call 877-5-RETIRE or visit AssetPreservationWealth.com to schedule your complimentary retirement, estate, and portfolio review.

In this powerful episode of The Asset Preservation Hour, financial advisor Stewart Willis and host Spike Spengel explore why having money alone does not guarantee a fulfilling or secure retirement. Stewart explains how retirement readiness is less about net worth and more about cash flow, purpose, timing, and the people you want to enjoy life with.

You’ll hear a deeply personal story that highlights how quickly life plans can change and why waiting too long to enjoy retirement can be just as risky as retiring too early. Stewart breaks down common misconceptions about “having enough,” why budgeting and cash flow modeling are the foundation of retirement confidence, and how small decisions like Social Security timing can dramatically impact quality of life.

The episode also dives into risk management in retirement, including how much risk is appropriate as you approach or enter retirement, and why preservation matters more than chasing returns. Plus, Stewart shares cautionary lessons from a high-profile life insurance case, explaining how poorly designed insurance products and commission-driven advice can derail even the most successful individuals.

If you’re asking yourself whether you’re truly ready to retire, who would benefit from you having a plan, or how to protect yourself from costly financial mistakes, this episode offers honest guidance and real-world perspective to help you move forward with confidence.

📞 Call 877-5-RETIRE or visit AssetPreservationWealth.com to schedule your complimentary retirement and portfolio review.

In this episode of The Asset Preservation Hour, financial advisor Stewart Willis and host Spike Spengel explore how political cycles influence market performance and what that means for your retirement plan. With emotions running high around elections and leadership changes, Stewart explains why investors often react more to headlines than historical data and how that behavior can lead to costly mistakes.

The discussion breaks down market trends during presidential cycles, including why first years tend to show optimism, second years often bring volatility, and how long-term investors can still benefit by staying properly positioned. Stewart also explains why year-end is the most critical time for tax planning, especially when it comes to Roth conversions, tax bracket management, and taking advantage of today’s historically lower tax rates.

You’ll also hear why money markets and CDs are becoming less attractive as interest rates shift, how diversification helps protect against political and market uncertainty, and why risk tolerance must align with your stage of retirement. Plus, the episode highlights the growing financial dangers of online sports betting and how it can quietly undermine long-term financial security.

If you’re concerned about market volatility, political uncertainty, or missing critical year-end tax opportunities, this episode provides clarity, perspective, and actionable planning insights.

📞 Call 877-5-RETIRE or visit AssetPreservationWealth.com to schedule your complimentary Roth conversion, tax, and portfolio review.

In this episode of The Asset Preservation Hour, financial advisor Stewart Willis breaks down the estate planning strategies every family should understand to avoid probate, protect privacy, and reduce conflict after you’re gone. Joined by host Spike Spengel, Stewart explains why revocable living trusts are the foundation of most solid estate plans and when irrevocable trusts may make sense.

You’ll learn how trusts help business owners create smoother succession plans, why wills alone often lead straight into probate, and how blended families face unique estate planning risks if plans are not handled properly. Stewart also shares real-life stories that highlight what can go wrong when estate planning is delayed or poorly designed, especially when stepchildren, remarriages, or unequal inheritances are involved.

The conversation also covers how estate plans intersect with retirement planning, creditor protection, long-term care concerns, and why working with fiduciaries matters when making legacy decisions. If your goal is to protect your family, your assets, and your wishes while minimizing stress for the next generation, this episode offers practical guidance you can act on now.

📞 Call 877-5-RETIRE or visit AssetPreservationWealth.com to schedule your complimentary estate planning and portfolio review.

In this episode of The Asset Preservation Hour, financial advisor Stewart Willis examines why so many retirees and pre retirees hesitate to seek professional financial advice, even as uncertainty and financial anxiety continue to rise. Stewart and Spike Spengel break down recent findings from the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies that reveal just how few Americans over 50 work with an advisor, despite widespread fears of running out of money.

The discussion explores why many people try to manage retirement on their own, the risks of relying on flat spreadsheets, and how emotional bias and misinformation can lead to costly long term mistakes. Stewart explains why wealthy families tend to rely on advisors, the importance of diversification not just of investments but of perspectives, and why having a neutral third party can be critical in today’s complex financial environment.

You will also hear insights on Social Security concerns, growing national debt, inflation, and the likelihood of increased taxation on retirement income. Stewart shares why proactive tax planning strategies such as Roth conversions and thoughtful contribution planning can help retirees maintain flexibility and confidence.

The episode also highlights the value of starting retirement planning early, building healthy financial habits across generations, and preparing children and grandchildren for long term financial success.

If you are uncertain about your retirement future or wondering whether professional guidance could make a difference, this episode provides data driven insight and practical perspective to help you make more informed decisions. 

📞 Call 877-5-RETIRE or visit AssetPreservationWealth.com to schedule your complimentary retirement readiness and portfolio review.

In this episode of The Asset Preservation Hour, financial advisor Stewart Willis explains how to determine whether you are truly ready to retire and why retirement readiness goes far beyond hitting a savings number. Stewart and Spike Spengel discuss the emotional and behavioral challenges retirees face, including the fear of spending money, anxiety over taxes, and concerns about Medicare penalties.

You will learn why simple rules of thumb and flat spreadsheets often fall short, and how detailed cash flow planning and Monte Carlo simulations help create a more realistic retirement roadmap. Stewart also shares real stories about subscription overspending, borrowing from 401k plans, lifestyle habits that delay retirement, and the costly mistakes people make when they fail to plan ahead.

