Tag: Risk Management
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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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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