Life Lessons – Ideas By Mike™ Podcast

Financial Therapy 101: How Your “Money Scripts” Controls Your Future | Ideas by Mike™ EP54

By Ideas by Mike | July 3, 2026

In this latest episode of Ideas by Mike™, our guest speaker, Erika Wasserman shares a deep-frame work and explains the history why retirement as an emotional and subconscious journey, drawing in listeners searching for deeper understanding. It then unpacks Erica’s key insights with concrete examples, tools, and frameworks—highlighting tangible benefits and outcomes.

Erica Wasserman, a renowned financial therapist, reveals how childhood stories, cultural beliefs, and subconscious patterns shape your money decisions today—and how recognizing these stories can transform your retirement journey. Erica guides us through how to identify and reframe these deep-rooted beliefs, so they serve your future—not sabotage it.

You’ll discover the surprising power of renaming your retirement accounts to boost motivation, learn simple exercises to connect with your retirement vision, and understand why emotional readiness is equally vital as financial planning.

With practical tools like conversation cards and a step-by-step framework, Erica shows how even the toughest talks—about money, aging parents, or transitioning roles—can be approached with confidence and clarity.

This episode breaks down the common money myths that keep couples silent, explores the critical conversations for harmony, and shares how to create a flexible, meaningful retirement—what Erica calls Phase Three—where passion, purpose, and financial security blend seamlessly.

If you or your clients are approaching retirement or questioning their money mindset, this is your essential guide to navigating it with emotional intelligence and purpose.

Perfect for financial advisors, couples preparing for retirement, or anyone ready to make their money story work for them—not against them.

Don’t let subconscious scripts define your future; learn to tell a new, empowering story today.

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About Our Guest:

Erika Wasserman is CEO of Your Financial Therapist, which she founded in 2019. As a Certified Financial Therapist CFT™, a sought-after certification held by only 100 people in the world, she combines her education in finance and international economics with her passion for helping others, empowering individuals, couples, and companies to reshape the way they think about money.

Visit her website at: https://yourfinancialtherapist.com/

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Also Get the Book “The One of a Kind Financial Plan” on Amazon: https://a.co/d/hAOPAgM

Stream all past episode of Ideas by Mike™ Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3KupZ4PKZW7NBOjRRQxRCSOSpS0G2ok

(Ep. 53): The Non-financial Side of Early Retirement – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luxc4m-mU2U&t=17s

Follow our Socials for more updates:
Mike Milligan, CFP® – https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikemilligancfp/
1.oak Financial Website – https://www.1oakfinancial.com/
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Ideas by Mike on Apple Podcast – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ideas-by-mike/id1750701949

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Do you have any financial inquiries wanting to get answered?
Leave us an email – contact@mikemilligancfp.com
Or Call/Text Mike Milligan to help you out – 757-909-7151

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How to Never Miss a Moment in Your Next Chapter with Dr. Gary David | Ideas by Mike™ Ep. 53

By Ideas by Mike | June 19, 2026

Stop focusing only on the spreadsheet and start designing a life that matters. Join Mike Milligan, CFP® and design sociologist Dr. Gary David as they explore the human side of retirement, from navigating the “identity cliff” to the sociology of meaningful moments.

Learn how to transition from a job title to a purposeful new chapter, bridge the communication gap with your spouse about legacy and money, and create “storyable” experiences that last a lifetime. Whether you are a pre-retiree or already in your next phase, discover why retirement is a sociology project, not just a financial one.

Watch it on YouTube and don’t forget to subscribe for more!

About our Guest:

About our Guest: Dr. Gary David is a professor of sociology and experience design at Bentley University, where he has taught for over 25 years. He holds a PhD in sociology from Wayne State University and specializes in the intersection of how humans relate to one another and the art of designing meaningful experiences.

As a design sociologist, keynote speaker, and host of the Experience by Design podcast, Dr. David studies how individuals build connection, belonging, and meaning, particularly during major life transitions like retirement.

His professional background also includes judging international customer experience awards and applying his expertise in conversational analysis and linguistics to help people navigate the complex human elements of work, identity, and personal relationships.

Websites: https://www.garycdavid.com/ | https://garyconnects.com/

LinkedIn: Gary C. David

**We’d love to hear your thoughts! Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a comment below!**

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How to Retire into a Dream Job: The Emotional Nature of Retirement | Ideas by Mike™ (Ep. 52)

By Ideas by Mike | June 5, 2026

In this latest episode of Ideas by Mike™, Dr. Ives Machiz, PhD, CFP®, a fee-only pioneer, shares lessons from 4 careers on retiring into purpose. Learn how coaching and financial education build self-sufficiency & reduce anxiety.

Join Ideas by Mike™ host Mike Milligan, CFP® & Dr. Ives Machiz, PhD, CFP®, a clinical assistant professor and financial planning pioneer, shares the wisdom gained from his extraordinary four-part career: founding a fee-only firm in the 1980s, teaching high school, navigating a family business exit, and earning a PhD.

