Clarity. Simplicity. Certainty. When it comes to turning our finances over to an expert, these are the three guiding lights that Host Josh Bretl, founder of FSR Wealth Strategies, wants us to keep in mind.

Retirement planning represents a different phase of life and requires the right expertise, which is why this episode of Retirement Equals Freedom is focused on providing you an all-important checklist to consider before turning your valuable assets – and future well-being – over to a financial adviser.

What are their credentials? Do they have solid knowledge of how to draw down assets – including how to sequence withdrawals and downstream tax implications? How about their style of communication and the quality of their team?

These are just a few of the factors to consider before deciding to whom you want to entrust your hard-earned savings.

If you’ve been planning all your life for a fabulous retirement, congratulations! But in order to get through the distribution phase of your journey, you’re going to want to have the right adviser in place.

And after you listen to this episode, you’ll know just what you’re looking for as well as the right questions to ask. To put it another way (in the words of computer scientist Alan Kay): “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” FSR Wealth is all about helping you find the tools to do exactly that!

Stay tuned for our next live episode of Java With Josh on Wednesday, June 21st. And in the meanwhile, check out this pod link resource for previous episodes of Retirement Equals Freedom and one-click access to your favorite platform for listening!

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Click here to explore the services that FSR Wealth Strategies offers and schedule a discovery call with one of the team’s CPAs. When it comes to living your best life, it’s never too early to get started!

The best way to predict the

future is to create it."

I realize that we talk about a lot of what you

as the client have to do.

But we don't talk about what the advisor should be doing.

And when you're going into retirement, what you should

be looking for in an advisor.

You want to make sure that your advisor has

extensive tax knowledge.

It is the single greatest variable that will

impact your retirement.

And most of them won't even touch it with a 10-foot pole.

there's also a whole different thought

process for distribution.

Because, at some point in time, you're going to have

to spend that pile of money.

If your advisor isn't a specialist in that distribution

process, that distribution phase, you could be losing

something, unknowingly,

When it comes to turning your finances over

to an expert, there are three guiding lights to keep in mind.

Clarity, simplicity, and certainty.

'Cuz let's face it, retirement planning is a

whole different ballgame.

You need the right expertise, which is why this episode of

The Retirement Equals Freedom Podcast is your go-to checklist

before trusting a financial advisor with your precious

assets and future wellbeing.

Credentials?

Check.

Knowledge of asset drawdowns, and tax implications?

Double check.

But wait, there's more.

We're talking about their communication style and

the quality of their team.

These folks are gonna be your financial

BFFs, so choose wisely.

And after tuning into this episode, you'll know

exactly what to look for and what questions to ask.

It's time to channel your inner fortune teller, because

as the computer scientist, Alan Kay once said, "The

best way to predict the future is to create it."

This is The Retirement Equals Freedom Podcast.

Your host, Josh Bretl, is the owner of FSR Wealth Strategies.

And for the last 20 plus years, Josh has been helping

fine folks like you gain the confidence to make retirement

the best part of your life.

And me?

Who the heck am I?

Well, I'm Dave.

Hello.

I'm Josh's longtime friend, co-host, and big fan of

those cute little Furby's from back in the nineties.

I really hope they make a comeback back.

All right all right all right.

Enough of me talking.

Let me let you let me end my introduction so

you can enjoy the show.

Today is the last day of school

in Elmhurst schools.

Oo, congratulations.

So, after today is summer.

Love it.

We don't get summer.

But I still think summer is this feeling of freedom, these

new things you get to do.

It's really a cool time.

But Missy and I were talking about it, in regards to summers.

You don't have to wake up at a certain time.

The kids can wake up whenever they want to wake up.

There's like these lazy mornings.

And her and I can sit outside and have a cup of

coffee before I go to work.

It's a wonderful time

Despite my disdain for the temperature during

the summer here in Chicago land, I was telling Carla

and Landon the same thing.

In fact, I've been repeating it every day.

I love summer.

I love when they're home.

And like you said, it's just, everything's

a little bit slower.

But yeah, I'm pumped too.

So you're saying with summer here, I can come

in 11, and leave at 12?

No.

Oh.

No.

Okay.

But you can have coffee outside with your wife

before you come in if you want.

Oh, that's nice.

We were talking about your disdain for heat?

And I had this story I forgot to tell you.

So there was someone in our office yesterday.

