Estate Planning: A Gift to Your Loved Ones
An estate plan is a gift to your loved ones. In this blog, Stacie outlines the key documents everyone should have in place—and why they matter.
2025 Estate Planning: Tax Updates, Key Documents, & Important Conversations | Financial Perspectives
This month, Ashlee Vieregger joins Kent Kramer to explore how the new tax law could impact your estate plans. Learn about the new $15M exemption, charitable giving changes, essential documents, and why talking to your family about your plans matters more than ever.
Chart of the Month – July 2025
Wealth doesn’t just grow—it’s built over time, shaped by good habits, smart choices, and life’s ups and downs. In this blog, we take a closer look at the generations of wealth and why intentional estate planning matters now more than ever.
Confidence Through Conversation: Three Key Questions for Nonprofits, Families, and Women
There is a common thread running through the key decisions that we make - everyone wants confidence that they're making the right financial decisions with their resources. In this blog, Ashlee shares three key questions she uses to help bridge that confidence gap and spark open, meaningful conversations.
Why the Market’s Volatility Is Different This Time…and The Same. What You Should Expect.
Kent Kramer tackles the question, 'Is it different this time?' by analyzing what’s different and what's the same in market downturns. He discusses historical market declines, the catalysts behind them, and the importance of maintaining long-term optimism despite short-term volatility.
5 Market Downturns and the Surprising Lessons We Learned | Financial Perspectives
This month, Kent Kramer tackles the question, 'Is it different this time?' by analyzing what’s different and what's the same in market downturns. He discusses historical market declines, the catalysts behind them, and the importance of maintaining long-term optimism despite short-term volatility.
All-Weather Investing: Preparing Your Portfolio for Any Market
Summer travel reminds us that even the best-laid plans can run into unexpected storms. The same is true for investing—your portfolio should be prepared to weather whatever the market forecast brings. Let’s take a look at how to help you stay on course.
Teaching — and Learning from — Our Kids: What Kind of Spender Are You?
As a financial planner and a parent who didn’t grow up with the benefit of family financial literacy, I’m always looking for creative ways to teach my kids about money. Read more to see how a simple family trip revealed three unique spending styles.
How Much Income Do I Need in Retirement? | Financial Perspectives
How much will you really need in retirement? And how do you make it last? This month, Kent Kramer and Marcus Iwig discuss forecasting expenses, managing investments for income, and handling life's curveballs in retirement.
Am I OK? Building Income Safety Into Your Portfolio
Market periods like these have a way of making virtually everyone ask the questions, "Am I okay? Is my financial plan going to survive these latest seismic events?" Kent Kramer looks at historical worst-case scenarios and how they could be used to inform your financial plan.
Chart of the Month – May 2025
When it comes to future performance, you don’t always get what you pay for. Let’s take a closer look.
How to Use the Dollars: Building Your Income Stream
Retirement is exciting—but having a well-thought-out distribution strategy could help ensure your money lasts. Let’s explore the key considerations for crafting a smart plan that works for you.
Creating Your Paycheck in Retirement
What’s your plan to create a paycheck in retirement? In this blog, we’ll break down a few key ways to bridge the income gap that retirement can bring.
Harnessing Optimism
Want to live a longer, healthier, and happier life? Research shows that optimism isn’t just wishful thinking—it can be a powerful strategy for resilience and progress. Read to discover why optimism matters and how you can cultivate it in your own life.
What I Learned About Celebrating the Gap
Success isn’t about perfection—it’s about progress. By celebrating small wins and adapting to life’s changes, we can stay motivated and turn our goals into reality. Read on to discover how shifting your perspective could lead to a more fulfilling journey.
Chart of the Month – April 2025
Are bonds an income generator—or just dead weight? Let’s find out.
“Am I Ok?” Income Planning & Portfolio Preparedness | Financial Perspectives
Market periods like these have a way of making virtually everyone ask the questions, "Am I okay? Is my financial plan going to survive these latest seismic events?" This week, Kent Kramer looks at historical worst-case scenarios and how they could be used to inform your financial plan.
Generosity in Action: Q&A with Change Course
You don't have to be an optimist to know that you can squeeze a lot of happiness out of a springtime mini vacation in the city of big shoulders!
Your Money Should Make You Happy – Does It?
What role does money play in your life? Is it possible that your financial plan could be “bulletproof”… but also “joy-proof”? Discover how shifting your mindset can lead to greater meaning, freedom, and fun.
Tariffs, Turmoil, and Market Decline | Financial Perspectives
What's the rationale behind the steep new US tariffs and what does that mean for an investor's portfolio? What can or should we do as investors? In this special edition Financial Perspectives, Kent Kramer covers the announced tariffs, the impact on markets, and the dos and don'ts during market turmoil.