Let’s talk about something that can feel a little awkward: asking for help with your finances—especially when it comes to planning for retirement. For a lot of people, hiring a financial planner feels like admitting defeat. “Shouldn’t I be able to figure this out on my own?” Maybe. But the truth is, just like you’d hire a contractor to renovate your kitchen or a mechanic to fix your car, there comes a point when bringing in a pro is not just smart—it’s necessary. Here are a few signs it might be time to bring a financial advisor or investment manager…

For ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) families, effective planning transcends financial management. It involves a comprehensive strategy that integrates tax, legal, investment, and philanthropic efforts together with both eldercare for older clients and education for younger clients, into a seamless whole. Unfortunately, many UHNW individuals still experience fragmented planning, as many firms focus narrowly on specific areas like tax mitigation or asset protection without considering the big picture. Holistic planning can serve as a game-changer for UHNW families, offering a unified approach to wealth management. The Essence of Holistic Planning Holistic planning isn’t just about ticking boxes on a checklist; it is about…

Despite some pundits being quite convinced that US fiscal policy or the end of American exceptionalism is the reason for the recent rise in US Treasury yields, Buffalo Springfield was closer to reality when they sang, “Something’s happening here, What it is ain’t exactly clear.” It is not disputed that 10-year US Treasury yields are 52 basis points (0.52%) higher since the 2025 low of 3.99% on April 4. Using US Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) data, expected higher inflation accounted for 15 basis points, while the remaining 37 are from a higher real (after-inflation) return. Notably, yields were at their…

Berkshire Hathaway is known for buying value stocks. That’s the idea behind the Warren Buffett-founded firm with the famous long-term track record of success. The near-term is not a concern as long as the underlying valuation is determined to be worth an investment. Just for the record, though, it’s probably good to know how the stocks are doing from the standpoint of strict price chart analysis. Without referencing the price-earnings ratio or other such fundamental metrics, how has the company been trading? It doesn’t hurt to find out and certainly provides a unique perspective. Berkshire Hathaway’s biggest positions: the price…

Part of your legacy planning process is deciding whether you want to leave more than money and property to your loved ones and, if so, the best ways to do that. More and more people are interested in looking beyond finances to leave their heirs something meaningful and intangible. The Covid-19 pandemic seemed to accelerate the trend. There are many options available. You can pass on values, philosophy, family history, and other insights to your children and grandchildren. Some people simply want to make a final expression of love and gratitude to family members and perhaps to others. The long-established…

Financial Planning: No One-Size-Fits-All Approach Financial planning can often feel overwhelming and complex. There’s rarely a one-size-fits-all solution because everyone’s financial journey is deeply personal. Goals, priorities, and the costs associated with them vary widely from person to person. For example, one retiree might dream of traveling the world, while another might look forward to spending more time with grandchildren. There’s no right or wrong vision for retirement. The key is recognizing what an ideal future looks like as early as possible—because the sooner it’s defined, the easier it becomes to plan for it. Introducing the 25x Formula One of…

Social Security’s been in the news a lot lately. Changes definitely are afoot in the program, and more are likely to come. But there have been many rumors and allegations that aren’t accurate. Early this year the Department of Government Efficiency announced that 10 Social Security offices would be closed and some employees would be laid off. Former Commissioner Martin O’Malley responded by stating that there would be a “total system collapse” and the Trump administration was “taking a wrecking ball to Social Security.” He also forecast that there would be interruptions in benefit payments. These were O’Malley’s opinions and…

Deals are falling apart as the SBA is set to tighten loan rules in the name of safer lending–and restricting foreign ownership. The Trump Administration’s Small Business Administration is hitting rewind, bringing back old (pre-Biden) standards in an effort, it says, to make SBA-backed loans safer for the government. But some of the new rules, which kick in on June 1, are stricter than they were during Trump’s first term. One, for example, requires any business getting an SBA-backed loan to be 100% (up from 51%) owned by U.S. citizens and those who have been permanent residents for at least…

In the world of financial planning, few strategies have garnered as much attention and intrigue as the “Thiel Strategy.” Named after Peter Thiel, the co-founder of PayPal, this approach leverages the unique tax advantages of Roth IRAs by investing in high-growth, illiquid assets like startup equity. The essence of the strategy lies in funding a Roth IRA with assets that, while initially undervalued, such as founder’s stock, have the potential to appreciate significantly over time. In doing so, investors can potentially generate substantial tax-free wealth within their retirement accounts. Understanding the Thiel Roth IRA The core of the Thiel Strategy…

The gold stock ETFs and the silver stock ETFs have dropped from this year’s highs but they’re still up from this time last year. That Costco is now limiting customers to one purchase of a gold bar rather than two is some real background: the expectation remains that tariff-related inflation will lead to higher precious metals prices. Although President Trump is now telling Walmart to “eat the tariffs,” investors concerned with his on again/off again approach may find uncertainty uncomfortable. That it may be an “intentional negotiating strategy” is subject to debate but gold and silver, the classic inflation hedges,…