North Berkeley Wealth Management

06/13/2026

Having accounts with different tax treatments provides more options for tax efficiency and potentially puts more money in your pocket to spend in later years.

Please see our recent article by Kim Berger, CFP® - Expanding the View on Diversification - at the link below.

06/06/2026

One of the more useful reminders we can offer to clients is that we do not need to chase these IPOs for portfolios to have exposure to future growth.
Please see : Evolving Timelines of IPOs by Brian Kozel, CFP® below:

One of the more useful reminders we can offer to clients is that we do not need to chase these IPOs for portfolios to have exposure to future growth.

05/23/2026

It’s perfectly normal to feel overwhelmed, especially for inheritors who are also executors or trustees of an estate. An important step is to recognize when you would benefit from a trusted decision-making partner.

Please see: Managing Inheritance With Intention by Ariana Alisjahbana, CFP®

An important step in managing inheritance is to recognize when you would benefit from a trusted decision-making partner.

05/16/2026

Sometimes IRMAA is unavoidable. Other times, it’s simply an incidental cost of a decision. Rarely is it the sole factor behind a choice.

Please see: IRMAA: How Income Affects Your Medicare Costs by Sam Wood-Bednarz, CFP® at the link below.

IRMAA is Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount and is a surcharge added to your Medicare Part B and D premium based on your income.

05/09/2026

Marriages and families take many forms, and as a result, how married couples manage their household finances also takes many forms. Because no two couples’ situations look exactly the same, your combined financial strategy will be unique to you. ⁠
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In 'A Team Approach to Household Finances,' Stephanie Nehmens explores the importance of understanding community and separate property, and how they affect each aspect of your financial life.⁠

Read the article

Understanding community property and having open conversations can help foster a team approach to household finances.

04/21/2026

As households feel the pinch of higher prices at the pump, many are revisiting the math on electrification. For many consumers, the appeal is both practical savings and energy security.

Please see our Q1-2026 Impact Highlight Report: Unintended Outcomes by Brian Kozel, CFP®, below.

Q1 2026 Impact Highlight Report Since the start of the Iran war, national averages for gasoline have jumped above $4/gallon and are approaching $6 in California, renewing familiar concerns about inflation, energy security, and household budgets. War’s deepest consequences are human, and those cost...

04/11/2026

Markets were down in Q1, with stocks declining in response to the war in Iran as well as fears about AI’s potential to disrupt existing industries. However, most markets were not impacted as dramatically as the headlines might suggest, and client portfolios benefited from diversification

Market Commentary | Q1 2026 In Homer’s Odyssey, Odysseus faced a distinct challenge as he sailed past the sirens. The danger was not that the sirens would force his ship off course, but that their song would tempt him to do it himself. Modern investors face a version of that challenge. The pull to...

03/20/2026

So much in life is about showing up for what matters. For North Berkeley Wealth, that means being accountable to a broad community of clients, team members, neighbors, and organizations. Only by staying engaged and listening to others can we, as a firm, cultivate our vision of a community alive with connection and stewardship.

In 2025, we strived to be present in our community by fostering relationships, providing our expertise, using our creativity, enabling collaboration, and focusing on the quality of life of those around us. Our Community Engagement Report showcases some of the ways we showed up in 2025.

So much in life is about showing up for what matters. For North Berkeley Wealth, that means being accountable to a broad community of clients, team members, neighbors, and organizations. Only by staying engaged and listening to others can we, as a firm, cultivate our vision of a community alive with...

03/14/2026

Lifestyle creep often happens slowly over time and therefore goes unnoticed. Managing it does not require you to avoid the rewards that come with professional success. Instead, it involves approaching financial decisions with intention.

Please see "When Spending Quietly Expands" by Matthew Gatt, CFP®, at the link below.

Most of us imagine that as our income grows, managing money will be easier. It’s not uncommon to think that when you reach a certain income level, you will have made it, and that money concerns will be a thing of the past. However, after working with many individuals and families over the years, w...