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
Why Retirement Feels More Uncertain for Gen X
Gen X is approaching retirement with more debt, less wealth, and more uncertainty than the generation before them. But they also bring independence and adaptability — traits that matter more than ever. The path is different, but it’s still navigable.
👉 Watch the full video above to see how Gen X can still build a strong retirement.
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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/
Boomers Had This for Retirement… Gen X Doesn’t
Many baby boomers retired with pensions. Most Gen Xers won’t. That means more responsibility, more pressure, and more reliance on personal savings. The shift from guaranteed income to self-funded retirement changes everything.
👉 Watch the full video above to see how this impacts your 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/
Why Gen X Has Half the Wealth of Boomers
Baby boomers built wealth during decades of strong growth. Gen X hit the workforce during the dot-com bust, the financial crisis, and years of stagnation. Same effort — very different outcomes. Timing matters more than most people realize.
👉 Watch the full video above to understand what this means for your retirement plan.
_____________________________
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/
The Real Money Divide Between Boomers and Gen X
Baby boomers built wealth during one of the most favorable economic periods in history. Gen X? They weren't so lucky.
Now, as Gen X approaches retirement, the differences are becoming clear — less wealth, more debt, fewer guarantees, and a lot more uncertainty. Ashley breaks down what’s driving this divide and why retirement may look very different for the next generation of retirees.
This isn’t about blaming one generation or praising another. It’s about understanding the reality Gen X is facing — and what that means if you’re planning for retirement in the years ahead.
🕒 Chapters
00:00 The real divide: Gen X vs. Baby Boomers
01:12 The wealth gap: timing, compounding, and missed growth
03:20 Why Boomers hold so much of the wealth
05:00 Fewer guarantees: the decline of pensions
06:11 Why Gen X relies more on themselves
07:14 Social Security uncertainty and mindset differences
08:14 Higher debt: mortgages, credit cards, and financial pressure
09:22 Healthcare costs and rising uncertainty
10:48 Why there’s still reason for optimism
_____________________________
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/
Iran Conflict: Now Might NOT Be the Time to Spend Big in Retirement
The Iran conflict is pushing up costs across the economy — from fuel to food to housing inputs. Ashley explains why waiting on major financial decisions can actually improve your position, not hurt it.
Watch the full video to learn more about how the Iran conflict could impact your retirement--and what you can do about it.
_____________________________
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/
Iran Conflict Retirement Planning: Stock Up for Shortages
If the Iran conflict continues, supply chains and prices could tighten again — and we’ve seen how quickly that escalates. Ashley explains why preparation isn’t panic — it’s part of a resilient retirement plan.
Watch the full video to learn more about how the Iran conflict could impact your retirement--and what you can do about it.
_____________________________
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/
Chasing Iran Conflict Headlines Puts Your Investments at Risk
When the Iran conflict dominates headlines, the “obvious” trades get crowded fast. But those moves often reverse just as quickly. With oil volatility driving markets, timing becomes even harder. Ashley explains why discipline beats reaction.
Watch the full video to learn more about how the Iran conflict could impact your retirement--and what you can do about it.
_____________________________
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/
RMDs Creating Tax Problems? How QCDs Can Help
If you’re already giving to charity, there may be a smarter way to do it. Ashley explains how Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) can satisfy your RMD while reducing — or even eliminating — the taxes on that income. It’s one of the most overlooked strategies in retirement.
👉 Watch the full video above to see if this strategy fits your plan.
_____________________________
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/
Iran Conflict: Why Cash Matters Right Now
With the Iran conflict driving uncertainty, liquidity becomes a strategy — not a weakness. Rising energy prices can ripple into inflation and job risk. Ashley explains how building cash now gives you flexibility when things tighten.
Watch the full video to learn more about how the Iran conflict could impact your retirement--and what you can do about it.
_____________________________
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 | 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…
Market & Economic Outlook | April 2021
Stocks climbed over 5% in the first quarter as new COVID-19 cases dropped dramatically (down over 75% from the previous six-week period), vaccinations became widespread (181 million doses delivered and over 93.6 million having received their first shot), and the economy kicked into high gear.
Market & Economic Outlook | February 2021
Stocks have been on a tear since the election. From November 3rd through February 10th, stocks have risen 13.5%. That’s the best market performance by any first-term President going back to World War II, for this time frame.
