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Monday, May 11, 2026

North Carolina has become a magnet for retirees - and it’s easy to see why. From the Blue Ridge Mountains to the coastal communities, the state offers a compelling mix of natural beauty, moderate taxes, and a relatively affordable cost...

Monday, May 4, 2026

Big financial changes don’t just affect your bank account — they can change how your brain processes information, makes decisions, and handles emotion. Whether it’s a college tuition bill that lands like a thunderclap or the decision...

Monday, April 6, 2026

When people start thinking about retirement, one question comes up almost immediately:“Should we move somewhere more tax-friendly?”Florida. Tennessee. Texas. The “no income tax” states get a lot of attention.Where does North Carolina...

Wednesday, April 1, 2026

In today's world of technology, it would be unrealistic for us to say that you should completely stay away from AI. It can be a fantastic tool that can help you get quick answers, ideas, and even recipes that sometimes work.But when it...

Monday, March 16, 2026

A few years ago, someone in their thirties asked a question that comes up more often than people admit.They had the chance to take a big trip, one of those once-in-a-while kinds of experiences. Not reckless, not wildly extravagant, but...

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Tuesday, March 10, 2026

Financial markets are often described as logical systems driven by numbers, earnings, and economic data. But anyone who has watched the market during a volatile week—or even a volatile afternoon—knows that emotions play a powerful role...

Monday, February 9, 2026

Two people can earn the same income, have similar savings, and face identical financial choices and still make wildly different decisions.The difference often isn’t math.It’s mindset.Every tax season brings two forces into focus: what...

Monday, February 2, 2026

You’re educated. Capable. Thoughtful. You likely make complex decisions every day - at work, for your family, for your future. You understand the basics of investing, taxes, and planning, and you’ve probably done a lot of things right...

Friday, January 9, 2026

Every January, big resolutions sound inspiring: save more, get organized, retire early, fix everything. And by February? Most of them quietly fade into the background. in fact, research from the University of Scranton found that over...

Thursday, January 1, 2026

By the time January 1, 2026 arrives, the tax conversation shifts in some subtle but important ways. The changes don’t eliminate deductions or planning opportunities. Instead, they quietly reshape who benefits, how benefits are...

Wednesday, December 10, 2025

As the year winds down, tax planning moves from theory to deadline. For professionals in the Greensboro, NC area - many of whom juggle high incomes, equity compensation, charitable goals, and growing retirement balances - the final...

Monday, December 1, 2025

As the year comes to a close, we naturally look back at milestones — family moments, career growth, personal wins. But one area that often gets overlooked deserves just as much reflection: your money. Whether it was a year of steady...

Monday, November 10, 2025

The Triad has a rich tradition of generosity, whether it’s supporting local schools, faith communities, or beloved institutions like the Greensboro Science Center or Second Harvest Food Bank. But as the year winds down, it’s worth...

Thursday, November 6, 2025

As the year winds down, many of us take stock of what changed, what stayed the same, and what we want the next year to bring. We think about health goals, family plans, or maybe even travel dreams. But one area that’s easy to overlook...

Thursday, November 6, 2025

A year-end bonus is more than a paycheck - it’s potential. After a long year of effort, it’s tempting to view that extra income as a reward to spend freely (and maybe a little of it should be!). But if you pause for just a moment...

Monday, October 13, 2025

Most people think about retirement planning as a math problem: save enough, invest wisely, and eventually coast into a comfortable lifestyle. But the truth is, even the best-laid retirement plans can fall apart if they’re not tested...

Monday, October 6, 2025

When Congress debates tax policy, uncertainty ripples through families making key wealth transfer decisions. One major question is whether the historically high federal estate and gift tax exemption - currently $13.99 million per...

Wednesday, September 17, 2025

As the year winds down, your to-do list probably fills up with holiday plans, family gatherings, and maybe even some last-minute shopping. But before the ball drops on 2025, it’s worth taking time to check in on another list—your...

Monday, September 8, 2025

As we move through 2025, the financial scam landscape is evolving at a breakneck pace—supercharged by generative AI, deepfake technology, and increasingly sophisticated impersonation tactics. Here's a snapshot of what’s trending and...

Thursday, September 4, 2025

If you’ve been paying attention to interest rates lately, you’ve probably noticed something unusual: cash is finally earning real money again. For years, savings accounts barely moved the needle, but today, high-yield savings accounts...

Monday, August 11, 2025

When sweeping legislation hits, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the headlines. The recently passed One Big Beautiful Bill Act touches nearly every part of the financial landscape: taxes, retirement, caregiving, business ownership, and...

