January offers a natural reset. A new year creates momentum, and the financial habits you build now can shape your progress for the rest of 2026 and beyond. Strong financial habits do not require drastic changes. They require consistency, intention, and a clear plan. Here are the best financial habits
“We buy a new truck every year to reduce our taxes.” I hear some version of this all the time from business owners. Just the other day, a client called me and said,“Stephen, I’ve got $300,000 of profit I need to write off. What are some good things I can
Measuring Success Beyond the Numbers One of the most meaningful ways to measure success as a financial advisory firm is not performance charts or account balances. It is whether clients feel seen, respected, and valued. As we concluded our annual client survey, one response stood out because it captured something
Imagine this. You inherit a quarter-million dollars, $250,000, while juggling two kids, $3,000 daycare bills, and a baby due in January. That was the reality for a couple I met with last week. They weren’t popping champagne or shopping for new cars. They were asking a different kind of question:
After 13 years in finance, I’ve learned one truth that shapes how I approach every client conversation: A high net worth does not equal generational wealth. Last week, I met with a savvy business owner who’s built a thriving company and accumulated substantial assets. He could have spent our time
The holiday season in Irving, Texas is a time of joy celebration and giving. However with all the excitement the season brings you still need to plan your finances carefully. Did you know that the average American spends almost one thousand five hundred dollars on gifts during the holiday season
“What happens to my investments if the world goes sideways?” That’s what Mary asked me last week, right after she finished running a client’s therapy session and doom-scrolling through her three-page news feed. The headlines were bleak, and like many smart investors, she wanted to know what to do when
As wealth management strategies evolve, one financial tool has remained a key consideration for high-income earners in Texas: the Backdoor Roth IRA. This strategy allows individuals who exceed the income limits for Roth IRA contributions to still take advantage of the tax benefits that Roth accounts offer. But how does
Last month, I met with a woman who thought she was “taken care of” when it came to her taxes. She had a CPA, a solid income, and a W-4 on file she hadn’t touched in years. But when tax season rolled around, the IRS disagreed. She ended up paying
Every once in a while, I meet an investor who’s “too successful” with a single stock. Maybe it’s Apple, Nvidia, or Tesla — one of those household names that’s grown 10- or 20-fold over the years. It’s an incredible story, but it also creates a problem: how do you diversify