Cardinal Advisors

Cardinal Advisors Investment advisory services offered through Brookstone Capital Management, LLC (BCM), a registered investment advisor.

BCM and Cardinal Advisors are independent of each other. Cardinal serves clients in all 50 states and D.C.! Family owned and operated with very personal service by telephone

06/24/2026

Are annuities a safe bet or a financial trap? The truth is, annuities are incredible for removing market risk and giving you a guaranteed lifetime income—but you should never put all your money into them.

In this video, we break down why a balanced retirement plan needs a mix of guaranteed income from annuities, alongside liquid investments that stay invested for growth. Discover the smart way to protect your retirement without locking away all your cash.

🔍 Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the downside of an annuity? While they offer guaranteed income, they can limit your liquidity. It's best to use them as part of a larger, diversified plan.

- Should I put all my money in an annuity? No. You should always keep a portion of your money liquid and invested for growth to keep up with inflation.

🏷️ Key Topics Covered:
- Retirement Planning Tips
- Pros and Cons of Annuities
- Guaranteed Income in Retirement
- Market Risk Protection
- Smart Investing Strategies

Questions? Email us at [email protected], call us at (919) 535-8261, or visit our website at https://cardinalguide.com/

06/23/2026

What if you're more exposed than you think?

$1.8 million saved. Social Security lined up. And still not as safe as they thought.
That's the reality most people don't see until it's too late — and the biggest retirement risk nobody talks about is simply living longer than your money. In our latest episode, Tom and I walk through a real couple's plan, show exactly where the gap was, and how we closed it with $6,000 a month guaranteed for life — no matter what the market does or how long they live.
If you're within five years of retirement, this one could change how you see everything.

06/22/2026

When people hear about the tax benefits of a Roth conversion, they often think it’s the ultimate, all-in-one retirement strategy. But is a Roth conversion your whole plan?

While converting tax-deferred assets into a tax-free vehicle can be a powerful wealth management tool, a truly secure retirement requires a much broader focus. A single strategy cannot address the complexities of your long-term financial future.

A comprehensive financial plan shouldn't just look at one piece of the puzzle. Instead, it must systematically evaluate and integrate several core pillars of financial health to ensure nothing is left to chance.

The Pillars of a Complete Financial Plan:
- Income Strategy: Mapping out reliable cash flow to fund your day-to-day lifestyle.

- Estate Planning: Ensuring your assets are protected and passed on according to your wishes.

- Tax Optimization: Layering on tactical moves—like Roth conversions—to manage liabilities without disrupting your income or triggering unexpected costs.

Don’t build your retirement on a single strategy. Look at the whole picture to create a plan that stands the test of time!

Questions? Email us at [email protected], call us at (919) 535-8261, or visit our website at https://cardinalguide.com/

06/21/2026

Are you planning a Roth conversion to save on future retirement taxes? Make sure you don't accidentally spike your Medicare premiums in the process.

Roth conversions are an incredibly popular strategy for tax planning, allowing you to move tax-deferred funds into a tax-free vehicle. However, doing too much at once can trigger a hidden financial trap: the Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA).

Because a Roth conversion counts as taxable income, pushing your income past specific IRS thresholds can significantly increase what you pay for Medicare Part B and Part D premiums. To maximize your long-term tax savings without overpaying for healthcare, you must balance your current tax bracket with the IRMAA limits.

Key Factors for a Strategic Roth Conversion:
- The Tax Bracket Window: Finding the "gap" between your current income and the top of a reasonable tax bracket (like the 24% bracket) to fill with conversion amounts.

- The IRMAA Threshold: Mapping your conversions carefully so your total modified adjusted gross income stays below the limits that trigger higher Medicare premiums.

- Custom Software Planning: Utilizing comprehensive financial planning tools to model exact scenarios and find the ideal dollar amount to convert each year.

The best retirement strategies don't just focus on tax returns—they take a holistic view of your entire financial landscape.

Questions? Email us at [email protected], call us at (919) 535-8261, or visit our website at https://cardinalguide.com/

06/19/2026

The rules around Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) have changed multiple times, leaving many retirees wondering: What is my actual RMD age? Is it 73 or 75?

If you have a tax-deferred account like a Traditional IRA or 401(k), the IRS requires you to start taking withdrawals at a specific age. While the RMD age used to be 70½, then 72, recent legislation has updated the timeline based on your year of birth.

To help clear up the confusion and simplify your retirement planning, here is the exact breakdown of the current RMD rules.

How to Find Your RMD Age:
- Born in 1959 or Earlier: Your RMD age is 73.
- Born in 1960 or Later: Your RMD age is 75.

Note: If you have already started taking your Required Minimum Distributions under previous rules, these new age guidelines do not allow you to recalculate or pause your current distribution schedule.

Understanding your timeline is a critical step in tax planning, as it helps you avoid steep IRS penalties and strategically plan your retirement income.

Questions? Email us at [email protected], call us at (919) 535-8261, or visit our website at https://cardinalguide.com/

06/18/2026

Think tax planning should be your first priority in retirement? Think again. Focusing entirely on Roth conversions and QCDs before mapping out your core income needs is a critical mistake that could leave you cash-poor.

When preparing for retirement, it's easy to get hyper-focused on reducing tax liabilities. However, a successful retirement strategy always begins with cash flow. You must first determine your actual income needs and look at how you will fund your lifestyle.

