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Michael Makes Sense

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Commonwealth Guardians 9 episodes Nov 10, 2026

Michael Makes Sense is a personal finance podcast hosted by Michael Widlake, founder of Commonwealth Guardians. It offers clear, practical conversations about retirement, investing, financial planning, risk, and major money decisions. Episodes answer common questions such as when someone can retire, whether they might run out of money, and whether they really need a financial advisor. The show also features listener questions and helps make complicated financial topics approachable and easier to understand.

Episodes

Trick or Treat Halloween Special for Michael Makes Sense Nov 10, 2026 12:40 TRICK OR TREAT? WHAT'S REALLY SCARY ABOUT RETIREMENT FINANCES? Are annuities a trick or a treat? Is a Roth IRA really better than a Traditional IRA? And should you be frightened by the rising cost of healthcare in retirement? This Halloween, we're taking the fear out of financial planning! Welcome to Episode 09 of *Michael Makes Sense*, our special Halloween edition, where Michael Widlake, Foun

What Is Your Mind Trying to Tell You? (Part 2) | Dr. Yasmine Saad | Michael Makes Sense Ep. 08 Oct 30, 2026 22:42 What if the thoughts holding you back are actually trying to help you move forward? Welcome back to Michael Makes Sense! In Episode 08, host Michael Widlake continues his fascinating conversation with internationally acclaimed clinical psychologist, author, and TEDx speaker Dr. Yasmine Saad, widely known as The Wise Psychologist. In Part One, we explored how negative thoughts can influence our e

What Is Your Mind Trying to Tell You? | Dr. Yasmine Saad | Michael Makes Sense Ep. 07 (Part 1) Oct 22, 2026 15:36 What if the thoughts keeping you awake at night aren't necessarily telling you the truth, but are trying to tell you something important? In this special two-part edition of Michael Makes Sense, host Michael Widlake welcomes acclaimed clinical psychologist, author, international speaker, and TEDx presenter Dr. Yasmine Saad, widely known as The Wise Psychologist, for a fascinating conversation exp

Understanding Your Income & Investment Options | Michael Makes Sense Ep. 06 Oct 21, 2026 16:12 How do you know which retirement income and investment options make sense for you?In Episode 06 of Michael Makes Sense, Michael Widlake, Founder of Commonwealth Guardians, answers real listener questions about retirement accounts, income strategies, and the many financial products available to investors today.With pensions, annuities, 401(k)s, TSPs, Traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs, mutual funds, ETFs,

Are Taxes the Hidden Shortfall in Your Retirement Plan? | Michael Makes Sense Ep. 05 Sep 27, 2026 13:44 You may know how much you’ve saved for retirement, but do you know how much of it you’ll actually get to keep?In Episode 05 of Michael Makes Sense, Michael takes a closer look at one of the most overlooked parts of retirement planning: taxes.From 401(k)s and Traditional IRAs to Roth accounts, pensions, Social Security, and other retirement income sources, different types of money can be taxed in v

Should I Be Worried About Social Security Running Out? | Michael Makes Sense Ep. 03 Sep 16, 2026 9:00 Is Social Security really running out of money, and should you be worried about what that means for your retirement? In Episode 03 of Michael Makes Sense, Michael Widlake, Founder of Commonwealth Guardians, takes on one of the biggest concerns facing Americans planning for retirement: the future of Social Security. Headlines can make it sound like Social Security is simply going to disappear. But

The PILL Method: How to Pay Off Debt Faster | Don Daniel | Michael Makes Sense Ep. 04 Sep 3, 2026 16:29 Can you really pay off debt faster without simply throwing more money at it? On Episode 04 of Michael Makes Sense, Michael Widlake sits down with Don Daniel, founder and creator of The P.I.L.L. Method®, to talk about a different way of looking at debt, mortgages, interest, and financial freedom. Don explains why focusing only on your interest rate may not tell the whole story. The real question

When will I actually be able to retire? | Michael Makes Sense Ep. 02 Aug 20, 2026 11:35 In Episode 02 of Michael Makes Sense, Michael Widlake, Founder of Commonwealth Guardians, discusses some of the biggest questions people face as they approach retirement: • How do I know when I can afford to retire? • What happens if I live longer than I planned? • How can I reduce the risk of running out of money? • Will I ever actually feel ready to retire? • What should I be looking at before

The Role of a Financial Planner | Do You Really Need One? | Michael Makes Sense Ep. 01 Aug 13, 2026 13:15 Do you really need a financial planner if you’re already doing a good job managing your money? In the premiere episode of Michael Makes Sense, Michael Widlake, Founder of Commonwealth Guardians, breaks down the role of a financial planner and explains what a good advisor should actually bring to your financial life. Michael takes complicated financial concepts and puts them into p

Michael Makes Sense

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