Monday, August 4, 2025

When it comes to investing, thinking globally is smart - but acting locally can be even smarter. If you live in Greensboro or anywhere in North Carolina’s Triad, your community’s unique economic landscape offers opportunities (and...

Wednesday, July 9, 2025

You’ve worked hard, hit your targets, and the reward is here: a raise. Whether you're in tech, healthcare, logistics, or biotech - industries growing fast across the Triad - seeing that bump in your paycheck feels great. But before you...

Wednesday, July 2, 2025

If you’ve been diligently saving in a 529 plan for years and suddenly find yourself with extra money in the account, congrats! That likely means someone in your family got a scholarship, chose a less expensive college path, or maybe...

Monday, June 9, 2025

We've explored the benefits of long-term investment strategies and debunked myths about investment management. Now, let's delve into how psychological biases influence our investment decisions, why these biases can lead to suboptimal...

Monday, June 9, 2025

Who says you have to go far—or spend a fortune—to have a memorable summer? If you're in the Triad area of North Carolina, you're surrounded by hidden gems perfect for a fun and affordable staycation. Whether your crew includes toddlers...

Thursday, June 5, 2025

Equity compensation can be a powerful wealth-building tool for professionals in North Carolina's Triad, but it can also be incredibly confusing. If you've ever received stock options, RSUs, or ESPP shares and felt more overwhelmed than...

Monday, June 2, 2025

We've discussed the risky allure of day trading versus the steadier path of long-term investment. Now, let's expand our view to encompass broader investment philosophies, debunk some common myths, and learn from the principles of...

Tuesday, May 13, 2025

Real estate decisions are often emotional, but they’re also deeply financial. If you're planning to buy or sell a home in North Carolina's Triad region (Greensboro, Winston-Salem, or High Point), it's important to understand how those...

Monday, May 12, 2025

In the world of investing, there's a stark contrast between the speculative nature of day trading and the strategic, ownership-focused approach of long-term investing. Using the example of Warren Buffett, we'll explore why wealth...

Tuesday, May 6, 2025

If you’ve been watching the headlines lately, you might feel like the sky is falling. Again. From political drama to policy pivots, one topic that’s been stirring up serious market chatter is tariffs, particularly those introduced...

Monday, May 5, 2025

Change is the process by which the future invades our lives, as noted by Alvin Toffler in "Future Shock." In the realm of financial planning, this change is not just external; it's profoundly influenced by our psychological biases and...

Monday, April 14, 2025

In finance, there's a psychological trap called status quo bias that can stealthily erode our financial security. Status quo bias is defined as "a non-rational or biased preference for the current way of doing things.” In financial...

Wednesday, April 9, 2025

Picture yourself on a grassy riverbank, a sleek canoe at your feet, a paddle gripped loosely in your hand. You’re not a total novice to water—after all, you’ve rented a paddleboat on a lake before. That was simple: you powered it, you...

Monday, April 7, 2025

"Change is the process by which the future invades our lives." This profound insight from Alvin Toffler's "Future Shock" encapsulates the essence of financial planning and decision-making in our ever-evolving world. The financial...

Wednesday, March 12, 2025

In the hustle of modern life, two seemingly disparate fields, healthcare and financial planning, share a common challenge: managing an overwhelming amount of data and alerts. Just as healthcare professionals grapple with alarm fatigue...

Tuesday, March 11, 2025

We often see clients equate a well-performing investment portfolio with comprehensive financial security. However, this can be a misleading perspective, leaving you vulnerable to both unexpected emergencies and failing to meet your...

Monday, March 3, 2025

In the dense, unpredictable jungle of finance, risks take on various forms, much like the creatures that inhabit the wild. To understand these risks, let's consider two distinct animals: the snake and the tiger. Each embodies different...

Monday, February 17, 2025

I recently received an interesting request from a client that I thought I would share, as I think it allows for some good insight into the tax impact of capital gains and losses, a topic that straddles investing and tax management. The...

Monday, February 10, 2025

In our final part, let's apply this knowledge practically and look at future trends: Portfolio Management: How to balance high P/E growth stocks with lower P/E value picks for diversification. Long-Term vs. Short-Term: Investors with...

Monday, February 3, 2025

In Part 1, we explored what the P/E ratio tells us about stock valuations. Now, let's see how investors might use this knowledge in their decision-making process: Value Investing: Investors like Warren Buffett often look for stocks...

