Insights
Just found out my credit score is 437.
And honestly… YES! 🙌
That’s a new high. 😂
Then I found out my wife’s is 442.
FIVE. POINTS. AHEAD. OF. ME. 😤😂
So naturally, I started investigating.
Apparently, the one thing flagged on mine goes back to an old student loan situation 10 years ago—around the same time I moved all my banking over to LMCU (at the wife’s request: and which we absolutely love, by the way). And if I remember correctly, it was very shortly after I PAID THEM ENTIRELY OFF.
Coincidence? 🤔
Or did my wife pull off an ingenious plot to maintain her lead in our household credit-score competition?
I’m not saying she did it…
But I’m also not saying she didn’t. 😂
The investigation continues.
Anyone else have a completely ridiculous competition with their spouse? 😂
Looking back at vacation pictures and already wishing we could go back. 😂❤️
The kids probably won’t remember exactly what we spent on the trip. They’ll remember the places we went, the things we did, the laughs we had, and hopefully a few of the moments that made the trip special.
And honestly, that’s one of the things I appreciate about financial planning.
We work hard to earn money, save it, invest it, and plan for the future—but money is ultimately a tool. It can help us create opportunities, experience life together, and make memories with the people who matter most.
That doesn’t mean spending everything today or putting the future on the back burner. It’s about finding a balance between planning for tomorrow and making the most of today.
Saving for retirement. Investing for the long term. Preparing for college. Protecting your family. And yes, maybe setting aside a little for the next family adventure. 🌴✈️
Good financial planning isn’t just about asking, “How much can I save?”
Sometimes it’s also asking:
“What am I saving for?”
For me, a lot of the answer looks like this. ❤️
For important disclosure information, visit thrivent.com/social.
Leaving a Thriving Legacy: Grand Rapids watch party⏰ Only 5 days to go!
Our “Leaving a Thriving Legacy” watch party is coming up at Beer City Bread Co., and there’s still time to join us!
The Bilger Brothers, Thrivent advisors from New York, will be covering retirement distributions, taxes, RMDs, making your money last, wealth transfer, charitable giving, and more—all packed into one great presentation.
If you’ve been meaning to learn more about retirement planning or just want some good information to take away, come join us!
👉 Save your spot here https://www.eventbrite.com/e/leaving-a-thriving-legacy-grand-rapids-watch-party-tickets-1999112939617?utm_experiment=test_share_listing&aff=ebdsshios&sg=43db5e87b2791567142392a76e50f7076c47e2f22312a6d774133556cb8590f0cceb34083142e3bba80d37f88fdb1cda37ba9ac7cf45db23419bdad57353a73bae105012085d2e7febba26ae
Private event — just enter “Andrew invited me” when you register.
For important disclosure information, visit thrivent.com/social.
A little over a month and a half late, but I finally got around to posting our first-day-of-school pictures. 😂
I’d like to say I was waiting for the perfect moment… but honestly, I just forgot to post them. Dad of the year over here. 😂
But looking back at these pictures, it really does hit me how quickly the years are moving.
One day they’re little enough to need you for almost everything. Then suddenly you’re looking at school, activities, college, first cars, weddings, and wondering where the time went.
It’s one reason I think financial planning is about more than numbers.
It’s about giving your future self—and your family—options.
Saving consistently. Investing for the long term. Protecting the income that supports your family. Preparing for the unexpected. And thinking about the goals you have today while recognizing that life will change along the way.
You don’t have to have everything figured out today. But putting a few things in place now can give those future goals something to build on.
Because the days may feel long sometimes, but the years really do fly by.
Invest in the things that matter today. And make thoughtful plans for the people and life you’re building toward tomorrow.
For important disclosure information, visit thrivent.com/social.
One month from now, I’ll be sleeping outside in solidarity with young people experiencing homelessness through the Covenant House Michigan – Grand Rapids Sleep Out. ❤️
I’ve been involved with Covenant House for a while, but recently I had the opportunity to bring more of my Thrivent board members and engagement team out for a tour. It was an incredible day of camaraderie, learning, and serving together. We also volunteered by organizing and preparing clothing in their donation and intake area for the young people coming through their doors.
