In any sport, it is often the smallest, most consistent actions that make the biggest difference. In today’s episode, Michael shares insights from his experience coaching youth baseball to show that this philosophy is just as important in financial planning as it is on the field. Listen in as he shares 15 “little things” that everyone should focus on in their finances to achieve winning personal finance.

Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:

• Do you have a clear understanding of what portion of your assets and income are protected from lawsuits?
• Do you know what percentage of your income you are currently saving and investing for the future?
• Do you understand when and how you can access the money inside your retirement account?
• Do you know how to measure the risk inside your investments and retirement accounts?

Learn more: https://caffeinecashflow.com/

Get in touch with Michael-

Web: https://www.westpacwealth.com/team/michael-schulte

Email: michael.schulte@westpacwealth.com

Phone: 702-767-4897

Are you ready to take your financial planning to the next level? In this episode of Caffeine and Cash Flow, Michael and Ben explore the timeless wisdom of legendary coach, John Wooden. Wooden's Pyramid of Success has guided countless individuals to greatness, both on and off the court, and has some powerful takeaways for your everyday life and financial planning.

Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:

• A little background on John Wooden’s career at UCLA + his definition of success
• The foundational concepts of hard work, camaraderie, respect, loyalty, cooperation, and enthusiasm
• How self-control, alertness, initiative, and perseverance contribute to leadership and success
• Continuous skill development, humility in learning, and fostering team spirit
• Maintaining poise through any event, building genuine confidence, and aiming for competitive greatness

John Wooden's Pyramid of Success:

https://www.thewoodeneffect.com/pyramid-of-success/

Learn more: https://caffeinecashflow.com/

Get in touch with Michael-

Web: https://www.westpacwealth.com/team/michael-schulte

Email: michael.schulte@westpacwealth.com

Phone: 702-767-4897

When it comes to investing, the term 'diversification' is often tossed around, but what does it truly mean to diversify your portfolio? Is it as easy as sticking to the S&P 500 index the to achieve wealth management success? In this episode, we’ll answers these questions and dive into the latest returns by asset class to help you better understand what diversification truly means.

Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:

• Does owning the S&P500 make you diversified? Not really.
• A look through last year’s returns by asset class along with historical returns.
• The need for constant evaluation and just consistent checkup on your portfolio.

Learn more: https://caffeinecashflow.com/

Get in touch with Michael-

Web: https://www.westpacwealth.com/team/michael-schulte

Email: michael.schulte@westpacwealth.com

Phone: 702-767-4897

Each generation is currently navigating a unique part of the retirement planning experience. With many Baby Boomers preparing for the transition into retirement and Generation X close behind, these two generations are asking a handful of financial planning questions.

In today’s episode, we’ll share insights into the unique concerns that echo across different age groups. These are the retirement questions that each generation is asking. We’ll continue the conversation on our next episode as we talk about the younger generations and the questions they need to be asking.

Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:

• How do I manage the risks of market volatility as I approach retirement?
• What steps can I take to address rising healthcare costs in my retirement plan?
• Should I consider downsizing or relocating in retirement?
• How much do I need to have saved to actually retire?
• Should I pay off my mortgage before retiring

Learn more: https://caffeinecashflow.com/

Get in touch with Michael-

Web: https://www.westpacwealth.com/team/michael-schulte

Email: michael.schulte@westpacwealth.com

Phone: 702-767-4897

Have you ever considered how you’ll safeguard your financial legacy for the next generation? Today we want to dive into some of the technical aspects of estate planning and the crucial role it plays in retirement strategy. Estate planning can be as complex as it is important, but Michael will demystify the process, providing clarity on how to shield your legacy and make sure your assets flow smoothly to your heirs.

Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:

• What are the main things you want to protect against when creating a trust?
• How to avoid probate court, which can be a long and expensive process.
• Why most people we work with benefit from a revocable trust.
• Tax strategies to consider to protect as much of your estate as you can.

Learn more: https://caffeinecashflow.com/

Get in touch with Michael-

Web: https://www.westpacwealth.com/team/michael-schulte

Email: michael.schulte@westpacwealth.com

Phone: 702-767-4897

Imagine your retirement plan as a ship sailing toward a horizon of rest and relaxation. But what if one leak could sink it all?

In today’s episode, we spotlight some of the single oversights that could send your dreams to the bottom. We'll share key strategies to plug the gaps, ensuring your financial ship stays buoyant and on course. Tune in to protect your future from the one mistake that could derail everything.

Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:

• The possibility of outliving your money and planning strategies that help you create steady income in retirement.
• How do you address the relentless creep of inflation.
• The importance of considering long-term care costs in retirement planning.
• The potential impact of market volatility and the investment strategies to help mitigate risk.
• The threat of rising taxes on retirement.

Learn more: https://caffeinecashflow.com/

Get in touch with Michael-

Web: https://www.westpacwealth.com/team/michael-schulte

Email: michael.schulte@westpacwealth.com

Phone: 702-767-4897

Could the US elections be the market mover that investors have been fretting over, or is that just political noise clouding the bigger financial picture? It’s time to talk about the upcoming election and what it could mean for investors over the next two years. We're not just skimming the surface; we are diving into the data to see how investments have historically fared during the electoral tides, from Truman's post-war boom to the unpredictability of Trump's term.

Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:

• The average return during election years since 1928.
• What the data shows us for the year after elections.
• A look back through past administrations and the returns during their years in office

Data courtesy of Efficient Advisors & Evidence Based Advisors

Get in touch with Michael-

Web: https://www.westpacwealth.com/team/michael-schulte

Email: michael.schulte@westpacwealth.com

Phone: 702-767-4897

Who knows what this year will bring our way, but there’s plenty of noise everywhere you look. With the election ahead and everything else happening around the world, the noise can become a distraction for your financial planning. Today we’ll breakdown why a long-term strategy is your financial compass in a sea of sensational headlines and market speculation.

Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:

• We want to focus on strategy and tactics to make sure both are working in tandem.
• Elections years can be divisive but we don’t want that to impact our investment strategy.
• We want to build liquidity that will alow us to handle unexpected life events.
• The four core principles for wealth accumulation.

Learn more: https://caffeinecashflow.com/

Get in touch with Michael-

Web: https://www.westpacwealth.com/team/michael-schulte

Email: michael.schulte@westpacwealth.com

Phone: 702-767-4897