Aspen Wealth Management

07/17/2026

Midsummer may not seem like an obvious time to think about your next tax return, but it’s an ideal time to take some steps that can reduce the size of the check you write to the US Treasury next April. Wealth Advisor Helen Stephens explains.

Don't wait until December to think about taxes. Mid-year is the ideal time to review your tax situation, identify planning opportunities, and take action before year-end windows close.

07/16/2026

A finance professor at MIT once ran an experiment. Students bidding on sold-out NBA tickets bid more than double when they could pay by credit card instead of cash. Same tickets. Very different behavior.

That's the psychology of spending at work. Credit cards uncouple the joy of buying from the discomfort of paying, and the emotional weight of the purchase gets discounted. The same emotional pull shows up in investing, where herd behavior and fear of missing out can quietly undermine long-term goals.

The antidote is financial mindfulness. De-automate your spending. Try a 24-hour cooling-off rule. Keep a buying journal to spot what's really driving the urge.

Read more: https://www.aspenwealthmgmt.com/resource-center/financial-planning/the-psychology-of-spending-how-emotions-impact-financial-decisions

07/15/2026

A widely cited study by The Williams Group suggests that many family fortunes do not survive beyond the third generation.

The reason usually is not bad markets or a big tax bill. More often, the people who inherit the wealth were never taught how to manage it. The wealth shows up, the understanding does not, and a legacy that took a lifetime to build quietly comes apart.

In this episode of Purposeful Planning, Troy Fore, CFP®, walks through the part of legacy planning that never shows up in a trust document: the financial literacy you teach on purpose, the governance that guides how wealth gets used, and the conversations that help prepare the next generation to become capable stewards. Listen and read more here: https://bit.ly/3SZJzrJ

07/14/2026

Meet Matt Quezergue, CFP®, a Senior Wealth Advisor at Aspen Wealth Management.

Matt joined the firm right after graduating from Texas A&M, where he earned a degree in Finance with a minor in Financial Planning. He earned his CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® certification in 2023, and today he plays a lead advisory role with a focus on lifestyle planning and stock options analysis.

Clients notice his empathy and listening ability. He lives by a simple line: "If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything." Outside the office, you'll find him cooking, walking trails, exploring farmers markets, and watching basketball, soccer, and baseball.

Get to know Matt:

Matt Quezergue, CFP®, is a Senior Wealth Advisor for Aspen Wealth Management with a BBA in Finance.

07/07/2026

Congratulations to Candace Scholz, CFP®, MS, MHA, on being named to AdvisorHub's 2026 Advisors to Watch: RIAs. The list recognizes 250 advisors across the country based on the scope of their practice, practice growth, and professionalism.

We're proud to have Candace on the Aspen team and grateful for the work she does for our clients every day.

See the full list: https://www.advisorhub.com/advisors-to-watch-ria-2026

Disclosure: No compensation was provided in exchange for the rating. https://www.aspenwealthmgmt.com/awards-rankings-disclosures

07/06/2026

The first ten years of retirement set the tone for the decades that follow. Aspen's Troy Fore, CFP® shares a few key spending principles to help build flexibility and confidence from the very beginning.

Learn how to build a retirement spending plan that balances flexibility and security during your early retirement years.

07/01/2026

A summer trip with the grandkids does two things at once. It buys you real bonding time with the people who matter most, and it gives parents some time of their own, made easier knowing the kids are having the time of their lives.

Candace Scholz, CFP®, shares how to make it work for everyone. Pick a destination with something for every age. Stay curious instead of critical, especially with teenagers still figuring out who they are. And handle the logistics that catch people off guard: a notarized permission letter, medical consent forms, and passports or other required travel documents for minors traveling internationally.

There's more to quality of life than account balances. We help clients build retirement strategies that make memory-filled trips like these possible.

Read it here: https://www.aspenwealthmgmt.com/resource-center/lifestyle/vacationing-with-grandchildren

06/24/2026

We are halfway through the year, which makes this a good time to step back and take stock of where your finances stand. Have your goals or circumstances shifted since January? Are you on track with savings and contributions? Has anything changed with your income, family situation, or tax picture that might call for adjustments before year-end? A mid-year review does not need to be complicated. It simply means taking a thoughtful look at whether your financial plan still reflects where you are and where you want to go. If you would like to sit down with the Aspen Wealth team for a mid-year check-in, we would be happy to help you evaluate where things stand and identify any adjustments worth considering.

06/23/2026

Not everyone wants to go from full-time work to full stop.

Phased retirement is a growing path, and it comes with real financial decisions around healthcare, Social Security timing, and income sequencing that can make a big difference in the long run. In our latest episode of Purposeful Planning, Fore, CFP®, walks through how to think about it all.

Listen and read more here: https://www.aspenwealthmgmt.com/resource-center/retirement/phased-retirement-planning-strategy