We'll call him the perfect Ronald, because...

Oh, yes.

Yes, yes.

And he knows you well.

his future son-in-law was there as well.

And he knows you well.

He does.

But they're making fun of you, for

your disdain for heat.

And I started to, I go, have you heard about

his time at Bruegger's?

And they had not heard this.

I said, "Well, when he was in high school, he was the

manager of a Bruegger's Bagels for two years.

And I would come in after hours and visit you, and

I would find you in the freezer, doing your paperwork.

I thought that story was going to

go a different route.

Because I would also take my breaks, in the

cooler, and fall asleep.

Our buddy Vince Lucca worked with me there,

one summer I think.

And he's like, "Oh, Schmee's in the cooler.

Taking a nap."

Oh, I miss those days.

So I have a cool story for you.

This last week...

Or it was Wednesday of this week.

Everything's wrapping up at the end of the year's.

All sorts of things that they've been doing, performances,

and stuff like that.

Well, Alex has been doing School of Rock now, for I don't know,

probably four or five months.

And they've been learning three songs.

And it's the same three songs that we hear on repeat.

And he is trying to learn the electric guitar.

So he's got a little guitar...

I think I've talked this before.

He's really into it...

Well, Wednesday night was his performance.

And we walk in and it's a small room.

It's probably about the size of where we're in right now.

And it's got eight kids in this band.

So, four drummers, three guitars, and all that stuff.

So to give the drummers all a chance, they play the songs

over and over and over again.

The guy who's running it, hands out earplugs

at the beginning of this.

"Here guys, everyone put earplugs in."

They have a rule, all the kids have to wear ear protection.

And I'm like, "I go to concerts.

I don't eat ear protection."

Oh my God, I threw those things in so fast.

But I want to give you a taste of it here.

'Cause I recorded a little bit of it.

Oh, cool.

See if you know what song this.

Wow.

I mean it didn't sound this good...

But Missy and I were thrilled.

You guys all heard that.

It did not sound great.

But for a bunch of 7, 8, 9 year olds?

They were amazing.

And watching my son go at it, it was this

really proud dad moment.

He's so into this guitar.

I have a picture I'll send you, you can post

with the show notes.

No videos?

I have actually the video that I just

played, there was a video.

We can play that out there.

If you're comfortable sharing

that, I think that'd be really cool to see.

Yeah, it was really cool.

It was a neat experience.

The guy said too, he goes, "if you ever can't make these

in the future, we stream them live on their Facebook page."

oh, so, he doesn't have technical issues

with streaming on Facebook.

Not like us.

Aye.

We also tried something new this week.

You and I did our first ever Java with Josh.

Which was supposed to be a timely current-events type...

It was almost a video podcast, if you will.

We're going to try and do them monthly.

Uh-uh, not try to do them monthly.

We're going to do them monthly.

In fact, we have the next one set for June...

23rd.

Wednesday the 23rd.

Wednesday the 23rd.

It's a Wednesday of that week.

I think it's 23rd.

But if anyone wants to listen in.

We'll link to the landing page and our

show, What's Up With That?

Because then you can opt in to get notifications when

we're about to go live.

Awesome.

That sounds good.

Awesome.

Really quick about summer.

Yesterday was Landon's last day.

It was a half day.

So I am notoriously late to pick him up?

And I was three minutes late again yesterday.

But I got a spot right in front of the school, don't know how.

But it was really cool, 'cause it was just packed.

I feel like every family from Briar Glen was there.

And I get out of my car, I just hear all the students chanting

"Summer, summer, summer."

I thought it was really cute.

It's so cool.

Today's their last day, I'm going to pick them up.

School gets out at 1:15 today.

And I can't wait.

Because it's going to be a party.

Last year, last day of school, it rained.

So everyone's scattered.

This year, it's going to be cool.

It's going to be fun to hang out.

In fact, there's a party going at my house right now

that I'm not invited to?

The moms?

Missy is doing a last day of school

mom-mosas, she's calling it?

Love it.

I think there's like 30-some-odd moms over there.

Oh, that's so cool.

And I wanted to hang out and bring guys.

And she goes, "No, you're not invited."

So, I get it.

It was fun.

But.

Well, Josh, we'll do our own thing, when

you're back from vacation.

Yeah, actually this is another thing I

want to tell you about.

