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This is Estate Planning with Mike and Scott (Ep. 15)

This is Estate Planning with Mike and Scott (Ep. 15)

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Can a legacy be more than assets? 

Discover how to leave a love letter to your family…

This week on Ideas by Mike™, Mike Milligan, CFP®, welcomes Scott Cary, Founder of Snug, to unveil how his groundbreaking platform is transforming estate planning. 

From safe document storage to AI-powered updates, Snug offers a modern, affordable approach to creating a legacy that reflects your values. Whether preparing for retirement or crafting a heartfelt “final love letter” for your loved ones, this episode will equip you with the insights to take action today.

Key Highlights:

  • Snug’s Mission: Redefining estate planning with simplicity and accessibility
  • Legacy Made Personal: Incorporate meaningful messages for loved ones alongside essential documents
  • Technology Meets Planning: Real-time updates and safe storage for ease of use
  • Debunking Myths: Estate planning is for everyone, not just the wealthy
  • Future Trends: How tools like Snug are reshaping holistic financial services
  • And much more!

Connect with Mike Milligan, CFP®:

Connect with Scott Cary:

About Our Guest:

Scott Cary is the Founder of Snug, a groundbreaking platform designed to simplify estate planning for everyone. With a passion for making legacy planning accessible, Scott has created a solution that combines cutting-edge technology with personalized financial services, helping individuals and families navigate the complexities of protecting their assets and safeguarding their future. Driven by a commitment to empower people with affordable, user-friendly tools, Scott is dedicated to redefining how we think about estate planning—ensuring it’s not just for the wealthy but for everyone.

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Mike, Heather, and Nicola on Health Driven Wealth (Ep. 14)

Mike, Heather, and Nicola on Health Driven Wealth (Ep. 14)

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Can your financial strategy unlock the secret to a longer, healthier life?

This week on Ideas by Mike™, Mike Milligan, CFP®, welcomes Heather Holmes, Founder and CEO of Lumiant, and Nicola Perry, VP of Sales at Lumiant, to explore the game-changing connection between health and wealth. Drawing from their expertise, Heather and Nicola unveil Halo, a revolutionary tool that personalizes long-term care and longevity planning by analyzing lifestyle, family history, and location.

Tune in to hear Heather’s powerful story of how her father’s struggles inspired her to develop Halo and learn how Nicola helps families make informed, confident decisions about their future. 

Together, they share actionable strategies to integrate health insights into financial planning, empowering you to live well today while preparing for life’s later stages.

(Whether you’re planning for retirement, caregiving for loved ones, or seeking clarity on long-term care, this episode equips you to take proactive, life-changing steps!)

Key Highlights:

  • The Halo Mission and its Benefits: How Lumiant connects health and wealth to improve longevity and financial outcomes
  • Customized Planning: Insights on your active, slower, and extended care years with tailored cost projections
  • Health Meets Wealth: Learn how financial advisors integrate wellness coaching for a truly holistic approach
  • Plan Early: Discover why ages 40-70 are ideal for long-term care planning
  • Impactful Conversations: See how Halo’s tools foster client trust and shift the focus from transactions to solutions
  • And much more!

Resources:

Connect with Mike Milligan, CFP®:

Connect with Heather Holmes:

Connect with Nicola Perry:

About Heather Holmes:

Heather Holmes is the visionary Founder and CEO of Lumiant, where she leads the charge in connecting health and wealth to improve life outcomes. Inspired by her father’s health and financial challenges, Heather developed Halo, a revolutionary tool that empowers families to plan for longevity and long-term care with clarity and confidence. Her mission is to help clients live longer, healthier, and more financially fortified lives.

About Nicola Perry:

Nicola Perry serves as VP of Sales at Lumiant, combining her adaptability and deep empathy to guide families through life’s most pivotal financial decisions. Driven by a passion for making long-term care planning accessible and personalized, Nicola works to ensure clients feel supported and prepared for every stage of life. Her work with Halo exemplifies her dedication to integrating health insights with financial strategies.

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Mike and Steve on Purpose-Driven Investment Planning (Ep. 13)

Mike and Steve on Purpose-Driven Investment Planning (Ep. 13)

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Is your portfolio working toward your dreams—or just chasing the market?

This week on Ideas by Mike™, Mike Milligan, CFP®, sits down with Steve Osterink, CEO and Chief Investment Officer at Advisory Alpha, to explore the art and science of investment planning. Drawing from his vast experience managing $3.8 billion in assets, Steve shares practical insights on aligning your investments with your financial goals, avoiding emotional pitfalls, and leveraging tools like Koyfin and FRED to optimize your strategy.

