It Starts with a Plan
Welcome, I’m Michael Bishop, a financial consultant in Murrieta, California. I understand that individuals face unique challenges as they prepare for retirement and look to succeed with their financial goals. With a carefully thought-out plan, I aim to prepare you for today and tomorrow. Whether your goal is saving for retirement, college savings, or estate strategy, my personalized service focuses on your needs, wants, and financial goals and objectives.
For over 35 years I've been advising families, individuals, and businesses and can help you address your needs and goals through all stages of your life.
Helpful Content
The Fed and How It Got That Way
Here is a quick history of the Federal Reserve and an overview of what it does.
Pay Yourself First
It sounds simple, but paying yourself first can really pay off.
First Year of Retirement: What to Expect
Understand the key financial and lifestyle shifts that happen in your first year of retirement.
Yours, Mine, and Ours: Estate Strategies for Second Marriage
Second marriages are a trigger event to revisit any existing estate strategies.
The Cost of Medical Care
Learn about the risks of not having health insurance in this informative article.
Counteracting Capital Gains with Tax-Loss Harvesting
You may have heard the phrase "tax-loss harvesting." A financial professional may be able to provide some guidance.
Estimating the Cost of College
This worksheet can help you estimate the costs of a four-year college program.
How Income Taxes Work
A quick look at how federal income taxes work.
How Stocks Work
Understanding how a stock works is key to understanding your investments.
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Wedding Budget Calculator
Estimate total wedding costs and see how different choices affect your overall budget.
Comparing Investments
Compare two different scenarios side by side to see how they stack up over time.
Historical Inflation
See how the purchasing power of a dollar has changed over time due to inflation.
Debt-to-Income Ratio Calculator
Calculate your debt-to-income ratio to understand how lenders may view your financial health.
Lifetime of Earnings
Estimate how much you may earn over your working years based on your current income.
The Power of 401k Catch-Ups
See how catch-up contributions after age 50 could significantly boost your retirement balance.
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A Fruitful Retirement: Social Security Benefit
Taking your Social Security benefits at the right time may help maximize your benefit.
Behavioral Finance
An amusing and whimsical look at behavioral finance best practices for investors.
The Richest Man in Babylon
In good times and bad, consistently saving a percentage of your income is a sound financial practice.
The Power of Compound Interest
Learn how to harness the power of compound interest for your investments.
It Was the Best of Times, It Was the Worst of Times
All about how missing the best market days (or the worst!) might affect your portfolio.
The Cycle of Investing
Understanding the cycle of investing may help you avoid easy pitfalls.