One Minute Retirement Tip with Ashley

This week on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, I'm talking about smart retirement withdrawals - 10 principles to help you sustain and grow your retirement withdrawals in retirement, while maintaining financial security and not running the risk of running out of money.  Today, I'm talking about prioritizing income with your investment portfolio to help you maintain and grow your withdrawals.

This week on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, I'm talking about smart retirement withdrawals - 10 principles to help you sustain and grow your retirement withdrawals in retirement, while maintaining financial security and not running the risk of running out of money.  Today, I'm talking about the importance of maintaining discipline in your portfolio so that you're taking on the right amount of risk for your withdrawals.

This week on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, I'm talking about smart retirement withdrawals - 10 principles to help you sustain and grow your retirement withdrawals in retirement, while maintaining financial security and not running the risk of running out of money.  Today, I'm talking about another retirement withdrawal strategy in retirement that I really like, and is easy to set up and implement - spending guardrails.

This week on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, I'm talking about smart retirement withdrawals - 10 principles to help you sustain and grow your retirement withdrawals in retirement, while maintaining financial security and not running the risk of running out of money.  Today, I'm talking about another strategy to help you manage your withdrawals during times of economic and market difficulties - using your bond portfolio for withdrawals when the stocks are down.

This week on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, I'm talking about smart retirement withdrawals - 10 principles to help you sustain and grow your retirement withdrawals in retirement, while maintaining financial security and not running the risk of running out of money.  Today, I'm talking about keeping your powder dry. One of the most important aspects of maintaining and growing your withdrawals without sacrificing financial security is maintaining flexibility…cash is king!

This week on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, I'm talking about smart retirement withdrawals - 10 principles to help you sustain and grow your retirement withdrawals in retirement, while maintaining financial security and not running the risk of running out of money.  Today, I'm talking about carefully selecting your retirement withdrawal rate. If you took the steps I already suggested in creating a budget and making sure that was realistic, then next step is to determine how much of your portfolio you would need to withdraw on a monthly and annual basis so you can support your spending goals.

This week on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, I'm talking about smart retirement withdrawals - 10 principles to help you sustain and grow your retirement withdrawals in retirement, while maintaining financial security and not running the risk of running out of money.  Today, I'm talking about the last step in setting yourself up well for retirement withdrawals: test drive your retirement expenses.

This week on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, I'm talking about smart retirement withdrawals - 10 principles to help you sustain and grow your retirement withdrawals in retirement, while maintaining financial security and not running the risk of running out of money.  Today, I'm talking about creating a retirement spending budget.

This week on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, I'm talking about smart retirement withdrawals - 10 principles to help you sustain and grow your retirement withdrawals in retirement, while maintaining financial security and not running the risk of running out of money.  Today, I'm talking about simplifying your expenses and cutting out the extras that will weigh you down in retirement. I recommend doing this before you retire to make the transition easier, but you can also wait until after retirement to start cutting the fat.

This week on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, I'm talking about 10 principles to help you sustain and grow your retirement withdrawals, while maintaining financial security and not risk of running out of money.  Today, I'm sharing with you the #1 thing you should do if you're still a few years out from retirement: pay off your mortgage.

Welcome to The Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, your daily guide to preparing for and living your best retirement. I'm your host Ashley Micciche, and this week, we're exploring: The big topic of retirement withdrawals. It's such a big topic that I'm taking 2 weeks to share with you 10 principles for lasting financial security. Managing your withdrawals is key to making your money last in retirement while at the same time spending in a way that brings you happiness and satisfaction.  I'll share with you what to consider as you prepare for retirement. Like nearly everything else in life, we need to measure twice and cut once. Actually when it comes to home improvement projects, my motto is measure never and put 12 extra nail holes in the wall, but I digress. So we'll talk about how to set yourself up for smart retirement withdrawals in the last few months and years before retirement, what you'll need to do around the time of retirement to get started on the right foot, and how to manage your withdrawals in retirement to balance your various financial needs and goals with the limited resources that are your retirement nest egg in order to make it last. 

