Tenured Wealth Management of Raymond James

10/16/2026

As the midterm elections approach, political rhetoric can intensify and contribute to short-term market volatility. Explore the potential impact of the elections on the equity market and sector-specific policy.

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10/14/2026

I was 17 when I came to Michigan from Albania, a country just emerging from communism at the time.

I know talk about the "American Dream" can start to sound cliché pretty quickly. But my alma mater, Walsh College, showed me what that dream can look like.

And my professors gave me the skills to go after it.

Walsh also gave me a community I'm still part of. That's the thing about being an alum. You know you'll always be welcome when everyone gets together.

I certainly was this past August at the college's annual Golf Classic.

The event raises money for current and future students, and it's a great way for us grads to give back.

And after everything Walsh gave me, that's the least I can do.

That's why Burmeister, Hassan, and I are glad to help sponsor events like this one through Tenured Wealth Management. We know that's how communities get built and values get passed on.

And if you're a teacher, mentor, or parent, there's nothing like seeing those values take hold in the next generation, is there?

10/13/2026

Last month, I attended a Fireside Chat with MSU Hall of Fame basketball coach Tom Izzo. What stayed with me most had nothing to do with basketball.

It was about leadership, business, and life.

His first point was that you can't push someone to their limits until they trust you. That holds for coaching athletes, managing employees, teaching students, and advising clients. Trust comes before growth.

He also brought up Magic Johnson. Good players make plays, but great players make their teammates better. Great leaders make their teammates better and lift the people around them.

He warned against the "greener grass" mindset, too. It's never been easier to jump to the next job, investment, or idea. His advice was to figure out what matters most, commit to it, and do your best work where you are.

Failure is part of the process. How you respond to tough times matters.

And self-evaluate so you can self-motivate. The people who keep improving take ownership of their own growth.

My biggest takeaway?

A player-led team is often stronger than a coach-led team. Strong organizations are built on a culture where people hold each other accountable and pull in the same direction.

I see this with the college professors, physicians, and business owners I work with. Success comes from people who stay committed through challenges and help the people around them get better.

Thanks, Coach Izzo. Great leadership goes well beyond sports.

10/12/2026

Your office manager, the one who's been with you the longest, turns 65 in January, and she just stopped by with a question.

"Everybody says I can wait on Medicare as long as I'm working. Is that right?"

When a teacher asks me that, the answer is yes. A school district is big enough that its health plan keeps paying first (big enough means 20 or more people on the payroll, part-timers included).

A company the size of yours is a different story, though.

When a company has fewer than 20 people, Medicare pays first, and the health plan you've kept in place for her all these years only picks up what's left. If she isn't signed up for Medicare when she turns 65, your plan might not pick up anything at all.

That's why Medicare itself says to ask the employer that provides her health insurance. At a school district, that means a benefits office. At yours, it means coming to you.

Her answer is in the plan itself. Your plan documents say what it does when someone on it turns 65.

And if you're on that plan yourself, it's your answer, too. The same rule applies to an owner at 65, so Medicare belongs in your own retirement planning as much as it does in hers.

10/09/2026

The AI revolution presents a unique opportunity for small business owners. But that potential comes with a few obstacles. We cover both here:

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10/08/2026

With fraudsters now testing the limits of artificial intelligence, it can be difficult to trust your own eyes and ears. Here's what to prepare for in a new world of scams:

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10/07/2026

The holiday season is officially here, which means a lot of you are thinking about year-end events and what 2027 is going to look like.

So, I thought I'd brush up on my triage skills.

Just kidding.

Seriously, though, these next few months can feel overwhelming, from open enrollment to year-end giving to coordinating holiday travel.

That's why the slide behind me in the photo caught my attention when I was scrolling through my camera roll. One of the lines reads: "Partner up and decide who will start in each role."

It worked really well that day in CPR training. And, when I thought about it, it works just as well when you're trying to manage an overfull plate while enjoying the holidays.

If things start to stack up, let us know. William Edward Burmeister, Rachelle Hassan, and I are here any time you've got a question or are looking for some added clarity.

PS

Has it happened yet? Have you heard Christmas music in a store or café? Is it too early, or is the timing just right?

10/06/2026

Thinking about saving for college? Here's a quick primer on 529 plans, tax-advantaged investment accounts designed to help families save for education expenses:

raymondjames.com

10/05/2026

On the U-M Medical School faculty, you see patients in the morning, teach residents in the afternoon, and finish your notes after dinner.

So, what if one day you couldn't see patients but could still teach?

That's what long-term disability coverage is for.

Under the university's plan, though, you might not count as disabled in a scenario like that. To count under its general rule, you'd have to be unable to do any job your training suits you for, and teaching is one of them.

But there's also a partial disability provision for practicing physicians. If you can't practice for a year or more, you keep what you still earn, and it pays 65% of the covered earnings you lost.

The word to focus on there is "covered." Unless you've signed up for maximum Expanded LTD coverage, the plan only counts your salary up to $77,000. On a physician's income, that's a long way from the paycheck your household runs on.

Moving up to the maximum means an added premium, paid through payroll after taxes, and usually a "statement of good health." During open enrollment, October 12 to 23, the university is waiving the health form.

For those two weeks, then, it comes down to one question: which salary do you want the plan to count?

10/02/2026

I'm an avid golfer. That's why my older daughter can already outplay me: she grew up on the driving range and trailing me on the course.

Now she plays for a high school team that's won back-to-back state titles, and they're aiming for another trophy this year.

It's also why you keep seeing photos like this one from me. Because events like the 2026 Walsh College Golf Classic bring together two things I can't get enough of: golf, and the opportunity to give back.

That's the reason for the Tenured Wealth Management sponsorship sign.

Walsh College is my alma mater, and I can't imagine not supporting their efforts to give students just like me, a 17-year-old kid from Albania at the time, the chance at a life-changing education.

That experience led directly to my career as a financial advisor and my ability to help raise scholarship funds for the next generation of Walsh students.

It means a lot to Burmeister, Hassan, and me to give back to our community like this, and we hope you'll say hello the next time you see us out and about (even if we're just waiting in line behind one another at the pro shop or the café counter).