Latest posts four columns

Think about the last five times you went to a restaurant. Were they reservations for fine dining, a weeknight casual dinner, or a quick fast-food stop? Do you remember how satisfied you were with the service? How would you rate the level of service you received? Your impression of service is shaped largely by the...

Occasionally, I run across a real-life scenario that demonstrates a topic that I struggle to describe by just its definition. That happened to me recently in dealing with a new client. We explain to our clients that we don’t accept commissions and will act as their fiduciary in all matters. I think most clients assume...

As the year winds down, it’s the perfect time to take inventory of your financial picture and make strategic decisions to minimize your tax burden. It also makes a lot of sense to put a bow on the hard work you’ve put in throughout the year. Year-end tax planning isn’t just about saving money in...

The month of November is always a busy one for our firm. We’re meeting with clients to discuss pre- and post-election investment strategies, helping clients satisfy their RMDs from their retirement accounts, but mostly meeting with folks to discuss year-end tax planning. We’ve had dozens of meetings in the past few weeks creating 2024 income...

Washington, D.C., is out of control, and something needs to change – fast! Partisan political commentators would have everyone believe that the government will be irreparably starved of resources if we cut taxes. This is simply not true. Federal tax receipts have historically risen year over year, even after tax cuts. The Tax Cuts and...

What a weekend! Back in 2022, I wasn’t sure I’d ever experience a game like UT vs. Alabama again. Then Saturday happened, and it was one of the loudest games I’ve ever been a part of. After years of defeat at the hands of Alabama and Florida, my patience paid off with back-to-back wins over...

In a previous blog post (The Dumbest Investment Ever), Hoy Grimm explored the shifting tides of market speculation, historical crashes, and the dangers that lurk for today’s investors. He highlighted the evolution from the early days of bucket shops in the late 1800s to modern, highly leveraged Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs), which have captivated risk-takers with...

Estate planning involves several tools designed to manage your assets effectively, both during your lifetime and after your passing. One of the most flexible and commonly used tools is a revocable trust, also known as a living trust. This legal arrangement can be a powerful way to protect your assets, maintain control over them, and...

What a Summer we have had with the election fast approaching. Often Estate taxes are not an area that I deal with much as the exemption has been so high. For 2024, the exemption is $13,610,000 per person. That makes your average married couple able to pass along $27,220,000 tax-free to the next generation with...

October is around the corner, so let’s quickly revisit a few memorable stock market events. While September has the worst historical stock performance, investors often remember the 23% drop across two days that culminated on Black Tuesday, October 29, 1929, and the 22.5% one-day drop on Black Monday, October 19, 1987. In the wake of...

Non-Qualified Stock Options, or NQSOs, are a popular form of equity compensation that many companies offer to their employees. Over the years, our team has had multiple clients come to us with questions about how they work, how they’re taxed, and, most importantly, how they can best be managed. So, I thought I’d share some...

Roth conversions are a financial strategy that involves transferring funds from a traditional retirement account, like a Traditional IRA or 401(k), into a Roth IRA. This move can be a smart choice for individuals looking to optimize their retirement savings and reduce future tax liabilities. But like any financial strategy, it’s important to understand the...