The Retirement Expense Nobody Plans For—Until It Hits

One surprise expense can throw a retirement budget into chaos—and it’s rarely the one you expect. Michigan’s Retirement Coach Mike Douglas breaks down why unplanned costs are so common in retirement and how they quietly disrupt even well‑built plans. From home repairs and medical issues to liquidit…

Retiring in 2026? The Decisions That Matter Now

If 2026 is your retirement year, the clock just got louder. From this past weekend’s radio show, Michigan’s Retirement Coach Mike Douglas walks through the decisions that matter most when retirement is close enough to touch. The conversation covers shifting from investing to income, building a fina…

Should You Use Your 401(k) to Buy a House?

Should buying a home come at the expense of your retirement future? In this episode of Michigan’s Retirement Coach, Mike Douglas tackles the growing idea of tapping a 401(k) to purchase a house and why it’s more complicated than it sounds. The conversation explores rising home prices, shrinking sta…

The Retirement Red Zone: Why “Winging It” Can Backfire

Retirement can sneak up like a downhill skier with no brakes. In this episode from this past weekend’s radio show, Michigan’s Retirement Coach Mike Douglas uses sports analogies, real client stories, and market history to explain what happens when retirees enter the “red zone” without a plan. The c…

The Real Difference Between Wealth and Confidence

Having more money doesn’t automatically bring more certainty. Mike Douglas explores why financial confidence often has less to do with account balances and more to do with understanding how money works in retirement. Using high-profile examples and everyday scenarios, this episode focuses on educat…

The Retirement Rule Change Everyone Missed

What if a single rule change could reshape your entire retirement strategy? In this past weekend’s radio show, Michigan’s Retirement Coach, Mike Douglas, breaks down how new tax provisions, Social Security concerns, and overlooked estate‑planning gaps impact retirees more than they realize. Through…

Five Surprising Steps That Strengthen Your Retirement Before Day One

What if your retirement success depends less on the economy and more on the choices you make before leaving work? Michigan’s Retirement Coach, Mike Douglas, breaks down five proactive steps for those nearing retirement — from understanding your true risk tolerance to maximizing contributions, prepa…

The Retirement Disconnect No One Is Talking About

What if the biggest threat to your retirement confidence isn’t the market — but the uncertainty you carry into it? In this episode from this past weekend’s radio show, Michigan’s Retirement Coach Mike Douglas unpacks why savers and advisors view 2026 so differently, how market headlines distort exp…

The Retirement Debt Question No One Wants to Ask

Is all debt created equal when you’re heading into retirement? In this episode, Michigan’s Retirement Coach Mike Douglas breaks down where debt can be strategic and where it can quietly drain your future. From low‑interest mortgages to high‑cost car loans, he explains how to weigh interest rates, t…

Feeling Lost in the 2026 Forecasts? Here’s What Really Matters

A wave of economic predictions has retirees on edge—but this past weekend’s radio show cut through the noise with a clear takeaway: focus on your personal plan, not the headlines. Michigan’s Retirement Coach, Mike Douglas, breaks down how shifting inflation, interest rates, and tax law changes may …