Most people think paying taxes in retirement is unavoidable—but with the right planning, it doesn’t have to be. By strategically balancing taxable, tax-deferred, and tax-free accounts, you can reduce or even eliminate your tax burden. In this article, we break down the steps to achieving a tax-efficient retirement, including actionable strategies and a real-life example of how one couple is working toward paying $0 in taxes during their golden years.

Many architects and engineers manage their own finances, but they may be overlooking key elements that can make a significant difference in their financial future. This article explores 15 important financial strategies—from tax planning to diversification and retirement income planning—that architects and engineers often overlook. Learn how you can better navigate your financial journey and make more informed decisions to build long-term success.

When considering the cost of hiring a financial advisor, many focus on the fees—but what about the value? This article breaks down common advisor fee structures, explores the mistakes DIY investors often make, and highlights how professional advice can save you money, time, and stress. Discover why working with a financial advisor is an investment in your financial success.

Imagine reaching a point in your career where you no longer need to aggressively save for retirement. That’s the power of CoastFI. By saving enough early on, you can let your investments "coast" toward your retirement goal, giving you the freedom to focus on what truly matters—whether that’s pursuing a passion, switching careers, or simply enjoying more flexibility. Discover how CoastFI can bring you financial peace and open up new possibilities in life.

Are you tired of riding the cash flow rollercoaster in your architecture or engineering firm? Inconsistent cash flow can create financial stress and make it hard to plan for the future. In this post, we’ll explore five practical steps to smooth out the ups and downs of cash flow—bringing you closer to financial clarity and peace of mind. From billing strategies to cash flow forecasting, these tips will help you achieve the financial stability you need to focus on growing your business.

What is your biggest dream?

Are you on track for achieving it?

Read on for my journey and the 6 lessons I learned along the way.

Want to start a business?

It’s hard for me to remember a time before I wanted to be a business owner. I knew very early on in my professional journey that I wanted to strike out on my own, build something, and test what I was made of.

I spent 8 years trying to figure out what kind of business I wanted to start before I finally actually did it.

The Perfect Portfolio consists of cash flow for expenses, investments for compounding your wealth, and assets to preserve your wealth. The objective is to maintain a balance of these three elements in your pursuit of financial success.

Interest rates have been making headlines for the last 18 months—ever since the Federal Reserve first started hiking rates. People are wondering how long the rates are going to keep rising, borrowers are hoping for rates to go back down, and investors are taking real consideration for how rates affect the future of their portfolios.

If you're looking for a new advisor, here are my tips:

1. Work with someone who asks you what your goals are

2. Look for a Fee-Only Fiduciary

3. Ask them how they charge in your initial conversation

4. Ask if they do more than investments

Not sure what to invest your 401k in?

Here's a guide for the most common options and who they are for:

I remember having a conversation with Ryan when we were first dating, saying I just wanted to be able to go buy groceries without: 1) checking my bank account balance first, and 2) having a calculator out the whole time to make sure I didn’t overspend.

Organizing your cash flow for your business or personally, leads to:

Peace of Mind - Knowing how much money you should have in your bank account at any time

Clarity - You aren’t left guessing about what you think is happening

Better Decisions - Insight into the future means better decisions today

Being Prepared - When you know what is coming, you can prepare to handle it

Running a firm is hard—you started because you love design and creating, but at the end of the day it is also a business.

This is a story I’ve heard time and time again from architects and engineers. They’re experts in their craft, and have no problem running that aspect of their firm, but the business side of running a business is where they struggle.

With as few as two clicks (Amazon's "Buy Now" option) you can be the proud new owner of a pair of shoes you bought completely on impulse which you might not be able to afford. Here are 5 ways to add friction into your financial life to reduce your tendency to overspend:

When it comes to investing there are almost endless ways to do it. If you have mastered the Fundamentals and are wondering what else is out there, this article will break down some of the more common forms of investing.

Stocks, bonds, 401(k)s, IRAs, oh my!

The list of financial jargon is endless. For most people that don’t make it a full time job the world of investing is a complex, confusing, and oftentimes scary place.

The challenge is, you know it is essential to build your wealth and be in a position to make work optional. So you Google “how to invest”. And you get over 4 billion results.

Now what…

Gold.

That yellow shiny stuff that has been coveted for millennia.

Do you own any?

Should you own any?

How do you get some?

What would you do with it?

There is a new way to think about retirement. A way to blend both working, living, and retiring over the course of your life. The traditional model is very linear. You go to school, then you work, then you enjoy the fruits of your labor (retire). We’ve already talked about how that isn’t really working.

Retailers are masters at minimizing friction to encourage you to make purchases. When it comes to managing your finances, you can use this concept in reverse. You want to make it harder to spend money or make decisions that run counter to your goals. Or at least create enough friction that you pause and think before making the purchase.