It's Sunday and I'm wrapping up the week by summarizing this week's theme: I'm Worried About The Stock Market In case you missed any episodes this week, here's the recap…

This week on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, I'm talking about why I'm growing increasingly worried about the stock market - high stock valuations colliding with a recession is historically a recipe for steep losses - and it is looking more and more like we're moving in that direction.  Today, let's talk about an action plan and how to make sure your portfolio is positioned well for both scenarios of continued growth, and a possible economic downturn and a bear market.

This week on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, I'm talking about why I'm growing increasingly worried about the stock market - high stock valuations colliding with a recession is historically a recipe for steep losses - and it is looking more and more like we're moving in that direction.  Today, I'm talking about the problem with timing.

This week on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, I'm talking about why I'm growing increasingly worried about the stock market - high stock valuations colliding with a recession is historically a recipe for steep losses - and it is looking more and more like we're moving in that direction.  Today, I want to dig a little deeper into the valuation problem, particularly for the big tech stocks.

This week on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, I'm talking about why I'm growing increasingly worried about the stock market - high stock valuations colliding with a recession is historically a recipe for steep losses - and it is looking more and more like we're moving in that direction.  Today, let's look at the economy, because understanding where the business cycle is headed is very challenging, but it's the key driver for the stock market.

This week on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, I'm talking about why I'm growing increasingly worried about the stock market - high stock valuations colliding with a recession is historically a recipe for steep losses - and it is looking more and more like we're moving in that direction.  Today, I'm talking about the core issue that inspired this week's theme: Source: Washington Crossing Advisors. (2025, September 9). The illusion of perpetual growth. “Over 60% of the S&P 500 index value is priced as if superior growth can be sustained forever, with a meaningful slice (about $8 trillion in market value) priced with an implied perpetuity growth assumption above 10%.” “Here is the central problem: no company can grow faster than the economy forever. The math simply will not allow it. A firm compounding at 10 percent while the economy grows at 5 percent eventually overtakes the economy itself — an impossibility.”  

Driven by FOMO and the narrative that AI will completely change the world, investors have bid up stock prices to new all-time highs and stretched valuations. AI will no doubt change the world, but the AI arms race carries significant risks for investors at this time. Especially as the economy shows signs of deteriorating.  Historically, high stock valuations colliding with a recession has been a recipe for steep losses, and that is as the heart of why I'm so concerned right now.  So this week on the podcast, I'll be talking about why I'm worried about the stock market right now - the valuation problem, the cracks in the economy that are appearing, why timing is everything and just because stock valuation look stretched doesn't mean the music will stop tomorrow, and lastly, how can investors - especially if you're getting close to retirement or already retired - protect themselves and take profits in a wise and prudent way.

It's Sunday and I'm wrapping up the week by summarizing this week's theme: How Rich People Accidentally Destroy Their Wealth In case you missed any episodes this week, here's the recap…

This week on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, I'm talking about the most common ways rich people accidentally destroy their wealth, and how you can avoid falling into these traps.  One of my favorite Warren Buffett quotes—one I only recently came across—is: “Don't risk what you have and need in order to pursue what you don't have and don't need.” This quote perfectly captures the essence of growing and preserving wealth and how to avoid accidentally destroying your wealth. This week, I've talked about the dangers of over-concentration, bad financial advice, letting ego drive decisions, and confusing the accumulation of assets with the accumulation of stuff. All of these cautionary themes boil down to Buffett's wisdom: don't jeopardize what's essential for something that's completely unnecessary.

This week on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, I'm talking about the most common ways rich people accidentally destroy their wealth, and how you can avoid falling into these traps.  Many people build significant wealth through a successful investment or by owning a thriving business. But what often happens is that the majority of their net worth—sometimes 90% or more—ends up concentrated in that one asset.

