Maryland Financial Advocates

07/21/2026

I’m very bullish on progress and the brilliance of the human race. I’ll bet on smart, motivated, and ambitious people over naysayers all day long.

That’s why I am always beating the drum for long term investing and staying the course – history and innovation has taught me well.

In 2000, about 1.3 billion people lacked access to electricity. Today, that number has dropped to around 675 million.

Since then, roughly 334,000 people gain electricity access every day—enough to add the equivalent of a small country’s population annually.

This means hundreds of thousands now have light to read by, a way to charge phones, and the ability to refrigerate food—every single day.

You won’t hear this on the evening news, which focuses on negative headlines instead of ongoing global progress.

This progress matters for investing too. Companies in your portfolio serve a world that is healthier, more connected, and more productive each year.

When you’re uncertain about the future, remember the data: progress continues, even amid chaos.

07/21/2026

The April 1st delay option for your first RMD looks like a gift from the IRS. It's actually a trap.

Here's how it works: Turn 73 in 2026, and you can delay your first RMD until April 1, 2027. Sounds great until you realize you'll still need to take your 2027 RMD by December 31, 2027.

That's two full RMDs in one calendar year. Let's say each RMD is $40,000. That's $80,000 of additional taxable income in 2027.

This income spike could push you from the 12% tax bracket into the 22% bracket, or it could trigger the Medicare high-income surcharge (IRMAA) starting in 2029. Or, it could trigger the Net Investment Income Tax as well.

With all these landmines in play, the choice to delay could end up costing thousands in additional taxes and premiums.

Which is why the better strategy is usually to take your first RMD by December 31st of the year you turn 73.

That way, you can spread the tax impact over two calendar years instead of cramming it into one.

Ask your advisor about your RMD strategy and if you don't have one, give us a call.

Call now to connect with business.

07/20/2026

“The Sky Isn’t Falling” and…….. “the river keeps flowing even if the reservoir is empty”…..

Social Security isn’t “running out,” though headlines may suggest otherwise.

Here’s the situation in simple terms:

1. Social Security is mainly a pay-as-you-go system.
Workers’ payroll taxes fund benefits for current retirees. This has always been the case—think of the taxes as a flowing river.

2. The Social Security trust fund acts as a buffer.
For years, payroll taxes brought in more than needed, creating a surplus—the reservoir. Now, benefits exceed payroll tax income, so the system is drawing from that reserve.

3. At the current rate, the reserve may be depleted around 2033. This is often the figure you see in the news, but it’s often misunderstood.

4. Benefits would not suddenly stop if the trust fund runs out. Payroll taxes would still cover about 75–80% of scheduled benefits—the river keeps flowing even if the reservoir is empty.

5. While a shortfall isn’t ideal, it’s manageable. Policymakers have options like raising payroll taxes, increasing the wage cap, adjusting benefits for higher earners, raising the retirement age, or combining these changes.

The real question isn’t if Social Security will exist, but how Congress will choose to adjust it in the years ahead.

Tough decisions lie ahead so plan accordingly. Ask your advisor about how Social Security fits into your plans.

07/19/2026

"If I were on Wall Street, I'd probably be a lot poorer. You get overstimulated. You hear lots of things. You may shorten your focus, and a short focus is not conducive to long profits."
— Warren Buffett

The man who built the greatest investment record in modern history felt that his physical (not to mention mental) distance from the epicenter of market noise was part of his edge.

A great attribute to being a successful investor is the ability to zoom out and stay the course.

We use a 3-5 holding portfolio and some common sense, always knowing what we own and why we own it.

07/18/2026

“Set it and forget it”

Despite what the media often suggests, you don’t have to predict the future to succeed as an investor.

History shows that the key is to stay invested and not miss out on the long-term growth of strong companies.

Simply put, maintain a portfolio that reflects the market and hold onto it. (No guarantees or predictions, of course.)

It sounds straightforward—and it is—but staying disciplined is the real challenge.

When in doubt, automate and index for your long term money.

07/17/2026

“Simplicity can be the most important asset”

In our monthly, printed, snail mailed newsletter (subscribe with the link, its free), I’ll often highlight a client interaction that I think will help others…..

