CochranBell Wealth and Tax Strategy

06/21/2026

Some classic dad advice ages surprisingly well:

“Turn the lights off.”
“Take care of what you own.”
“We have food at home.”
“Close the door, I’m not paying to air-condition the whole neighborhood.”
“Mow in straight lines.”

Turns out Dad may have been talking about financial planning all along (minus the mowing advice, but he wasn't wrong!).

Happy Father’s Day to the dads and father figures helping the next generation build wisely.

06/18/2026

According to a recent report from Omnicalculator, eight in 10 adults say they have at least one financial regret from 2025.

Missteps are tied to spending, debt or a lack of long-term planning, with almost three in 10 Americans reporting their biggest mistake was making decisions too quickly.

But feeling financially behind can be misleading. In many cases, the issue isn't a lack of progress — it's how that progress is being measured.

Read more on Kiplinger.

If you're feeling that your finances aren't where they should be, make sure you're using the right benchmarks to measure your progress.

06/16/2026

Your 60s are one of the most important financial planning decades. Retirement may be getting closer, but so are some major decisions:

When should you claim Social Security?
How should you transition investments?
What will healthcare costs look like?
Do your estate documents still reflect your wishes?
How do you create income from your savings?

Good planning in your 60s is about building confidence for the next phase of life.

06/12/2026

A lot of people hit a strange point in their careers where, technically, everything is going well—but life still feels exhausting. The paycheck grew! Retirement accounts are getting funded! Career milestones are getting crushed! And yet somehow there’s still this constant feeling of being behind, overcommitted, or running on fumes.

That’s usually a sign that the financial plan and the actual lifestyle aren’t working together.

Good financial planning should help create a life that feels more manageable now—whether that means building enough cushion to take a real vacation, stepping back from nonstop hustle mode, or simply having the freedom to make decisions without panic.

06/10/2026

For a lot of millennials, estate planning used to feel like something reserved for retirees, wealthy families, or people with sprawling vacation homes and complicated trusts. Then life started happening.

Marriage. Kids. A house. A business. Aging parents. Shared bank accounts. Life insurance. Student loans. A mortgage. At some point, estate planning stops feeling optional and starts feeling like one of those “we really need to do this” conversations.

If that sounds familiar, you’re not behind. https://www.cochranbell.com/blog/estate-planning-for-millennials

06/04/2026

Summer memories are worth spending on. The key is making sure your spending is intentional and not accidental.

A good financial plan should make room for both future goals and the trips, concerts, lake weekends, and experiences that make life fun now.

06/02/2026

Friendly reminder for freelancers, business owners, and anyone with side income: Q2 estimated taxes are due June 16.

05/29/2026

If college is part of your child’s future, a 529 plan can be a powerful tool.

Earnings grow tax-free, and withdrawals are tax-free when used for qualified education expenses. And the best part? You don’t have to do everything at once.

Small, consistent contributions over time can add up more than you think. Future you (and future them) will be glad you started.

05/25/2026

Our office is closed today in observance of Memorial Day as we honor those who gave their lives in service to our country.

05/21/2026

It is time to make a plan—FOR SUMMER! Here's a peek at our Stillwater summer bucket list:

• Cheese fries at Eskimo Joe’s
• Boomer Lake splash pad days on repeat
• Movie nights in the backyard
• Lake McMurtry day with friends
• One ‘yes’ day with the kids

What are we missing?? What's on your summer bucket list?