This week on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, I'm talking about the most common ways rich people accidentally destroy their wealth, and how you can avoid falling into these traps.  Another common way rich people lose everything is by following bad financial advice. You see this a lot with professional athletes or lottery winners—they invest heavily in a business that fails or take advice from friends or advisors who either don't know what they're doing or are acting in their own self-interest.

This week on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, I'm talking about the most common ways rich people accidentally destroy their wealth, and how you can avoid falling into these traps.  One of the most common ways I see people lose their wealth is by letting their ego drive their financial decisions. They reach a certain level of success, start spending like everyone around them. Suddenly, it's not enough to fly first class—they're chartering private jets. They're buying exotic cars and massive homes, financed with debt.

This week on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, I'm talking about the most common ways rich people accidentally destroy their wealth, and how you can avoid falling into these traps.  Today, let's talk about the difference between owning assets and owning stuff, and when people don't understand the difference they tend to light their money on fire and lose their wealth.

One of the biggest reasons people lose their wealth is that making money and keeping money require two very different skill sets and mindsets. You might earn your wealth through a high-paying job, a successful business, a lucky investment, or even an inheritance—but holding onto that money is a whole different challenge. Some people are naturally good at making money. It seems to come easily to them. Others struggle to keep a steady balance in their bank account throughout their lives. And then there are those—more common than you might think—who climb the financial ladder only to fall back down because they didn't know how to preserve what they had. So this week on the podcast, I'm diving into the most common reasons why people who get rich don't stay rich. I'll share some recurring themes and pitfalls to avoid, along with stories and insights from my own experience watching people let wealth slip through their fingers—losing a lifestyle they could have easily maintained with better decisions.

The signs of an imminent recession are everywhere, yet the markets keep marching on to new highs! What gives? What's going on?  In this week's episode of the Retirement Quick Tips podcast, I'm breaking down what happened in the markets over the last quarter, what's going on in the economy, and how we're positioning client portfolios moving forward…

It's Sunday and I'm wrapping up the week by summarizing this week's theme: I'm a Financial Advisor—Here's Exactly How I Manage My 401(k) In case you missed any episodes this week, here's the recap…

This week on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, I'm pulling back the curtain and telling exactly how I manage my 401k as a financial advisor.  Today, I'm talking about: a few other tips to make the most of your 401k.

This week on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, I'm pulling back the curtain and telling exactly how I manage my 401k as a financial advisor.  Today, I'm talking about: how I invest my 401k as a financial advisor.

This week on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, I'm pulling back the curtain and telling exactly how I manage my 401k as a financial advisor.  Today, I'm talking about: why I max out my Roth 401k as a financial advisor.

This week on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, I'm pulling back the curtain and telling exactly how I manage my 401k as a financial advisor.  Today, I'm talking about: how much I contribute to my 401k as a financial advisor.

This week on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, I'm pulling back the curtain and telling exactly how I manage my 401k as a financial advisor.  Today, I'm talking about: how often I login (not enough to even remember how much I have in there…is it $200,000? $300,000? $500,000? I don't know. Somewhere in there I think.

Welcome to a new week here on the Retirement Quick Tips podcast! I'm your host, Ashley Micciche. One thing I believe in strongly is eating your own cooking—or in other words, putting your money where your mouth is. So this week on the podcast, I'm pulling back the curtain and sharing exactly how I manage my own 401(k) as a financial advisor. I'll walk you through: How often I check my accounts and log in How much I contribute to my 401(k) Whether I choose Roth or traditional contributions—and why What I'm currently invested in and the philosophy behind those choices How often I rebalance Why I personally avoid target date funds, even though I recommend them for most 401(k) participants in most situations   I'll also share a few extra tips and tools, like: Whether it's a good idea to link your accounts so you can view everything in one place Why it's critical to check and update your beneficiaries Why I would exhaust every other option before ever considering a 401(k) withdrawal or loan  

