Podcast appearances and mentions of ashley micciche

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.

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. 

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!  

Do you have a financial plan for why your spouse dies? It's a difficult discussion but Ashley Micciche, from True North Retirement Advisors, has a roadmap you help you plan.Subscribe to the Morning Blend on your favorite podcast platform.Find this show on the free Hail Mary Media App, along with a radio live-stream, prayers, news, and more.Look through past episodes or support this podcast.The Morning Blend is a production of Mater Dei Radio in Portland, Oregon.

Welcome to a new week here on the Retirement Quick Tips podcast! I'm your host, Ashley Micciche. One of the fun things about being a financial advisor is that I get to peek into the financial lives of many different people, even before they become a client. One of the first things I request from a new potential client is a copy of their investment account statements so I can see what types of accounts they have (brokerage accounts, IRAs, Roths, etc), and how they're invested across those accounts.  And sometimes, an uncomfortable conversation I have with a new potential client involves getting the backstory on why they're invested the way they are. Most of the time, I'm trying to figure out their preferences and risk tolerance, but occasionally, I'm trying to figure out why they own a particular investment that is not appropriate for them. This week on the podcast, I'll be talking about the worst investments for retirees

Welcome to a new week here on the Retirement Quick Tips podcast! I'm your host, Ashley Micciche. According to the latest figures from EducationData.org - The average cost of college* in the United States is $38,270 per student per year, including books, supplies, and daily living expenses. Multiply that by 4 years and junior's college will cost $153,080.  My nephew is going to be a senior in high school this year, and will start applying to colleges in the fall. His top 3 choices are all expensive, and all but 2 are out of state.  It's that time of year again - back to school, and for many of you planning for both your retirement and trying to get junior through college without mountains of debt or delaying your own retirement with that $153,000 price tag, I have some helpful suggestions this week on the best ways to save, invest, and prioritize college savings along with all of your other financial goals.

Welcome to a new week here on the Retirement Quick Tips podcast! I'm your host, Ashley Micciche.   This week on the podcast, I'm on vacation, so instead of daily episodes, I'm just doing one longer episode for this week, but don't worry! I'll be back with daily episodes like you're used to next week. I'm on vacation this week with my husband and kids, my sister and her husband, their 2 kids, and my parents. It will be 12 of us in 1 house together for an entire week. I'm excited, but also deathly afraid at the same time!  Vacationing with family is a lot different than vacationing with friends, and as I talk to clients who are in the early retirement years that are often filled with travel, these topics of travel and money come up. But since this a podcast about finances, I want to talk in depth about a few tips I have for traveling with friends and not letting money specifically ruin your trip, or worse, your friendship! 

Welcome to a new week here on the Retirement Quick Tips podcast! I'm your host, Ashley Micciche. This week on the podcast, I'm diving into the One Big Beautiful Bill, which recently passed the House and the Senate, and was signed into law on July 4th. Many provisions go into effect this year, some starting next year, and I'll try to focus on the ones this week that have the biggest impact for the core group of listeners - those of you who are getting close to and living in retirement….

The CEO of True North Retirement Advisors, Ashley Micciche, is back on The Morning Blend to tell you about some of the issues about money that can hurt a marriage.Subscribe to the Morning Blend on your favorite podcast platform.Find this show on the free Hail Mary Media App, along with a radio live-stream, prayers, news, and more.Look through past episodes or support this podcast.The Morning Blend is a production of Mater Dei Radio in Portland, Oregon.

Welcome to a new week here on the Retirement Quick Tips podcast! I'm your host, Ashley Micciche. This week on the podcast, it's a first! I have my husband on the podcast to talk about the top 5 money issues that can break a marriage. 

Welcome to a new week here on the Retirement Quick Tips podcast! I'm your host, Ashley Micciche. This week on the podcast, I'm doing what I always do at the beginning of a new quarter - commentary on the state of the stock and bond markets, the economy, my outlook, and how investors should consider positioning their investment portfolios in light of the current conditions. 

