Podcast thumbnail for Sage Pathways

Sage Pathways

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by Sage Lifestyle Concierge

5.0(4 reviews)
7 episodes
Updated Daily
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Podcast Overview

Sage Pathways is the executive briefing on intentional longevity and lifestyle design. Hosted by the founder of Sage Lifestyle Concierge, we move beyond the "what" of aging to explore the "how." Discover deep-dive interviews with premier senior service providers, expert advice on elder care, and "Pathfinder Profiles"—real-world case studies on aging with vibrancy. Whether you are a professional or a family architecting a future for a loved one, Sage Pathways provides the wisdom and the roadmap for the journey ahead.

Language

🇺🇲

Publishing Since

4/4/2026

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Recent Episodes

Episode thumbnail for Downsizing Is a Lifestyle Upgrade: Housing Decisions That Support Longevity & Independence with Michael Jakubiec, SRES® · Realtor | Investor · Crosstown Realtors

June 16, 2026

Downsizing Is a Lifestyle Upgrade: Housing Decisions That Support Longevity & Independence with Michael Jakubiec, SRES® · Realtor | Investor · Crosstown Realtors

<p>Most people have a financial plan for retirement. A healthcare plan. Even an estate plan. But very few have a housing plan.</p><p><br></p><p>And yet where you live — the layout of your home, its proximity to family and healthcare, its ability to support your mobility and independence — shapes everything about how you age. It is one of the most powerful longevity decisions you can make. And most families wait until a crisis to make it.</p><p><br></p><p>In this episode, host Sun-Hee Yoon sits down with Michael Jakubiec — a licensed Realtor, Investor, and Seniors Real Estate Specialist® (SRES®) with Crosstown Realtors in Plainfield, IL — to reframe housing as a proactive, intentional part of every longevity plan.</p><p><br></p><p>In this episode, you&#39;ll learn:</p><p>• Why housing decisions are a longevity strategy — and how they directly impact safety, independence, and quality of life</p><p>• The three housing pathways for aging adults: aging in place with modifications, downsizing, or relocating closer to family, transportation, and healthcare</p><p>• How to recognize the signs that your current home may no longer be serving you</p><p>• How to navigate the emotional attachment to a long-time home — and help a family member who is resistant to change</p><p>• The difference between a traditional listing and an as-is investor sale — and how to choose the right path for your situation</p><p>• What the SRES® designation means and why it matters when choosing a real estate professional for this stage of life</p><p>• How Michael&#39;s targeted marketing strategy generated 53 showings, 23 offers, and a sale $125,000 over asking — funding full Alzheimer&#39;s care for a Chicago family</p><p>Michael&#39;s philosophy is simple and powerful: downsizing is not a loss. It is a lifestyle upgrade. And the families who plan their housing strategy early are the ones who maintain the most control, the most dignity, and the most financial freedom in later life.</p><p>0:00 Welcome to Sage Pathways </p><p>1:17 Why housing is a longevity strategy </p><p>2:32 Meet Michael Jakubiec — Realtor | Investor | SRES® · Crosstown Realtors</p><p>4:07 Proactive housing planning — clarifying your goals before a crisis forces the decision</p><p>5:01 Aging in place — home modifications and what makes it work long-term</p><p>6:33 Signs it&#39;s time to downsize — physical, emotional, and practical signals</p><p>7:28 Letting go emotionally — navigating attachment to a long-time home</p><p>8:46 Selling paths explained — traditional listing vs. as-is investor sale</p><p>10:19 What the SRES® designation means — and why it matters for older adults</p><p>11:48 Family dynamics — navigating different opinions about a parent&#39;s housing decision</p><p>12:39 Using home equity to fund care — the financial connection</p><p>14:33 Pricing and selling strategy — how comparative market analysis works</p><p>16:27 How to start your housing plan today — the first questions to ask yourself</p><p>17:34 Tax considerations and building the right team for your transition</p><p>19:15 Client story </p><p>21:37 Final takeaways </p><p><br></p><p>🎙️ Guest: Michael Jakubiec — Realtor | Investor | SRES®</p><p>🏠 Crosstown Realtors · 13246 IL Rt 59, Suite 106, Plainfield, IL 60585</p><p>🌐 HomesByMJ.com</p><p>📞 630.478.9241</p><p>📧 mj@homesbymj.com</p><p>📱 Instagram/Facebook: @michael.jakubiec.realtor</p><p>💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-jakubiec-realtor</p><p><br></p><p>—</p><p><br></p><p>Sage Pathways is your compass for intentional longevity — where professional expertise meets the enduring human legacy. Hosted by Sun-Hee Yoon, Founder &amp; CEO of Sage Lifestyle Concierge LLC.</p><p><br></p><p>New episodes every two weeks. Follow and subscribe so you never miss a conversation.</p><p>🌐 www.sagelifestyleconcierge.com</p><p>📧 info@sagelifestyleconcierge.com</p>