Yeah, let's hear it.

I'm leaving for vacation tomorrow morning.

I'm going to be gone, out of the office for a week.

And I'm running things around here.

That scares me.

But, what scares me more?

Is I almost spend more time with you than I do with my wife.

Mm-hm.

And this is going to be like the longest

we've been separated?

Yep.

For six months now.

I promise I wouldn't get emotional

live on a podcast, but it's going to happen.

I'm going to be so lost without you.

Actually, I'm going to send you videos of me eating

the mangoes over there.

Not if there's any left after today.

They're in the shot, actually.

We didn't move them.

So now you see it here.

I'm going to point with my pen, right...

There.

The Sam's Club mangoes.

We have found these dried mangoes from

Costco, and Sam's Club, that are out of this world.

I do mention in one of my intros

from a few podcasts ago.

"A fan of the dried mangoes from Costco."

All right, well, we're about nine and a half

minutes in, Josh.

People are probably just hitting "close" on their podcast app.

So let's get to it.

Well, what I wanted to talk about today...

And this comes from some conversations I've had in

the last couple months...

What you should look for, as a retiree, when you

are hiring an advisor.

And what this is stemming from, is, I had

someone in my office...

Who I like a ton.

And she says to me, she goes, "I've had my advisor

for the last 20 years.

We do the same thing over and over again.

But now that we're getting close to retirement and I ask them,

'What should I be looking for?

What's going to change?' And they just said, 'Oh,

don't worry about it.

Nothing we have to do.'"

That didn't hit me right.

I like them a lot as a person.

But I'm worried I need to be learning more.

I realize that we talk about a lot of what you

as the client have to do.

But we don't talk about what the advisor should be doing.

And when you're going into retirement, what you should

be looking for in an advisor.

So, I want to spend a few minutes talking

about that today.

Perfect.

And you've heard me talk a lot, so..

Yeah.

Yeah.

You said I can nap while you take this, and I can just...

Well.

We'll see where we go with this here.

We'll see where we go.

And this first one is, I was talking about this.

This comes from Erin.

She wanted me to make sure I point out the difference between

accumulation, and distribution.

I think we talked about this on a prior episode.

But the accumulation versus distribution phase.

So, accumulation is what everyone thinks about

in your working years.

It's the idea that you're saving for something.

You're saving for retirement.

Some people are saving for college.

Sometimes you're saved for a new house, or a car.

You're earning money, so you're saving for something.

And you're trying to build up this pile of money.

There's one thought process for that.

But there's also a whole different thought

process for distribution.

Because, at some point in time, you're going to have

to spend that pile of money.

If your advisor isn't a specialist in that distribution

process, that distribution phase, you could be losing

something, unknowingly.

And my father and I were discussing a great

quote the other day.

As he said, "The best way to predict the

future is to create it."

oh.

I know.

I thought that was huge.

Well, it's much deeper than mine.

What was your quote you were

discussing with my father?

All things being equal, fat people use more soap.

I've lived my life to that motto.

That would want to explain a few things.

Why it runs out so fast.

Oh yeah.

I think I may have to write a new haiku about this.

Like when Missy asked me, as we're packing for

vacation, how come my suitcase always is a lot heavier?

I said, "Oh, my clothes are a lot bigger than yours."

right.

Right.

Carla spends hours packing.

I spend five minutes.

I have two pairs of pants and three shirts.

And it's 118 pounds.

It is.

Well, that's because my pair of jeans, there's like

five times the cloth in one of her pair of jeans.

That's what I'm saying.

Man, we are way off.

We are.

You better fly through this.

So, let's talk what to look for an advisor.

And the first thing that we look for is experience.

And the fact that they work quite a bit with

the distribution process.

They're used to working with social security

and pensions and taxes.

They know how Medicare comes into play.

They know how to talk about the taxation on social security.

They know investment strategies to limit volatility,

and all that fun stuff.

So let's go through this a little bit.

There's some things that are the same, there's some

things a little bit different.

But one is looking at qualifications and credentials.

So look at their background, look at their education.

Make sure that they actually know what the

heck they're talking about.

But two is a big one.

This is the fiduciary duty.

The fiduciary standard is something that's becoming more

and more regular out there.

But what that says is, that you have to do as an advisor,

whatever is in the best interest of your client, no matter what.

There's a lot of advisors that still operate on

a suitability standard.

