John McGee MBA, Principal Arete Financial Group LLC

John McGee MBA, Principal Arete Financial Group LLC Providing quality financial strategies, and offers insurance and financial services. I am not licensed in all jurisdictions.

John McGee is an Agent licensed to sell insurance through New York Life Insurance Company and may be licensed with various other independent unaffiliated insurance companies. Additionally, John McGee is a Financial Services Professional of and offers securities products & services through NYLIFE Securities LLC, (Member FINRA/SIPC), A Licensed Insurance Agency. John McGee is a Financial Adviser off

ering investment advisory services through Eagle Strategies LLC, A Registered Investment Adviser. Neither Arete Financial Group LLC nor New York Life Insurance Company, or its agents, provide tax, legal, or accounting advice. Please consult your own tax, legal, or accounting professionals before making any decisions. Arete Financial Group LLC is not owned or operated by New York Life Insurance Company or its affiliates. Arete Financial Group LLC
1887 Los Cabos Dr
Windsor, CO 80550

Cel: 303-746-9450

Any testimonial on this site is based on an individual’s experience and may not be representative of the experience of other customers. These testimonials are no guarantee of future performance or success. Eagle Strategies LLC and NYLIFE Securities LLC are New York Life Companies.

Friday Planning TipBalancing Today’s Expenses With Future GoalsOne of the hardest parts of planning isn’t knowing what t...
02/27/2026

Friday Planning Tip
Balancing Today’s Expenses With Future Goals

One of the hardest parts of planning isn’t knowing what to do — it’s balancing today with tomorrow.

You want to enjoy life now.
You also want to feel confident about the future.

Good planning isn’t about choosing one over the other. It’s about creating space for both.

That might mean:

Spending intentionally instead of impulsively

Saving consistently, even if it’s not perfect

Making decisions that support your long-term goals without feeling restricted

Progress doesn’t come from extremes.
It comes from balance and intention over time.

02/26/2026

I recently worked with a family facing a challenge I see often.

Their child was heading to college, and they wanted to help as much as possible — but they were worried about what that might mean for their own long-term plans.

Like many parents, they felt pulled in two directions:

Supporting their child’s education

Making sure they didn’t sacrifice their own financial future

We spent time talking through priorities, timing, and what was realistically manageable. Together, we built a plan that balanced college costs while keeping their broader goals on track.

The biggest shift wasn’t just numbers — it was clarity. They walked away knowing they could support their child and move forward confidently with their own plans.

That peace of mind made all the difference.

Friday Planning Tip:Separating Needs vs. Wants in RetirementOne of the most helpful conversations people can have before...
02/20/2026

Friday Planning Tip:
Separating Needs vs. Wants in Retirement

One of the most helpful conversations people can have before retirement is a simple one:

“What do I need — and what do I want?”

Needs are the basics:

Housing

Food

Healthcare

Utilities

Wants are the things that add enjoyment and flexibility:

Travel

Hobbies

Dining out

Helping family

There’s nothing wrong with either — but knowing the difference makes planning much clearer.

When your needs are covered, your wants become choices instead of stress points.

That clarity goes a long way in building confidence for the years ahead.

02/19/2026

Quick question I’ve been thinking about lately…

What does “financial freedom” actually mean to you?

For some people, it’s retiring early.
For others, it’s having flexibility, less stress, or simply knowing the bills are covered.

There’s no universal definition — and that’s what makes it interesting. Financial freedom looks different depending on where you are in life and what matters most to you.

I’m always curious how people define it for themselves.
If you’re comfortable sharing, I’d love to hear your answer.

If you’re getting close to retirement (or already there) and still wondering, “Am I really going to be okay?” — you’re n...
02/18/2026

If you’re getting close to retirement (or already there) and still wondering, “Am I really going to be okay?” — you’re not alone.

That’s exactly why I wrote The Confident Retirement Blueprint. It’s a simple, practical guide to help you think through income, Social Security, healthcare, and how to turn your savings into a more confident retirement.

