Your Money. Your Mission.

Estate planning isn’t only for the wealthy. It’s for anyone who has property, assets, money and, most importantly, wishes about how those should be handled. SVP Director of Wealth Strategy, Joe Maier and VP Wealth and Estate Administrator, Liz Pfeuffer sit down to demystify estate planning and explain why even a simple plan can make a big difference for your family. They cover the real consequences of not having a plan, the documents you should have in place and the first steps you should take.

In this episode:

• 00:00 – 04:46: Why You Need an Estate Plan
• 04:47 – 14:18: Start with Powers of Attorney
• 14:19 – 26:17: Comparing Wills vs. Trusts
• 26:18 – 34:44: Your First Steps and Closing

Additional resources:

• You Better Think… About Your Financial Legacy | Johnson Financial Group 
• Understanding Estate Planning Tools and Their Purposes | Johnson Financial Group
• Estate Planning for Digital Assets and Accounts: What You Need to Know | Johnson Financial Group
• The Retirement Roadmap: A Guide for Each Decade | Johnson Financial Group

In this episode, SVP Director of Consumer, Private and Small Business Banking, Al Araque sits down with SVP Private Client Services, Kathy Ciszewski and VP Private Banking, Mark Rose, who've guided clients through the empty-nest transition and lived it themselves. Together they discuss the yo-yo reality of kids leaving and coming back, the identity shift of rediscovering who you are beyond parenting and why this milestone is the perfect excuse to revisit your financial plan.

In this episode:

• 00:00 – 08:04: What Empty Nesting Looks Like in 2026
• 08:05 – 14:54: The Emotions of Becoming an Empty Nester
• 14:55 – 18:48: Identity Shifts and Finding Purpose
• 18:49 – 22:03: The Importance of Communication
• 22:04 – 27:40: Investing in Relationships
• 27:41 – 33:45: Updating Your Financial Plan
• 33:46 – 36:42: How We Help Empty Nester Clients
• 36:43 – 40:04: The Mindset Shift You Should Have
• 40:05 – 45:37: How to Guide Adult Children and Closing

Additional resources:

• The Retirement Roadmap: A Guide for Each Decade | Johnson Financial Group
• What Is The Great Wealth Transfer? | Johnson Financial Group
• Wealth Transfer Strategies: How to Protect What You’ve Built | Johnson Financial Group
• The Sandwich Generation: Balancing Caregiving, Parenting and Finances | Johnson Financial Group
• Starting Over After 50: The Realities of Gray Divorce | Johnson Financial Group

In this episode, CEO Jim Popp turns the tables and hands the mic to three of Johnson Financial Group's summer interns, Joey Flaherty, Will Cardwell and Alyssa Ray, who just wrapped eight weeks rotating across wealth, treasury and operations. Together they discuss the gap between what college teaches and what you actually need to know about money, why the best mentors are the ones you stumble into naturally and how human connection stays a competitive advantage in an AI-powered world. Jim also opens up about the career and financial advice he wishes he'd had in his twenties.

In this episode:

• 00:00 – 07:54: Intro and What They’ve Learned
• 07:55 – 16:48: Finance and Career Advice Q&A with Jim
• 16:49 – 23:06: The Intern’s Perspectives on the Future of Work and AI
• 23:07 – 25:29: How to Get Your First Job
• 25:30 – 26:47: The Importance of Mentorship
• 26:48 – 30:45: Final Takeaways and Advice for College Students

Additional resources:

• Young Professionals Hub | Johnson Financial Group
• Young Professionals: Here’s How to Manage Your Money | Johnson Financial Group
• Money Mindset: Building a Healthy Financial Foundation | Johnson Financial Group
• The Retirement Roadmap: A Guide for Each Decade | Johnson Financial Group

College costs are rising faster than inflation, somewhere in the 5 to 6% range every year, and financial aid rules keep shifting, leaving many families unsure of where to even begin. In this episode, CIO, Dominic Ceci sits down with SVP Wealth Advisor, Eric Bernal and VP Private Banking, Meg Marciniak, who work with families on these questions every day. Together they break down the savings vehicles, tackle common misconceptions and explain why the hardest part of the whole process is simply getting started. 

