Cortburg Speaks Retirement

Back-to-School Budget Reset: Fall Financial Tips for Families

• Miguel Gonzalez, MBA, AIF®, CPFA®, CRC® • Season 2025 • Episode 254

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Back-to-school season is the perfect time for a financial reset. In this episode, Miguel Gonzalez, CRC, shares smart budgeting moves to clean up summer spending, plan for fall costs, and finish the year strong.

Cortburg Retirement Advisors is a boutique financial planning firm committed to helping you grow, protect, and preserve your assets from your first job to retirement. We specialize in wealth management, estate and tax planning, group retirement, employee benefits, insurance, and retirement planning to navigate any economic climate.

Miguel Gonzalez, a Retirement Specialist with 20+ years of experience, offers expertise in retirement income planning, investment management, and retirement plan design. With an MBA from Columbia Business School, and professional experience with JP Morgan Chase, Merrill Lynch, and more, Miguel is a trusted advisor for his clients.


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Welcome to Cortburg Speaks Retirement Podcast
with Miguel Gonzalez, MBA, AIF®, CPFA®, CRC®

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Welcome to Cortburg Speaks Retirement

An audio podcast about investing in the stock market, financial planning, money management and retirement planning.  Each Wednesday, we help investors at all stages of life learn how to potentially grow and preserve their money from first job through retirement.

Now here is your host, Miguel Gonzalez.

Good morning and welcome to the CORTBURG SPEAKS RETIREMENT audio podcast.   

This week, as families settle into new routines and kids head back to school, it’s the perfect time to check in on your finances.

Let’s talk about using this season to reset your budget and refocus your financial goals.

1. Review Summer Spending

Summer often comes with extra expenses—vacations, camps, home projects, and more. Before jumping into fall, take stock of what you spent.

Did you stay on track? Did anything surprise you? Understanding your recent habits can help you make smarter decisions moving forward.

2. Set a Fresh Monthly Budget

Back-to-school season often brings new costs: school supplies, sports gear, after-school activities, and higher grocery bills with kids at home again.

Adjust your monthly budget to reflect the real expenses of this season. Be honest about what’s coming up and realistic about what you can cut or reallocate.

3. Revisit Automatic Payments

Subscription services, recurring donations, and streaming platforms can add up quietly. Now’s a great time to go through your bank or credit card statements and cancel anything you’re not using.

A quick cleanup could free up $50–$100 or more per month.

4. Prioritize Upcoming Goals

Fall is also a great time to think about year-end goals:
 – Are you on track with retirement contributions?
 – Do you need to make HSA or FSA adjustments?
 – Are you planning for holiday travel or gift-giving?

Being proactive now can make your year-end less stressful and more financially stable.

 

5. Include the Whole Family

If you have kids, consider involving them in age-appropriate conversations about money. Back-to-school time is a great opportunity to teach budgeting, saving, and responsible spending.

Financial literacy starts at home—and these conversations can have long-term benefits.

 

In Closing

Fall is more than a new school year—it’s a fresh financial chapter. With a few smart moves, you can enter the final quarter of the year with clarity, confidence, and control.

This is Miguel Gonzalez, Certified Retirement Counselor (CRC) and Managing Partner, with Cortburg Retirement Advisors signing off for this week’s educational podcast.  

 

End of video disclosures:
CRC conferred by The International Foundation for Retirement Education.


 Securities offered through LPL Financial. Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advice offered through Private Advisor Group, LLC, a registered investment advisor.
 
 

Private Advisor Group, LLC and Cortburg Retirement Advisors, Inc. are separate entities from LPL Financial.
 
 

The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual.


 All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however, LPL Financial makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy.

 

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Miguel Gonzalez, MBA, AIF®, CPFA®, PPC®, CRC®

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