Mary K. Conover

03/18/2026

LAST CALL 🍷✨

We’re getting so excited for Women, Wine & Investing!

If you’ve already registered—get ready for a great night (and feel free to bring a friend or two!).

If you’re still on the fence—don’t overthink it… just come.
It’s a fun night out—and it’s free.

Good wine. Great food. Even better conversation.

Registration closes Thursday.

👉 Sign up here:

26 March Women & Investing: Paired Like a Fine Wine Description Please join us for a relaxed and engaging evening of wine, conversation, and connection, featuring a short presentation focused on investing for women. The evening is designed to educate and empower, highlighting the unique financial ch...

03/12/2026

🍷 Just one week left to register!

Our Women, Wine & Investing evening at Bacchus Wine Making Club is coming up, and it’s shaping up to be a really fun night.

Think great wine, delicious bites, good conversation, and a room full of amazing women. We’ll spend a little time talking about investing for women (in a very approachable way — no jargon, no pressure), and the rest of the evening enjoying good company and connecting.

Winemakers will also be there sharing a bit about the wines we’ll be enjoying, which makes the whole experience even more fun.

Already registered? We can’t wait to see you there! And if you have a friend who would enjoy a fun ladies’ night out, bring her along — just make sure she registers too.

📅 Thursday, March 26
📍 Bacchus Wine Making Club – Toms River

⏳ Registration closes March 19, and space is limited.

Come for the wine. Stay for the conversation. Leave feeling empowered. 💜

👉 Click the link below to reserve your spot!

26 March Women & Investing: Paired Like a Fine Wine Description Please join us for a relaxed and engaging evening of wine, conversation, and connection, featuring a short presentation focused on investing for women. The evening is designed to educate and empower, highlighting the unique financial ch...

03/09/2026

What a great day at the Transition Fair at the Gramon School in Fairfield, NJ!

We had the opportunity to connect with so many wonderful families, educators, and professionals who are all working toward the same goal — helping students with special needs successfully transition into adulthood.

One of the biggest areas of concern for many families is planning ahead financially to ensure their loved ones don’t lose critical benefits. Far too often, a simple mistake can create major issues. For example, if a special needs individual ends up with more than $2,000 in their checking account, they could risk losing access to important benefits like Medicaid.

Many people don’t realize that something as simple as assets being temporarily in the wrong name, receiving an inheritance directly, or having an outdated beneficiary designation can unintentionally jeopardize those benefits.

That’s why planning ahead is so important. Tools like ABLE accounts and Supplemental Needs Trusts can play a critical role in helping families set aside funds for their loved one while protecting eligibility for benefits. When used properly, these strategies can help ensure long-term financial support without putting vital programs at risk.

Events like this are such an important reminder that the earlier families start these conversations, the more options they have to build a secure future.

A big thank you to the Gramon School for hosting such a meaningful event and for the incredible work you do supporting these students and their families as they prepare for what comes next.

If you’re a parent, caregiver, or professional supporting someone with special needs:

What questions about planning for adulthood come up most often for you? We’d love to hear them and help point you in the right direction.

03/03/2026

Geopolitical headlines are back in the driver’s seat, and markets are repricing uncertainty quickly. In the Cetera Investment Management Team's latest commentary, they unpack what’s behind the recent market reaction, why volatility may be higher this time, what they’re watching next, and why discipline and diversification matter most in uncertain environments. Read here:

Geopolitical headlines are back in the driver’s seat, and markets are repricing uncertainty quickly. In our latest commentary, we unpack what’s behind the recent market reaction, why volatility may be higher this time, what we’re watching next, and why discipline and diversification matter mos...

03/03/2026

🍷 Women, Wine & Investing — Don’t Miss This Special Evening!

Join us on Thursday, March 26 at Bacchus Wine Making Club in Toms River for a relaxed night designed just for women — featuring a curated selection of wines, light bites, meaningful conversation, and a short, approachable discussion focused on investing for women.

✨ Connect with like-minded women
✨ Enjoy a welcoming, no-pressure atmosphere
✨ Leave feeling more confident about your financial future

Already planning to come? We can’t wait to see you! And if you know someone who would enjoy a fun and empowering night out, feel free to invite a friend or two — just be sure they register as well.

🎟 Registration closes March 19 and attendance is limited, so be sure to reserve your spot soon.

Come for the wine. Leave feeling empowered. 💜

👉 Click the link below to learn more and RSVP. We look forward to seeing you there!!

26 March Women & Investing: Paired Like a Fine Wine Description Please join us for a relaxed and engaging evening of wine, conversation, and connection, featuring a short presentation focused on investing for women. The evening is designed to educate and empower, highlighting the unique financial ch...

02/17/2026

CALLING ALL WOMEN!!!

Join us for a relaxed and engaging evening designed JUST for women — where great wine meets meaningful conversation.

We’ll enjoy a curated selection of wines, light bites, and connection with other like-minded women, along with a short, approachable discussion focused on investing for women. No pressure. No jargon. Just real conversation in a welcoming setting.

✨ Learn
✨ Connect
✨ Feel more confident about your financial future

Winemakers will also be on hand to share insights into the winemaking process — making this both informative and fun.

