Mathis Wealth Management

08/26/2026

Since no one can predict market timing, what can you do?

First, keep working longer or part-time—even modest earned income reduces the need to sell shares during downturns.

Second, spend less initially if markets disappoint to give your portfolio room to recover.

Third, tap non-stock assets first during downturns—bonds, cash reserves, home equity—preserving stocks for recovery.

Fourth and most importantly, consult with an experienced advisor who designs withdrawal strategies around sequence risk. Retirement planning accounts for more than just average returns; it accounts for the timing of returns.

08/25/2026

While properly allocating assets across categories for proper diversification is vital, maximum lifetime tax efficiency can be further enhanced by strategic placement of assets among taxable, tax-deferred, and tax-free accounts. Wealth Advisor Larry Mathis explains.

Asset allocation strategy matters, but so does asset location: strategically placing investments to reduce your lifetime tax burden.  

08/24/2026

Over 20 million Americans cohabitate with nonmarital partners. Whether unmarried couples, blended families with step-relationships, or other non-traditional structures, probate laws default to biological or legally recognized relatives. To help ensure your desired beneficiaries inherit your estate, careful planning and specific legal language is essential.

Trusts offer flexibility to accommodate your wishes for how assets are distributed and can include conditions like education completion or employment achievement. Don't assume your will or state law will provide what you intend. Get specific legal guidance for your unique family situation.

08/19/2026

The order in which your investment returns occur early in retirement significantly impacts portfolio longevity. A portfolio experiencing positive returns early in retirement will outlast an identical portfolio that endures early downturns, even if long-term average returns are identical. Why? During your working years, market downturns let you buy more shares.

In retirement, downturns force you to sell shares at lower prices, reducing your portfolio's ability to recover. This sequence risk is one reason early retirement years demand strategic planning. Work with an advisor to build a retirement plan that accounts for market volatility.

08/17/2026

Estrangement is emotionally painful and legally complicated. If you anticipate a will or trust being contested, your estate plan needs specific legal safeguards. Revocable trusts are more difficult to contest than simple wills and provide privacy since they avoid probate. No-contest clauses can impose penalties on unsuccessful challengers. Complete disinheritance carries risks, as courts may favor disinherited family members if reasons seem arbitrary.

Work with an experienced estate planning attorney to create legally sound documents that reflect your intentions clearly and withstand potential challenges.

08/12/2026

As a family steward, the financial choices you make today echo through your family's future. How you invest, plan for taxes, structure your will, and communicate about money becomes the template your children follow. Teaching financial responsibility, modeling delayed gratification, and demonstrating thoughtful planning create a legacy beyond dollars.

Family stewards understand they're not just building wealth for themselves but laying the foundation for their children's and grandchildren's financial stability. Your financial wisdom is one of the greatest gifts you can pass along.

08/11/2026

Couples who retire early may need strategies for spanning the income gap until Social Security eligibility. Financial advisor Cameron Mathis provides some helpful guidelines.

Discover how to bridge income gaps between early retirement and Social Security with smart withdrawal sequencing, Roth strategies, and cash flow planning. 

08/10/2026

Blended families need careful estate planning to prevent conflict and ensure clarity. Key considerations include deciding which assets go to which children, whether to preference biological children over stepchildren, and managing separate property brought into the marriage.

Beneficiary designations on insurance and retirement accounts are critical. They override your will. Many blended families use life insurance to benefit a surviving spouse while ensuring biological children receive their inheritance. Clear, thoughtful documentation prevents family conflict when emotions run high.

08/06/2026

Long-term care is often overlooked in retirement planning, yet it's one of the largest potential expenses retirees face. Nursing homes, assisted living, home care—these costs can easily exceed $100,000 per year.

Medicare doesn't cover long-term care, and many families are shocked to discover the financial impact when care is needed. The time to plan is now, before you need it. Whether through insurance, savings, or strategic planning with your family, addressing long-term care risk protects both your wealth and your independence.

07/29/2026

We know education funding matters to parents and grandparents. However, when choices must be made between retirement savings and 529 plans, prioritize your own retirement.

Think of it like airline oxygen masks: put yours on first. Your children won't benefit from you sacrificing retirement security. You cannot borrow for retirement the way you can for education. Secure your own future first, then help with education costs.

Grandparents can open 529 plans or gift Roth IRAs in the meantime. The wisdom is taking care of yourself first.