Category: Uncategorized

Spoiler: there’s no magic number. But there are habits that’ll put you way ahead of most people your age and they’re simpler than you think. If you’ve ever Googled “how much should I have saved by 30,” you’ve probably run into those rules of thumb — save 1x your salary, have six figures in the […]

By the time we get to spring, most people I talk to aren’t in bad shape financially—but things feel a little… scattered. A retirement account from a previous employer that hasn’t been looked at in a while. A few subscriptions quietly renewing each month. A budget that made sense in January but hasn’t really been […]

Every financial decision has a cost — whether it’s measured in dollars, risk, or time. In this month’s message, Wayne shares real conversations he’s having with clients right now and the deeper question behind them: What are you really paying for your decisions and is it worth it? I’m running into a lot of situations […]

The start of a new year often brings a sense of motivation and sometimes pressure. January can feel like a clean slate, but real financial progress doesn’t come from sweeping resolutions. It comes from intentional habits, clear priorities, and steady follow-through. Rather than rushing to make big changes, the beginning of the year is a […]

I hope you all had a wonderful 2025. Like every year, it came with its share of challenges — issues, battles, losses, and unexpected events. But if you’re reading this, you made it through. And that alone is something worth acknowledging. With everything life throws at us, there’s one thing that still deserves attention: your […]

Before the ball drops on New Year’s Eve, my staff and I want to wish you and your family a joyful holiday season and a happy, healthy New Year. December is a natural time to pause and reflect—not just on the year behind us, but on the direction we want to head next. As you […]

This month’s message is about something that has me more concerned than ever — scams. And I want to be very clear: this can happen to anyone. We are seeing intelligent, thoughtful people — including some of our own clients — lose tens of thousands of dollars to scammers. These are not careless people. These […]

As the year winds down, many investors focus on market performance or upcoming holiday expenses—but October through December is also prime time for proactive tax planning. Taking action before December 31 can help you optimize deductions, reduce taxable income, and set yourself up for a stronger financial start to the new year. At Great Lakes […]

For years, many public employees — teachers, police officers, and government workers — faced an unfair penalty when it came to Social Security. If you earned a public pension and also spent time working in the private sector, your Social Security benefit could be reduced by as much as two-thirds. That penalty is finally changing […]

Investing always comes with a degree of uncertainty. Markets move in cycles, companies face challenges, and the global economy shifts in ways that are often hard to predict. But one strategy has stood the test of time in helping investors smooth out the ride: diversification. As a Certified Financial Planner, I often tell clients that […]