📍Bacchus Wine Making Club, Toms River, NJ
📅 Thursday, March 26, 2026
⏰ 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

🎟 Attendance is limited — be sure to reserve your spot!

Come for the wine. Leave feeling empowered. 💜



Click here for more information and registration:

26 March Women & Investing: Paired Like a Fine Wine Description Please join us for a relaxed and engaging evening of wine, conversation, and connection, featuring a short presentation focused on investing for women. The evening is designed to educate and empower, highlighting the unique financial ch...

01/27/2026

SNOW!!! ❄️❄️❄️

As NJ digs out from this weekend’s snowstorm (we got 8+ inches here in Pine Beach!), it got me thinking about all the planning and prep that happens before a storm hits:

• Salting & brining the roads
• Stocking up on essentials (milk, bread, eggs—because apparently French toast is required when snowed in 😄)
• Fueling up—cars and gas cans for generators, just in case
• Making sure there’s a way to dig out afterward—whether shoveling, snow blowing, or hiring help

Those who planned ahead didn’t panic while the snow kept falling. I personally enjoyed sitting on our screened-in porch, gas fireplace on, hot cocoa in hand, and just watching it all come down.

Finances work the same way.

You can’t control when a storm hits—whether it’s an unexpected expense, a market downturn, or a life change—but preparation makes all the difference.

• Emergency savings
• A clear plan
• Flexibility built in

Financial planning isn’t about predicting the storm. It’s about knowing you’re ready when it arrives.

👉 How prepared do you feel for the storms in your life? If you want to make sure you’re ready, reach out—I’d love to help you plan ahead.

📸 Drop a picture of the snow near you below!

01/19/2026

Hear from Cetera Chief Investment Officer Gene Goldman on how the U.S. economy faces a mix of structural shifts and fiscal changes—from automation and AI to retroactive tax cuts. Cetera Investment Management's 2026 Annual Outlook explores how these forces may shape growth, inflation, and market dynamics, offering insights on equity valuations, and fixed income opportunities. Discover why resilience and adaptability are expected to remain central themes for investors in the year ahead. Watch to learn more: https://bcove.video/3Z4C8PH

01/16/2026

Hard to believe we’re already more than halfway through January. If you’re thinking, “So much for a fresh start — I’ll try again next year,” think again. It’s not too late.

The truth is, you don’t need a perfect January to make meaningful progress. A few small reviews now can still have a real impact on the rest of the year.

Here are three simple ways to reset:
1️⃣ Reassess coverage and protection to be sure it reflects your life as it looks today — not last year.
2️⃣ Review budgets and savings habits, especially if income, expenses, or priorities have shifted.
3️⃣ Set short-term milestones so progress feels manageable and adjustments are easier to make.

January doesn’t need to be perfect to be productive. Even a mid-month check-in can create clarity, structure, and confidence for 2026.

Not sure where to start — or just want a second set of eyes? Feel free to reach out or drop a comment below. I’m always happy to help.

01/14/2026

It’s that time of year we all dread… tax time. A little preparation now can make the process far less stressful later.

One of the best ways to ensure a smooth, efficient tax season is showing up prepared. This checklist covers the core items your tax preparer will need to work accurately—and strategically—on your behalf:

✔️ W-2s and 1099s
✔️ Last year’s tax return
✔️ Investment income statements
✔️ Mortgage interest & property tax documents
✔️ Charitable donation receipts
✔️ Business or self-employment expense records

Depending on your situation, additional documents may be needed, including health insurance forms, retirement distributions or contributions, education expenses, childcare costs, asset sale records, or estimated tax payments.

When everything is organized upfront, your tax professional can spend less time tracking down paperwork—and more time identifying opportunities, avoiding errors, and answering the questions that actually matter.

💡 Pro tip: If something changed this year (new job, sale of assets, side income, retirement distributions), flag it early.

Saving this post now can make April a whole lot easier.

👇 Which document do you usually end up searching for at the last minute?

01/07/2026

Last week, I was asked about AI 🤖 — how I think about it in my role as a financial advisor and whether I’m concerned about it replacing advisors.

My response was that while there is absolutely a place for AI — and I do use it in my practice — the role of a human advisor is irreplaceable.

This week, I turned to ChatGPT to ask a question about an RMD calculation. The response I received solidified my view: AI will not replace good financial advisors. Yes, it gave a confident-sounding calculation — it looked right, it sounded right… but it was wrong ❌.

That’s the gap ⚠️.

AI can process data quickly ⚡ and surface insights, but financial advice isn’t just about speed or answers. It’s about nuance, judgment, and accountability 🧠 — knowing when to question a number, trace it back to the source, and ensure the outcome is correct for the person on the other side 👥.

Clients don’t need perfect-sounding answers. They need correct answers — from someone who stands behind them ✅.

AI will absolutely change how we work — but it cannot replace the experience, judgment, or responsibility a financial advisor brings. Not now, not ever.

I’m curious — where have you found AI most helpful in your life or work? And where do you still prefer a human?

12/29/2025

Ready to start the new year strong? Then finish this year strong. Update your budget, refresh your estate plan, and explore income growth opportunities. Your future self will thank you.