Upbeat Wealth

06/03/2026

Here’s the May edition of our monthly newsletter!

Inside, you'll find:

➡️ A complete glossary for everyone with student loans 🎓
➡️ An overview of Trump accounts and whether to open one 💲
➡️ A guide to a budgeting system that actually works 😍
➡️ And, as always, the latest on the Pupbeat 🐶

👉🏼 View the web version: https://preview.mailerlite.io/preview/1116006/emails/188733265138418884

Want more of our practical thoughts on everyday financial questions that impact people like you?

▶️ Subscribe here: https://subscribepage.io/eXkcnF

🔍 And for more Upbeat Insights, check out our blog: https://upbeatwealth.com/education/

I’ve told myself several times over the years that I wanted to get “serious” about running. Don’t ask me why. The more I think on it, the sillier the endeavor seems (or so my feet, knees, and back tell me). And typically, the only thing I ever really get serious about is coming up with reaso...

05/21/2026

In our work with young and growing families, life insurance is a recurring and highly necessary planning topic.

Most people have easy access to coverage through their employee benefits. And with that, we usually encounter a couple of assumptions...

➡️ My group life insurance at work is enough coverage.
➡️ My workplace life insurance is the best value.

While easy access to such important protection is a plus, we find that a lot of individuals...

✅ Are underinsured when relying on their employer coverage alone.
✅ Can save on premiums with an individual policy.

In his most recent blog post, Eddy Jurgielewicz, CFP® discusses how to evaluate group vs. individual life insurance to ensure you have the right amount at the best value.

Is your employer life insurance enough? A good value? Learn the pros, cons, costs, and how to navigate between group vs. individual coverage.

05/13/2026

There's a reason we review the tax returns for all of our households each year.

If you file yourself, it's a dizzying endeavor. If you work with a CPA, it's still on you to maintain immaculate records and accurately pass everything along.

Bottom line: there's more than enough room for something to slip through the cracks. The good news is that mistakes can be corrected, and it often pays to do so!

In his latest blog post, Mike Turi, CFP® APMA™ explains how to identify and properly account for the following missed opportunities or errors on your 2025 return:

▶️ Overtime pay deduction
▶️ Tip deduction
▶️ Car loan interest deduction
▶️ Missing mortgage interest, due to multiple 1098s
▶️ Medical expense deduction
▶️ Duplicate 1099s from custodians
▶️ Misreporting the cost basis of RSUs
▶️ Backdoor Roth mistakes
▶️ Excess HSA contributions

Think you filed correctly? You may have missed key 2025 tax deductions for overtime, tips, or car loan interest. Learn what to check before it’s too late.

05/06/2026

Here’s the April edition of our monthly newsletter!

Inside, you'll find:

➡️ Questions to ask before an advisor manages your money ❓
➡️ How to find & fix missed tax deductions on your 2025 return 🔍
➡️ How to evaluate group term life insurance vs. individual coverage 🧐
➡️ What to do with student loans now that SAVE is done 🎓
➡️ And, as always, the latest on the Pupbeat 🐶

👉🏼 Newsletter: https://preview.mailerlite.io/preview/1116006/emails/186205206178957235

Want more of our practical thoughts on everyday financial questions that impact people like you?

▶️ Subscribe here: https://subscribepage.io/eXkcnF

🔍 And for more Upbeat Insights, check out our blog: https://upbeatwealth.com/education/

Periodically, at the beginning of the year, I’ll take 10 minutes to round up some of the economic and market outlooks from the big-box retail wealth management firms and download them to my computer. You have to do it this way to actually check back on their crystal ball predictions because they q...

04/27/2026

Couples who communicate openly and establish clear spending boundaries tend to experience significantly less stress on their wedding day.

But those who incur distribution penalties, accumulate high-interest debt, and *borrow* funds from other meaningful buckets (home, education, retirement) tend to have a harder time enjoying the very thing they overextended themselves for in the first place.

Of course, that seems obvious, but we realize it’s difficult in the moment. You’re facing mounting pressure on an expedited timeline to secure the *beautiful* venue, the *best* vendors, and host all the people.

Here’s the key. Don’t spend for anyone else but YOU. Your perfect day and weekend haven’t happened yet. So let go of traditions and what others have done. Focus on what is essential for your happiness.

Check out the TV segment and our corresponding post/blog for our framework on what to expect and how to do it right.

04/16/2026

Looking to get into a new car this year?

Read what Mike has to say about it first!

And if you're weighing whether to buy vs. lease, here's how we think about it...

