Mike and Al lay out seven bedrock habits for compounding over decades start with clear goals and the right risk mix, diversify broadly, and automate saving so contributions continue through all markets. They stress discipline over prediction: stick to a written plan, rebalance on schedule, and ignore headline-driven tinkering. Costs and taxes matter, so they emphasize low-cost vehicles and smart account placement to minimize drag on returns. The takeaway: consistency, patience, and process - not stock-picking heroics - are what carry investors to their long-term goals.

Mike and Al lay out seven bedrock habits for compounding over decades start with clear goals and the right risk mix, diversify broadly, and automate saving so contributions continue through all markets. They stress discipline over prediction: stick to a written plan, rebalance on schedule, and ignore headline-driven tinkering. Costs and taxes matter, so they emphasize low-cost vehicles and smart account placement to minimize drag on returns. The takeaway: consistency, patience, and process - not stock-picking heroics - are what carry investors to their long-term goals.

7 Principles of Long Term Investing

Mike and Al continues their deep dive into how real estate fits into a diversified retirement and investment plan - contrasting direct ownership, REITs, and private placements. They highlight tax advantages such as depreciation, 1031 exchanges, and using self-directed IRAs for property investments, while cautioning against overleveraging or illiquidity risks. Discussion includes how rental income can supplement retirement cash flow and hedge inflation if managed prudently. The key takeaway: real estate can be a valuable wealth-building tool when approached with strategy, due diligence, and awareness of its unique risks and rewards.

Mike and Al continues their deep dive into how real estate fits into a diversified retirement and investment plan - contrasting direct ownership, REITs, and private placements. They highlight tax advantages such as depreciation, 1031 exchanges, and using self-directed IRAs for property investments, while cautioning against overleveraging or illiquidity risks. Discussion includes how rental income can supplement retirement cash flow and hedge inflation if managed prudently. The key takeaway: real estate can be a valuable wealth-building tool when approached with strategy, due diligence, and awareness of its unique risks and rewards.

01/03/25 Estate Strategies Part 2

Mike and Al lays out the building blocks of an estate plan - wills vs. revocable living trusts, proper titling, and keeping beneficiary designations current to avoid probate surprises. They stress pairing financial powers of attorney and healthcare directives with your plan so someone you trust can act if you’re incapacitated. Taxes get practical airtime: understanding step-up in basis, when lifetime gifting makes sense, and how to coordinate IRA/401(k) beneficiaries with the overall plan. The takeaway: document your intentions clearly and align accounts, beneficiaries, and legal documents so your wishes are carried out efficiently and tax-smart.

Mike and Al lays out the building blocks of an estate plan - wills vs. revocable living trusts, proper titling, and keeping beneficiary designations current to avoid probate surprises. They stress pairing financial powers of attorney and healthcare directives with your plan so someone you trust can act if you&rsquo;re incapacitated. Taxes get practical airtime: understanding step-up in basis, when lifetime gifting makes sense, and how to coordinate IRA/401(k) beneficiaries with the overall plan. The takeaway: document your intentions clearly and align accounts, beneficiaries, and legal documents so your wishes are carried out efficiently and tax-smart.

12-27-25 Estate Strategies Part 1

Mike and Al outlines five core practices that help retirees maintain peace of mind regardless of market swings or news headlines. They emphasize having a written income plan, keeping at least one to two years of cash or short-term reserves, reviewing spending habits regularly, and rebalancing portfolios to stay aligned with risk tolerance. Other confidence-boosters include minimizing debt, knowing your guaranteed income sources, and continuing purposeful activities like volunteering, mentoring, or part-time work to replace the sense of structure a career once provided. The key message: confidence in retirement isn’t about predicting markets - it’s about clarity, preparation, and staying engaged with both your finances and your life.

