The Power of Purpose in Retirement
If you’re lucky, summer has been a chance to unwind, catch up on beach reads and spend quality time with family and friends before…
August 6, 2025 · 3 min
Master Plan 2.0
Writing on retirement, taxes, and staying steady.
97 original articles, written here — not syndicated. Most run five minutes or less.
Lessons from Warren Buffett
After closing out an eventful second quarter of 2025, we are reminded that investing is a long journey.
July 15, 2025 · 3 min
A Note on the New Tax and Policy Bill
Congress recently passed a sweeping tax and spending policy bill with lots of long-term implications.
July 8, 2025 · 3 min
Why Patience Beats Perfection: The Long-Term Investor's Guide to Market Timing
Over the course of your investing life, you’ll encounter market lows and highs. Headlines often spotlight the extremes, especially…
June 15, 2025 · 4 min
Financial Spring Cleaning: 7 Ways To Refresh Your Finances
As spring arrives and the weather warms up, many people turn their attention to cleaning out closets and organizing their homes.
April 15, 2025 · 5 min
Wisdom is Quiet
Wisdom Is Quiet. Fear and Greed Are Loud. If you’ve glanced at a newspaper, a website, or your phone lately, you’ve likely encount…
April 15, 2025 · 1 min
Perspective: Strategy Over Reaction
Tariffs Spark Market TurbulenceOn April 2, President Trump announced new tariffs on nearly all major trading partners.
April 7, 2025 · 3 min
Market Volatility & Tariffs: Keep Calm and Invest On
Trade headlines continue to weigh on markets as new tariffs go into effect. President Trump recently confirmed tariffs on Canada,…
March 5, 2025 · 3 min
What To Do About Recent Market Swings?
Recent market swings have highlighted a gap between how investors feel and how markets have performed.
February 25, 2025 · 3 min
Which Five Tax Strategies Play a Pivotal Role in Retirement Planning?
Albert Einstein reportedly once told his accountant, "the hardest thing in the world to understand is income taxes." This observat…
February 21, 2025 · 5 min
Financial Readiness: Lessons from Concord, 1775
This April marks the 250th anniversary of the first battles of the American Revolution in Lexington and Concord.
February 19, 2025 · 2 min
Are You Prepared for Retirement? It’s More Than Just the Numbers
Retirement marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter—one filled with opportunities to explore passions, deepen relationships,…
February 6, 2025 · 3 min
Quarterly Letter: Heart of the Matter
The final quarter of 2024 was nothing if not eventful. The Federal Reserve lowered interest rates, providing further relief to bor…
January 11, 2025 · 3 min
Why Sticking to a Long-Term Investment Strategy Pays Off in Market Downturns
Watching your portfolio take a hit can be unsettling, but staying focused on the long game is crucial.
January 9, 2025 · 4 min
5 Major Retirement Regrets (That Are NOT Inevitable & How to Avoid Them)
When are you going to retire? How did you make that decision? Many of us look at finances and health when we’re deciding when to r…
January 9, 2025 · 5 min
From Boomers to Gen Z: A Generational Look at Money Habits and Financial Choices
What financial habits have helped you most in life? Which ones have held you back? No matter how you answer those questions, your…
December 19, 2024 · 3 min
Election Reflections
After a historic campaign, Donald Trump has won the 2024 presidential election and Republicans have won control of the Senate.
November 6, 2024 · 5 min
Quarterly Letter: Rate Cuts
Well, it finally happened. After months of will-they-or-won’t-they speculation, the Federal Reserve cut interest rates in Septembe…
October 22, 2024 · 3 min
5 Insights on the Fed, Election, and Volatility in Q4
As we begin the final quarter of the year, financial markets and the economy have defied the expectations of many investors.
September 30, 2024 · 6 min
How to Beat Investing FOMO: The Power of Patient Wealth Building
Can you relate to any of the following?“I should have bought that stock before the company went public!”“What a shame — I wish I h…
August 30, 2024 · 5 min
3 Investment Factors that Don’t Drive Long-term Returns
As a long-term investor, you’re always thinking about what factors drive your investment returns.
August 20, 2024 · 3 min
Quarterly Letter: Fear and FOMO
Does the current investment climate feel “busier” than usual? In the U. S., it’s an election year, with the usual election rhetori…
July 22, 2024 · 2 min
Practical Tips: How to Avoid These 4 Estate Planning Missteps
First, let’s start by uncovering the most common mistake in estate planning…Surprisingly, this frequently made mistake might alrea…
July 8, 2024 · 3 min
Your Role & Responsibilities as an Agent in a Power of Attorney (POA)
A Helpful Guide on the Different Types of Powers of AttorneyA power of attorney (POA) can grant you certain authority and specific…
June 30, 2024 · 6 min
Giving While Living
If charity is part of your legacy plan, the best time to start giving back could be right now.
