Ben Thomas - Financial Advisor at Northwestern Mutual

Ben Thomas - Financial Advisor at Northwestern Mutual Showing individuals, families and businesses what they didn't know they didn't know.

09/24/2026

When you have so much growth, potential, support, and resources to look forward to, it’s hard not to get excited to jump out of bed for work. If you want to look forward to your daily grind, let’s chat.

A longer post today, but there are pictures at the end!!Most people don't know that I enjoy building furniture. And over...
09/24/2026

A longer post today, but there are pictures at the end!!

Most people don't know that I enjoy building furniture. And over the years, I've noticed a surprising amount of crossover between woodworking and financial planning.

When you build a dresser, the outside is what people notice first: the wood, the proportions, the layout, the finish.

Open the drawers and maybe you notice the dovetail joints or the drawer liners.

But almost no one notices the runners the drawers actually ride on.

And that's a problem, because if a dresser lasts 100+ years, there's one place you can be pretty sure will eventually wear out. Decades of wood-on-wood friction will slowly wear those runners down.

So when I build a dresser, I make them replaceable.

For the next few decades, no one will notice. They shouldn't.

But someday, someone will realize a drawer isn't working quite right. They'll take the back off the dresser and discover that someone thought about this problem decades before it happened.

The worn runners aren't permanently built into the dresser. They're removable, held securely in place with a single brass screw and gravity. They're even set up to wear before the drawer sides.

A few minutes with a tape measure and a table saw, and the dresser is good for another few decades.

Financial planning isn't much different.

A good financial plan doesn't pretend nothing will ever go wrong. It anticipates that life, markets, tax laws, careers, businesses, and families will change. Then it quietly prepares for some of those changes before they happen.

Most of that preparation may go unnoticed for years.

Then, eventually, something happens.

And at exactly the moment when it's needed, the utility of the planning becomes obvious.

Maybe there's a moment of recognition, from one craftsman to another:

"Wow. Someone foresaw this decades ago and prepared for it."

Or maybe the client just says:

"Cool. Glad that's taken care of."

Honestly, either one works for me.

The dresser worked.

The financial plan worked.

The Fed raised rates to try to bring down inflation as economic data continued to be strong. Chief Investment Officer Br...
09/22/2026

The Fed raised rates to try to bring down inflation as economic data continued to be strong. Chief Investment Officer Brent Schutte explains the data and why it calls for a measured approach. http://spr.ly/6180BGj6hw

Fall is the perfect time for a financial reset. Review your benefits, taxes, and retirement contributions before year-en...
09/21/2026

Fall is the perfect time for a financial reset. Review your benefits, taxes, and retirement contributions before year-end deadlines. Reach out to me, and we can build a personalized plan together. http://spr.ly/6181BGJ4fD

09/16/2026

One thing I've noticed:

People rarely recognize financial progress while it's happening.

They notice it years later.

When the emergency fund covers an unexpected expense.

When a major purchase doesn't create stress.

When retirement starts to feel realistic.

When a difficult decision has already been planned for.

Most financial progress doesn't feel dramatic.

It usually looks like a series of small decisions that didn't seem very important at the time.

The benefits often become obvious much later.

Inflation remains sticky, interest rates are moving higher, and the economic benefits of artificial intelligence are sti...
09/15/2026

Inflation remains sticky, interest rates are moving higher, and the economic benefits of artificial intelligence are still unfolding. Here’s Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company Chief Investment Officer Brent Schutte’s take on why diversification remains important in today’s market environment. http://spr.ly/6181BGulJx

Your grandkids may be one of your biggest financial priorities—but they shouldn't jeopardize your own well-being. Here a...
09/14/2026

Your grandkids may be one of your biggest financial priorities—but they shouldn't jeopardize your own well-being. Here are smart ways to help build their future while protecting yours. http://spr.ly/6181BGJ44t

09/10/2026

There are plenty of growth opportunities as a financial advisor. You’ll find the more you help others achieve their goals, the more you’ll be able to achieve yourself. So, if you want to be pleasantly surprised about your next career opportunity, let’s connect.

Getting married changes more than your last name and mailing address. It can affect taxes, insurance, retirement plannin...
09/09/2026

Getting married changes more than your last name and mailing address.

It can affect taxes, insurance, retirement planning, beneficiary designations, estate planning, and how financial decisions are made as a household.

One of the most valuable things couples can do early is make sure they're building a financial life together rather than simply combining two separate financial lives.

This article highlights a few of the tax considerations that often come with marriage.

09/09/2026

One thing I've noticed:

People often think financial progress should feel exciting.

Sometimes it doesn't.

Sometimes it looks like:

not increasing your lifestyle every time income goes up.

Sometimes it looks like:

making a boring decision that won't pay off for years.

Sometimes it looks like:

doing the responsible thing when nobody else can see it.

A lot of meaningful financial progress feels surprisingly ordinary while it's happening.

Usually the results become obvious much later.

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