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. 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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. 10/31/2025

    (Almost) Everything You Need to Know About Medicare + a FREE Guide

    Ready to grow your wealth with confidence? Let’s talk! 👉 https://www.rosewoodwealthmanagement.com/schedule-an-appointment Medicare can feel like alphabet soup—Part A, Part B, Part D, Advantage, Supplement—how do you make sense of it all? John talks with Ryan Nutter of Cornerstone Senior Advisors, one of the most knowledgeable Medicare specialists in the country. Together, they cut through the confusion to explain how the system really works, what each part covers, and how to choose between Advantage and Supplement plans. Medicare doesn’t have to be overwhelming if you understand how the pieces fit together. Get your free 2026 Medicare Guide here: https://tinyurl.com/4zy3w35n Here’s what we discuss in this episode: 🧩 Breaking Down Medicare: the difference between Parts A, B, C, and D 💸 “Free” Isn’t Free: why you’ve already paid for Part A 🧾 Supplement vs. Advantage: which plan design fits your lifestyle 💊 Drug Coverage Details: understanding Part D and the Inflation Reduction Act changes 📈 Rate Increases Explained: why premiums are rising and what to expect in 2026   Get in touch with Ryan at Cornerstone Senior Advisors: Website: https://advisemedicare.net Email: office@advisemedicare.net Phone: 316-260-3331   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

    36 min

  7. 10/03/2025

    Take Your Hands Off Your Nest Egg

    Sometimes the best lessons come from the most ordinary places, like the chicken coop. A simple thing like farm-fresh eggs can teach a powerful lesson about investing. Here’s the scoop: farm-fresh eggs can sit safely on your counter for weeks because of a natural protective coating called a “bloom.” But wash that coating off, and suddenly they spoil fast and need to be refrigerated. Your investments are a lot like those eggs. Over-handling can shorten their shelf life and hurt long-term growth. Instead, patience and restraint usually pay off. Just like eggs last if you leave them alone, your portfolio can thrive if you trust the protective power of time, diversification, and sound strategy. Pre-retirees and retirees, take note: sometimes the smartest move is knowing when to do absolutely nothing. Here’s what we discuss in this episode: 🚫 The financial danger of over-handling investments 📉 Why market dips rarely need a panic response 🥚 What farm-fresh eggs can teach us about financial planning ⏳ How time and patience protect growth   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

  8. 09/19/2025

    The Economics of College with Kristin Heimstra

    Ready to grow your wealth with confidence? Let’s talk! 👉 https://www.rosewoodwealthmanagement.com/schedule-an-appointment ☎️ 919-391-3446 For decades, families have been told college is the only ticket to success. But with skyrocketing costs, shifting job markets, and the rise of AI, the economics of higher education are more complicated than ever. Career and college coach Kristin Heimstra joins John to break down how parents and students can navigate these choices with clarity and confidence. Kristin shares her perspective on when a private school may be worth the price, why community colleges are an overlooked gem, and how to think critically about degrees, ROI, and career fit. She also explores the growing role of trade schools and hands-on careers that AI can’t replace. If you’ve ever wondered how to balance cost, value, and opportunity when it comes to higher education—or how to help your kids or grandkids make smarter choices—this conversation is for you. The bottom line: it’s not just about where you go, it’s about knowing yourself, your goals, and the return on your investment. Here’s what we discuss in this episode: 🎓 Rethinking the “college or bust” mindset 💰 When private education can be worth the cost 🔧 Trade school opportunities in an AI-driven world 🏫 Community college as a launchpad for success 🤝 Building networks and connections that matter   Get in touch with Kristin: Art of Potential website: https://www.artofpotential.com/ Email: Kristin@artofpotential.com   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

    21 min
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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