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Insights

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

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Sequence of returns risk: What it means for your retirement

The market can shift at any time, and big drops early in retirement could affect your savings. The right approach can help keep your savings resilient. Check out this article, then reach out to talk through ways to help protect your savings.👇

As you set out on your retirement journey, you want to make the most of your money and stay on the road to financial stability. That's why, if you have...

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Today was Jett’s first time on a motocross track 😏. He hit a few big dirt clumps from tilling and took a couple spills, but got right back up every time. Wasn’t scared one bit. Pretty surreal watching him out there — definitely a proud dad moment. Even cooler… it was the same track where I rode for the first time as a kid. A lot of nostalgia being back there with my parents and sister — remembering old memories and making new ones.

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Today was Jett’s first time on a motocross track 😏. He hit a few big dirt clumps from tilling and took a couple spills, but got right back up every time. Wasn’t scared one bit. Pretty surreal watching him out there — definitely a proud dad moment. Even cooler… it was the same track where I rode for the first time as a kid. A lot of nostalgia being back there with my parents and sister — remembering old memories and making new ones.

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Help your money last in retirement

A long life is a gift—let’s help make sure your finances can keep up. Start by building financial resilience against inflation, market swings, and rising health and care costs.

Discover how to help your savings go the distance, support your future health and care needs, and give you more freedom in retirement.

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2025 Open House in the books! It’s always one of our favorite events of the year - getting to hangout with clients outside the office, enjoy great food and music, and just spend time together celebrating the wins this year. This year’s event supported @heartbeatoftoledo, and thanks to everyone who brought donation items and/or contributed financially, we were able to make an even bigger impact with Pilot Wealth Advisors matching 100% of monetary donations received. A huge thank you to everyone who showed up throughout the evening and made it such a great time. We’re already looking forward to next year! #PilotWealthAdvisors #OpenHouse #ClientAppreciation

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2025 Open House in the books! It’s always one of our favorite events of the year - getting to hangout with clients outside the office, enjoy great food and music, and just spend time together celebrating the wins this year. This year’s event supported @heartbeatoftoledo, and thanks to everyone who brought donation items and/or contributed financially, we were able to make an even bigger impact with Pilot Wealth Advisors matching 100% of monetary donations received. A huge thank you to everyone who showed up throughout the evening and made it such a great time. We’re already looking forward to next year! #PilotWealthAdvisors #OpenHouse #ClientAppreciation

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🏔️ Quick trip to the Rockies to connect with financial advisors in the Front Range region. Yesterday I had the chance to share strategies with a new group on how to build a sustainable, scalable, fee-based planning practice. I always leave these events encouraged and reinvigorated — not just from presenting, but from learning alongside other advisors who are just as committed to growth. The energy in the room was all about raising the bar so we can consistently deliver more value and show up for clients in a bigger way. Next stop: Frankenmuth in a few weeks! #FinancialPlanning #PilotWealthAdvisors #Thrivent

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🏔️ Quick trip to the Rockies to connect with financial advisors in the Front Range region. Yesterday I had the chance to share strategies with a new group on how to build a sustainable, scalable, fee-based planning practice. I always leave these events encouraged and reinvigorated — not just from presenting, but from learning alongside other advisors who are just as committed to growth. The energy in the room was all about raising the bar so we can consistently deliver more value and show up for clients in a bigger way. Next stop: Frankenmuth in a few weeks! #FinancialPlanning #PilotWealthAdvisors #Thrivent

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We had a great time at the Roche de Boeuf Festival yesterday! Proud that Pilot Wealth Advisors could sponsor the event this year — it’s special since it takes place in the community I grew up in and still get to call home. Big thanks to Angie and Reed for holding it down at the booth all day. It was great seeing so many familiar faces, and connecting with new ones. The parade was definitely the highlight of the day — the boys had a blast going for a “golf cart ride” and throwing out candy. #RocheDeBoeuf #Waterville #PilotWealthAdvisors

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We had a great time at the Roche de Boeuf Festival yesterday! Proud that Pilot Wealth Advisors could sponsor the event this year — it’s special since it takes place in the community I grew up in and still get to call home. Big thanks to Angie and Reed for holding it down at the booth all day. It was great seeing so many familiar faces, and connecting with new ones. The parade was definitely the highlight of the day — the boys had a blast going for a “golf cart ride” and throwing out candy. #RocheDeBoeuf #Waterville #PilotWealthAdvisors