Tuesday, January 14, 2025

Investing in stocks can seem like navigating a maze for beginners, especially when terms like "valuation" get thrown around. One of the simplest yet most insightful metrics to understand stock value is the Price-to-Earnings (P/E) ratio...

Monday, January 6, 2025

In the expansive fields of both marksmanship and financial planning, the quest for precision amidst uncertainty is a common thread. Recently, I got to enjoy the experience of shooting a target a mile away, an endeavor that not only...

Saturday, December 21, 2024

The holiday season in Greensboro is magical, but it can also feel overwhelming and expensive. Between gift shopping, traveling, and planning holiday meals, it’s easy to forget to take time for yourself. Luckily, Greensboro offers...

Tuesday, November 19, 2024

For anyone who hasn’t seen the videos from western North Carolina on YouTube, I would highly recommend that you take the time to simply search for “hurricane Helene” and view some of the results. Here is one that I think accurately...

Thursday, September 26, 2024

It's a scenario no one wants to think about. You’ve worked at the same company for years and now suddenly they’re cutting back. Your job is on the line and you’re wondering if you are prepared to be out of work for a few months as you...

Friday, January 5, 2024

“It’s not a competition,” I said, hoping that word might jolt my audience into discovering the futility of two people trying to contend for investing superiority.   “Try telling that to him!” my...

Monday, December 18, 2023

As we start winding down 2023, there are a few financial tasks that might need your attention before you pour that eggnog. Don't worry; this isn't about crunching numbers or deciphering complex financial jargon. It’s just a few...

Monday, September 25, 2023

In our last piece, we defined what insurance is and whether or not you might need an actual policy. Now we’re going to discuss why second guessing an insurance policy would require knowing the future and why it’s important...

Wednesday, September 13, 2023

“I don’t understand insurance. I just need you to tell me what to do.”   While I appreciate the trust implied in these comments offered by an orphaned life insurance policyholder, they are not all that unfamiliar...

Tuesday, August 15, 2023

Election season is right around the corner! Can’t you just feel the excitement?! All kidding aside (for now), it’s most likely not lost on anyone that our politics are currently and particularly...

Thursday, July 13, 2023

The very first lighthouse that is known to have existed is the Lighthouse of Alexandria built on the island of Pharos in the harbor of Alexandria, Egypt. Sources vary a little as to when, exactly, it was built, but they generally agree...

Thursday, June 22, 2023

In our last piece, we looked at how we can determine the best strategy for withdrawing your Social Security benefits. If you're someone who is thinking about electing to take your benefits early...you might fall into one of these...

Wednesday, June 21, 2023

“I questioned you, everyone I talked to questioned you, but you were right.”Those are the words of a client with whom I met just the other day. He was referring to advice that I gave him when he retired to delay the...

Tuesday, June 6, 2023

In our last piece, I hope you started questioning why you allow others to influence major outcomes in your own life. Is it because you trust them? Is it because they’re the most knowledgeable in a certain field? You...

Tuesday, May 23, 2023

If you needed a ride and two friends each offered to give you a ride, how would you choose which offer you would accept? The best response would be that your decision would rest upon the dependability of your friends as drivers.How...

Tuesday, April 18, 2023

No matter where you are in the timeline of your career, you’ve likely worked hard to get where you are. If you’ve just entered the workforce and have landed the job you want, you’ve probably worked on building...

Thursday, March 16, 2023

With tax season in high gear, there’s another industry that’s hard at work: identity thieves and scammers.Unfortunately, scams are getting all too common and, let’s be honest, sometimes these people are pretty good at...

Tuesday, February 21, 2023

Plenty of you have probably noticed what has happened to the price of eggs as of late. For those who haven’t noticed, the price of eggs has increased pretty dramatically. Now, in simply making that statement, I am essentially...

Tuesday, February 14, 2023

Why is everything so expensive? Blame dynamic pricing. Oh, sure, you can blame other factors, like inflation and supply chain issues, but if high prices were a murder victim, dynamic pricing would be rounded up as one of the top...

Monday, January 30, 2023

If you’ve read some of my other posts or watched some of our videos, then you might be familiar with my commentary around shortcuts. To summarize, I always argue that there is no such thing as a shortcut, or that shortcuts...

Wednesday, January 18, 2023

Just the other day, I was having lunch with a client and friend (we’ll call him ‘Bob’) who relayed a story about a friend of his that was rather interesting. Both Bob and his friend are small business owners and face...

