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
High Earners Over 50: Your 2026 401(k) Catch-Up Rules Just Changed
Ashley breaks down how the new 2026 401(k) rules depend entirely on your FICA wages, not your total household income. If your FICA wages in 2025 are above $145,000 and you’re over 50, your catch-up contributions must be Roth-only. But if you're self-employed or have low W-2 wages, you may still be able to choose pretax or Roth — even with a high overall income.
👉 Watch the full video above for a complete walkthrough of how these rule changes apply to different income situations.
_____________________________
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/
Roth vs. Traditional 401k Pretax: The Flexibility Retirees Need
Ashley explains why having nearly all your retirement savings in a pretax 401(k) can lead to massive tax bills once required minimum distributions kick in. Every dollar withdrawn is taxed as income, leaving retirees with fewer options and less control. Even though Roth contributions mean giving up a deduction now, the long-term flexibility can be worth far more.
👉 Watch the full video above to learn why balancing Roth and pretax savings is crucial for a smoother retirement.
_____________________________
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/
Big 401(k) Changes in 2026 — Are You Ready?
Starting in 2026, anyone over 50 with more than $145,000 in FICA wages will be forced to make 401(k) catch-up contributions as Roth only. Ashley breaks down what’s changing, who’s affected, and how this could impact your retirement savings strategy. If you’re maxing out your 401(k), these new rules matter — and you’ll want to plan ahead.
👉 Watch the full video above for Ashley’s complete walkthrough of the 2026 401(k) rule changes and what to do now.
_____________________________
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/
Big Changes Coming For 401(k) Savers Over 50 In 2026
Big changes are coming in 2026 that could impact millions of 401(k) savers — especially high-income earners over age 50 who plan to max out contributions. Ashley Micciche breaks down exactly what’s changing, who is affected, and what you need to do now to avoid surprises later.
If your FICA wages exceed $145,000 in 2025 and you're age 50+, you will no longer be allowed to make pre-tax catch-up contributions starting in 2026 — those must go to Roth only. Ashley explains how FICA wages differ from household income, how to verify whether this rule applies to you, and why this shift might actually benefit your retirement strategy long-term.
You’ll also learn how contribution limits are changing in 2026, what to do if your employer does not offer a Roth option, and why this may be the perfect time to rebalance pretax vs. Roth savings to reduce taxes in retirement.
👉 Watch through to the end for your 3-step action plan to navigate the new rules with confidence.
🕒 Chapters
00:00 Big 401(k) rule changes arriving in 2026
00:31 Why this matters for high-income savers over 50
01:03 The $145,000 FICA wage threshold explained
01:37 Pretax vs. Roth catch-up contributions — what’s changing
02:01 What stays the same for paycheck deferrals
02:31 2025 vs. 2026 contribution limits
03:26 Super catch-up rules for ages 60–63
04:27 Why contributions drop again at age 64
04:49 Why this change may actually help your retirement
05:13 The dangers of having too little Roth money in retirement
06:13 Pretax bucket problems & RMD issues
06:35 Why Roth flexibility is so valuable
06:59 What if you have no FICA wages? (self-employed)
07:26 What if your employer doesn’t offer a Roth 401(k)?
08:20 Why every plan should add a Roth option
09:10 How IRA rules differ — and why they aren’t affected
09:38 Your 2026 action plan: Step 1 — Verify wages
10:07 Step 2 — Check Roth availability in your 401(k)
10:24 Step 3 — Ensure you’re actually maxing out
11:01 Why payroll mistakes are common
11:22 Recap of the new 2026 rules
11:51 Final thoughts from Ashley
_____________________________
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/
If One Investment Fails… Will Your Retirement Too?
Ashley explains why having more than 15% of your net worth in a single stock or investment exposes you to life-changing risk. If 80–90% of your wealth is tied to one company, even a 50% drop can derail your long-term financial security. Diversifying — even when it means paying taxes — is far safer than letting one investment dictate your entire future.
👉 Watch the full video above to learn how to reduce concentration risk and protect your retirement.
_____________________________
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 S&P 500 Story That Should Scare Overconcentrated Investors
Ashley shows how quickly the “top companies” change by pointing out that the giants of 1985 — IBM, GE, GM, Kodak — have vanished from today’s S&P 500 leaders. If your financial future depends on a single company or investment, that’s a risk you can’t afford to ignore. If losing it would wreck your net worth, it’s time to diversify now, not later.
👉 Watch the full video above to learn how to reduce concentration risk and protect your long-term wealth.
_____________________________
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 Overconcentration Destroys Wealth
Ashley explains why having 80–90% of your wealth in a single investment — even one that made you rich — is incredibly risky. Industries shift, companies fall out of favor, and what built your wealth may not be what preserves it. If one investment going to zero would devastate your finances, it’s time to diversify.
👉 Watch the full video above to learn how to unwind overconcentration safely and protect your net worth.
_____________________________
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/
Investment Overconcentration is Destroying Your Wealth
What happens when one investment becomes the source of nearly all your wealth? Whether it’s a skyrocketing startup, a wildly successful business you built, or a single stock that went 1000x, overconcentration is one of the most dangerous financial risks for that destroys your wealth.
Ashley breaks down why the investment that created your wealth is rarely the one that will keep your wealth. Industries shift, competition rises, technology disrupts, and even the largest companies in the S&P 500 come and go.
If your financial security depends on one business, one stock, or one major investment, this episode will help you understand the risks — and what steps to take now to protect your future.
Chapters
00:00 The problem with getting rich from one investment
01:09 Why what created your wealth won’t always preserve it
01:30 How the top S&P 500 companies constantly turn over
02:22 What the JP Morgan chart reveals about company turnover
03:40 How entire sectors rise and fall over time
05:11 Today’s market: dominated by tech, but for how long?
06:04 Ask THIS question to assess your risk
07:21 Business owners and the trap of reinvesting everything
08:06 How to start diversifying (even with tax consequences)
_____________________________
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 Ego Trap That Destroys Wealth Fast
SNEAKY EGO TRAP: as people accumulate wealth, they feel like plain vanilla investments are “too basic” and start chasing exotic deals they barely understand. But just because a friend can throw $500k at a private investment deal doesn’t mean you can — and taking that risk could delay your retirement by years. Ego-driven investing leaves many people worse off, not wealthier.
👉 Watch the full video above to learn how to avoid these costly traps and build wealth the right way.
_____________________________
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 | 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.
Market & Economic Outlook | January 2021
The S&P 500 Index ended 2020 at an all-time high, gaining +16.3% for the calendar year. That is remarkable given the fact we went into a very deep recession earlier in the year.
Market & Economic Outlook | December 2020
November turned out to be the best performing month since April with the Index rising 10.8%. Investors shrugged off the spike in new Covid-19 cases, record deaths, and increased hospitalizations.
