Gary Cates - Thrivent

05/05/2026

THANK YOU to our second event sponsor, Gary Cates - Thrivent! We are so thankful for fellow veterans who step up to help others overcome their mental health struggles. Your contribution truly makes an impact and we are honored to have you back.

In case you missed it, our sponsor link is live! Go out the link in our bio to explore all the ways you can Join the Mission.

VFW 454 Veterans Ruck March 2026

05/05/2026

A great cause and event. Come have a great time with us this year!!

Join us for the 5th Annual VFW 454 Veterans Ruck March 2026! Use the link below to:

🥾 Ruck
👕 Buy event T-shirt
🤟 Donate
🤝 Sponsor

🔗https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/veterans-ruck-march--2026

04/30/2026

Thinking about the topics that come up from business owners this time of year. 🏢

Spring turns into summer. Clients get busy. Employees rotate vacations. And the business keeps running, so ownership attention quietly shifts to wherever the fire is that week.

That’s usually when bigger questions get postponed:
• Are cash reserves still where they should be?
• What happens to income if the owner can’t work for a stretch?
• Are my employees confident in their retirement plans?
• Is there a backup plan if a key person is suddenly out?

Nothing has to be wrong for those questions to matter.

Most of the time, they just get delayed until fall...when they’re harder to deal with. Shoot me a DM or find a time on my website to chat about those things.

Disclosures: thrivent.com/social

04/28/2026

The past couple of years I've noticed May is when plans usually don’t fall apart but, they fade into the background 📅

Kids finish school. Summer schedules take shape. Vacations, weddings, and weekends fill the calendar faster than expected.

One pattern I see every year: people plan to revisit things “after summer”… and then fall shows up quicker than anyone anticipated.

What does that usually look like?
- Are my retirement contributions on track?
- How is my current retirement strategy holding up?
- Is my budget up to date?
- Have I taken a look at my protection needs (what happens if I can't work)?

A brief check‑in now, before schedules completely fill, often prevents rushed decisions later in the year.

Disclosures: thrivent.com/social

04/23/2026

Business owners: here’s a quick way to spot blind spots before they get expensive.

If the business is “doing fine” but you still feel behind, it’s usually because one of these dials is off:

💵CASH FLOW: If revenue dipped for 60 days, what would you cut first, and what would you protect?
🕰️TIME: What’s the one thing you’re still doing that you should not be doing anymore?
🔥RISK: If you (or a key person) were out unexpectedly, what breaks first?

Quick insight: most surprises happen when business decisions and personal goals aren’t coordinated, so you’re winning week‑to‑week but guessing long‑term.

This is what I help business owners do: connect the dots between the business and personal goals so decisions get simpler and blind spots get smaller.

If you know an owner who’d relate to this, feel free to pass it along. Or if you are a business owner shoot me a DM.

Which dial feels most off right now: cash flow, time, or risk?

Disclosures: thrivent.com/social

04/21/2026

Market volatility is exactly why I’m such a big believer in having a plan. 📌

This year has been a reminder that markets can move around… a lot. But that doesn’t automatically mean your plan needs to.

And even after all the noise, the S&P 500 is up around 3–4% year‑to‑date.

Volatility has been the main topic in a lot of my conversations lately: with clients, friends, and other professionals.

A good plan isn’t built to predict headlines.
It’s built so you don’t have to react to them.

Fun fact: the market’s “fear gauge” (VIX) spiked above 30 in late March, but closed around 17.5 by April 17.

When things feel volatile, what helps you stay steady: a plan, a timeline, or just tuning it out?

If you want to talk through what a “steady plan” looks like for you, send me a message or check the link on my profile. 👉

Disclosures: thrivent.com/social
Sources (for context):
fred.stlouisfed.org/series/VIXCLS
chartexchange.com/symbol/index-vix/historical
fred.stlouisfed.org/series/SP500

04/17/2026

🔍 Something I see pretty often, especially after the first few months of the year, is accounts spread across different places.

There’s nothing “wrong” with that. It can just make it harder to see how everything fits together.

A simple check‑in might look like:
• What accounts do I have?
• What is each one meant to do?
• Do they still line up with my priorities today?

Not about changing anything. Just understanding the full picture.

Disclosures: thrivent.com/social

04/14/2026

Spring cleaning isn’t just for garages...here’s the financial version. 🧹🌱

Hey, I get it, it’s been a busy start to 2026. Q1 tends to fly by for a lot of people.

That’s usually when financial “piles” quietly stack up:
✅ accounts spread across places
✅ beneficiaries that haven’t been reviewed in a while
✅ paperwork you meant to organize
✅ plans that haven’t quite caught up with real life

A spring reset doesn’t have to mean making big changes. Sometimes it’s just getting clarity on:
• what you have
• how it’s organized
• and whether it still fits where you’re headed

If this is something you’ve been meaning to check in on this year, spring is a pretty natural time to pause and think about it. 😊

Disclosures: thrivent.com/social

01/26/2026

Brrrrrrrr 🧊

Join our team "Freezing our Heart of Illinois Assets Off" on February 6, 2026 for the 10th Anniversary of Night in A Car.

We are thrilled to join Home Sweet Home's Night in a Car event in support of local families facing homelessness. This event not only raises awareness of the struggles within our community but also helps provide critical resources to those in need. As a team, we believe in the power of community and want to do our part to shine a light on the often-overlooked issue of homelessness in our area. By participating in this event, we hope to contribute to the ongoing efforts of Home Sweet Home to provide shelter, support, and hope to families who are struggling.

Our commitment goes beyond just raising awareness—we want to be active participants in making a real difference. We aim to inspire others to get involved, donate, and take action to help address homelessness. Together, we can support those in need and create lasting change, one step at a time. Let's make a difference and help give these families a brighter future.

Can't join us, but would like to donate? Here's the link to support our team: https://bit.ly/4blc4aA

11/28/2025

💭 Will your retirement income last 25+ years?

Most people think they’re ready...until taxes, inflation, and healthcare costs change the math.

📊 Did you know a $1M portfolio can shrink faster than expected if withdrawals aren’t tax-efficient? (Source: Fidelity Retirement Research)

✅ Complimentary top to bottom review (virtual or in-person). Check out my website to learn more, comment “Info”, or message me to schedule your spot!

👉 See disclosures: Thrivent.com/disclosures