Mr. Stillman's Opus

Eat Smart & Spend Less with Katie Garrott

Ready to grow your wealth with confidence? Let’s talk! 👉 https://www.rosewoodwealthmanagement.com/schedule-an-appointment
☎️ 919-391-3446
📕 Download our free Eat Smart, Spend Less guide: https://thirdwheelmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Eat-Smart-Spend-Less-PDF.pdf
Feeling like your grocery bill needs its own 401(k)? You're not alone. In this episode, John sits down with Functional Medicine Nutritionist Katie Garrott to unpack one of the biggest myths in the wellness world: that healthy eating and saving money are mutually exclusive. Today, Katie offers our listeners simple, research-backed ways to eat nutrient-dense meals without destroying your financial goals.
Katie explains how focusing on nutrient density rather than calorie count can transform your meals and your budget, and how frozen foods, bulk bins, and lean proteins can help you eat clean without breaking the bank. They also dig into how processed foods, dyes, and preservatives can fuel inflammation, mood issues, and brain fog, quietly draining both your energy and your wallet. Plus, you’ll learn which parts of the animal store toxins so you can shop smarter. Tune in and learn how to make your pantry pull double duty, fueling your health and protecting your wallet.
Here’s what we discuss in this episode:
🛒 Why planning meals beats winging it (every time)
🧠 Decision fatigue, grocery store edition
🥜 How bulk nuts might just save your health and your wallet
💸 The real cost of cheap food (spoiler: it's not cheap)
💡 Meal templates = time and money saved
 
0:00 – Intro
0:52 – Katie’s Personal Journey into Functional Medicine
2:35 – Planning Meals like a Pro
5:12 – Eat Cheap or Eat Healthy? (The False Choice)
7:32 – Processed Foods: The Real Long-Term Cost
11:25 – Nutrient Density vs. Calorie Count
13:31 – Bulk Shopping Tips
16:16 – Frozen Food Hacks and Lean Protein Choices
18:29 – Shopping Tips & Meal Templates
22:45 – Where to Learn More from Katie
 
Connect with us:
Web: https://rosewoodwealthmanagement.com/
Phone: 919-391-3446
Schedule a Meeting: http://meetwithjohn.com
Check us out on YouTube: https://bit.ly/46RaLvL

Using the Wrong Tools May Costs You

This week, we're back on the farm with another hands-on financial lesson, because sometimes the best way to understand money is to get your boots dirty. In part two of our Finance Lessons from the Farm series, John breaks out a literal toolbox and a little dirt to teach a big concept: using the right financial tool for the right job. He walks through common missteps, explains how these mismatches happen, and shares how to rethink your approach so every tool in your financial plan is aligned with its intended purpose.
Just like you wouldn’t dig a hole with a four-foot level (seriously, don’t try it), you shouldn’t use life insurance as a long-term investment or stash your Roth IRA in bank CDs. These tools aren’t inherently bad, but they’re often wildly mismatched to the goals people expect them to accomplish. Tune in to make sure you’re using the right tools for the job.
Here’s what we discuss in this episode:
🛠️ Using life insurance the wrong way
🚜 The shovel-to-level investment analogy
🌳 Investing for long-term growth the right way
📦 Don’t let a product define your strategy
 
Connect with us:
Web: https://rosewoodwealthmanagement.com/
Phone: 919-391-3446
Schedule a Meeting: http://meetwithjohn.com
Check us out on YouTube: https://bit.ly/46RaLvL

The New Tax Code is Here

Ready to grow your wealth with confidence? Let’s talk! 👉 https://www.rosewoodwealthmanagement.com/schedule-an-appointment
☎️ 919-391-3446
 
