S3 E12: Talking Estate Plans and Training New Assistants

In this episode of The Retireable Podcast, Mike Wallace and John Sauger kick things off with some end-of-year chaos: glitchy cameras, snow in the driveway, and the bittersweet news of Mike’s longtime assistant Jackie retiring after 23 years. (Yes—some clients really do like her more than him.) From there, they shift into a practical, listener-friendly breakdown of estate planning. Mike and John explain what a basic plan includes, why relying on “I think we’re covered” can backfire, and how documents like trusts, powers of attorney, and medical directives protect your family from confusion, conflict, and costly probate. They even tackle modern complexities—blended families, special-needs planning, and those “ifs, ands, or buts” life always finds a way to throw at us. In the “Holistic Happening,” John shares a real conversation with a couple wrestling with whether to age in place, sell their home, or pass it to a child—and how viewing the decision through emotional, financial, and family lenses helped bring clarity (and peace). Clear, relatable, and sprinkled with humor—this episode makes estate planning feel a lot less intimidating and a lot more like an act of love.