Back to the Basics: Am I Going to Be Okay?
What every married couple should understand about widowhood, before it happens. Of all the questions people ask in the weeks after losing a spouse, one comes up more than any other. It isn’t about tax brackets or beneficiary forms. It’s said quietly, often with a little embarrassment: Am I going to be okay? It’s a fair question. And the honest …
Briefcase Study: The Call You Can’t Plan For
Long-term care almost never announces itself. It shows up as a phone call. Mom fell in the driveway. Dad got lost driving home from a church he’s attended for thirty years. The hospital is ready to discharge on Thursday, and they’re asking where he’s going. In one afternoon, a family with no plan is making permanent decisions on a deadline, …
2026 Fall Newsletter: Kansas City
There’s a rhythm to fall around here that I’ve come to appreciate. The furnace gets its checkup. The gutters get cleared. Somebody drags the patio furniture into storage. None of it feels urgent on the day you do it. All of it is obvious in January. I think that instinct is worth borrowing. Fall is also the run-up to the …
2026 Summer Newsletter: Kansas City
Summertime! When we were all kids in school, summer marked the end of another school year, another formal step in our learning. We went from one grade to the next; it was neat and tidy. As adults, we continue to grow and learn, but it’s not as neat and tidy now. I share this because our firm has been very …
Back to the Basics: Converting Retirement Savings into Reliable Retirement Income
Retirement planning isn’t about betting on a single investment or hoping a market rally will carry you through. It’s about designing a durable plan that converts your savings into steady, dependable income so you can live your best years with confidence. Here’s a practical framework to achieve that without guessing. 1. Start with a clear income target Begin by translating …
Briefcase Study: Puzzle Pieces
“Barb hates this stuff.” Roger has been the “long-term investments manager” in their marriage for many years, decades in fact. While his wife, Barb, has been masterfully managing the checkbook, credit cards, and other day-to-day financial matters for the duration of their marriage, she has never enjoyed sitting down to talk investments. As a result, getting on the same page …
A Simple Habit That Could Save You Thousands
A longtime client, Tricia, recently reached out after a conversation with a friend and shared an important retirement planning tip she felt more people should be aware of. We share it with you here. As many of us settle into what may be our “forever home,” it’s easy to overlook an important financial detail: keeping records of home improvements. Whether …
Harvesters Update
Elevated Retirement Group hosted a volunteer event at Harvesters Community Food Network on Friday, March 6th, bringing together 25 clients, friends, and staff members. The group assembled 1,350 BackSnack meal bags, totaling 3,462 pounds of food. Harvesters BackSnack program, provides a weekly backpack of nutritious, child-friendly food to elementary and some middle school students for use over the weekend. The …
Briefcase Study: Spring Is a Time to Revisit Home as Part of Your Retirement Strategy
Spring is in the air (finally!), and with it comes the annual nudge to refresh, replace, and reconsider. For many people, including those nearing or in retirement, that nudge isn’t just about changing curtains or mulching flower beds; it’s about rethinking one of life’s largest financial and emotional commitments: where we call home in retirement. In my experience, the most …
Back to the Basics: Taxes: The Illusion You Can’t Afford
When a magician yanks a rabbit from a hat, we instinctively know the truth: it isn’t magic. It’s misdirection. It’s sleight of hand, a well-timed pivot that draws your attention to one spot while the real trick unfolds elsewhere. That same maneuver shows up in your financial life. We tend to fix our gaze on the obvious: investment returns, coupons, …