Episode thumbnail for Estate Planning Is an Act of Love — Wills, Trusts & What Happens Without a Plan with Allyson Russo, Estate Planning Attorney · Russo Law Offices LLC

June 3, 2026

Estate Planning Is an Act of Love — Wills, Trusts & What Happens Without a Plan with Allyson Russo, Estate Planning Attorney · Russo Law Offices LLC

<p>You already have an estate plan. You just may not know what it says.</p><p><br></p><p>If you haven&#39;t created your own plan, the state of Illinois has one for you — and it may not reflect your wishes at all. It could split your assets between your spouse and your children in ways you never intended. It could send your family through a public, 8 to 15-month probate process while they&#39;re still grieving. And it could leave the people you love most with no clear guidance when they need it most.</p><p><br></p><p>In this episode, host Sun-Hee Yoon sits down with Allyson Russo — founder of Russo Law Offices LLC and a Chicago-area estate planning attorney with deep expertise in wills, trusts, probate, and Medicaid planning — to demystify one of the most important conversations families are not having.</p><p><br></p><p>In this episode, you&#39;ll learn:</p><p>• The four foundational documents every estate plan should include — and what each one actually does</p><p>• The real difference between a will and a trust — and why a revocable trust may be the more powerful choice for your family</p><p>• What Illinois probate actually looks like — how long it takes, what it costs, and how to avoid it</p><p>• How to approach a parent who doesn&#39;t have a plan — and what to say when the conversation feels impossible</p><p>• The difference between revocable and irrevocable trusts — and when each one is the right tool</p><p>• Illinois and federal estate tax thresholds ($4M and $15M respectively) — and what that means for your planning</p><p>• How to protect digital assets and ensure your family can access passwords and online accounts</p><p>• What Medicaid planning looks like in Illinois — including the five-year look-back period — and why starting early makes all the difference</p><p><br></p><p>Allyson also shares a real client story involving complex family dynamics, and closes with her most important piece of advice: find an attorney who is both knowledgeable and compassionate — because this work is not just legal. It is deeply personal.</p><p><br></p><p>00:00 Welcome to Sage Pathways</p><p>01:25 Why Estate Planning Matters</p><p>02:49 Meet Attorney Allison Russo</p><p>04:16 Estate Planning Basics</p><p>05:38 Trusts vs Wills Explained</p><p>08:10 Probate Timeline and Tips</p><p>09:43 Talking With Aging Parents</p><p>13:16 Revocable and Irrevocable Trusts</p><p>15:08 Estate Taxes State and Federal</p><p>15:59 When There Is No Plan</p><p>19:03 Getting Started and Funding Trusts</p><p>21:58 Digital Assets and Password Access</p><p>23:34 Client Stories and Family Dynamics</p><p>25:53 Medicaid Planning Basics</p><p>28:03 Key Takeaways and Closing</p><p><br></p><p>🎙️ Guest: Allyson Russo, Owner &amp; Attorney</p><p>⚖️ Russo Law Offices LLC: www.russolaw.com</p><p>💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/russolawofficesllc</p><p>📧 russo@russolaw.com</p><p><br></p><p>—</p><p><br></p><p>Sage Pathways is your compass for intentional longevity — where professional expertise meets the enduring human legacy. Hosted by Sun-Hee Yoon, Founder &amp; CEO of Sage Lifestyle Concierge LLC.</p><p><br></p><p>New episodes monthly. Follow and subscribe so you never miss a conversation.</p><p>🌐 www.sagelifestyleconcierge.com</p><p>📧 info@sagelifestyleconcierge.com</p><p><br></p><p>⚠️ Legal Disclaimer: The content in this episode is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered individualized legal advice. Estate planning laws vary by state and individual circumstances differ. Please consult a licensed estate planning attorney regarding your specific situation before making any decisions.</p>