June 19, 2024 · 3 min
Managers Vs. Makers in Retirement
In a 2009 essay that was very influential in business circles, Paul Graham of Y Combinator tried to figure out why workers at diff…
June 8, 2024 · 3 min
Longevity in Retirement & What You Should Know
How many years will your retirement last? What are the chances you’ll live past 90? Most of us answer those questions wrong becaus…
June 4, 2024 · 3 min
Mastering Stormy Waters: Smart Strategies for Healthcare Costs in Retirement
Dreaming of your retirement often brings images of sandy beaches, extra time…
June 1, 2024 · 3 min
Lifelong Learning for a Successful Retirement
Very few people stop learning once their formal education is over. Whether you took a few classes to burnish your professional cre…
May 22, 2024 · 3 min
Combine Hobbies and Volunteering for More Purpose in Retirement
Many retirees organize their new schedules around their hobbies and interests. Rather than squeezing all your practice and learnin…
May 7, 2024 · 3 min
Top 4 Social Media Money Scams & How to Spot Them
Believe it or not social media scams have been picking more pockets than any other scam today––including phone call and text fraud…
May 5, 2024 · 3 min
Renting vs. Owning in Retirement
For many people, buying a home fulfills a dream that's tied to important personal, professional, and financial goals.
May 2, 2024 · 3 min
Quarterly Letter: FOMO?
Until recently, much of our investment advice has emphasized the importance of maintaining your investment strategy, even when it’…
April 12, 2024 · 3 min
The Art of Letting Go
Each quarter, we draft a quarterly letter and share thoughts and ideas that are often evergreen.
April 5, 2024 · 3 min
Retirement nearing? Do these 5 things first.
What’s your ideal retirement? Traveling? Practicing your favorite hobbies? Caring for loved ones?
March 24, 2024 · 3 min
Teach Kids About Investing
Providing for your children's education is an important part of your financial plan. But, for the most part, that education won't…
February 25, 2024 · 3 min
Investors & the Markets: What to Watch Out for in an Election Year
Smart investing doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Current events matter, and this year, the 2024 Presidential Elections are taking cente…
February 19, 2024 · 4 min
How to Overcome 3 Unconscious Biases That Can Keep Your Financial Goals Out of Reach
In a perfect world, every money decision we make would be totally rational. We’d consider all of the facts.
February 17, 2024 · 4 min
Quarterly Letter: Timeless Tenets
If there’s a message to take from 2023 markets, it is this: Timeless wisdom best informs timely decisions.
January 26, 2024 · 3 min
A Year of Resilience and Growth in the Face of Challenges
As we wrap up another eventful year, it's a tradition to pause and reflect on the past twelve months.
December 30, 2023 · 2 min
Compared to What?
Still, what do you do if it feels as if your investments have been underperforming? It helps to lead with this key question, to de…
November 26, 2023 · 3 min
Your Brain on Fear & Greed: Why It’s Hard to Stop the Fear-Greed Cycle (& How to Break It)
What happens when you start to feel afraid or greedy? Do you feel like taking your time and waiting to make your next move? Probab…
November 1, 2023 · 4 min
Quarterly Letter: Madness and Wisdom of Crowds
In a bit of a paradox, you'll find the following two titles on our recommended reading list:The Wisdom of Crowds, James Surowiecki…
October 20, 2023 · 3 min
Preparing Your Adult Children for Inherited Wealth
Most children learn the ins and outs of responsible wealth-building from their parents.
October 15, 2023 · 3 min
Is Unretirement Right for You?
According to a recent report by T. Rowe Price, the COVID-19 pandemic created 2.4 million "excess" retirements in 2020.
October 4, 2023 · 3 min
How to Stop Subconsciously Sabotaging Your Financial Goals
How often do you set new financial goals? How often do you achieve them? Most of us aren’t very successful with our goals, even wh…
September 5, 2023 · 4 min
What’s Wrong with Depending on Dividend Stocks? Part 2: Dividend Stocks vs. Total Return Investing
In Part 1 of "What's Wrong With Depending on Dividend Stocks?" we described why dividend investing—or, stocking up on stocks with…
August 11, 2023 · 5 min
What’s Wrong with Depending on Dividend Stocks? Part 1: How Dividend Stocks Really Work
There’s a popular perception that “dividend stocks”—i.e., stocks with a reputation for paying out consistent dividends—can deliver…
August 4, 2023 · 4 min
Quarterly Letter: The 80/20 Rule
You've likely heard of the 80/20 rule. The rule suggests 80% of an outcome is often the result of just 20% of the effort you put i…
July 30, 2023 · 3 min
Behavioral Finance Lessons
Behavioral finance is a field that merges the acumen of psychology with investments. The field is grounded on the belief that inve…
July 16, 2023 · 5 min
How Does Your View of Independence Affect Your Life Satisfaction?