What continues to stand out to me is how Covenant House relentlessly loves and cares for young people ages 18–24, helping them find hope, stability, and a path toward a better future.
That’s why I’m excited to participate in the Sleep Out.
If you feel led to support our team, even a $5 donation can make a difference. When a lot of people come together with a little, it can make a huge impact.
👉 https://www.sleepout.org/participants/Andrew-Cousino
And if you’re looking for an even more meaningful way to get involved, join us! You can participate individually or start your own team and sleep out in solidarity with these young people. You’ll hear incredible stories, learn more about the mission, and experience a night you won’t forget.
The event I’m participating in is here in Grand Rapids, but Covenant House Michigan’s mission reaches young people across our state.
If you can donate, join us, or simply share this post, thank you. Every bit of support helps Covenant House continue to relentlessly love, serve, and give hope. ❤️
Leaving a Thriving Legacy: Grand Rapids watch partyI’d love to invite you to our upcoming “Leaving a Thriving Legacy” watch party at Beer City Bread Co.!
We’ll be plugging into an informative presentation from the Bilger Brothers, Thrivent advisors from New York, covering a wide range of retirement and legacy-planning topics, including:
• Making your money last in retirement
• Distribution strategies
• Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs)
• Tax strategies
• The SECURE Act
• Wealth transfer & legacy planning
• Charitable giving
…and much more!
It’s a great opportunity to learn, ask questions, and get a glimpse into how Thrivent approaches planning for some of the most important financial decisions that come with retirement and beyond.
If you’ve been curious about Thrivent, have been on the fence about getting a plan started, or simply want some valuable information to think about, I’d love to have you join us.
It’s a private event, so when you register, just put “Andrew invited me” in the registration.
👉 Register here https://www.eventbrite.com/e/leaving-a-thriving-legacy-grand-rapids-watch-party-tickets-1999112939617?utm_experiment=test_share_listing&aff=ebdsshios&sg=43db5e87b2791567142392a76e50f7076c47e2f22312a6d774133556cb8590f0cceb34083142e3bba80d37f88fdb1cda37ba9ac7cf45db23419bdad57353a73bae105012085d2e7febba26ae
Hope to see you there!
For important disclosure information, visit thrivent.com/social.
Last month, I had the opportunity to facilitate a retirement planning workshop at the Georgetown Senior Center focused on a question that comes up for so many people approaching retirement:
How do I make my money last?
With people living longer, retirement planning doesn’t end when the paycheck stops. It becomes a different kind of planning—thinking through how and when to draw income, how taxes may affect those decisions, and how different “buckets” of retirement savings can work together throughout retirement.
What I really enjoyed were the conversations that continued after the workshop. Some people walked away saying, “This is exactly what my advisor has been talking to me about,” while others left with new questions and things they hadn’t considered before.
That’s one of the things I enjoy most about financial planning. Sometimes you don’t need to start over—you just need to take a step back, look at the bigger picture, and make sure the different pieces of your plan are working together.
And retirement planning doesn’t stop at retirement. In many ways, that’s when some of the most important planning begins.
Grateful to the Georgetown Senior Center for having me and to everyone who joined us! Looking forward to our next workshop next week covering more of these issues facing retirees.
For important disclosure information, visit thrivent.com/social.
Is your old 401(k) still the right tool for the job—or is it time to tee up a new look? ⛳
I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to use a picture of the world’s largest golf tee for this one. 😂
When reviewing an old retirement account, I encourage people to look beyond performance alone and ask a few simple questions:
1. Does this account still fit my goals?
2. Am I comfortable with the investment options available to me?
3. Do I have the flexibility I want for future planning opportunities?
4. Is my investment strategy based on my needs—or the limitations of a former employer’s plan?
Sometimes keeping an old 401(k) right where it is makes perfect sense. Other times, consolidating assets and gaining additional flexibility may create new planning opportunities.
The key isn’t simply moving money.
It’s making sure your retirement assets are positioned to support the life you’re building.