Tuesday, January 10, 2023

When it comes to planning for college, there are a lot of decisions to make.How are you going to pay for your child’s tuition?Are you ready to take out loans?And perhaps most importantly, how is this going to affect your...

Thursday, November 3, 2022

A message that I’ve been sharing with a lot of folks lately is that the normal pattern for stock performance, as represented by the S&P 500, is literally a matter of one step back and two steps forward. I arrive at this...

Thursday, October 20, 2022

Hopefully, what I have managed to do in Parts I and II of this discussion is define pretty clearly the importance of having the right perspective on the facts, figures, and concepts surrounding the performance of financial resources....

Thursday, October 13, 2022

If someone were to offer you $100 today or $100 a year from now, which option would you choose? This should be an easy question to answer: you should choose the $100 now. But why? Well, initially, we might say that there is no...

Thursday, October 6, 2022

I’ll never forget a phone call that I received from a client who had been with us for about three years. If I had to describe the relationship that I had with this gentleman and his wife, I’d say it was more transactional...

Thursday, September 29, 2022

When you think of a habitual shopper, like someone who really enjoys shopping, what phrases, or ways of describing that person, come to mind? Shopaholic? Shopping is his/her hobby or pastime? Money burns a hole in his/her pocket? How...

Thursday, September 22, 2022

If you haven’t already noticed, the days of pensions are over. We’re in a new age of retirement planning.According to Due.com, pension plans have their pros and cons:PROSBurden of investing falls on the employer, not the...

Wednesday, August 24, 2022

For those who don't know, 20 years ago I was a sheriff's deputy in a little county in South Carolina called Pickens. Pickens County just so happens to be where Clemson is located, not to mention the sprawling metropolises of Pickens,...

Wednesday, August 17, 2022

The meme depicted above was recently, and oh so generously, shared with me by a friend. The friend, knowing the philosophical nature of my brain functions, figured that it would be right up my alley. In some ways the friend was right,...

Monday, August 8, 2022

As a financial executive who has been in the industry since 1986, I’ve seen a lot of changes in how families handle their money.Growing up, my father managed the finances and my mother had very little interest. This is true for...

Monday, July 11, 2022

Full disclosure: I don’t know whether it is true that the only way to boil a live frog is to put it into room-temperature water and slowly turn the heat up. Tricking amphibians into contributing to their own demise has never been...

Wednesday, July 6, 2022

Many moons ago, I worked for a company out of Augusta, GA that owned the franchising rights to Bojangles. At the time, the group ran six Bojangles restaurants in and around Augusta. My position was that of an area director, which meant...

Friday, July 1, 2022

In our last blog, we discussed getting to a place where you’re experiencing your life the way you want to. The financial planning is working. Your money is helping you create the life you want.Some of you might have heard me say...

Monday, June 27, 2022

The one thing that many people overlook most frequently in grasping the idea of financial planning, and understanding its importance, is just how critical its role is in determining the kind of life they can, and will,...

Tuesday, June 21, 2022

When most people think about retirement, they think about saving for it. But there’s a second phase that many people often don’t consider: actually being in retirement.Most people only focus on accumulating wealth and the...

Wednesday, June 8, 2022

We just discussed how a negative market can destroy our confidence in the investments we’ve made and how we’ll do just about anything to avoid losing. Now, let’s talk about how risk plays a part in our financial...

Friday, June 3, 2022

Whenever we hit a rough patch in the markets, there is one question that likely enters the minds of clients: What should I do? Sometimes, a variant of that question is asked:Should I make any changes?Should anything different...

Wednesday, May 4, 2022

Thursday, April 28, 2022

While inflation seems to be what everyone is talking about lately, the truth is that this type of activity isn’t new. Further, while I haven’t personally experienced this in my lifetime, and certainly not since I joined the...

Monday, April 25, 2022

Wednesday, April 20, 2022

Tuesday, April 19, 2022

Thursday, March 24, 2022

Saturday, March 12, 2022

In our last post, we've gotten a good start on a weight loss journey. But what happens if the "losing streak"...stops?If you’ve ever tried a fad diet, or even if you’ve taken the lifestyle approach to your health, you might...

Friday, March 11, 2022

In the previous blog, I shared with you the moment I realized a change needed to be made. Now, we’ll talk about how I got started on the right path.To recap a little, it’s probably fair to say that I was embarrassed about...

Thursday, March 10, 2022

I am not shy about sharing my weight loss story. Why? Well, I suppose this is one way to look at my perspective: if I knew something that would benefit others, but I kept it to myself, what would that say about me?More than that,...

