Mr. Stillman's Opus

John Stillman
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Financial and retirement guidance from John Stillman, founder of Rosewood Wealth Management. Serving Durham, Chapel Hill, and the rest of the Triangle. Make sure your finances are designed to deliver you a harmonious retirement.

  1. MAR 20

    Should You Roll Over Your 401(k)?

    Ready to grow your wealth with confidence? Let’s talk! 👉 https://www.rosewoodwealthmanagement.com/schedule-an-appointment ☎️ 919-391-3446   When you leave a job, one of the biggest financial questions you face is what to do with your old 401(k). Should you roll it into an IRA? Leave it where it is? Or move it somewhere else entirely? The answer isn’t always obvious, and like most financial decisions, the right move depends on your unique situation. Today, John walks through the real-world considerations behind a 401(k) rollover and helps simplify a decision that often gets overcomplicated.   Here’s what we discuss in this episode:   🔄 Rollover Benefits and Flexibility 📋 Conditions for Rolling Over 401(k) to an IRA 💵 Comparing Costs and Administrative Fees 🧭 Planning and Investment Strategies

    6 min

  2. MAR 6

    Is a Swimming Pool a Bad Investment?

    Ready to grow your wealth with confidence? Let’s talk! 👉 https://www.rosewoodwealthmanagement.com/schedule-an-appointment ☎️ 919-391-3446   You’ve probably had this conversation. The family wants a pool, but you’re wondering if it makes financial sense. But here’s the bigger question: does every dollar you spend have to be an “investment?” In this episode, John unpacks the difference between financial ROI and life ROI. Because sometimes the value of something isn’t measured in resale price, it’s measured in memories, convenience, and the kind of home environment you want to create.   Connect with us: Web: https://rosewoodwealthmanagement.com/ Phone: 919-391-3446 Schedule a Meeting: http://meetwithjohn.com Check us out on YouTube: https://bit.ly/46RaLvL

    7 min

  3. FEB 20

    Inherited a House — Are the Taxes Really That Bad?

    Ready to grow your wealth with confidence? Let’s talk! 👉 https://www.rosewoodwealthmanagement.com/schedule-an-appointment ☎️ 919-391-3446   When a parent dies, it’s not just the photo albums and memories that get unpacked. The house usually comes with it. And that’s where feelings and finances start bumping into each other. John tackles a listener question about whether selling an inherited home really triggers some monster tax bill, or if that worry’s been blown a little out of proportion. But more importantly, he highlights why communication matters just as much as calculation. When everyone understands the rules — and talks openly about goals and concerns — decisions stop being driven by fear and start being guided by clarity.   Here’s what we discuss in this episode: 🏠 Inherited Home Concerns: Tax fears and stalled decisions 🗣 Family Communication: Conversations before emotions rise 📊 Property Value Growth: Step-up basis and appraisal timing 👨‍👩‍👧 Multiple Heirs: Buyouts, tension, and coordination   Connect with us: Web: https://rosewoodwealthmanagement.com/ Phone: 919-391-3446 Schedule a Meeting: http://meetwithjohn.com Check us out on YouTube: https://bit.ly/46RaLvL

    10 min

  4. JAN 2

    Think Living Off Interest Sounds Smart? Think Again.

    Ready to grow your wealth with confidence? Let’s talk! 👉 https://www.rosewoodwealthmanagement.com/schedule-an-appointment ☎️ 919-391-3446   Living off interest sounds great, until you realize you’ve built a retirement plan that can easily collapse the moment life hits. In this episode, John uses a chicken-and-egg analogy to explain why relying solely on dividends and interest can sabotage your financial future. If you’ve ever said, “I’ll never touch principal,” this conversation may change your mind before reality does.   Here’s what we discuss in this episode:   💸 Dividend Trap: Why “interest only” sounds smarter than it is 🧯 Portfolio Buffer: Planning for surprises (because life happens) ⚠️ Hard Truth: Why this strategy fails and what to do instead   Connect with us: Web: https://rosewoodwealthmanagement.com/ Phone: 919-391-3446 Schedule a Meeting: http://meetwithjohn.com Check us out on YouTube: https://bit.ly/46RaLvL

    4 min

  5. 12/26/2025

    Spotting Hidden Fees (And Where You'll Find Them)

