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Spring Clean Your Financial Life: A Practical Checklist for High-Income Professionals
Struggling to organize your financial life?
The first day of spring is the perfect reset.
Try this: a spring cleaning checklist for your money.

Steven C. Balch, CFP®
Mar 205 min read


How to Avoid Lifestyle Inflation as Your Income Grows
As your income grows, it’s easy for your lifestyle to grow with it. Raises, bonuses, and promotions often lead to a nicer home, a better car, more travel, and upgraded experiences. None of these things are bad. In fact, they are often the reward for years of hard work. The problem happens when every increase in income goes toward spending. Over time, your lifestyle can grow just as fast as your paycheck. When that happens, even highly successful professionals can feel financi

Steven C. Balch, CFP®
Mar 164 min read


Trump Savings Accounts vs. 529 Plans vs. Custodial Accounts: Which Account Is Right for Your Child?
With the recent headlines around the new Trump Savings Account, I’ve been getting a lot of questions.
Here’s the truth: this isn’t an either-or decision. Each account serves a different purpose.
Here is how to think about it.

Steven C. Balch, CFP®
Mar 54 min read


The Most Expensive Tax Mistakes High-Income Earners Make (And How to Avoid Them)
Here’s what no one tells you about taxes in your peak earning years:
The biggest tax mistakes don’t happen in April.
They happen quietly during the year, when no one is paying attention.
Here are the most common mistake I see and simple ways to avoid them.

Steven C. Balch, CFP®
Mar 25 min read


Tax-Saving Moves High-Income Earners Can Still Make Before Filing
If you’re a high-income earner, your return isn’t “locked” just because it’s the new year. You still have time to trim your bill, fix reporting mistakes, and set yourself up for a better long-term plan.
Below are practical moves worth reviewing that could have the most impact in the final weeks.

Steven C. Balch, CFP®
Feb 245 min read


The 3-Number Checkup High-Income Earners Need to Retire Confidently
If you’re in your 40s, 50s, or early 60s and earning a high income, you’re likely asking a big question: When can I work because I want to, not because I have to? You don’t need a 40-page plan to get a clear answer. You need three numbers, a simple cash flow map, and a basic tax plan.
Here’s how to quickly see where you stand and what to fix first.

Steven C. Balch, CFP®
Feb 174 min read


When Should You Take Social Security? A Simple, Practical Guide
Deciding when to take Social Security is one of the most important retirement decisions you’ll make.
Here are the key factors to consider when deciding when to take Social Security.

Steven C. Balch, CFP®
Feb 117 min read


25 Tax Questions for 2025
As we head into a new tax season, I wanted to share a quick guide to help make filing your 2025 taxes a little easier and hopefully a lot less stressful. One of the biggest updates this year is the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). It made some permanent changes that many expected would result in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) expiring. I’ve included a breakdown that walks through 25 of the most common tax questions for 2025 General Tax Questions 1. How do

Steven C. Balch, CFP®
Feb 315 min read


How to Take Advantage of Your Home Equity: Using a HELOC Strategically
How a HELOC can help create liquidity from your home's equity Over the last several years, home values have risen significantly across much of the country. As a result, many homeowners are sitting on far more equity than they were just a few years ago. That equity isn’t just a number on a statement. When used intentionally, it can provide flexibility, liquidity, and optionality in your broader financial plan. One of the most common ways homeowners access that equity is throug

Steven C. Balch, CFP®
Jan 286 min read


Trump Savings Accounts: What Parents Need to Know
Starting July 5, 2026, a new savings option called Trump Savings Accounts is scheduled to become available for children under age 18. These accounts are designed to help families start saving earlier and give children a financial head start as they enter adulthood. Because this program is still new, there are some rules we understand clearly today and several open questions that still need IRS and Treasury guidance. Here is a breakdown of what we know.

Steven C. Balch, CFP®
Jan 216 min read


Reasons to Hire a Financial Advisor (Even If You Can Do It Yourself)
Do you really need a financial advisor? Learn the key reasons people choose to work with an advisor as their finances become more complex and decisions matter more.

