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

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Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: Thriving in Your Golden Years. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar.

Tonight is Session 1 of the virtual series: **The Eric Bilger Team: Thriving in your Golden Years**. If retirement is within the next chapter for you (or your parents), structured education like this can be a great starting point. Registration: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ld3T1jM6R6SiVE88rrtY3g#/registration See thrivent.com/social for important disclosures. #Retirement #Webinar #FinancialEducation

Ready to Thrive in Retirement? Join us for an exclusive webinar featuring Eric W. Bilger, FIC, Financial Advisor at Thrivent. Eric will share expert insights...

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If I could only pick one behavior that consistently helps people build momentum: **automation**. Automate the good decisions (saving, investing, paying down debt) so you don’t have to rely on motivation. See thrivent.com/social for important disclosures. #PersonalFinance #Habits #Consistency

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If I could only pick one behavior that consistently helps people build momentum: **automation**. Automate the good decisions (saving, investing, paying down debt) so you don’t have to rely on motivation. See thrivent.com/social for important disclosures. #PersonalFinance #Habits #Consistency

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One of the most underrated tax-season habits: keeping a running list of life changes *as they happen* (new job, bonus, move, marriage, new account, etc.). That short list makes year-end planning far easier than trying to reconstruct everything in March/April. See thrivent.com/social for important disclosures. #TaxPlanning #Organization #FinancialHabits

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One of the most underrated tax-season habits: keeping a running list of life changes *as they happen* (new job, bonus, move, marriage, new account, etc.). That short list makes year-end planning far easier than trying to reconstruct everything in March/April. See thrivent.com/social for important disclosures. #TaxPlanning #Organization #FinancialHabits

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REMINDER: If you’re in the Clear Lake / Houston Bay Area: David Wegenke and I are hosting a Market Update Workshop at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church on **Thursday, April 9 at 6:00 PM** (doors open **5:30 PM**). Complimentary dinner; guests are welcome. RSVP details: https://connect.thrivent.com/houston-bay-area/events?event=103241 See thrivent.com/social for important disclosures. #HoustonBayArea #MarketUpdate #CommunityEvent

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REMINDER: If you’re in the Clear Lake / Houston Bay Area: David Wegenke and I are hosting a Market Update Workshop at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church on **Thursday, April 9 at 6:00 PM** (doors open **5:30 PM**). Complimentary dinner; guests are welcome. RSVP details: https://connect.thrivent.com/houston-bay-area/events?event=103241 See thrivent.com/social for important disclosures. #HoustonBayArea #MarketUpdate #CommunityEvent

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A quick reminder when headlines feel intense: the market doesn’t send alerts when it’s ‘safe’ to re-enter. Most long-term progress comes from having a plan, sticking to it, and adjusting only when your goals change—not when the news changes. See thrivent.com/social for important disclosures. #Markets #LongTermInvesting #BehavioralFinance

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A quick reminder when headlines feel intense: the market doesn’t send alerts when it’s ‘safe’ to re-enter. Most long-term progress comes from having a plan, sticking to it, and adjusting only when your goals change—not when the news changes. See thrivent.com/social for important disclosures. #Markets #LongTermInvesting #BehavioralFinance

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If retirement is on your radar, here’s a quick 3-question check-in that often reveals the next best step: 1) What are my income sources—and when does each one start? 2) What expenses are fixed vs. flexible? 3) What’s my plan for ‘surprises’ (health, inflation, market swings)? Even getting these written down can reduce a lot of stress. See thrivent.com/social for important disclosures. #Retirement #Planning #FinancialClarity

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If retirement is on your radar, here’s a quick 3-question check-in that often reveals the next best step: 1) What are my income sources—and when does each one start? 2) What expenses are fixed vs. flexible? 3) What’s my plan for ‘surprises’ (health, inflation, market swings)? Even getting these written down can reduce a lot of stress. See thrivent.com/social for important disclosures. #Retirement #Planning #FinancialClarity

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Sunday question I like to revisit: “What do I want my money to DO for my life?” When the purpose is clear, the ‘how’ gets easier—especially when the news cycle gets loud. See thrivent.com/social for important disclosures. #Purpose #Values #FinancialWellbeing

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Sunday question I like to revisit: “What do I want my money to DO for my life?” When the purpose is clear, the ‘how’ gets easier—especially when the news cycle gets loud. See thrivent.com/social for important disclosures. #Purpose #Values #FinancialWellbeing

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Starting today, I’m going to post here every day through the end of April—short, practical financial education for real life in the Houston Bay Area. No hype. No jargon. Just frameworks, checklists, and local event reminders when we have them. If there’s a topic you’d like me to cover (retirement timing, Social Security, market volatility, Medicare, rollovers), drop it in the comments. See thrivent.com/social for important disclosures. #Houston #FinancialPlanning #RetirementPlanning