How do you plan to spend during your retirement years and not feel guilty? Ashley Micciche from True North Retirement Advisors has some tips for you.More information can be found on their webpage.Subscribe to the Morning Blend on your favorite podcast platform.Find this show on the free Hail Mary Media App, along with a radio live-stream, prayers, news, and more.Look through past episodes or support this podcast.The Morning Blend is a production of Mater Dei Radio in Portland, Oregon.

Welcome to a new week here on the Retirement Quick Tips podcast! I'm your host, Ashley Micciche. This week on the podcast, I'm taking a little break to enjoy the sunshine and near-perfect weather this time of year in Oregon. So while I'm taking the week off, I have a few resources to share with you to help you retire with confidence.  I'll share with you my net worth worksheet, asset allocation guide, retirement budget worksheet, financial inventory list, and my top 10 must do pre-retirement checklist. These are my favorite resources, and they're also free, so I'll show you how to access them in each episode this week. 

Welcome to a new week here on the Retirement Quick Tips podcast! I'm your host, Ashley Micciche. I'm a financial advisor and co-owner of True North Retirement Advisors, a fee-only fiduciary financial advisory practice managing over $425M in assets.  For 17 years, I've helped clients retire with confidence, and my goal on this podcast is to simplify the complexities of retirement planning so you can focus on what truly matters—enjoying your retirement years while maintaining financial security. One of the biggest spending categories for most Americans is food. Even wealthier Americans will still spend a lot of money on food - eating out more, buying higher quality foods, entertaining, and shopping at places like Whole Paycheck (er, whole foods).  Retirees spend about $7500 a year on groceries and eating out on average, and because food costs matter in your budget, I wanted to focus on that in this week's episodes. And I can think of no better person to discuss this topic with than my good friend, Karrie.  I first met Karrie about 5 years ago, shortly after her family moved to my town and started attending the same church we go to. OVer that time, we've become good friends. She also babysits my little ones a couple days a week, and we share a lot of the same views on things and have a similar sense of humor. At the moment, I'm working on arranging a marriage between their youngest and my 4 year-old, Theodore. I've offered their daughter a paid-for wedding, if only she agrees to marry my little man.  As the chief grocery shopper for her family of 11 - her and her husband have 9 kids, ages 20 to 4 - Karrie has learned a lot about saving money on food over the years.

Welcome to a new week here on the Retirement Quick Tips podcast! I'm your host, Ashley Micciche. This week, I'll share with you how you can get over your guilt about spending money in retirement. 

Can you put a price on the American Dream? According to recent data, there is a dollar amount to it. Ashley Micciche joins The Morning Blend with the financial details.True North Retirement Advisors.Subscribe to the Morning Blend on your favorite podcast platform.Find this show on the free Hail Mary Media App, along with a radio live-stream, prayers, news, and more.Look through past episodes or support this podcast.The Morning Blend is a production of Mater Dei Radio in Portland, Oregon.