So all that says is, "Hey, you only have to do what you

think is good for the client."

It may not be the best, but it can be good for them.

And it's a different mindset that's there.

So, the fiduciary is a big thing that's out there.

We talked about the specialization.

I think that's important.

Something else is a transparent fee structure.

You want to know what you're paying.

In today's day and age, with technology, the cost of the

investments should not be the one that's paying your advisor.

Charging a flat fee is huge.

And if the fee isn't sitting there, right on your

statement, so you know exactly what they're charging you?

There's something wrong there.

They're hiding something from you that's out there.

So this next one, I always like as well.

We've been doing this for a while.

But asking for references and reviews.

As an advisor, we've been told over and over again...

In fact, the rule was, the SEC always said,

"You can't get reviews.

You can't ask people to give you reviews."

Well, that law changed this year.

Now there's a lot of compliance things around it?

But as long as the advisor is following good

practices, they can actually give out reviews now.

So ask for them.

It's no different...

This is a big decision in your life.

So you should see what other people are looking for there.

This last...

That's not last one.

Man.

Our listeners wish.

This next one here, the comprehensive

financial planning.

There's a lot that goes into retirement planning.

Income planning, investment management, tax planning, estate

planning, risk management.

We talked about Medicare.

Even knowing the legal side of it.

If they're just focusing on your investments, this

is not someone who you're looking for retirement.

They need to be able to incorporate everything.

In your accumulation years, it's really the only thing

you have control over.

We talk about this in the workshops.

So, if that's all they focus on, great.

But in your distribution years, it becomes immensely important.

This next one, people don't talk about.

And compatibility and communication.

You have to like your advisor.

Like you like me.

Like I like you.

Actually, we've said this before.

You bring a great tone to this office.

And it's a friendly, warm tone.

And we have said before, we get along great.

Our office has a great culture.

And we'll often say, "What if the person doesn't like this?"

And we're like, "Well then, we don't want them as a client."

We get to choose who we work with.

But the reverse is true.

You have to like the advisor, because you're going to

spend a lot of time, you're going to put a lot of trust

and a lot of faith in them.

And if you don't like them, others out there.

You're not hurting my feelings.

So we always get to say, "We get to choose who we

work with, and you get to choose who you work with."

So make sure that you get along quite well with them.

I'm making a point to tell everybody, like,

"Look, I know you love me.

But I'm not going to be the one you're talking to all the time.

So you got to like Josh.

You got to do it."

Because let's be honest, if people were coming

to work with me, you'd have a line out the door.

We would.

And we'd also have attorneys out the door wanting to get to

know you a little bit better.

Dave Schmidt:

Erroneous, I tell you.

The next one is a big one.

It's clarity.

I always say there's three things that a

client is looking for.

Clarity, simplicity, and certainty.

So they want to have the ability to understand what your...

Make it very clear what you're offering.

What you're telling them, what your suggestions are.

Make it simple for them to execute.

And let them know that there's some certainty behind

it, that this is what...

There's a reason you want to do that.

So they need to be able to give you good, clear information.

That's why I've long suggested you just present

everything in haiku form.

I am not the literary

mastermind that you are.

I barely understand the difference between

a metaphor and a...

Simile?

Simile.

Mm-hm.

Sure.

So a haiku's...

Not your thing.

No.

I'm more of a limerick guy.

Yeah, sure.

This one can become tougher.

But I do always encourage, find out what the education the

advisor is continuously having.

Make sure that they understand that there's things that

are constantly changing, they're being updated.

And then before we get into the biggest part, make sure they're

accessible and available.

And make sure that they have a team behind them that you like.

So for example, in our office, we work as a

really tight-knit team.

Where you may talk to me, you're also talking to Erin and

Sean and my father and Chuck.

Our client service team.

They can all pick up a lot of things that go out there.

There's very rarely a financial emergency.

But if there is, you want to make sure there's always someone

available for you to talk to.

Does that make sense, David?

Dave Schmidt:

Crystal clear, baby.

All right.

Now this last one is the biggest.

I saved the best for last.

And this is the tax knowledge.

You want to make sure...

Hold on.

Hold on.

Hashtag tax nerd.

I know.

I deserve that Al.

You want to make sure that your advisor has

extensive tax knowledge.

It is the single greatest variable that will

impact your retirement.

