Episodes

  • Estate Planning Mistakes that Complicate the Inheritance Process
    Jul 29 2026

    A strong estate isn't just about your wishes... It's also about making your affairs easily handled after you are gone. In this episode, Michelle and Trevore discuss the mistakes we've seen in how assets are passed down and the ways paperwork becomes your beneficiaries nightmare.

    💥 DOWNLOAD our free retirement planning guide: https://financialdesignstudio.com/two-questions-we-ask-every-client-before-they-retire/

    🚀 WORK WITH US: https://financialdesignstudio.com/get-started/

    👋 ABOUT US: We are a team of financial advisors based Chicago. We specialize in helping professionals plan their retirement through investment management, tax efficiency, and executive compensation.

    ⚠️ DISCLAIMER: All written content on this site is for information purposes only. Opinions expressed herein are solely those of FDS, unless otherwise specifically cited. Material presented is believed to be from reliable sources and no representations are made by our firm as to other parties’ informational accuracy or completeness. All information or ideas provided should be discussed in detail with an advisor, accountant or legal counsel prior to implementation.





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    55 mins
  • How to Decide When to Move into Retirement Community
    Jul 2 2026

    Whether you are considering a retirement community for yourself or your parents, it can be a hard conversation to start. In this episode, Michelle interviews Royce the process of retiring and having to downsize, how she picked the community, and what the experience has been like for her and her family.

    💥 DOWNLOAD our free retirement planning guide: https://financialdesignstudio.com/two-questions-we-ask-every-client-before-they-retire/

    🚀 WORK WITH US: https://financialdesignstudio.com/get-started/

    👋 ABOUT US: We are a team of financial advisors based Chicago. We specialize in helping professionals plan their retirement through investment management, tax efficiency, and executive compensation.

    ⚠️ DISCLAIMER: All written content on this site is for information purposes only. Opinions expressed herein are solely those of FDS, unless otherwise specifically cited. Material presented is believed to be from reliable sources and no representations are made by our firm as to other parties’ informational accuracy or completeness. All information or ideas provided should be discussed in detail with an advisor, accountant or legal counsel prior to implementation.





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    45 mins
  • Is Your Marriage Ready for Retirement?
    May 14 2026

    Retirement is not just a financial transition, it’s also relational. In this episode, Michelle interviews Dave and Diane about how they are preparing their marriage for retirement. They share the financial milestones they've struggled through, and the ways they are building towards the future, together.

    💥 DOWNLOAD our free retirement planning guide: https://financialdesignstudio.com/two-questions-we-ask-every-client-before-they-retire/

    🚀 WORK WITH US: https://financialdesignstudio.com/get-started/

    👋 ABOUT US: We are a team of financial advisors based Chicago. We specialize in helping professionals plan their retirement through investment management, tax efficiency, and executive compensation.

    ⚠️ DISCLAIMER: All written content on this site is for information purposes only. Opinions expressed herein are solely those of FDS, unless otherwise specifically cited. Material presented is believed to be from reliable sources and no representations are made by our firm as to other parties’ informational accuracy or completeness. All information or ideas provided should be discussed in detail with an advisor, accountant or legal counsel prior to implementation.





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    56 mins
  • Raising Kids Who Understand Money: Teens + College Students
    Apr 16 2026

    As your teen or college student begins to make their own money, you want to continue to teach them wisdom with their money. In this episode, we cover finding a job and eventually a career, banking and credit cards, and how plan for big savings goals.

    💥 DOWNLOAD our free retirement planning guide: https://financialdesignstudio.com/two-questions-we-ask-every-client-before-they-retire/

    🚀 WORK WITH US: https://financialdesignstudio.com/get-started/

    👋 ABOUT US: We are a team of financial advisors based Chicago. We specialize in helping professionals plan their retirement through investment management, tax efficiency, and executive compensation.

    ⚠️ DISCLAIMER: All written content on this site is for information purposes only. Opinions expressed herein are solely those of FDS, unless otherwise specifically cited. Material presented is believed to be from reliable sources and no representations are made by our firm as to other parties’ informational accuracy or completeness. All information or ideas provided should be discussed in detail with an advisor, accountant or legal counsel prior to implementation.





