Insights
A surprising number of people have no real plan for their debt, they simply assume they’ll “die with it.”
At first, that feels like the easier path.
No budgeting. No strategy. No tough conversations.
But here’s the part we don’t talk about enough:
When we avoid dealing with our debt, the weight doesn’t disappear. it shifts to the people around us.
A spouse trying to manage bills alone
Kids facing financial stress they didn’t create
Family members stepping in because there was no plan in place.
It’s not just about dollars.
It’s about the ripple effect.
What I’ve seen with clients is this:
Once you actually map out a clear payoff strategy, even just seeing the date of when the debt is scheduled to disappear, something changes.
You can physically see the tension drop.
People breathe differently.
What felt impossible suddenly becomes just a series of steps.
A plan doesn’t make debt easy
But it does make it manageable.
And more importantly:
It lifts a burden from your future self, and everyone connected to you.
If debt feels overwhelming, you don’t have to solve it overnight.
Just start with clarity.
Clarity creates momentum.
See thrivent.com/social for important disclosures
The 50-Year Mortgage: Smart Move or Financial Trap?
Lately, there’s been more talk about 50-year mortgages, a trend that sounds tempting when monthly payments are the focus. But as with most things in finance… there’s more beneath the surface.
My personal take:
I believe the idea behind the 50-year mortgage is to help individuals afford a home, but in practice, it often seems to benefit lenders and developers more.
Still, owning a home means more than just numbers on a spreadsheet. If creating a place to raise a family, make memories, and put down roots is that important, then sometimes paying more over time can still be worth it.
Because at the end of the day, money is a tool and how you use it should always align with what matters most to you.
The advantages:
✅ Lower monthly payments: Extending the term spreads out the cost, freeing up cash flow.
✅ Improved affordability: More people can “qualify” for homes that would otherwise be out of reach.
✅ Flexibility: If you invest or save the difference wisely, it could offset the longer loan term.
The disadvantages:
⚠️ Much higher total interest: You could pay hundreds of thousands more over time.
⚠️ Slower equity growth: It takes far longer to truly “own” your home.
⚠️ Greater long-term risk: Job changes, relocations, or market downturns become harder to navigate with such a long horizon.
Bottom line:
The 50-year mortgage might help short-term cash flow, but it can cost long-term financial freedom.
Before stretching your timeline, make sure you’re not stretching your future.
See thrivent.com/social for important disclosures
How to Turn Your RMD Into a Tax-Free Gift
If you’re 70½ or older and charitably inclined, a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) is a tax-smart way to give.
What Is a QCD?
A QCD allows you to donate up to $100,000/year directly from your IRA to a qualified charity—tax-free.
Why It’s Powerful:
Counts toward your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD)
Reduces taxable income, even if you don’t itemize deductions
Helps manage Medicare premiums and Social Security taxation
Example:
You’re required to take a $30,000 RMD. Instead of taking it and paying taxes, you donate $30,000 directly to charity via a QCD.
Result: You meet your RMD, support a cause, and pay zero tax on the distribution.
Pro Tip: Coordinate QCDs with your estate plan to leave a lasting legacy while reducing your tax footprint.
Interested in how to do this? Contact my team and we will get a plan in place for you!
See thrivent.com/social for important disclosures
The Only Account That’s Tax-Free Going In, Growing, and Coming Out
If you're eligible for a Health Savings Account (HSA), it’s one of the most powerful tax tools available.
Triple Tax Benefits:
-Contributions are tax-deductible
-Growth is tax-free
-Withdrawals for qualified medical expenses are tax-free
Why It’s Ideal for Retirement:
-Funds roll over year to year, no “use it or lose it”
-Can be used for Medicare premiums, long-term care, and out-of-pocket costs
-After age 65, you can withdraw for any reason (though non-medical withdrawals are taxed like a traditional IRA)
Strategy Tip:
-Invest HSA funds for long-term growth
-Pay current medical expenses out-of-pocket and let the HSA grow
-Save receipts to reimburse yourself later, tax-free
Bottom Line: An HSA is like a stealth retirement account for healthcare. Don’t overlook it.