Episode thumbnail for Aging Well Beyond Checklists: Colleen Koziara on Creativity & Whole-Life Wellness

May 22, 2026

Aging Well Beyond Checklists: Colleen Koziara on Creativity & Whole-Life Wellness

<p>What if everything we measure in senior care is missing the point?</p><p>In this episode of Sage Pathways, host Sun-Hee sits down with senior wellness consultant and author Colleen Koziara, who makes a bold case: senior care is systemically broken because it prioritizes efficiency and regulation while underfunding the one thing that makes life worth living — genuine enrichment and connection.</p><p>Colleen unpacks the realities families are facing: a rapidly growing retiree population, rising rates of Alzheimer&#39;s and chronic illness, and assisted living costs that can run $7,000–$15,000 a month — often without meaningful programming to match. But this conversation isn&#39;t about despair. It&#39;s about what&#39;s possible.</p><p>Drawing from her book Taking Flight, Colleen shares practical, low-cost solutions any family or community can use: intergenerational partnerships with scouts and schools, volunteer and animal visit programs, and her &quot;SEE VIPs&quot; framework spanning seven dimensions of wellness. She explains how art programs and Montessori-informed approaches restore autonomy, dignity, and joy — even for those living with dementia — and why meeting elders exactly where they are changes everything.</p><p>Her closing message is simple and powerful: check on the elders in your life, learn from them, and invite them to keep giving back.</p><p><strong>In this episode:</strong> </p><p>00:00 – Rethinking aging well </p><p>00:42 – Meet Colleen Koziara </p><p>02:54 – What senior care gets wrong </p><p>04:56 – Community connections that help </p><p>07:26 – The origins of Taking Flight </p><p>09:13 – The seven dimensions of wellness </p><p>12:32 – Art as empowerment </p><p>16:00 – Meeting people where they are </p><p>19:55 – A better future for aging </p><p>22:04 – The tie-dye painting lady </p><p>23:47 – Final message: check in</p><p>Whether you&#39;re caring for an aging parent, working in the senior living industry, or planning ahead for your own future, this conversation offers a hopeful, actionable roadmap for aging with creativity and purpose.</p><p>🎧 Sage Pathways Podcast is produced by Sage Lifestyle Concierge LLC, helping families navigate the complex world of aging and caregiving.</p>

7 total episodes available

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Frequently asked questions

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What is Sage Pathways?

Sage Pathways is the executive briefing on intentional longevity and lifestyle design. Hosted by the founder of Sage Lifestyle Concierge, we move beyond the "what" of aging to explore the "how."

Discover deep-dive interviews with premier senior service providers, expert advice on elder care, and "Pathfinder Profiles"—real-world case studies on aging with vibrancy. Whether you are a professional or a family architecting a future for a loved one, Sage Pathways provides the wisdom and the roadmap for the journey ahead.

How often does this podcast release new episodes?

This podcast updates daily.

Where can I listen to this podcast?

This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.

Does this podcast accept guests?

Information about guest appearances is not available.

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