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Steve Coker, CFP
- Sep 15
- 4 min
Downsizing your house in retirement
Downsizing your house in retirement can make a lot of sense, especially when you are looking for ways to make your retirement dollars go...


Steve Coker, CFP
- Sep 8
- 2 min
How working impacts Social Security
If you are retired and considering going back to work, even part-time, your Social Security Retirement benefits may be affected. Here are...


Steve Coker, CFP
- Aug 25
- 3 min
Inheriting an IRA? 4 key rules you should know
If you have been named as the beneficiary of an IRA, then you should know that inheriting an IRA is different from inheriting other...


Steve Coker, CFP
- Jul 28
- 2 min
Don’t Save 10% of Your Income, Save 50% of Your Raise
I am often asked by those starting out in their careers, “How much should I save?” It is a great question of course, and one that we...


Carole Meitler
- Jul 9
- 3 min
Navigating the Storm: An Introduction to Umbrella Insurance
Let's set sail into the uncharted waters of a lesser known but highly valuable aspect of personal finance: umbrella insurance. We all...


Walter Cifuentes
- Jun 2
- 2 min
2023 IRA and 401k Contribution Limits
Retirement savings through Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) and employer-sponsored 401(k) plans are vital components of a sound...


Steve Coker, CFP
- May 19
- 3 min
Does an Advisor Add Value? An Update
Periodically, we revisit research asking the fundamental question: Does an advisor add value? It is an important question for us since it...


Steve Coker, CFP
- Mar 12
- 2 min
Is My Pension Protected?
While pensions are a complex topic most private (non-governmental) pensions are backed by a pension trust established by your employer to...


Steve Coker, CFP
- Mar 5
- 3 min
Caregiving Conversations
According to AARP, more than one if five Americans are caregivers. As Americans age and life expectancies rise, more and more people find...


Steve Coker, CFP
- Feb 12
- 2 min
Is Cedarstone a Fiduciary?
I am frequently asked whether Cedarstone is a fiduciary and so I like to periodically address this common concern. The answer is yes, of...


Steve Coker, CFP
- Feb 3
- 3 min
Social Security Survivors Benefit
When the unthinkable happens and one spouse dies, Social Security provides a benefit, commonly referred to as the widow’s benefit, to the...


Steve Coker, CFP
- Jan 20
- 1 min
RMD Age Changing to 73
The beginning age for retirement plan Required Minimum Distributions (“RMD’s”) is changing once again! Required Minnimum Distributions...


Steve Coker, CFP
- Jan 15
- 1 min
Updated Retirement Plan Contribution Limits 2023
The IRS has published the 2023 contribution limits for your 401k, IRA, and other retirement plans. Now is a great time to review your...


Steve Coker, CFP
- Jan 6
- 3 min
2023 Outlook
I admit that I read very little mainline news, including business news. I decided long ago that most business news (Bloomberg, Forbes,...


Steve Coker, CFP
- Dec 30, 2022
- 2 min
2022 A Year in Review
Many investors are happy to see 2022 end! After a roaring 2021 driven by easy money and high levels of stimulus, the proverbial chickens...


Steve Coker, CFP
- Dec 16, 2022
- 1 min
New Year Organization (A Financial Documents Checklist)
The end of the year is a great time to get organized, so you can start out the new year right. Here is a handy checklist to help you get...


Steve Coker, CFP
- Dec 2, 2022
- 2 min
Giving with Joy
I had several conversations this week about the importance of giving. The Christmas season does, rightly, remind us that it is better to...


Steve Coker, CFP
- Sep 16, 2022
- 2 min
Roth Conversions
With the stock market down in 2022, now may be a great time to consider converting a portion of your traditional IRA to a Roth IRA. We...


Steve Coker, CFP
- Sep 2, 2022
- 2 min
How much will I spend in retirement?
I am often asked, “How much money do I need to retire?” The answer is, of course, “it depends.” It depends on many factors but the most...


Steve Coker, CFP
- Aug 12, 2022
- 2 min
Medical Expenses in Retirement – an update
For many Americans finally retiring from their job means more than just walking away from a paycheck; it also means walking away from...