Ryan Landmark, CFP, Chfc - Northwestern Mutual

Ryan Landmark, CFP, Chfc - Northwestern Mutual Protecting what's important. Investing into the future. Preserving what's been built.

The more tech professionals I talk to, the more I hear the same concern come up:Concentration risk.And the tricky part i...
06/03/2026

The more tech professionals I talk to, the more I hear the same concern come up:

Concentration risk.

And the tricky part is… it usually shows up after things have gone really well.

Stock is up
Comp is high
Net worth is growing

So it feels like things are working.

But a lot of times, everything is tied to the same place.

Your paycheck
Your bonus
Your equity

Same company.

Same outcome.

If something goes wrong, it all moves together.

So instead of overcomplicating it, here’s the first 3 things to consider:

First, how exposed are you really?

Not surface level - actually look at it.
What percentage of your net worth is tied to one company?
A lot of people are surprised when they run the numbers.

Second, what would downside look like?

If that stock drops 30–50%, what happens to your overall situation?
Not just investments… your income and job security, too.

Third, are you doing anything about it?

Doesn’t mean sell everything.
But are you gradually reducing that exposure over time… or just letting it grow?

Most people don’t have a plan here.

They just let success compound into risk.

And that works… until it doesn’t.

Cheers!

-Ryan

June 2 is a good line in the sand.Half the year is basically gone. (There, I said it). Most people don’t need a brand ne...
06/02/2026

June 2 is a good line in the sand.

Half the year is basically gone. (There, I said it).

Most people don’t need a brand new plan right now.

They need to look at the one they already had… and ask if they actually followed it.

This is where things usually break down.

You said you would:
Save more
Invest consistently
Get organized
Fix the things you put off

What actually happened?

No judgment.

Just honesty.

Because small gaps over 6 months turn into big gaps over 6 years.

This is the time to reset.

Not overhaul everything.
Not chase something new.

Just get back to the basics:

Are you saving what you said you would?
Are you investing consistently?
Is your money going where you intended?

If not, adjust now.

The people who stay on track don’t have perfect plans.

They check in and course correct.

That’s it.

That’s the edge.

Cheers!

-Ryan

AI is driving stocks higher—but narrow market leadership means that there is more to these gains than meets the eye. Nor...
06/02/2026

AI is driving stocks higher—but narrow market leadership means that there is more to these gains than meets the eye. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management CIO Brent Schutte examines what’s underneath the gains and why diversification still matters. http://spr.ly/6189B8icN3

A very common debate I see amongst investors is whether to do Traditional or Roth contributions.Everyone wants a one siz...
06/01/2026

A very common debate I see amongst investors is whether to do Traditional or Roth contributions.

Everyone wants a one size fits all answer.

There isn’t one.

The core question is simple:

Are you better off paying taxes now or later?

Roth tends to make more sense when
- you’re in lower tax brackets today
- expect higher income and/or higher tax rates later
- want tax-free withdrawals down the road

You’re essentially saying, I’ll pay taxes now while they’re cheaper.

Traditional tends to make more sense when
- you’re in higher tax brackets today
- expect lower income and/or lower tax rates later
- want the upfront tax deduction

You’re saying, I’d rather defer taxes until later.

Where people get this wrong is treating it like a one-time decision.

It’s not.

You can and often should use both over time.

What actually matters is
- your current tax rate compared to where you think it might be later
- your income trajectory
- how long you plan to work
- other income sources you may have
- what your account mix already looks like.

The goal isn’t picking a side.

It’s building flexibility.

Because the reality is:

No one knows what tax rates will be in the future.

But you can control how exposed you are to them.

Cheers!

-Ryan

A financial plan is like a road map that shows you where you are and how to get where you want to go. But what does that...
06/01/2026

A financial plan is like a road map that shows you where you are and how to get where you want to go. But what does that really mean? Learn more about what’s actually included in a good plan. Please reach out if you’d like to start building your plan. http://spr.ly/6189BBNCTX

It’s Faithful Friday!It’s easy to overlook how good some days actually are.Nice weather.Time outside.A meal on a patio.A...
05/29/2026

It’s Faithful Friday!

It’s easy to overlook how good some days actually are.

Nice weather.
Time outside.
A meal on a patio.
A round of golf.
An afternoon at the park with your kids.

None of these are “needs.”
But they matter.

“Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God.” (Ecclesiastes 5:19, NIV)

A lot of people only think of financial planning as restriction.

Cut this.
Don’t spend that.
Save more.

But good planning isn’t just about discipline.

It’s about permission.

Reverse budgeting is a simple example.

Save first.
Invest first.
Handle your obligations first.

Then… spend the rest without guilt.

Enjoy the weather.
Take the trip.
Go to dinner.
Make the memory.

Because you already handled what matters.

That ability to enjoy your money without stress is not an accident.

It’s the result of a plan.

And when done right, it turns ordinary days into something you’re actually grateful for.

Cheers!

-Ryan

Money is powerful.Not just because of how much you have.But because of what it lets you do.Early on, it tends to be abou...
05/28/2026

Money is powerful.

Not just because of how much you have.

But because of what it lets you do.

Early on, it tends to be about things.

A better apartment.
A reliable car.
A home that feels like progress.

There’s nothing wrong with that.

Stability matters.
Comfort matters.
Providing for yourself and your family matters.

But over time, something shifts.

The marginal value of “more stuff” starts to fade.

Another upgrade doesn’t change much.
Another purchase doesn’t really stick.

What does stick are the experiences.

Time with family.
Trips you actually remember.
Being present for moments you can’t replay.

That’s usually when the conversation changes.

Not “What can I buy?”
But “What do I want my life to look like?”

And that’s where balance matters.

If you spend everything early, you limit future options.
If you delay everything, you miss seasons you can’t get back.

Both sides have a cost.

The goal isn’t maximizing stuff.
And it’s not hoarding for later either.

It’s aligning money with the stage of life you’re in.

Early → build stability and optionality.
Middle → balance growth with living.
Later → prioritize time, relationships, and experiences.

Same dollar. Different job depending on when you have it.

Most people don’t consciously adjust.

They just keep doing what worked in the last phase.

Until one day they realize:

They optimized for accumulation…
But didn’t spend enough when it mattered.

Money is a tool.

Used well, it builds a life.

Use it only to accumulate, and you might miss the part it was meant to fund.

Cheers!

-Ryan

05/27/2026

Let’s not let your money sit around. I can help you put it to work with the right financial plan. Reach out to learn more.

Most people think about income tax when they think about taxes.That’s just one piece.Here’s the reality - the average Am...
05/27/2026

Most people think about income tax when they think about taxes.

That’s just one piece.

Here’s the reality - the average American pays taxes in a lot of different ways:

Income-based taxes:
• Federal income tax
• State income tax (if applicable)
• Local/city income tax

Payroll taxes:
• Social Security
• Medicare

Consumption taxes:
• Sales tax
• Use tax
• Gas tax
• Excise taxes (alcohol, to***co, etc.)

Asset / ownership taxes:
• Property tax (directly or through rent)
• Vehicle registration taxes

Investment taxes:
• Capital gains tax
• Dividend tax
• Interest income tax

Transfer taxes:
• Estate tax
• Gift tax
• Inheritance tax (where applicable)
• Generation skipping transfer tax

Hidden / indirect taxes:
• Corporate taxes (often passed through via prices)
• Tariffs/import taxes (built into goods)

When you add all of this up, the number is much bigger than people think.

A typical middle-income household (making about $80,000 - $90,000) pays roughly:

• ~20% - 25% of income in total taxes when combining federal, state, and local
• Often closer to ~25% - 30% when you include all indirect and consumption taxes

And depending on where you live:
• No state income tax states: ~20% - 27% total tax burden
• High tax states: ~25% - 32% total tax burden

Again… this is middle income.

A 75th percentile household (about $120,000 - $150,000):
• ~25% - 30% across direct taxes
• ~30% - 35% all in

• No state income tax states: ~25% - 32%
• High tax states: ~30% - 38% total tax burden

A 95th percentile household (about $250,000 - $400,000):
• ~32% - 38% across direct taxes
• ~38% - 45% all in

• No state income tax states: ~32% - 40%
• High tax states: ~38% - 45%+

For most Americans…

The number they think they pay in taxes…
and the number they actually pay…

are very different

Cheers!

-Ryan

AI leadership, hotter inflation signals, and a changing of the guard at the Fed—Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co...
05/27/2026

AI leadership, hotter inflation signals, and a changing of the guard at the Fed—Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company CIO Brent Schutte breaks down the economic data and markets news investors need to know. http://spr.ly/6187B8V8LP

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