FINANCIaL
FIELd NOTES
Tax-Efficiently Diversifying from a Concentrated Stock Position
I recently met with a couple whose net worth was more than 75% tied up in a single stock. They both were employees of the same company and had received stock options as part of their compensation. The stock price had gone up substantially in a few short years, and they had never sold a single share.
While it’s a good problem to have, they were very concerned about what to do now…
How to Calculate an Accurate Retirement Budget
During the first year working with a new client one of the most important parts of the planning process for pre-retirees is stress testing the retirement budget. I've learned from trial and error that the budget shifts, sometimes dramatically, in retirement…
The Future of Social Security (2025 edition)
Will there be anything left when I retire? Will my benefits get cut? These are some of the most frequent questions I get when it comes to someone’s retirement plan. And the media loves to talk about the Social Security problems.
Fortunately, there is data to answer these questions. Every year the Board of Trustees for Social Security reviews the financial status of the trust fund that pays out Social Security benefits. Recently, the board released its 2025 report, and below is my summary…
What I'm Teaching My 8-Year-Old About Money
Zeke turned 8 this summer, and I feel like we’re entering a whole new stage. He’s taller, faster, and somehow already negotiating with me like a mini attorney. Also, here’s Wyatt ( 3), not learning a whole lot about money, but too cute not to share!
The Stock Market Isn’t as Random as It Looks
If you log into your financial accounts every day, the stock market will feel quite random. Up, down, sideways, and completely unpredictable. You have about a 50/50 chance of seeing red on any given day, 47% to be exact.
There are about 250 trading days in a normal calendar year, which means that for 125 days every year, you will log in and see that your investments are down. Even the most resilient investor will feel the weight of that…
Health Insurance Before Medicare – Private vs. ACA Plans
For many retirees, the insurance gap between retiring and becoming eligible for Medicare at age 65 can feel like a mystery. There’s a lot of misconceptions about what is available and the costs. The two most common options include -
1. ACA Marketplace plans, and
2. Private (off-exchange) plans.
Each comes with trade-offs in cost, flexibility, and coverage…