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
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
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.
Your financial journey is as unique as you are. So, in order to plan for a bright future you first need to ask yourself one simple question:
Why is money important to you?
This week on Ideas by Mike™, Mike Milligan, CFP® brings on a few members of his dynamic team, including Kaitlan Costner, Marcus Washington, Nicole Stam, and Liz Mundey, to dive into this fundamental question they ask all their clients.
Tune in and explore the team’s unique roles and hear different perspectives on financial priorities, the role of money in achieving life goals, and how understanding client relationships can lead to impactful, one-of-a-kind financial plans.
Episode highlights include:
An introduction to the team and their unique roles at Ideas by Mike™
Marcus discusses varying client responses and the universal fear of running out of money
Nicole shares her journey to financial literacy and the importance of budgeting and autonomy
Liz highlights the need for security, legacy, and the personal touch in financial planning
Kaitlan emphasizes the value of transparency and expectations in managing client trust and money
Kaitlan Costner is the Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Ideas by Mike™. She oversees and manages the day-to-day operations of the company, ensuring they align with its strategic goals. She is responsible for handling all business submissions and processing, nurturing relationships with partners, and closely monitoring the company’s financial performance.
Marcus Washingtonis a Retirement Specialist at Ideas By Mike™. He graduated from Abilene Christian University in 2011 with a Bachelor of Science. With extensive experience in the Financial Service Industry, Marcus has specialized in assisting Federal Employees in navigating their retirement plans, particularly focusing on the complexities of FERS and CSRS retirement plans.
Nicole Stam serves as the Marketing & Lead Generation Strategist for Ideas By Mike™. With a background in digital marketing and cybersecurity, she has cultivated a keen interest in staying abreast of technological trends. Nicole leverages this expertise to transform innovative methodologies into successful marketing and lead-generation strategies. With a proven track record of success, she remains committed to making significant strides in the marketing industry through pioneering campaigns.
Liz Mundey is the Senior Relationship Manager at Ideas by Mike™ tasked with providing enhanced client support. Her responsibilities include maintaining up-to-date accounts, ensuring accessible and comprehensible information, and maintaining close communication with clients to ensure their financial plans evolve in alignment with their lives.