Congress has passed and President Trump has signed the Big Beautiful Bill, which is our new tax code (along with a bunch of other things). While you might have a strong opinion on different aspects of this legislation, all we care about today is how it will impact tax planning and financial planning for people preparing for retirement.
We’re going to run through all of the major provisions in the new bill, along with some of the items that might need your attention this year. These changes, among others, highlight the importance of staying informed and adapting financial strategies to align with the new tax landscape. As we move forward, it's crucial for individuals and families to reassess their tax plans to take full advantage of the benefits available under the new code.
Here’s what we discuss in this episode:
📉 Tax brackets made permanent (no more 2025 cliff!)
🧾 New $12K deduction for couples over 65
🏡 SALT deduction cap raised from $10K to $40K
🚗 Deduct car loan interest (yes, really)
⚠️ Trump Accounts, student loan limits & EV credit phase-out
 
Connect with us:
Web: https://rosewoodwealthmanagement.com/
Phone: 919-391-3446
Schedule a Meeting: http://meetwithjohn.com
Check us out on YouTube: https://bit.ly/46RaLvL

HSA Hacking: The One Account With Triple Tax Wins

If you're only using your Health Savings Account (HSA) to pay for co-pays and prescriptions today, you’re missing out on its biggest superpower. In this episode, John reveals how to “hack” your HSA and turn it into a tax-free retirement goldmine. He also shares tips on contribution strategy, the portability of HSAs, what qualifies as a medical expense, and how to retroactively reimburse yourself in retirement.
Here’s what we discuss in this episode:
💡 Triple tax benefits in one account
🛠️ HSA vs. FSA—know the difference
💸 Why you should not swipe your HSA card
📈 Grow it now, spend it later
📁 Yes, receipts matter, retroactive hacks explained
 
Connect with us:
Web: https://rosewoodwealthmanagement.com/
Phone: 919-391-3446
Schedule a Meeting: http://meetwithjohn.com
Check us out on YouTube: https://bit.ly/46RaLvL

What Bees Teach Us About Building Wealth

Bees might not seem like financial gurus, but when it comes to patience, long-term planning, and compound growth, they might just outsmart most investors. In this episode, John teaches on what his personal beekeeping hobby taught him about investing, and why the early years of building wealth often feel frustrating or futile.
Here’s what we discuss in this episode:
🕰️ Why early returns often look discouraging
💸 Feeling behind? Focus on contribution, not chasing returns
📈 The power of compounding after the groundwork is done
🎯 The key lesson: patience multiplies payoff
Connect with us:
Web: https://rosewoodwealthmanagement.com/
Phone: 919-391-3446
Schedule a Meeting: http://meetwithjohn.com
Check us out on YouTube: https://bit.ly/46RaLvL

What the “Big Beautiful Bill” Means for You

A new tax proposal, referred to as “The Big Beautiful Bill,” has officially passed the House. But before anything’s set in stone, it has to make it through the Senate, where revisions are all but guaranteed. The bill’s main goal? To extend several provisions of the 2018 tax code, with a few adjustments and updates along the way. In this episode, John breaks down what’s currently in the bill, what might shift in the Senate, and how it could impact your financial outlook.
From a continued high standard deduction to a potential SALT cap increase, John lays out what’s worth your attention. He also covers proposed changes to healthcare subsidies and what they could mean for folks not yet on Medicare. If you’re wondering how this bill could affect your retirement plan, tune in for a clear, candid look at what we know so far.
Here’s what we discuss in this episode:
🏛️ What’s really inside the “Big Beautiful Bill”
📉 How extended tax cuts might benefit (or hurt) you
💸 SALT cap tug-of-war: red vs. blue states
🧾 Standard deductions and estate tax updates
🚑 What could change for your healthcare subsidies
Connect with us:
Web: https://rosewoodwealthmanagement.com/
Phone: 919-391-3446
Schedule a Meeting: http://meetwithjohn.com
Check us out on YouTube: https://bit.ly/46RaLvL
 

The Travel-Ready Retiree: Budgeting for Adventure

For a lot of folks, retirement and travel go hand-in-hand, whether that’s taking a trip to Europe or rolling into every Cracker Barrel in the Southeast. But here’s the thing: dreaming is free, but the travel costs aren’t. In this episode, John shares how to build a realistic, flexible plan that supports your travel goals in retirement, whether it’s an RV road trip to national parks or annual international adventures with a passport in hand.
We’ll also break down how to budget realistically for travel in retirement, including why we often recommend a dedicated travel account funded by interest and dividends, one that can also serve as a backup for long-term care. We’ll also help you define what “travel” really means to you so that you can build a plan flexible enough to match your lifestyle, not just your wish list
Here’s what we discuss in this episode:
✈️ Two types of travel lifestyles
📈 How to fund your trips using dividends and interest
🧳 Why your travel account can also protect long-term care needs
📉 Market drop? Don’t cancel your trip just yet
 
