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Thursday, April 23, 2026

From a planning standpoint, overfunding a 529 is often better than underfunding it. An overfunded account creates flexibility and optionality, especially when paired with scholarships or changing education paths.

Tuesday, March 31, 2026

Explore IRS 72(t) SEPP rules plus practical withdrawal strategies to create early retirement income while managing taxes, risk, and flexibility.

Tuesday, March 17, 2026

Aspire Holistic Financial Planning is our process designed to provide a comprehensive framework for individuals and businesses to help achieve their financial goals.

Tuesday, March 17, 2026

What Is an Apple Legacy Contact? Most of us store a huge part of our lives on our iPhones — photos, messages, notes, health records, and so much more. Make sure your family has access to those memories.

Friday, February 27, 2026

Every few years, a new savings idea comes along that gets a lot of headlines and a lot of confusion. The “Trump Account” is one of those. You might have heard it described as “free money for kids”.

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Wednesday, February 25, 2026

It is clear that the published “sticker price” of a college is a starting point, not the price most families actually pay. The number that really matters is the cost of attendance and a good plan around funding that cost.

Wednesday, January 28, 2026

Roth conversions in early retirement are not a simple tax play. They are a system of decisions that potentially impacts healthcare costs, capital gains, college funding, Medicare premiums, and future Social Security taxation.

Sunday, January 25, 2026

IGNITE Retirement is about living with intention, embracing growth, nurturing relationships, impacting communities, trying new experiences, and evolving our plans to create a fulfilling and dynamic future. 

Saturday, January 24, 2026

Clear Harbor Financial Planning is structured to service the small business owner’s personal and business finances by combining CULTIVATE with our ASPIRE planning process

Monday, January 12, 2026

Scholarships and strategies like early-middle college are one answer, but this strategy is different. This article is about putting together a plan that thoughtfully stacks decisions early and intentionally in high school. 

Wednesday, January 7, 2026

Artificial intelligence has changed how we learn, work, and solve problems. So, it’s fair for families to ask a question that once felt uncomfortable: Should we still be paying full college tuition for introductory learning?

Friday, December 12, 2025

If you’ve ever watched South Park, you might remember a classic episode where the characters ask, “What’s your nut?”  - meaning: What’s the minimum amount you need to survive?

Thursday, December 4, 2025

Some data says retiring later is linked to a longer life. Other data has been used to claim that retiring later actually makes you die sooner. Let’s untangle what’s real, what’s myth, and what actually matters for your

Friday, November 28, 2025

Why the Differences Matter More Than Ever. In a 60/40 portfolio, most investors think of the 40 as “bonds” and consider it as one single category of safety. For most, the 40% is actually bond funds. There are alternatives.

Friday, November 21, 2025

New 401(k) contribution limits and rule changes for 2026, and they’re some of the most meaningful adjustments we’ve seen in years. For many families, these changes create both opportunity and complexity.

Monday, November 10, 2025

Artificial Intelligence has sparked one of the biggest investment booms since the internet and smartphones. AI is powerful. It’s also concentrated the market. It is important that investors understand their exposure.

Friday, October 31, 2025

Traditional financial planning often focuses on numbers, charts, and performance metrics. But true success comes from aligning money with meaning — creating a strategy that supports the life you want to live, not just the returns you want.

Wednesday, October 8, 2025

The Hidden Retirement Risk Few People Talk About: Sequence of Returns : Most people plan for retirement based on average annual returns. But here's the truth: it's not just how much your investments return, but when they return it...

Wednesday, October 1, 2025

Is that advisor working for you—or for the hospital’s plan provider?

Friday, September 26, 2025

Financial planning for higher education is extremely important and often comes at a tradeoff with retirement planning.  While doing research for my clients and creating models in their financial plan, here are some of my takeaways.  

Thursday, September 18, 2025

Baseball cards and cryptocurrency couldn’t be more different. One is a cardboard collectible tied to America’s pastime, the other a digital asset powered by blockchain. Yet both reveal striking lessons about speculation, value, and risk.

Friday, September 5, 2025

As life expectancy increases, longevity risk can become an important factor in planning for retirement, wealth transfer, and long-term asset management. For High-Net-Worth Individuals (HNWIs), this risk can require meticulous planning.

Friday, September 5, 2025

If you are working with a traditional financial planner who only manages your investments and does not do detailed financial planning, you could be missing a powerful piece of the equation by not including Savings and Budgeting.

Friday, August 29, 2025

Retiring early is exciting, but a 40+ year retirement comes with risks — financial, emotional, and personal. The first step is understanding your financial situation and the moves you need to make with your money.

Monday, August 25, 2025

The 529 Plan remains one of the most effective vehicles for education funding and has become more versatile.  There's a powerful strategy that many overlook: the 5-Year Mega Gift Rule and how it can be used to fund private K-12 Education.