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 25 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 Value of Insuring Against Life’s Risks
Building wealth requires protection from the forces of wealth destruction.
The ABC’s of Auto Insurance
What kind of auto insurance should you have? Do you know?
Consider Keeping Your Life Insurance When You Retire
Reasons to retain your coverage into your retirement years.
Four Great, Unexpected Places to Raise a Family
Here are 4 great, and sometimes unexpected, places to raise a family.
Traditional vs. Roth IRA
One or the other? Perhaps both traditional and Roth IRAs can play a part in your retirement plans.
Managing an Inheritance
A windfall from a loved one can be both rewarding and complicated.
Understanding the Alternate Valuation Date
Executors can value the estate on the date of death, or on its six-month anniversary —the “Alternate Valuation Date."
Saving on Subscription Service Costs
There are ways to improve your physical fitness without denting your fiscal fitness.
The Most Overlooked Item of Any Home Improvement
The item most homeowners forget on their home improvement project checklist is insurance.
View all articles 
Annuity Comparison
This calculator compares a hypothetical fixed annuity with an account where the interest is taxed each year.
Roth 401(k) vs. Traditional 401(k)
This calculator compares employee contributions to a Roth 401(k) and a traditional 401(k).
Can I Refinance My Mortgage?
This calculator can help determine whether it makes sense to refinance your mortgage.
Social Security Taxes
Estimate how much of your Social Security benefit may be considered taxable.
Taxable vs. Tax-Deferred Savings
Use this calculator to compare the future value of investments with different tax consequences.
Federal Income Tax
Use this calculator to estimate your income tax liability along with average and marginal tax rates.
View all calculators
5 Smart Investing Strategies
There are some smart strategies that may help you pursue your investment objectives
Long-Term-Care Protection Strategies
The chances of needing long-term care, its cost, and strategies for covering that cost.
Principles of Preserving Wealth
How federal estate taxes work, plus estate management documents and tactics.
Managing Your Lifestyle
Using smart management to get more of what you want and free up assets to invest.
Your Cash Flow Statement
A presentation about managing money: using it, saving it, and even getting credit.
View all presentations
Surprises
Making the most of surprises is a great reason to work with us.
A Fruitful Retirement: Social Security Benefit
Taking your Social Security benefits at the right time may help maximize your benefit.
Are Alternative Investments Right for You?
With alternative investments, it’s critical to sort through the complexity.
When Do You Need a Will?
When do you need a will? The answer is easy: Right Now.
What You Need to Know About Social Security
Every so often, you’ll hear about Social Security benefits running out. But is there truth to the fears, or is it all hype?
Encore Careers: Push Your Boundaries
Ready for retirement? Find out why many are considering encore careers and push your boundaries into something more, here.