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    49 mins
  • Raising Kids Who Understand Money: Ages 0-12
    Apr 2 2026

    Long before kids earn their first dollar, they’re forming beliefs about money. In this episode, we explore how children ages 0–12 begin forming their understanding of money, and how you can instill good habits for giving, saving, spending.

    💥 DOWNLOAD our free retirement planning guide: https://financialdesignstudio.com/two-questions-we-ask-every-client-before-they-retire/

    🚀 WORK WITH US: https://financialdesignstudio.com/get-started/

    👋 ABOUT US: We are a team of financial advisors based Chicago. We specialize in helping professionals plan their retirement through investment management, tax efficiency, and executive compensation.

    ⚠️ DISCLAIMER: All written content on this site is for information purposes only. Opinions expressed herein are solely those of FDS, unless otherwise specifically cited. Material presented is believed to be from reliable sources and no representations are made by our firm as to other parties’ informational accuracy or completeness. All information or ideas provided should be discussed in detail with an advisor, accountant or legal counsel prior to implementation.





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    1 hr and 1 min
  • What Pancreatitis Taught Us About Caring in Crisis
    Feb 11 2026

    How do you care for someone well in the middle of a crisis? In this episode, Michelle interviews Anna Lewis, about what she’s learned after her mom spent a month in the ICU with severe pancreatitis. We explore the ways both community and finances shaped the way her family was supported.

    💥 DOWNLOAD our free retirement planning guide: https://financialdesignstudio.com/two-questions-we-ask-every-client-before-they-retire/

    🚀 WORK WITH US: https://financialdesignstudio.com/get-started/

    👋 ABOUT US: We are a team of financial advisors based Chicago. We specialize in helping professionals plan their retirement through investment management, tax efficiency, and executive compensation.

    ⚠️ DISCLAIMER: All written content on this site is for information purposes only. Opinions expressed herein are solely those of FDS, unless otherwise specifically cited. Material presented is believed to be from reliable sources and no representations are made by our firm as to other parties’ informational accuracy or completeness. All information or ideas provided should be discussed in detail with an advisor, accountant or legal counsel prior to implementation.





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    59 mins
  • What You Should Expect If You Are Named as Trustee
    Dec 5 2025

    As trustee, your role is to distribute someone else's money. But the emotions, expectations, and estate rules can make this role more complex than you expected. In this episode we explain how the legal process of inheritances work, how to manage beneficiary relationships, and how to accomplish all this in a tax efficient way.

    💥 DOWNLOAD our free retirement planning guide: https://financialdesignstudio.com/two-questions-we-ask-every-client-before-they-retire/

    🚀 WORK WITH US: https://financialdesignstudio.com/get-started/

    👋 ABOUT US: We are a team of financial advisors based Chicago. We specialize in helping professionals plan their retirement through investment management, tax efficiency, and executive compensation.

    ⚠️ DISCLAIMER: All written content on this site is for information purposes only. Opinions expressed herein are solely those of FDS, unless otherwise specifically cited. Material presented is believed to be from reliable sources and no representations are made by our firm as to other parties’ informational accuracy or completeness. All information or ideas provided should be discussed in detail with an advisor, accountant or legal counsel prior to implementation.





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    39 mins
  • What You Forget to Plan, Until After Your Spouse Passes
    Oct 30 2025

    If your spouse knows how your finances work, what happens after they pass? In this episode, we helped our fictional client Renee, a recent widow, understand the moving parts of her financial picture, work through the inheritance process, and adjust her taxes for the individual tax bracket.

    💥 DOWNLOAD our free retirement planning guide: https://financialdesignstudio.com/two-questions-we-ask-every-client-before-they-retire/

    🚀 WORK WITH US: https://financialdesignstudio.com/get-started/

    👋 ABOUT US: We are a team of financial advisors based Chicago. We specialize in helping professionals plan their retirement through investment management, tax efficiency, and executive compensation.

    ⚠️ DISCLAIMER: All written content on this site is for information purposes only. Opinions expressed herein are solely those of FDS, unless otherwise specifically cited. Material presented is believed to be from reliable sources and no representations are made by our firm as to other parties’ informational accuracy or completeness. All information or ideas provided should be discussed in detail with an advisor, accountant or legal counsel prior to implementation.





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    33 mins