Time for the Fed to start cutting interest rates…what does that mean for investors, retirees, and Americans getting close to retirement? The situation in the economy is not great right now, and the Fed is in a tough spot where they need to act. ABC news reporting on September 11th: Applications for jobless benefits jump to 263,000 last week, most in nearly 4 years In another grim sign for the U.S. labor market, jobless claim applications jumped to their highest level in almost four years last week, virtually assuring the Federal Reserve will cut its benchmark interest rate next week. Fed officials recently have expressed greater concern about the deteriorating labor market than inflation, and while a rate cut could spur economic growth and boost the job market, economists fear it could push inflation even farther above the Fed's target of 2%. The BLS's revised figures showed that U.S. employers added 911,000 fewer jobs than originally reported in the year ending in March 2025, with the biggest weakness coming from the leisure and hospitality sector, professional and business services and retail. The report showed that job gains were tapering long before President Donald Trump rolled out his far-reaching tariffs on U.S. trading partners in April. The themes for much of 2025 have been that the economy is still growing, but slowly, the labor market is clearly deteriorating, and that appears to be accelerating, inflation has come down to a more manageable 3%, but it remains sticky. So what is the Fed to do? It appears this week as I record this  Podcast episode that it is pretty much guaranteed that the Fed is going to cut rates by a quarter of a percent or 25 basis points. The problem with the timing of this is that the expected inflation from tariffs has not been canceled but just delayed. I talked about that a couple months ago when I did the mid year market and economic update, and it appears that the expected inflation from tariffs has not yet fully entered the economy. Which means that if the Fed were to lower interest rates they're walking on a tightrope – A stagflation like risk which would be horrible to put it mildly is not off the table. So this week on the podcast I'm going to talk about the expected rate cut which by the time you listen to this podcast will likely have already happened. I'll talk about some of the possible scenarios that come along with a cut in interest rates, and most importantly I'll talk about what that means for investors and savers and retirees. What does that mean for your investment portfolio what does that mean for stocks and bonds. What does that mean for housing and mortgage rates. I'll talk about all of that in this week's episode…

Welcome to a new week here on the Retirement Quick Tips podcast! I'm your host, Ashley Micciche. This week on the podcast, we're looking at private equity and cryptocurrencies as investment options in your 401k - is this a big opportunity or a hard pass?  On August 7, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order titled Democratizing Access to Alternative Assets for 401(k) Investors. This order paves the way for allowing 401(k) plans to include alternative investments like cryptocurrency and private investments in 401(k) plans. Which begs the question: Is this a good idea for investors? Alternatives and private investments have a track record of higher fees, illiquidity, and higher risk for investors. Their complexity could create problems and additional risks for investors if 401(k) plan trustees eventually move to add these investments to their plan offerings.  So let's explore this a little more, because you might see these options popping up in your 401ks in the near future, and it's important to think through the potential benefits and risks so you can make the right decision about how to invest your 401k for your retirement.    Next Monday, I'll be back with a new theme - at this point, the Fed will almost certainly lower interest rates when they meet this week, and by the time you're listening to this episode, perhaps they already have. So we'll talk about what that means for inflation, bonds, stocks, mortgage rates, and your retirement next week.    I hope you have a blessed week. My name is Ashley Micciche, this is the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast.

It's Sunday and I'm wrapping up the week by summarizing this week's theme: Are You Being Too Frugal in Retirement? In case you missed any episodes this week, here's the recap…

This week on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, I'm talking about the all-too-common problem of being too frugal and underspending in retirement, how this frugality can rob you of a fulfilling retirement, and steps you can take to find a better balance with spending and preserving financial security in retirement.  Today, I'm talking about my Top Tips To Start Enjoying Your Nest Egg More

This week on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, I'm talking about the all-too-common problem of being too frugal and underspending in retirement, how this frugality can rob you of a fulfilling retirement, and steps you can take to find a better balance with spending and preserving financial security in retirement.  Today, I'm talking about how generosity when practiced consistently, can help relieve a tendency toward over frugality in retirement.

