Patrick Clark, Financial Planner, Finance Roadmap Planning

06/17/2026

Do you really need a large emergency fund once your pension starts?

A recent client conversation made me rethink the traditional advice around emergency savings. If your Massachusetts pension already covers most or all of your living expenses, the purpose of an emergency fund may be very different than it was during your working years.

In this article, I explore how guaranteed pension income can change the risks you're protecting against and why the right amount of emergency savings may depend on your specific situation.

Read more below and ask yourself:

What risk am I actually protecting against?

https://www.financeroadmapplanning.com/post/does-a-pension-change-how-much-emergency-savings-you-need

The opinions expressed are those of Guardian Wealth Advisors, LLC. The opinions referenced are as of the date of publication and are subject to change due to changes in the market or economic conditions and may not necessarily come to pass. Forward-looking statements cannot be guaranteed. This should not be construed as tax advice. You should always consult with your tax professional with regard to specific tax questions and obligations. (GWA-26-55)

A client who is already collecting their Massachusetts pension wanted to make a large purchase. The concern was that it would use up a significant portion of their emergency fund. My first reaction was concern, but then I remembered they had guaranteed income in the form of a pension that covered mo...

05/26/2026

Did you do a backdoor Roth IRA strategy for 2025?

I need you to check one thing on your tax return.

Go find Form 1040 and look at line 4B.
If there’s a number there when you weren’t expecting one, you may have accidentally triggered taxes you didn’t need to pay.

In this video, I explain:

• Why line 4B matters
• The double-tax mistake I see all the time
• How the pro-rata rule catches people off guard

This is one of those strategies where the ex*****on matters just as much as the idea itself.


The opinions expressed are those of Guardian Wealth Advisors, LLC. The opinions referenced are as of the date of publication and are subject to change due to changes in the market or economic conditions and may not necessarily come to pass. Forward-looking statements cannot be guaranteed.This should not be construed as tax advice. You should always consult with your tax professional with regard to specific tax questions and obligations.

GWA-26-46

05/20/2026

What you don’t know about your target date funds could matter more than you think.

I created a quick video on:

multiple old 401(k)s
owning several target date funds
and why more positions doesn’t always mean more diversification.

Especially if you’re getting closer to retirement.

The opinions expressed are those of Guardian Wealth Advisors, LLC. The opinions referenced are as of the date of publication and are subject to change due to changes in the market or economic conditions and may not necessarily come to pass. Forward-looking statements cannot be guaranteed. GWA-26-44

04/01/2026

One of the biggest mistakes I see for people approaching retirement
it’s relying on a number without understanding what drives it.

Social Security estimates are built on assumptions.
And small changes over time can lead to very different outcomes.

This is especially important if:

You’re within 5–10 years of retirement

Your income isn’t consistent year to year

You’re planning to slow down before full retirement

The statement is a starting point. The plan is what brings clarity.

The opinions expressed are those of Guardian Wealth Advisors, LLC. The opinions referenced are as of the date of publication and are subject to change due to changes in the market or economic conditions and may not necessarily come to pass. Forward-looking statements cannot be guaranteed.

The code is GWA-26-26

03/24/2026

If you’re a Massachusetts public employee born after 1923… this is worth paying attention to.

For years, most people assumed Social Security wasn’t really part of the plan.

That may not be the case anymore.

Curious how this applies to you?

https://www.financeroadmapplanning.com/post/massachusetts-pension-social-security-what-your-statement-still-doesn-t-tell-you-even-after-wep

The opinions expressed are those of Guardian Wealth Advisors, LLC. The opinions referenced are as of the date of publication and are subject to change due to changes in the market or economic conditions and may not necessarily come to pass. Forward-looking statements cannot be guaranteed.GWA-26-24

03/10/2026

In retirement it’s About Control, Not Zero Taxes

If you want the full explanation, the article is linked below:

https://www.financeroadmapplanning.com/post/your-massachusetts-pension-is-the-foundation-it-s-not-the-whole-house
Disclaimer: Any attachments are for informational purposes only. Investing involves risk. Principal loss is possible. Past performance is no guarantee of future success. It should not be assumed that the investment recommendations or decisions we make in the future will be profitable or will equal the investment performance discussed herein. Different funds will have different fees and expenses. An investor should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of a fund carefully before investing. The highest applicable fee GWA may charge is 1.5%.
Investment advisory services offered through Guardian Wealth Advisors D/B/A Finance Roadmap Planning, an investment advisor registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. More information about GWA’s investment advisory services can be found in its Form ADV Part 2 or Form CRS, which is available upon request. "This is not meant to be financial or tax advice. You should always consult with your tax professional with regard to specific tax questions and obligations.(GWA-26-15)

03/04/2026

State or Municiapal Employee: I plan on retiring I just hit 30 years.

