Winstone Wealth Partners

One of the biggest retirement questions isn't can I retire… it's how do I replace my paycheck?

Read my latest article, "𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐃𝐨 𝐈 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐌𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐏𝐚𝐲𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤 𝐢𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭?" for key considerations before you leave the workforce.

Read the full article here: https://ow.ly/4IeX50Zn1WP

- 𝘑𝘦𝘧𝘧 𝘎𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘯, 𝘍𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘈𝘥𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘳 & 𝘊𝘌𝘖 𝘰𝘧 𝘞𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘞𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩 𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘴

This month, we're celebrating an incredible milestone: 11 years of Lauren Smith at Winstone Wealth Partners.

Over the past 11 years, Lauren has become so much more than our Chief Operating Officer. She's a trusted Financial Advisor, our resident CFP® professional, a strategic leader, and the person who somehow keeps every moving piece of our practice running smoothly.

Clients know Lauren for her thoughtful guidance and steady presence. Whether she's helping someone prepare for retirement, navigate Social Security decisions, build a comprehensive financial plan, or simply make sense of life's financial complexities, she leads with expertise, empathy, and genuine care.

Behind the scenes, she's equally indispensable. Lauren has helped shape nearly every aspect of Winstone as we've grown... from refining our operations and elevating the client experience to mentoring our team and helping bring big ideas to life. Simply put, Winstone wouldn't be Winstone without her.

And while she's one of the hardest-working people we know, she still somehow finds time to dominate the tennis court, win at mah jong, cheer on the Georgia Bulldogs, and spoil her rescue dog, Mamba (who happens to be our Chief Barketing Officer).

Lauren, thank you for your leadership, your heart, and everything you do for our clients and our team. Congratulations on 11 incredible years. We can't wait to see what the next chapter holds.

This month marks my 11th anniversary at Winstone Wealth Partners, and it's made me reflect on what an incredible privilege this career has been.

One thing I've always heard is that women have been underrepresented in the financial advisory profession. Out of curiosity (you know I love the data), I recently looked it up. According to Investment News, women make up just 24.2% of financial advisors nationwide.

Of course, the quality of financial advice has nothing to do with whether your advisor is a man or a woman. Some of the best advisors I've ever known—including my own colleagues—are men.

But over the past 11 years, I've also seen firsthand that many women appreciate sitting across the table from another woman. Someone who can more readily understand the realities of taking time away from a career to raise children, caring for aging parents, navigating the loss of a spouse, balancing competing priorities, or simply wanting a space where every question feels welcome and not judged.

Those conversations have become some of the most meaningful parts of my career. They remind me why I chose this profession in the first place and continue to fuel my passion for helping people make informed, confident decisions about their financial future.

Whether we've worked together for years or you're just getting to know Winstone, I hope the articles in this month's newsletter leave you feeling a little more informed, a little more confident, and a little more prepared for whatever comes next.

- 𝘓𝘢𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘯 𝘚𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘩, 𝘊𝘍𝘗®, 𝘍𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘈𝘥𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘳 & 𝘊𝘖𝘖 𝘰𝘧 𝘞𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘞𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩 𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘴

How much money do you really need to retire? Is $1 million enough? Should you be aiming for a specific number? Or are you asking the wrong questions altogether?

In this episode of The Green Zone Podcast, Jeff Green and Lauren Smith break down why there is no one-size-fits-all retirement number and share the questions that matter far more than simply asking, "How much do I need?" Together, they discuss:

☑️ Why there is no universal dollar amount needed for retirement

☑️ The difference between focusing on assets versus focusing on expenses

☑️ How the 4% and 6% income withdrawal rules work

☑️ Why your retirement lifestyle matters more than your account balance

☑️ The role Social Security, pensions, and taxes play in retirement income

☑️ How estate planning goals can change your retirement strategy

☑️ Why comparing yourself to others can lead you astray

☑️ How annual financial planning helps keep your retirement on track as life changes

☑️ The importance of understanding your investment risk and "guardrails" before retirement

Whether retirement is 30 years away or right around the corner, this conversation will help you think beyond the headlines and focus on building a retirement plan that's designed specifically for you.

