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I've got valuable information and resources to share. Explore away! And check back often.

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People often tell me they plan to pay off their mortgage in retirement by pulling from their retirement accounts. But that can be a costly mistake. If you have $150,000 left on your mortgage, you'll need to withdraw significantly more to cover the taxes. Especially if it's coming from a pre-tax account like a 401(k) or traditional IRA. Combine that with your regular living expenses, and you could push yourself into a much higher tax bracket than expected. There are more tax-efficient ways to approach this goal. Planning ahead can save you a lot in taxes and help your money go further in retirement. See thrivent.com/social for more information.

People often tell me they plan to pay off their mortgage in retirement by pulling from their retirement accounts. But that can be a costly mistake. If you have $150,000 left on your mortgage, you'll need to withdraw significantly more to cover the taxes. Especially if it's coming from a pre-tax account like a 401(k) or traditional IRA. Combine that with your regular living expenses, and you could push yourself into a much higher tax bracket than expected. There are more tax-efficient ways to approach this goal. Planning ahead can save you a lot in taxes and help your money go further in retirement. See thrivent.com/social for more information.

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Having money in a non-retirement investment account doesn’t mean you have an emergency fund. If you're someone who likes to optimize every dollar, it can feel like you're missing out by keeping cash on the sidelines. But after years of working with clients, I've seen this play out over and over: when things go wrong, they usually don't happen one at a time. Consider maintaining some of your cash in a high-yield savings account, which can offer flexibility and heighten financial confidence. See thrivent.com/social for more information.

Having money in a non-retirement investment account doesn’t mean you have an emergency fund. If you're someone who likes to optimize every dollar, it can feel like you're missing out by keeping cash on the sidelines. But after years of working with clients, I've seen this play out over and over: when things go wrong, they usually don't happen one at a time. Consider maintaining some of your cash in a high-yield savings account, which can offer flexibility and heighten financial confidence. See thrivent.com/social for more information.

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If you're a small business owner, you have more retirement savings options than almost anyone else. Strategically lowering your tax bill through the right plan can have a big impact on your overall financial picture. From simple, low-cost options like SEP and SIMPLE IRAs to Solo 401(k)s with contribution limits up to $70,000, there’s a strategy that can fit your business and goals. Every business is unique- figuring out the right plan is the first step. See thrivent.com/social for more information.

If you're a small business owner, you have more retirement savings options than almost anyone else. Strategically lowering your tax bill through the right plan can have a big impact on your overall financial picture. From simple, low-cost options like SEP and SIMPLE IRAs to Solo 401(k)s with contribution limits up to $70,000, there’s a strategy that can fit your business and goals. Every business is unique- figuring out the right plan is the first step. See thrivent.com/social for more information.

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Just because you’re approved for a mortgage doesn’t mean you can afford it. If your monthly housing costs are keeping you from saving for the future, you might have too much house. A good rule of thumb: Keep your principal, interest, taxes, and insurance under 25% of your gross income. That way, your home fits into your life- not the other way around. See thrivent.com/social for more information.

Just because you’re approved for a mortgage doesn’t mean you can afford it. If your monthly housing costs are keeping you from saving for the future, you might have too much house. A good rule of thumb: Keep your principal, interest, taxes, and insurance under 25% of your gross income. That way, your home fits into your life- not the other way around. See thrivent.com/social for more information.

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If you have an IRA, you need to check how it’s invested. A Vanguard study found that 28% of people who rolled over retirement accounts had them sitting in cash—even a year later. Most assume the money is automatically invested, but that’s not always the case. Here’s how costly that can be: A 30-year-old with a $50,000 IRA If invested properly at 8% annually: $739,000 at age 65 If left in cash earning 3%: $141,000 at age 65 That’s nearly a $600,000 difference just from one oversight. Hypothetical example is for illustrative purposes. May not be representative of actual results. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results. See https://corporate.vanguard.com/content/corporatesite/us/en/corp/articles/sticky-ira-cash-trap.html and thrivent.com/social for more information.

If you have an IRA, you need to check how it’s invested. A Vanguard study found that 28% of people who rolled over retirement accounts had them sitting in cash—even a year later. Most assume the money is automatically invested, but that’s not always the case. Here’s how costly that can be: A 30-year-old with a $50,000 IRA If invested properly at 8% annually: $739,000 at age 65 If left in cash earning 3%: $141,000 at age 65 That’s nearly a $600,000 difference just from one oversight. Hypothetical example is for illustrative purposes. May not be representative of actual results. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results. See https://corporate.vanguard.com/content/corporatesite/us/en/corp/articles/sticky-ira-cash-trap.html and thrivent.com/social for more information.