Steven C. Balch, CFP®
Jan 134 min read


Is It Better to Pay Off Your Mortgage or Invest Extra Cash?
Should you pay off your mortgage early or invest extra cash instead? Learn the math, tax considerations, and peace-of-mind factors to make the right decision.

Steven C. Balch, CFP®
Jan 74 min read


Important Numbers for 2026
Each year, the IRS adjusts key tax and retirement limits for inflation. These changes can create new planning opportunities or costly mistakes if you ignore them. Here’s a simple breakdown of the most important numbers for 2026 . Retirement Plan Limits (401(k), 403(b), 457) Employee contribution limit: $24,500 (up from $23,500) Catch-up contribution (age 50+): $8,000 catch-up $32,500 total Includes a $500 increase from prior years Catch-up contribution (ages 60–63): $11,250

Steven C. Balch, CFP®
Jan 62 min read


26 Financial Things to Do for a Successful 2026
New years are all about resolutions.
Save more. Invest better. Pay less in taxes.
But strong financial years don’t happen by accident. They’re built through small, smart decisions made consistently.
Here are 26 things we review with clients to help them feel more organized, more confident, and more in control in 2026

Steven C. Balch, CFP®
Dec 30, 20253 min read


A Smarter Way to Give: Why Donor-Advised Funds May Be One of the Best Year-End Strategies for Your Charitable Goals
Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs) offer one of the most flexible and tax-efficient ways to give to charity, especially at year-end. By donating appreciated assets instead of cash, you can avoid capital gains tax, receive a full fair-market-value deduction, and support your favorite charities on your own timeline. This simple example shows how a DAF can help maximize both your tax benefits and your charitable impact.

Steven C. Balch, CFP®
Dec 9, 20255 min read


Do You Need a Trust?
Many people assume trusts are only for the ultra-wealthy, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Trusts help everyday families avoid probate, protect assets, and pass wealth on their terms. This guide breaks down what trusts are, how they work, and the differences between revocable and irrevocable trusts so you can decide if one makes sense for your estate plan.

Steven C. Balch, CFP®
Dec 2, 20255 min read


Key Year-End Financial Moves for W-2 Earners
As the year ends, high-income professionals have a valuable opportunity to strengthen their financial plan and reduce taxes. From maxing out your 401(k), HSA, and catch-up contributions to exploring the Super Backdoor Roth, running a tax projection, and using up FSA funds, this checklist covers the most important year-end moves to help W-2 earners finish strong and set up for a more efficient year ahead.

Steven C. Balch, CFP®
Nov 18, 20255 min read


Smart Year-End Financial Moves for Retirees
As the year wraps up, retirees have a limited window to make powerful financial moves that can lower taxes and strengthen their retirement plan. From taking RMDs and reviewing Medicare coverage to running tax projections, completing Roth conversions, and using Qualified Charitable Distributions, this article walks through the key steps to finish the year strong and set up a more tax-efficient 2026.

Steven C. Balch, CFP®
Nov 6, 20255 min read


3 Questions Every Couple Should Ask Before Retiring Together
Retiring together can be exciting and a little overwhelming. Beyond how much you’ve saved, couples need to plan for how income will change, how taxes will affect each spouse, and whether both partners share the same vision for retirement. This article walks through three essential questions every couple should ask before leaving work behind to help align goals, manage taxes, and retire with confidence.

Steven C. Balch, CFP®
Oct 28, 20254 min read


What High-Income Earners Should Do with an Old 401(k)
If you’ve changed jobs or recently retired, that old 401(k) could be holding more opportunities and risks than you realize. For high-income earners, knowing what to do with an old plan isn’t just about consolidation. It’s about taxes, flexibility, and strategy. This article breaks down your options, the hidden pitfalls of rollovers, and how to make smart moves that preserve your ability to use Roth strategies and avoid unnecessary taxes.

Steven C. Balch, CFP®
Oct 21, 20256 min read
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