I recently spoke with a couple whose plan was highly optimized—multiple accounts, layered tax strategies, and withdrawal sequencing mapped years ahead.

On paper, it was excellent and they worked really hard to keep it going.

Yet, they felt overwhelmed: “This seems like a lot to keep up with.”

So I asked, “What do you really want to accomplish?”

Their answer wasn’t to maximize every dollar but to “feel confident about our future without constantly thinking about it.”

That shifted the conversation.

We simplified the plan—fewer moving parts, more flexibility.
Did it sacrifice some efficiency? Possibly.

Did it better fit their lifestyle? Absolutely.

Financial planning involves a key distinction: optimization versus simplicity.

One seeks perfection; the other values effectiveness without complexity.

The best approach is personal, not universal and these are the conversations I wish more advisors had with their clients.

07/16/2026

“Giving while Living”

There's a relationship benefit to giving while living that doesn't get talked about enough. I call this the “how” vs. the “how much”

When wealth transfers happen at death, the family dynamics around the transfer can be complicated.

Siblings may see the distribution as a final judgment on who the parent valued most. Old grievances can surface. In planning jargon, the s**t hits the fan.

I am managing a trust for a beneficiary right now that could not be any more tense and I am sure its not what the parents intended.

The legal process itself can introduce a tension that the family wasn't experiencing before the death.

In some ways, the inheritance, even when generous, can leave the next generation worse off than before because family relationships are sometimes damaged in the process of receiving it.

Giving while living tends to avoid much of this angst. The transfers usually happen in real time, in measured amounts, often with conversations attached.

Because each gift can be accompanied by a moment of connection (rather than comparison), it can actually strengthen relationships rather than fracturing them.

There's no perfect strategy, but for families wanting to pass on not just wealth but also a healthy relationship between the generations that will outlive them, the way wealth is transferred is at least as important as how much is transferred.

I am a huge proponent of “giving while living” and it’s something I encourage all clients to consider.

Next time you chat with your advisor, see if it makes sense for you.

07/15/2026

Check out our latest Podcast! "Don't Confuse Volume With Value - The 1-2 Page Financial Action Plan"

Available on Apple Podcasts now.

Podcast link is in the comments.

07/14/2026

We did a 2 page insert in our latest printed/mailed newsletter titled:

“The Market Is Loud. Your Plan Shouldn’t Be”

Here’s a summary………..and if you’d like to get this in your real (not email) mailbox every month, hit the link.

The financial world has a way of making every week feel urgent.

Inflation. Interest rates. Elections. Oil prices. Jobs reports. Market rallies. Market pullbacks. Someone on TV standing beside a very dramatic red arrow.

It is a lot. But for most people the most useful question is not: “Is the market good or bad right now?”
It’s: “What does this actually change for me?”

That question brings the conversation back where it belongs: your plan.

Markets will always move. Headlines will always compete for attention. Experts will always disagree. There will always be a reason to feel like you should be doing something.

But “doing something” and “doing the right thing” are not always the same.
That is especially important in or near retirement, when market news can feel more personal. Your portfolio is no longer just “money for the future.”

It’s part of your income, your security, your legacy, and your peace of mind. That is why our plan accounts for the fact that markets are rarely calm for long.

It helps separate short-term noise from long-term decisions. It gives your money different jobs: some for near-term needs, some for future growth, some for flexibility, and some for protection.

The headline is simply a reminder to ask better questions:

• Do you have enough cash for your upcoming needs?
• Are withdrawals still aligned with the plan?
• Does anything need to be rebalanced?
• Are there tax opportunities to consider?
• Has anything changed in your life that affects the plan?

That is the real work. Not reacting to every market up and down. Staying the course.

Your goal is not to win every quarter – that’s probably not possible. It’s to keep your money aligned with the life it is meant to support.

07/14/2026

Are we finally about to "lock the clock"?

The U.S. House is voting this week on the Sunshine Protection Act, which would make Daylight Saving Time permanent year-round. No more "springing forward" or "falling back."

How do we feell about this? I'm undecided.........