John Welsh - Financial Advisor - Commonwealth Financial Group

08/25/2026

“I have Medicare, so I’m covered if I ever need long-term care.”

I hear this one a lot.

And unfortunately, Medicare generally does not pay for ongoing custodial long-term care which is the type of care someone may need with things like bathing, dressing, eating, or getting around.

Medicare can cover certain short-term skilled care when you meet specific requirements, but that is very different from paying for an extended nursing home stay or ongoing care at home.

That distinction matters.

Because you can have a great Medicare plan, plenty of retirement savings, and still have a significant long-term care expense that you need to plan for yourself.

There are multiple ways to plan for that risk.

The important thing is knowing that Medicare isn't the entire plan.

08/19/2026

“I’ll just sell my house if I ever need long-term care.”

I hear this one fairly often.

And honestly, that can be part of a long-term care plan.

But there’s a big difference between having a plan to use your home equity and simply saying, “I’ll sell my house if I need care.”

What if you need care but your spouse still lives in the home?

What if you need care sooner than expected?

What if the housing market isn't favorable when you need to sell?

What if you want to stay in your home and receive care there?

What if selling the house solves the long-term care expense but creates a new problem for your spouse or family?

There isn't one right answer for everyone.

Your home can absolutely be an important resource when planning for long-term care. The important part is understanding when, how, and whether you actually want to use it.

“Sell the house” is an option.

It shouldn't be the entire plan

08/14/2026

“Long-term care” can be one of the biggest expenses someone faces in their lifetime, yet many people have no plan for how they will pay for it.

There are many ways to approach the cost like cash flowing expenses through investments, using insurance to help cover costs, relying on family support, or some combination of these strategies.

There is no one-size-fits-all answer.

But what rarely works is having **no plan at all.**

Having a plan in place can save you and your family a lot of headaches not just from a financial perspective, but from an emotional perspective as well.

The goal isn't necessarily to eliminate the risk. It's to understand it, plan for it, and make sure your family isn't forced to figure it out in the middle of a crisis.

08/03/2026

Loved being able to spend some time with our clients outside of the office! Go Riverdogs!

A great night at the ballpark! We had the best time cheering on the RiverDogs, spending time with clients, and creating memories together outside of the office. Thank you everyone who joined us!

07/01/2026

Thankful to be a part of this great team!

06/19/2026

Financial Planning = alignment of money and values/goals!

Can be a simple as a budget for some or as complicated as compressive cash flow analysis, protection planning, investment management, and estate planning.

04/07/2026

Last week, our team was able to host a client appreciation event. We had a happy hour outside of our office and then walked over to the Credit One Tennis Tournament!

Grateful for the trust that our clients put in the Commonwealth team!

04/01/2026

Thankful to be apart of a firm that takes time to volunteer together!

03/24/2026

“It depends.”

This is the answer you should be getting from a financial planner in an initial meeting. For example:

“Am I saving enough for retirement?”

It depends… Do you want to retire at 55 or 65? What does your current budget look like, adjusted for inflation? How do you want to spend your time? travel, hobbies, time with family?

“Is my portfolio too risky?”

It depends… When will you need to use these funds? What do you want to accomplish with these funds? What does “risk” actually mean to you? volatility, loss of principal, or something else?

“Do I have enough life insurance?”

It depends… Do you have debt that would outlive you? Are there people relying on your income to meet their needs?

Rule of thumb recommendations can be helpful to a point. But real clarity comes from working through a comprehensive financial plan. Be cautious of "one size fits all" advice!

03/20/2026

Really fun evening having a booth at "Third Thursday" in downtown Summerville last night! Thanks to Summerville Dream for organizing such a great event!

Third Thursdays are back and we are on Main Street with an all new step up - the Commonwealth Financial Group Hospitality Zone! We had a great night meeting new faces and seeing old friends (plus kicking off March Madness 🏀) Come stop by and see us next Third Thursday!