And most of them won't even touch it with a 10-foot pole.

Especially if they're not retirement specialist.

So I want to go through some of the tax things

we want to look at here.

They want to make sure you have withdrawal strategies.

They have a variety of different withdrawal strategies.

It could help you with RMDs, where to take money

from, what's going to be best for your situation.

They want to be a good with social security optimization.

Because believe it or not, taxes will impact when you

should take social security.

And should you wait?

Should your spouse wait?

Should you just take it early?

All that fun stuff that comes in.

Tax efficient investments.

We did a whole series on tax efficient investments.

And it's amazing to see how many people come in with

portfolios that, with just some tax optimization, could

earn them an extra couple percent completely risk-free.

And all you did was minimize the tax drag that comes in there.

That has to do with capital gains and tax loss harvesting,

all of those fun things.

Understanding the different tax advantage accounts.

IRAs, Roth IRAs, when to move them.

Even HSAs.

HSAs can play a big role into people's retirement,

if started young enough.

That comes in there.

Health Savings Account.

I know.

Oh, look at you.

I was throwing acronyms out there, and you

got it right away.

Here's why.

I have been yelled at no less than 24 times, in my

marriage with Carla, for forgetting to use our HSA

card when I go to the doctor or eye doctor or whatever.

So that's ingrained in my brain.

Well let her know.

Yeah?

It can actually be a savings tool.

If you don't need to use it, that money can grow

tax-free and you can actually use it for retirement.

Let me make a note of this really quick.

Yeah, tell Carla that.

Would you?

Yeah.

Well she's listening.

Yeah, she always does.

Yeah.

So, Becks, would you tell Carla that,

next time you talk to her?

After you're listening to this in your world travels?

"Oh, David.

David."

estate tax inheritance.

This is going to become a bigger and bigger issue, especially

as inflation kicks into play.

We're seeing people with bigger and bigger estates, that, a

couple years ago, didn't have estate tax issues, but now do.

So, make sure your advisor knows what they're talking

about with estate taxes.

That they're looking at different tax law changes.

They know what tax laws are coming down the pipe.

Because it's not just planning for now, you're planning

for the rest of your life.

Know what's changing in the future.

And lastly is, they have a good team behind them.

Because they need to have a good estate planning

attorney or a couple good estate planning attorneys.

They need to have good CPAs that they can reference that.

When they're giving advice, they can actually back it up.

Aren't you a CPA?

I am a CPA.

But if someone's listening to this in a different

state, or as I said before, maybe they don't like me.

Maybe they and I are too goofy, or whatever.

That's okay with me.

But find someone who has...

Most advisors are not CPAs.

I'm lucky to be one.

But even if they don't choose me as an advisor, they should

find somebody who has that tax knowledge, that comes out there.

But that was it.

I want to list those things and make sure the people

understood that the difference is, they're looking through that

accumulation to distribution.

And when they're really looking for that clarity, and that

simplicity, and that certainty.

And the certainty comes to their life.

And it's...

My dad and I were talking before.

Not your soap comment.

But, "The best way to predict your future is to create it."

That's that certainty.

And that clarity and that simplicity can often

create that certainty.

As that comes into play.

You came back to the three words.

I did.

'Cause I looked at you write them down.

And you're like, "He's not talking about those enough."

yeah.

Yeah.

I do like it, Josh.

So.

Well, okay.

This was short and sweet.

I do think we...

As I put in the chapter markers...

"Two BFFs catching up on life."

I think we've probably spent more time on that

than we did with...

But this is nice.

I like these like fluffy episodes.

Yeah.

I mean, this is fun.

This is a fun one.

This is a good one.

I thought.

These are totally cool.

Were you thinking the same thing I was thinking?

Time to dance?

Yeah.

You ready to dance?

Yeah, I'm ready to dance.

Wiggle a little bit.

Let's do it.

I'm really thinking of bird noises.

Oh, yeah.

Hey Mr.

Josh, let's take a break.

You've been talking for so long and my ears are sore.

Let's not make them snore.

Listening shouldn't be a chore.

So let's get to know Josh and Dave and watch our ratings soar!

That is a time-tested, never-gets-old bird noise.

Yeah, I don't think those birds fly either.

It's supposed to be "soar" and I don't think those birds fly...

Hey, you know what?

Do roosters fly?

In our world they can.

They do.

Yeah.

