ATK Financial Prosperity, LLC.

09/04/2026

Dear SD308 teacher, you are invited!⁣
⁣
📚 New School Year!🍎 A great time to review your personal finances. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
As teachers, you take care of so many people. 🙏⁣⁣
⁣⁣
But now, let us take care of YOU.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
The Oswego Area Chamber of Commerce and Alex invite you to an educational financial planning session.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
This is not like the steak dinners you have heard about that are sales tactics in disguise to sell you financial products that don't make sense for you.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
We are not going to have any steaks. ❌🥩 (we'll have water and light snacks)⁣⁣
⁣⁣
⁣⁣
We'll go through the 7 financial planning components that everyone should be doing.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
We'll dive deeper into a few of them, so you can have actionable takeaways to implement for your own personal finances.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
💰 The "anti-budget" budget is always a fun one when I explain how it works.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
🔹🔸🔹🔸🔹🔸🔹🔸🔹🔸🔹🔸🔹🔸🔹🔸⁣⁣
⁣⁣
All teachers in SD308 are invited.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Seating is limited.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
🔗 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐮𝐩 𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬⁣⁣
⁣⁣
We hope to see you there!⁣⁣
⁣⁣
⁣⁣
⁣⁣

09/01/2026

Bonds are not a risk-free investment.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
No investment is "safe".⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Every financial instrument has a risk.⁣⁣

Bonds can have:
• Interest rate risk (remember 2022?)
• Credit risk
• Inflation risk
• Reinvestment risk

⁣⁣
The cookie-cutter "advice" is to put more toward bonds as you get older and move into retirement.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
On the surface, that makes sense, but it's a bit more nuanced.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
There are different types of bonds:⁣⁣
• US Government⁣⁣
• Foreign Government⁣⁣
• Corporate (Investment Grade)⁣⁣
• Junk Bonds⁣⁣
• Municipal⁣⁣
• Inflation Protected (TIPS)⁣⁣
⁣⁣
But don't stop there. Then there is:⁣⁣
• Short duration⁣⁣
• Intermediate duration⁣⁣
• Long duration⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Just going with a 60/40 or a 50/50 portfolio may not match your specific situation.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Bonds need to support your cash flow needs in retirement, help with volatility, and be a potential diversifier.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Different bonds serve different purposes.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
📝 𝐀𝐬 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧:⁣⁣
⁣⁣
1️⃣ Map out your monthly expenses. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
How much of your monthly expenses are covered by guaranteed income such as Social Security?⁣⁣
⁣⁣
How much is not? (That's the gap your portfolio needs to cover)⁣⁣
⁣⁣
⁣⁣
2️⃣ Map out the gap for the next 5 years. (a 5-year 𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 cash flow projection)⁣⁣
⁣⁣
⁣⁣
3️⃣ Then use bonds that align with your 5-year needs. That's where duration and type of bond come into play. Don't just pick an "all-inclusive" bond fund. Those are not aligned with your cash flow needs.⁣
⁣⁣
⁣⁣
⚠️ Cash Flow Planning is one of the most critical components of your retirement plan. It is how you plan for your desired lifestyle, which then drives how you structure your investment portfolio, including how much and what type of bonds. You then review it regularly as you monitor your cash flow, inflation, markets, and overall retirement plan.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
---------------⁣⁣
⁣⁣
🗓️ If you are within 5 years of retirement, or already retired, and need help with your retirement planning, set up a call via the website. The first two meetings are complimentary.⁣

For informational purposes only. Consult with a financial professional.

08/25/2026

Everyone asks me what happens if the market drops. Almost nobody asks about these five risks.⁣
⁣⁣
1. Not spending enough money risk⁣⁣
2. Running out of money risk⁣⁣
3. Cognitive decline risk⁣⁣
4. Long-term care risk⁣⁣
5. Inflation risk⁣⁣
⁣
🟡 All impact your financial health⁣⁣
🟡 All need ongoing care⁣⁣
🟡 All need planning⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Does your retirement plan monitor for these risks?⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Here is what your plan should have to help you manage these risks:⁣⁣
⁣⁣
✅ A 5-year rolling cash flow plan⁣⁣
✅ Investment mix to support the cash flow plan⁣⁣
✅ Flexible withdrawal strategies⁣⁣
✅ An Estate Plan put in place⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Every financial decision in retirement impacts something else.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
You may be creating risks without knowing.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
𝐂𝐨𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 among all components of financial planning is crucial.⁣
⁣

08/25/2026

I have been trying to master the extraction of an espresso shot for a month now. Still working on it, but I get to try again and again.

But for retirement, you only get one shot at it. Make it count.

Make sure your finances are ready for it.

Are you on target for the retirement you want?