This week on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, I'm talking about the all-too-common problem of being too frugal and underspending in retirement, how this frugality can rob you of a fulfilling retirement, and steps you can take to find a better balance with spending and preserving financial security in retirement.  Today, I'm talking about intentional spending = meaningful life. I touched on this yesterday, but I want to continue with intentionality today, because I think it's really the key to living an anti-frugal and fulfilling retirement.

This week on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, I'm talking about the all-too-common problem of being too frugal and underspending in retirement, how this frugality can rob you of a fulfilling retirement, and steps you can take to find a better balance with spending and preserving financial security in retirement.  Today, I'm talking about finding the right balance between overspending and over-frugality in retirement.

This week on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, I'm talking about the all-too-common problem of being too frugal and underspending in retirement, how this frugality can rob you of a fulfilling retirement, and steps you can take to find a better balance with spending and preserving financial security in retirement.  Today, I'm talking about why it's so hard to spend for so many of you.

Welcome to a new week here on the Retirement Quick Tips podcast! I'm your host, Ashley Micciche. Nearly two in three Americans (64%) worry more about running out of money than death, according to the 2025 Annual Retirement Study from the Allianz Center for the Future of Retirement. I talked about this at length in last week's theme. This week, I want to continue that discussion and talk about one of the unfortunate and all-too-common outcomes of a deep fear of running out of money in retirement - being too frugal and not enjoying your retirement years as you should because you underspend. 

It's Sunday and I'm wrapping up the week by summarizing this week's theme: Americans Now Fear Running Out of Money MORE than Death! In case you missed any episodes this week, here's the recap…

This week on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, I'm talking about a study from the Allianz Center for the Future of Retirement that found something striking: 64% of Americans are more worried about running out of money in retirement than they are of death itself. Today…So far this week, I've talked about how you can address the very common fear of running out of money in retirement. There are a number of strategies you can use, but their effectiveness really depends on how close you are to retirement. For example, saving more makes the biggest impact the farther away you are. So if I'm talking to someone my age—around 40—the advice is simple: reduce expenses, cut out the things that are keeping you from saving more, and then be more aggressive with how much you save. That alone can take you a long way toward reaching your goal of accumulating enough so you don't have to worry so much about running out of money in retirement. But if you're closer—say one to five years out—saving more won't move the needle nearly as much. At that stage, the best solution is usually just to work a little bit longer. A couple extra years of work can have an outsized impact on retirement security. Now, what we haven't yet addressed this week is: what if you're already retired? Many baby boomers in this survey, all over 60 now, are in that exact situation. They're still worried—rightly so—about running out of money. But it's too late to save more, and too late to delay retirement. At that point, the one arrow left in the quiver is maintaining a safe withdrawal rate. That is the key to not running out of money once you're retired.

This week on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, I'm talking about a study from the Allianz Center for the Future of Retirement that found something striking: 64% of Americans are more worried about running out of money in retirement than they are of death itself. I When you're worried or fearful about anything in life, one of the best ways to kill that fear is to build some knowledge and better understand what you need to do in order to conquer that fear. And it's no different with planning for retirement. I think a lot of the fear about running out of money in retirement comes from the simple fact of not knowing. Not knowing when I can retire. Not knowing how much money I can spend in retirement. Not knowing how much is enough.

This week on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, I'm talking about a study from the Allianz Center for the Future of Retirement that found something striking: 64% of Americans are more worried about running out of money in retirement than they are of death itself. Yesterday, I talked about how spending less and saving more is one of the best ways to prepare for retirement and avoid running out of money. But here's the catch—that strategy works best if you still have plenty of time before retirement. Let me give you an example. If you start saving just $100 a month at age 20, and it grows at 7% a year, by age 65 you'll have around $350,000—even without ever increasing that contribution. That's the magic of compounding. But what if you don't start until much later? Let's say you add $1,000 a month, but you're only five years away from retirement. At the same growth rate, that only gets you about $70,000. The lesson? Time is the real driver of growth. Without it, saving more—while still important—has a much smaller impact. So what do you do if you're close to retirement and feeling behind? The answer is simple: work longer.