Welcome to a new week here on the Retirement Quick Tips podcast! I'm your host, Ashley Micciche. On the podcast this week, I'm going to do something quite different.  My father-in-law, Doug Micciche, passed away on May 22nd, after a very brief battle with cancer. I first met Doug when I was 16 years old, and for the last 24 years that I've known him, he's been a confidant and someone I love and miss deeply.  Doug was also a financial advisor in our advisory practice, and over the years, I learned from him - not just personally, but professionally as well. So I wanted to take this opportunity to share a few things about Doug - the kind of man he was, the way he inspired me, and the things he taught me.  To do that, I think we'll start at the beginning. I don't remember the first time I met Doug, but my husband and I started dating in high school, so I'm sure 16 year old me walked into his house acting like I owned the place.  Because my husband and I were high school sweethearts, I spent a lot of time at his parent's house, countless hours in the family room watching TV and movies with Doug. He and I both shared a mutual love for bad 90s action movies. By the time my husband moved out of his parent's home, I had already spent more quality time with Doug than most daughter-in-laws get to spend with their father-in-law in a lifetime, and for that I am grateful. One of my favorite pastimes was needling Doug, which was a tradition that continued until the end. Back in the early days, I would plop down on their couch so aggressively, I might as well have been working on my high jump, using the couch to break my fall. I would immediately look over at Doug with a sly smile, waiting for the inevitable sigh or eye roll. Eventually, after thousands of forceful couch plops, the spring broke in the exact spot where I would always sit…I still maintain I had nothing to do with that janky couch spring.  Their house had hardwood flooring on the stairs, and like a 7 year old boy, I would fly down the stairs. The pounding reverberation on the stairs irritated him to no end, so whenever I would run down the stairs he would always yell: “stampede!!” I took that as an invitation to pound my heels as loud as possible whenever I came down the stairs, just to see if I could get a stampede yell out of him. Doug was a great listener, and I often went to him when I had a problem or needed some advice. He was always honest and a no-BS guy. He was great at telling me what I needed to hear, even if it wasn't what I wanted to hear. I could trust his advice, knowing that he always had my best intentions at heart. There was no duplicity in Doug, and I very much appreciated that about him.  Doug was one of the most selfless people I know. Anything you asked him to do, he would do it, and whether he wanted to do it or not, you really had no idea, because he cheerfully devoted himself to other people and their needs. He would give me rides to and from the airport - often picking me up in the pre-dawn hours for the early flights I habitually booked. He always joyfully helped out with school pickups for my kids, and this past year, he picked up my 4 year old, Theodore, from preschool twice a week, always first in line because he was also ridiculously and annoyingly early for EVERYTHING. He and Theoore had their routine - he would bring him some gummi worms that Theodore quickly came to expect.  Doug was so deeply authentic, genuinely interested in other people, and kind down to his core, that he made friends wherever he went. He wasn't super extraverted, but he could relate to anyone, and making new friends was a superpower he had. He made friends with parents at my kids sports games, with other grandparents at school pickup, and most stunning of all - he made friends and stayed in contact with a guy he sold a car to - a chance encounter that turned into a friendship, and they stayed in touch for many years after.  Doug valued simplicity and he was content to spend his days at home, and as his wife Becky wrote in his obituary - “His pleasures were simple: daily exercise, command of the TV remote and a Friday night pizza, an enjoyable book and a nice slice of pie or cake. He was uncompromising when it came to his faith, to keeping his home and yard well-tended and his cars impeccable.” What I admire most about Doug was his enduring faith. He was Catholic, and attended Sunday Mass every week. He watched daily Mass on the TV livestream nearly every day.  He prayed and read the bible often, and like most men, was quite private about his spiritual life. But I caught glimpses of it often - a spiritual book he was reading, a text from him before a doctor's appointment or during a hardship to let me know he was praying for me. He did this often with me, but I found out after he passed that he did this with many other people too. After my dad had a health issue earlier this year, Doug texted to tell me that he dedicated his rosary that day to my father and his healing.  Doug was diagnosed with cancer on April 17th, and passed away barely a month later on May 22nd. His decline was so rapid and unexpected. We were all stunned by his initial prognosis of 1-2 years, even with chemo treatment. At that time, the doctors didn't know how advanced his cancer was, but the oncologist commented on his cheerfulness and energy, despite being so sick. He accepted his fate with grace and even humor on occasion.  At the end, I took great comfort and hope in the fact that Doug received all the sacraments - he went to confession and received last rites, which is very important in the Catholic faith.  In his last days of hospice care at home, they moved his hospital bed next to their queen bed in the bedroom, so Becky could lay comfortably with him, always at his side. I spent a few hours laying there with him too, praying for him and occasionally talking to him to let him know that I was there and that I loved him.  Our pastor visited him twice in the last days of his life, and I was there for the last time he visited, a little over a day before he passed. As part of the blessing and prayers for the dying, the priest read the text from Revelation, chapter 21: “He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain, [for] the old order has passed away. The one who sat on the throne* said, “Behold, I make all things new.”  Looking at Doug lying there, so weakened and close to death, yet so peaceful, those words captivated me…Behold, I make all things new.  He is at peace now, and I have great hope that he is looking down on us from heaven. No more death. No more pain. No more mourning. Only everlasting happiness and joy with God in heaven, because He makes all things new.  I know I can still count on Doug as a confidant, and ask him to continue to pray for me… I just need to look for more subtle signs of his advice and guidance, not the straightforward, blunt, telling-it-like-it-is advice that I'm used to from him.  Doug's funeral will be on Wednesday, June 25th, and if you're so inclined, I ask for your prayers for Doug, our family, and all those who love and miss him.  His wife, Becky, needs your prayers the most. She was married to Doug for over 40 years, and this is a great loss and a great burden for her to carry right now.  I want to close with an excerpt from a letter from my husband to his dad. My husband, Troy, wrote this letter and shared it with Doug the day his diagnosis changed from 1-2 years to 1-2 months. It turned out that Doug only had about a week left with us, and he heard this letter from his son only a couple days before the cancer took away his ability to comprehend what Troy said in his letter. Timing is a funny thing. If my husband had put off writing this letter and sharing it with his dad by just a day or two, it would have been too late. But he said all the things he wanted to say to his father just in time.  Troy wrote: “Fatherhood, faith, and my marital life. These are the priorities, and you helped instill them in me…You more than did the job that the Lord asked you to do, and you did it well. I am forever grateful.” We are all grateful to have known and loved you, Doug.  I hope you have a blessed week. My name is Ashley Micciche...and this is the Retirement Quick Tips podcast.

