Ballast’s Trent Lakes Obtains CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® Certification
Ballast is proud to announce that Trent Lakes, Investments and Planning Strategist, has officially earned his CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® certification, one of the most rigorous and respected credentials in the financial services industry. The CFP® designation requires meeting what the CFP Board calls the “Four E’s:” Education, Exam, Experience, and Ethics. Before a candidate […]
Beyond the 401k: Savings Opportunities You Might Not Have Considered
401(k) plans are valuable tools for employees at all income levels, but physicians often face limits on how much they can contribute, relative to their earnings. As a result, many doctors need additional strategies to build sufficient retirement savings and maintain their lifestyle after their work career. These strategies generally fall into two categories: tax […]
Medicare 101: What You Need to Know Before You Sign Up
Medicare 101: What You Need to Know Before You Sign Up Medicare specialist Richard McQuerry (17 years, founder of SilverBridge Insurance Solutions) cuts through the noise on Medicare — what’s covered, what’s not, and how to protect your retirement from unexpected medical bills. What we cover: Part A vs. Part B Why no out-of-pocket maximum […]
Safeguard Assets: Asset Protection Essentials for Doctors
For doctors, years of training, long hours, and personal sacrifice culminate in a rewarding profession, but also in increased visibility and liability. Asset protection isn’t about expecting the worst; it’s about planning wisely so your life’s work remains secure. Start with malpractice insurance The first and often most powerful line of defense. Carry robust […]
NIL Gives a Lesson in Time Value of Money
Most of the families we serve are not NCAA athletes at power conference schools, but many are fans and season ticket holders. They are more likely to be athletic boosters than athletic legends, starting with yours truly! But we all inhabit the same financial landscape and use the same tools to make decisions. I hope our families with […]
Tax-Efficient Charitable Giving Strategies: 3 Ways to Maximize Your Donations
Charitable giving doesn’t have to mean paying more in taxes. With strategic planning, you can maximize your philanthropic impact while reducing your tax burden. Whether you no longer itemize deductions, hold appreciated stock, or are in retirement, these three tax-efficient charitable giving strategies can help you donate more effectively while optimizing your tax situation. _____ […]
Top 5 Considerations When Making a Career Change
1. Fit Check Making a switch should not be solely about salary. Think about intangibles- resources, training, mentorship, flexibility, advancement track. Run your career like a business and ask: Will this opportunity make me better off in five and ten years? Is this opportunity a better fit for me and my family? 2. Relationship Continuity […]
Q&A with Ballast CEO/Founder, John V. Boardman, III
Q: When you first began your career, what did you expect it to look like? A: I pictured a life behind a computer, researching companies, trading securities, and managing portfolios. That is what I thought success in finance looked like. But when the firm I worked for was acquired, I was introduced to financial planning, […]
Managing a Household Allocation
One of our mantras in planning is to “Know What You Own.” Peter Lynch popularized this term during his management of a Fidelity mutual fund in the 1980’s, and we think it applies to more than just investments. Your home, your health insurance, your business, and yes, your investments each have features, risks, and opportunities […]
The Hidden Benefits of Saving Early in Life
We’re all aware that saving for retirement is not a strong suit for many Americans. There is no end to the alarming statistics regarding our lack of preparedness for when it’s finally time to call it a day. The most recent head-scratcher I came across was a survey conducted by J.P. Morgan Asset Management and […]
Magazine & Webinars
Read the Magazine Our quarterly wealth management magazine delivers timely financial planning insights written by our team of advisors. Read the latest issue! Read Issue 4 Watch Webinars Next Webinar: Tuesday, May 19th at 4:00 PMTopic: Quarterly Market Update Register here Take the Quiz How does your financial plan compare? Take our Financial IQ quiz […]
Social Security Changes for People with Government Pensions
In January, President Biden signed the Social Security Fairness Act into law, which ends the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). This change is significant for people whose Social Security benefits are reduced by a government pension from work where Social Security taxes were not collected. A Brief, High-Level Summary […]