The episode also emphasizes the importance of early planning, involving spouses and children, having proper estate planning documents in place, and using smart strategies such as Roth 401k contributions and catch up provisions during your final working years.

If you want clarity, confidence, and a retirement plan that supports your lifestyle while protecting your family, this episode delivers practical guidance and real world insight to help you retire on your terms. 

📞 Call 877-5-RETIRE or visit AssetPreservationWealth.com to schedule your complimentary portfolio and retirement planning review.

In this episode of The Asset Preservation Hour, financial advisor Stewart Willis explains how Social Security cost of living adjustments, rising Medicare premiums, and required minimum distributions can quietly reduce your retirement income. Stewart breaks down why a Social Security raise does not always mean more money in your pocket and how Medicare increases and IRMA penalties can create a net loss for many retirees.

You will learn how provisional income really works, why Social Security becomes taxable for so many people, and how outdated income thresholds are pulling more retirees into higher tax exposure every year. Stewart also dives into inherited IRAs, the end of the stretch IRA, and how compressed distribution rules can turn retirement savings into a tax time bomb if not planned properly.

The conversation also covers Roth conversions, Roth 401k strategies later in life, and why tax planning must be coordinated with Social Security and RMD decisions. If you want to reduce unnecessary taxes, protect your income, and build a smarter retirement plan, this episode delivers clear explanations and actionable guidance.

📞 Call 877-5-RETIRE or visit AssetPreservationWealth.com to schedule your complimentary portfolio review and tax planning analysis.

In this episode of The Asset Preservation Hour, financial advisor Stewart Willis breaks down the most common tax and retirement planning mistakes he sees during the busiest season of the year. From understanding why tax preparation and tax planning are two very different things to knowing when a Roth conversion actually makes sense, Stewart explains why proactive planning is critical while today’s tax environment is still favorable.

You will hear real stories about layoffs, early Social Security decisions, severance packages, and how unplanned taxable income can trigger penalties that surprise retirees. Stewart also discusses why so many Americans are delaying retirement, how longer life expectancy and inflation are reshaping retirement timelines, and why having savings is not the same as having an income plan.

If you want to avoid unnecessary taxes, protect your Social Security, and build a retirement strategy that accounts for Medicare premiums, cash flow, and long term stability, this episode delivers practical guidance and clear next steps.

📞 Call 877-5-RETIRE or visit AssetPreservationWealth.com to schedule your complimentary portfolio review and retirement readiness report.

In this episode of The Asset Preservation Hour, financial advisor Stewart Willis and host Spike Spengel pick up their conversation on required minimum distributions and why the timing of your very first RMD can create a surprise tax problem. Stewart explains the special rule that lets you delay that first withdrawal until April of the following year, and why doing that can force you to take two RMDs in one tax year, potentially pushing you into higher brackets and triggering more tax on Social Security and Medicare surcharges. He also walks through how qualified charitable distributions work, how they differ from just writing a check to your church, and why QCDs can be a powerful way for tithers and regular givers over age seventy and a half to support causes they love without increasing their taxable income. 

From there, the focus shifts to Medicare open enrollment and the wave of commercials that hit every fall. Stewart explains why the plan and supplements you choose really matter, what Medicare does not cover such as long term nursing and custodial care, and the pros and cons of traditional long term care insurance versus self insurance strategies that are built into a broader financial plan. He shares personal stories about his own family, the realities of rising care costs, and why couples especially those with an age gap need to coordinate their Medicare and long term care decisions instead of simply copying each other’s elections. 

Stewart also talks about how his team uses cash flow analysis and Monte Carlo simulations to test different life and health scenarios, so clients can see whether their portfolios can support better coverage, higher medical costs or an unexpected long stay in care without running out of money. The episode wraps with an invitation to review your Medicare choices, your risk level and your overall retirement readiness so you can feel confident about the path you are on.

📞 Call 877-5-RETIRE or visit AssetPreservationWealth.com to schedule your complimentary portfolio review, Medicare discussion and retirement readiness analysis.

In this episode of The Asset Preservation Hour, financial advisor Stewart Willis and host Spike Spengel dig into why so many Americans are delaying retirement and what it really means to be ready. Stewart talks about clients who keep working long after they can afford to, the difference between financial readiness and emotional readiness, and why losing the community of coworkers can make retirement feel harder than the math suggests. He also shares stories from the office, from engineers with complicated spreadsheets to retirees who suddenly realize they actually made it.

You will hear how purpose, social connection and an active mind matter just as much as your account balance, along with ideas for working or volunteering by choice instead of necessity. Then Stewart shifts to the rising importance of required minimum distributions, what really happens when Uncle Sam comes for his share of your tax deferred accounts, and why waiting and only spending down bank cash can backfire later in retirement.

Stewart breaks down how RMDs work with multiple accounts, why spouses each have their own separate RMD rules, and how easy it can be to make costly mistakes if you try to manage it alone. He explains how a thoughtful tax plan, including strategic Roth conversions while taxes are still on sale, can help you use today’s brackets more efficiently and avoid surprise taxes and penalties in the future. If you are in or near retirement and feeling uncertain about when to stop working or how RMDs fit into your plan, this episode will give you clarity and a path forward. 

📞 Call 877-5-RETIRE or visit AssetPreservationWealth.com to schedule your complimentary tax and RMD review and portfolio analysis.