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Earlier this week I had the privilege of speaking to financial advisors from across the Great Plains region at a financial advisor forum in Sioux Falls. I shared my journey of building a fee-based planning practice, the systems and processes that allow us to consistently deliver value, and why leading with advice — not products — has been the key to sustainable growth. The best part of the day was the discussion that followed — thoughtful questions, real stories, and practical ideas. It reinforced for me how much we can learn from each other when we’re willing to share openly. I’m grateful to the financial advisors from South Dakota, Nebraska, and beyond who joined the conversation, and I left energized about the collective impact we can make when we put advice at the center of what we do. 👉🏻Planning isn’t extra work — it is the work. See thrivent.com/social for important disclosures.

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Earlier this week I had the privilege of speaking to financial advisors from across the Great Plains region at a financial advisor forum in Sioux Falls. I shared my journey of building a fee-based planning practice, the systems and processes that allow us to consistently deliver value, and why leading with advice — not products — has been the key to sustainable growth. The best part of the day was the discussion that followed — thoughtful questions, real stories, and practical ideas. It reinforced for me how much we can learn from each other when we’re willing to share openly. I’m grateful to the financial advisors from South Dakota, Nebraska, and beyond who joined the conversation, and I left energized about the collective impact we can make when we put advice at the center of what we do. 👉🏻Planning isn’t extra work — it is the work. See thrivent.com/social for important disclosures.

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🚨 Team Announcement! We’re excited to officially welcome Reed to Pilot Wealth Advisors! Reed brings the kind of compassion, work ethic, and drive that aligns perfectly with our mission of helping individuals and families build financial confidence. His addition strengthens our ability to serve clients at a high level while giving us the capacity to support even more new relationships. A graduate of the University of Toledo with a degree in Marketing and a minor in Finance, Reed combines a strong academic foundation with a competitive spirit—honed from playing varsity basketball in high school—that will serve him well in this profession. Over the next few months, Reed will be in an office support role while studying in pursuit of the necessary licenses to transition into a client-facing advising position. Outside of the office, he enjoys spending time with family, working out, and getting out on the golf course whenever he can. We’re grateful to have Reed on board and look forward to the value he’ll bring to our clients and the Pilot Wealth team. #PilotWealthAdvisors See thrivent.com/social for disclosures.

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🚨 Team Announcement! We’re excited to officially welcome Reed to Pilot Wealth Advisors! Reed brings the kind of compassion, work ethic, and drive that aligns perfectly with our mission of helping individuals and families build financial confidence. His addition strengthens our ability to serve clients at a high level while giving us the capacity to support even more new relationships. A graduate of the University of Toledo with a degree in Marketing and a minor in Finance, Reed combines a strong academic foundation with a competitive spirit—honed from playing varsity basketball in high school—that will serve him well in this profession. Over the next few months, Reed will be in an office support role while studying in pursuit of the necessary licenses to transition into a client-facing advising position. Outside of the office, he enjoys spending time with family, working out, and getting out on the golf course whenever he can. We’re grateful to have Reed on board and look forward to the value he’ll bring to our clients and the Pilot Wealth team. #PilotWealthAdvisors See thrivent.com/social for disclosures.

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Wishing you and your family a safe, joyful, and blessed Independence Day from all of us at Pilot Wealth Advisors! We are proud to live in the greatest country in the world—a place where freedom and opportunity abound. Today, we honor the brave men and women who paid the price so that we can live freely, worship openly, build businesses, and pursue our dreams. #IndependenceDay #4thofJuly #PilotWealthAdvisors See thrivent.com/social for disclosures.

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Wishing you and your family a safe, joyful, and blessed Independence Day from all of us at Pilot Wealth Advisors! We are proud to live in the greatest country in the world—a place where freedom and opportunity abound. Today, we honor the brave men and women who paid the price so that we can live freely, worship openly, build businesses, and pursue our dreams. #IndependenceDay #4thofJuly #PilotWealthAdvisors See thrivent.com/social for disclosures.