Why not?

Soar.

Soar.

Okay.

I assume you have a question, 'Cause you didn't let me

pick one out of the podcast.

Nope, I got a question for you today.

Oh boy.

All right.

I'm going to go back to our beginning.

Let's do it.

Dave Schmidt:

Summer starts today.

Dave Schmidt:

What is one thing on your summer bucket list that

Dave Schmidt:

you are looking forward to?

Would this include predetermined travel?

Or something that we haven't scheduled yet, but want to?

It could be something you're really

excited for this summer.

Okay.

I mean, if you've got a big trip coming up.

Yeah.

We are scheduled to go to Colorado.

That's going to be more of a chore than anything.

Love you family.

Just kidding.

It's not because you're going with your family.

You're going to visit your extended family.

Yeah.

All right.

I got something.

And it may sound super silly, but you all know

me, I'm a simple guy.

We're going to the Chicago Dogs game for my

birthday, on June 4th.

Nice.

Yeah.

My old man's in town, Big Mike from Colorado.

You've heard that name come up?

That's Big Mike, my dad.

Yeah, yeah.

If we were a sports talk show, he'd be the

number one call-in guy.

He would.

"Big Mike from Colorado's on the line again."

Big Mike...

Oo, shoot.

I may have just ruined the surprise.

Well, it's for my birthday, Dad, not for you.

But we're going to the Chicago Dogs game.

Actually, you won't hear this until after we already go.

So it's going to be a win-win.

Yeah, I'm looking forward to that.

I mean, we got a trip to Colorado coming up, which

it's going to be cool.

We're going to do boat rides, we're going to do river rafting.

That's all cool.

But to me, Chicago Dogs games sounds awesome.

You know what?

Chicago Dogs...

For those of you that don't know...

Is a local minor league baseball team.

And it's right by O'Hare Airport.

And they've really made entertainment a part.

They've brought entertainment to baseball.

And it's really a lot of fun to go.

You can park right there for really cheap.

Yes.

Yes.

You walk right in.

The stadium's super friendly.

I think hotdog is like a dollar.

It's...

Food's not like Wrigley, but

it's not super cheap.

It's well run.

It's really fun.

It truly is.

All right.

It's flip it around.

And reverse it, to you.

Well, here's what I'm looking

forward to this summer.

My kids have finally become good swimmers.

Oo.

And up until this point, they've

been terrified of water.

And I've been terrified of them near water.

But they've spent this winter learning to swim.

I can't wait this summer to go to waterparks.

Oo.

I want to go to as many waterparks

with these kids as we can.

Because I remember as my childhood, my parents would

take us to a waterpark.

And my dad and I going down all these slides.

And doing all these things.

And I can't wait to do that with them.

I'm sure I'll break my back going on a slide or whatever.

But I'm sure looking forward to that.

Do you have any booked?

We are taking the kids to The Bahamas.

And our hotel has a water park in it.

Cool.

Type thing.

But no, even little things.

We'll go to Rockford, or somewhere around here.

Yeah, right.

That's cool.

Hey, you go to Bahamas.

I'll just set up my slip and slide in the backyard.

Same thing though.

We're totally cool.

Oh, yeah.

You have a water park in your backyard.

Yeah, mm-hm, sure.

If the weeds and rocks don't kill you,

the slip and slide will.

All right.

Dave?

Yeah.

I got a question?

What's that?

Are you going to relate to anybody today?

Dave relates to retirees.

You accused me earlier of trying to sneak

a peek at what your...

Yeah.

...DR2R is.

Yeah.

You asked if I can relate to retirees.

It's actually cool.

Because we're going to circle back.

Because you mentioned Bruegger's Bagels at the very beginning.

Oh, really?

And you had no idea that that would be my DR2R.

Uh-uh.

And when you told me about the theme

of today's episode...

What you should be looking for and asking for in an advisor...

I remember one of my advisors when I was young.

When I was starting my illustrious career

at Bruegger's Bagels.

We've talked about this several times.

You know Bruegger's well.

His name...

He was our lead baker for a while...

His name was Themba Fakude.

Do you remember?

I remember Themba.

You remember Themba?

Yeah, I do.

And he taught me many things in life.

Most of them being inappropriate now.

However, at the time, he was a very, very crafty chef.

I'm going to say chef.

That's probably giving him too much credit.