In this episode:

• 00:00 – 04:16: Rising Costs and Busting College Savings Myths
• 04:17 – 08:37: 529 Plans, Custodial Accounts and Trump Accounts
• 08:38 – 10:59: Balancing Savings for College and Other Expenses
• 11:00 – 15:05: Grandparents, Gifting and the New FAFSA Rules
• 15:06 – 18:11: Getting Started and Letting Compounding Work
• 18:12 – 21:57: Final Tips and Closing

Additional resources: 

• The Best Ways to Save for College | Johnson Financial Group
• The Retirement Roadmap: A Guide for Each Decade | Johnson Financial Group
• College Savings Strategy: A Dad/Portfolio Manager’s Perspective on Giving, Debt, and Financial Wisdom | Johnson Financial Group

In this episode of the Your Money Your Mission podcast, SVP Director of Wealth Strategy, Joe Maier and SVP Private Client Banking Leader, Jackie Ruppel cover the estate planning tools most families don't fully understand, debunk common myths and explain why having a solid team make all the difference. The episode also covers the looming estate tax exemption sunset, the real difference between revocable and irrevocable trusts and the underserved role of women as wealth inheritors. The overarching message: A successful wealth transfer is built on communication, preparation and a team of advocates — not just the paperwork.

In this episode:

• 00:00 – 07:22: Intro and Bridging the “Why” to “How”
• 07:23 – 13:10: Busting Estate Planning Myths
• 13:11 – 21:59: Estate Tax Exemptions, Attorneys and Probate
• 22:00 –  31:18: Types of Trust Structures
• 31:19 – 36:42: Navigating Gifting and Gifting Limits
• 36:43 –  40:01: Preparing Children for Wealth
• 40:02 – 45:04: The Great Wealth Transfer’s Impact on Women
• 45:05 – 50:24: Building Your Advisory Team

Additional resources:

• What Is The Great Wealth Transfer? | Johnson Financial Group
• The Gift of a Family Meeting: Planning, Legacy & Love | Johnson Financial Group
• Understanding Estate Planning Tools and Their Purposes | Johnson Financial Group
• Transferring Wealth | Johnson Financial Group

In this episode of the Your Money Your Mission podcast, SVP Director of Wealth Strategy, Joe Maier and SVP Private Client Banking Leader, Jackie Ruppel unpack what the Great Wealth Transfer actually means. From the fear of raising entitled kids to the power of the family meeting, this episode is a candid, research-backed conversation about what it takes to transfer not just assets but the values and purpose that built them.

In this episode:

• 00:00 – 03:45: What is the Great Wealth Transfer?
• 03:46 – 07:45: Transferring Values Between Generations
• 07:46 – 11:05: Defining Wealth and Your Impact
• 11:06 – 20:21: Bridging Communication Gaps with Family Meetings
• 20:22 – 27:42: The Benefits of Family Meetings
• 27:43 – 30:30: Navigating In-Laws and Blended Families in Conversations
• 30:31 – 36:03: How to Start the Conversation and Final Tips

Additional resources:

• The Gift of a Family Meeting: Planning, Legacy & Love | Johnson Financial Group
• Understanding Estate Planning Tools and Their Purposes | Johnson Financial Group
• Transferring Wealth | Johnson Financial Group

In part two of our two-part divorce series, former court commissioner and VP Wealth and Estate Administrator, Liz Pfeuffer, goes beyond the basics and into the questions that actually keep people up at night: What happens to the family home? How do we divide the 401(k)? What counts as income when calculating child support? And what on earth do we do with cryptocurrency? 

Whether you're navigating a divorce yourself or know someone who is, this episode is packed with the specifics that matter most because in family law, the details are everything.

Missed part one? Tune in to our previous episode to understand what documents to gather before filing, navigating legal representation and the critical role of the Financial Disclosure Statement. 

