Posts in Retiree
View on Market Concentration

Becoming overly concentrated in your portfolio adds an extra amount of risk.  We monitor our portfolios for this and ensure that no one company will determine the ultimate success of our clients’ portfolios. 

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Why Not Target a 4% Income Rate For Retirees’ Portfolios?

At Beacon Financial Strategies, we agree that investments that generate income should be a valuable component of most retiree’s portfolios.  However, we also believe that maintaining a diversified investment approach will enhance returns and reduce risk for most long term investors.  This really proves beneficial during the distribution phase of your life as it provides for income, growth, potential tax efficiency, and flexibility as life changes. 

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2025 New Tax Law Updates: What You Need to Know

Join us for an informative session on the recently signed 2025 tax law and its impact on individuals and families. We’ll cover new provisions, changes to existing rules, and rules that are eliminated. This webinar will help you understand how the new law may affect your taxes and what that means for your financial planning moving forward.

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What Longer Life Expectancies Mean for Retirement Planning

Let’s face it, seniors today have access to improved medical care and are healthier, more active and are likely to have longer lives.  So what are the financial implications for retirees who will likely live well into their 80s and possibly their 90s? 

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A First Look at Tax Updates in the New Law

On July 4th, 2025 the new tax and spending 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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Finance in a Flash: Inflation

 Inflation has been a hot topic in financial news over the past few years, but what does it really mean for consumers and investors? In this episode of Finance in a Flash, John and Dave take a step back to break down inflation—what it is, why it matters, and how it can impact your purchasing power and investment strategy.  

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Finance in a Flash: Get To Know Beacon: Dave Trettel

On this episode of Finance in a Flash, John sits down with Beacon’s newest team member, Dave Trettel. Tune in to learn more about Dave as he shares insights into his personal life, his professional journey in financial planning, and his experiences since joining the Beacon team.  We hope you enjoy getting to know Dave!

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