So our office, our restaurant, was about a block from Jewel.

He would combine ingredients, and he taught me how to just

use a few ingredients to make some really good food.

And I think partially...

I'm thinking about it now...

That could have been what inspired me to take

cooking classes, and start in culinary school.

But something simple, just cucumber with lemon and salt.

It blew my mind.

He would take the lox, the salmon?

And different ingredients.

And just go to town.

And it was the best.

And he would make it for everybody that

was working that day.

But my single favorite thing he did was he would just

simply go buy bulbs of garlic.

I'd take out the cloves.

And just olive oil and salt, throw them in the same oven

that we made Bagels in.

And staff would all be popping cloves of garlic at a time.

So yeah, roasted garlic, popping garlic.

I mean, this was my guy.

This was my advisor.

He would also...

Themba.

Themba, man.

He would make us all pause, when there was no customers

in there, and dance.

He would turn the music up and dance.

He was just the happiest dude.

And so it gave me a new perspective.

I took myself too seriously in high school, a little bit.

That was my guy.

Themba.

Themba Fakude.

So yeah, retirees, I get it.

You need someone in your life like Themba, or

Josh, to get you through.

Take it away.

Okay.

Now look, you were the beneficiary of my

Bruegger's Bagels career.

I love Bruegger's Bagels.

Mm-hm.

I miss Bruegger's Bagels.

I remember Themba?

First off, in high school, you took yourself

too seriously, huh?

That's a shock to me.

We're not going to go into what I mean by that.

But there were certain aspects of my life back then

I took way too seriously.

Yes.

Huh.

Yeah.

Yeah.

That's interesting.

Sure.

So, Mr.

Themba...

Let me try and stretch this, wrap it around here.

Let's do it.

You were compatible with him.

You saw a leadership in him that you needed at that

point in time in your life.

Yeah.

You came off a very serious high school career.

Very.

Very.

That, you needed somebody to lead you down

a path to open yourself up to new experiences.

Like roasted garlic.

Roasted garlic.

And...

Dance parties.

Themba, at that time, was able

to do that for you.

Now, you didn't really seek Themba out.

He just found you?

But what I'm telling retirees?

Is seek it out.

And know what you're looking for.

You didn't know what you were looking for.

And imagine if you said to yourself, "Man, I need someone

to show me how to open myself up to fun new experiences."

And you found Themba.

And you're right there.

What I'm telling people, who are retirees entering

that distribution phase is, you should know

what you're looking for.

And go out and find it.

Because Themba won't always be there, just waiting for you.

Yeah.

Okay.

But I also love roasted garlic.

If anybody wants to me to make some roasted garlic, I'd

be happy to do that for you.

I am telling you.

Another go-to, Josh.

That was a nice Full House moment.

Not, I think again...

Having a fluffy episode plus a super random DR2R

leads you to having a shorter Full house moment.

Poppyseed bagel, butter, melted cheese.

You think, "Ugh."

Try it.

It's life changing.

All right?

That's another Themba specialty.

Yeah.

We need a bagel spot here at Elmhurst.

That's good.

I'm going to Google Themba.

See if he's still around.

There's can't be many Themba Fakude.

Fakude.

Fakude.

Cannot be.

That was my boy.

All right.

So, Josh, what else we got going on here?

It's summertime.

Literally, we shut this bad boy down?

I'm out of here.

And summer gets crazy for everybody.

So, what Josh and I are going to encourage you

to do is head on over.

FSR wealth.com slash podcast.

Make sure your name is on our email club list, so

you never miss new episode.

Because they're always as good as this one.

If not better.

And remember, we have our monthly Java with Josh.

June 23rd,.

June 23rd.

Or whatever that...

Mm, day is.

Somewhere in there.

Wednesday is.

21st, 23rd.

Because we're going to start having some fun around here.

We are.

We are.

Thank you, Themba.

All right.

And we still haven't come up with a new close, so for now

we're just going to say, "Enjoy summer, enjoy your mangoes.

And...

Byeee.

Byeee.

That was a nice way to end it.

Hashtag tax nerd.

FSR Wealth Management is a registered

investment advisor located in Elmhurst, Illinois.

Information and opinions contained in this audio

have been arrived at by FSR Wealth advisors.

All information herein is for informational purposes

and should not be construed as investment advice.

It does not constitute an offer, a solicitation or recommendation

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