Eric Christopherson - Thrivent

Eric Christopherson - Thrivent At Thrivent, we believe money is a tool, not a goal.

03/17/2026

Just because you’re in the 22% tax bracket doesn’t mean all of your income is taxed at 22%.
Only the income above that bracket’s threshold is taxed at that rate. The dollars below it are still taxed at the lower brackets.
This is how a marginal tax system works, and it’s one of the most misunderstood parts of taxes. It also changes how you should think about raises, bonuses, and tax planning in general.

See thrivent.com/social for more information. Thrivent and its financial advisors and professionals do not provide legal, accounting or tax advice. Consult your attorney or tax professional.

02/17/2026

Small business owners in the thick of growth often assume saving for retirement just isn’t doable.
Many I speak with ask about a 401(k), only to get discouraged when they learn it can cost thousands of dollars per year in administrative fees. What many don’t realize is that there are other retirement plan options that allow you to:

- Offer an employer match
- Reduce your taxable income
- Get a plan up and running with minimal complexity

One of my favorites for growing businesses is the SIMPLE IRA.
A SIMPLE IRA can be a great stepping stone for business owners who want to start diverting some earnings toward retirement but aren’t quite ready for the cost and complexity of a full 401(k).

Here are a few key benefits:
• No cost to establish the plan
• Employer contributions are tax‑deductible
• Employees can start saving right away

If you’re a business owner who’s been putting retirement planning on the back burner, this might be a great place to start.
Learn more here:
https://bit.ly/46fjw3v see thrivent.com/social for more information

12/11/2025

Short term disability is helpful, but its importance may fade when you have a strong financial plan in place. Why? Short-term disability is intended to replace your income for the first few months of a disability. However, if you have a fully implemented financial plan, your plan's emergency fund may be able to fulfill this income gap rather than rely on your short-term disability coverage.

But what if that disability lasts longer than 6 months?

That’s where long-term disability insurance becomes essential. It ensures your income continues so you can pay medical expenses, keep saving for the future, and avoid the financial devastation that often leads to bankruptcy.

With 1 in 4 individuals experiencing a long-term disability event (per the Social Security Administration), this is one of the most overlooked areas in financial planning.

https://bit.ly/4oMQ8YE
See thrivent.com/social for more information.

Charitable giving is looking a lot different in 2026. Here are the biggest changes that affect everyone, from everyday d...
11/21/2025

Charitable giving is looking a lot different in 2026. Here are the biggest changes that affect everyone, from everyday donors to the ultra-wealthy.

- If you are a standard filer, you can deduct up to $1,000 for individuals and $2,000 for filing jointly. Previously, cash gifts to public charities offered no benefit unless you itemized, which is a big shift.

- The federal estate tax exemption continues to rise making it less relevant for most Americans with it now being at $15 million per individual. However, state-level estate taxes remain a concern depending on where you live.

- For those in the 37% tax bracket, your deduction will be capped at 35%. With a little over a month left in 2025, consider bundling your gifts to maximize deductions before the new rules take effect.

See thrivent.com/social for more information.

10/14/2025

Just because you're in the 22% tax bracket doesn’t mean all your income is taxed at 22%. Only a portion is starting at 10%, then 12%, and so on. Your effective tax rate is the average tax paid per dollar earned.

Misunderstanding this can lead to costly mistakes when choosing between Traditional vs. Roth contributions, Roth conversions, and other tax strategies. Know your brackets, and make smarter moves.

See thrivent.com/social for more information.

08/01/2025

If you have the SAVE student loan repayment plan, there is an important change going into effect today.

All loans under the SAVE plan have been in forbearance, and interest has not been accumulating. Starting August 1st, this will flip, and interest will be added on to your loans. Note that payments are not going to be required if you make no changes.

For people going for Public Service Loan Forgivenesss, your strategy from here will look a lot different than someone who is just trying to pay it off efficiently. But now is the time to take action.

See thrivent.com/social for more information.

07/23/2025

People often tell me they plan to pay off their mortgage in retirement by pulling from their retirement accounts. But that can be a costly mistake.

If you have $150,000 left on your mortgage, you'll need to withdraw significantly more to cover the taxes. Especially if it's coming from a pre-tax account like a 401(k) or traditional IRA. Combine that with your regular living expenses, and you could push yourself into a much higher tax bracket than expected.

There are more tax-efficient ways to approach this goal. Planning ahead can save you a lot in taxes and help your money go further in retirement.

See thrivent.com/social for more information.

07/11/2025

Having money in a non-retirement investment account doesn’t mean you have an emergency fund.

If you're someone who likes to optimize every dollar, it can feel like you're missing out by keeping cash on the sidelines. But after years of working with clients, I've seen this play out over and over: when things go wrong, they usually don't happen one at a time.

Consider maintaining some of your cash in a high-yield savings account, which can offer flexibility and heighten financial confidence.

See thrivent.com/social for more information.

06/11/2025

If you're a small business owner, you have more retirement savings options than almost anyone else. Strategically lowering your tax bill through the right plan can have a big impact on your overall financial picture.

From simple, low-cost options like SEP and SIMPLE IRAs to Solo 401(k)s with contribution limits up to $70,000, there’s a strategy that can fit your business and goals.

Every business is unique- figuring out the right plan is the first step.

See thrivent.com/social for more information.

05/29/2025

Just because you’re approved for a mortgage doesn’t mean you can afford it. If your monthly housing costs are keeping you from saving for the future, you might have too much house.

A good rule of thumb: Keep your principal, interest, taxes, and insurance under 25% of your gross income.
That way, your home fits into your life- not the other way around.

See thrivent.com/social for more information.

05/13/2025

If you have an IRA, you need to check how it’s invested.

A Vanguard study found that 28% of people who rolled over retirement accounts had them sitting in cash—even a year later. Most assume the money is automatically invested, but that’s not always the case.

Here’s how costly that can be:
A 30-year-old with a $50,000 IRA

If invested properly at 8% annually: $739,000 at age 65
If left in cash earning 3%: $141,000 at age 65

That’s nearly a $600,000 difference just from one oversight.

Hypothetical example is for illustrative purposes. May not be representative of actual results. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results. See https://bit.ly/3GRNd0M and thrivent.com/social for more information.

04/23/2025

This has become even more relevant over the last 5 weeks with an extremely volatile market. Timing the market is a dangerous game.

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