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Studies show that market losses feel about 2.5x more painful than gains feel good. It's easy to focus on those losses, especially when markets get choppy like they have been recently. But short-term volatility is a feature of investing, not a flaw. Rather than reacting based on fear or gut instinct, it’s almost always better to zoom out and stick to your long-term plan. See thrivent.com/social for more information.

Studies show that market losses feel about 2.5x more painful than gains feel good. It's easy to focus on those losses, especially when markets get choppy like they have been recently. But short-term volatility is a feature of investing, not a flaw. Rather than reacting based on fear or gut instinct, it’s almost always better to zoom out and stick to your long-term plan. See thrivent.com/social for more information.

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Here’s how much just one year of maxing out a Roth IRA could grow based on your age: Age 20: ~$223,000 Age 25: ~$152,000 Age 35: ~$70,000 Age 45: ~$32,000 Age 55: ~$15,000 A single year of investing can have a huge long-term impact. Consistent contributions and starting early are great indicators of success! Assumptions: $7,000 contribution (2024 max for those under 50) 8% average annual return Grows until age 65 See thrivent.com/social for more information. Hypothetical example is for illustrative purposes. May not be representative of actual results.

Here’s how much just one year of maxing out a Roth IRA could grow based on your age: Age 20: ~$223,000 Age 25: ~$152,000 Age 35: ~$70,000 Age 45: ~$32,000 Age 55: ~$15,000 A single year of investing can have a huge long-term impact. Consistent contributions and starting early are great indicators of success! Assumptions: $7,000 contribution (2024 max for those under 50) 8% average annual return Grows until age 65 See thrivent.com/social for more information. Hypothetical example is for illustrative purposes. May not be representative of actual results.

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With markets down 8%+ over the last month, I’ve heard, 'I need to move to cash/gold' and 'this time is different.' Market corrections aren’t an "if"—they're a "when." They are a normal part of investing, but time and time again, those who stay the course come out ahead. Selling during downturns often locks in losses and makes it harder to recover. Instead of fearing volatility, view it as an opportunity. Market declines allow you to buy quality investments at a discount, setting yourself up for long-term growth. The key is having a plan and sticking to it. See thrivent.com/social for more information.

With markets down 8%+ over the last month, I’ve heard, 'I need to move to cash/gold' and 'this time is different.' Market corrections aren’t an "if"—they're a "when." They are a normal part of investing, but time and time again, those who stay the course come out ahead. Selling during downturns often locks in losses and makes it harder to recover. Instead of fearing volatility, view it as an opportunity. Market declines allow you to buy quality investments at a discount, setting yourself up for long-term growth. The key is having a plan and sticking to it. See thrivent.com/social for more information.

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No matter your tax bracket, there are steps you can take now to help minimize the taxes you'll owe in retirement. If taxes are a topic you avoid, this event is for you. This is my favorite (free!) workshop of the year, Keeping the Tax Man Away with expert Debbie Taylor on March 11 & 13. Learn more and sign up: https://tinyurl.com/DebbieTaylorVirtual2025 No products will be sold. Speaker is not affiliated with Thrivent. Views are their own. See thrivent.com/social for more information.

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No matter your tax bracket, there are steps you can take now to help minimize the taxes you'll owe in retirement. If taxes are a topic you avoid, this event is for you. This is my favorite (free!) workshop of the year, Keeping the Tax Man Away with expert Debbie Taylor on March 11 & 13. Learn more and sign up: https://tinyurl.com/DebbieTaylorVirtual2025 No products will be sold. Speaker is not affiliated with Thrivent. Views are their own. See thrivent.com/social for more information.

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Everyone who goes to graduate school and takes on significant debt needs a clear payoff plan. Far too often, we see people making little progress even after 10+ years of payments—costing them tens of thousands in unnecessary interest. Having a plan from the start helps you: ✔️ Keep lifestyle inflation in check as your income grows ✔️ Gain financial clarity knowing exactly when your debt will be gone ✔️ Free up future cash flow to invest and build wealth If you’re not sure where to start, now is the time to put a strategy in place! See thrivent .com/social for more information.

Everyone who goes to graduate school and takes on significant debt needs a clear payoff plan. Far too often, we see people making little progress even after 10+ years of payments—costing them tens of thousands in unnecessary interest. Having a plan from the start helps you: ✔️ Keep lifestyle inflation in check as your income grows ✔️ Gain financial clarity knowing exactly when your debt will be gone ✔️ Free up future cash flow to invest and build wealth If you’re not sure where to start, now is the time to put a strategy in place! See thrivent .com/social for more information.

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