Friday, February 25, 2022

Monday, January 31, 2022

Thursday, January 13, 2022

Thursday, January 13, 2022

Wednesday, December 15, 2021

Lifestyle Read Time: 3 min Changing Unhealthy Behaviors Most Americans know the fundamentals of good health: exercise, proper diet, sufficient sleep, regular check-ups and no smoking or excessive alcohol. Yet, despite this knowledge,...

Tuesday, October 26, 2021

It is time for our quarterly perspective on the investing environment. As always, we focus on four factors to develop our perspective of investments: stock valuations, the economy, inflation, and interest rates. We will never be so...

Tuesday, September 21, 2021

For those of you who don't know, I volunteer with a local program, here in Greensboro, North Carolina, for recovering drug addicts. As you might imagine, life has not always been easy for the folks who come through the program, and for...

Tuesday, August 10, 2021

Well, if you can believe it, 2021 is a little more than halfway over. To commemorate that fact, we are here with another edition of our Quarterly Asset Management Newsletter. We hope that life is treating everyone well, and as always,...

Wednesday, February 17, 2021

Dear Friends, We hope you are doing well. Before I dig in to the meat of this post, I wanted to first start off by saying that if you, or anyone else, is experiencing a rough time right now, for whatever reason, reach out, or have...

Tuesday, February 2, 2021

We believe there are at least two elements to the Robinhood story that deserve to be told with emphasis. The first element is what you’ve already heard: the oddity that is short selling. The second element that we will discuss...

Tuesday, February 2, 2021

Dear Friends, I’m sure many of you have caught word of what occurred in the markets concerning Robinhood, GameStop, AMC, Reddit users, and others. In case you haven’t, or you don’t really understand what happened,...

Friday, January 15, 2021

Needless to say, things have been pretty dynamic as of late. I’m sure you’re feeling no shortage of uncertainty. So, without further ado, let’s get right into the outlook. Our Three-Point Investment Philosophy We...

Friday, January 15, 2021

I’m doing a little bit something different on the blog right now. I’m working on a series of posts revolving around opportunity, risk, and decision-making. The motivation for this series came out of a discussion that I had...

Tuesday, January 12, 2021

Dear Friend, 2020 was a doozy, wasn’t it? Good Lord have mercy! Do you realize that all in one year our president was impeached, a pandemic encircled the globe, rioting gripped our country, and we teetered on the edge of having...

Monday, November 30, 2020

In case you thought that car insurance was the only thing that a caveman could teach us about financial matters (thank you, Geico®), think again. Take a little trip with me. Let’s go back in time. Yes, if you can believe it,...

Monday, October 12, 2020

Halloween is less than a month away, Thanksgiving is a little over a month away, and Christmas is just shy of three months away. All of that adds up to the fact that it’s time for our 2020-Q3 Asset Management Near-Term Outlook....

Wednesday, September 30, 2020

Full disclosure: I’m a diehard Clemson football fan. If I’m being completely honest, though, I’m really a diehard fan of college football in general. If there’s a game on TV, it doesn’t matter who’s...

Wednesday, August 26, 2020

There are only two types of people who go to the doctor. Can you guess what those types are? It’s a tough question, but I’ll help you out: healthy people and sick people. How do you know which one you are? I suppose you...

Thursday, August 20, 2020

Whenever I get together with the snoopervisor, it always starts with the typical pleasantries, including some sort of variant of what you been up to? The snoopervisor’s answer of choice to that question? “Just killing time...

Friday, August 14, 2020

I’d like to take a moment to introduce you to Joyce (NHRN). Joyce has been a client of ours for the better part of two decades. She retired about 6-7 years ago and has enjoyed a solid retirement so far, including the occasional...

Monday, August 10, 2020

This newsletter is the inaugural edition of something new that we wanted to start. With the evolution of our services that we have shared with you in previous correspondence, we feel that it is important to communicate regularly to...

Wednesday, July 22, 2020

What we can learn from taking a vacation Four Things We Know About Vacations Vacations don’t solve problems. On vacation, you choose to do the things you want to do the most. Planning for a vacation will most likely take place...

Thursday, May 14, 2020

Like you, we have been profoundly impacted by current events. Learning to live and work in relative isolation is not a transition that we would have ever chosen, but the reality is that a large part of life is how you respond to...

Tuesday, April 7, 2020

When we sit down to get to know someone new, we have observed that there is at least one of three basic emotions that has led to our meeting: Fear Discontent Confusion We believe that… Fear results from feeling as if something...