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Our blog is designed to deliver timely insights and thoughtful financial planning guidance to help you navigate your financial picture with clarity and confidence. Our articles offer practical strategies, in-depth explorations of key topics, and market commentary—each written by our dedicated team to support informed decision-making.

Explore our latest insights and find your next read today.

Tuesday, April 21, 2026

Many charitably inclined families face a common dilemma: how do you support the causes you care about today without unintentionally reducing the inheritance you hope to leave behind for your children or grandchildren?For those seeking...

Monday, April 13, 2026

2nd Quarter 2026 Market OutlookThe uncertainty of war and upward readiness of the market — with the current political landscape, we are determined to maintain our current allocation. Political LandscapeI want to begin by reiterating...

Thursday, April 9, 2026

For decades, you’ve worked hard — saving diligently, planning carefully, and making intentional financial decisions — all with one goal in mind: enjoying retirement on your terms.But once the paycheck stops, everything changes. Your...

Friday, March 27, 2026

Meaningful planning extends far beyond your net worth. The wealth you’ve built through decades of discipline and hard work has the potential to impact generations. But true legacy is not measured solely by the size of a trust or the...

Friday, March 20, 2026

Charitable giving plays a meaningful role in many retirement and legacy plans. Beyond potential tax benefits, generosity can bring purpose and provide a lasting way to support causes that reflect your values. As charitable giving...

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Thursday, March 19, 2026

Choosing a financial advisor is one of the most important financial decisions a family can make. A qualified advisor can help you grow your investments, prepare for retirement, minimize taxes, and build a long-term...

Monday, March 9, 2026

You’ve done the hard part. After years of disciplined saving and investing, you’ve built a portfolio capable of supporting your retirement goals. But there’s one challenge — a significant portion of your wealth may now be tied up in a...

Thursday, March 5, 2026

“Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” (Matthew 19:21 (ESV))As followers of Jesus, what should we make of a verse like...

Friday, February 27, 2026

Most financial goals are framed in numbers—net worth, rates of return, or account balances. But the most meaningful goals begin with a different question: What do we want our money to make possible?Money is a tool, not the destination....

Monday, February 23, 2026

For many individuals and families, investing is about far more than market returns. We save and invest to provide for retirement, care for our children and grandchildren, and support causes that matter deeply to us.

Wednesday, February 18, 2026

Retirement marks an important financial transition—from relying on a steady paycheck to generating income from the savings and investments you’ve built over a lifetime. For many retirees, this shift can feel exciting and overwhelming.

Friday, February 13, 2026

Roth conversions are one of the most talked-about strategies in retirement planning—and for good reason. They provide a way to transform tax-deferred retirement assets into tax-free dollars, potentially reducing lifetime taxes and...

Thursday, February 12, 2026

Saving for retirement can be challenging for small business owners—especially when traditional retirement tools, such as IRAs, don’t allow for meaningful contribution levels. Fortunately, there are two powerful retirement planning accounts

Monday, February 9, 2026

The SECURE Act introduced significant changes to how inherited retirement accounts—such as IRAs and 401(k)s—must be distributed. These new rules affect many beneficiaries and can have meaningful implications for taxes, cash flow, and...

Tuesday, February 3, 2026

We are standing at the doorstep of one of the largest transfers of wealth in history. Over the coming decades, an estimated $84 trillion will move from the Baby Boomer generation to their children and grandchildren.

Wednesday, January 28, 2026

The recent passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBA) introduced a new way for families to begin saving and investing in their children early in life. These new savings vehicles, officially known as 530A accounts or "Trump Accounts"

Monday, January 26, 2026

Social Security benefits are a foundational retirement income source for many retirees. For many households, these benefits help meet essential living expenses while potentially reducing the need to draw heavily from investments...

Friday, January 23, 2026

For many families, gifting assets to heirs during their lifetime is an appealing and meaningful planning strategy. Whether giving cash, stocks, or other assets, lifetime gifting can offer both practical and financial benefits...

Tuesday, January 20, 2026

The benefits of a Roth IRA are unmistakable—tax-free growth, tax-free withdrawals, and the potential to save you or your beneficiaries thousands of dollars over time. Unfortunately, income and contribution limits can make it difficult...

Friday, January 16, 2026

Short answer: No. Financial advisors themselves are not FDIC insured. However, assets held through brokerage firms are generally protected by SIPC insurance, which serves a similar—but not identical—purpose.

Wednesday, January 14, 2026

IRMAA stands for Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount and is an increase in Medicare premium based on income. IRMAA matters because if you are not careful you may unexpectedly add a large expense to your insurance bill.

Friday, January 9, 2026

Tax season often feels rushed and stressful. As the April 15 deadline approaches, it’s common to find yourself scrambling to gather documents, waiting on forms, and rushing information to your accountant at the last minute...

Tuesday, January 6, 2026

On the cusp of the new year, we are looking at a few different factors to define our outlook for the first quarter: Political Landscape, Federal Reserve Policy, Macro Economic Trends, and Technical Analysis

Monday, October 6, 2025

4th Quarter 2025 Market Outlook: As we enter the final quarter of 2025, there are three primary market drivers to watch: the political landscape, Federal Reserve policy, and technical indicators. Examining these determinants together...

Wednesday, September 3, 2025

How the Big Beautiful Bill Will Affect Your Taxes On July 4th of this year, President Trump signed into law what’s been dubbed the “One Big Beautiful Bill” (OBBBA). This sweeping piece of legislation makes several important changes to...

Monday, August 11, 2025

A Charitable Remainder Trust (CRT) is a valuable tool used among affluent individuals to accomplish multiple financial planning goals, including tax benefits, income generation, charitable giving and wealth replacement strategies.

Thursday, July 17, 2025

What Is a Self-Directed Roth IRA? A self-directed Roth IRA works just like a standard Roth IRA; with after-tax contributions, tax-free growth, and tax-free withdrawals in retirement. The key difference lies in what you can invest in....

Thursday, June 26, 2025

A Roth IRA isn’t just a retirement account—it’s a tool for building a future you believe in. While many people use Roths for index funds and mutual funds, you can also use a standard brokerage Roth IRA to invest in individual public...

Thursday, June 12, 2025

Don't Let the Market's Timing Derail Your Retirement: Understanding Sequence of Return Risk When planning for retirement, most people focus on how much they’ve saved, their target withdrawal rate, and how their portfolio is allocated....

Wednesday, April 30, 2025

Stop Inefficient Charitable Giving. Philanthropy has become an increasingly important topic among the wealthy in recent years. In 1992, Americans donated a total of $124.31 billion. By 2021, that number had grown to $484.85 billion¹....

Thursday, April 17, 2025

As families prepare for the Great Wealth Transfer, many are realizing that financial planning alone isn’t enough. Meaningful communication is equally critical to ensuring a smooth and successful transition of wealth. One of the most...

Monday, April 7, 2025

An estimated $84 trillion will pass from one generation to the next by 2045. At Cornerstone, we believe the key to a successful wealth transfer isn’t just planning — it’s communication.

Tuesday, March 25, 2025

Estate Planning: Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust (ILIT) For over 30 years, The Cornerstone Financial Group has had the privilege of assisting families in navigating the complexities of estate planning. While it’s a topic many prefer...

Monday, March 17, 2025

A brief overview of revocable vs. irrevocable trusts and when you need them.

Monday, March 17, 2025

A clear breakdown of the difference between Wills, Trusts and POAs.

Friday, February 21, 2025

Estate Planning: Avoiding Probate & Preparing for the Future The Cornerstone Financial Group has been serving clients for over 30 years, and in that time, we've had the privilege of assisting many families in settling their estates....

Wednesday, January 29, 2025

In light of the recent presidential inauguration, we're closely monitoring these four key economic factors: - Trump’s Economic Policies & Tariffs - Federal Reserve’s Interest Rate Strategy - Technical Market Trends - The Growing AI Bubble

Wednesday, January 15, 2025

Retirement accounts are a critical tool for saving for the future, but navigating their rules and potential penalties can be overwhelming. This article gives 7 strategies that could help you save big on your IRAs.

Monday, December 30, 2024

2025 Q1 Market Outlook Markets performed exceptionally well in 2024, despite tough economic conditions, global tensions, and significant U.S. monetary policy revisions. The S&P 500 saw new highs and finished up over 20%, while the Dow...

Thursday, October 24, 2024

Gifting is a powerful legacy planning tool. Believe it or not, this precedent was set for us by a middle eastern patriarch dwelling in tents...

Wednesday, July 17, 2024

3rd Quarter Market Outlook It is our view that the economy is still relatively resilient and will remain such for the 3rd quarter of 2024. Note the word resilient, not strong, we are not absolutely bullish, but we don’t see any major...

Monday, June 24, 2024

Everyone's life is in someone's hands... Who's is yours in? Putting your life in the right hands will assist in accomplishing life goals and objectives.

Thursday, April 25, 2024

The process of creating a comprehensive financial plan involves several key steps. It's important to work with a qualified financial planner who can guide you through each stage of the process.

Thursday, April 18, 2024

Comprehensive financial planning goes beyond basic financial planning by incorporating various elements that work together to provide a comprehensive view of your financial situation.

Friday, March 1, 2024

UGMA/UTMA or 529 Plan: Efficient Legacy Planning. This article is a review of generational wealth transfer methods focusing specifically on 529 plans and UGMA/UTMAs

Monday, January 22, 2024

How the 5-Year Rule Effects Withdrawals and Conversions of Roth IRA's

Thursday, November 9, 2023

November 2023 Market Update

Thursday, October 5, 2023

Small businesses have finally began feeling the pain we have been discussing the past few issues.

Tuesday, September 26, 2023

87% of consumers with student loans resuming fear they may need to cut back in order to cover their expenses.

Monday, September 18, 2023

Hello and welcome to this weeks’ market update from The Gate, brought to you by The Cornerstone Financial Group. This week may be a pivotal one for the markets. When the FED meets this week on Wednesday, their narrative will be...

Monday, September 11, 2023

This week's market insights!

Wednesday, September 6, 2023

Market Insights Welcome to The Gate Market Update, proudly presented by The Cornerstone Financial Group Inc. Following the holiday weekend, the markets are experiencing a period of stabilization after a tempered nonfarm payroll report...

Monday, August 28, 2023

Introducing The Gate Market Update: Navigating Uncertainty with The Cornerstone Financial Group Inc. In the ever-changing economic landscape, questions abound: Is a recession on the horizon? Will the Fed increase rates again? How will...

Monday, August 21, 2023

Welcome to The Gate Market Update, powered by The Cornerstone Financial Group Inc. Last week, we witnessed a significant downturn in both stocks and bonds, leading to heightened fear among many investors. In the current week, it's...

Monday, August 14, 2023

Market update 08-14-2023: Navigating Recent Economic Trends

Thursday, August 10, 2023

This week's market update.