State or Municiapal Employee Co/workerFriend: You know your pension doesn't get paid right away.

State or Municiapal Employee: I guess i'll keep working

This happens all the time when it doesn't have to

The system isn’t broken.
It just requires planning.
Retirement shouldn’t be delayed because of fear.
It should be decided based on readiness.

Here is an article about getting your first pension check:

https://www.financeroadmapplanning.com/post/when-will-i-get-my-first-pension-check-in-massachusetts

Any attachments are for informational purposes only. Investing involves risk. Principal loss is possible. Past performance is no guarantee of future success. It should not be assumed that the investment recommendations or decisions we make in the future will be profitable or will equal the investment performance discussed herein. Different funds will have different fees and expenses. An investor should consider the investment
objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of a fund carefully before investing. The highest applicable fee GWA may charge is 1.5%.

Investment advisory services offered through Guardian Wealth Advisors D/B/A Finance Roadmap Planning, an investment advisor registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. More information about GWA’s investment advisory services can be found in its Form ADV Part 2 or Form CRS, which is available upon request.(GWA-26-19).

02/27/2026

Why Massachusetts Pensions Can Create Tax Surprises

This is exactly what I break down in the blog post I just published.

https://www.financeroadmapplanning.com/post/your-massachusetts-pension-is-the-foundation-it-s-not-the-whole-house

Disclaimer: Any attachments are for informational purposes only. Investing involves risk. Principal loss is possible. Past performance is no guarantee of future success. It should not be assumed that the investment recommendations or decisions we make in the future will be profitable or will equal the investment performance discussed herein. Different funds will have different fees and expenses. An investor should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of a fund carefully before investing. The highest applicable fee GWA may charge is 1.5%.
Investment advisory services offered through Guardian Wealth Advisors D/B/A Finance Roadmap Planning, an investment advisor registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. More information about GWA’s investment advisory services can be found in its Form ADV Part 2 or Form CRS, which is available upon request. "This is not meant to be financial or tax advice. You should always consult with your tax professional with regard to specific tax questions and obligations.(GWA-26-15)

02/20/2026

Most people with a Massachusetts pension are in better shape than they realize.

The issue isn’t whether the pension is “enough.”

It’s that too many people stop planning at the pension without thinking about:

Taxes

A working spouse

Pre-tax vs Roth savings

Medicare premiums later on

I like to explain it this way:

Your pension is the foundation of your retirement.

But nobody lives on a foundation alone.

How you build the rest of the house and how much attention that attracts from the tax assessor is where planning really matters.

I wrote a short, plain-English article walking through this idea here:



https://www.financeroadmapplanning.com/post/your-massachusetts-pension-is-the-foundation-it-s-not-the-whole-house

If you’re approaching retirement with a MA pension, this is worth understanding.

Disclaimer: Any attachments are for informational purposes only. Investing involves risk. Principal loss is possible. Past performance is no guarantee of future success. It should not be assumed that the investment recommendations or decisions we make in the future will be profitable or will equal the investment performance discussed herein. Different funds will have different fees and expenses. An investor should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of a fund carefully before investing. The highest applicable fee GWA may charge is 1.5%.

Investment advisory services offered through Guardian Wealth Advisors D/B/A Finance Roadmap Planning, an investment advisor registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. More information about GWA’s investment advisory services can be found in its Form ADV Part 2 or Form CRS, which is available upon request. "This is not meant to be financial or tax advice. You should always consult with your tax professional with regard to specific tax questions and obligations. (GWA-26-15)

If you have a Massachusetts pension, you’re already in a strong position. For many people, that pension covers a large portion of their retirement income needs and sometimes most of it. That’s the good news. The problem is that too many people stop there. The pension is a solid start, but it’s...