Fortress Financial Group

06/01/2026

A new season is a good reminder: strategy matters before the action starts.

If retirement is getting closer, now may be the right time to review the pieces that need to work together: income, taxes, investments, healthcare, travel, housing, and legacy.

The goal is not just more information. It is better clarity.

05/29/2026

🎙️ Episode 50 of Retire and Thrive is here!

This milestone episode looks back at some of the biggest retirement lessons we’ve covered so far, including why retirement is not just about having “enough money.”

It’s about having a plan for your income, your health, your relationships, your purpose, and the life you want to build next.

In this episode, Kamie and Dan talk about:

✅ Why retirement can be more emotional than people expect
✅ Why income planning matters, not just account balances
✅ The myth of retirement as a 20-year vacation
✅ Why health, happiness, and purpose are critical in retirement
✅ How to make your future bigger than your past

Thank you to everyone who has watched, subscribed, commented, and followed along through the first 50 episodes.

Watch Episode 50 here: https://youtu.be/SUrsczfZnsc

For general informational purposes only. This should not be considered individualized financial advice.

Retirement is not just about having enough money. It is about havin...

05/27/2026

Please join us in welcoming Madison Murray to the team!

Madison will be working alongside our advisors, gaining hands-on experience and learning more about how to build strong relationships with clients. During her time with us, she is especially looking forward to growing professionally, building confidence in her communication skills, and strengthening her public speaking abilities in a professional setting.

Outside of work, Madison enjoys watching movies and going to the theater whenever she can. She also loves spending time outdoors, whether that’s going for walks, boating on the lake, or trying something new like driving a jet ski, which she recently did for the first time and loved.

A few fun facts about Madison: she modeled for Herberger’s when she was younger, walking the runway in the mall, and she is a big Mountain Dew fan.

We’re excited to have Madison with us and look forward to seeing all she accomplishes during her time on the team!

05/26/2026

Most people can describe a dream vacation in detail. Fewer can describe what they want an ordinary week in retirement to feel like.

That matters.

Travel is part of the plan. But so are Tuesday mornings, family dinners, volunteer commitments, healthcare access, home maintenance, and the daily rhythm that makes retirement feel meaningful.

At Fortress Financial Group, we help turn those lifestyle questions into practical planning conversations.

05/25/2026

Today, we pause to remember and honor the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.

In observance of Memorial Day, our office is closed today.

05/22/2026

What do you want your family to remember about you?

In Episode 49 of Retire and Thrive, Dan Langworthy and Cody Schaefer discuss why your legacy is about much more than money, estate planning, wills, or trusts. It is about your values, your family, your stories, and the memories you intentionally create.

This conversation also covers grandchildren, ethical wills, writing your own obituary, and how to think more deeply about the legacy you are building right now.

Watch or listen to the full episode here:

What do you want your family to remember about you after you’re gone?In this episode of Retire and Thrive, Dan Langworthy and Cody Schaefer talk about legacy...

05/18/2026

For many Minnesota families, the cabin is more than a place. It is a rhythm, a gathering point, and sometimes a future estate planning question.

Should it stay in the family? Who will use it? Who will maintain it? How does it fit into retirement cash flow, taxes, and legacy planning?

The earlier these conversations happen, the more thoughtful the decisions can be.

05/18/2026

🏡 Should you buy now, wait it out, or sell while Rochester’s market is still moving?

In Episode 1 of The Rochester Resource, Cody Schaefer sits down with local real estate professional Chris Hus of the Med City Home Team at RE/MAX Results to talk about what’s actually happening in the Rochester housing market.

They cover:

✅ Buyer’s market vs. seller’s market
✅ Interest rates and whether they should stop you from buying
✅ Red flags to look for when walking through a home
✅ Low-cost updates sellers should make before listing
✅ Why 2026 could be an opportunity year for buyers and sellers

If you live in Rochester or the surrounding area and you’re thinking about buying, selling, or just trying to make sense of the market, this episode is worth your time.

🎧 Watch Episode 1 of The Rochester Resource here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ykQR1Vt-w8

Rochester MN real estate is changing, and buyers and sellers need to know what is actually happening in the local housing market.In Episode 1 of The Rocheste...

05/15/2026

When you retire, do you lose your work friends?

For many of us, our identity and social circles are tied directly to our careers. In Episode 48 of the Retire and Thrive podcast, Dan and Cody discuss the fourth perspective of retirement planning: Your Inner Circle.

Your financial plan dictates when you can retire, but the people you surround yourself with dictate how well you retire. Tune in to learn about overcoming the retirement identity crisis, how to build an intentional community, budgeting for long-distance family, and what an 80-year Harvard study reveals about longevity.

When you leave your career behind, are you also leaving your social life? Financial planning determines when you can retire, but the people around you determ...

05/14/2026

Spring cleaning does not have to stop at closets and garages.

This season is a good time to look at the assumptions inside your retirement plan. Are your travel goals still accurate? Has your timeline changed? Are your tax planning opportunities being reviewed? Do your estate and beneficiary decisions still reflect your wishes?

Small reviews now can lead to better conversations later.