Tag: Money Management
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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This is Tax Planning (Ep. 5)

This is Tax Planning (Ep. 5)

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Did you know that over 56% of Americans now feel they pay more than their fair share in taxes?

This frustration is only growing. 

So, let’s dive into how you can approach tax planning to keep more of your hard-earned money!

Join Mike Milligan, CFP®, as he unpacks the history of taxes in the United States, the impact of tax planning on your financial future, and practical steps to take control of your tax liabilities. Follow along to hear about the partnership Ideas by Mike™ has to help you navigate your tax situation and how their holistic approach could help you reach your retirement goals.

Mike discusses: 

  • The historical context of tax rates in the United States and their current implications
  • How tax planning is the foundation of all real financial planning
  • The top 3 frustrations surrounding tax obligations
  • How their partnership with Holistiplan provides clients with comprehensive, personalized tax planning strategies
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Mike Milligan, CFP®:

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This is WHY Money is Important: IBM Employee Edition (Ep. 4)

This is WHY Money is Important: IBM Employee Edition (Ep. 4)

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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
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Mike Milligan, CFP®:

About Our Guests:

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 Washington is 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.

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This is Our Ideal Client (Ep. 3)

This is Our Ideal Client (Ep. 3)

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Having a financial plan could help bring your dreams to life!

But no ordinary plan will do. You need one as unique as you are.

Join Mike Milligan, CFP® to hear about how he and his firm, Ideas by Mike™ approach the world of financial planning. Mike shares his experiences crafting custom financial strategies for a diverse range of clients, from federal employees to the quietly affluent hidden in plain sight. 

So, listen in as Mike uncovers the transformative journey clients embark upon working alongside the team at Ideas by Mike™, from the initial discovery call to the creation of a one-page financial plan that distills complex financial goals into actionable, understandable steps.

Mike discusses: 

  • The process of becoming a client of Ideas by Mike™ and the experience you can expect
  • The value of discovery meetings and getting to know one another
  • How to craft a one-page financial plan that simplifies and clarifies financial objectives
  • Reasons specialized financial planning needs federal employees and the quietly affluent
  • The importance of celebrating life’s milestones and managing life’s challenges through financial strategies
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Mike Milligan, CFP®:

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This is Our Team (Ep. 2)

This is Our Team (Ep. 2)

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Have you ever wondered what makes a financial planning firm truly dynamic and impactful?

In this week’s episode, Mike Milligan, CFP® dives into the heart of Ideas by Mike™ by showcasing his valued team. 

Tune in and get the inside scoop with unique insights into the firm’s mission, values, and the innovative approach they bring to the financial planning industry. 

Whether it’s about making an impact on the community or creating personalized financial strategies, this conversation unveils the essence of what makes Ideas by Mike™ stand out.

Mike and his team discuss: 

  • How Mike began his career in financial planning
  • Reasons Mike built the diverse and dynamic team behind Ideas by Mike™ 
  • The pivotal role of inclusivity and representation of women and younger generations in financial planning
  • The mission of Ideas by Mike™  and some of the charitable efforts they have made
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Mike Milligan, CFP®:

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This is Personal with Your Host, Mike Milligan, CFP® (Ep. 1)

This is Personal with Your Host, Mike Milligan, CFP® (Ep. 1)

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Are you ready to redefine your idea of financial planning to reflect your one-of-a-kind life?

Welcome to the inaugural episode of Ideas by Mike™ with Mike Milligan, CFP®, a seasoned Certified Financial Planner® and the visionary behind Ideas by Mike™. 

This week, Mike shares stories of crafting a unique financial advisory business that resonates with your personal goals and dreams. In this discussion, you will discover not just the nuts and bolts of financial management but the very heart and soul that should drive it. 

Anchored by Mike’s deeply personal experiences and the profound stories that shaped his approach, this conversation is a treasure trove for anyone looking to navigate their finances with purpose, passion, and a touch of personal flair.

Talking points include:

  • The unique value of one-of-a-kind financial planning
  • How Mike’s family and personal experiences shaped his financial perspectives and business model
  • The importance of preparing for life’s unpredictability with sound financial advice
  • Strategies to make your financial plan a living, breathing guide for your lifelong journey
  • Mike’s life outside of the office (ranging from travel stories to personal hobbies)
  • And more!

Connect with Mike Milligan, CFP®:

About Your Host:

With over 24 years of experience in helping folks through the world of finances and life as an advisor, friend, and coach, Mike Milligan, CFP® knows we all need help. Personally, Mike has received tremendous help in life — from getting in shape and achieving weight loss and fitness goals to growing a great business. He has also gotten great counsel on how to use his mind to control his choices and decisions.

Mike is a lifelong learner looking to use his practiced skills to help others just as folks have helped him. Mike is licensed in life and health insurance. He attained his CFP® (CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™) and Accredited Investment Fiduciary® (AIF®) designations to help his clients. Mike has worked for major banks and small investment firms to learn the ropes before starting his own firm almost a decade ago. Professionally, his goal is to be well-known as a trusted advisor who always has every client’s best interest in mind.

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