This week on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, I'm talking about a study from the Allianz Center for the Future of Retirement that found something striking: 64% of Americans are more worried about running out of money in retirement than they are of death itself. Yesterday, I talked about the fear of running out of money in retirement, and why so many of us struggle to save enough. A big reason comes down to current expenses—too much house, too much debt, or just day-to-day costs that crowd out long-term saving. Retirement feels far away, until suddenly it's here—and then it's too late to catch up. So what's the solution? Especially if you're still at least 5 years or more from retirement, the answer is simple: spend less and save more. I know that sounds obvious, but many people don't realize where their money is actually going.

This week on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast, I'm talking about a study from the Allianz Center for the Future of Retirement that found something striking: 64% of Americans are more worried about running out of money in retirement than they are of death itself. Today, I want to dig a little deeper into why that fear is so common…

Welcome to a new week here on the Retirement Quick Tips podcast! I'm your host, Ashley Micciche. Nearly two in three Americans (64%) worry more about running out of money than death, according to the 2025 Annual Retirement Study from the Allianz Center for the Future of Retirement.   Some of the key findings in the study: 62% say they are not saving as much for retirement as they would like 54% say inflation contributes to their fear of running out of money This fear is most prominent among Gen Xers (70%) who are in their 40s and 50s and fast approaching retirement. Millennials aren't far behind…66% of them fear running out of money more  Boomers - the youngest of whom just turned 60 last year and who are now mostly retired, curiously had the lowest fear % of the generations approaching or in retirement - yet (61%) of Boomers are still more afraid of running out of money than they are of dying.    This week on the podcast, I'll be talking about…ways you can reduce this fear in your own situation.

