foster your financial literacy
Listen, watch, and read our most up-to-date content on retirement, investing, the current market, and more.
foster your financial literacy
Listen, watch, and read our most up-to-date content on retirement, investing, the current market, and more.
Podcasts
Youtube Videos
How to Invest New Money (Without Second-Guessing Yourself)
How should you invest a large sum of money without making costly mistakes? Whether you've received an inheritance, rolled over a 401(k), or accumulated extra cash, deciding when and how to invest can feel overwhelming—especially when you're worried about a stock market crash.
Ashley Micciche shares the process she uses as a financial advisor to help clients invest new money. She explains how to use additional funds to rebalance your portfolio, improve diversification, and potentially avoid unnecessary capital gains taxes. She also discusses the temptation to chase popular investments like AI stocks and whether investing a lump sum all at once or gradually over several months makes more sense as you approach retirement.
The biggest mistake may be letting fear keep your money sitting in cash indefinitely.
Would you rather invest a large sum all at once or spread it out over time? Let us know in the comments!
Subscribe to Retire with Ashley for practical retirement planning and investment strategies.
Chapters:
0:00 How to invest new money without second-guessing yourself
2:56 Start with your stock and bond allocation
3:47 Use new money to improve diversification
5:46 Avoid chasing hot investment trends
7:13 The risks of investing in AI stocks
8:40 Should you invest all at once or gradually?
10:11 How to systematically invest a lump sum
11:38 The most important rules for investing new money
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Thanks for watching! Want to hear more? Check out my daily podcast: Retirement with Ashley wherever you listen to podcasts:
::: Podcast website: https://truenorthretirementadvisors.com/retire-with-ashley
::: Apple Podcasts - https://apple.co/2DI2LSP
::: Spotify - https://bit.ly/3KCQakz
::: iHeart Radio - https://bit.ly/3ViRNc4
Get a daily dose of retirement advice with the Retirement with Ashley podcast! Each episode is 3-5 minutes long and jam-packed with actionable advice to help you live a financially secure and fulfilled retirement.
_____________________________
Get in touch:
Ashley Micciche, QPFC, CRPC, CeXP
CEO, True North Retirement Advisors
https://www.truenorthretirementadvisors.com
Disclosure: https://truenorthretirementadvisors.com/disclaimer/
The Retirement Mistake That Leaves You No Options
Retiring with significant debt can leave you with fewer options when the stock market falls. Ashley explains why reducing fixed expenses and maintaining flexibility can make the difference between temporarily cutting back on spending and potentially facing a lasting change to your retirement lifestyle.
Watch the full video linked above for strategies to prepare your retirement for the next market downturn.
_____________________________
Thanks for watching! Want to hear more? Check out my daily podcast: Retirement with Ashley wherever you listen to podcasts:
::: Podcast website: https://truenorthretirementadvisors.com/retire-with-ashley
::: Apple Podcasts - https://apple.co/2DI2LSP
::: Spotify - https://bit.ly/3KCQakz
::: iHeart Radio - https://bit.ly/3ViRNc4
Get a daily dose of retirement advice with the Retirement with Ashley podcast! Each episode is 3-5 minutes long and jam-packed with actionable advice to help you live a financially secure and fulfilled retirement.
_____________________________
Get in touch:
Ashley Micciche, QPFC, CRPC, CeXP
CEO, True North Retirement Advisors
https://www.truenorthretirementadvisors.com
Disclosure: https://truenorthretirementadvisors.com/disclaimer/
How Much Cash Should You Have Before Retirement?
How much cash should you have when you retire? Ashley breaks down three important reserves to consider: emergency savings, money for major planned expenses, and 12 months of investment withdrawals. Having liquid funds available may help you avoid selling investments during a market downturn.
Watch the full video linked above to see how cash reserves fit into a retirement plan._____________________________
Thanks for watching! Want to hear more? Check out my daily podcast: Retirement with Ashley wherever you listen to podcasts:
::: Podcast website: https://truenorthretirementadvisors.com/retire-with-ashley
::: Apple Podcasts - https://apple.co/2DI2LSP
::: Spotify - https://bit.ly/3KCQakz
::: iHeart Radio - https://bit.ly/3ViRNc4
Get a daily dose of retirement advice with the Retirement with Ashley podcast! Each episode is 3-5 minutes long and jam-packed with actionable advice to help you live a financially secure and fulfilled retirement.
_____________________________
Get in touch:
Ashley Micciche, QPFC, CRPC, CeXP
CEO, True North Retirement Advisors
https://www.truenorthretirementadvisors.com
Disclosure: https://truenorthretirementadvisors.com/disclaimer/
Stress-Test Your Retirement Before It's Too Late
Could your retirement portfolio withstand another 2008 financial crisis or dot-com crash? Ashley explains why stress-testing your investments against historical market downturns can reveal risks you may not realize you're taking, especially if most of your retirement savings are invested in stocks.
