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Business Succession Planning: Built to Last vs. Built to Transfer

by Steven Story on Jul 2, 2026
Categories
Finance
Retirement
Estate Planning
Family
Investments

Many business owners spend decades building something that works. The team. The reputation. The customers who keep coming back.

Then comes a quieter assumption: that when it's time to step away, the rest will somehow sort itself out.

Research suggests it usually doesn't.

The Businesses That Quietly Run

...

Checking Your Portfolio Isn't the Same as Reviewing It

by Steven Story on Jun 2, 2026
Categories
Investments
Retirement
Tax Planning
Risk Management
Estate Planning

Nearly half of investors check their portfolio at least once a day.1

Many of them aren't reviewing anything.

They're refreshing a number. Watching it move. Sometimes celebrating. Sometimes panicking. But not actually evaluating whether the portfolio is built for the life they're heading into.

That's a...

What $100 Invested in 1928 Would Be Worth Today

by Steven Story on May 2, 2026
Categories
Investments
Finance
Savings
Retirement
Risk Management

Many people think the biggest risk with money is losing it. A bad investment. A market crash. A bet that doesn't pay off.

But what if the most expensive financial decision isn't a bad choice — it's no choice at all?

That's what nearly a century of market data suggests. And the numbers are hard to...

When the Headlines Keep Changing, Your Strategy Shouldn’t

by Steven Story on Apr 2, 2026
Categories
Investments
Finance
Risk Management

It rarely starts calmly.

A headline breaks. Markets react. Another update follows—then another. Before long, the story feels like it’s shifting by the hour.

And with every new development, there’s that quiet pressure in the background:

Should I be doing something right now?

That feeling is common. It’s...

Tax Planning vs. Tax Preparation: They're Not the Same Thing

by Steven Story on Mar 2, 2026
Categories
Tax Planning
Finance
Retirement
Investments

Many people think about taxes once a year — when April rolls around and it's time to file.

By then, the year is already in the rearview mirror. The decisions that could have made a difference? Many of the deadlines for them already passed.

That's the gap between tax preparation and tax planning. And...

Tax Planning vs. Tax Preparation: They're Not the Same Thing

by Steven Story on Feb 2, 2026
Categories
Tax Planning
Retirement
Finance

Many people think about taxes once a year — when April rolls around and it's time to file.

By then, the year is already in the rearview mirror. The decisions that could have made a difference? Many of the deadlines for them already passed.

That's the gap between tax preparation and tax planning. And...

What 2025 Taught Us About Staying the Course

by Steven Story on Jan 2, 2026
Categories
Investments
Finance
Risk Management
Retirement

Some years pass quietly. 2025 wasn't one of them.

Between market swings, geopolitical shocks, and a news cycle that never seemed to pause, this year tested patience across the board. And yet, as we close out December, the real story isn't about what the markets did. It's about how we responded.

2025

...

One Economy, Two Realities: Understanding Today's Economic Divide

by Steven Story on Dec 2, 2025
Categories
Finance
Investments
Savings
Credit
Risk Management
Retirement

It’s possible for one economy to tell two different stories. One of growth, opportunity, and abundance. Another of constraint, anxiety, and scarcity.

This isn't new. But recent economic data makes the divide unusually visible. Recognizing this divide can change how we think about (and react to) the...

What Recent Inflation Signals Mean for Financial Planning

by Steven Story on Nov 2, 2025
Categories
Finance
Savings
Investments
Retirement
Tax Planning
Credit
Risk Management

Inflation has been the boogeyman of the economy for months.

Sticky prices. Rising gas costs. A looming rate hike.

The latest report provided useful data for planning ahead.

When inflation cools—even slightly—it can affect everything from interest rates to your travel budget. September's numbers...

Overlooked Retirement Expenses (And How to Plan for Them)

by Steven Story on Oct 2, 2025
Categories
Retirement
Finance
Health
Tax Planning
Family
Real Estate

A comfortable retirement doesn’t come with a fixed price tag.

Expenses can change over time, and some of the most important ones are easy to overlook.

That’s one reason about 45% of retirees could run out of money in retirement.1

The good news? That outcome isn’t inevitable. The key is recognizing...

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Why Your Brain Sabotages Your Investment Plan (No Matter What the Market Does)

by Steven Story on Sep 2, 2025
Categories
Investments
Finance
Savings
Risk Management

The Dow crosses 45,000. Your brain whispers: "This has to be the top."

The market drops 15%. Your brain screams: "Get out before it gets worse!"

Different scenarios. Same result: your brain hijacking your long-term investment strategy.

If you've ever felt paralyzed by market highs or panicked during...

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Why Patience Beats Perfection: The Long-Term Investor's Guide to Market Timing

by Steven Story on Aug 2, 2025
Categories
Finance
Investments

Over the course of your investing life, you’ll encounter market lows and highs. Headlines often spotlight the extremes, especially when markets reach record levels. Take, for example: “Stocks Hit Record Highs. What’s Behind the Rally.”1

All-time highs have an interesting effect on investor behavior...

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