Insights
Navigating open enrollment: 5 ways to make the best choices for your familyOpen enrollment is your opportunity to make choices that will protect and support your family throughout the year. Take a look at this helpful guide before you get started. Let’s connect if you want to discuss which options are the right fit for your family’s needs.
Top 7 charitable giving strategies: Maximizing tax benefits and impactThere are ways you can help maximize tax benefits when giving. Learn more about different charitable giving strategies and their tax advantages.
A financial plan helps you make the most of what you have.
It helps you move forward with confidence regardless of your income or net worth. Let's connect if you're ready to build yours.
See thrivent.com/social for important disclosures.
Last week, Luna and I were out for one of our evening walks. There was definitely a little more chill in the air, and it was getting dark earlier than before.
Fall is finally here.
Before long, the fall colors will be on full display, we’ll be talking about the football playoffs, and wondering how the holidays arrived so quickly.
Just like the changing seasons, this time of year is also a great time to take a fresh look at your financial plan.
A few things worth considering before year-end:
• Have you made your IRA or Roth IRA contributions for 2025?
• Would a Roth conversion make sense based on your current income and tax situation?
• If you filed a tax extension, the October 15 deadline is approaching quickly.
• Do you have open enrollment elections to make around HSA contributions, life insurance, or disability income insurance?
• Have you reviewed your beneficiary designations and estate documents recently?
Sometimes a quick conversation can help uncover opportunities that are easy to miss. And sometimes a second set of eyes can provide clarity and confidence, even if it just confirms you’re already on the right track.
If any of these topics are on your mind, I'd be happy to talk through them with you. Whether it’s over a pumpkin spice latte or an Oktoberfest beer, let’s have a conversation before the holiday season gets busy. Send me a message, and we’ll find a time to connect.
No better way to enjoy the fall season.
#FinancialPlanning #RetirementPlanning #Thrivent #JohnsCreek #PumpkinSpiceLatte
See thrivent.com/social for important disclosures
Help prepare for retirement with confidence by getting a locked-in interest rate for the guarantee period you choose—either 3, 5, 7 or 9 years—with a Thrivent Multi-Year Guarantee Annuity™.
This single premium fixed deferred annuity offers:
• Dependable interest
• Tax-deferred earnings
• Protection from market risk
Contact me today if you want to discuss if this is right for you.
For additional interest rates and other important information: https://bit.ly/4fFumVI
See thrivent.com/social for important disclosures.
Did you know life insurance can do more than just provide a death benefit? It also can help you build wealth during your lifetime and help your family build generational wealth after you pass away. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/3zAzMyO
Financial planning for millennials: A comprehensive guideDoes it feel like every financial goal is competing for the same dollars? This guide offers 7 ways to prioritize your money and make progress toward what matters most. ⬇️
Let’s talk about what’s competing for your attention and how we can build a financial plan to address it.
A Multi-Year Guarantee Annuity™️ allows you to lock in a guaranteed interest rate for a set period, making it a popular option for those looking to help add stability, predictable earnings, and reduced market uncertainty.
Reach out if you'd like to discuss whether this type of solution could help support your retirement goals.
For additional interest rates and other important information: https://bit.ly/4fIaSQk
See thrivent.com/social for important disclosures.
Confession Time:
Over the past few weeks, I've spent a lot of time researching players, studying rankings, analyzing matchups for the fantasy football season.
It got me thinking.
We naturally devote time to the things we enjoy. But just like fantasy football, your financial future benefits from having a game plan, reviewing results, and making adjustments when needed.
And most fantasy football managers don't rely solely on their own opinions. They look for expert analysis, data, and additional perspectives to help make better decisions.
The same can be true when it comes to your finances.
If you're spending more time managing your fantasy football team than reviewing your financial plan, it may be worth finding a trusted resource to help you evaluate where you are and determine your next moves.
I'd be happy to help.
And based on my Week 1 results, you might not want my fantasy football advice... 😄
#FantasyFootball #FinancialPlanning #Thrivent
See thrivent.com/social for important disclosures
21st Century Medicare Planning to Protect Your Healthcare Rights and Retirement Savings
Tuesday, September 29 at 1:00 p.m.
Tuesday, September 29 at 7:30 p.m.
How to Avoid Confusion About Medicare.
If you're confused about Medicare, join the crowd, and discover ways to make plan decisions that are best for you. Medicare Coach Emily Gang offers an overview of Medicare and suggestions for choosing your plan and saving money once you're enrolled. Register now to reserve your spot!
Disclosure:
No products will be sold. Speaker is not affiliated with Thrivent. Views are their own. See thrivent.com/social for additional disclosures. 6034756.2
Registration Link: bit.ly/21stCenturyMedicare_SoutheastTMN-FA
When I tell people I'm a financial advisor, many assume I spend most of my day managing investments or recommending stocks.
While that's certainly part of what I do, it's actually a much smaller part than most people think.
What I really enjoy is sitting down with people and having conversations around questions like:
• Are we saving enough for retirement?
• What would happen to my family if something happened to me?
• How do I care for aging parents while still preparing for my own future?
• Should I pay off debt or invest?
• When can I realistically retire?
