Category: Financial Planning

No one sets out in life hoping for divorce. As we grow, relationships change, and sometimes divorce can be a path toward a life that better fits your needs. It’s a big decision, and you don’t have to make it alone. As a single mom who divorced thirteen years ago, my life has changed for [...]

Who manages the finances in your family? Do you share the responsibilities in your household, or is one individual mostly in charge? While every family is different, it’s not unusual to have a single person take the lead in managing the money for a family, often covering everything from budgeting to investing to estate planning. [...]

In the start of this new year and new administration, many LGBTQ+ investors are wondering what the future holds. In this time of uncertainty, it might be the perfect time for LGBTQ+ couples to ensure their financial world is current, accurate, and best serving. Without federal protections ensuring equal rights to those in the LGBTQ+ [...]

The Beatles taught me my first lessons about taxes when I heard the song “Taxman” as a teenager. Years later, George Harrison’s lyrics about taxes frame a lot of my client conversations, as George was not joking when he wrote, “Let me tell you how it will be: there’s one for you, nineteen for me, [...]

Navigating tax laws in 2025 feels a bit like waiting for the next season of your favorite TV show — you know big changes are coming, but you’re not quite sure what the writers (or lawmakers in this instance) have in store. With potential twists like the sunset of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act [...]

How does an advisor add value for the fees that you pay? The value that a financial advisor brings to the table can extend far beyond the quantifiable. Coldstream’s work to integrate financial planning and investment management is multi-faceted and often reaches into many areas of our clients’ lives. In this brief, we examine recent [...]

On January 5, 2025, the Social Security Fairness Act was officially signed into law, repealing both the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO). These changes stand to meaningfully increase monthly Social Security benefits for workers who receive a pension based on work not covered by Social Security. What is the Windfall Elimination [...]

One of my favorite tasks as a financial planner is to help clients plan for retirement. We gather data and run Monte Carlo simulations and tax analyses, but often that planning process runs much deeper than asset allocation and withdrawal strategies. Recently I had the pleasure of meeting with a couple in their early fifties. [...]

Let’s face it: monthly debt payments can feel overwhelming, right? If you chat about it with anyone, chances are you’ll find someone who understands. Many of us carry debt, whether it’s from student loans, a car loan, or personal loans. The interest rates can vary greatly depending on when you took on the debt and [...]