Articles
Fluency + Interest: Financial Roles in a Family
A financial plan can look perfect on paper and still fail in real life if it ignores how a household actually operates. Two people can love each other, share values, and still get stuck around money—not because they’re “bad with finances,” but because they have different levels of fluency and interest.
Tax-Loss Harvesting (and Where Direct Indexing Fits)
At its core, tax-loss harvesting is a tax management technique: when part of a taxable portfolio is down, you may be able to sell at a loss, reinvest promptly, and potentially use that loss to reduce taxes. Done well, it can improve after-tax outcomes over time. Done poorly, it becomes an expensive “feature,” or worse, an unintended drift into market timing.
Your Money Personality: How One Question Can Improve Your Plan (and Your Marriage)
A financial plan can be technically sound and still feel “off” if it doesn’t fit the people living inside it. That’s because money decisions are rarely just math. They’re tied to deeper emotional drivers—security, freedom, family, accomplishment, and meaning. Your money personality is the pattern behind those drivers: how you naturally think, feel, and act around money.
Divorce Financial Planning - What to Do Now
If you’re searching things like “what to do before a divorce,” “how to protect myself in a divorce,” or “divorce financial checklist,” you’re probably in one of two places:
You want this to be civil and efficient, or
You can already tell it’s going to be contentious.
A Financial Path for Widows (and Those About to Be)
If you have recently lost a spouse—or you expect you may soon—this is for you.
In the middle of grief, you can get forced into an administrative job you never applied for. Sometimes a feeling comes that administrative things must be done NOW. Sometimes this is true, and other times not.
Should I Buy A Vacation Home: Second Home Benefits and Cost
A second home is easy to romanticize. A lake house where the grandkids learn to swim. A beach condo that turns Thanksgiving into a real tradition. A ski cabin where “we should get together sometime” becomes an annual week you actually protect on the calendar.
Cash Freedom Model: Replace Budgeting with Family Harmony
Traditional budgeting sounds great—until you try to live with it. One partner wants spreadsheets, the other wants simplicity, and nobody enjoys friction over every purchase. The Cash Freedom Model lowers the temperature while raising clarity: you always know what you can spend and still stay on track with saving and investing. It also steadies the ride for irregular income so month-to-month swings don’t run your life.
Happy New Year: Here’s a 2026 Financial Planning Checklist
Is this the year to improve your financial plan? Sooner is better than later when it comes to a plan that achieves what you want. Whether you are a professional, business owner, or both, you don’t have to fix everything at once. Instead, look at this planning checklist and pick one thing to work on this year to improve your financial life. One clear win may be better than many unfinished projects.
Charitable Giving Strategies for 2025 and Beyond
Looking to give smarter in 2025? Learn how new tax rules—including senior deductions, contribution thresholds, donor-advised fund strategies, and QCDs—can help you maximize your charitable impact while minimizing taxes.
What Does the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act Mean for Your Taxes?
The 2025 tax bill signed into law July 4th has implications families should consider when tax planning. As with most legislation, what comes out of the process is often different from the soundbites that describe the intent. How could this bill impact taxes for affluent families, high-income earners, small business owners, and retirees?
Bryan’s Five Rules for Financial Success
Explore five key principles that may help guide your financial journey—from clarifying your goals to making intentional investment choices. Learn how to align your finances with what matters most.
Retiring Overseas: Wisdom from Nancy Nelson
Thinking about retiring abroad? In this article, retirement lifestyle expert Nancy Nelson shares practical tips on choosing the right country, planning financially, and adjusting to a new culture—so you can make your move with confidence.
Fidelity 401(k) Breach: A Stark Reminder to Secure Your Accounts Today
As information continues to grow quicker and easier to exchange online, it becomes ever more necessary to secure accounts against unauthorized access by cyberthieves.
Retirement Planning Checklist
Retirement is a major milestone. Preparing for this transition requires thoughtful planning to ensure financial security and a fulfilling future. There is more information available than ever for future retirees, making it necessary to filter out noise and get to actionable steps that can add value to your retirement planning process. Here are some things to consider…
Should I Give Money to My Adult Children?
As parents, we often find ourselves pondering the most beneficial ways to support our adult children. Timberchase Financial fields questions about best practices to consider when giving money to them. While the desire to help our children is natural, it is essential to consider the implications of providing financial assistance. This discussion aims to explore the nuances of gifting money to adult children, ensuring that our support fosters independence and harmony within the family.
Values-Based Investing: Advantages and Pitfalls
Values-based investing, such as faith-based investing, impact investing, and socially responsible investing (SRI), has seemed to attract more interest in recent years. While investing with purpose may offer many benefits, there may be potential pitfalls to consider. In this article, Timberchase Financial explores the advantages and potential pitfalls of values-based investing.
Get Ready for the Next Great Recession
The economic events of the past few weeks have centered around tariffs, and there is talk of a recession and its impact on investment returns. There is more talk of short-term pain for long-term gain. Getting an accurate prediction of what will happen is, we believe, a futile exercise. There are four themes we believe can help one navigate and emerge successfully from an economic downturn.
Does My Financial Advisor Have a Conflict of Interest?
Managing your money requires a process you can trust. Conflicts in the financial advice industry often arise from situations where financial incentives compromise the process of giving advice that is in your best interest. If you plan to hire a financial advisor, or are currently working with a financial advisor, it is essential to understand whether any conflicts of interest might influence the advice you're receiving.
It’s a New Year: Here’s a DIY Financial Plan Checklist
It seems that everywhere you look – TV, internet, social media – there are ads for all manner of ways to improve your life in the coming year. While you may or may not have New Year’s resolutions, now is a good time to strengthen your financial plan so you are in control of your money. Here is a list of some questions to ask yourself about topics like investments, estate planning, insurance, and taxes:
Elections & the Stock Market
An investor may ask, “Should I move to a more conservative allocation until after the election?” It’s a valid question. However, this question and thought process go against what we believe about the market and historical precedents.