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💡 Real Client Insight: Charitable Giving Strategy We started working with some clients last year—a couple giving $1,500/month to their church ($18,000/year). Despite their generosity, they weren’t receiving any tax benefit. Why? Their only itemized deductions were $10,000 for SALT and $18,000 for charitable gifts--totaling $28,000. Because the standard deduction for couples over 65 is $32,300, itemizing didn't make sense and they received no tax benefit for their gifts. So this year we helped them develop a plan. We bundled approx. three years’ worth of charitable gifts—$55,000—into a Donor Advised Fund (DAF). Here’s how that can help:
 🔹 Gifted ~$55,000 of appreciated stock with a basis of ~$15,000. 
 🔹 Avoids ~$6,000 in long-term capital gains tax on stock. 
 🔹 Total itemized deductions of ~$65,000 vs. standard deduction of ~$32,300. 🔹 Leads to ~$8,993 of federal and state tax savings. 🔹 Combined tax savings of ~$14,993.
 🔹 Continuing $1,500/month giving to church from the DAF.
 🔹 Positioned funds for long-term growth to help amplify future giving. In 2026 & 2027, they'll return to using the standard deduction and look to use charitable bundling again in 2028 — no extra money donated, just smarter planning to accomplish same goal while saving on taxes. ✨ Same giving. Strategic planning. Significant tax benefit. #TaxPlanning #CharitableGiving #DonorAdvisedFund #FinancialPlanning #PilotWealthAdvisors See thrivent.com/social for disclosures.

💡 Real Client Insight: Charitable Giving Strategy We started working with some clients last year—a couple giving $1,500/month to their church ($18,000/year). Despite their generosity, they weren’t receiving any tax benefit. Why? Their only itemized deductions were $10,000 for SALT and $18,000 for charitable gifts--totaling $28,000. Because the standard deduction for couples over 65 is $32,300, itemizing didn't make sense and they received no tax benefit for their gifts. So this year we helped them develop a plan. We bundled approx. three years’ worth of charitable gifts—$55,000—into a Donor Advised Fund (DAF). Here’s how that can help:
 🔹 Gifted ~$55,000 of appreciated stock with a basis of ~$15,000. 
 🔹 Avoids ~$6,000 in long-term capital gains tax on stock. 
 🔹 Total itemized deductions of ~$65,000 vs. standard deduction of ~$32,300. 🔹 Leads to ~$8,993 of federal and state tax savings. 🔹 Combined tax savings of ~$14,993.
 🔹 Continuing $1,500/month giving to church from the DAF.
 🔹 Positioned funds for long-term growth to help amplify future giving. In 2026 & 2027, they'll return to using the standard deduction and look to use charitable bundling again in 2028 — no extra money donated, just smarter planning to accomplish same goal while saving on taxes. ✨ Same giving. Strategic planning. Significant tax benefit. #TaxPlanning #CharitableGiving #DonorAdvisedFund #FinancialPlanning #PilotWealthAdvisors See thrivent.com/social for disclosures.

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Thrivent and its financial advisors and professionals do not provide legal, accounting or tax advice. Consult your attorney or tax professional.

Thrivent financial advisors and professionals have general knowledge of the Social Security tenets. For complete details on your situation, contact the Social Security Administration.

Thrivent provides advice and guidance through its Financial Planning Framework that generally includes a review and analysis of a client’s financial situation. A client may choose to further their planning engagement with Thrivent through its Dedicated Planning Services (an investment advisory service) that results in written recommendations for a fee.

Thrivent is the marketing name for Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. Insurance products issued by Thrivent. Not available in all states. Securities and investment advisory services offered through Thrivent Investment Management Inc., a registered investment adviser, member FINRA and SIPC, and a subsidiary of Thrivent. Licensed agent/producer of Thrivent. Registered representative of Thrivent Investment Management, Inc. thrivent.com/privacy-and-security/disclosures.

Insurance products, securities and investment advisory services are provided by appropriately appointed and licensed financial advisors and professionals. Only individuals who are financial advisors are credentialed to provide investment advisory services. Visit Thrivent.com or FINRA’s Broker Check for more information about our financial advisors.

Designations

For additional information on professional designations and the requirements to earn them, visit https://www.thrivent.com/designations

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Center for Financial Planning, Inc. owns and licenses the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®, and CFP® (with plaque design) in the United States to Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., which authorizes individuals who successfully complete the organization's initial and ongoing certification requirements to use the certification marks.

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