Posts in Financial Planning
Remember to Take Full Advantage of your 401(k) Plan!

Employer-sponsored retirement plans such as 401(k)s are some of the most powerful retirement savings tools available. If your employer offers such a plan, we would strongly recommend you consider participating.

 

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Swimming Your Way to Financial Success

The principles of efficiency, consistency, and composure bind swimming and financial success together. In both, it’s not about how hard you work, but how smartly you move forward.

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A First Look at Tax Updates in the "Big, Beautiful Bill"

On July 4th, 2025 the “big, beautiful bill” was signed into law.  There are many changes/updates included in the new law from taxation and spending to national defense.  While there are many opinions regarding the costs and benefits of the new law, we wanted to take time to outline the provisions that directly relate to our clients and their taxes. 

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Understanding Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) Rules

Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) have been around for many years.  Over the past few years, updates have been made via Secure Act 1.0 and Secure Act 2.0 so we wanted to provide a reminder and update on how the current rule works. 

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May 2025 Market Update and FAQs Webinar

During this webinar, Dave and Chip share their perspective on the current economic landscape and financial markets. They cover timely topics such as tariffs, interest rates, market valuations, and the outlook for domestic versus international investments. They also address some of the most common questions clients are asking right now—providing clarity and context to help you stay informed.

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Navigating Asset Allocation Decisions through Market Cycles

We frequently speak with clients about their asset allocation—especially during periods of significant market movement. These conversations often revolve around the desire to increase equity exposure when markets are rising and reduce it when markets are falling. While this instinct is understandable, a visual representation can often help illustrate why market timing is rarely a successful long-term strategy.

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Understanding the Cost of Medicare and IRMAA Rules

Did you know that your monthly Medicare cost adjusts based on your income?  While most retirees may know this, many pre-retirees do not. It is important for those who are not receiving Medicare benefits yet to understand the rules so that financial planning decisions can be made ahead of time to reduce or avoid the impact of this additional expense.

 

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Do you worry about your finances? You are not alone!

Over the years working with worried clients it has become obvious that going through the financial planning process and reviewing existing plans in the context of a changing financial environment helps alleviate worries.

 

 

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Training Your Mind for a Clearer, More Confident Future

Just like you can train your body to be stronger, you can train your mind to focus in a way that promotes clarity and good habits. This skill isn’t just helpful for managing daily stress—it can also be a game-changer when it comes to financial and investment decisions.

 

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Understanding Differences in the “Flations”

Over the past 3 years, the word “inflation” has dominated the headlines. In the current environment, there seems to be some confusion among investors and consumers regarding this term and what is happening. Therefore, we thought it would be a good idea to go over some of the key “flation” terms and clarify what each means and where we are today.

 

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Financial Planning and the Importance of Discipline

For most, achieving financial success isn’t about picking the right stock, saving to the right account, or even finding the perfect advisory firm. Financial success is most often achieved through discipline, intention, and consistency.

 

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How Do You Compare Target Date Funds?

Target Date funds have grown in popularity over the last decade especially inside employer benefit plans such as 401Ks.  On the surface, they all seem to be exactly the same.  First, you pick your fund based on your anticipated retirement date.  Then you let the manager handle the rest – they utilize their glide path and make the portfolio more conservative as you approach retirement.  While true, behind the scenes there are subtle differences that investors should be aware.

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Celebrating 20 Years!

Since 2004, much has changed, but one thing has remained constant: our unwavering commitment to helping our clients. As we’ve matured and experienced life’s ups and downs ourselves, we’ve come to truly appreciate the value of the advice Beacon provides and the difference it makes for our clients.

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Preparing for Rising Tax Rates

The current tax code is set to expire in 2026.  The article shows what has happened with tax rates since 2016 and what is scheduled to happen going forward until 2030. There are some notable changes beginning in 2026.

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