Welcome to a new week here on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast! I'm your host, Ashley Micciche. This past weekend, I was camping in 100-degree heat with my kids, while my husband had the wisdom to stay home in the air conditioning with our youngest. I was busy packing and stuffing four bikes, three camping totes, two propane tanks, and—yes—basically a partridge in a pear tree into our minivan. So instead of the usual short daily episodes, I'm mixing things up this week and bringing you one longer episode. One of the realities of being a financial advisor is death. Clients die, and it usually happens at least a couple of times a year. When it does, and there's a surviving spouse, part of my job is to make the financial transition as seamless and stress-free as possible. Because when you're grieving the death of a spouse, the last thing you want to worry about is money—or worse, the power being shut off because you couldn't log in to pay the electric bill. Over the years, I've helped many widows and widowers through this transition, and I've developed a Widow's Financial Roadmap. The key is to have this roadmap in place before something happens—before you get sick, become incapacitated, or pass away. If you don't, your spouse may be left without the information they need to keep the household running smoothly, and the stress of grief will be compounded by financial confusion. If you're new to the podcast, a quick introduction: I'm the co-owner of True North Retirement Advisors, a fee-only fiduciary financial advisory firm managing over $450 million in assets. For 17 years, I've helped my clients retire with confidence. And here on the podcast, I take complex retirement topics and turn them into clear answers in just a few minutes each day—so you can spend less time stressing about money and more time living. If you know someone who would benefit from this week's topic, please share the show. And if you have a burning question about your own retirement, visit truenorthra.com where you can book a free 15-minute call with me. Now, let's talk about the roadmap. I'm going to lay this out in order—what to do first, and what comes next. Hopefully, you've already checked some of these items off, but there may be a few you haven't thought about. Step 1: Create a Financial Inventory I've talked about this on the podcast before, but it's worth repeating. A financial inventory is essentially a table of contents for your finances. It should include: Bank and investment accounts (with balances, account types, and where they're held). Insurance and annuity policies. Will or trust. Social Security information. Tax returns. Marriage certificate. And eventually, your death certificate. Without this inventory, assets can be forgotten or lost. For example, maybe you still have a 401(k) at a former employer that your spouse doesn't know about. Without documentation, that money could remain unclaimed. This inventory should also include a list of your key advisors and their contact information—your financial advisor, CPA, attorney, insurance agents, and even the phone number for the bank where your checking account is held. One mistake I often see, especially later in life, is not consolidating accounts. People keep money scattered across five different institutions, a handful of bank accounts, and maybe an online savings account. That's a recipe for disaster. The more accounts you have, the greater the chance your spouse won't be able to find or access them. Once you've created your financial inventory, maintaining it is easy. Just update it once a year—adjust balances, note any new or consolidated accounts, and make sure contact information is current. It usually takes less than an hour. This is the single most important step for the long-term financial health of your surviving spouse. Step 2: Ensure Cash Flow Needs Are Met The next step is making sure bills continue to get paid. Your spouse needs a list of all recurring bills with: The name of the bill (mortgage, utilities, insurance, etc.). The approximate amount. How it's paid (auto-draft, ACH, check). The due date and frequency. This isn't just a budget—it's a cash flow map for your surviving spouse. When paired with the financial inventory, it allows them to step in immediately and manage the household without the lights getting shut off or the mortgage falling behind. On the flip side, you'll also want to document income sources—Social Security, pension payments, portfolio withdrawals, or other income. That way, your spouse knows not just what bills are due, but also what money is coming in, from where, and when. Step 3: Set Up a Password Manager If you remember nothing else from this episode, remember this: set up a password manager. A password manager securely stores all of your logins, and you only need to remember one master password. Some of the top options include 1Password, NordPass, and Dashlane. This tool is invaluable while you're alive because it improves security and eliminates the need to remember dozens of passwords. But it's especially critical when someone dies. Nearly everything is digital now—bank accounts, investments, utilities, email, social media, even photo storage. Without access, your spouse may spend hours digging through old notebooks or trying to reset passwords—sometimes unsuccessfully. With a password manager, all of that information is organized and accessible. You and your spouse can share logins through the manager, making it easy to cancel subscriptions, manage accounts, or simply retrieve family photos stored in the cloud. It takes a little time to set up, but once it's running, the manager prompts you to save new logins automatically. Over time, it builds a complete record of your digital life—one that your spouse can access when needed most. Step 4: Write a Letter The final step is to write a personal letter to your spouse. This letter isn't legally binding, like a will or trust, but it can provide enormous comfort. Think of it as a cover letter to the roadmap. It should include: A reminder of where the financial documents are located. Words of love and reassurance. Encouragement not to make big financial or lifestyle changes right away. Grief clouds judgment. Many surviving spouses are tempted to sell the house, change investments, or make other major decisions in the first few months. In most cases, those decisions can wait. Your letter can serve as a gentle reminder to pause and breathe before making big changes. Keep copies of this letter with your roadmap—at home in a safe, in a safe deposit box, and with your trusted advisors. That way, it can be easily found when it's needed most. In the First Few Months After a Death So what happens immediately after a spouse passes away? Order multiple copies of the death certificate. You'll need these to handle accounts and claims. Notify key professionals—your financial advisor, attorney, CPA, and insurance companies. Start claims and transitions—life insurance, Social Security survivor benefits, and retitling accounts. Keep bills paid. If your spouse didn't handle finances before, enlist the help of a trusted child, friend, or advisor to make sure nothing slips through the cracks. Meet with a tax advisor. Your filing status will change, and that can have a big impact on your taxes. Longer-term changes—like adjusting investment withdrawals, selling the house, or revising estate plans—can wait until the fog of grief begins to lift, often 6–12 months down the road. At that point, you'll be in a clearer frame of mind to make big decisions. To recap, the Widow's Financial Roadmap includes four steps: Create a financial inventory. Ensure cash flow needs are met. Set up a password manager. Write a letter to your spouse. Do these now, while you're healthy, and you'll make life much easier for your loved ones later. That's all for this week's episode of the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast. Thanks for listening, and I'll be back next week with more!  

It's Sunday and I'm wrapping up the week by summarizing this week's theme: A Financial Advisor Ranks The Worst Investments For Retirees In case you missed any episodes this week, here's the recap…