When you invest, every dollar you save falls into one of three tax funnels:

• Pretax (Traditional IRA, 401(k))

• After-tax (Brokerage, joint, or individual account)

• Tax-free (Roth IRA, Roth 401(k), HSA)

How you manage money across these funnels determines how much you keep after taxes — not just what you earn before them.

Social Security is getting another cost-of-living raise—about 2.7 % for 2026.

It’s a small increase, but it’s also a good reminder to look at how Social Security fits into your overall retirement plan. The conversation around benefit adjustments and the system’s long-term solvency is heating up again, so now’s a good time to separate facts from fear and make sure your plan stays flexible.

Switching financial professionals can feel awkward, but it’s often the right move. If your advisor isn’t meeting your needs and, most importantly, they are not providing the value for what you are paying, it might be time to explore other options. Below is a roadmap plus tips to help go through the switch with minimal friction.

As we enter the final quarter of 2025, tax planning should move to the top of your list. You still have time to make smart financial moves that can reduce your 2024 tax bill, boost retirement savings, and strengthen your long-term plan. The goal isn’t just to pay less tax—it’s to keep more money working for you. Use this checklist to identify what to tackle before 31 December.

You’ve seen the phrase “cash on the sidelines” — money sitting unused in liquid accounts, waiting to be deployed. But how much is really out there now? And what’s the tax drag on keeping it in “cash” vs more efficient alternatives? Let’s break it down.

Markets keep making headlines for hitting all-time highs. If you’re retired or nearing retirement, that can feel unsettling. You may wonder if now is the wrong time to invest or if you should pull back. But history tells a different story. Markets reaching records is not rare—it’s normal. The challenge isn’t timing the market; it’s building a plan that works through highs and lows.

As a retiree or someone approaching retirement, you’re shifting from saving and building wealth to living off what you’ve accumulated. This stage is less about chasing returns and more about making sure your money lasts, your taxes are controlled, and your financial decisions align with the life you want. Mistakes at this point can be costly and hard to reverse. That’s where a financial and tax planner steps in.

Instead of trying to piece together advice from articles, friends, or headlines, you get a coordinated plan tailored to your situation. A planner helps you transition smoothly into retirement, protect your income, and make confident decisions about taxes, investments, healthcare, and your legacy.

Downstream gifting is a tax strategy that lets you transfer appreciated assets, like stocks or ETFs, to your children or other family members in lower tax brackets. By doing this, you can save thousands in long-term capital gains tax.

Most investors never consider it, but if applied correctly, downstream gifting can be a simple, legal, and effective way to keep more money in your family.

When your net worth grows, so do the complexities... More money, More Problems (as they say).

The strategies that worked when you were building wealth often fall short once you’ve accumulated it. Taxes take a bigger bite, risk exposure widens, and the stakes around estate and business decisions rise.

If you’re in the high-net-worth category, you don’t just need financial advice—you need coordinated tax, investment, and estate planning.

Missing even one opportunity can cost millions over time. The following eight points highlight where high-net-worth individuals need to pay attention right now.

It’s common to meet people—especially execs, early purchasers, and people who received an inheritance—with a huge chunk of their net worth in one stock or fund.

That stock may have created serious wealth, but it’s also one of the biggest risks to your long-term financial stability.

If you’re in this boat, here’s the key truth: concentration builds wealth, but diversification protects it.

Let’s walk through how to manage this kind of position without blowing up your tax bill.

Retirement isn’t just about stopping work. It’s about replacing a paycheck—with a plan. A sustainable retirement income plan helps you cover your expenses, handle taxes, and avoid running out of money.

At the end of the day, cash flow is the lifeblood of retirement.

Here’s how to build yours.

Why good advice beats good investments—every time.

Most people think hiring a financial advisor is about getting better investment returns. It’s not. A great advisor helps you make better decisions across every area of your financial life—decisions that lower your taxes, reduce risk, protect your family, and move you toward the life you actually want.

The true value isn’t in picking the next big stock. It’s in helping you avoid mistakes, take action on the right things, and bring structure to a part of life that most people constantly push to the side.

Here’s how that plays out in real life.

Donor-advised funds (DAFs) are a super unique tool when it comes to financial planning. They are extremely helpful if you want to be charitable and tax-smart. A DAF lets you donate now, get a tax deduction today, and decide later where the money goes. It’s a useful tool for high-income years, asset sales, or when your charitable giving strategy needs more flexibility.

Congress passed the “One Big Beautiful Bill” last week. The law cements several expiring provisions from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), adds new deductions, and brings forward implications for estate planning and fiscal policy.

Essentially, the 80,000-page tax code has just become longer...

However, that is okay. I have reviewed the provisions in the bill and outlined the key changes you should be aware of.

Setting up a trust gives you control over your assets—how, when, and to whom they’re distributed. Here’s a practical guide to the most common trust types and how they fit into your estate and tax strategy.

We're halfway through the year. It’s a smart time to review your financial plan and make course corrections. Markets shift, goals evolve, and tax law is set to change dramatically in 2026. Staying proactive now helps you avoid mistakes later.

Here’s a detailed checklist to keep your plan on track

Financial scams are getting smarter. AI-generated voices. Fake investment apps. Phishing texts that look like real alerts from your bank. These aren't minor threats—they're sophisticated, fast-moving, and harder to spot.

In 2024, scam losses topped $1 trillion globally. And in most cases, the money's gone for good.

Most people build their financial beliefs on things they’ve heard—online, from friends, or even from parents. The problem is, a lot of that advice is wrong.

Bad information leads to bad decisions.

In this issue, I’m breaking down 10 common money myths that keep people stuck. These are the ideas that sound smart on the surface but fall apart when you look closer.

Time to clean up the noise.

These two terms get used interchangeably, but they aren’t the same. Risk tolerance is emotional. Risk capacity is financial. If you confuse them—or ignore one—you can end up with an investment strategy that either keeps you up at night or runs out of money too early.

A tax planning review isn't just a box to check. It's a key part of managing your financial life—especially if you're a business owner, high earner, or someone with complex income streams.

Here's how we approach it, combining financial planning expertise with digital marketing insights to keep you informed and in control.