If you’d like a free copy, you can download it here and I’ll email it directly to you:

👉 https://bit.ly/3ZKkiSr

Retirement shouldn’t feel uncertain. It should feel clear and confident.

— John

02/13/2026

Retirement Planning Is a Process, Not a Date

A lot of people think retirement planning is about picking a date on the calendar.

In reality, it’s an ongoing process.

Life changes. Priorities shift. Goals evolve.
And your plan should evolve with them.

That’s why the most important part of planning isn’t locking in a specific age — it’s having a framework that can adapt as things change.

Progress comes from reviewing, adjusting, and staying intentional over time.

I recently worked with a couple who were getting close to retirement and feeling unsure about whether they were truly re...
02/12/2026

I recently worked with a couple who were getting close to retirement and feeling unsure about whether they were truly ready.

They had saved consistently over the years, but between job changes, multiple retirement accounts, and questions about income, everything felt scattered. Their biggest concern wasn’t retiring early — it was retiring comfortably and with confidence.

We spent time talking through what retirement actually looked like for them. Not just numbers, but lifestyle, flexibility, and what they wanted their time to feel like.

Together, we simplified their accounts, clarified their income needs, and built a plan that gave them a clearer picture of where they stood and what steps came next.

They didn’t walk away with a “perfect” plan — they walked away with clarity and confidence. And sometimes, that’s the most important part.

Understanding Asset AllocationA lot of people think investing is about picking the “right” thing.In reality, it’s more a...
02/10/2026

Understanding Asset Allocation

A lot of people think investing is about picking the “right” thing.

In reality, it’s more about balance.

Asset allocation is simply how your money is spread across different types of investments — usually stocks, bonds, and cash — based on your goals, timeline, and comfort level with risk.

There’s no one-size-fits-all mix.
What works for someone else may not be right for you.

And it’s not something you set once and forget. As life changes, your plan should evolve too.

When your allocation is aligned with your goals, it makes it easier to stay consistent and avoid emotional decisions.

02/06/2026

How Discipline Supports Long-Term Goals

It’s easy to feel confident when things are going well.
The real test is staying disciplined when motivation fades or life gets busy.

Discipline doesn’t mean being rigid — it means having a plan and sticking with it even when things aren’t perfect.

That might look like:

Continuing to save even when priorities compete

Reviewing your plan instead of ignoring it

Making small adjustments instead of big reactions

Progress usually isn’t dramatic. It’s steady, quiet, and built over time.

Discipline is what keeps long-term goals moving forward.

Behavioral Finance: Why People Chase Market HighsI’ve noticed something over the years — people tend to feel most confid...
02/05/2026

Behavioral Finance: Why People Chase Market Highs

I’ve noticed something over the years — people tend to feel most confident about investing after things have already gone up.

It’s human nature. We don’t want to feel like we’re missing out.

But chasing what’s already popular often leads to buying based on emotion instead of planning.

A few reasons this happens:

We assume recent success will keep going

We compare ourselves to others

We let excitement or fear drive decisions

The problem is, those emotions can pull us away from what actually works long term — consistency, discipline, and having a plan that fits your life.

Good financial decisions aren’t about chasing what’s hot.
They’re about staying aligned with your goals.

02/03/2026

Investing Basics: What Is Dollar Cost Averaging?

One of the most common questions I hear is:
“When is the right time to invest?”

A lot of people worry about putting money in at the “wrong” time. That’s where dollar cost averaging can help.

Dollar cost averaging simply means investing a set amount on a regular schedule — regardless of what’s going on around you.

When prices are lower, that same amount buys more.
When prices are higher, it buys less.
Over time, it helps smooth out the ups and downs.

It’s not about guessing or timing things perfectly, it’s about consistency and staying committed to a long-term plan.

For many people, this approach takes a lot of stress out of investing.

Address

2015 Clubhouse Drive LL03
Greeley, CO
80634

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+13037469450

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