Black Walnut Wealth Management

09/02/2026

Financial concerns can look different for every family, but some worries tend to come up more often for women, especially as retirement gets closer.

● Will my money last as long as I do?
● What happens financially if I lose my spouse?
● Am I involved enough in our financial decisions to know where everything stands?
● Could supporting children or other family members affect my own long-term security?

These aren’t questions to leave until a major life event forces an answer.

In this article, we look at 5 common financial fears that affect women and the planning conversations that can help address them before they become bigger concerns.

Financial fears can paralyze anyone from making a decision about money, but for many women, money matters are particularly terrifying. Why all the fear? Here are five of the most common fears women have when it comes to money and ways to overcome them.

08/26/2026

Summer in Northern Michigan always seems to pass quickly. Visitors are beginning to head home and students are preparing to return to school.

For parents and grandparents, back-to-school season can also be a good time to revisit education planning.

What happens if money remains in a 529 plan after a child or grandchild finishes school?

Under certain conditions, unused funds may be rolled into a Roth IRA for the beneficiary, providing families with another option when education plans change.

Learn what grandparents (and parents) should know:

For families saving money for college, 529 savings plans are important tools. If you’re a grandparent, you’re likely eager to contribute to a 529 for your grandchild, but what happens to the remaining funds after your grandchild completes their education?

08/22/2026

In our August newsletter, we focused on what can happen when too much of your wealth is concentrated in one asset.

A business, property, family land, or concentrated investment may have played an important role in building your wealth, but it can also create added complexity as retirement approaches. We look at why liquidity, taxes, estate planning, and family priorities should all be part of that conversation.

The newsletter also included our regular What We’re Watching, Planning Tip of the Month, and Tax-Smart Strategy sections.

Read the whole newsletter here:

Northern Michigan summer winds down with insights on concentrated wealth, estate planning, retirement income, taxes, Medicare, and markets.

08/12/2026

Financial decisions rarely happen in isolation.

A retirement income decision can affect your taxes.
An investment decision can affect your estate plan.
A business or real estate decision can affect your insurance needs.
A major life change can shift almost everything at once.

That’s why our work at Black Walnut is built around coordinated wealth management.

We help families bring the key pieces of their financial life together, including:

• Retirement planning
• Tax planning
• Investment management
• Financial strategy
• Insurance review
• Estate planning and trust services

Our goal is to help simplify the decisions, organize the moving parts, and make sure your plan reflects the life you’re building today and the legacy you want to leave tomorrow.

Learn more about our services here:

Comprehensive wealth management and financial planning services designed to support individuals, families, and long-term financial goals.

07/29/2026

Retirement can bring a welcome sense of freedom, but it can also bring a new set of questions.

● How should we draw income from our portfolio?
● Are our investments still aligned with this stage of life?
● Are there tax strategies we should be thinking about now?
● Is everything coordinated, or are too many pieces scattered across different accounts, firms, and documents?

For many families, retirement planning isn’t just about reaching retirement. It’s about creating a thoughtful plan for how to live through it well.

In this example, we share how a coordinated financial picture can help retirees simplify their finances, support their lifestyle, and feel more organized about the years ahead.

https://blackwalnutwm.com/retirees/

07/23/2026

In Northern Michigan, summer often revolves around water. Lake days, boat rides, and family time at the cottage are part of what many families have worked hard to enjoy.

They’re also a good reminder to ask a practical question: if you needed cash, how easily could you access it?

Read July's featured article to help you answer that question.

Learn how liquid your wealth really is and why cash reserves, timing, taxes, and flexible access matter as you approach retirement or manage retirement income.

07/17/2026

How much of your wealth is actually easy to access when you need it?

A strong balance sheet matters, but liquidity matters too. Real estate, retirement accounts, business interests, private investments, concentrated stock, and family property can all hold meaningful value, but they may not always be simple to turn into cash at the right time.

Inside this month’s newsletter, we cover:

• Why summer is a useful time to revisit cash flow and liquidity

• What we’re watching as market momentum meets midyear discipline

• How family time can surface important planning conversations

• Why it’s worth pausing before pulling from an account for a larger cash need

• Upcoming community events around Northern Michigan

Planning isn’t just about what you own. It’s also about making sure your wealth is positioned to support the life you’re living, the people you care about, and the decisions that may come next.

Read the July newsletter on our website.

https://blackwalnutwm.com/insights/july-2026-insights-summer-planning-market-momentum-and-liquidity/

07/09/2026

One of the best parts of summer in Traverse City is here – the National Cherry Festival!

For 100 years, this event has brought people together around so much of what makes Northern Michigan special: family, community, local businesses, agriculture, time on the water, and plenty of cherry pie.

At Black Walnut, we talk often about planning for the future, but thoughtful planning isn’t only about someday. It’s also about making room to enjoy the life you’ve built today.

Whether you’re watching the air show, walking downtown, taking the grandkids to the midway, or just enjoying one of Traverse City’s great traditions, we hope you have a wonderful Cherry Festival week.

Experience the 100th National Cherry Festival July 4–11, 2026, in Traverse City, Michigan, packed with cherries, parades, air shows, fireworks, and free family fun.

07/03/2026

Wishing you and your family a wonderful and safe Independence Day weekend.

In observance of the holiday, our office will be closed on Friday, July 3. We’ll resume normal business hours on Monday, July 6.

Happy 4th of July!

07/01/2026

We’re halfway through the year, which makes this a good time to pause and ask a few important questions:

- Are your financial goals still on track?
- Has anything changed in your family, career, business, retirement timeline, or tax picture?
- Are there planning opportunities you should address before the year gets away from you?

For many families, the 2nd half of the year brings a chance to revisit the plan, make thoughtful adjustments, and avoid waiting until December to have important conversations.

This can be especially important if retirement is getting closer. Your income strategy, investment plan, tax picture, healthcare costs, and lifestyle goals all need to work together.

A mid-year review doesn’t need to be complicated, but it should be intentional.

For more guidance, read our retirement planning checklist:

How to Retire: The Ultimate Checklist for a Confident Plan

Retiring successfully means more than just stepping away from work—it’s about creating the lifestyle and legacy you envision for the next chapter of your life.