Are you living your own dream—or performing a script someone else wrote for you?
We had a big podcast planned that was never produced that we will get to at the end of 2026 called 51 miler.
This will serve as the prequel to that podcast and a bookmark for the mysterious 41st podcast that was never dropped.
In this raw, unfiltered episode of Ideas by Mike™, host Mike Milligan, CFP®, steps up to the microphone alone to deliver a urgent message about sociology, borrowed desires, and what it truly takes to break free from the sea of financial sameness.
Drawing inspiration from Canadian artist TALK’s hit songs Run Away to Mars and GTFU, sociologist Erving Goffman, and philosopher René Girard’s concept of “mimetic desire,” Mike explores how so many hardworking professionals end up on a stage they never chose, chasing someone else’s version of retirement.
A portfolio built on envy, a career built on someone else’s expectations, or a legacy built on corporate templates is NOT a One-of-a-Kind Life. Learn what is the true process to be One of a Kind. We’d love to hear your thoughts, listen, share and download.
Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a comment below!
Do you have any financial inquiries wanting to get answered?
Leave us an email – contact@mikemilligancfp.com
Call/Text Mike Milligan to help you out – 757-909-7151 Visit our website at: www.1oakfinancial.com Read our blogs to learn more insights: 1.oak Financial Blogs page
Episode 41 of Ideas by Mike™ is also available on YouTube!
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
Are you ready to transform your financial approach and make 2025 the year you finally achieve your one-of-a-kind life goals?
Engage with captivating insights into tax planning, retirement income, and the paramount importance of having a genuinely personalized financial plan. Plus, look out for an engaging revelation of how 2025 can be your groundbreaking year.
Mike Milligan looks forward to helping you seize 2025 with fresh financial resolutions and personalized planning!
Key conversations include:
Implementing a “one-of-a-kind” financial plan that aligns with your personal goals and priorities from the outset of 2025
Learning from professionals about the importance of future tax scenario preparedness
Exploring innovative retirement income strategies to ensure financial security.
Embracing the art of human connection as a vital part of maintaining mental and financial well-being throughout the year