    Ready to grow your wealth with confidence? Let’s talk! 👉 https://www.rosewoodwealthmanagement.com/schedule-an-appointment ☎️ 919-391-3446   Ever feel like you’re missing something right under your nose? On the farm, knowing all the hidden spots for eggs means a bigger haul every day, and your investments work the same way. If you know where to look and ask the right questions, you’ll uncover those hidden fees sneaking by unnoticed. Tune in and let’s make sure you’re collecting all your eggs, and every dollar that belongs to you.   Here’s what we discuss in this episode: 🥚 Egg Routine: Knowing the right spots 💸 Hidden Fees: What statements don’t show 🎯 Better Questions: How clarity is uncovered   Connect with us: Web: https://rosewoodwealthmanagement.com/ Phone: 919-391-3446 Schedule a Meeting: http://meetwithjohn.com Check us out on YouTube: https://bit.ly/46RaLvL

    3 min

  6. 12/12/2025

    Why Slow Growth Wins (Even if It’s Boring)

    Ready to grow your wealth with confidence? Let’s talk! 👉 https://www.rosewoodwealthmanagement.com/schedule-an-appointment ☎️ 919-391-3446   John takes an everyday problem—keeping plants alive—and uses it to explain why slow, steady wealth building actually works better than chasing quick wins. He breaks down why “fake growth” never lasts and why mastering money in small doses matters far more than sudden windfalls. If you’ve ever wished your wealth would grow overnight, this episode politely reminds you it won’t.   Here’s what we discuss in this episode: 🌧️ The Rainwater Analogy: real growth vs. the stuff that just “looks” like growth 🪣 Collecting the Good Stuff: why shortcuts don’t deliver the nutrients your finances need 💸 Wealth Lessons Hidden in Gardening: real wealth, the slow kind, is what actually lasts   Connect with us: Web: https://rosewoodwealthmanagement.com/ Phone: 919-391-3446 Schedule a Meeting: http://meetwithjohn.com Check us out on YouTube: https://bit.ly/46RaLvL

    3 min

  7. 11/28/2025

    Mailbag: Big Raises, Gifting Rules & Social Security Timing

    Ready to grow your wealth with confidence? Let’s talk! 👉 https://www.rosewoodwealthmanagement.com/schedule-an-appointment ☎️ 919-391-3446 What should you do first when your income suddenly skyrockets? Is waiting until age 70 for Social Security always worth it? In this episode, John answers a fresh round of listener questions, each one highlighting the real-life financial decisions people wrestle with every day. The truth is, even simple questions deserve careful thinking and a strategy built around your unique situation. Good planning is always personal, never one-size-fits-all. Here’s what we discuss in this episode: 💸 Managing a big income jump: avoiding lifestyle creep and planning for taxes 🎁 Gifting to adult children: understanding annual limits and estate rules 🧓 Social Security timing: why “wait until 70” isn’t always the right advice   Connect with us: Web: https://rosewoodwealthmanagement.com/ Phone: 919-391-3446 Schedule a Meeting: http://meetwithjohn.com Check us out on YouTube: https://bit.ly/46RaLvL

    14 min

  8. 11/14/2025

    Why You Shouldn’t Bet Everything on One Investment

    Ready to grow your wealth with confidence? Let’s talk! 👉 https://www.rosewoodwealthmanagement.com/schedule-an-appointment ☎️ 919-391-3446   John’s okra plants usually thrive, but this year nearly every seed failed to sprout. In this short episode, John shares how his gardening mishap illustrates one of the most important principles in investing — diversification. Whether it’s okra or your portfolio, balance and variety are what help you grow something that lasts. Here’s what we discuss in this episode: 📉 Overconfidence Risk: The danger of assuming past success guarantees future results 🏢 Company Stock Trap: Why loading up on your employer’s stock can backfire 📊 Diversification: How spreading risk helps protect your long-term financial goals 💬 Simple Advice: Don’t go all in on one seed—or one stock   Connect with us: Web: https://rosewoodwealthmanagement.com/ Phone: 919-391-3446 Schedule a Meeting: http://meetwithjohn.com Check us out on YouTube: https://bit.ly/46RaLvL

    3 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Financial and retirement guidance from John Stillman, founder of Rosewood Wealth Management. Serving Durham, Chapel Hill, and the rest of the Triangle. Make sure your finances are designed to deliver you a harmonious retirement.

Information

  • Creator
    John Stillman
  • Years Active
    2016 - 2026
  • Episodes
    99
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright John Stillman
  • Show Website
    Mr. Stillman's Opus

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