Oaks Wealth Management

Multiple properties, complex corporate benefits, portfolios shaped by decades of market swings...and a retirement dream that finally feels within reach.

James and Charlotte are drawn from the clients Jon and the team at OWM works with every day.

Swipe through their story to see how they got from "almost ready" to a plan that fits the life they've been working toward.

A $250,000 gift. Dental school debt. Two kids in private school. A partner track career. And a financial plan that had outgrown their DIY approach.

Veronica and Tony are drawn from the clients Jon and the Oaks Wealth Management team work with every day.

👉 https://www.oakswealthmanagement.com/accumulation

This is what the accumulation stage of life looks like, and why having the right advisor in your corner matters.

When a client asks you to work with their kids, most advisors say yes without thinking twice. Jonathan makes the case that saying yes without the right structure in place can quietly create fiduciary conflicts, information-sharing risks, and retention problems down the road. In his latest column for Rethinking65, he lays out a repeatable protocol for serving multiple generations. Link to article in comments.

Jon's latest blog is about something that keeps showing up in his practice. A successful client realizes that the three things that built their financial life (buying a house, entering the market, stable employment) can't be replicated at today's prices and rates. That realization changes everything about how they show up at work, in their marriage, and with their kids. He writes about what that fear actually looks like, and what to do with it. Link to blog in comments.

Jonathan Kolmetz weighs in on why estate planning stalls, and it's not always about the money.

As both a CFP and licensed therapist, Jon brings a unique perspective: "Often, what's holding up a couple's plan isn't the dollar amounts; it's that they each need to express what fairness means to them."

His advice? Slow down, listen, and create space for empathy. Because the real obstacle to finishing your estate plan might be an old communication pattern, not a legal hurdle.

Read the full piece at link below 🔗

Happy Thanksgiving from Oaks Wealth Management! 🍂

As we kick off the holiday season, we're grateful for the trust you place in us throughout the year.

Wishing you and yours a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with good food, great company, and plenty to be thankful for.

Here's to a joyful holiday season ahead! ✨

In 2008, when the financial system collapsed, Jonathan Kolmetz wasn't analyzing it from a distance - he was on the trading desk.

That experience shaped everything about how he invests today.

Due diligence isn't a checklist. It's a discipline.

📖 New on the OWM blog: Why I Invest the Way I Do
https://www.oakswealthmanagement.com/why-i-invest-the-way-i-do

Divorce rates among Americans over 65 have tripled since the 1990s, reaching 15% in 2022, with both partners typically losing about half their wealth in what are being called "gray divorces."

The trend is driven by major life transitions like retirement and empty nest syndrome that bring long-hidden marital problems to the surface, with women initiating two-thirds of these late-stage break-ups.

Jonathan Kolmetz MBA, MS, CFP® was interviewed about so-called gray divorce for an article that recently appeared on The Good Men Project. He's also written a solo piece on the topic.

Want more detailed insights on navigating gray divorce finances? See the blog ⬇️

https://www.oakswealthmanagement.com/the-400k-mistake-what-gray-divorce-really-costs

✈️ Thinking about a couples trip? Don’t book those flights just yet.

Jonathan Kolmetz MBA, MS, CFP® was featured in a recent MarketWatch article by Aditi Shrikant offering expert advice on how couples can avoid financial conflict before they travel. His take? Start by asking what “vacation” even means to your partner - and why.

💬 “This is a good, fun conversation to practice talking about money,” says Kolmetz. “You can practice being curious and asking questions and listening.”

👉 https://www.marketwatch.com/story/dont-spend-thousands-on-a-couples-trip-without-taking-these-3-steps-first-or-you-risk-fighting-the-whole-time-ab04d4e5?st=BzZnra&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

Don’t spend thousands on a couples trip without taking these 3 steps first You can avoid, or at least minimize, conflict by setting financial and experiential expectations. Here are three ways to do that before your vacation.