Mr. Stillman's Opus

Hosted by John Stillman

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May 2026

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About the show

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.

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May 15, 2026Episode 13610 min

Should You Move to Florida in Retirement? Here’s What to Consider

Ready to grow your wealth with confidence? Let’s talk! 👉 https://www.rosewoodwealthmanagement.com/schedule-an-appointment ☎️ 919-391-3446 After 40+ years in the same home, the idea of packing up and moving somewhere new—like Florida—can feel both exciting and overwhelming. The tax savings might look great on paper, but there’s a lot more to consider than just the financial side. Today, John walks through the real questions you should be asking before making a move in early retirement. It’s all about making a decision that works not just financially, but for your day-to-day life. Here’s what we discuss in this episode: 🌴 Tax Savings: No income tax has advantages 🌦️ Weather Reality: Florida summers hit different 📦 The Big Move: Downsizing takes time and effort 🏡 Housing Tradeoffs: Size, price, and location shift 🧭 Lifestyle Fit: Daily life may change more than expected ⚖️ Whole Picture: Money is only part of the decision 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

May 1, 2026Episode 1357 min

Behind on Retirement? How to Catch Up in Your 50s

Ready to grow your wealth with confidence? Let’s talk! 👉 https://www.rosewoodwealthmanagement.com/schedule-an-appointment ☎️ 919-391-3446 You can’t go back and fix the past, but you can make smarter decisions moving forward. John tackles a question a lot of people quietly wrestle with: how do you catch up after years of not saving? This isn’t about chasing quick wins or risky bets. It’s about using the position you’re in right now to make meaningful progress. The opportunity you have today might be bigger than you think. Here’s what we discuss in this episode: ⚠️ Avoid Big Bets: Chasing “home runs” can backfire 📈 Prime Earning Years: Your 50s can be your strongest saving window 💸 Lower Expenses: Fewer obligations create opportunity 📊 Know Your Numbers: Understand what it costs to live 🧾 Use Tax Advantages: Catch-up contributions can help 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

April 17, 2026Episode 1348 min

Inherited a Home? Airbnb vs Sell — The Real Day‑to‑Day Breakdown

Ready to grow your wealth with confidence? Let’s talk! 👉 https://www.rosewoodwealthmanagement.com/schedule-an-appointment ☎️ 919-391-3446 You inherit a home, and suddenly you’ve got options. In this episode, John walks through one of the most common questions people face in this situation: whether to turn it into an Airbnb or take a different path. It’s a decision that goes beyond potential income and touches on lifestyle, effort, and long-term strategy. Before you jump in, tune in to hear the practical reality of what this commitment would look like day-to-day. Here’s what we discuss in this episode: 🏠 Airbnb Opportunity: Short-term rentals may generate high income ⚠️ Workload Reality: Managing turnover and guests takes effort 📉 Property Wear: Short-term guests may not treat it carefully 📊 Tax Strategy: Step-up in basis can make selling attractive 🏛️ Zoning Risk: Local rules could impact your ability to rent 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

March 20, 2026Episode 1336 min

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

March 6, 2026Episode 1326 min

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

February 20, 2026Episode 1319 min

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

January 2, 2026Episode 1304 min

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

December 26, 2025Episode 1293 min

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

December 12, 2025Episode 1283 min

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

November 28, 2025Episode 12713 min

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