Cortburg Speaks Retirement

Financial Red Flags to Watch For in Your 30s, 40s, and 50s

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

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In this episode, Miguel Gonzalez breaks down the top financial red flags by decade—and how to course-correct before they impact your future.

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, I want to talk about financial red flags—the warning signs that can quietly build over time and make it harder to reach your long-term goals.

The truth is, every stage of life comes with different challenges. The key is learning to spot these red flags early so they don’t turn into full-blown problems later.

Let’s walk through what to look out for in your 30s, 40s, and 50s.

🔹 In Your 30s: Building the Foundation

Your 30s are a big transition decade—career growth, maybe marriage, kids, or buying a home. But it’s also when financial habits start to set in.

Here are a few red flags to watch for:

  • Lifestyle creep: As income grows, spending tends to rise right along with it. If every raise disappears into new expenses, it’s hard to make real progress.
  • No emergency fund: Without a safety net, one unexpected expense—like a car repair or medical bill—can throw off your entire budget.
  • Ignoring retirement savings: Even small contributions now matter. Waiting too long can make it much harder to catch up later.
  • High-interest debt: Credit card balances that stick around month after month can drain your cash flow and limit future flexibility.

Small adjustments—like automating savings and paying down high-rate debt—can make a huge difference at this stage.

🔹 In Your 40s: The Balancing Act

By your 40s, you’re often juggling a lot—kids, a mortgage, maybe aging parents, all while trying to stay on track with your own goals.

Common red flags here include:

  • Putting everyone else first: It’s easy to prioritize your children’s education or family needs over your own financial future—but your stability matters too.
  • Not reviewing insurance and benefits: Life changes quickly. Make sure your coverage, beneficiaries, and workplace benefits still match your current situation.
  • Stagnant income: If you haven’t looked for ways to increase income through raises, skill growth, or side opportunities, inflation can slowly eat away at your progress.

Your 40s are about tightening focus—getting clear on what truly moves you closer to financial independence and cutting out the rest.

🔹 In Your 50s: Preparing for What’s Next

Your 50s are often the final stretch before retirement, and the stakes are higher.

Watch for these warning signs:

  • No clear retirement plan: If you’re not sure how much you’ll need—or how your savings will turn into income—it’s time to start mapping that out.
  • Too much risk, or too little: As you get closer to retirement, your investments should reflect your comfort level and time horizon. Staying too aggressive—or going too conservative—can both work against you.
  • Not managing debt before retirement: Entering your 60s with large balances on credit cards or loans can limit your flexibility later on.

This is also a great decade to catch up on contributions and re-evaluate your long-term goals.

In Closing

Financial red flags don’t mean failure—they’re just signals to pay attention. By spotting them early, you can course-correct, build momentum, and set yourself up for a stronger, more confident future.

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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