Tomren & Sullivan Wealth Management

10/09/2026

RMDs are often treated like paperwork. In reality, they can affect taxes, Medicare costs, charitable giving, and cash flow.

A required minimum distribution is the minimum amount that must be distributed from certain retirement accounts each year once required.

📈 It increases your taxable income whether you need the cash or not, which is why the impact often catches people off guard.

🗳️ The common mistakes tend to follow a pattern: waiting too long, missing important details, overlooking withholding, or failing to connect the RMD to the overall financial plan. The best planning starts early, often years before large RMDs even begin.

💸 There is also opportunity here. RMDs can be coordinated with charitable giving, tax bracket management, withholding strategies, and cash flow planning.

The bigger point is that an RMD is not just a rule to satisfy. It is part of a larger tax and income puzzle.

10/08/2026

Want to feel more confident about where your money is going?

Our partners Michael Tomren and Brian Sullivan are leading a two-evening personal finance course in San Ramon starting next week. It’s a relaxed classroom setting covering everything from wealth planning and tax-advantaged accounts to investment and risk management strategies.

🗓️ Tuesdays, Oct 13 & 20
🗓️ Thursdays, Oct 15 & 22
⏰ 6:00 to 9:00 PM
📍 UC Davis School of Management, 12647 Alcosta Blvd, Suite 190, San Ramon
💲 $49 per seat

Your seat includes a course textbook and an optional 1-hour complimentary consultation. Bring a guest at no additional cost.

Seats are limited. Reserve yours here:
🔗 https://tinyurl.com/47y4e252
Course ID: 643QT1

10/08/2026

On October 17, our team is lacing up for the Walk to End Alzheimer's at Bishop Ranch in San Ramon. 💜

Alzheimer's touches so many families, including many of the clients and friends we work with every day. We're proud to walk alongside our community to raise awareness and support for care, research, and the people living with this disease.

We'd love for you to join us, whether that's walking with our team or making a donation.

Join our team or donate here: https://act.alz.org/goto/tomrensullivanwm

📅 Saturday, October 17
📍 Bishop Ranch, San Ramon
🕗 Registration 8:00 AM | Ceremony 9:30 AM | Walk 10:00 AM

10/07/2026

What's one financial decision that's helped you feel more prepared for the future?

For many of the people we work with, it isn't a single investment or product. It's taking the time to build an overall strategy.

🗓️ October is Financial Planning Month, a reminder to look at how all the pieces fit together, from investments and retirement to providing for the people you love while staying flexible as life changes.

💡 Whether you're updating your plan or creating one for the first time, it's never too late to start.

10/05/2026

Money decisions get easier when you understand the "why" behind them.

Our partners Michael Tomren and Brian Sullivan are leading a two-evening personal finance course in San Ramon. It's a relaxed classroom setting built for people who want to feel more confident about where their money is going and how it can work harder for them.

Over six hours, you'll cover:
📘 Life and wealth planning
📘 Barriers to building wealth
📘 Tax-advantaged accounts and investment vehicles
📘 Managing family finances
📘 Investment and risk management strategies

Pick the schedule that fits your week:
🗓️ Tuesdays, Oct 13 & 20
🗓️ Thursdays, Oct 15 & 22
⏰ 6:00 to 9:00 PM each evening
📍 UC Davis School of Management: 12647 Alcosta Blvd, Suite 190, San Ramon
💲 $49 per seat

Seats are limited. Reserve yours here:
🔗: https://www.rsvp.courses/Register/AttendeeInfo/643QT1?x=da4dacd3-66b3-47a6-83c2-c39b73b34f28&mailOrderVisitID=3881589&force=True&fmtForce=False&utm_campaign=FMT-22649&utm_source=RSVP&utm_medium=Brochure&utm_content=WCT%20Modern
Course ID: 643QT1

Your seat includes a course textbook and an optional complimentary 1-hour consultation. Bring a spouse, partner, or guest at no additional cost.

When was the last time you learned something that truly made a positive impact in your financial life? Did it come from a trendy self-help book? A viral social media share? Most people learn about personal finance through observing how their friends and family manage their money. When was the last t...

10/05/2026

Cyber criminals pay extra attention to accounts tied to money.

According to the FBI, the average elder fraud victim lost $38,500 in 2026, and more than 12,400 victims lost over $100,000 each.

A few habits worth adopting this month:

🔐 Turn on multi-factor authentication: CISA reports it makes accounts about 99% less likely to be compromised.
🔐 Use a unique password for every account.
🔐 Pause before clicking: Phishing is the most reported cybercrime in the country.
🔐 Set up account alerts and review statements: Small issues are easier to fix when caught early.
🔐 Freeze your credit if you're not applying for new credit.

You don't need to be a security expert. Pick one or two you've been putting off and tackle them this week.

10/02/2026

Money decisions get easier when you understand the "why" behind them.

Our partners Michael Tomren and Brian Sullivan are leading a two-evening personal finance course in San Ramon. It's a relaxed classroom setting built for people who want to feel more confident about where their money is going and how it can work harder for them.

Over six hours, you'll cover:
📘 Life and wealth planning
📘 Barriers to building wealth
📘 Tax-advantaged accounts and investment vehicles
📘 Managing family finances
📘 Investment and risk management strategies

Pick the schedule that fits your week:
🗓️ Tuesdays, Oct 13 & 20
🗓️ Thursdays, Oct 15 & 22
⏰ 6:00 to 9:00 PM each evening
📍 UC Davis School of Management: 12647 Alcosta Blvd, Suite 190, San Ramon
💲 $49 per seat

Seats are limited. Reserve yours here:
🔗: rsvp.courses/643QT1
Course ID: 643QT1

Your seat includes a course textbook and an optional complimentary 1-hour consultation. Bring a spouse, partner, or guest at no additional cost.

10/02/2026

In retirement, not all dollars are equal. The order in which you draw from accounts can affect taxes, flexibility, and legacy outcomes.

📃 Many retirees pull from whichever account feels most convenient, which can create avoidable tax friction over time.

🖼️ Taxable accounts, IRAs, and Roth accounts are all treated differently and the sequence can shape your lifetime tax picture.

There is no one size fits all answer here. The right approach depends on income needs, tax bracket, estate goals, RMD exposure, and Medicare considerations.

A coordinated withdrawal strategy can help manage taxes, preserve options, and reduce surprises later. The smartest strategy often improves the next 10 to 20 years, not merely the current year.

09/30/2026

Most donors still write a check to their favorite charity. But if you're holding appreciated stock, that might not be the smartest way to give.

When you contribute appreciated securities directly to a donor-advised fund (DAF), you can manage capital gains tax on the gain and perhaps deduct the full fair market value.

The charity receives the full amount. Nothing is lost to taxes in between.

From there, you decide when and where the money goes. Grants can go to any eligible nonprofit on your own timeline, while the funds stay invested and have the potential to grow.

💡 If giving is part of your strategy, how you give matters as much as how much you give.
💡 If a DAF sounds interesting, ask your financial professional to loop in your tax, legal, or accounting team.

09/28/2026

Last chance to join us for our second 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer's session, presented in partnership with the Alzheimer's Association!

The session takes place tomorrow, Tuesday, September 29th, from 10:30am to 12pm at our San Ramon office. This complimentary talk covers how to recognize changes in memory and where to find support for you and your loved ones.

Friends and family are always welcome.

Save your spot here: https://tr.ee/QVGN6p