08/19/2026

Congrats to Ben and Jane on their retirement. Here is what they did the 5 years leading up to retirement.⁣
⁣
𝟓 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐎𝐮𝐭⁣
⁣
1. Check if you are on target for your retirement.⁣
2. Run a full year spending audit so your plan uses facts, not guesses.⁣
3. Get strategic on what investment accounts you should be using.⁣
⁣
𝟒 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐎𝐮𝐭⁣
⁣
1. Map how you will cover health insurance from your last paycheck to Medicare.⁣
2. Set a payoff date for any debt you refuse to carry into retirement.⁣
3. Stress test the portfolio against a bad first year.⁣
⁣
𝟑 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐎𝐮𝐭⁣
⁣
1. Compare Social Security claiming strategies.⁣
2. Sketch the Roth conversion window.⁣
3. Decide which investment accounts will be used 1st, 2nd and last.⁣
⁣
𝟐 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐎𝐮𝐭⁣
⁣
1. Watch your income closely now. Create a 5-year rolling cash flow plan.⁣
2. Ensure your Sequence of Returns strategy is in place by now.⁣
3. Inventory the employer benefits you will lose and what replaces each one.⁣
⁣
𝟏 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐎𝐮𝐭⁣
⁣
1. Pick the actual date and check how it hits your final year of income and benefits.⁣
2. Put Medicare and Social Security enrollment windows on the calendar.⁣
3. Live one practice month on your retirement paycheck.⁣
⁣
Retirement doesn’t just happen. ⁣
⁣
Proactive planning helps you sync up your whole financial life, so you are ready for one of the biggest events of your life.⁣
⁣
⁣
*𝘉𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘑𝘢𝘯𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘴. 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘴 𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘲𝘶𝘦. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘩𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵.⁣

08/14/2026

08/12/2026

You are near or in retirement and the stock market crashes.⁣
⁣
And it's not an "IF" it happens. ⁣
⁣
It WILL happen.⁣
⁣
We don't know when and what will cause it. ⁣
⁣
It's part of the course of investing. ⁣
⁣
Emotions will be high. The media will be spreading fear. Red everywhere. ⁣
⁣
You will feel anxious, fearful, and you would be tempted to completely go to cash and get out of the market.⁣
⁣
We haven't had a prolonged market downturn since 2008. Nearly 20 years.⁣
⁣
Taking action with your portfolio when emotions are high is not a good strategy.⁣
⁣
You would need to time the market correctly 2x.⁣
⁣
First to get out and then to get back in.⁣
⁣
The odds are against you.⁣
⁣
⁣
So, what can you do proactively? ⁣
⁣
Have a financial plan that captures 👇 ⁣
⁣
- A 5-year rolling cash flow plan that captures your expenses and your income sources⁣
- A diversified portfolio that supports the 5-year cash flow plan ⁣
- An Investment Policy Statement (IPS) that explains why you are invested the way you are
- Stress tests of your plan to model potential drawdowns⁣
- Have a flexible withdrawal strategy with guardrails⁣
⁣
⁣

08/04/2026

Got this text from a client. 😀⁣
⁣
And it is true.⁣
⁣
Ongoing Financial Planning does indeed help with money stress.⁣
⁣
Now, I don't have scientific backing, but over time, I can see it with clients.⁣
⁣
Just knowing where you stand financially and what the next steps are provides peace of mind.⁣
⁣
Over time, your financial puzzle starts to come together.⁣
⁣
✅ You have clarity.⁣
✅ You have direction.⁣
✅ You start executing financial goals.⁣
⁣
⁣
Financial Planning is hard.⁣
⁣
But not doing it is even harder.⁣
⁣
Health = Wealth⁣
Wealth = Health⁣

------
7 components of Financial Planning

- Defining goals
- Cash Flow Management
- Risk Management
- Tax Planning
- Investments
- Retirement Income Planning
- Legacy Planning

All 7 of the above need to work in sync.
⁣

07/28/2026

5 or less years to retirement? Ask these 5 questions:⁣
⁣
⁣
1️⃣ What are my income sources when I retire?⁣
⁣
2️⃣ Will I be able to generate enough income in retirement?⁣
⁣
3️⃣ How are my retirement income sources taxed?⁣
⁣
4️⃣ What is my Roth Conversion window?⁣
⁣
5️⃣ Have I created an actual retirement plan?⁣
⁣
⁣
⁣
Don't wait until the day you retire. Your options will be limited.⁣
⁣
---------⁣
If you are not sure about the above, book a call.⁣
⁣
I offer 2 complimentary meetings to get you started.

07/23/2026

⛳ Come visit ATK Financial Prosperity at Hole #9 during today’s Chamber Golf Outing! We’re proud to be here with our Leads 4 networking group. Stop by, say hello, and good luck to all the golfers!