Thing One Bonds and Bond Funds: They Are Not the Same Investment With interest rates considerably higher than they were just a few years ago, bonds have once again become a legitimate alternative for investors who want income without assuming the volatility associated with stocks. But there's an important distinction that too many investors overlook: Owning an individual bond is not the same thing as owning a bond mutual fund or ETF. And misunderstanding that difference c

Thing One The Stock Market Is at a Record High. Does That Mean It’s Too Late to Invest? There is something psychologically difficult about buying something today that you could have bought for less six months ago. That is particularly true with stocks. When the stock market is falling, investors worry that it will keep falling. But when the market is rising and making new highs, many of those same investors become reluctant to invest because they think they have already m

Thing One To Roth Or Not To Roth? Well, that really isn’t the question. Given our government’s current spending levels, debt, deficits, etc., there’s really no contest between a Roth IRA, which invests your retirement money on an after-tax basis and a Traditional IRA which invests your retirement money on a pre-tax basis. All the government (people’s) debt and future promises must eventually be paid for and there is only one source – our tax dollars. And as those debt

Thing One Why the Roth Makes More Sense Than Ever We get the question from time to time about whether a Traditional IRA or a Roth IRA is better. And over the years, we’ve tried to explain that the real question isn’t which account is “better.” The real question is: how do you structure your retirement assets to pay the lowest possible tax rate across your lifetime — and potentially your kids’ lifetime too? That’s an entirely different conversation. Most people approac

Thing One The Retirement Account Almost Nobody Talks About When most people think about building wealth, they think about their 401(k). Maybe an IRA. Maybe a brokerage account. Very few people think about their HSA. And that’s too bad because the Health Savings Account may be the single most tax-advantaged account available in America today. Not one of the best, the best. Here’s why: Imagine a 30-year-old making $80,000 a year. They’re healthy, working hard, trying to build

Thing One A Reminder About Markets As surprising as it is considering the mood of the country (and the world), markets have quietly worked their way back into positive territory this year. The S&P 500 closed 2025 at 6,845, then fell to 6,528 on March 31, 2026 - a decline of about 4.6%. From that low, it recovered to 7,230 0n May 1, 2026, a rebound of roughly 10.7% and about 5.6% above where it ended 2025. And it’s not just one area driving it - it’s happening across the boa

Thing One Don’t Pay That Bill Dealing with the torrent of emotions triggered by the death of a loved one can be difficult. Add to that the settling of a decedent’s financial matters, and the situation can become a stressful and confusing mess. Believe it or not, there are companies hoping to find you in just that state of mind. These businesses buy up the debt of people who’ve passed away for pennies on the dollar and then start calling surviving family members almost immedia

Thing One The $2.7 Million Opportunity Most Parents Might Miss (More On The Trump Accounts) ( The following is a synopsis of insights shared in article summarized by financial advisor Fran Walsh, CFA, co-founder of Opulus LLC) Parents are always looking for ways to give their kids a financial head start. According to financial advisor Fran Walsh, one new savings vehicle could potentially grow into millions for children who start early. Walsh recently highlighted the p

Thing One To Save or Not to Save (When You’re Young) There’s an old saying often attributed to former British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan: "There’s no fool like an old fool—except a young fool. The young fool just hasn’t lived long enough yet to realize it." It’s blunt, but it’s also remarkably accurate—especially when it comes to money. Every generation seems to rediscover the same idea: that youth is for living, not planning. Saving can wait. Retirement is decad

Thing One Don’t Let the Court Write Your Final Plan Picture this: After a lifetime of hard work, you’ve built meaningful assets and settled into a comfortable retirement—then you pass away unexpectedly, without a will. It’s not something most people want to contemplate, and for you, there would be nothing left to contemplate. For those you leave behind, however, there would be much to consider, including the hardships that would ensue as a result of your not having a will