Connect with us:
Web: https://rosewoodwealthmanagement.com/
Phone: 919-391-3446
Schedule a Meeting: http://meetwithjohn.com
Check us out on YouTube: https://bit.ly/46RaLvL

Finding Opportunity in a Market Crisis

When the market takes a dive, most people panic. But the most successful investors often see downturns differently. Being able to recognize opportunity in the middle of market uncertainty can help you make critical decisions during difficult market environments. Let’s talk about what steps you can take to strengthen your plan while others sit on the sidelines.
We'll cover four smart strategies that can work during volatile periods, including increasing savings, timing Roth conversions, reallocating investments, and using the experience as a wake-up call to build a more resilient plan. No matter what stage of life you’re in, taking the time to pause, think, and respond with purpose instead of fear will help you emerge stronger.
Here’s what we discuss in this episode:
🔁 Roth conversions during a downturn
💡 Rebalancing when some sectors fall harder
🧠 What panic reveals about your plan
🧾 Learning now to prepare for the next time
 
0:00 – Intro
1:28 – Buying more (if you can)
3:42 – Roth Conversions
5:49 – Investment Strategy
7:37 – Create a buffer
 
Connect with us:
Web: https://rosewoodwealthmanagement.com/
Phone: 919-391-3446
Schedule a Meeting: http://meetwithjohn.com
Check us out on YouTube: https://bit.ly/46RaLvL

Key 2025 Tax Breaks & Adjustment Opportunities

Tax season is here, but did you know that filing your 2024 return is only part of the equation? With the 2025 tax changes in place, John breaks down key areas where you may be able to reduce your tax bill. With increased standard deductions and higher retirement contribution limits, now is the time to evaluate how you can plan smarter and potentially put more money toward your future.
In this episode, we dive into the major tax changes for 2025 and discuss how smart planning now may save you a lot of money and stress later. From updates to the standard deduction to misconceptions about catch-up contributions, John explains what really matters for pre-retirees and retirees.
Here’s what we discuss in this episode:
📊 Most people won’t need to itemize, instead they’ll take the Standard Deduction
💡 Catch-up contributions aren’t “free money,” they require planning
🏥 The HSA might be your most powerful retirement savings tool
💸 Adjusting paycheck withholdings can avoid surprise bills or big refunds
 
Connect with us:
Web: https://rosewoodwealthmanagement.com/
Phone: 919-391-3446
Schedule a Meeting: http://meetwithjohn.com
Check us out on YouTube: https://bit.ly/46RaLvL

How Should You Pay for That Home Renovation in Retirement?

Once you’re on a fixed income in retirement, it can be difficult to open the checkbook to pay for major expenses. Emotion and logic both play into the decision, and many spouses can feel apprehensive about spending large sums of money without a paycheck still coming in. So how do you determine if you can afford that home renovation you’ve always wanted and what’s the best way to convince your partner it’s going to be okay long-term?
We’ll highlight three potential scenarios regarding that cause someone to have reluctance to spending: emotional resistance, logical miscalculations, or a valid conclusion that the expense isn’t feasible. We want to approach these discussions openly and honestly, ensuring that both partners feel heard and understood. So let’s walk through the process for determining whether the concern is justified and show how knowing the numbers can help alleviate fears and make informed decisions.
Here’s what we discuss in this episode:
0:00 – Intro
2:51 – Logical reasons
4:53 – How we help
 
Connect with us:
Web: https://rosewoodwealthmanagement.com/
Phone: 919-391-3446
Schedule a Meeting: http://meetwithjohn.com
Check us out on YouTube: https://bit.ly/46RaLvL