Tim Gottus, Financial Advisor

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Tim Gottus, Financial Advisor

I believe everyone can be financially free and I believe I can get them there faster. ADV. READ OUR CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP SURVEY.

Advisory Services offered through Bull Harbor Capital, LLC, and SEC registered investment adviser, d/b/a Valent Wealth. SEC registration does not constitute an endorsement of the advisory firm by any regulatory authority, nor does it indicate that the advisory firm has attained a particular level of skill or ability. Valent Wealth does not give tax or legal advice. Please consult your legal or tax professionals for specific information regarding your individual situation.

06/03/2026

What would you do with a windfall?

A business sale. An inheritance. A bonus that lands bigger than expected.

Most people assume they'd handle it well.

But sudden money follows patterns. And the patterns aren't always flattering.

Psychologists call it sudden wealth syndrome: the anxiety, decision paralysis, and relationship pressure that arrive alongside a large sum. It shows up whether the windfall was a complete surprise or something you spent years building toward.

The 5 most common mistakes we see:

• Upgrading your lifestyle before a strategy exists

• Giving to family under emotional pressure

• Attempting to make decisions without professional guidance

• Freezing and making no decisions at all

• Missing the critical deadlines in year one

All five can be managed, but only if you get ahead of the emotions before the decisions start piling up.

The most important thing you can do in the first 90 days? Maybe nothing.

Tell very few people. Then consider building a team of professionals who can offer insights and guidance.

There is rarely a cost to waiting. There is frequently a cost to moving too quickly.

05/11/2026

Most parents think the last tuition check means game over for college. The data says it's halftime.

50 percent of parents with adult children still provide regular financial support, spending $1,474 a month to do so. That's more than twice what they're putting toward their own retirement.

Here's what "just helping out a little" actually looks like:

• 75 percent of parents aged 45+ are financially supporting at least one adult child, even though over half of those children can meet their own basic needs, according to a 2025 AARP survey.

• 42 percent of supporting parents report financial stress. 9 percent have retired early because of it.

• 47 percent say they've sacrificed their own financial position for the sake of their kids.

• 18 percent say the support could continue indefinitely. They don't see an end in sight.

This isn't about being less generous. It's about being intentional.

Whether your kid just graduated, graduated five years ago, or is still in school, the question is the same: Is your support happening by design or by default?

That's worth a conversation.

04/20/2026

April is National Stress Awareness Month, and caring for aging parents is one of the biggest stressors many families face.

In our experience, stress drops when the basics are handled before there is urgency.

Here are 5 things to consider:

• Financial power of attorney, so someone can act if needed

• Healthcare proxy, so medical decisions are clear and legally supported

• Account access, so a trusted contact can see what is happening without scrambling

• Bill pay strategy, so nothing becomes a late fee problem on top of everything else

• A shared “where things live” file, documents, logins, contacts, including key professionals

These are not fun conversations, but they are often a gift to future selves and to siblings who may need to step in.

When preparations have been made, families can give more time and attention to what actually matters.

04/06/2026

What can a $5 Frappuccino teach your teen about building wealth?

April is National Financial Literacy Month, and here's a number worth sharing at the dinner table.

If your teen opens a Roth IRA at 18 with $1,000 from a part-time job and adds $1,000 a year, that single account could be worth nearly $500,000 by age 65. Tax-free.

Think they can't save $1,000 a year? Skipping the daily Frappuccino more than covers it.

But the best financial education isn't about the math. It's about real decisions with real consequences.

A few things that actually work:

• Hand them cash instead of a credit card for shopping. Let them keep what they don't spend.

• Give them a clothing budget for the year. If they blow it by October, that's the lesson.

• Have the college money talk before they fall in love with a school. As one counselor put it, "Have the conversation before they buy the hoodie."

• With the Roth IRA, you can show them that there are certain rules with certain accounts. For example, to qualify for the tax-free and penalty-free withdrawal of earnings, Roth IRA distributions must meet a 5-year holding requirement and occur after age 59½. Also, tax-free and penalty-free withdrawals can also be taken under certain other circumstances, such as the owner's death. The original Roth IRA owner is not required to take minimum annual withdrawals.

What's one money lesson you wish someone had taught you earlier?

03/17/2026

Ever paid a credit card off, then wondered why the credit score barely moved, or even dipped?

Here are 5 tips that might help raise your score—do you check all the boxes?

• Payment history is the biggest factor; one missed payment can outweigh a lot of “good behavior.”

• Credit utilization can change quickly; a common guideline is less than 30 percent, and top scores tend to be in the single digits.

• Paying more than once a month can be beneficial, especially if you pay before the statement closes.