Welcome to a new week here on the Retirement Quick Tips podcast! I'm your host, Ashley Micciche. I'm a financial advisor and co-owner of True North Retirement Advisors, a fee-only fiduciary financial advisory practice managing over $425M in assets.  For 17 years, I've helped clients retire with confidence, and my goal on this podcast is to simplify the complexities of retirement planning so you can focus on what truly matters—enjoying your retirement years while maintaining financial security. I remember having concerns about the US national debt and having conversations with clients about this back in 2011. That's what I'll talk about this week. Because the US national debt isn't like you or I having debt. It's quite different. If we don't have enough income to pay our debts like the US government, then we don't have money trees. The US government has their own personal money tree, and that can work, up to a point. 

On this week's episode find out how Deacon Scott is taking baby steps into being a empty nester, what are your teaching children about money, and how to be good stewards of God's gifts. This week's guest is Ashley Micciche from True North Retirement Advisors.Subscribe to View from the Pew on your favorite podcast platform.Find this show on the free Hail Mary Media App, along with a radio live-stream, prayers, news, and more.Look through past episodes or support this podcast.View from the Pew is a production of Mater Dei Radio in Portland, Oregon.

Welcome to a new week here on the Retirement Quick Tips podcast! I'm your host, Ashley Micciche. I'm a financial advisor and co-owner of True North Retirement Advisors, a fee-only fiduciary financial advisory practice managing over $425M in assets.  For 17 years, I've helped clients retire with confidence, and my goal on this podcast is to simplify the complexities of retirement planning so you can focus on what truly matters—enjoying your retirement years while maintaining financial security. So this week, I'll break down each step in the savings optimization ladder…what to focus on first, and what you should focus on next as you check each box and move up the ladder. If you pay attention to the right savings amounts in the right order in the right accounts, you'll be better off than most Americans and be more flexible with your finances, and set yourself up for more long-term financial stability. 

Welcome to a new week here on the Retirement Quick Tips podcast! I'm your host, Ashley Micciche. Back in March, I came across a 2024 report from Investopedia that looked at all the things that define the American Dream - getting married, buying a house with that white picket fence, having kids, driving a nice, reliable car, owning pets, taking an annual vacation, saving enough for a comfortable retirement,and having a funeral where they don't throw your body in a pine box (unless you're into that minimal aesthetic).  What does it all cost to live the American Dream over your lifetime? $4.4 million. Can you live a fulfilling life with less? Absolutely! But I think exploring these areas together is a helpful exercise to see how your attitudes and beliefs on spending money compare to what the average American says are what they want to achieve in life.  So this week, I'll break down each of these categories of “livin the dream”, explain how Investopedia came up with their numbers and see how that compares with your own personal definition of the American dream. Come on back tomorrow…where I'm starting at the beginning and the end. We'll talk about wedding and funeral costs.

