Ryan Landmark, CFP, Chfc - Northwestern Mutual

Ryan Landmark, CFP, Chfc - Northwestern Mutual Protecting what's important. Investing into the future. Preserving what's been built.

Big market headlines can create questions for clients. In this week’s commentary, Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management ...
06/16/2026

Big market headlines can create questions for clients. In this week’s commentary, Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management CIO Brent Schutte looks at the SpaceX IPO, inflation, and the Fed—and why long-term discipline still matters when markets get noisy. http://spr.ly/6182BDGXmY

Took the long way on this one.Prepped a day in advance. Seasoned it right. Had a specific smoking method. Let it sit. Th...
06/16/2026

Took the long way on this one.

Prepped a day in advance. Seasoned it right. Had a specific smoking method. Let it sit. Then finished it with a homemade cowboy ranch.

Good inputs. Time. Temperature control. Patience.

That’s the whole game.

Same with financial planning.

Most people want the “sauce” first - the hot stock tips, the complex strategies, the quick shortcuts. But a great outcome is entirely driven by the boring work that happens first:

- Cash flow discipline (Your foundational pre-cooking prep work)
- Tax structure (Your cooking method of choice)
- Risk alignment (Your temperature monitoring)
- Time in the market (Your trust in the process)

Get those right, and the “flavor” takes care of itself.

Skip them… and no amount of fancy sauce fixes a ruined base.

We focus on building something solid first. We optimize the flavor later.

Cheers!

-Ryan

Planning for their future doesn’t have to wait. I can help steer your family towards happily ever after. Let’s get start...
06/15/2026

Planning for their future doesn’t have to wait. I can help steer your family towards happily ever after. Let’s get started.

A lot of people I talk to making $200k+ say some version of this:“We just don’t know where our money is going each month...
06/15/2026

A lot of people I talk to making $200k+ say some version of this:

“We just don’t know where our money is going each month.”

Which is always surprising to them.

Good income
Solid careers
Things should feel under control

But it doesn’t.

The issue usually isn’t income.

It’s the lack of a system.

And the biggest unlock for most people here is something very simple:

Reverse budgeting.

Instead of trying to track every dollar after it’s spent…

You decide upfront what needs to happen first.

Saving
Investing
Fixed goals

That money moves automatically.

What’s left over is what you can spend.

No guilt
No guessing
No constant tracking

Most people are trying to do the opposite.

They spend first, then try to clean it up later.

That’s where the confusion comes from.

Reverse budgeting flips it.

It gives your money direction before it has the chance to disappear.

And for high earners especially…

It’s usually the difference between feeling like your money is working for you…
and feeling like it’s just slipping through your hands.

Cheers!

-Ryan

Financial confidence is about more than just your net worth. Reach out and let’s discuss if you’re on track to meet your...
06/15/2026

Financial confidence is about more than just your net worth. Reach out and let’s discuss if you’re on track to meet your goals. http://spr.ly/6189B862o7

It’s Faithful Friday!Some of the best financial decisions you’ll ever make… won’t feel exciting in the moment.Building e...
06/12/2026

It’s Faithful Friday!

Some of the best financial decisions you’ll ever make… won’t feel exciting in the moment.

Building emergency reserves.
Increasing retirement contributions.
Updating estate documents.
Passing on lifestyle inflation.
Staying invested during uncertainty.

None of those usually give an immediate emotional reward.

But wisdom rarely works that way.

“Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.” (Proverbs 10:17, NIV)

Financial planning is often less about finding the perfect strategy… and more about consistently doing wise things that compound over time.

The hard part is that discipline is usually boring.

Overspending feels more fun.
Impulse decisions feel more exciting.
Chasing trends feels more rewarding.

At least temporarily…

But temporary emotions create permanent consequences.

A good financial plan helps protect you from yourself sometimes.

It creates guardrails.
Structure.
Intentionality.

Not because restriction is the goal… but because freedom is.

The people who usually look “lucky” financially years later are often the ones who quietly stayed disciplined when nobody was watching.

Wisdom compounds too.

Cheers!

-Ryan

When I started in this business, being at the office until 7:00 wasn’t unusual.Sometimes I’d go home and work a few more...
06/11/2026

When I started in this business, being at the office until 7:00 wasn’t unusual.

Sometimes I’d go home and work a few more hours after that.

There are a lot of challenges when you start building a career helping people plan their finances and manage their wealth… especially when you get your investment licenses before you’re even old enough to legally buy a drink.

A lot of early mornings.
A lot of late nights.
A lot of hearing “you’re too young.”
A lot of pressure to prove yourself before people give you trust.

Looking back, I’m grateful I kept going anyway.

Now, working past 5:30 is rare for me.
Exceptions still happen, of course.

But life feels different now.

And honestly, sometimes I stop and think about how unusual that is for someone still in their late 20s.

Not because my life is perfect.
Far from it.

But because I have a level of freedom, purpose, and fulfillment that a younger version of me hoped would eventually happen.

At the same time, I know there are plenty of people my age who would look at my life and think it still isn’t enough.

Different goals.
Different definitions of success.
Different perspectives.

That’s something I’ve thought about more lately.

Life is deeply shaped by perspective.

The same life one person complains about… another person prayed for.

I’m incredibly thankful for where I am today.

All glory to God.

Cheers!

-Ryan

06/10/2026

Let me help you get the right financial plan in place, so the big stuff AND the little stuff feel lighter. Let’s get started on yours today.

I saw a post from a fellow dad of a young child. He was driving and with a heavy tone he talked about how tough it can b...
06/10/2026

I saw a post from a fellow dad of a young child.

He was driving and with a heavy tone he talked about how tough it can be to bear the weight of being a dad that relies on him to make enough money for his family.

He said with his job he doesn’t get home until really late, after his son is already asleep.

When he left that morning… his son didn’t say “See you later, Daddy!” He said “See you tomorrow, Daddy!” at 7:00 a.m.

That’s tough, right?

At first I was feeling for this man. I can understand and relate to the weight he carries…

But then I noticed this guy was driving a matte black Tesla Cybertruck. I looked at his profile and it seemed like this guy lived a pretty lavish lifestyle.

I no longer felt bad for that dad.

I felt bad for his son.

His dad is clearly making money.

His dad chooses to work at times when he could be with his son/family for more than the 30 min a day he does, and then looks to social media for attention.

For what?

More “things” like a cool car?

This isn’t a good use of money.

This isn’t a good life plan.

This isn’t a good financial plan.

I pray this father realizes that.

Do not be a slave to money.

Cheers!

-Ryan

Strong jobs data may sound like good news—but with inflation still sticky, markets may see it differently. Brent Schutte...
06/09/2026

Strong jobs data may sound like good news—but with inflation still sticky, markets may see it differently. Brent Schutte, chief investment officer of Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management, breaks down what investors should know. http://spr.ly/6183B8LMst

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