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 | Jan 1, 2026 | Investing, Retirement Planning, Tax Planning for Retirement
Zero coupon municipal bonds are an excellent investment for retirement planning. Investors in high tax brackets can purchase zero coupon municipal bonds, to lock in great yields and predictable future cash flows. Zero coupon municipal bonds are simple, you buy them at...
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....