• A credit limit increase can lower utilization quickly, as long as spending stays flat.

• An authorized user setup can help, even without using the card, when added to a well-managed account.

When borrowing is on the horizon, aligning credit moves with the broader financial strategy may help.

03/04/2026

If retirement is on the calendar this year, Medicare enrollment timing is one detail that can create big headaches if missed.

5 key points to have on the radar in early March:

1.) Medicare’s General Enrollment Period runs each year from January 1 through March 31.

2.) It is designed for people who missed the initial enrollment window and need Part A and or Part B.

3.) Enrollment during this period starts coverage the month after enrollment.

4.) Part B late enrollment penalties can apply, calculated as 10 percent per full year delayed, and can last for life.

5.) Timing can intersect with employer coverage decisions and Medigap enrollment windows, so coordination matters.

Health coverage choices are personal finance choices.

A quick check in March may help manage gaps, penalties, and stress later.

02/17/2026

What if your most expensive tax decision in 2026 happens long before you file your return?

Tax prep looks backward; tax strategy looks ahead, and that gap is where real after-tax outcomes get decided.

A few high-impact levers to keep on the radar:

• When Income Lands: Timing bonuses, self-employment income, and retirement distributions can help manage brackets.

• How You Might Save: Consider taking advantage of the higher 401(k) limits in 2026, and catch-up provisions—but be sure to look into whether you need to use a Roth for those catch-up contributions.

• Where Giving Shows Up: New rules change how charitable gifts and Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) limits work together.

• What You Do in Down Markets: Tax loss harvesting can turn volatility into a tool, not just noise.

• With most retirement accounts, once you reach age 73, you must begin taking required minimum distributions. Roth accounts are the exception. Withdrawal penalties may apply if you take the money before age 59½. Roth IRA distributions must meet a 5-year holding requirement and occur after the account holder reaches age 59½.

Preparing year-round can help shape future cash flow, flexibility, and choices.

02/10/2026

How confident are you that you are truly on track for retirement?

Vanguard’s latest outlook says only 42 percent of Americans are pacing toward their retirement income goals.

That means most might need to save more, work longer, adjust spending, or some mix of all three.

Workplace strategies can make a big difference:
• 54% are on track, vs. 28 percent without access

• Those with access are projected to have a $1,000 surplus in retirement

• Those without access face an $8,000 shortfall

If you're unsure which side of the 42 percent you are on, let us help you develop a strategy that can help you get on track.

02/03/2026

Did you update your retirement contributions for 2026?

It’s February, but you may still have your 401(k) and IRA deferrals set to last year’s numbers, even though the limits went up for 2026.

Here are the key updates to know for 2026.

Workplace Plans - 401(k), 403(b), 457s:
• Employee limit: $24,500
• Age 50+ catch-up: extra $8,000, total $32,500
• Ages 60–63 “super” catch-up: up to $35,750

IRAs (Traditional + Roth Combined):
• Base limit: $7,500
• Age 50+ catch-up: $1,100, total $8,600

High Earners - A Big Change.
If your 2025 wages were above $150,000, your 401(k) catch-up contributions in 2026 must be made in a Roth account, not a pre-tax one.

If your plan does not offer a Roth option, catch-ups may not be available.

With most retirement accounts, once you reach age 73, you must begin taking required minimum distributions. Roth accounts are the exception. Withdrawal penalties may apply if you take the money before age 59½. Roth IRA distributions must meet a 5-year holding requirement and occur after the account holder reaches age 59½.

So, if you haven’t already:

• Confirm your current deferral rate reflects the new limits, not last year’s

• Check whether your plan offers Roth and how catch-ups are handled

01/05/2026

Many New Year's resolutions fade because they’re vague. January is Financial Wellness Month, and you don’t obtain financial wellness with vague goals.

You pursue it with measurable goals that are tied to the real-life outcomes you work towards for you and your family.

Sometimes it can be overwhelming though.

That’s when financial professionals can help. We work with clients to do the following and more:

• Identify a few short-term goals that can make a difference (e.g., savings rate, debt paydown, or cash runway in months). Track them weekly.

• Stress test your portfolio: What changes if x, y, or z happens? Run different scenarios so you can stress test your strategies for both the short and long term.

• Review your plan now: review deferrals, evaluate retirement plans, and come up with a strategy to manage gains/losses.

• Update the “people” side: beneficiaries, POA/health proxies, and key insurance coverages.

If you’d like a Financial Wellness Check-In, message us. We’ll uncover data-driven ideas tailored to your situation to help your financial wellness.

Address

Pittsburgh, PA

Telephone

+14128730450

Website

http://timgottus.com/, http://valentwealth.com/

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