Doug Gower - Financial Planner

10/09/2024

Doug Gower and Bartlett Wealth Management are hosting an educational cybersecurity webinar with Scott Mackie, a Certified Forensic Computer Examiner (CFCE) and former Boston Police Officer who received training from the National Computer Forensic Institute while assigned as a Task Force Officer / Special Deputy U.S. Marshal with the United States Secret Service.

The webinar will be held on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, at 6:00 PM (EST) and will last approximately 45-60 minutes.

Scott will discuss how to protect yourself from online scams and provide tips on how you can improve your online security.

This is a great opportunity to learn from someone who has seen “it all” regarding online security. The webinar is open to everyone of all ages, so please feel free to forward this message to family, friends, and co-workers.

If you have any questions, please email me at [email protected]

Protecting yourself and your loved ones from online scams is more crucial than ever. Join Scott Mackie, retired Boston Police Officer and partner at Strong Harbor Consulting. Scott is a Certified Forensic Computer Examiner (CFCE) and received training from the National Computer Forensic Institute wh...

09/19/2024

We all know the moon isn't made out of blue cheese...but did you know that it has a tail?!

Join us for an enlightening webinar exploring the sodium tail of the Moon, a remarkable phenomenon that extends hundreds of thousands of miles into space. This event will delve into the science behind this celestial feature, revealing how sodium atoms from the Moon's surface are released and illuminated by the Sun, creating a glowing tail visible from Earth.

Presented by Jeff Baumgardner, Senior Research Scientist at the Center for Space Physics at Boston University, this webinar promises to be both fascinating and educational, offering a unique opportunity to deepen your understanding of lunar science and the intricate dynamics of our solar system. Take advantage of this chance to expand your cosmic knowledge!

05/14/2024

LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER!!!

📢Join me on Wednesday, May 15th at 6:30 for the "Investing Fundamentals" webinar. You'll learn basic knowledge to give you the confidence to invest according to your targets and risk tolerance. Looking forward to seeing you there!

👇RSVP link below in the comments

05/08/2024

📢Join me on Wednesday, May 15th at 6:30 for the "Investing Fundamentals" webinar. You'll learn basic knowledge to give you the confidence to invest according to your targets and risk tolerance. Looking forward to seeing you there!

👇RSVP link below in the comments

12/22/2023

🌟 Did you know? 🌟

Individuals aged 70 ½ or older might have a tax-saving opportunity through Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs)! 💰

A QCD allows you to exclude up to $100,000 from your income annually by making a direct payment from your IRA to a qualified charity. 🎁

This distribution cannot be paid to you as the IRA owner, and it must happen when you're at least 70½ years old. Moreover, a QCD can count toward your required minimum distribution for the year.

Here's the perk: A QCD won't impact your income, and it's tax-free when directly paid from your IRA to an eligible charitable organization. Plus, it's available regardless of whether you itemize deductions on Schedule A.

A QCD may be a tax-efficient way to support causes close to your heart this holiday season, while potentially reducing your taxable income. Win-win! 🚀

12/21/2023

🚨 Why Emergency Savings Are Crucial 🚨

Emergencies don't come with a warning, but being prepared can make all the difference. LendingTree's latest survey dives deep into the importance of emergency savings. According to the findings, an alarming percentage of Americans lack adequate funds for unexpected financial crises.

🔍 Key Takeaways:
Car repairs are the #1 unexpected expense that individuals couldn't cover
61% of Gen Z and 56% of women couldn't cover $1,000 emergency expense

💡 What You Can Do:

Build an emergency fund: Start small and make it a habit.
Explore debt consolidation options: Simplify payments and save more effectively.
Work with a Financial Planner to build a strong financial foundation

https://www.lendingtree.com/debt-consolidation/emergency-savings-survey/?fbclid=IwAR1WwHzKOQ4IgnUzUf7KdHoYytcEVzI8AS4Tvl2bKFYNLTG1LZ4lFeqGrbI

If a $1,000 financial emergency hit your household tomorrow, would you be prepared? The answer for about half of Americans is no.

05/03/2023

To Roth, or not to Roth...that is the question.

Reach out if you want to talk through your individual situation!

Traditional IRA contributions can be tax-deductible; retirement withdrawals are taxable. Roth IRA contributions aren't tax-deductible; withdrawals are tax-free.

04/10/2023

When talking about generating retirement income, most advisors typically follow a systematic withdrawal program, such as 4% of the portfolio value every year.

However, that can potentially increase sequence of return risk if you choose the wrong time to retire. Is there another way?

Enter the bucketing strategy. Under this strategy, your retirement assets are divided among buckets representing when you will need the money. For example, years 1-5 is invested conservatively, while the bucket for years 15-20 is invested very differently.

Check out the other differences below.

What strategy do you use? Not sure what makes the most sense - reach out!

Two strategies that can be used to generate retirement income are the systematic withdrawal approach and the bucket strategy. Learn more about them here.

03/24/2023

"I don't know a financial plan is."

If you've had this thought, take a look at the article below.

In short, financial planning is an ongoing process that looks at your entire financial picture in order to create strategies for achieving your short- and long-term goals.

We can help you organize, insure, and grow your wealth. Reach out with any questions!

Financial planning is the process of outlining how your money, investments and other assets can help you meet your financial goals.

02/27/2023

Use this "rule of thumb" to estimate how much you need to start saving now to reach your future financial goals! Need some help calculating? Give me a call! ☎️

The average annual market return is around 10% and can help you figure what your long-term investments might amount to. But it’s not always the best benchmark to use.

02/25/2023

Here are some tips to build wealth in your 40s, if you were curious 🤣

Retirement is still years away, but it's closer than you think. This is the decade to get your financial ducks in a row.

02/23/2023

Only 43% of households have a habit of retirement saving - even as "robo advice" grows.

Guess there's no replacing the value of a one-on-one conversation with another human being!

Hearts & Wallets finds just 43% of households have a habit of retirement saving, even as financial wellness tools and guidance proliferates.