Tune in and hear Steve’s powerful story of how his father’s mentorship shaped his client-first philosophy while learning how to create a personal “Investment Policy Statement” that serves as a financial roadmap. 

(Whether you’re a DIY investor or work with an advisor, this episode leaves you equipped to make smarter, purpose-driven investment decisions!)

Key Highlights:

  • Investment as Architecture: Why a strong foundation—your plan—is more important than the materials (products)
  • Risk and Return Mastery: Understanding your personal capacity for risk to achieve meaningful financial outcomes
  • Behavioral Bias Busters: How to avoid emotional traps like recency and hindsight bias
  • Essential Tools: Maximize your strategy with Koyfin’s analytics dashboard and FRED’s economic data
  • Advisory Alpha’s Edge: Learn about fee-waived charitable solutions and other innovative approaches to client-focused investing
  • Mentorship in Action: Steve reveals how his father’s wisdom continues to inspire his financial strategies
  • And much more!

Resources:

Connect with Mike Milligan, CFP®:

Connect with Steve Osterink:

About Our Guest:

Steve Osterink, CFA and CFP, is the visionary CEO of Advisory Alpha, overseeing $3.8 billion in assets. With a passion for client education and innovation, Steve combines technical expertise with a commitment to personal growth, both for his clients and his family.

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Mike and Jim on Retirement Income Planning (Ep. 12)

Mike and Jim on Retirement Income Planning (Ep. 12)

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Retirement planning goes beyond numbers—it’s about building a future that aligns with your values.

This week on Ideas by Mike™, Mike Milligan, CFP®, and Jim Fisher unveils the value of developing a retirement income plan that remains adaptable and reliable. They cover the transition from growth to income strategies and how the Forecaster tool provides clear insights into managing potential risks, like the “retirement dead zone.” 

So, tune in as they explore the essentials of tax planning, income diversification, and practical steps toward creating a stable, sustainable income throughout retirement.

Key Highlights:

  • How Jim Fisher’s innovative Forecaster tool empowers clients with personalized income projections for retirement readiness
  • The importance of income diversification: using social security, pensions, savings, and annuities to create a reliable “personal pension”
  • How shifting from growth-focused to income-focused strategies a decade before retirement helps clients manage risks effectively
  • The potential for “retirement raises”: strategies to boost post-retirement income with inflation-adjusted plans and strategic asset reallocation
  • How personalized financial planning aligns retirement strategies with individual needs, lifestyle goals, and financial well-being
  • And much more!

Connect with Mike Milligan, CFP®:

Connect with Jim Fisher:

About Our Guest:

Jim Fisher is the Founder & CEO of Jucebox and has been a longtime member of the retirement income planning space. He has a passion for teaching financial literacy to all and helping retirement professionals grow their businesses. Check out Jim’s LinkedIn to get connected with him.

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Mike and Ben on Tax Planning with Holistiplan (Ep. 11)

Mike and Ben on Tax Planning with Holistiplan (Ep. 11)

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Taxes may be inevitable, but they don’t have to drain your wealth. Here’s how to turn them into a powerful tool for financial growth 💡

Mike Milligan, CFP® teams up with Ben Birkin from Holistiplan to reveal how this powerful software is transforming tax planning from a headache into a strategic advantage. It’s not just about lowering tax bills—it’s about turning tax strategies into a key driver of long-term wealth.

Holistiplan cuts through the complexity, giving financial advisors the tools to deliver clear, actionable tax insights that put more money back in clients’ pockets. And since taxes are often one of life’s biggest expenses, smart planning can make all the difference.

The real takeaway?

Advisors who integrate Holistiplan aren’t just checking a box. They’re offering clients a customized roadmap to financial well-being, turning tax planning into an opportunity for real growth.

Key Highlights:

  • How a midlife career shift inspired the creation of Holistiplan, now trusted by over 5,000 firms
  • The key benefits of Holistiplan: simplifying tax reviews while providing actionable insights
  • How Holistiplan’s solutions align with the latest trends in tax planning technology
  • The tangible benefits: How proactive tax planning empowers clients to optimize their lifetime income
  • How Holistiplan fosters stronger client relationships through transparency and trust
  • The collaboration between Ideas by Mike™ and Holistiplan (delivering a unique, client-centric service)
  • And much more

Connect with Mike Milligan, CFP®:

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This is Ideas by Mike™ (Ep. 10)

This is Ideas by Mike™ (Ep. 10)

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Imagine a financial plan that not only builds your wealth but also enriches your life.

