by Dave Conley on January 16, 2026.
One of the biggest questions families ask is simple but important: What’s the best way to pass assets to loved ones after we’re gone? Two common tools are Transfer-on-Death (TOD) designations and trusts. Both can work well—but they do very different jobs. Transfer-on-Death (TOD): Simple and Direct A Transfer-on-Death designation lets you name who receives...
by Andrew Rabon on January 2, 2026.
Financial markets, news, social media, and even the church potluck are saturated with commentary. Intelligence and information are common; discipline is scarce.
by Dave Conley on December 19, 2025.
In my 50 years of life, the Christmas season has changed — not only for me personally, but in society as a whole. What was once a tradition-focused, family- and community-oriented season has slowly shifted into something more secular and convenience-driven. Here are my memories of Christmas over the past five decades — the trends,...
by Andrew Rabon on November 20, 2025.
You’ve probably been on a road trip with a gaggle of kids before and heard the question, “Are we there yet?” Whether they were your own children, nieces and nephews, or maybe it was you asking when you were a kid, it’s a familiar concept. When you’re on a road trip, the question banging around...
by Dave Conley on November 14, 2025.
If you’re getting close to retirement—or just recently entered it—here’s a simple question: Do you have a written financial plan for your retirement? Transamerica did a survey of baby boomers and found that their top two retirement fears are both financial. The good news? Those fears can often be addressed with a clear, written retirement...
by Andrew Rabon on October 31, 2025.
When it comes to investing, stories can be powerful. A good story can make people excited, confident, or even a little fearful — and those emotions can move the market just as much as company performance does. When that happens, people start buying or selling based on headlines and hype rather than what a company is actually worth.
by Andrew Rabon on October 24, 2025.
Baseball Hall of Famer Yogi Berra once said, “Baseball is 90% mental; the other half is physical.” The same can be said about money and investing — 90% of it is behavior, and the other “half” is knowledge.
by Andrew Rabon on October 17, 2025.
This past Sunday, October 12th, marked the third anniversary of the current bull market. Since its start in 2022, the market has surged 89%, well above historical averages. It’s the 27th bull market since 1872 and the 14th since 1950, and while past performance doesn’t guarantee future results, history suggests markets with this kind of...
by Dave Conley on February 9, 2024.
As a seasoned financial planner with over three decades of experience in the industry, I've witnessed countless instances where investing common sense has clashed with our natural instincts. It's a fascinating paradox...
by Dave Conley on February 2, 2024.
Let me start by stating one can gain investment know how (knowledge) by reading books listening to podcasts, and studying investment materials. In the same way one can learn to walk a tightrope by practicing in the backyard on a rope 6 inches off the ground. You can become very good at navigating that tightrope in the backyard. When the tightrope is strung between two buildings 300 foot off the ground that "experience" isn't as valuable.