Business owner reviewing the disadvantages and hidden fees of a bundled PEO 401(k) retirement plan.

Professional Employer Organizations (PEOs) can be helpful. They simplify payroll, HR, benefits administration, and compliance, especially for growing companies. Because of that convenience, many business owners assume it also makes sense to use the PEO’s bundled 401(k). In practice, that’s often a mistake. A retirement plan is a long-term commitment

A business owner reviewing compliance and financial documents for a company 401(k) plan.

I review a lot of 401(k) plans for business owners. And here’s the truth most people don’t want to hear:Most of them are technically “fine.”They pass compliance tests. Contributions go in. Statements go out. But financially?They’re often inefficient, outdated, and quietly costing owners tens—or even hundreds—of thousands of dollars over

Real estate investment tax strategy vs financial planning

Most wealthy individuals invest in real estate for one primary reason: taxes. And to be clear, that logic isn’t flawed. Real estate can be an extremely effective tax-planning tool. Depreciation, income deferral, and long-term capital gains treatment can meaningfully improve after-tax outcomes when structured properly. The issue isn’t that people

Chart showing risk and return profile of hybrid securities vs stocks and bonds

Hybrid securities occupy a space between traditional stocks and bonds. These investments combine income producing features of debt with the growth potential of equity. Companies issue hybrid securities to raise capital while maintaining financial flexibility. Common Types: Preferred Stock & Convertible Bonds Preferred stock represents one of the most common

Business owner planning an exit strategy and valuation for 2026 sale

If you’re thinking about selling your business in 2026, the decisions you make before you go to market will matter far more than the deal terms themselves. For most of my career, I’ve helped business owners exit their companies and transition into the next chapter of their lives. More recently,

Chart showing long term market growth vs short term volatility for investors

Financial markets produce a constant stream of headlines that react to daily price movements, economic data, and global events. News cycles and social media amplify this information, creating a sense of urgency that can feel difficult to ignore. However, short term market noise rarely provides useful insight for investors with

Financial advisor discussing the 5 levels of wealth complexity with a client."

Scroll YouTube, TikTok, or Instagram long enough and you’ll find hundreds of videos confidently telling you that you don’t need a financial advisor. After 13 years as a financial advisor, working with everyone from recent graduates to retirees worth $50 million, I can tell you something important: Sometimes they’re right.

Diagram illustrating the Grow, Protect, Preserve framework for building and transferring generational wealth.

“Generational wealth” is one of the most overused phrases in personal finance. Someone receives an inheritance from a grandparent, and suddenly it’s labeled generational wealth. But if we are being precise, most inheritances don’t qualify. The data consistently shows that the average inheritance lasts only one to two generations. That

Rolled-up newspaper with the headline Market News, representing quarterly market updates and financial insights.

Download the Full Q4 2025 Market Report (PDF) As we close out 2025, it is worth pausing to celebrate another strong year of performance and take a moment to realize how unusual this year truly was. I would encourage you to quickly glance at the annual market return slide-deck below