Mike and Al outlines five core practices that help retirees maintain peace of mind regardless of market swings or news headlines. They emphasize having a written income plan, keeping at least one to two years of cash or short-term reserves, reviewing spending habits regularly, and rebalancing portfolios to stay aligned with risk tolerance. Other confidence-boosters include minimizing debt, knowing your guaranteed income sources, and continuing purposeful activities like volunteering, mentoring, or part-time work to replace the sense of structure a career once provided. The key message: confidence in retirement isn&rsquo;t about predicting markets - it&rsquo;s about clarity, preparation, and staying engaged with both your finances and your life.

12/20/25 5 Ways to Stay Confident in Retirement

12/13/25 Show 772 Retirement Regrets

12/06/25 Show 771 Investing Wisely Part 2

11/29/25 Show 770 Investing Wisely

Mike and Al explores the question of financial sufficiency - how to determine the amount of wealth needed to sustain one’s lifestyle and goals without unnecessary risk or excess. They emphasize defining “enough” through purpose-driven planning rather than arbitrary numbers, aligning savings, spending, and charitable giving with personal values. Using real examples, they illustrate how inflation, longevity, and healthcare costs factor into sustainable withdrawal rates and retirement income needs. The key message: true financial confidence comes not from chasing returns but from clarity about what matters most and structuring your plan to serve that vision.

Mike and Al explores the question of financial sufficiency - how to determine the amount of wealth needed to sustain one&rsquo;s lifestyle and goals without unnecessary risk or excess. They emphasize defining &ldquo;enough&rdquo; through purpose-driven planning rather than arbitrary numbers, aligning savings, spending, and charitable giving with personal values. Using real examples, they illustrate how inflation, longevity, and healthcare costs factor into sustainable withdrawal rates and retirement income needs. The key message: true financial confidence comes not from chasing returns but from clarity about what matters most and structuring your plan to serve that vision.

11/22/25 Show 769 How Much Is Enough?

In this week’s episode of Money Matters, the hosts break down one of the most overlooked yet impactful strategies in personal finance: asset location. They explain how where you hold your investments—whether in taxable, tax-deferred, or tax-free accounts—can significantly influence your long-term financial success.

Listeners will learn why asset location matters, how it can improve tax efficiency, and practical steps to optimize their portfolio for better after-tax returns. Whether you’re planning for retirement or simply looking to make smarter investment decisions, this episode offers clear, actionable insights to help you keep more of what you earn.

Tune in and discover how strategic planning today can lead to stronger financial outcomes tomorrow.

In this week&rsquo;s episode of Money Matters, the hosts break down one of the most overlooked yet impactful strategies in personal finance: asset location. They explain how where you hold your investments&mdash;whether in taxable, tax-deferred, or tax-free accounts&mdash;can significantly influence your long-term financial success.
Listeners will learn why asset location matters, how it can improve tax efficiency, and practical steps to optimize their portfolio for better after-tax returns. Whether you&rsquo;re planning for retirement or simply looking to make smarter investment decisions, this episode offers clear, actionable insights to help you keep more of what you earn.
Tune in and discover how strategic planning today can lead to stronger financial outcomes tomorrow.

11/15/25 Show 768 Asset Location

This week on Money Matters with Al and Mike, the markets are sending mixed signals — and Al and Mike are here to break it all down. From unpredictable swings to investor emotions, they unpack what’s really driving today’s market behavior and how you can stay grounded when the numbers don’t go your way.

Plus, they’ll share practical, faith-based financial wisdom to help you navigate uncertainty, keep your long-term goals in focus, and make wise decisions no matter what the market is doing.

This week on Money Matters with Al and Mike, the markets are sending mixed signals &mdash; and Al and Mike are here to break it all down. From unpredictable swings to investor emotions, they unpack what&rsquo;s really driving today&rsquo;s market behavior and how you can stay grounded when the numbers don&rsquo;t go your way.
Plus, they&rsquo;ll share practical, faith-based financial wisdom to help you navigate uncertainty, keep your long-term goals in focus, and make wise decisions no matter what the market is doing.

Money Matters with Al & Mike

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