Ashley Micciche from True North Retirement Advisors shares how pass on money values with your children.True North Retirement AdvisorsSubscribe to the Morning Blend on your favorite podcast platform.Find this show on the free Hail Mary Media App, along with a radio live-stream, prayers, news, and more.Look through past episodes or support this podcast.The Morning Blend is a production of Mater Dei Radio in Portland, Oregon.

Welcome to a new week here on the Retirement Quick Tips podcast! I'm your host, Ashley Micciche. So this week, I'm answering some of your questions - addressing everything from what to do when you get a big raise to figuring out the ideal age to start social security, to whether or not the ultra-safe stable value fund in your 401k is a good idea right now.

Welcome to a new week here on the Retirement Quick Tips podcast! I'm your host, Ashley Micciche. One of my favorite questions that I came across recently that I've started asking clients who are nervous about the current environment now is - what needs to happen for you to feel more in control right now?  It's important to ask the right questions and I find this question to be helpful because it gets to the heart of the issue for most people - you're not in control of the events of the world, yet you're feeling the effects of those events in a very real way as your investments go up and so far this year…down. Sometimes it's a small change that can make all the difference - slightly lowering your allocation to stocks, selling a particular position that is the most volatile, moving more into cash so at least you won't need to sell stocks if things get worse from here.  The key is keeping the long-term view in focus and not let current events cause you to completely abandon your long-term investment strategy. And just doing something - the smallest thing in many cases - is enough to help you stay stick to your plan. So this week we're exploring the topic: How to Keep Your Focus (and Your Nerve) Amid Market Chaos

Welcome to a new week here on the Retirement Quick Tips podcast! I'm your host, Ashley Micciche. I'm a financial advisor and co-owner of True North Retirement Advisors, a fee-only fiduciary financial advisory practice managing over $425M in assets.  For 17 years, I've helped clients retire with confidence, and my goal on this podcast is to simplify the complexities of retirement planning so you can focus on what truly matters—enjoying your retirement years while maintaining financial security. This week we're exploring the topic: 10 Stupid Things People Waste Money On

Welcome to a new week here on the Retirement Quick Tips podcast! I'm your host, Ashley Micciche. I'm a financial advisor and co-owner of True North Retirement Advisors, a fee-only fiduciary financial advisory practice managing over $425M in assets.  For 17 years, I've helped clients retire with confidence, and my goal on this podcast is to simplify the complexities of retirement planning so you can focus on what truly matters—enjoying your retirement years while maintaining financial security. This week we're exploring the topic: Going For The Gold: A Smart Hedge or Bad Investment?  

What is the best way to secure your retirement investments to ride the highs and lows of the market. Ashley Micciche, from True North Retirement Advisors, has some advise.True North Retirement Advisors.Subscribe to the Morning Blend on your favorite podcast platform.Find this show on the free Hail Mary Media App, along with a radio live-stream, prayers, news, and more.Look through past episodes or support this podcast.The Morning Blend is a production of Mater Dei Radio in Portland, Oregon.

Welcome to a new week here on the Retirement Quick Tips podcast! I'm your host and guide, Ashley Micciche. I'm a financial advisor and co-owner of True North Retirement Advisors, a fee-only fiduciary financial advisory practice managing over $425M in assets. For 17 years, I've helped hundreds retire with confidence. My goal on this podcast is to simplify the complexities of retirement planning so you can focus on what truly matters—enjoying your retirement years while maintaining financial security. This week we're exploring the topic: Too Good To Be True: How to Spot & Stop Financial Scams Before It's Too Late

Welcome to a new week here on the Retirement Quick Tips podcast! I'm your host and guide, Ashley Micciche. I'm a financial advisor and co-owner of True North Retirement Advisors, a fee-only fiduciary financial advisory practice managing over $425M in assets. For 17 years, I've been helping clients retire with confidence, and my goal on this podcast is to help you do the same. Together we'll simplify the complexities of retirement planning so you can focus on what truly matters—enjoying your retirement years while maintaining financial security. This week we're exploring the topic: Navigating Markets in Turmoil

