It’s a simple question—but for most people, it’s surprisingly hard to answer with confidence. The reality is this: assets are not automatically protected. Without intentional planning, what you’ve worked so hard to build could be exposed to unnecessary risk. The good news? Many of the most common gaps are fixable—once you know where to look.…
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A while back, Money Magazine asked several successful people a simple question: What’s the smartest financial advice you’ve ever received? One response stood out. Richard Branson, billionaire founder of the Virgin Group, admitted that early in his career he simply didn’t know much about finance—and the best thing he learned was to stay humble about…
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A fellow advisor once shared a story that has always stuck with me. He tried to help his grandmother with her financial and life planning, but she refused. “She insisted that John—her advisor and friend for decades—was doing just fine,” he said. “Besides, she couldn’t imagine taking business away from someone she trusted for so…
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Legendary basketball coach John Wooden once said, “It is what we learn after we know it all that counts.” That quote perfectly captures one of the greatest challenges in retirement planning. As human beings, we like to feel respected and knowledgeable—and we really don’t like being wrong. That feeling often grows stronger as we get…
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As the end of the year approaches, it’s natural to reflect on our financial successes—and to look for smart ways to save on taxes. The clock is ticking, but here are five strategies you may want to consider before year-end. #1… Charitable Giving Opportunities Are Changing The rules around charitable giving are shifting next year.…
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At first glance, this might sound like a rhetorical question — of course things are different! But let me tell you, the answer isn’t as simple as you might think. When I first entered this business back in 2006, retirement planning looked very different. We built every plan by hand — I’m talking budgets, calculators,…
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Have you ever listened to an elite pianist who composes their own music? For years, I was blessed to sit in church on Sundays and experience the magic of one such man, who transformed familiar hymns into something extraordinary. If you’ve ever heard a symphony, concert violinist, or pianist like this, you know the feeling.…
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Your account statement might say you earned 10%, but is that really what you get to keep? Not exactly. Once taxes and inflation step onto the scene, the picture changes—sometimes drastically. For example, let’s say your tax rate is 40% and inflation is 3%. That 10% return suddenly shrinks to an after-tax, real return of…
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Let’s be blunt: Business owners are slightly emotional about their businesses, especially as time approaches for them to step away from control of their business. A lot of blood, sweat, and tears went into building your business – sleepless nights, times you didn’t know if you would make it, and sacrifices you still wonder if…
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I love starting my day with a little time in the Word, and recently I was listening to a sermon that hit me right between the eyes. The pastor asked a simple but powerful question: Where are you getting your advice? It made me pause. Every day, we let different voices shape our thoughts and…
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