Captain’s Log

Spring Cleaning Your Finances: Decluttering and Organizing for a Stronger Year

March 1, 2026

Spring is the season of fresh starts. As you clean out closets, organize your garage, and open windows to let in fresh air, don’t forget one area that could benefit just as much from a reset — your finances. A financial spring cleaning gives you a chance to refocus your strategy, eliminate unnecessary clutter, and…

Things To Consider When You Consider A Second Home

August 24, 2023

One of the most rewarding parts of my work as a financial advisor is watching people go from uncertainty about their future to confidence in their future. In the transformation,…

What You May Be Missing by Getting a Large Refund

August 24, 2023

You can always tell when it’s tax season. For me, it’s the notable change in advertising messages that go out. Retailers begin asking consumers to consider making a large purchase…

Grandparents Raising Grandkids: Things to Consider

August 24, 2023

Parenthood is hard! But that truth makes grandparenting a joy for so many. I’ve heard many grandparents in my office talk about the joys of being a grandparent, while citing…

Ready, Set, Retire: Is Your Small Business Mandate-Ready for the November Retirement Plan Deadline?

August 2, 2023

If you’re a small business owner and you don’t have an employee retirement plan, the clock is ticking… Effective November 1, 2023, Illinois will require employers with 5-15 employees to…

3rd Quarter 2023 Newsletter

August 1, 2023

July’s Captain’s Log A growing trend in our industry is that more and more people are having their wealth professionally managed! A Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) is a firm that…

5 Summer Savings Tips to Not Burn Your Budget While Traveling this Summer

July 5, 2023

Summer is a season filled with wanderlust and adventure, but it’s also a time when expenses can quickly add up, leaving your budget far behind. However, with a little planning…

2nd Quarter 2023 Newsletter

April 3, 2023

SECURE 2.0 Brings A Little Confusion And A Lot of Opportunity In the twilight of 2022, while you were doing some last-second Christmas shopping and loosely starting to form your…

Where is The Market Heading in 2023?

March 22, 2023

2023 is the year of the rabbit, but for investors, it should be considered the year of the tortoise. The lesson of the classic Aesop fable may ring true more…

The importance of Updating Your Financial Plan Each Year

January 23, 2023

New Year’s resolutions look different for everyone, but they all have the same goal: to make sure this year’s version of you is improved in some way over last year’s.…

I’m Unexpectedly Retired, Now What?

January 9, 2023

I’ve committed my career to helping people plan for retirement. During the planning phase, I help individuals imagine their ideal retirement scenario and then create a comprehensive financial plan that…

1st Quarter 2023 Newsletter

January 2, 2023

Optimism And Pessimism Require The Same Amount Of Energy. Choose Wisely It’s the time of year when I traditionally write an article about goal setting and how to make this…

Wealth Transfer: Shifting Assets Through Beneficiaries, Trusts, Succession Planning And The Tax Implications.

December 15, 2022

Parents are masterful at assessing the potential consequences associated with giving a gift. Gifting your child a baseball bat increases the likelihood of a broken window, gifting a child a…