So maybe it’s time to tee up a conversation and take a fresh look at that old 401(k). 😉
#RetirementPlanning #FinancialPlanning #401k #IRA #Retirement #Investing #FinancialAdvisor
For important disclosure information, visit thrivent.com/social
A little late sharing this, but somewhere in the middle of summer I hit 100 workouts! 💪
I'm incredibly thankful for my gym family and coaches who continue to keep me accountable, push me toward my goals, and help me stay consistent. Because let's be honest… consistency is usually the hardest part.
It actually reminds me a lot of financial planning.
I've had a Planet Fitness membership before. It was inexpensive, convenient, and I could absolutely walk in and work out on my own. And every once in a while, I did. 😂 But did I get the results I wanted? Not really.
What changed was having an environment, coaches, structure, accountability, and a team helping me stay on track.
Investing is similar. There are absolutely things you can do yourself, and technology has made that easier than ever. But the question I often ask is: Are you consistently doing the right things, staying disciplined, and looking at the bigger picture?
Sometimes the value isn't simply in what you're investing in. It's having people in your corner who can help you build the plan, stay accountable, navigate the changes along the way, and bring different areas of your financial life together.
I'm grateful for the people who push me to be better in the gym—and equally grateful for the opportunity to do the same for the people and families I serve.
Here's to the next 100! 💪🏋️♂️
For disclosure information, see thrivent.com/social
Fatherhood has taught me something important: I don’t have to know everything. I just need to be willing to learn, ask questions and surround myself with people who know things I don’t. Honestly, that’s one of the reasons I believe so strongly in having a good team around you financially too. You don’t need to know everything about investing, taxes, insurance, Social Security, and retirement. We just need to know who you can trust to help you navigate it. For disclosure information, see thrivent.com/social.
It's easy to get caught up in one piece of the puzzle.
As a dad, I'm constantly reminded that my boys don't need me to optimize every single moment. They need me to see the bigger picture.
Financial planning is much the same.
Investments matter. Taxes matter. Retirement matters. Insurance matters.
But ultimately, they're pieces of a much bigger picture: What kind of life are we trying to build, and who are we trying to bless along the way?
For disclosure information, see thrivent.com/social
I'm becoming more convinced that some of the best things we can give our kids aren't things at all.
They're experiences.
Time together. Adventures. Traditions. Stories we'll tell for years.
Financial planning isn't just about accumulating more. It's about being intentional with our resources so we can use them for the things that matter most.
For disclosure information, see thrivent.com/social
Grateful to support an organization like Heartbeat of Monroe that comes alongside families when they need it most.
Last night at the banquet, we heard an incredibly moving story from a mother whose family has been utilizing Heartbeat’s services for the past four years. When they had practically nothing, she found the courage to reach out—and Heartbeat was there to walk alongside their family with support, encouragement, and hope.
Since becoming a dad, supporting families and children has become an even bigger passion of mine. I also love supporting Heartbeat because my mom and dad had been involved with the organization for many years, so it’s something that has been close to my heart for a long time. This picture of my boys from earlier this week is a simple reminder of how blessed I am to have these moments with them—and how much I want to help other families have the opportunity to experience them too.
It means a lot to support an organization doing such meaningful work in my hometown of Monroe. ❤️
What an incredible honor it was for Amy and me to stand alongside our niece, Adelyn, as her godparents, along with her cousin Judah. ❤️
We don't take the responsibility of being godparents lightly. It's a privilege to be part of her life, to encourage her, pray for her, and point her toward Christ as she grows.
Adelyn, you are deeply loved, and we pray you always know that—not only by your family, but by a God who has known and loved you from the very beginning.
What a blessing it is to have the opportunity to walk alongside you in your faith journey. We love you, Adelyn! 🙏❤️
Happy Birthday to my beautiful wife, Amy! ❤️
I'm constantly impressed by your dedication to our family, to our boys, and to everything you do to keep our home and our lives moving. You give so much of yourself to the people you love, and I hope you know how much it's appreciated.