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Starting today, I’m going to post here every day through the end of April—short, practical financial education for real life in the Houston Bay Area. No hype. No jargon. Just frameworks, checklists, and local event reminders when we have them. If there’s a topic you’d like me to cover (retirement timing, Social Security, market volatility, Medicare, rollovers), drop it in the comments. See thrivent.com/social for important disclosures. #Houston #FinancialPlanning #RetirementPlanning

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What Does a Retirement Readiness Review Actually Look Like? Most people avoid scheduling a financial consultation because they don't know what to expect. Here's exactly what happens in a Retirement Readiness Review with our team — no fluff, no sales pressure. The first 10 minutes — We listen. Where are you in your timeline? What's keeping you up at night? What does retirement actually look like to you? We don't start with spreadsheets. We start with your situation. The next 15 minutes — We assess. We look at your income sources, your savings, your projected expenses, and any major decisions on the horizon — Social Security timing, 401(k) rollover, pension elections, healthcare coverage. The final 5 minutes — We tell you where you stand. Honest, direct feedback. Are you on track? What gaps exist? What decisions are most urgent? You leave with clarity — not a folder full of brochures. The whole thing takes 30 minutes. It's complimentary. And it's available to anyone in the Clear Lake, Friendswood, League City, or Pearland area who is within 10 years of retirement. We've been doing this in southeast Houston for over 35 years. We're not going to sell you something you don't need. We're going to tell you the truth about where you stand. See thrivent.com/social for important disclosures. RetirementPlanning #HoustonBayArea

What Does a Retirement Readiness Review Actually Look Like? Most people avoid scheduling a financial consultation because they don't know what to expect. Here's exactly what happens in a Retirement Readiness Review with our team — no fluff, no sales pressure. The first 10 minutes — We listen. Where are you in your timeline? What's keeping you up at night? What does retirement actually look like to you? We don't start with spreadsheets. We start with your situation. The next 15 minutes — We assess. We look at your income sources, your savings, your projected expenses, and any major decisions on the horizon — Social Security timing, 401(k) rollover, pension elections, healthcare coverage. The final 5 minutes — We tell you where you stand. Honest, direct feedback. Are you on track? What gaps exist? What decisions are most urgent? You leave with clarity — not a folder full of brochures. The whole thing takes 30 minutes. It's complimentary. And it's available to anyone in the Clear Lake, Friendswood, League City, or Pearland area who is within 10 years of retirement. We've been doing this in southeast Houston for over 35 years. We're not going to sell you something you don't need. We're going to tell you the truth about where you stand. See thrivent.com/social for important disclosures. RetirementPlanning #HoustonBayArea

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3 Questions to Ask Your Financial Advisor Before You Retire If they can't answer all three clearly, keep looking. After working with hundreds of families across the Houston Bay Area, I've noticed a pattern: the people who feel most confident going into retirement are the ones who asked hard questions early. Here are the three I'd start with: 1. "What is my sustainable withdrawal rate?" Not a generic answer. Your number — based on your portfolio, your timeline, your Social Security income, and your spending. If they give you a generic "4% rule" without context, push harder. 2. "How will you help me minimize taxes in retirement?" Distribution strategy matters as much as accumulation strategy. The order you pull from taxable, tax-deferred, and Roth accounts can mean tens of thousands of dollars over a 20-year retirement. 3. "What's your plan if the market drops 30% in my first year of retirement?" Sequence of returns risk is one of the most underappreciated threats to retirement security. A good advisor has a specific answer to this — not just reassurance. If your current advisor answers all three well, great. You're in good hands. If not — or if you don't have an advisor yet — I'd love to be a resource. See thrivent.com/social for important disclosures.

3 Questions to Ask Your Financial Advisor Before You Retire If they can't answer all three clearly, keep looking. After working with hundreds of families across the Houston Bay Area, I've noticed a pattern: the people who feel most confident going into retirement are the ones who asked hard questions early. Here are the three I'd start with: 1. "What is my sustainable withdrawal rate?" Not a generic answer. Your number — based on your portfolio, your timeline, your Social Security income, and your spending. If they give you a generic "4% rule" without context, push harder. 2. "How will you help me minimize taxes in retirement?" Distribution strategy matters as much as accumulation strategy. The order you pull from taxable, tax-deferred, and Roth accounts can mean tens of thousands of dollars over a 20-year retirement. 3. "What's your plan if the market drops 30% in my first year of retirement?" Sequence of returns risk is one of the most underappreciated threats to retirement security. A good advisor has a specific answer to this — not just reassurance. If your current advisor answers all three well, great. You're in good hands. If not — or if you don't have an advisor yet — I'd love to be a resource. See thrivent.com/social for important disclosures.

Licensing is available through your State Insurance Department’s website, which can be located through the National Association of Insurance Commissioners website.

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.

Not all team members may provide all products, programs and services in all states.

Not all team members may office at the locations listed.

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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