Aspen Wealth Management

09/02/2026

April is when you find out what your tax year cost you. Right now, you can still do something about it.

There’s still time to check your withholding, look for tax-loss harvesting opportunities, consider bundling charitable gifts through a donor-advised fund, or evaluate whether a Roth conversion makes sense this year.

The difference between tax preparation and tax planning comes down to timing. One records what already happened. The other lets you shape it.

Read the strategies: https://www.aspenwealthmgmt.com/resource-center/tax/mid-year-tax-planning-strategies

08/31/2026

In 1930, U.S. life expectancy was under 60. A retirement program that paid out at 65 didn't have to stretch far. Today, life expectancy is closer to 80, and a healthy 60-year-old may have two active decades ahead, sometimes more.

That shift creates what's known as longevity risk: the possibility of outliving your money. More years in retirement mean more income needed, plus rising healthcare costs, potential long-term care, and inflation quietly eroding purchasing power along the way.

Planning for it means building an income floor, extending the payout period, accounting for sequence-of-returns risk, and keeping part of your portfolio positioned for growth.

Read the full breakdown: https://www.aspenwealthmgmt.com/resource-center/retirement/longevity-risk-financial-security

08/27/2026

Should you still be buying stocks at record highs? It's the question Nathan Davis, CFP®, CFA, our Chief Investment Officer, has heard more than any other lately, and it anchors our Q2 2026 market update.

Rather than run through every headline, Nathan built the hour around what clients are actually asking. Is the economy cooling or breaking? Are stocks too expensive to own? And where are investors being rewarded today?

His throughline: a record high tells you where the market has been, not where it's going.

The full replay is up now.

Watch here: https://bit.ly/4hXUs7Y

08/26/2026

When people think of retirement risk, they often picture the stock market.

Markets matter. But they're only part of the story. In this clip, Troy Fore, CFP®, walks through the risks that tend to grow in importance over a long retirement: living longer than expected, inflation slowly eroding purchasing power, taxes that bite harder later on, rising healthcare costs, and the emotional decisions that surface during hard markets. A sound plan prepares for volatility, but it also helps you stay steady through uncertainty. Some of the most damaging financial decisions are made emotionally, not mathematically.

Watch the full session: https://www.aspenwealthmgmt.com/blog/webinars/retirement-income-planning-for-the-next-30-years

08/24/2026

Here's something that still surprises us. Many people we meet in their first consultation don't even have the basic estate documents in place: a will, a financial power of attorney, a healthcare directive, and guardianship provisions.

These decisions are sensitive. They're also essential for anyone who wants a say in how their assets are handled and who their loved ones can rely on. Our work starts by listening to the kind of legacy you want to leave, then helping you build toward it.

We also review beneficiary designations, where we often find beneficiaries that should have been updated years ago. Since some accounts bypass probate entirely, that review matters more than people expect.

Learn about our approach to estate planning: https://www.aspenwealthmgmt.com/estate-planning

08/19/2026

Cornelius Vanderbilt's reported last words to his heirs: "Keep the money together." Within three or four generations, one of the largest fortunes in America had largely dissipated.

John D. Rockefeller took a different path. He educated his heirs, established a governance structure, and designed legal frameworks to promote tax efficiency and continued growth. Generations later, that legacy continues to support causes in medicine, education, and global health.

The difference wasn't the size of the fortune. It was the preparation of the people who would inherit it. With an estimated $124 trillion in wealth expected to change hands over the next few decades, that lesson is worth sitting with.

Read the full article:

Preserve your family’s fortune and philanthropic legacy with strategies in next generation planning and financial leadership, inspired by the lessons of Vanderbilt and Rockefeller.

08/18/2026

You’ve spent a lifetime building a successful business, but it’s time to step back. How do you know if your business is ready to sell? What are the next steps in your exit plan? What about taxes? Senior Wealth Advisor Jim Davis answers these questions, and more.

Selling your business is a huge life event. Learn the key financial, tax, and emotional factors that determine whether you're truly prepared.

08/17/2026

Most American business owners are nearing retirement age. Yet only a small share of businesses put up for sale actually sell. And unplanned events can force an exit that isn't on your terms or your timeline.

A solid exit plan changes that math. When a business is prepared for transition, it becomes more attractive and more valuable to buyers. A good exit plan isn't a document you file away. It's a business strategy focused on growing value, expanding your options, and letting you leave on your terms when you're ready.

An exit planning advisor can help you understand what your business is worth today and what steps to prioritize now.

Start with a 15-minute Exit Readiness Assessment: https://www.aspenwealthmgmt.com/exit-planning

08/13/2026

Replacing your paycheck in retirement is one of the most complex financial challenges you’ll face. Learn how income sequencing—the order in which you draw from accounts—affects your taxes, longevity risk, and lifestyle. Troy Fore, CFP® explains.

A thoughtful retirement income sequencing strategy can help manage taxes, longevity risk, and cash flow while providing greater flexibility.

08/12/2026

"If you build it, they will come." Building the wealth, it turns out, is the easier part. The harder question is whether the next generation arrives with the knowledge to preserve and grow it.

For first-generation wealth builders, saving and disciplined spending often feel like second nature. For children raised with the privileges that wealth allows, those same habits may not develop as naturally. That gap is where financial education matters.

It can start small. Telling your own stories about a time when cutting costs made a difference. Talking openly about giving. Building governance into estate documents that ties access to milestones, not just age.

Read more on preparing the next generation: https://www.aspenwealthmgmt.com/resource-center/financial-planning/the-role-of-education-in-preparing-your-children-for-wealth-inheritance