Independence is an important value to all Americans. It's also a value that's central to how we feel about and use our money.
July 6, 2023 · 3 min
When Vacations Go Wrong: 5 Costly Travel Mistakes & How to Avoid Them
How do you get ready for a trip? What travel habits do you rely on to get around, stay safe, and still have fun?
July 1, 2023 · 5 min
How's Your Year Going?
The 4th of July weekend is both the unofficial midpoint of summer and the unofficial midpoint of your whole year.
June 29, 2023 · 3 min
Seven Key Tips for Planning Elder Care
Navigating the complexities of elder care for loved ones can be challenging, and it is a journey that many of us will…
June 19, 2023 · 3 min
Longer Lifespans Require Planning for Retirement
Advancements in healthcare, exercise, diet, and quality of living have transformed retirement from the end of one's life into the…
June 7, 2023 · 3 min
Boost Your Financial Literacy: 5 Tips for Success
Many of ushaveexperienced the cost of financial literacy gaps at one point or another. Think of it as a type of financial illitera…
May 31, 2023 · 3 min
Write a Summer Bucket List
Summer doesn’t officially start until June 21st. But all those Memorial Day barbeques do tend to kick off the season and remind us…
May 24, 2023 · 3 min
Journaling in Retirement
We often think about our lives like stories, complete with a cast of characters, a variety of settings, highs and lows, twists and…
May 17, 2023 · 3 min
Media and the Markets
In our conversations with clients, we’ve been known to take aim at the media. That’s because bad things tend to happen to your per…
May 9, 2023 · 3 min
Become a SuperAger
Northwestern University's SuperAging Study defines a "SuperAger" as a person in their 80s whose cognitive function is comparable t…
April 29, 2023 · 3 min
Ensure Your Life Wishes Are Granted Through Effective Estate Planning
Legacy planning is often the last piece folks tackle in their financial planning, because it’s the least appealing to think about.
April 21, 2023 · 3 min
Quarterly Letter: All About the "I's"
Happy spring! We hope you can find the New England breeze refreshing and the blooms inspiring. We are pleased to announce Monument…
April 19, 2023 · 2 min
Daily Gratitude Can Increase Life Satisfaction
Is gratitude a part of your daily routine? In a world that inundates us with bad news and angry vibes, maybe it should be.
March 26, 2023 · 3 min
What March Madness Can Teach Us About Your Financial Plan
Who's the "Cinderella" team you have busting brackets in this year's March Madness? Everyone loves a good underdog story, but the…
March 15, 2023 · 3 min
Plan a Special Vacation to Start Retirement
Kicking off your retirement with a well-deserved vacation can ease you into this complicated transition and give you a small taste…
March 2, 2023 · 3 min
Investment Strategy: Where You Are Now vs. Where You're Headed
From CEOs to athletes, most people striving for a certain level of performance are constantly assessing where they are and where t…
February 20, 2023 · 3 min
Avoiding Financial Scams: Quick-Reference
Who Are They? Financial fraudsters are after your assets. Identity thieves steal your personal information (often to then commit f…
February 8, 2023 · 3 min
What does "Wealth" Mean to You?
In our conversations with clients, the term “wealth” is often tossed around somewhat loosely. We talk about building wealth, manag…
January 25, 2023 · 2 min
What’s in the SECURE 2.0 Act?
Who doesn’t enjoy tying up year-end loose ends? The original SECURE Act was signed into law on December 20th, 2019.
January 20, 2023 · 10 min
Quarterly Letter: Reflections
Every January, it is typical to reflect on market data from the previous year. You will see the results in your own quarterly repo…
January 18, 2023 · 2 min
SMART Goals for New Year's Resolutions
Are you setting a goal to “get healthy” in the New Year? It's time to establish a SMART plan that will help you hit your targets n…
December 26, 2022 · 3 min
Achieve More in Life and Feel Good About the Results
We tend to overestimate what we can accomplish in the short-term and underestimate what we can accomplish in the long-term.