Watch the full video linked above for more ways to prepare your retirement for market volatility.
_____________________________
Thanks for watching! Want to hear more? Check out my daily podcast: Retirement with Ashley wherever you listen to podcasts:
::: Podcast website: https://truenorthretirementadvisors.com/retire-with-ashley
::: Apple Podcasts - https://apple.co/2DI2LSP
::: Spotify - https://bit.ly/3KCQakz
::: iHeart Radio - https://bit.ly/3ViRNc4
Get a daily dose of retirement advice with the Retirement with Ashley podcast! Each episode is 3-5 minutes long and jam-packed with actionable advice to help you live a financially secure and fulfilled retirement.
_____________________________
Get in touch:
Ashley Micciche, QPFC, CRPC, CeXP
CEO, True North Retirement Advisors
https://www.truenorthretirementadvisors.com
Disclosure: https://truenorthretirementadvisors.com/disclaimer/
Your $1 Million Retirement Just Became $700K
A 30% market decline can turn a $1 million retirement portfolio into $700,000. And if you're withdrawing money at the same time, recovering from that loss becomes even harder. Ashley explains why retiring into a bear market can have lasting consequences and why it's important to prepare before it happens.
Watch the full video linked above to understand sequence-of-returns risk and ways to prepare for it.
_____________________________
Thanks for watching! Want to hear more? Check out my daily podcast: Retirement with Ashley wherever you listen to podcasts:
::: Podcast website: https://truenorthretirementadvisors.com/retire-with-ashley
::: Apple Podcasts - https://apple.co/2DI2LSP
::: Spotify - https://bit.ly/3KCQakz
::: iHeart Radio - https://bit.ly/3ViRNc4
Get a daily dose of retirement advice with the Retirement with Ashley podcast! Each episode is 3-5 minutes long and jam-packed with actionable advice to help you live a financially secure and fulfilled retirement.
_____________________________
Get in touch:
Ashley Micciche, QPFC, CRPC, CeXP
CEO, True North Retirement Advisors
https://www.truenorthretirementadvisors.com
Disclosure: https://truenorthretirementadvisors.com/disclaimer/
The Worst Possible Time to Retire
What if you spend decades saving for retirement, only to retire right before the stock market crashes? Ashley explains why retirement timing matters and how cash reserves, backup income, flexible spending, and Social Security decisions can help you prepare for an uncertain market.
Watch the full video linked above for a deeper look at preparing your retirement for a major downturn.
_____________________________
Thanks for watching! Want to hear more? Check out my daily podcast: Retirement with Ashley wherever you listen to podcasts:
::: Podcast website: https://truenorthretirementadvisors.com/retire-with-ashley
::: Apple Podcasts - https://apple.co/2DI2LSP
::: Spotify - https://bit.ly/3KCQakz
::: iHeart Radio - https://bit.ly/3ViRNc4
Get a daily dose of retirement advice with the Retirement with Ashley podcast! Each episode is 3-5 minutes long and jam-packed with actionable advice to help you live a financially secure and fulfilled retirement.
_____________________________
Get in touch:
Ashley Micciche, QPFC, CRPC, CeXP
CEO, True North Retirement Advisors
https://www.truenorthretirementadvisors.com
Disclosure: https://truenorthretirementadvisors.com/disclaimer/
What If Now Is The Worst Possible Time To Retire?
What happens if you retire at the worst possible time — just before a stock market crash, recession, or period of high inflation?
After decades of saving and investing, the last thing you want is a major market downturn right when you start withdrawing money from your retirement accounts. But retiring into a bear market can have consequences that last for decades, even if the market eventually recovers.
Ashley explains sequence of returns risk, why the timing of market losses matters so much in retirement, and how retirees in the late 1960s and during the 2008 financial crisis faced particularly difficult circumstances.
More importantly, she discusses how to build a financial cushion around your retirement plan. From managing investment withdrawals and maintaining cash reserves to reducing expenses and reconsidering Social Security timing, there are ways to give yourself more flexibility when markets don't cooperate.
You can't predict the next market crash. But you can prepare your retirement plan for the possibility.
Are you concerned about retiring just before a major market downturn? Share your thoughts in the comments.
Subscribe to Retire with Ashley for practical retirement planning strategies, investment insights, and retirement income guidance.
_____________________________
Thanks for watching! Want to hear more? Check out my daily podcast: Retire with Ashley wherever you listen to podcasts:
::: Podcast website: https://retirementquicktips.com/
::: Apple Podcasts - https://apple.co/2DI2LSP
::: Spotify - https://bit.ly/3KCQakz
::: iHeart Radio - https://bit.ly/3ViRNc4
Get a daily dose of retirement advice with the Retire with Ashley podcast! Each episode is 3-5 minutes long and jam-packed with actionable advice to help you live a financially secure and fulfilled retirement.
