Vault Insurance & Investments

09/02/2026

📖 A Part of My Story

I grew up in a great home and family. My dad worked three jobs at one point to support our family of six kids and my mom. One of those jobs was cleaning the church we attended.

Church has always been important to my family.

I remember listening to Larry Burkett on Christian radio as a child and young man. His teaching was one of my early exposures to the connection between faith, stewardship, and how we handle money. Years later, Dave Ramsey would become a leading voice in that same space.

For the past 3 years and 8 months, I’ve been a Dave Ramsey SmartVestor Pro, and I realized recently that I’ve never really talked about it on social media or outside of a work setting.

I’ve been in the financial services business since 1999 and began working with investment clients in 2007. Over the years, I’ve worked with several broker-dealers, including Securian, Ameritas, and Voya, before moving to the Registered Investment Adviser (RIA) side of the business with Brookstone Capital Management in 2013.

One of the things I appreciate about the Ramsey organization is its emphasis on helping people take responsibility for their financial lives, get out of debt, save, invest, and make intentional decisions with their money. Those are principles I can get behind.

That doesn’t mean I agree with Dave on everything. And I’ve never wanted my business to be about promoting a personality or telling people they need to follow one particular person.

🎯 My goal is much simpler: help people make wise financial decisions and build a plan that fits their individual circumstances, goals, and values.

As a Christian, my faith is an important part of who I am. But I’ve never been comfortable using God or faith to sell financial products or services. I believe the practical application of faith – how it is expressed daily in interactions with people from all walks of life matters far more than putting a Christian label on a business.

After nearly 27 years in this industry, I’ve learned that people don't need more hype. They need someone they can trust; someone who will listen, and someone who will tell them the truth — even when the answer isn't the one they wanted to hear.

Being a SmartVestor Pro is one part of what I do, but it isn't my entire philosophy.

At the end of the day, I’m here to help people make the most of what they’ve worked so hard to build, to help provide for their families for a lifetime, and to make a difference in the lives of the people they love and want to help. To leave an impact, not just in this world, but the next.

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Disclosure: Membership to the SmartVester Pro program was granted on (insert date received). The SmartVestor program is a directory of investment professionals. Working with a SmartVestor Pro does not guarantee investment success, and no assurance can be made that working with a SmartVestor Pro will produce better results than working with a financial professional not affiliated with the program. Financial professionals must have at least two years of experience as a registered investing professional and pay a fee to be a SmartVestor Pro. Neither Dave Ramsey nor SmartVestor Pro are affiliated with or endorsed by Brookstone.

09/02/2026

10 tips that can head-off marriage money problems.

Couples may be able to head off many of the problems in a marriage that money can cause.

08/31/2026

Building a personal legacy may be the highest order of altruism. It can begin with four simple steps.

A four-step framework for building a personal legacy.

08/28/2026

Finding the proper insurance for your condo means knowing what is covered by the association’s insurance.

Important items to consider when purchasing condo insurance.

08/28/2026

💡 IRMAA Explained: The Hidden Medicare Cost That Could Catch You Off Guard

When it comes to Medicare, most people focus on coverage… but not enough attention is paid to what you will actually pay.

As Matthew Burklund with Vault Insurance & Investments explains to Erin Kennedy, if you’re considered a “high-income beneficiary” by the Social Security Administration, you could be hit with an extra charge called IRMAA (Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount) …and it can significantly increase your Medicare Part B premiums.

Here’s what you need to know 👇

✔️ How high is “high-income”?
Even a modest increase in income can push you into a higher bracket.
✔️ It’s a cliff, not a slope
Go just $1 over the threshold, and you could pay hundreds more per year in premiums.
✔️ One-time events can trigger it
Selling a home, taking an RMD, Roth conversions, or realizing large capital gains can unexpectedly spike your income.
✔️ Planning is everything
Strategies like Roth conversions, Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), and Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) can help reduce or even avoid IRMAA.

The bottom line: Without careful planning, you could end up paying more for Medicare than necessary.

📞 Want to make sure IRMAA doesn’t catch you off guard? Call Matt at 425-256-3105 or visit www.ChooseVault.com to put a plan together that could save you thousands in health insurance costs.

08/26/2026

When considering a record keeping system for your business, you need to ask yourself some very important questions

Maintaining good records for your business not only helps to meet your tax and legal obligations, but it can save you money.

08/24/2026

Life evolves constantly, and your legacy approach should too. Marriage, divorce, welcoming a child, health shifts, or legislative changes are all good reasons to revisit whether your current approach still matches your goals.

Review your legacy approach regularly, particularly following significant life events or legislative updates.

08/21/2026

Committed to increasing your financial literacy? Don't be afraid to ask questions.

Many Americans are operating their personal finances with only the barest minimum of knowledge.

08/19/2026

Discover the YOLO Economy and why Millennials are prioritizing experiences over material things in this thought-provoking article.

The YOLO Economy is a focus on experiences over material possessions, prompting Boomers to consider a similar mindset.

08/17/2026

Financial stress is common, affecting sleep, relationships, and overall well-being, but mindfulness and meditation offer a path to approaching money decisions with greater calm, clarity, and control.

An article about meditation, mindfulness, and financial well-being.