If a large portion of your savings is tied up in Traditional IRAs or 401(k)s, the money you withdraw to live on may naturally satisfy your Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs). By securing your retirement income stream first, you can see exactly how much "tax room" you have left to safely execute more advanced planning tools without creating a cash crunch.

The Right Order of Retirement Planning:
- Step 1: Calculate Income Needs. Secure your everyday living expenses first.

- Step 2: Assess Current Distributions. Determine how much you are already pulling from tax-deferred accounts.

- Step 3: Layer on Tax Strategies. Once your lifestyle is funded, look at tactical moves like Roth conversions or Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) to optimize the remaining balances.

Always build your retirement plan around your lifestyle first, and your tax bill second!

Questions? Email us at [email protected], call us at (919) 535-8261, or visit our website at https://cardinalguide.com/

06/17/2026

Do you have an IRA or 401(k) strategy for retirement? If you don't make a plan for your tax-deferred savings, the government will make one for you—and it won't be in your favor.

Most Americans reach retirement with the majority of their savings sitting in tax-deferred accounts like Traditional IRAs and 401(k)s. While you saved on taxes on the way in, you face a massive tax burden when it’s time to take that money out.

Without a strategic withdrawal plan, a significant portion of your hard-earned wealth could be lost to Uncle Sam. To maximize your retirement income and minimize your tax liabilities, you need to explore proactive wealth management tools.

Key Retirement Tax Strategies to Consider:
- Roth Conversions: Moving your money from tax-deferred accounts to a tax-free Roth IRA.

- Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs): Donating directly from your IRA to charity to satisfy RMDs without increasing your taxable income.

- Proactive Tax Planning: Timing your distributions to stay in lower tax brackets.

Don't let the government dictate your retirement. Take control of your financial future today!

Questions? Email us at [email protected], call us at (919) 535-8261, or visit our website at https://cardinalguide.com/

06/16/2026

If you're 65 or older and most of your money is sitting in an IRA or 401k, here's something to picture: the IRS already has a withdrawal plan for that money — whether you've thought about it or not. And it might not be the plan that's best for you.

In my newest video, I dig into the IRA/401k portion of the financial plan we wrote for "Tom and Susan," our example couple. We cover when your RMDs really kick in (73 or 75, depending on your birth year), a mistake that can leave you owing two RMDs in the same year, how Qualified Charitable Distributions let you give to charity tax-free straight from your IRA, and how we think through Roth conversions to help avoid higher Medicare premiums and leave more to your kids.
This is episode 5 of my 8-part series, and the full written plan is in the show notes at cardinalguide.com.

06/15/2026

What is the real reason people choose to get a long-term care plan? Many couples initially push off the conversation, claiming they are "self-insured." However, true insurance spreads risk across a large group, whereas "self-funded" simply means using your own hard-earned savings to foot the bill.

In this video, we dive into a real-world shift that many families experience. For couples like Tom and Susan, their perspective completely changed when Susan's mother required unexpected care. Seeing firsthand the massive disruption and caregiving toll it took on the family made them realize that long-term care planning isn't actually for you—it's for them. Discover why securing a dedicated policy is the ultimate way to protect your children and spouse from a future crisis, even if you have the wealth to pay for it out of pocket.

🔍 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- What is the difference between self-insured and self-funded? You cannot truly be "self-insured" because insurance requires pooling risk with others. Being "self-funded" means you bear 100% of the risk and will have to use your personal assets and retirement savings to cover expensive healthcare costs.

- Why do people change their minds about long-term care? Most people change their minds after witnessing a parent or relative go through a health crisis. Experiencing the emotional and practical burden it places on adult children often drives individuals to ensure they never put their own kids through the same situation.

Questions? Email us at [email protected], call us at (919) 535-8261, or visit our website at https://cardinalguide.com/

06/14/2026

What does it actually cost to pay for long-term care out of your pocket? Many retirees plan to "self-fund" their future medical or assisted living costs using their savings. However, most people don't consider the severe tax consequences of withdrawing large sums from a traditional IRA or 401(k) all at once.

In this video, we break down the reality of self-funding long-term care. If your care costs $10,000 a month, you can't just take out $10,000. Because of income taxes, you may actually need to withdraw $16,000 to $18,000 a month from your IRA to cover that single bill. This accelerated spending can quickly drain the assets you intended to pass down to your children or cause massive disruptions to your charitable giving. Learn how to leverage tax-free long-term care benefits to protect your hard-earned retirement assets from unnecessary taxation.

🔍 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Are long-term care insurance benefits taxable? No, qualified long-term care insurance benefits are generally received tax-free, unlike withdrawals from traditional IRAs which are taxed as ordinary income.

- Why is self-funding healthcare risky in retirement? Self-funding forces you to liquidate assets under pressure. If those assets are in tax-deferred accounts, the massive tax hit can double your actual care expenses and deplete your estate much faster than anticipated.

Questions? Email us at [email protected], call us at (919) 535-8261, or visit our website at https://cardinalguide.com/

Address

2530 Meridian Parkway, Suite 100
Durham, NC
27713

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 6pm
Tuesday 9am - 6pm
Wednesday 9am - 6pm
Thursday 9am - 6pm
Friday 9am - 6pm

Telephone

+19195358261

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