_____________________________
Get in touch:
Ashley Micciche, QPFC, CRPC, CeXP
CEO, True North Retirement Advisors
https://www.truenorthretirementadvisors.com
Disclosure: https://truenorthretirementadvisors.com/disclaimer/
Why is Your Advisor Trading So Much?
More activity doesn’t always mean better investing. Ashley explains why excessive trading can create commissions, taxes, and lower after-tax returns — and why both advisors and DIY investors should pay attention to turnover.
👉 Watch the full video above to see what your tax return reveals about your investments.
_____________________________
Thanks for watching! Want to hear more? Check out my daily podcast: Retirement Quick Tips wherever you listen to podcasts:
::: Podcast website: https://retirementquicktips.com/
::: Apple Podcasts - https://apple.co/2DI2LSP
::: Spotify - https://bit.ly/3KCQakz
::: iHeart Radio - https://bit.ly/3ViRNc4
Get a daily dose of retirement advice with the Retirement Quick Tips podcast! Each episode is 3-5 minutes long and jam-packed with actionable advice to help you live a financially secure and fulfilled retirement.
_____________________________
Get in touch:
Ashley Micciche, QPFC, CRPC, CeXP
CEO, True North Retirement Advisors
https://www.truenorthretirementadvisors.com
Disclosure: https://truenorthretirementadvisors.com/disclaimer/
A Huge Tax Refund Isn’t Always a Win
A lot of people celebrate a big refund — but Ashley explains why that isn’t always a sign things went well. In many cases, it means you gave the IRS your money all year instead of keeping it invested or available for your own goals.
👉 Watch the full video above to think differently about your tax strategy.
_____________________________
Thanks for watching! Want to hear more? Check out my daily podcast: Retirement Quick Tips wherever you listen to podcasts:
::: Podcast website: https://retirementquicktips.com/
::: Apple Podcasts - https://apple.co/2DI2LSP
::: Spotify - https://bit.ly/3KCQakz
::: iHeart Radio - https://bit.ly/3ViRNc4
Get a daily dose of retirement advice with the Retirement Quick Tips podcast! Each episode is 3-5 minutes long and jam-packed with actionable advice to help you live a financially secure and fulfilled retirement.
_____________________________
Get in touch:
Ashley Micciche, QPFC, CRPC, CeXP
CEO, True North Retirement Advisors
https://www.truenorthretirementadvisors.com
Disclosure: https://truenorthretirementadvisors.com/disclaimer/
Monthly Market Updates
True North Quarterly Commentary | October 2026
The third quarter of 2026 was defined by a sharp rise in bond yields, the Federal Reserve’s first interest rate increase in more than three years, persistent inflation, and an increasingly concentrated stock market rally driven by artificial intelligence.
Economic & Market Update | 2nd Quarter 2026
The second quarter was surprisingly strong, especially against the backdrop of the conflict in Iran, rising inflation and gas prices, and growing concerns that the Fed may shift from gradually lowering interest rates to raising them later this year.
Economic & Market Update | 1st Quarter 2026
1st Quarter 2026 Commentary – he first quarter of 2026 is now in the books, and it was a very eventful one.
Economic & Market Update | 4th Quarter 2025
4th Quarter 2025 Commentary – Optimism over AI was the main driver behind stock market gains, leading the S&P 500 to a 16% return in 2025.
Economic & Market Update | 3rd Quarter 2025
3rd Quarter 2025 Commentary – The U.S. stock market hit new highs in the third quarter of 2025 and grew 8% overall for the quarter. Gains were broad across most sectors of the market,
Economic & Market Update | 2nd Quarter Update 2025
2nd Quarter 2025 Commentary – After a plunge at the beginning of the 2nd quarter following the Liberation Day tariffs, the U.S. stock market finished the quarter with a stunning recovery.
Economic & Market Update | 1st Quarter Update 2025
1st Quarter 2025 Commentary – The S&P 500 struggled to recover after entering correction territory (a decline of 10% or more) in early March and finished down 4.6% for the quarter
Economic & Market Update | 4th Quarter 2024
4th Quarter 2024 Commentary & 2024 Outlook – Stocks rose over 23% in 2024, due to a resilient U.S. economy
Economic & Market Update | 3rd Quarter 2024
2nd Quarter 2024 Commentary – Stocks have been in a new bull market since October 2022 and have risen to all-time highs. During this period, the S&P 500 Index has risen 33% with most of the gains coming from big tech companies.
Economic & Market Update | 2nd Quarter 2024
2nd Quarter 2024 Commentary – Stocks have been in a new bull market since October 2022 and have risen to all-time highs. During this period, the S&P 500 Index has risen 33% with most of the gains coming from big tech companies.