This week, Mike reflects on the values he learned from his grandmother’s sandwich shop — values that now shape his approach to financial planning. 

For Mike, wealth is more than money. It’s about aligning your finances with what matters most, like a secure retirement, supporting loved ones, or giving back.

So, his takeaway? 

Start early, focus on what’s important, and partner with someone who understands that true wealth serves your life, not the other way around.

Key Highlights:

  • Lessons from Mike’s entrepreneurial grandmother and their lasting impact
  • Why aligning your money with your values is essential for financial success
  • How integrating health and wealth creates a balanced, fulfilling life
  • The key areas of financial planning (taxes, retirement income, investments, long-term care)
  • Ways tools like HolistaPlan, Halo, and Snug simplify and enhance financial planning
  • A real-life case study: How Mike helped a high-earning family reduce stress through smart planning
  • Practical advice for beginners
  • And much more!

Resources:

Connect with Mike Milligan, CFP®:

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This is Legacy Planning (Ep. 9)

This is Legacy Planning (Ep. 9)

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Legacy planning is more than just dividing up financial assets; it’s about preserving the values, traditions, and harmony within a family.

This week on Ideas by Mike™, Mike Milligan, CFP®, highlights the importance of this often-overlooked step in his unique financial planning approach. 

By incorporating SNUG — a powerful platform designed to streamline the organization of essential documents, final wishes, and family legacies — Mike empowers families to face the emotional and practical challenges that come with losing a loved one with greater ease and confidence.

Key Highlights:

  • How legacy planning is the final piece of a comprehensive financial strategy, working alongside tax planning, retirement income, investment, and long-term care
  • The importance of preserving more than just financial assets — ensuring family stories, values, and traditions live on
  • SNUG and its unique benefits in simplifying the organization of critical documents, wills, and final wishes to avoid disorganization after death
  • Real-life stories that highlight the emotional and practical burdens families face without a proper legacy plan
  • And much more!

Resources:

Connect with Mike Milligan, CFP®:

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This is Long Term Care Planning (Ep. 8)

This is Long Term Care Planning (Ep. 8)

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Did you know that over 70% of people aged 65 and older will need some form of long-term care services in their lifetime? 

This week, Mike Milligan, CFP®, dives into the world of long-term care planning, highlighting the difference it can make in our lives. 

Follow along to explore HALO, an innovative tool designed to simplify and enhance the planning process. Learn about its features, benefits, and practical applications so that you are empowered with the knowledge you need to secure a better future for yourself and your loved ones (all this from a financial planner and professor’s point of view!)

Mike discusses: 

  • Mike’s motivation and approach to long-term care planning
  • How long-term care planning fits into his one-of-a-kind financial plan model
  • HALO and its unique benefits, such as combining research to provide a personalized life and health expectancy analysis
  • Real-life implications of planning for long-term care and health expectancy
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Mike Milligan, CFP®:

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This is Investment Planning (Ep. 7)

This is Investment Planning (Ep. 7)

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Investing is an important piece of retirement planning, but there is much more to it than just picking “the right” stocks.

This week on Ideas by Mike™, Mike Milligan, CFP®, breaks down the third step in his one-of-a-kind financial planning processes, investment management. Mike explains the importance of setting specific goals and developing strategies to achieve those goals through investments. 

But that’s not everything! He also emphasizes the need for diversification and risk assessment in investment portfolios while highlighting common mistakes people make in investment planning.

Mike covers: 

  • Why tax planning is crucial for your financial health
  • How to create a sustainable retirement income plan
  • The importance of diversification when it comes to crafting an investment plan
  • Common investment mistakes and how to avoid them
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Mike Milligan, CFP®:

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Tips for Strengthening Your Retirement Income Strategy (Ep. 6)

Tips for Strengthening Your Retirement Income Strategy (Ep. 6)

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Paychecks do not need to stop in retirement…

With the right financial plan, it’s entirely possible to keep those “paychecks” coming, even after you stop working.

This week on Ideas by Mike™, Mike Milligan, CFP®, dives into the second critical element of the Ideas by Mike™ one-of-a-kind financial planning process, retirement income. Highlighting personal experiences and historical insights, Mike unveils actionable steps to help secure your financial future without fear of running out of money. 

Mike discusses: 

  • The first step of his one-page financial plans, tax planning, and how retirement income planning builds off of that
  • Different methods to help you obtain consistent retirement income
  • Historical insights into the evolution of pensions and retirement systems
  • Innovative tools such as income forecasters that the Ideas by Mike™ team uses to alleviate financial fears for retirees
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Mike Milligan, CFP®:

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