Welcome to a new week here on the Retirement Quick Tips podcast! I'm your host and guide, Ashley Micciche. I'm a financial advisor and co-owner of True North Retirement Advisors, a fee-only fiduciary financial advisory practice managing over $425M in assets. For 17 years, I've helped my clients retire with confidence, and my goal on this podcast is to help you simplify the complexities of retirement so you can focus on what truly matters— living a fulfilling retirement while maintaining financial security. I just turned 40 last week. I still don't know how I feel about it. They say that age is just a number, but I don't really agree with that. Another birthday and another trip around the sun is an annual reminder that life on this earth is very brief, and hopefully we all grow to be better & wiser along our journey of life.  Do I feel older this year? I've been having a lot of pain in my hips and back recently. The other day I was bending over to help one of my kids with something, and as I stood up again, I couldn't do that all at once. I got stuck about ⅔ of the way back up, and had to pause and move slow the rest of the way back to vertical. I'm constantly putting on hand lotion because the skin on the back of my hands are starting to look all crepey. Stuff that didn't even enter into my orbit now occupies mental space in my head - like I better take it slow standing back up and did I remember to put my crepe cream on before bed.  So I definitely feel older. Wiser too? Maybe, we'll see…Because this week and next week on the podcast, I'll be sharing with you 40 life lessons I've learned over the last 40 years.  

Welcome to a new week here on the Retirement Quick Tips podcast! I'm your host and guide, Ashley Micciche. I'm a financial advisor and co-owner of True North Retirement Advisors, a fee-only fiduciary financial advisory practice managing over $425M in assets. For 17 years, I've helped my clients retire with confidence, and my goal on this podcast is to help you simplify the complexities of retirement so you can focus on what truly matters— living a fulfilling retirement while maintaining financial security. I'm turning 40 this week. And I was planning to share with you 40 life lessons I've learned over the last 40 years, but as I was getting ready to record, the stock market continued it's turbulent path and both the Nasdaq and S&P 500 officially entered correction territory. So I thought it would be timely and hopefully more valuable to share some insights on corrections - what they mean, how to deal with them, and discuss what to do. 

Welcome to a new week here on the Retirement Quick Tips podcast! I'm your host and guide, Ashley Micciche. I'm a financial advisor and co-owner of True North Retirement Advisors, a fee-only fiduciary financial advisory practice managing over $425M in assets. For 17 years, I've helped hundreds retire with confidence. My goal on this podcast is to simplify the complexities of retirement planning so you can focus on what truly matters—enjoying your retirement years while maintaining financial security. This week I'm taking a break to catch up from my recent trip to Hawaii.  I'll be back with new episodes next Monday, March 24th.  My name is Ashley Micciche...and this is the Retirement Quick Tips podcast.

Welcome to a new week here on the Retirement Quick Tips podcast! I'm your host and guide, Ashley Micciche. I'm a financial advisor and co-owner of True North Retirement Advisors, a fee-only fiduciary financial advisory practice managing over $425M in assets. For 17 years, I've helped hundreds retire with confidence. My goal on this podcast is to simplify the complexities of retirement planning so you can focus on what truly matters—enjoying your retirement years while maintaining financial security. I was originally planning to talk about financial scams this week and how to spot and prevent them, especially in the new world of AI. But then as I was getting ready to record, the stock market went into a total meltdown over Trump's tariffs. No doubt if you've been following the news that this has been on your mind. Regardless of political leanings, my clients have been nervous about what the impact of tariffs will be on the economy and their portfolios. So this week, I'll help you digest the tariffs and together we'll try to make sense of what that means and what you may want to do about it.

