by Ethan S. Braid, CFA | Jan 14, 2026 | Asset Allocation, Blog, Investing, Investment Risk, Retirement Planning
The 60/40 equity-to-fixed-income retirement portfolio is a great asset allocation strategy used by many retirees. Contrary to what some people think, this asset allocation strategy is still relevant and a perfect investment plan for some retirees. Pros of the 60/40...
by Ethan S. Braid, CFA | Dec 25, 2025 | Blog, Estate Planning
What is it really like to be a trustee? How much time will it take? What are my legal requirements and responsibilities? I have been in wealth management for over 25 years and have helped dozens of families with their trust planning. I have been a trustee myself for...
by Ethan S. Braid, CFA | Dec 23, 2025 | Blog, Retirement Planning
What does twenty years of owning a variable annuity do to your ability to accumulate wealth for retirement? I think a lot of investors do not realize just how much a variable annuity can set them back when planning for their retirement. Variable annuities are commonly...
by Ethan S. Braid, CFA | Dec 17, 2025 | Blog, Investing, Retirement Planning
How do you build your own guaranteed cash flow stream, but without the fees of an annuity? Today I am going to show you how to build your own annuity for two different objectives. Method one will be to provide a guaranteed cash flow. Method two will be to provide a...
by Ethan S. Braid, CFA | Dec 13, 2025 | Blog, Investing, Retirement Planning, Tax Planning for Retirement
Retiring on stock market dividends is a great way to retire but this approach is not for everyone. This article will review the pros and cons of retiring on dividends. The PROS are: Inflation protection Lower taxes Predictable Income Low volatility of your income....
by Ethan S. Braid, CFA | Dec 11, 2025 | Blog, Estate Planning, Investing, Retirement Planning, Tax Planning for Retirement
Annuities are bad investments designed to hold you hostage for the duration of your life. Annuities are nothing more than a complicated trap that many investors fall victim to. Here are the four most common ways investors get trapped in annuities. Taxes Death Benefits...
