Summer's here. And somewhere between the excitement of planning a big trip and the anxiety of what it costs, a lot of retirees end up doing something that surprises us… they feel guilty about it. They worked hard, they saved, they planned for decades, and then they second-guess a beach vacation. Today, let's talk about how travel fits into a real retirement plan and how to enjoy it without guilt.

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Website: https://crystallaketax.com/

Phone Number: 815-526-3092

It's summer- and nothing says summer quite like Tom Cruise as Maverick soaring across the sky in Top Gun. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the original film, and with Tom Cruise's birthday on July 3rd, we figured it was the perfect excuse to revisit some of the most iconic quotes from the franchise and see what they have to say about your financial life.

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Website: https://crystallaketax.com/

Phone Number: 815-526-3092

We're doing something a little different today. Three listeners wrote in with variations of the same question — am I ready to retire in 2026? Same question, three very different situations, three very different answers.

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Website: https://crystallaketax.com/

Phone Number: 815-526-3092

A lot of people think working with a financial advisor is just about picking investments. But a great planning experience is much more than that. Today, we’re walking through what it actually feels like to work with a firm- from the first conversation to ongoing guidance- so you know what to expect.

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Website: https://crystallaketax.com/

Phone Number: 815-526-3092

We heard from a listener who has managed their own money for years and done well. So why would they need an advisor now that retirement is around the corner?

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Website: https://crystallaketax.com/

Phone Number: 815-526-3092

A new proposal out of Washington is adding a fresh angle to the Social Security solvency debate. Today, we're breaking down what's proposed, if it might cost you money in the future, and what questions it raises for anyone planning around Social Security right now.

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Website: https://crystallaketax.com/

Phone Number: 815-526-3092

Financial media loves simple answers: always do this or never do that. But real financial planning doesn’t work that way. Most of the biggest decisions people face in retirement live in the gray.

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Website: https://crystallaketax.com/

Phone Number: 815-526-3092

Everyone’s got an opinion about money (especially the people with a book deal or a TV show). Some of that advice is useful. Some of it sounds better on a stage than it works in real life. Let’s break it down.

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Website: https://crystallaketax.com/

Phone Number: 815-526-3092