I'm incredibly blessed to get to do life with you and watch you love and care for our boys the way you do. You're an amazing wife, an incredible mom, and, of course, it doesn't hurt that you're an absolute smoke show too. 🔥😂❤️
Happy birthday, babe! I love you so much and hope you feel celebrated today. Here's to another year of making memories together! ❤️
It was an honor to be a sponsor for the SMCC Alumni Golf Outing last month! ⛳
As a proud SMCC alum, it's always special to come back and see the continued investment in a school that gave me such an amazing education and so many great memories.
Even more encouraging is seeing so many people I went to school with now serving in different roles—teaching, counseling, leading, and helping advance the school. Their passion for SMCC and its students is evident, and there's no doubt in my mind that they're continuing to provide the same high level of care and education that I was fortunate enough to experience.
I'm grateful for the opportunity to support my hometown, reconnect with old friends, meet new ones, and play a small part in supporting the next generation of SMCC students.
And of course, I have to give Thomas a hard time for putting my giant poster directly behind the 10th tee 😂. I'm sure everyone got a good look at it as we started the back nine!
Proud to be an SMCC Falcon! 🦅⛳
Another year of marriage in the books this month. ❤️
Our marriage isn't perfect, and neither are we—but we serve a perfect God who continues to guide us, grow us, and remind us of His grace through every season.
Through the highs and the challenges, I'm incredibly grateful for the life we've built together and, by God's grace, the amazing family we've been blessed with. Our boys are one of my greatest reminders of how good God has been to us—and also proof that God has a sense of humor! 😂❤️
I'm thankful for you, for the memories we've made, for the lessons we've learned, and for the years still ahead of us. I pray we continue to keep God at the center and choose each other through every season.
Happy Anniversary, Amy. I love you, and I'm grateful to walk this journey with you. ❤️🙏
When was the last time you reviewed your life insurance coverage?
Whether you've completed a formal life insurance needs analysis before or simply purchased coverage years ago to check it off the list, it may be worth taking another look.
Life changes. Families grow. Debts change. Retirement gets closer. Coverage that made sense years ago may deserve a fresh review.
Through our Life Insurance Needs Analysis process, I've helped clients:
• Identify coverage gaps they didn't know existed.
• Gain confidence that their current protection still fits their situation.
• Explore alternative strategies and policy options that may better align with their goals, priorities, and budget.
• Evaluate whether existing coverage is still accomplishing what it was originally intended to do.
Sometimes the outcome is making a change. Often, it's simply gaining a sense of reassurance that everything is still on track.
And no, getting a puppy probably doesn't change your life insurance needs... but life has a funny way of changing when we least expect it. 🐶
Enjoy this picture of Tucker while you're here.
If you'd like a complimentary review, I'd be happy to help.
For important disclosures and additional information, visit Thrivent.com/social.
What a great day at the Byron Days Parade!
I truly love serving this incredible community and so many others throughout West Michigan. One of my favorite parts of what I do is getting to be involved where people live, work, and celebrate together.
We had one little hiccup—our parade handouts didn't arrive in time (gotta love last-minute surprises! 😅). But we improvised, found plenty of fun giveaways, handed out a bunch of Thrivent shirts that became a crowd favorite, and I think our fog bubble machine may have stolen the show! 😂
More than anything, it was such a joy seeing so many familiar faces, reconnecting with old friends, and meeting new people along the parade route. Days like these are a great reminder of what makes Byron Center such a special place—people who genuinely care about their neighbors and love supporting their community.
Thanks to everyone who came out and made it such a fun day. Looking forward to many more opportunities to serve this amazing community!
IRA's & IPA'sRetirement planning today looks different than it did a generation ago.
With people living longer and retirement potentially lasting 20, 30, or even more years, understanding how to create a sustainable retirement strategy has never been more important.
Join us for a complimentary educational workshop focused on IRAs, retirement distributions, and tax diversification concepts.
We'll discuss: • IRA planning considerations
• Distribution strategies
• Tax diversification concepts
• Beneficiary planning
• Common retirement questions and opportunities
Space is limited, so please reserve your seat early if you'd like to attend.
📅 Learn more and register:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/iras-ipas-tickets-1992002453963?aff=oddtdtcreator
As always, I'm happy to be a resource. If someone comes to mind who could benefit from the conversation, feel free to share the invitation.
See Thrivent.com for disclosures.