We talk a lot around here about planning for retirement, and for good reason — the decisions you make today have enormous consequences for your quality of life in retirement. So many folks we work with are looking forward to that magical time, but often they don’t consider that, even though working for a paycheck ends, budgeting for regular expenses doesn’t.
Protecting wealth requires you to look at blind spots that many people often ignore until it is too late. Perhaps your attention is focused on day-to-day financial news in the media, which can be entertaining and leave you less focused on the real, everyday risks that can affect your financial plans.
Here are four hidden liability risks to evaluate before life throws you a curveball.
When I was a young rep, a typical day involved a client visit or two, and maybe one meeting with a prospect. Over the 25+ years I’ve been in this business, my days have grown to the point where I often see 5-8 client families. What remains true is that it is very important to me to spend my time listening to people.
When we spend time in the office mapping out a long-term financial strategy, it’s easy for us to get buried in the mechanics — how much to move, what to withhold for taxes, how to structure the accounts to maximize tax efficiencies. These are all important considerations when it comes to protecting your capital.
In all my years in this business, I’m not sure if I’ve ever been asked by a client about an upcoming initial public offering. Well, that has certainly changed in the last couple of weeks.
Conversations are heating up about the IPOs of some of the most talked-about tech companies in America. I’ve spoken to tons of clients about SpaceX, Anthropic, and OpenAI. And while I can’t give my full opinion in this forum due to compliance rules, feel free to give me a call if you want to hear Dave Unfiltered.
Here’s what I can say: We’re potentially talking about three of the biggest IPOs of our generation. And, as such, they’re coming out with new ways every day for you to get a “great deal” by getting in early on the opportunity. So, should you take it?
A lot of my clients, as they near retirement, start considering either relocating or buying a second home in warmer weather, often in Florida. When they do the research, they often find builders with websites offering great deals on houses; maybe they’re knocking tens of thousands of dollars off the asking price, issuing credit toward closing costs, or even buying down points.
When they tell me about those “special, one-time offers” that seemingly are available to anybody year-round, I usually ask them: Don’t these builders seem a little eager to give you this great deal? Have you actually looked into the comps, the insurance costs, the builders’ reputations?
Do you have a thorough understanding of what exactly you’re buying, and is it worth it?
If the answer is yes, then by all means, make your purchase. But if the answer is no, I encourage them to do a lot more research to make sure that they’re not being sold a bill of goods.
Now what does that have to do with IPOs? In both of these situations, as a buyer, you’re trying to figure out if what you want is a reasonable deal, can fit in your budget, and can get you closer to your preferred retirement lifestyle. And that takes work.
Have you read the prospectus? Or the amended prospectus? Have you looked at the history of IPOs and how many of them are winners? How much of your portfolio are you willing to risk without derailing your retirement plans?
I can’t give you any specific advice on this here. But I will tell you that, if billionaires are willing to sell up to 30% of the initial slice of their companies to the general public, I don’t think that it’s any different than a builder saying they’re willing to knock 30% off the price of their house. Buyer beware.
Our team’s experience has been that the clients who are steadily working a plan toward a preferred future tend to experience a higher degree of success over time than the clients who dabble in get‑rich‑quick schemes. And I’ve seen it all — from Beanie Babies to sports memorabilia to cryptocurrency to day trading. They’re usually the ones who aren’t interested in slowly saving money over time.
Whether you want to go to Florida or go to the moon, the question that you should ask yourself before making either of those transactions is the same: Am I getting a good deal? We welcome those conversations with you, so that we can help you figure out what fits in your budget and how you can make those purchases work best for your family.
Reach out today, and let’s talk. Dave Unfiltered can be a lot of fun.
This material is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice or an offer or solicitation to buy or sell securities. All investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal, and there can be no guarantee that any investing strategy will be successful. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
Article by David Smyth, Senior Partner and Wealth Advisor at Family Financial Partners — a financial services firm in Lexington, Kentucky.
The first financial advice I got as a child was from my grandfather, and I remember it vividly. He said, “David, it doesn’t matter which party is running the country. What matters is investing in the right companies. Politicians come and go, but corporate brands are here to stay.”
In that spirit, I want to give you a few steps to zero in on your tax burden and help you find ways to be more efficient.
Whether you filed your taxes on time or you filed an exemption, tax season is a great time to run a diagnostic review on where you’ve been in the last couple of years and what your tax situation looks like going forward.
In that spirit, I want to give you a few steps to zero in on your tax burden and help you find ways to be more efficient.
One thing I’ve experienced throughout my career is that when we have a good year in the markets, as we did in 2025, folks sure don’t seem to have many questions for their financial advisory team!
That said, when we have a stretch of market volatility, typically hand in hand with daily shock-and-awe news headlines — think the first two months and maybe three of 2026 — the (natural) reaction is — uh-oh.
Who needs a trust? Think about it like specialty insurance. Some people genuinely need it based on their circumstances; others don’t. You wouldn’t add rust protection to a vehicle unless your environment called for it. The same idea applies here.
I often write that (insert time of year) is the perfect opportunity to take a close look at where you stand financially. It’s good to have those reminders throughout the year so that you’re regularly thinking about your financial goals and how you’re planning for retirement.
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