They both tackled and discusses the emotional nature of retirement and business transitions, the core lessons of self-sufficiency from coaching basketball, the relationship between financial education and health, and the advisor’s critical role in building client trust to mitigate financial anxiety.

This episode offers essential retirement advice for pre-retirees seeking to leap from working to living a one-of-a-kind life.

Key Takeaways:

Objective Advice Requires Total Alignment: True fiduciary planning centers entirely on the individual’s specific long-term goals rather than a high-pressure push for a specific item, commission, or asset product.
Master the Fundamentals First: Successful retirement planning is built on basic, non-glamorous behaviors: consistent long-term saving, clear spending budgets, and maintaining discipline through fluctuating financial environments.
Transitions Are Emotional First: Selling a business, leaving a job, or entering retirement forces individuals into an identity vacuum. You must establish a clear plan for your lifestyle and purpose before executing the final financial liquidation.
The Inherent Value of a Third-Party Fiduciary: Much like medical professionals who refuse to treat their own families, everyday investors need neutral professionals to remove toxic emotion from highly personal wealth decisions.

About our Guest:

Dr. Ives Machiz, PhD, CFP® earned his doctorate in Personal Financial Planning from Kansas State University. He is currently a Clinical Assistant Professor in the personal Financial Planning program at Arizona State University. (Source link)

Connect with Dr. Ives on LinkedIn

Subscribe to our YouTube and Tune in to find your starting line!

Also Get the Book “The One of a Kind Financial Plan” on Amazon: https://a.co/d/hAOPAgM

#moneymanagementpodcast #financialplanningpodcast #Finance #Inflation #RetirementPlanning #EconomicHistory #IdeasByMikePodcast

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Information is Cheap, Transformation is Rare | Ideas by Mike™ (EP. 51)

By Ideas by Mike | May 22, 2026

Are you endlessly consuming financial content but still feeling stuck?

In this special solo episode of the Ideas by Mike™ podcast, Mike Milligan, CFP® takes a step back to connect the dots. Over the last fifteen episodes, we’ve explored wealth, health, fear, and communication—but how do all these pieces actually fit together into a real, actionable plan for your future?

Join Mike as he bridges the gap between cheap information and rare transformation. You won’t hear any guests today, just a powerful look back so we can look forward to the next level of the show.

Discover why building a “one-of-a-kind life” is about much more than just a spreadsheet, and find out the single most important question you need to ask yourself to finally get unstuck. Stop doom-scrolling and start planning.

Subscribe to our YouTube and Tune in to find your starting line!

Also Get the Book “The One of a Kind Financial Plan” on Amazon: https://a.co/d/hAOPAgM

#moneymanagementpodcast #financialplanningpodcast #Finance #Inflation #RetirementPlanning #EconomicHistory #IdeasByMikePodcast

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Family Wealth Strategy: From One Generation to the Next | Dr. Megan McCoy (EP. 50)

By Ideas by Mike | April 24, 2026

Are your childhood memories secretly managing your money? 🤔

We ALL have these stories.

On this week’s episode of the Ideas by Mike podcast, I sat down with Dr. Megan McCoy, one of the top academic minds in financial therapy. We went deep into the psychology of how we handle money across every generation.

Dr. McCoy even shared her own vulnerable money story about how wanting to “save the world” made her think she had to take a vow of poverty—and how she rewrote that narrative. It was absolute podcast gold.

If you’ve ever felt paralyzed by a financial decision, or if you’re arguing with your spouse about money, this episode is basically a free therapy session.

Connect with Dr. Megan McCoy:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/megan-mccoy-phd/

Watch the full episode here: YouTube Link

To learn more about us, visit www.1oakfinancial.com | Don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube Channel for latest updates!

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Tax Strategies for High-Income Earners Who is “Time Poor But Cash Rich” with Keshav Kolur (EP. 49)

By Ideas by Mike | April 10, 2026

Is your wealth over-concentrated in company stock? In this episode of Ideas by Mike podcast, host Mike Milligan, CFP, sits down with Keshav Kolur—a former software engineer at Amazon and Meta who walked away from the cubicle to build Clive Capital.

Keshav reveals how he applies a “tech brain” to evaluate real estate, oil, and gas deals to minimize downside risk. If you are a high-income earner who is “time poor but cash rich,” this episode is your blueprint for rewriting your financial story through passive income and sophisticated tax strategies.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Why tech employees are often dangerously over-concentrated in RSUs.
The specific “engineering guardrails” Keshav uses to vet private equity deals.
How to legally and ethically slash your tax bill through alternative assets.
The journey from Georgia Tech robotics to managing a multi-million dollar fund of funds.
Alternative Investments 2026 and the Passive Income for Tech Employees.
Real Estate Syndication Strategies and how to do RSU Diversification.
Tax Saving Strategies for High Earners.
Meta & Amazon Employee Wealth.
Oil and Gas Passive Income and doing Engineering Mindset in Investing.