Welcome to a new week here on the Retirement Quick Tips podcast! I'm your host and guide, Ashley Micciche. I'm a financial advisor and co-owner of True North Retirement Advisors, a fee-only fiduciary financial advisory practice managing over $425M in assets. For 17 years, I've helped hundreds retire with confidence. My goal on this podcast is to simplify the complexities of retirement planning so you can focus on what truly matters—enjoying your retirement years to the fullest. This week we're exploring the topic: Longevity risk - will your money last in retirement?

Welcome to a new week here on the Retirement Quick Tips podcast! I'm your host and guide, Ashley Micciche & my goal is to simplify the complexities of retirement planning so you can focus on what truly matters—enjoying your retirement years to the fullest. I'm a financial advisor and the co-owner of True North Retirement Advisors, a fee-only, fiduciary financial advisory practice managing over $425 million in assets. Over the last 17 years, I've helped hundreds of clients save, invest, plan for, and transition into retirement with confidence, and I want to help YOU do the same.  This week we're exploring the topic: Micciche Money Principles

How do you make your retirement money last through the years? Ashley Micciche has the figures and shares them on today's show.True North Retirement Advisors.Subscribe to the Morning Blend on your favorite podcast platform.Find this show on the free Hail Mary Media App, along with a radio live-stream, prayers, news, and more.Look through past episodes or support this podcast.The Morning Blend is a production of Mater Dei Radio in Portland, Oregon.

Welcome to a new week here on the Retirement Quick Tips podcast! You've spent decades working hard to save enough for retirement—but are you truly ready to make the most of your retirement years? This podcast is aimed at helping you do exactly that - thrive in retirement! I'm your guide, Ashley Micciche & my goal is to simplify the complexities of retirement planning so you can focus on what truly matters—enjoying your retirement years to the fullest. I'm a financial advisor and the co-owner of True North Retirement Advisors, a fee-only, fiduciary financial advisory practice managing over $425 million in assets. Over the last 17 years, I've helped hundreds of clients save, invest, plan for, and transition into retirement with confidence, and I want to help YOU do the same.  This week we're exploring the topic: How to Minimize Stock Market Risk (Even if You're a Beginner!). 

Welcome to a new week here on the Retirement Quick Tips podcast! If you're 5-10 years on either side of retirement, and looking for some daily quick tips to help your path to and through retirement, I'm your guide, Ashley Micciche. I've been a financial advisor for 17 years, and I've helped hundreds of clients carve out their own unique roadmap to retirement. I'm the co-owner of True North Retirement Advisors, a fee-only financial advisory practice managing over $400 million in assets.    This week's theme is: What Is Your Net Worth?  

What is your net worth and why is it important to track for your retirement. Ashley Micciche, from True North Retirement Advisors, explains how to factor those numbers into your retirement plan.Online Net Worth Calculator.Subscribe to the Morning Blend on your favorite podcast platform.Find this show on the free Hail Mary Media App, along with a radio live-stream, prayers, news, and more.Look through past episodes or support this podcast.The Morning Blend is a production of Mater Dei Radio in Portland, Oregon.

Welcome to a new week here on the Retirement Quick Tips podcast! If you're 5-10 years on either side of retirement, and looking for some daily quick tips to help your path to and through retirement, I'm your guide, Ashley Micciche. I've been a financial advisor for 17 years, and I've helped hundreds of clients carve out their own unique roadmap to retirement. I'm the co-owner of True North Retirement Advisors, a fee-only financial advisory practice managing over $400 million in assets.  This week's theme is: How To Optimize Your HSA In 2025

What can we learn from last year to make a financial plan for this year? Ashley Micciche, from True North Retirement Advisors, is back on The Morning Blend to share more.True North Retirement Advisors.Subscribe to the Morning Blend on your favorite podcast platform.Find this show on the free Hail Mary Media App, along with a radio live-stream, prayers, news, and more.Look through past episodes or support this podcast.The Morning Blend is a production of Mater Dei Radio in Portland, Oregon.

