We unpack why most portfolios don’t need frequent changes and how a clear purpose, time horizon, and risk preference do the heavy lifting. We trade “performance reviews” for plan reviews, walk through rebalancing and tax tactics, and explain how to ignore scary headlines and shiny objects.

• setting allocation by purpose, time horizon, and risk
• why daily market moves rarely justify changes
• when not to act at all-time highs or during drops
• the trap of performance chasing and survivorship bias
• practical rebalancing cadence and thresholds
• rebalancing with contributions and withdrawals
• tax loss harvesting limits and wash sale rules
• direct indexing complexity and future tax overhang
• donating appreciated stock to boost tax efficiency
• plan reviews over portfolio performance check-ins

Clicking “same as last year” might be the most expensive choice you make all fall. We break down open enrollment with a practical, no-fluff framework: protect against the big risks, pay cash for the small ones, and route every eligible dollar through the most tax-efficient account. From health insurance trade-offs to the truth about dental and vision, you’ll get clear guidance you can act on today.

We discuss:

• what open enrollment includes across employer plans, Medicare and ACA
• how to compare health plans using usage, networks and drug coverage
• when HDHPs plus HSAs beat rich PPOs on total cost
• why out-of-pocket maximums change worst-case math
• dental and vision as prepaid maintenance, not true insurance
• group life as a baseline, private term for portability and price
• disability insurance trade-offs, taxation and own-occupation definitions
• which add-ons to skip and when FSAs are a clear win
• coordinating benefits and costs across two employers
• quick notes on Medicare Advantage and Part D review

While it may seem obvious, having kids drastically changes your financial plan. This episode will cover some of the obvious and less obvious changes and give you practical ways to think about making the tradeoffs you will have to make. Topics covered include:

• Budgeting for kids before having them
• The Kindergarten myth
• If childcare eats one salary, should someone step back?
• Putting your own oxygen mask on first (balancing retirement vs education savings)
• The most important estate planning decisions you need to make sooner rather than later
• How the tax code typically helps parents out
• And much more!

After a brief summer hiatus, we're diving into the newly passed One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBA) to unpack what these changes actually mean for your financial planning.

The good news? Many of the lower tax rates you've enjoyed since 2017 are now permanent (or at least until some future Congress changes them). But beyond that headline, there are several meaningful changes worth understanding – especially if you're over 65, live in a high-tax state, make charitable contributions, or have substantial wealth to transfer to the next generation.

We break down the new "Senior Bonus" exemption that provides $6,000 in tax relief for those 65 and older, explain how the SALT deduction cap increases from $10,000 to $40,000 for itemizers, and explore new rules for charitable giving that benefit both itemizers and non-itemizers alike. For higher-net-worth individuals, we clarify how the estate tax exemption increases to $15 million per person and what that means for your legacy planning.

While some provisions are genuinely helpful, others come with important limitations – income thresholds where benefits phase out, sunset dates when provisions expire, and trade-offs that might affect your healthcare costs. We cut through the confusion of this 870-page legislation to highlight what matters most for your personal situation.

Most importantly, we discuss practical implications: What actions should you consider taking now? How might these changes affect your tax planning for the next several years? And how should you think about the inevitable future changes to come? Join us for this essential conversation about protecting and optimizing your financial future in light of America's ever-evolving tax code.

Colin's article we discuss: https://www.oakleighwealth.com/articles/obbba?rq=beauty

Retirement planning requires understanding three major tax landmines that can derail your financial strategy: Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs), the widow's penalty, and beneficiary taxes.

• RMDs are mandatory withdrawals from tax-deferred accounts starting at age 73 (increasing to 75 in the future)
• The percentage of your account that must be withdrawn increases with age, potentially pushing you into higher tax brackets
• The "widow's penalty" refers to the compressed tax brackets when filing as single rather than married filing jointly
• Beneficiaries typically have 10 years to empty inherited retirement accounts, which can create significant tax burden
• Roth conversions during lower-income years can significantly reduce future tax obligations
• Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) allow donations directly from IRAs to satisfy RMD requirements without increasing taxable income
• When passing on wealth, Roth accounts are most tax-efficient, followed by taxable accounts with stepped-up basis, with pre-tax accounts being least efficient
• Opportunistic planning during market downturns can enhance tax-saving strategies
• Taking a year-by-year approach to tax planning while maintaining awareness of these landmines can save substantial money

Read Colin's article on retirement tax landmines here.

