Simon Tschinkel - Wealth Advisory Group, LLC

09/07/2026

I know a lot of DIY investors, tax filers and buyers of insurance.

I'll tell you what I tell all of them: Make sure you have a qualified professional to offer a second set of eyes and ears on any major moves you are considering.

A good advisor will be open to speaking with you and will seek to provide value, whether or not they're getting paid for their time and insights.

09/01/2026

Do you work for a very large corporation (such as JP Morgan Chase, Meta (Facebook), Lockheed Martin, Alphabet (Google) really any "mega-cap" US company)?

If so, you may want to dig into the 401k offerings you have available to you. Some offerings may not be mutual funds, but Collective Investment Trusts (CITs).

What's the difference between a mutual fund and a CIT?

First, because mega-corporations are so large, they leverage that size to negotiate low institutional pricing; CITs are incredibly common in Fortune 500 plans. Upshot: the CITs may have lower expense ratios, and your money over the long term can be put to better use (you keep more of your money).

Second, because of their structure, CITs are far less liquid than mutual funds. They frequently restrict withdrawals to specific intervals (e.g., quarterly) or require a notice period. If you need money quickly, this may be a concern.

If you do have a CIT, speak with your financial advisor to walk you through how best to take advantage of this opportunity.

08/29/2026

Consider the opportunity costs associated with a lifetime of paying taxes. A tax dollar that leaves your world is a dollar that will never earn another cent that you could have earned.

People hire CPAs to lessen the impacts of taxes on their financial world. Sometimes they hire attorneys also.

CPAs and attorneys see things financial advisors don't see. Financial advisors see things CPAs and attorneys don't see.

Over a lifetime, the difference can be the difference between a retirement with anxiety about money and a comfortable retirement.

https://www.visualcapitalist.com/mapped-lifetime-taxes-in-every-u-s-state/

08/22/2026

Is social security going to go bust? Unlikely.

However, you can help hedge your bets and smooth out your future income streams in retirement.

As always, before you make any moves, consult with your financial advisor about your particular situation.

Social Security's trust fund has a countdown clock, and most retirement plans aren't built to survive what comes next. Here are three moves that could protect your income before the window closes.

08/17/2026

A sober conversation about big entitlement programs and the reality of implementing (and paying) for them.

Podcast Episode · The Reason Roundtable · August 17 · 1h 8m

08/03/2026

I have done a reverse rollover. However, I never considered doing so prior to becoming a financial advisor. I wish I had done it sooner but my situation is not your situation.

If you find yourself wondering if this is an action you should consider, consult your trusted financial advisor.

You can roll your IRA investments over into a 401(k). In this guide, we’ll explain how and why.

07/29/2026

To all you active DIY investors out there:

You’ve heard the phrase “Don’t just stand there; DO SOMETHING!”, right?

I think it was Warren Buffett who popularized the phrase ” Don't do something; JUST STAND THERE!”

Meaning:

During times of volatility in the markets, the individual investor with a well-constructed portfolio must not react to news and market swings. Rather, ignore the ups and downs, do nothing. Stay the course.

An investor’s greatest ally is time. An investor's greatest nemesis is himself.

07/23/2026

Follow-up to my personal post on July 20th:

My dad lived robustly till 95. My mother is 97 and chugging along. Most women live longer than their husbands. And women are more likely to require care.

My parents had no interest in insurance that wasn't required by law (auto) or a bank (homeowners). No life insurance, nor long-term care (LTC) insurance. Yes, my dad did some kind of planning but not the kind that took into account how expensive the required care could be if you need it. And even if they did speak with someone about it, it probably seemed unattractive for a variety of reasons -- offerings and options in the 1990s and early 2000s were not great.

Things have changed. And for someone looking to put some kind of financial backstop in place in the event care is needed, there are now a bunch of options.

The thing about insurance is that you must buy it before you need it. You can't buy a great auto policy after you've had the accident. You can't be compensated for stolen things after they've been lost/damaged/stolen. You can't get umbrella insurance after you've been sued. You can't expect to get your caregivers/nurses/assisted living paid for if your health has already started to fail you.

Speak to a financial advisor who knows the options, will shop for you, will explain the contract details, and can see how a policy might fit in your circumstances.

A conversation doesn't cost anything.

07/18/2026

If you are a DIY'er for your finances, one thing is certain: It helps to keep your brain agile and functioning properly into your later years.

One simple vaccination may dramatically reduce the risk of dementia

07/09/2026

Listening to a long-form interview with the authors of "Tax Planning To and Through Early Retirement" so you don't have to read the book. Just reach out and let's talk.

I'll post some interesting tidbits in the comments.