Welcome to a new week here on the Retirement Quick Tips podcast! If you're 5-10 years on either side of retirement, and looking for some daily quick tips to help your path to and through retirement, I'm your guide, Ashley Micciche. I've been a financial advisor for 17 years, and I've helped hundreds of clients carve out their own unique roadmap to retirement. I'm the co-owner of True North Retirement Advisors, a fee-only financial advisory practice managing over $400 million in assets.  This week I planned to discuss Optimizing Your HSA In 2025. But as I was finishing up and getting ready to record, I had a family emergency come up, so I need to take a break this week to focus on that.  I'll be back next Monday, February 3rd where I'll talk about optimizing your HSA in the new year.  In the meantime, be sure to check out my YouTube channel, Retire With Ashley. You can listen to the podcast there, and I'm starting to post new content over there, with the goal of posting videos more consistently in 2025.  I hope you have a great week! Looking forward to being back with you next week. My name is Ashley Micciche...and this is the Retirement Quick Tips podcast.

Welcome to a new week here on the Retirement Quick Tips podcast! If you're 5-10 years on either side of retirement, and looking for some daily quick tips to help your path to and through retirement, I'm your guide, Ashley Micciche. I've been a financial advisor for 17 years, and I've helped hundreds of clients carve out their own unique roadmap to retirement. I'm the co-owner of True North Retirement Advisors, a fee-only financial advisory practice managing over $400 million in assets.  This week's theme is: What I'm Reading In January 2025

Welcome to a new week here on the Retirement Quick Tips podcast! If you're 5-10 years on either side of retirement, and looking for some daily quick tips to help your path to and through retirement, I'm your guide, Ashley Micciche. I've been a financial advisor for 17 years, and I've helped hundreds of clients carve out their own unique roadmap to retirement. I'm the co-owner of True North Retirement Advisors, a fee-only financial advisory practice managing over $400 million in assets.  This week's theme is: 2024 Economic & Market Commentary

Ashley Micciche from True North Retirement Advisors tells us the top regrets that retirees have and how you can avoid them.Subscribe to the Morning Blend on your favorite podcast platform.Find this show on the free Hail Mary Media App, along with a radio live-stream, prayers, news, and more.Look through past episodes or support this podcast.The Morning Blend is a production of Mater Dei Radio in Portland, Oregon.

Welcome to a new week here on the Retirement Quick Tips podcast! If you're 5-10 years on either side of retirement, and looking for some daily quick tips to help your path to and through retirement, I'm your guide, Ashley Micciche. I've been a financial advisor for 17 years, and I've helped hundreds of clients carve out their own unique roadmap to retirement. I'm the co-owner of True North Retirement Advisors, a fee-only financial advisory practice managing over $400 million in assets.  This week's theme is: 5 Expensive Things I Bought Last Year That Were Worth The Splurge

Welcome to a new week here on the Retirement Quick Tips podcast! If you're 5-10 years on either side of retirement, and looking for some daily quick tips to help your path to and through retirement, I'm your guide, Ashley Micciche.  I'm the co-owner of True North Retirement Advisors, a fee-only financial advisory practice managing over $425 million in assets.I've been a financial advisor for 17 years, helping hundreds of clients along the way carve out their own unique roadmap to retirement. The theme this week on the podcast is: The Best of 2024

Welcome to a new week here on the Retirement Quick Tips podcast! If you're 5-10 years on either side of retirement, and looking for some daily quick tips to help your path to and through retirement, I'm your guide, Ashley Micciche. I've been a financial advisor for 17 years, and I've helped hundreds of clients carve out their own unique roadmap to retirement. I'm the co-owner of True North Retirement Advisors, a fee-only financial advisory practice managing over $400 million in assets.  This week's theme is: Changes Coming To Your 401(k) In 2025

Welcome to a new week here on the Retirement Quick Tips podcast! If you're 5-10 years on either side of retirement, and looking for some daily quick tips to help your path to and through retirement, I'm your guide, Ashley Micciche. I've been a financial advisor for 17 years, and I've helped hundreds of clients carve out their own unique roadmap to retirement. I'm the co-owner of True North Retirement Advisors, a fee-only financial advisory practice managing over $400 million in assets.  This week's theme is: Your money personality and why it matters.