David Clausen - Northwestern Mutual

Happy New Year!

As 2025 comes to an end we at Sentinel Bridge are thankful for our clients, team members, colleagues, and home office partners who helped make 2025 the most impactful year in our firm's history.

We learned a few things in 2025: Intentionally narrowing our focus helped us give more to the areas where we could have the highest impact. Getting better at saying “no” more often, faster, and with less anguish meant we were able to say “yes” and contribute more intellectual energy, drive greater focus, and bring a deeper human connection to our relationships.

What’s on the map for 2026? The simultaneous opportunity and challenge of deploying new team members and technology in ways that effectively serves our clients while keeping the vital human connection that is the root “why” behind our mission. The growth has been fantastic. Now we get to catch up on scaling.

What’s on your map for 2026?

The old adage says that you don't know who's not wearing swim trunks until the tide goes out.

We'd propose an addition: The best time to check on your swim trunks is when tide is high.

Reach out if we can help keep you covered.

Honored to be recognized by as one the of Best-in-State Top Financial Security Professionals for the third year in a row. Thank you to our clients who entrust us to provide financial security for them and their families. Grateful for the Sentinel Bridge partners and team who work hard every day to earn that trust.

I am thrilled to announce that I have joined the board of Teach Democracy. It is an honor to join such a dedicated group of individuals committed to advancing the values of democracy and civic engagement.

With the vision for a society in which all young people become lifelong, knowledgeable, and confident participants in our democracy; the mission at Teach Democracy (formerly Constitutional Rights Foundation) is to inspire lifelong civic engagement through interactive programs and resources for teachers and youth because our democracy depends on informed participation by all. As a board member, I am eager to contribute to Teach Democracy's mission and work collaboratively with fellow board members, our community, and stakeholders to make a lasting impact.

Together, we can continue to foster a culture of democratic participation and empowerment.

Home Teach Democracy is a non-profit, non-partisan, community-based organization. Teach Democracy seeks to instill in our nation's youth a deeper understanding of citizenship through values expressed in our Constitution and its Bill of Rights and to educate young people to become active and responsible p...

From our friends at the Federal Reserve as they lowered interest rates by .50%: “The committee has gained greater confidence that inflation is moving sustainably toward 2%, and judges that the risks to achieving its employment and inflation goals are roughly in balance.”

While the rate cut was anticipated, there was conversation about whether it would be .25% or .50%. It's interesting that the Fed took the more aggressive approach. Savers can expect to earn a bit less on their high yield savings accounts. Bond investors will probably see a less inverted yield curve.

Yet another reminder that the economy seldom travels in a straight line. At Sentinel Bridge we help clients build and implement plans that take that truth into account.

My, how things change! Where were you on March 21st, 2009?

In Milwaukee for field committee meetings and reminded again of power of our partnership with Northwestern Mutual. Northwestern's commitment to co-creating strategies and processes along with their advisory teams is no small part of how Sentinel Bridge is able to bring relevant, effective, and high value planning to our clients.

I have to pay them extra to smile.

Three days worth of horrendous "Remember the Alamo" jokes culminated right when this picture was taken, as that unnecessarily tall guy in the middle goes, "Guys, I'm going to remember this forever 🥰"

If you find groundhogs' weather predicting skills questionable, just wait until we get to economists and predicting recessions.
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A Roth IRA can be a great retirement savings tool thanks to its tax benefits. But there are rules you need to be aware of. If you’d like a second look at your plan, please reach out.

Roth IRA Contribution Limits 2024 There are limits to how much you can contribute to your Roth IRA each year.

Happy New Year! We have some good news to ring in 2024 - according to our friends over at Morningstar, the safe amount for retirees to withdraw has increased to 4.0%. The safe withdrawal percentage is the amount an individual can mathematically withdraw from their retirement account over a 30-year period without fluctuating their portfolio risk. For example, an individual with $1,000,000 can safely withdraw $40,000 a year without creating further risk in their portfolio. An increase from 3.8% in 2022 creates a rare case for us to say, “Thank you, rising interest rates!” To read more from this article, click here: http://spr.ly/6184RYB5m

The good news on rates also drives higher payouts for other secure options regarding retirement income planning. If you want to understand how the latest research might impact your plan, our team of professionals is ready and would love to talk. Visit our website to learn more about our services or to schedule a meeting with one of our advisors: http://spr.ly/6187RYB5U

The Good News on Safe Withdrawal Rates Our annual study suggests that new retirees can spend more from their portfolios.