Financial projections can be both helpful and misleading when planning your financial future. While they provide valuable insights into potential outcomes, they shouldn't be taken as literal predictions of what will happen.

• Your financial life consists of: money in, money out, growth over time, taxes, and inflation. All financial projections are just projecting these variables
• Monte Carlo simulations introduce randomness to account for market volatility and create a range of possible outcomes
• More variables in a projection create more opportunities for error, not necessarily more accuracy
• The real value comes from understanding sensitivities – which factors significantly impact your financial future
• "Probability of success" metrics can be misleading since they don't distinguish between barely succeeding and wildly succeeding
• Financial plans should include predetermined adjustment triggers or "guardrails" that specify when and how to adapt
• For retirees, projections help answer "how much can I spend?" while younger clients benefit more from simple savings calculations
• Regular updates are essential as your financial situation evolves and market conditions change
• Control what you can (savings, investment allocation, insurance) and be prepared to adjust as life unfolds
• Remember: "All models are wrong, but some models are useful"

Navigating the complexities of Social Security can feel overwhelming, but understanding the fundamentals is crucial to maximizing your retirement security. In this detailed exploration, we break down how Social Security benefits are calculated, when to claim them, and strategies for optimizing your lifetime benefits.

At its core, Social Security functions like a government pension, providing income that lasts throughout your retirement. Your benefit amount depends on two primary factors: how much you've earned and paid into the system throughout your career (specifically your 35 highest-earning years), and when you choose to begin receiving benefits. While you can start as early as 62, delaying until your full retirement age (currently 67 for most people) or even up to age 70 results in substantially higher monthly payments.

We tackle the million-dollar question: when should you claim? The answer hinges largely on life expectancy, with the break-even age hovering around 81-82 years. Live longer than that, and delaying generally pays off significantly. For married couples, the calculus becomes even more nuanced with spousal and survivor benefits entering the equation. The higher earner should consider their claiming strategy based not on their own life expectancy, but on the expected lifespan of the last surviving spouse.

Many listeners worry about Social Security's future, with the Trust Fund projected to be depleted around 2033-2035. We explain why this doesn't mean benefits will vanish – even without changes, the system would still pay about 80% of promised benefits from current payroll taxes. Historically, reforms have always protected those at or near retirement age, making "claim it while you can" strategies unnecessary for those approaching retirement.

Whether you're decades from retirement or making claiming decisions now, this episode provides the framework to understand how Social Security fits into your broader financial picture. Remember: your Social Security statement assumes you'll continue earning at your current level until full retirement age, so early retirement plans should account for potentially lower benefits than projected.

Ready to make smarter decisions about this valuable retirement resource? Listen now to gain clarity on one of retirement planning's most consequential choices, and discover why timing is everything when it comes to maximizing your Social Security benefits.

Understanding Medicare requires navigating complex options, deadlines, and potential pitfalls that can impact healthcare coverage for decades. Insurance broker Margo Steinlage shares expert insights to help individuals approaching retirement make informed Medicare decisions that account for both current and future healthcare needs.

• Medicare enrollment decisions should begin 12-18 months before turning 65
• Medicare is required at 65 unless covered by an active large employer plan (20+ employees)
• Original Medicare covers approximately 80% of costs with no cap on the remaining 20%
• Two main pathways: Medicare with Supplement (maximum flexibility) or Medicare Advantage (network restrictions)
• Initial Medicare decisions have long-term implications due to medical underwriting requirements
• Supplements offer nationwide coverage but higher premiums than Advantage plans
• Advantage plans often have zero premiums but restrict provider networks and require pre-authorizations
• Moving from an Advantage plan to a Supplement becomes difficult after initial enrollment period
• Plan features and costs can change significantly year-to-year, especially with Advantage plans
• Working with an independent Medicare broker provides comprehensive support at no additional cost

Contact Margo at margo@steinlageinsurance.com for personalized Medicare guidance for your specific situation.