Financial Consulate

06/03/2026

You've been putting money into your 401(k) for decades. But here's what gets overlooked: once you retire, that money needs to last 30+ years.

The withdrawal order matters. Pull from taxable accounts first, and you give your tax-deferred money more time to grow. Wait too long to tap your Roth, and you miss out on years of tax-free income.

This isn't something to figure out on the fly. We map out withdrawal sequences during the Financial Physical® so you know exactly where your income will come from each year.

Want to see what your retirement income strategy looks like with real numbers? Visit financialconsulate.com to schedule an intro call.

06/02/2026

Are you staying at a job you hate just for the health insurance? If you’re over 60, there’s a bridge strategy to Medicare that most people completely overlook.

06/01/2026

Check that your assets are titled correctly, because the “small stuff” (house, cars, credit) can turn into a major headache for a surviving spouse at the worst possible time.

A quick check now can save a lot of stress later.

05/29/2026

One of the biggest retirement expenses people underestimate? Healthcare.

A healthy 65-year-old couple retiring today could spend $300,000 or more on healthcare throughout retirement. That's not a worst-case scenario. That's average.

And if you need long-term care at some point, whether it's in-home help or a nursing facility, those costs can run $100,000 a year or more.

The mistake is assuming Medicare will handle it all and not building those costs into your retirement income plan.

We factor healthcare expenses into every retirement projection we build during our Financial Physical®. If you're not sure whether your plan accounts for this, let's talk.

05/28/2026

When you’re grieving the loss of your spouse, finances might be the furthest thing from your mind. Our new article shows you how our team can walk you through the financial chaos after losing a spouse.

Madison Bennett, a Financial Consulate fee-only financial advisor, helps clients in Hunt Valley, MD navigate finances after losing a spouse.

05/27/2026

Tax season is over, but tax planning never stops. If you're only looking at taxes once a year, you're missing opportunities.

By reviewing your 2025 return now, we can identify moves to make for the rest of 2026. That might mean converting IRA dollars while you're in a lower tax bracket, harvesting losses to offset gains, or restructuring how you take income.

Tax preparation looks backward. Tax planning looks forward.

05/26/2026

Is your financial advisor truly earning their fee, or are you just riding a rising market? In our latest article, Drew Tignanelli reviews the "My Guy" syndrome and explains what true, comprehensive financial planning should look like.

Are you paying 1% for investments only? Drew Tignanelli, CPA, CFP®, on why a comprehensive fee-only wealth advisor may offer more than the "My Guy" model.

05/25/2026

Today, we honor the men and women who gave their lives in service to this country.

Memorial Day is a day to remember the sacrifices made by those who never came home. To the families who've lost someone in uniform, your sacrifice is not forgotten.

Thank you to all who have served and to those who continue to serve today.

05/22/2026

Did you know you might be eligible for benefits based on an ex-spouse's work record? Many women are unaware of these specific rules that can bolster their retirement income.

▪️ 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝟭𝟬 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗥𝘂𝗹𝗲: If you were married for at least 10 years and are currently unmarried, you may qualify.
▪️ 𝟱𝟬% 𝗣𝗮𝘆𝗼𝘂𝘁: You could receive up to 50% of your ex-spouse’s benefit if it is higher than your own.
▪️ 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝗚𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗱: Your ex-spouse is not notified when you claim these benefits, and it does not impact their own payout.
▪️ 𝗦𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗶𝘃𝗼𝗿 𝗢𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: If an ex-spouse passes away, you may be eligible for survivor benefits of up to 100%.

Knowledge is power when it comes to retirement planning.

05/21/2026

What do you do when a client asks you to help them make one of the biggest financial decisions of their lives, and nobody, not even the doctors, can tell them the right time to act?

Our advisor, Mike McCarthy. wrote about the hardest situation he's faced in his career. It's the story of a couple who had spent decades building a business together, until a sudden health crisis changed everything they'd planned for.

A financial advisor shares the hardest client conversation of his career and what it reveals about long-term care planning for business owners and families.