Great Lakes Wealth Advisors

09/03/2026

Retirement income often looks very different from the paycheck you were used to while working.

The bigger question is what replaces that paycheck once work stops.

This week’s video looks at where that retirement income may actually come from.

09/02/2026

This Monthly Recap summarizes market performance, major events and news from August 2026. Read more here:

U.S. stocks returned to gains in August after the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite both ended negative the prior two months while the Dow Industrials capped a…

09/01/2026

I asked ChatGPT to research me the way someone on the internet might.

It found information spanning 20 years of my professional life, from where I started in this industry to where I am today, along with quite a bit in between.

Some of it I expected. Some of it I had completely forgotten was still online.

It even found an old reference to my 2023 turkey hunting Grand Slam.

That one brought back good memories.

It was a good reminder that your online presence isn't just what you're posting today.

Using AI to investigate my digital footprint

08/31/2026

What will this week's economic data mean for rate hike odds?
Join Chief Market Strategist Brian Klimke on this week's episode of as he breaks down key reports on manufacturing, services, employment, and Friday's closely watched jobs report. With the Fed meeting just two weeks away, markets will be looking to see whether the data strengthens or weakens the case for another hike.

“Cetera Financial Group” refers to the network of independent retail firms encompassing, among others, Cetera Advisors LLC, Cetera Advisor Networks LLC, Cetera Investment Services LLC (marketed as Cetera Financial Institutions or Cetera Investors), and Cetera Financial Specialists LLC. All firms...

08/27/2026

When should you claim Social Security?

62? Full retirement age? 70?

That’s usually where the conversation starts.

But there may be a more important question to answer first.
In this week’s video, I look at why Social Security should be considered as part of your overall retirement income plan.

08/25/2026

One part of this article really stood out to me:

You can be busy in retirement and still feel like something is missing.

The author talks about filling their time with things like woodworking, Spanish lessons, volunteering and coaching.

On paper, that sounds like a pretty active retirement.

But the real issue wasn't whether the calendar was full.

It was whether they still felt known, useful and needed.

I think that's an important distinction.

Retirement planning often focuses on what you are going to do.

Travel. Golf. Hobbies. Projects. Volunteering.

Those things can be great.

But a full calendar isn't necessarily the same thing as having a sense of purpose.

A better question might be:

What will make you feel useful, connected and needed after work is no longer providing that for you?

That is a much harder question than deciding how many trips you want to take.

But it may be just as important.

For those already retired, what has given you the greatest sense of purpose since leaving work?

Here's the article:

We’re told the loneliest part of retirement is being alone. Sitting in an empty house, knitting, reading, watching TV to let the time pass. And that is lonely. But it’s the kind you saw coming. You had years to prepare for the quiet, and even if you didn’t prepare well, at least you knew the.....

08/25/2026

How much do you really know about Social Security?

This short video looks at five Social Security facts that may surprise you.

A good place to start before we get into some of the bigger claiming decisions later this week.

Here are five facts about Social Security that might surprise you.

08/24/2026

Markets face plenty of uncertainty, but investors may be looking past the next rate decision and toward Jackson Hole.
In this week's episode of , CIO Gene Goldman discusses what to expect from the first Jackson Hole symposium under Fed Chair Kevin Warsh, including the future of Fed communications, the message behind rising Treasury yields, and how policymakers are navigating an economy that is sending mixed signals.

“Cetera Financial Group” refers to the network of independent retail firms encompassing, among others, Cetera Advisors LLC, Cetera Advisor Networks LLC, Cetera Investment Services LLC (marketed as Cetera Financial Institutions or Cetera Investors), and Cetera Financial Specialists LLC. All firms...

08/22/2026

In Halberstadt, Germany, a small organ is performing what may be the world's slowest concert.

The John Cage Organ Project has been playing the same composition for nearly 25 years. It is scheduled to continue until Sept. 4, 2640.

The piece is called “ORGAN²/ASLSP,” short for “As Slow as Possible.”

A rare chord change recently took place inside the medieval Burchardi Church, moving the sound from seven notes to eight. That marked only the 17th chord change of the performance.

The full project will last 639 years, from 2001 to 2640. That time frame was chosen as a tribute to a historic organ in Halberstadt dating back to 1361.

The next chord change is scheduled for Oct. 5, 2027.

It is a remarkable reminder that not everything meaningful moves quickly. Some projects are built for patience, stewardship, and generations of people who may never see the ending but still help carry the work forward.


Source:

A small organ in eastern Germany is the headliner of the world’s slowest concert. It has been playing the same piece of music by composer John Cage at a glacial pace for nearly 25 years.

08/20/2026

Retirement contributions can look straightforward on a statement.

What is less obvious is how the type of account may shape the tax treatment of that money later.

This video looks at one of the first questions behind a retirement savings strategy: not just how much is being saved, but where it is going.