Listen now: 🔗https://ow.ly/rZ1P50Znr34

The five years before retirement are some of the most important.

Read my latest article, "𝐈'𝐦 𝟓 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐑𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭. 𝗪𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐈 𝐁𝐞 𝐃𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐍𝐨𝐰?" for practical steps to help prepare for the transition.

Check it out here: https://ow.ly/XOxh50Zn1EI

- 𝘑𝘦𝘧𝘧 𝘎𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘯, 𝘍𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘈𝘥𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘳 & 𝘊𝘌𝘖 𝘰𝘧 𝘞𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘞𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩 𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘴

As we look back on some of our favorite memories so far this summer, this one definitely stands out. Over the Fourth of July weekend, we were able to catch up with two former Winstone teammates, Melanie Shaper and Hilary Holmes. We love seeing all they're accomplishing and will always be cheering them on, even though we don’t work together anymore. Because once you're part of the Winstone family, you're always part of the Winstone family!

If you're about five years away from retirement, now is the time to shift from simply saving for retirement to actively planning for it.

Check out my latest article, "𝐈'𝐦 𝟓 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐑𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭. 𝗪𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐈 𝐁𝐞 𝐃𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐍𝐨𝐰?" for practical steps to help prepare for the transition.

Read more: https://ow.ly/Q5Yv50Zm3AU

- 𝘑𝘦𝘧𝘧 𝘎𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘯, 𝘍𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘈𝘥𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘳 & 𝘊𝘌𝘖 𝘰𝘧 𝘞𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘞𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩 𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘴

As we gather with family and friends this Independence Day, there is an added sense of significance to this year's celebration.

July 4, 2026 marks the nation’s 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence—a historic milestone that invites us to reflect on where we've been, appreciate the freedoms and opportunities we enjoy today, and look ahead to the future we hope to create for generations to come.

While much has changed since 1776, the values that inspired our nation's founding—freedom, opportunity, perseverance, innovation, and entrepreneurship—continue to shape the American story.

Our history is one of builders, dreamers, innovators, and risk-takers. Generation after generation, people have pursued new ideas, started businesses, created opportunities, overcome challenges, and worked to leave something better for those who would follow. The ability to envision a brighter future and take meaningful steps toward it remains one of our nation's greatest strengths.

In our work every day here at Winstone Wealth Partners, we are reminded that the most meaningful accomplishments rarely happen overnight. Whether building a nation, growing a business, raising a family, or pursuing financial goals, lasting success is often the result of thoughtful planning, patience, and a commitment to future generations.

With that in mind, we hope you enjoy a safe and memorable holiday weekend and take a moment to appreciate this unique chapter in our nation's history as we begin the countdown to America's 250th birthday.

From all of us at Winstone Wealth Partners, Happy Fourth of July!

- 𝘑𝘦𝘧𝘧 𝘎𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘯, 𝘍𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘈𝘥𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘳 & 𝘊𝘌𝘖 𝘰𝘧 𝘞𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘞𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩 𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘴

Please join us in wishing a very happy birthday to Claire Holmes!

As our Director of Marketing and a member of our leadership team, Claire is the creative mind behind so much of what you see from Winstone Wealth Partners. From client communications and videos to social media and events, she has a talent for bringing ideas to life and helping tell our firm's story in a meaningful way.

Outside the office, Claire is a busy mom of three boys, spends plenty of time at the ballfields, and somehow still finds time for creative projects of her own (if you need a hand-painted banner, she’s your girl!).

Claire, thank you for your creativity, leadership, and all you do for our team. We hope you have a wonderful birthday and a fantastic year ahead!

After nearly 30 years as a financial advisor—and as the father of three sons in their twenties—I've spent a lot of time thinking about the financial advice I'd give to folks just starting out.

In my latest article, What Financial Advice Would a Financial Advisor Give a 25-Year-Old?, I share the habits, lessons, and principles I believe matter most when you're building your financial foundation.

Read the full article here: https://ow.ly/HhQ250ZbaoS

- 𝘑𝘦𝘧𝘧 𝘎𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘯, 𝘍𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘈𝘥𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘳 & 𝘊𝘌𝘖 𝘰𝘧 𝘞𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘞𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩 𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘴