Irene Lee-Sluys, CFP, MPAS of Gateway Financial Partners

10/01/2025

🎗 October marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time to recognize and support those affected by breast cancer.

We honor the survivors, fighters, caregivers, and loved ones who show strength and courage every day.

This month, and always, we stand with our community in raising awareness and showing compassion to those whose lives have been touched by breast cancer. 💛

To anyone navigating this journey: you are seen, you are valued, and your resilience inspires us all. 💙

09/25/2025

Most people want to buy life insurance—they just don’t know where to start.

In fact, the LIMRA-Bain study found that 90% of prospects say they need to better understand life insurance before purchasing. The challenge? Only two-thirds take steps to actually learn more.

That’s why guidance matters. When someone takes the step to talk with a financial professional, the results are powerful: 86% go on to purchase a policy. Why? Because they’ve finally received answers in plain language, customized for their situation.

Life insurance doesn’t have to be complicated. The first step is simply asking the questions—and having someone you trust walk you through the options.

09/18/2025

Here’s one of the biggest reasons people don’t buy life insurance: they think it’s too expensive.

LIMRA’s 2025 study shows that 3 out of 4 Americans overestimate the cost of a basic term life policy. Younger adults are the most off—they believe coverage costs 10 to 12 times more than it actually does.

On top of that, 66% of adults who say they need coverage haven’t purchased it, mainly because of this misconception. But here’s the truth: life insurance is often more affordable than your monthly streaming services or daily coffee run.

The lesson? Don’t let assumptions stand in the way of protecting your family. A quick conversation can give you real numbers—and peace of mind that may cost less than you think.

09/11/2025

Many people assume that the life insurance they get through work is all they need. Unfortunately, that’s rarely the case.

According to LIMRA, 55% of U.S. workers have coverage through their employer, but the median amount is just $20,000 or about one year’s salary. That might help in the short term, but it’s far from enough to cover a mortgage, childcare, college savings, or ongoing living expenses.

In fact, nearly half of families relying only on workplace coverage say they’d face financial difficulty within six months of losing their household’s primary earner.

Workplace coverage is a good start—but it’s designed to supplement, not replace, your family’s financial needs.

This resource from LIMRA outlines the benefits and the gaps when it comes to workplace coverage.
https://www.limra.com/siteassets/newsroom/liam/2025/2025_facts_about_life_insurance_workplace_benefits.pdf

09/08/2025

Science confirms what many gardeners already know: digging in the dirt just feels good. 🌼

🥕 Research shows that gardening may help reduce stress, ease anxiety, and boost mood. Even a few short weekly sessions can provide benefits, from increased physical activity to stronger social connections.

It turns out planting seeds doesn’t just grow flowers and vegetables—it may nurture mental wellbeing too. 🪴💛


Source:

According to experts, gardening has been shown to boost mood and reduce stress. There's even a field called horticultural therapy dedicated to using gardening to support mental health.

09/04/2025

Life Insurance Awareness Month 2025 is here—a perfect reminder of how important protection is for your family.

Did you know only 51% of Americans ages 18–75 have life insurance? That leaves nearly 100 million adults either uninsured or underinsured.

Think about it: if something unexpected happened tomorrow, would your family have the resources to keep moving forward? For many households, the answer is no.

The good news is that a conversation with a financial professional can bridge this gap and give you the peace of mind you’ve been waiting for.

Check out those facts from LIMRA on Life Insurance and learn more about how it could benefit you.https://www.limra.com/siteassets/newsroom/liam/2025/2025_facts_about_life_insurance.pdf

08/11/2025

Stock prices were under pressure in early April on concerns over how the trade situation would unfold. Fear spread, which led some investors to move to the sidelines. But notice the "V" shaped rally that followed.

08/05/2025

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act: Key Tax Changes Starting 2025

👍EVERYONE 👍
Standard deduction increases to $15,750 for single filers, and $31,500 for those filing jointly.
State and local tax (SALT) deduction increases to $40,000 (temporary)

👥 SENIORS (65+) 👥
$6,000 bonus deduction (2025-2028)

👨‍💼 WORKERS 👨‍💼
No tax on tips (up to $25,000)
No tax on overtime (up to $12,500 single filer/$25,000 married filing jointly)

🏢 BUSINESS OWNERS 🏢
20 percent qualified business income deduction is now permanent
100 percent capital expensing restored

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 FAMILIES 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦
Child tax credit increases to $2,200
Dependent care limits increase to $7,500

🏡 ESTATE MANAGEMENT 🏡
Exemption increases to $15 million/$30 million (starts 2026)

IMPORTANT: Some of these changes are temporary (2025-2028). Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.

06/27/2025

Have you ever asked ChatGPT a question and gotten an answer that sounded right but wasn’t? 🤔

According to a 2025 article in The Wall Street Journal, AI chatbots like ChatGPT are trained to find conflicting, incorrect or incomplete information about the subject you’re asking about.

That’s why they sometimes “hallucinate” answers, even when they don’t have the facts. ⚠️

The problem? Most AIs aren’t designed to say, “I don’t know.” Instead, they give answers that seem confident—even if they’re wrong.

💡 So, what can you do to help manage the risk of getting inaccurate information?

Here are some tips from the article:
1️⃣ Be specific. Vague questions often lead to vague (and less accurate) answers.
2️⃣ Provide AI with sources. This can help the process.
3️⃣ Double-check anything important. AI can be a great tool for drafts but final copy may need some scrutiny.

As financial professionals, we hear from clients who are experimenting with AI in all sorts of ways—from writing assistance to travel planning.

While these tools can be incredibly helpful, they still require human judgment to be used wisely—which is why we thought this article was worth sharing.

06/25/2025

❓❓❓Today’s Quiz Question: Which of the following is the last account some people draw from in retirement?

A) Traditional IRA / 401(k)
B) Roth IRA
C) Taxable brokerage account

Answer: B – Roth IRA.

Why? Since qualified withdrawals from Roth IRAs are tax-free, many retirees draw from them last to maximize their tax-free earnings. However, the correct approach depends on your broader tax picture, income needs, and long-term goals.

One of the most complicated parts of a retirement strategy is turning savings into steady, tax-smart income.

Here are some of the factors that we financial professionals help our clients consider:

1️⃣ Social security timing—and how it integrates with other income sources;

2️⃣ Account sequencing—to manage tax brackets, Medicare premiums, and long-term flexibility;

3️⃣ Market volatility—and how to build in guardrails early in retirement;

4️⃣ Required Minimum Distributions (RMD) and Roth conversions—to manage tax surprises; and

5️⃣ Withdrawal flexibility—to help get your portfolio through up and down markets.

Income in retirement is an art and a science, and it’s never too early to start preparing.

Consult your tax, legal, and accounting professionals if you believe taxes might influence your retirement income strategy.

In most circumstances, once you reach the age of 73, you must begin withdrawing RMDs from your traditional IRA and 401(k) retirement accounts. If you withdraw them before age 59.5, they may be subject to a 10% federal income tax penalty.

Roth IRA accounts qualify for tax-free and penalty-free earnings withdrawal if they meet the five-year holding requirement and if the withdrawals occur after age 59.5. Tax-free and penalty-free withdrawals can also be made under certain other circumstances, such as the owner’s death. Original Roth IRA owners are not required to take RMDs during their lifetime.