See thrivent.com/social for important disclosures
“Context without the text is just a con.”
My pastor said that recently, and it’s been on my mind ever since.
Because we see it all the time, verses pulled out of context to fit a point, headlines taken without the full story, and online “experts” giving half-truths that sound good but leave out the bigger picture.
In Scripture, context is everything. When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, even Satan used Scripture, but he twisted it, pulling it out of context (Matthew 4). The enemy knows how powerful truth is when it stands alone… and how dangerous it becomes when you cut corners on it.
And honestly, I see the same thing in my line of work.
People will hear a quick clip from a so-called “financial guru” online and take it as gospel. But just like Scripture, financial wisdom has to be understood in context: your life, your values, your goals.
Without context, it’s just confusion dressed up as clarity.
That’s why truth, whether biblical or financial, can’t be built on soundbites. You have to read the full text.
See thrivent.com/social for important disclosures
The Retirement Income Mistake That Could Cost You Big
Retirement isn’t just about saving; it’s about withdrawing wisely.
The order in which you tap your retirement accounts can dramatically affect your tax bill and how long your money lasts.
The Three Buckets of Retirement Income:
Taxable Accounts (brokerage accounts)
Tax-Deferred Accounts (Traditional IRA, 401(k))
Tax-Free Accounts (Roth IRA)
Smart Withdrawal Sequence:
Start with taxable accounts: You’ll pay capital gains taxes, which are usually lower than income tax rates.
Then use tax-deferred accounts: These withdrawals are taxed as ordinary income.
Save Roth IRA for last: Withdrawals are tax-free and can grow longer.
Why This Matters:
-Keeps you in a lower tax bracket longer
-Reduces Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) later
-Preserves tax-free growth in Roth accounts
-Helps manage Medicare premiums and Social Security taxation
Pro Tip: Combine this with Roth conversions in low-income years to optimize your tax exposure.
If you want to learn more about this, let's sit down together.
See thrivent.com/social for important disclosures
What Is a Bypass Trust? And Why It Can Save Your Heirs Millions
When planning your estate, one of the smartest moves you can make is using a bypass trust. It’s a powerful tool that helps preserve wealth for your loved ones by minimizing estate taxes.
The Estate Tax Problem
The federal government imposes an estate tax on large estates, up to 40% on amounts exceeding the exemption limit (currently $13.61 million per person in 2025). Without proper planning, families can lose millions to taxes.
The Bypass Trust Solution
A bypass trust (also called a credit shelter trust or family trust) allows a married couple to use both spouses’ estate tax exemptions—instead of wasting one when the first spouse dies.
Here’s how it works:
When Spouse A dies, up to $13.61 million of their assets go into a bypass trust.
The surviving spouse can use the income and access assets for health, education, maintenance, and support.
But those assets aren’t counted in the surviving spouse’s estate when they pass away.
Result: No estate tax on the trust assets when the second spouse dies.
Why It Matters to Your Family
✅ Preserves Wealth: More of your estate goes to your children or heirs, not the IRS.
✅ Avoids Double Taxation: Assets in the trust are taxed once, not twice.
✅ Protects Legacy: You control how assets are used and distributed.
✅ Provides Flexibility: Surviving spouse still benefits from the trust during their lifetime.
Real-World Example
A couple has $26 million. Without planning, $13 million could be taxed when the second spouse dies, costing heirs $5.2 million.
With a bypass trust, that $13 million is sheltered, and the family keeps it.
Estate planning isn’t just about documents; it’s about protecting your legacy. If you’re unsure whether a bypass trust fits your situation, let’s talk. It could be one of the most impactful financial decisions you make for your family.
See thrivent.com/social for important disclosures