November 20, 2022 · 4 min
Retiring Abroad
If you dream of living abroad, retirement may be the best time. Over half a million Americans living outside the US receive some S…
November 11, 2022 · 2 min
Quarterly Letter: Guiding Rules
We are pleased to announce that we have hired two new wealth management professionals each with more than a decade of financial se…
October 27, 2022 · 4 min
The 2023 Cost-of-Living Adjustment
If you’re one of the approximately 70 million retired Americans collecting Social Security benefits, you’ll see an 8.7% Cost-of-Li…
October 23, 2022 · 2 min
Medicare in 2023: Here's What You Need to Know
The 2023 Medicare premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance amounts were released at the end of September, and for the first time in…
October 16, 2022 · 2 min
5 Steps to Address Concerns About an Aging Parent
As your parents begin to settle into their final phase of life, their health, residence, and finances could become a factor in you…
September 30, 2022 · 3 min
Is Confirmation Bias Affecting Your Investment Strategy?
Do you know how you feel about things, even before you know what they are? When you meet someone new, is your opinion of them form…
September 23, 2022 · 3 min
Retire on Purpose to Get the Best Life Satisfaction
Many new retirees feel lost without their jobs. But often what these struggling retirees are really missing is the sense of purpos…
August 21, 2022 · 3 min
Do You and Your Spouse Have Congruent Spending Habits?
Most married couples take a “divide and conquer” approach to household tasks and chores.
August 11, 2022 · 3 min
Quarterly Letter: The Seduction of Pessimism
In our previous quarterly letter, we wrote about “Life and Optimism” and added the saying from the Life is Good Company, “Life is…
August 7, 2022 · 3 min
Finance Lessons for Your Teen
There may be an opportunity in this current market to teach good financial habits to your teenagers; ones that they can carry into…
August 7, 2022 · 2 min
Understanding Your True Risk Tolerance
The recent stock market volatility, the bear market, the ever-growing inflation rate, and ongoing supply issues have taken a sever…
June 29, 2022 · 3 min
Talking to your Aging Parents about Finances
For many families, finances are rarely discussed in detail, even as children mature into adulthood.
June 18, 2022 · 3 min
Living the Dream: How to Plan for Your Ideal Retirement
What would you do with your time if you weren’t working 40 hours every week? Everyone has a different idea of what they want retir…
February 21, 2022 · 3 min
Understanding Tax Scams
With tax season well underway, tax scams are likely to become more prevalent. Criminals running phishing scams will impersonate th…
February 14, 2022 · 3 min
How Habits can Impact Your Finances
When people choose to eat healthier or lose weight, they know that they have to change their behaviors.
February 4, 2022 · 3 min
Reduce Your Tax Burden with a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD)
Due to recent income tax changes, it may be an opportune time to make a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) from your IRA.
October 24, 2018 · 1 min
Tax Benefits of Homeownership After Tax Reform
Buying a home can be a major expenditure. Fortunately, federal tax benefits are still available, even after recent tax reform legi…
August 22, 2018 · 4 min
Protect Your Heirs by Naming a Trust as IRA Beneficiary
Often, tax-qualified retirement accounts such as IRAs make up a significant part of one’s estate.
July 22, 2018 · 3 min
The Giving Season: Tips for Smart Charitable Donations
The holidays are a popular time for charitable donations. With so many charities to choose from, it’s more important than ever to…
December 4, 2016 · 3 min
Letters From Dad
As we get into December, many of us think about resolutions for the year ahead. As you reflect on this exercise, we share with you…
December 1, 2016 · 4 min
What it Means to be Financial Caregiver for Your Parents
If you are the adult child of aging parents, you may find yourself in the position of someday having to assist them with handling…
November 30, 2016 · 3 min
Post-Election Reflections – An Investment Perspective
A Message to our Clients:Whether you are feeling elated or deflated about the U. S. Elections now completed, we share a few though…
November 9, 2016 · 1 min
Presidential Candidates’ Tax Proposals
Though tax policies haven’t received top billing in this year’s presidential election dialogue, they’re still part of the conversa…
August 26, 2016 · 5 min
HIPAA Authorization for College Students
Peter Johnson wrote a piece for the Concord Journal in 2014 regarding HIPAA authorization for college students.
August 23, 2016 · 1 min
In the news
Where Lee has been quoted
Short notes marking press appearances rather than full articles.
- Lee McGowan Quoted in KiplingerJuly 15, 2024
- Goodnow Library PresentationNovember 14, 2023
- Lee McGowan Quoted in Barron'sJune 7, 2021
- Lee McGowan Quoted in The New York TimesSeptember 23, 2020
- Holistic Planning Meets Planned GivingJune 18, 2019
- Lee McGowan Joins Goodnow Library Foundation’s Board of DirectorsDecember 17, 2017
- Lee McGowan Quoted on CNBCSeptember 11, 2017
- Lee McGowan Quoted in The Wall Street JournalAugust 24, 2016
Beyond the reading
Reading about it only gets you so far.
Schedule a time to discuss whether our approach is the right fit for you.