Mr. Stillman's Opus

Does Retirement Lead to Additional Stress?

The idea of retirement is one that’s filled with plenty of rest and relaxation, but the reality is stress doesn’t go away. From losing the structure of a daily routine to the challenges of socializing and finding a new purpose, the pitfalls of retirement can certainly increase the stress you’re feeling.   
We heard from someone recently who had this concern about their upcoming transition so we want to address the unexpected stresses that come with leaving the workforce.  Here’s the scenario John will discuss:
I heard someone talking the other day about how stressful life has been for her since she retired. Maybe I'm missing the point of retirement because I thought the idea was to reduce stress. But now I'm second-guessing my plans to retire in about six months. What am I missing?
Whether you're six months or several years away from retirement, this topic could change the way you approach your golden years.
 
Connect with us:
Web: https://rosewoodwealthmanagement.com/
Phone: 919-391-3446

Is Now a Good Time to Buy Gold?

We’re just a few months away from another election and everyone anticipates it being another year, so what does that mean for your investments? When uncertainty starts to increase, there’s often a strong marketing push for buying gold, but is now a good time to do that?
Today we’ll answer that question with a discussion on the role of gold in your portfolio as we prepare for election year madness. Uncover the truths behind gold's historical performance and whether it truly is the investment armor against volatile markets.
This isn’t just a question for election years so let’s break down the truth behind gold as an investment.
 
Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:
0:00 - Intro
1:19 – Gold’s return over time
3:50 – The marketing behind buying gold
5:51 – Apocalypse preparation
7:39 – ‘This time is different’
 
Connect with us:
Web: https://rosewoodwealthmanagement.com/
Phone: 919-391-3446

Should You Move Your Money To Cash?

As you approach retirement or begin that next stage of life, the financial goals shift to protecting what you’ve saved. There are different ways to accomplish that goal, but with the volatility we’ve seen from the market, does it make sense to move to cash to be safe?
Here’s the question we’ll tackle in this video:
I haven’t decided on a specific retirement date yet, but hopefully it will be sometime in the next four years. With all of the recent market volatility, should I just move my retirement savings to cash until everything blows over?
We’ll provide context for this conversation by looking back at the market in the past few years and then explain how we help people answer this question.

Should I Take Out a Big Life Insurance Policy to Protect My Spouse?

A common situation that many couples have to face is one spouse being older than the other and worrying about how to protect them financially should something happen. What’s the best way to ensure they are taken care of after you’re gone? Is a big life insurance policy a good option?
In this video, John will weigh in on this scenario and answer a question that we recently received:
I’m not planning on dying anytime soon, but my wife is nine years younger than me and I want to be sure that she’s taken care of when I’m gone. Should I take out a big life insurance policy on myself?
Find out how to determine if life insurance makes sense and what type of policy you might need.

Should You Invest Aggressively in Your IRA in Retirement?

For most people, investing strategies change as you age because you want to protect what you’ve earned rather than chasing bigger returns. But what if you have more than you’ll need for retirement in your IRA? Is that a time when being aggressive makes sense or should you still take a more conservative approach?
In this video, we’ll be answering a question we recently received with this scenario:
I’m in my 70s and it doesn’t seem that I’ll be needing any of the money in my IRA, although I do have to take RMDs each year. I know that it breaks all of the rules for someone in their 70s to be an aggressive investor, but since I don’t need the money, it’s ok if I’m aggressive, right?
Join us as John answers the questions and explains how he would work through this situation with Nina to help her get the most out of her money.

Practical Strategies for Protecting Retirees Against Scams & Fraud

As much as any other threat, recognizing and avoiding scams has become a necessary skill for today’s retirees to develop. Technology continues to evolve at a rapid pace, which makes it more and more difficult to stay on top of the latest scams. This episode will highlight the most common financial scams being used right now to help you better recognize when you’re being targeted.
Join us as we explore crucial steps you can take to safeguard your financial well-being against the growing tide of scams and identity theft. Learn from real-life stories and gain practical advice to keep your finances secure in this digital era, all from the perspective of a seasoned financial professional.
 
Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:
0:00 – Intro
1:56 – Phishing
6:35 – Government scams
8:43 – Sweepstakes
10:30 – Grandparent scams
13:10 – Romance scams
16:00 – What to do if you fall victim
 
Connect with us:
Web: https://rosewoodwealthmanagement.com/
Phone: 919-391-3446

Should You Take the Severance & Pension Buyout?

It’s not all that uncommon to hear from someone who was given the option of a severance package and pension buyout years ahead of when they actually planned on leaving work to retire. Is it worth taking the offer and leaving your job or does it make more sense to continue working?
 
We received a question recently from someone in this situation:
I’m 60 and have been given two options at work. Keep working and retire in 5-6 years with a pension, or I can retire now and take a severance package & a pension buyout. How do I weigh my options?
More and more Americans in their 50s and 60s are being forced into an early retirement so let’s talk about how to figure out which option is going to be best for you. It can be an overwhelming decision, especially if you have to make it in 30 or 60 days, and this video will give you a few things to consider if you face this same scenario.

How do you make better financial decisions?

A common area where people struggle with their finances is simply just making decisions. It’s easy to fall into the trap of overthinking, to the point where you talk yourself into circles and fail to ever make a choice. You’ve probably heard the phrase ‘paralysis by analysis’ before but it often applies to the financial industry as well.
 
We have a scenario that we want to share and work through in this video: It seems like every time I need to make a financial decision, I just end up talking myself in circles. How do I stop doing this?
John Stillman of Rosewood Wealth Management will show you how he helps clients push through the mental hurdles that come with making money decisions and specifically address this situation. He’ll share some real-life examples of how this has played out in his office and give you the key considerations you need to think through in order to start making the tough decisions.
 
Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:
0:00 – Intro
1:49 – Client story
5:13 – Understanding what matters
7:10 – Iterative decision making
 
Connect with us:
Web: https://rosewoodwealthmanagement.com/
Phone: 919-391-3446

Retired Early But Still Feel the Need to Earn Money

It’s not uncommon for someone to retire early but still not feel totally comfortable with the idea of not earning a consistent paycheck. It’s a complete shift in thinking and unless you’ve done solid planning, there might be a little doubt still lingering in your mind.
 
So how do you know when you have enough to retire? Better yet, how do you get the confidence to spend the money you have in retirement without the fear of running out and returning to work.
 
We have that exact scenario to work through on the show thanks to a question that we recently received. It comes from a police officer who was injured and given a medical retirement, which provides a monthly check. At age 53, they feel like they need to continue earning money because it feels too early to be retired. The issue now is finding work that pays as much as his job as an officer did so how should he approach this?
 
Listen as we tackle this specific situation but also discuss retiring early and the general planning involved.
 
Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:
0:00 – Intro
1:32 – Questions to answer
4:58 – How much you need to make
6:14 – Client story
7:24 – How to plan for it
 
Connect with us:
Web: https://rosewoodwealthmanagement.com/
Phone: 919-391-3446

Should You Max Out Your 401k?

Are you considering maxing out your 401(k) but unsure what to do next? We face this question all the time at Rosewood Wealth Management so today we want to explore if it’s wise to max out your 401(k) before investing anywhere else, and if it is, where to look if you want to save even more.
It’s a good conversation to have early in the year as you make plans for your retirement contributions over the next 12 months. Having said that, we do understand that this is a fortunate position to be in, and not everyone will have the ability to max out their contributions this year, and that’s totally fine. We can work through strategies for different situations, but today we want to focus on those who can save at a high rate so that they’re getting the most from their investments.
 
Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:
0:00 – Intro
1:48 – Reasons to max out your 401k
5:59 – Reasons why you wouldn’t max it out
8:11 – Roth option
10:10 – Other investment options to consider
 
Connect with us:
Web: https://rosewoodwealthmanagement.com/
Phone: 919-391-3446
Find us on YouTube: https://bit.ly/42qQ3jZ