• What can I do to make sure I'm not a burden on my children later in life?
• How do I make smart financial decisions without feeling overwhelmed?
My job isn't about picking stocks.
It's about helping people gain clarity and confidence around the financial decisions that matter most to them.
Many of the most important financial conversations aren't about investments at all. They're about family, goals, priorities, and helping people navigate life's transitions with confidence.
If any of this resonates with you, I'd love to connect. Feel free to send me a message or reach out anytime.
See thrivent.com/social for important disclosure information.
Can you check off any of these boxes?
✅ Loved ones depend on you for income
✅ Don’t want to pass large debts onto others
✅ Want to leave a legacy
If you checked any of the boxes, you should consider how life insurance can help you protect what’s most important to you: https://bit.ly/47eNLJh
Brisket update...
As I work through everything I need to do to get ready to smoke the brisket, I knew there was one important task I’d been putting off.
Cleaning out the smoker.
I’ll admit, I was dreading it a little. It had been many tasty cooks since the last cleaning. But when I opened it up and took a closer look, it wasn’t nearly as bad as I had built it up to be in my head.
It definitely needed some attention. I grabbed my trusty shop vac, cleaned out the ashes, and used some elbow grease with a scouring pad to get it ready for the brisket.
Sound familiar?
Sometimes there’s something we know we should look at, but we keep putting it off because we’re not sure what we’ll find. Maybe it’s opening an account statement, reviewing an old 401(k), checking insurance coverage, or finally getting around to creating an estate plan.
Most of the time, the anticipation is worse than the reality.
You don’t have to do everything yourself. If you’ve been thinking “I need to take a closer look at this,” but aren’t sure where to start, I’d be happy to help you sort through it and develop a plan.
A little time spent reviewing things today can help prevent bigger headaches down the road.
The good news - the smoker is cleaned up and ready to go.
I was in Minnesota this past weekend to visit my mom and this weekend is booked, so the brisket will have to wait one more week. But it is almost brisket time!
Pictures to come!
See thrivent.com/social for important disclosure information.
Steady growth, stubborn inflation: Q3 2026 market outlookEconomic growth remains solid, but investors continue to face questions around inflation, interest rates and AI-driven market expectations. Explore Thrivent's 2026 Mid-Year Market Outlook for perspective on what may lie ahead. ⬇️
Pickup day finally arrived.
Coolers loaded. Freezer ready.
Half a cow headed home.
Looking at a freezer full of beef, it’s easy to focus on the result. But what made it possible?
• Finding the freezer
• Cleaning it up
• Determining the cut sheet
• Coordinating coolers for pick up
• Making sure we had enough room
The results are what you notice, but they’re often built on planning, preparation, and help from others along the way.
The same is often true when working toward financial goals.
If you'd like help with your financial plan or have questions you’d like to talk through, I'm always happy to help.
Feel free to grab time on my calendar or send me a message:
https://calendly.com/jim-tuenge-thrivent
Now the real fun begins. What should I cook first?
See thrivent.com/social for important disclosure information.
The freezer solved the problem of where I was going to store the cow.
But I decided not to stop there.
• Sanded everything down.
• Prepped it with primer.
• Finished it with paint.
It took more time and a little more effort… and honestly, it wasn’t necessary.
But it made a big difference in how it turned out.
Same idea with a financial plan. Getting it in place is one step.
Taking the time to strengthen it, clean it up, and make sure it’s built to last can make a meaningful difference over time.
If you want a second look at what you’ve put in place, I’m always happy to talk it through with you.
Feel free to grab time on my calendar or send me a message:
https://calendly.com/jim-tuenge-thrivent
Half a cow and not nearly enough space to store it.
A quick search on Facebook Marketplace and I found a solution nearby for just $20. Not much to look at on the outside, but the inside is clean and it works great.
Easy decision. Spend $20 now to protect something much more valuable.
That's usually how good planning works. It's not always something big or exciting.
Sometimes it's making a small decision today that may help prevent a bigger problem down the road.
If you'd like a second opinion on your financial plan or want to talk through a decision you're facing, I'd be happy to connect.
Feel free to grab time on my calendar or send me a message:
https://calendly.com/jim-tuenge-thrivent
See thrivent.com/social for important disclosure information.
A friend and I decided to split a cow.
At first, it sounded like an easy decision.
Better quality meat. Support a local farmer. Less grocery shopping. Done.
And then… reality set in.
• How much meat is this really?
• Do I have enough freezer space?
• What cuts are included?
• Where am I going to put all of this?
What started as a simple purchase turned into a bit more of a planning exercise than I expected.
Funny thing is, that’s how a lot of things in life work.
They sound simple… until you start getting into the details.
If you’ve ever wondered whether your retirement plan is as simple as it sounds, or if you’d just like a second set of eyes on it, I’m always happy to take a look with you.
June 2026 Market Update: Stocks and inflation keep risingMarkets up. Risks remain. See what’s driving Thrivent's outlook. ⬇️
Happy to share Thrivent has been named to the Fortune 500 list in 2026 for the 32nd consecutive year! Honored to be part of an organization with a legacy of financial strength and stability, guided by purpose and good stewardship.