Connect with Keshav Kolur:
Website: https://www.clivecap.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keshavkolur
Free Resource: 100+ Question Due Diligence Checklist – https://www.clivecap.com/alternative-assets

Watch the full episode here: YouTube Link

To learn more about us, visit www.1oakfinancial.com | Don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube Channel for latest updates!

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(Ep. 48) How Narrative Momentum Predicts Market Shifts Before the Data | Ronnie Sadka

By Ideas by Mike | March 27, 2026

In Episode 48 of Ideas by Mike podcast, Mike Milligan, CFP sat down with Ronnie Sadka, Chair of the Finance Department at Boston College and co-founder of MKT MediaStats. We dove deep into a fascinating concept he calls “Narrative Momentum.”

We humans have bounded rationality—we simply cannot process the millions of articles, tweets, and news stories published every single day. Because of this, the market often underreacts to a narrative as it slowly gains traction.

Ronnie’s research uses technology to systematically analyze these narratives, identify which topics are gaining momentum, and correlate them with asset class returns.

It’s not about guessing what the next big thing will be; it’s about systematically measuring what the world is already talking about, and positioning your portfolio accordingly.

In this episode, we cover:

How “Narrative Momentum” differs from traditional price momentum.
The danger of the “trampoline effect” (why buying the dip isn’t always smart).
How technology is bridging the gap between academic theory and actionable trading strategies.

If you want to understand how the flow of information is actively moving markets, you need to hear Ronnie break this down.

Watch the full episode here: YouTube Link

To learn more about us, visit www.1oakfinancial.com | Don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube Channel for latest updates!

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(Ep. 45) The Untold Science Behind Fear & Bravery and the #1 Reason Many Solopreneurs Stay Stuck

(Ep. 45) The Science behind Fear & Bravery | Jill Schulman Answers Why many #solopreneurs Stay Stuck

By Ideas by Mike | February 13, 2026

Unlock the secret to living a brave, fulfilling life—at any age.

In this episode, Mike Milligan, CFP & Jill Schulman, a Marine turned corporate leader and bravery expert, reveals how embracing fear can propel you to your biggest dreams. Whether you’re nearing retirement, navigating career transitions, or seeking to elevate your personal growth, you’ll discover proven science-backed strategies to build courage, conquer doubts, and take bold steps forward.

This episode is perfect for anyone feeling stuck—from entrepreneurs and executives to retirees aiming to live intentionally. If you want to turn fear into your greatest motivator and craft a life of purpose, this conversation is your blueprint. Don’t let fear hold you back from reaching your highest potential—your brave new chapter starts here.

YT Link: Ideas by Mike Podcast Episode 45 – Click this link to watch it on YouTube

Connect with Jill Schulman on LinkedIn or at www.jillschulman.com for your free bravery assessment and blueprint. Her book, The Bravery Effect, is available everywhere books are sold. Whether you’re looking to boost confidence, pivot careers, or inspire loved ones, this episode will leave you motivated to step into your own bravery.

To learn more about us, visit www.1oakfinancial.com | Don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube Channel for latest updates!

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(Ep. 43) How to Stop Fighting About Money: “Financial Therapy” Tips w/ Ashley Quamme

By Ideas by Mike | January 16, 2026

In this episode of Ideas by Mike podcast, we dive deep into the intersection of love and money with Financial Therapist and “Fractional Financial Behavior Officer,” Ashley Quamme.

🎧 What You’ll Learn: Many couples struggle with financial arguments, not because the math doesn’t work, but because the psychology doesn’t align. Mike and Ashley discuss why financial planning often fails without a psychological component, how to identify your “money scripts,” and the secrets to building a “Wealthy Marriage.”

Whether you are a saver married to a spender, or a financial advisor looking to better serve your clients’ emotional needs, this episode bridges the gap between the spreadsheet and real life.

Guest: Ashley Quamme, LMFT, FBS®, CFT-I™ Visit Beyond the FP: https://www.beyondthefp.com/

Connect with Ashley Quamme: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-quamme/

Host: Mike Milligan, CFP®: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikemilligancfp/

Visit 1.oak Financial: https://wwwwww.1oakfinancial.com

Also Get the Book “The One of a Kind Financial Plan” on Amazon: https://a.co/d/hAOPAgM

#FinancialTherapy #CouplesAndMoney #FinancialPsychology #IdeasByMike #WealthyMarriage #MoneyScripts #MikeMilligan

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(Ep. 42) LOSING 80 POUNDS AT AGE 64: How to RECLAIM Your HEALTH for an active Retirement

By Ideas by Mike | January 2, 2026

What if retirement isn’t about money at All?

In this episode of the Ideas by Mike Podcast, we explore retirement without fear through a powerful real-life transformation. From losing 80 pounds to redefining freedom, purpose, and identity after work, this conversation challenges everything most people believe about retirement.

**We’d love to hear your thoughts! Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a comment below!**

Stream all past episode of Ideas by Mike™ Podcast on YouTube!

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