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
Economic & Market Update | 1st Quarter 2024
1st Quarter 2024 Commentary & 2024 Outlook – Stocks have reached new all-time highs due to lower inflation and an acceleration of earnings. The economy and markets remained incredibly resilient in 2023, which has continued in the first quarter of 2024
Economic & Market Update | 4th Quarter 2023
Several troubling signs point to a recession ahead in the next year. With the Fed near the end of its rate hike cycle, we believe it’s a good time to start locking in attractive yields. Stocks may show further weakness from here, but as opportunities in AI become reality, it could be the green shoot the U.S. economy needs to avoid a serious downturn.
Economic & Market Update | September 2023
Several troubling signs point to a recession ahead in the next year. With the Fed near the end of its rate hike cycle, we believe it’s a good time to start locking in attractive yields. Stocks may show further weakness from here, but as opportunities in AI become reality, it could be the green shoot the U.S. economy needs to avoid a serious downturn.
Economic & Market Update | July 2023
Stocks continued to climb a wall of worry in the first half of 2023. The S&P 500 was up nearly 16% this year at the close of the second quarter, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average has climbed 3.8% this year, despite soft economic data, prominent bank failures, fears about the debt ceiling, and continued worries about an imminent recession.
Economic & Market Update | April 2023
Stocks rallied sharply to start the year as inflation subsided and investors grew increasingly confident that the Federal Reserve was nearly done raising interest rates.
Economic & Market Update | January 2023
2022 will go down in history as one of the worst years for both stocks and bonds ever
Economic & Market Update | July 2022
Stocks and bonds are having their worst 6-month start to a calendar year in decades.
Economic & Market Update | April 2022
The central concern, at least for Americans, is the current state of inflation and how our leaders plan to address it.
Economic & Market Update | January 2022
We remain optimistic about 2022, but we expect more muted returns on stocks and a challenging year for bonds…
Market & Economic Outlook | July 2021
Stocks continued to climb in the second quarter finishing up 8.2% as Covid-19 cases plunged 96% and almost 70% of U.S. adults got vaccinated. While concerns about the Covid Delta variant and inflation have investors on edge, the stock market performance in 2021 remains strong…
