07/22/2026
β οΈ A 10 percent position in a single stock is sometimes called a concentrated position.
Most people don't realize it when they have one.
It's usually not a conscious decision.
Ten years go by, and one companyβs stock is a large percentage of the portfolio.
That isn't loyalty. It's exposure.
π A few questions you might consider:
π If the stock dropped tomorrow, what would change for your family?
π Is the position there because selling always felt premature?
π Has the embedded capital gain quietly become the reason nothing has been done?
There are several ways to unwind a concentrated position without writing a large check to the IRS.
The correct path depends on the situation.
If this sounds familiar, weβd welcome a conversation to share ideas that may help. Before any action is taken, however, itβs important to consult your tax, legal, and accounting professionals so you understand the tax consequences of any decision.
07/20/2026
December is the busiest month for RMDs.
But waiting until then can mean you miss some chances with charitable giving or with estate ideas.
For anyone age 73 or older, the required minimum distribution is mandatory, and the penalty for missing a deadline can be steep.
But the timing of the withdrawal and which accounts it comes from can shape the tax bill in ways a December scramble canβt.
A few things worth knowing:
π Multiple IRAs can be aggregated; retirement plans cannot. Each RMD must come from that specific plan.
π In 2026, a Qualified Charitable Distribution may allow up to $111,000 per individual to go directly from an IRA to a qualified charity, satisfying the RMD without adding to taxable income. Check with your tax, legal, or accounting professional if youβre considering this approach.
π A QCD has to be a direct transfer. Once the money lands in a personal account, the option is gone.
π Coordinating across accounts, spouses, and inherited IRAs is where most of the value might sit.
Mid-year is when there is still room to model it.
If RMDs are part of your plan this year, this is a good time to map them.
07/03/2026
This 4th of July is a milestone year! π½
Itβs our nation's 250th birthday.
Hope most of you are enjoying a long weekend celebrating this historic anniversary.
From our family to yours, wishing you a happy Independence Day weekend. π
07/02/2026
"We should just buy a place here." ποΈ
Almost every client conversation about a second home starts with that sentence, said on the third or fourth morning of a really good trip.
It's rarely about the house.
It's about wanting more of the version of life you experience on vacation.
That's a valid thought, but the house is not always the cleanest path to it.
A few things worth pressure-testing before you buy:
πΉ The sticker price is only the start. Insurance, maintenance, HOA fees, furnishings, and other expenses can add up faster than people expect.
πΉ The rental tax rules are not intuitive. The 14-day rule, passive activity limits, and depreciation may change the math. Be sure to check with your tax, legal, or accounting professional about how the rental tax rules would apply in your situation.
πΉ Paying all cash vs. financing isn't always straightforward. Donβt overlook the opportunity cost if youβre considering paying all cash.
πΉ Will the kids want it? Agree on it?
None of this is a reason not to buy. Plenty of clients have and love it.
It's a reason to do the numbers and have the family conversations before the offer, not after.
06/24/2026
Most couples spend years preparing financially for retirement.
Very few have talked about what retirement will actually look like.
Not the number. The life.
π Where will you live?
π What will your days look like?
π What happens if one of you is ready to stop working and the other is not?
A 2025 Fidelity survey found that 48 percent disagree on the age they prepare to retire. And research from Ameriprise found that nearly two-thirds expect to retire at the same time, while only 11 percent actually do.
The gap between what couples assume and what they have actually discussed is where retirement quietly breaks down.
The good news is that most couples are not as far apart as they fear. They just have not had the conversation yet.
π If retirement is somewhere on your horizon, the most valuable thing you can do right now is not check your portfolio.
It is to sit down with your partner and start asking the questions you have both been putting off.
06/21/2026
Happy Father's Day from our families to yours as we celebrate the dads, grandfathers and father figures in our lives! Wishing all the dad's out there a wonderful, relaxing day!
06/10/2026
What would you do with a windfall?
A business sale. An inheritance. A bonus that lands bigger than expected.
Most people assume they'd handle it well.
But sudden money follows patterns. And the patterns aren't always flattering.
Psychologists call it sudden wealth syndrome: the anxiety, decision paralysis, and relationship pressure that arrive alongside a large sum. It shows up whether the windfall was a complete surprise or something you spent years building toward.
The 5 most common mistakes we see:
β³ Upgrading your lifestyle before a strategy exists
π€ Giving to family under emotional pressure
π Attempting to make decisions without professional guidance
βοΈ Freezing and making no decisions at all
π Missing the critical deadlines in year one
All five can be managed, but only if you get ahead of the emotions before the decisions start piling up.
The most important thing you can do in the first 90 days? Maybe nothing.
Tell very few people. Then consider building a team of professionals who can offer insights and guidance.
There is rarely a cost to waiting. There is frequently a cost to moving too quickly.
06/04/2026
If you've watched a parent or grandparent navigate this disease, you already know.
It changes everything, and not just for them.
Families are often so focused on the day-to-day of caregiving that the legal and financial side quietly falls behind.
βͺοΈ Who has the authority to make decisions if something changes?
βͺοΈ Is there a long-term care plan?
βͺοΈ Does anyone know where the documents are?
A power of attorney, a healthcare directive, a conversation about what care actually looks like.
These are so much easier to put in place when everyone is healthy and clearheaded than after a diagnosis.
If you have aging parents, this month is as good a time as any to start that conversation. We're happy to be part of it. π
05/25/2026
Yes, Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer. But let's not forget what this day is really about.
Today, we remember those who gave everything. The men and women who served and never came home.
Some of us knew them. Some of us are here because of them.
However you spend today, take a moment to pause. Enjoy the long weekend, but hold space for what it actually means.
To the families carrying that loss: we honor them with you.
05/21/2026
Cap and gown season is here. π
A BIG CONGRATULATIONS to every graduate walking across a stage this month! π₯³ π₯³
The late nights, the stress, the uncertainty about what comes next have all led to this moment.
To the parents and grandparents in the audience pretending they're not emotional: we get it. β€οΈ
For the new grads, a few things to consider as you start this next chapter:
β‘οΈ Start investing as early as possible, even if it's small. Time is the one advantage you won't get back.
β‘οΈ If your employer offers a retirement plan with a company match, take it. It's free money.
β‘οΈ Build an emergency fund before you worry about investing. Three months of expenses is a good first goal.
β‘οΈ Understand your student loans: what you owe, the interest rates, and when payments start.
β‘οΈ Your first budget doesn't have to be perfect. It just has to exist.
The financial habits you build now will help form the foundation for your future.
Congrats, Class of 2026. π