🚗 When Buying Makes More Sense:
👉🏼 You anticipate using the car for longer than the financing period, or at least 6+ years.
👉🏼 You drive the car more than the usual 10,000 to 15,000 miles per year common in leases, which can lead to higher mileage and wear-and-tear fees.

🚗 When Leasing Makes More Sense:
👉🏼 You enjoy having a new car every 3 years.
👉🏼 You're uncertain whether you’ll want/have/need this car beyond the lease period.
👉🏼 You prefer less hassle/maintenance in your life.
👉🏼 You really just need a lower monthly payment because you have other financial priorities at the moment, or can’t afford a 20% down payment when buying a new or used car.

❓ Other questions Mike tackles in his blog post:
▶️ Hybrid vs. gas vs. electric: Which is most cost-effective?
▶️ Is the "buy used" strategy still worth it?
▶️ Can leasing actually make you money?
▶️ How much is considered a sufficient down payment?

Learn whether to buy or lease a car, how financing impacts total cost, and strategies to save money on your next vehicle.

04/10/2026

Cash feels safe.

And having the right amount set aside creates security.

But sitting on too much of it adds risk to the success of your long-term financial plan. The very thing that makes you feel comfortable could become a trap.

Eddy gets into why that's the case and how to strike a balance.

Read on here 👇🏼

When it comes to cash, it pays to make sure you don't have too much of it sitting around. We dive into why.

04/09/2026

We love passing the ball back and forth with Malik about who will retire first, so it always feels good to hit him with an unexpected pass on air. Originally aired in January, we are revisiting our conversation about financial resolutions for the year to see whether everyone focused on outcomes or inputs.

👎 Outcome → Be out of Credit Card Debt in 2026
👍 Input → Increase Credit Card payment by a few hundred dollars each period

Focus enough on sustainable inputs, and positive outcomes will follow!

Still plenty of time to leave this year better than how you found it.

So go out there and…
1️⃣ Build a Healthy Habit
2️⃣ Eliminate Something Expensive or Unnecessary
3️⃣ Save a Bit More For Your Future Self

We know Malik will be out there working on his boat long before 80-year-old Mike leaves his post. Hopefully, he leaves him a little cash and the coordinates, as Andy Dufresne did for Red!

04/02/2026

Here’s the March edition of our monthly newsletter!

Inside, you'll find:

➡️ A deliverable on planning, behavior, and the markets 🧭
➡️ Why too much cash might be working against you 👎🏼
➡️ How to get the best deal on a new car 🚗
➡️ All you need to know about the Backdoor Roth IRA 🚪
➡️ And, as always, the latest on the Pupbeat 🐶

👉🏼 Here’s the web version: https://preview.mailerlite.io/preview/1116006/emails/182950117633951156

Want more of our practical thoughts on everyday financial questions that impact people like you?

▶️ Subscribe here: https://subscribepage.io/eXkcnF

🔍 And for more Upbeat Insights, check out our blog: https://upbeatwealth.com/education/

After her trip to the grocery store the other day, my wife excitedly shared how she doubled back for a less-expensive jam option. She gets me…

03/20/2026

How do you choose between making Traditional or Roth 401(k) contributions?

A simplified framework:

➡️ Early in your career? Go with Roth.

➡️ Mid-career? Go with a 50/50 split.

➡️ In your peak earning years? Go with Traditional.

If you want to parse the decision further...

There's the math:

👉🏼 The goal is to strategically coordinate when you're paying taxes on the dollars, based on your income (which informs your tax bracket).

👉🏼 Generally speaking, if you expect that your income is lower *now* than it will be in *retirement*, pay taxes on the money contributed to your 401k now, as it goes into the account (ROTH).

👉🏼 Alternatively, if your income is higher *now* than you expect it to be in *retirement*, delay paying taxes on those dollars until retirement (TRADITIONAL).

And then there's the emotional side of it:

👉🏼 Roth contributions remove a big question mark for the future. You don't have to worry about what tax law changes may come or how future withdrawals will impact other areas of your finances. The balance you see is what you get. You will pay no taxes.

👉🏼 Having a combo of some pre-tax dollars AND Roth dollars gives you greater flexibility down the road compared to all of your money being in only one type of tax bucket.

👉🏼 Even having a large amount of pre-tax dollars gives you a healthy level of control later on in the form of Roth conversions, which can be a powerful tool.

Looking for more clarity? Read Mike's blog post 👇🏼

Still have questions? That's where we come in!

Choosing between Traditional or Roth 401(k) contributions? Learn how tax brackets, life events, and future income impact the best strategy.