In this episode:

• 00:00 – 05:46: Debunking Common Divorce Myths
• 05:47 – 08:08: How to Decide on the Family Home
• 08:09 – 18:56: The Ins and Outs of Child Support
• 18:57 – 22:43: Financial Infidelity and Hidden Assets
• 22:44 – 28:37: Complex Situations: Crypto and Business Valuations
• 28:38 – 33:36: Inheritance and Retirement Accounts
• 33:37 – 42:32: Your Financial Life After Divorce
• 42:33 – 46:11: Final Tips and Closing

Additional resources:

• The Retirement Roadmap: A Guide for Each Decade | Johnson Financial Group
• Happily Ever After (or Not): Legal and Financial Realities of Relationships | Johnson Financial Group
• Starting Over After 50: The Realities of Gray Divorce | Johnson Financial Group
• Family Estrangement: How to Navigate Financial Implications and Find Peace | Johnson Financial Group

Divorce is one of the most emotionally and financially complex transitions a person can face and walking into it unprepared can cost far more than anticipated. In part one of this two-part series, former court commissioner and VP Wealth and Estate Administrator, Liz Pfeuffer, breaks down the financial side of divorce.

We cover what documents to gather before filing, how to navigate legal representation (and why that "bulldog" attorney might not be your best bet), the critical role of the Financial Disclosure Statement, how marital debt works in Wisconsin and why the decisions made in a divorce are — in most cases — permanent. Whether contemplating divorce or in the thick of it, this episode delivers courtroom-tested guidance into actionable next steps.

Stay tuned for part two which will cover cryptocurrency, marital waste, the family home and common divorce myths!

In this episode:

• 00:00 – 03:57: Intro and Documents to Gather Before Filing
• 03:58– 10:55: The Importance of Legal Representation
• 10:56– 20:34: Financial Disclosure Statements and Marital Debt
• 20:35 – 24:30: Professional Guidance After the Divorce
• 24:31 – 26:52: Final Tips and Preview of Navigating Divorce Part 2

Additional resources:

• The Retirement Roadmap: A Guide for Each Decade | Johnson Financial Group
• Happily Ever After (or Not): Legal and Financial Realities of Relationships | Johnson Financial Group
• Starting Over After 50: The Realities of Gray Divorce | Johnson Financial Group
• Family Estrangement: How to Navigate Financial Implications and Find Peace | Johnson Financial Group

Think buying a home right now is impossible? Think again. In this episode of Your Money. Your Mission., AVP Senior Community Mortgage Loan Officer, Sara Whitley and VP Mortgage Field Manager, Tony Petrie cut through the noise and give you the real story about today's housing market. Whether you're a first-time buyer intimidated by the process or a seasoned homeowner ready to make your next move, this conversation is packed with practical advice you can actually use. We're busting myths (like that 20% down payment requirement), explaining why current interest rates are completely normal and sharing insider strategies for winning in a competitive market without breaking the bank.

In this episode:

• 00:00 – 05:14: Intro and Current Market Reality
• 05:15 – 10:40: Getting Started Right
• 10:41 – 23:30: Understanding the Numbers
• 23:31 – 30:45: Winning in a Competitive Market
• 30:46 – 38:35: Avoiding Common Pitfalls
• 38:36 – 40:35: Words of Encourage for Today’s Buyers

Additional resources:

• First-Time Homebuyer Resources | Johnson Financial Group
• Experienced Buyer Resources | Johnson Financial Group
• How to Get Pre-Approved for a Mortgage: 4 Easy Steps | Johnson Financial Group
• Selling Your Home: 10 Financial Considerations | Johnson Financial Group

In this episode, President and Owner of LaMacchia Travel Agency, Tom Karnes and Travel Agent from Hakuna MaTravels, Elliott Hogan explore the full landscape of planning meaningful multigenerational family trips — from managing budgets for large groups to navigating modern safety concerns like social media risks and currency exchange traps. You'll discover why the most successful family vacations actually involve less planning, not more, and how travel creates unique opportunities to teach kids about gratitude and paying it forward. Whether you're planning your first trip or looking to improve an existing tradition, this conversation offers practical strategies for creating memories that last a lifetime.

In this episode:

• 00:00 – 07:35: Financial Planning and Budgeting 
• 07:36 – 09:49: International Currency and Money Tips
• 09:50 – 17:11: Safety for Different Generations
• 17:12 – 22:55: Building Traditions and Creating Memories
• 22:56 – 26:51: Creating Annual Traditions and Final Tips

Additional resources:

• 4 Essential Financial Tips for Traveling Abroad