Traditions of the Masters and Successful Investor

Both offer valuable lessons from those who have come before you

The Masters golf tournament and successful investing may seem like two completely different worlds, but they share many similarities in terms of tradition. Both have established practices that have stood the test of time, and both require a combination of skill, strategy, and patience to succeed. Let’s take a closer look at the traditions of the Masters golf tournament and how they compare to the traditions of successful investors.

Traditions Matter

One of the most well-known traditions of the Masters is the Green Jacket. The winner of the tournament is presented with a Green Jacket, which has been awarded to every champion since 1949. Similarly, successful investors often have a signature item or practice that sets them apart. For example, Warren Buffett is known for his simple lifestyle and preference for Coca-Cola, while Peter Lynch famously suggested investing in what you know.

Another tradition of the Masters is the Champions Dinner. The previous year’s winner hosts a dinner for all past champions, where they select the menu and are given the opportunity to share stories and advice with the current competitors. This tradition emphasizes the importance of learning from those who have come before you, which is also a key aspect of investing. Veteran investors often share their experiences and knowledge with younger investors, providing them with valuable insight and guidance.

The Augusta National Golf Club, where the Masters is held, is known for its pristine condition and attention to detail. From the perfectly manicured fairways to the meticulously maintained flower beds, every aspect of the course is designed to be visually stunning. Similarly, successful investors pay close attention to detail when researching potential investments. They scrutinize financial statements, study market trends, and conduct thorough due diligence before making a decision.

Another tradition of the Masters is the Par 3 Contest, a light-hearted competition held the day before the tournament. This tradition shows that even in the midst of intense competition, it’s important to take a step back and have fun. Similarly, successful investors know that investing can be a serious business, but it’s also important to enjoy the process and not become too bogged down in the details.

Finally, the Masters is known for its exclusivity. Only the best golfers in the world are invited to compete, and only a select few are ever invited to become members of Augusta National Golf Club. Similarly, successful investors often seek out exclusive investment opportunities that are only available to a select group of investors. This exclusivity can often lead to higher returns and greater prestige.

Traditions Matter

While light-hearted, it is easy to see that the traditions of the Masters golf tournament and investing share many similarities. Both require skill, strategy, and patience to succeed, and both emphasize the importance of tradition and learning from those who have come before you.

By understanding and embracing these traditions, both golfers and investors can build confidence and work towards leaving a lasting legacy.

Important Disclosures

The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual.

Investing involves risks including possible loss of principal. No investment strategy or risk management technique can guarantee return or eliminate risk in all market environments.

This article was prepared by FMeX.

3 Key Money Moves Every Parent Should Make

Whether you are expecting your first child or have been a parent for years, finances and building a future for your family go hand-in-hand. Luckily, there are money moves you can make now to help manage financial stress, support yourself and your loved ones, and help your children as they get older. Here are three key financial moves all parents should consider making.

Review and Update Your Life Insurance

For many, life insurance is a necessary but unmanaged expense for a good reason. It is not pleasant to consider a situation where your life insurance policy may become relevant to your loved ones. However, for parents, in particular, having adequate life insurance might be the difference between your children struggling or enjoying a comfortable future.

Many employers offer life insurance to their employees, often at a specific multiplier of their salary. For some families, this amount may be adequate; but in other cases, you may need to purchase an additional term policy that provides coverage until your youngest child is an adult. It is worth reviewing how much coverage you have, then comparing this with your average projected earnings over the next decade or so.

Also, update your beneficiaries after any major changes. A divorce decree does not remove an ex-spouse’s name from a life insurance policy. For any changes in your marital status or if a named beneficiary passes away, you must update your list of beneficiaries with your insurer.

Consider a College Savings Account

As anyone who is still paying their student loans could confirm, college costs may be a major expense. For many, student loans are second only to the cost of a home purchase. Fortunately, time is on your side when saving for college for those with young children. The funds you put toward your child’s future college education may have years to grow. In many states, contributing to a 529 college savings account might even provide you with a state tax credit.

Additionally, 529 funds do not have to be for a specific child. If your child gets a scholarship or decides not to attend college, you are free to change the beneficiary to someone else, even yourself. These accounts may also pass down and can be used by grandchildren.

Check Your Health Insurance Coverage

Health care costs might also be a huge part of any family’s budget. And while many employer-sponsored health insurance plans may provide you with decent coverage at a reasonable cost, this is not always the case. Some families with fixed annual health care expenses may benefit from a lower deductible plan that provides more coverage, while other families with infrequent health care costs might find a high-deductible health plan with lower premiums is an easier expense in their budget.

If you are not sure about your options, a financial professional or insurance broker may be able to provide more information.

Important Disclosures

The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and is not a solicitation to sell any insurance product or security, nor is it intended as any financial or tax advice. For information about specific insurance needs or situations, contact your insurance agent. This article is intended to assist in educating you about insurance generally and not to provide personal service. They may not take into account your personal characteristics such as budget, assets, risk tolerance, family situation or activities which may affect the type of insurance that would be right for you. In addition, state insurance laws and insurance underwriting rules may affect available coverage and its costs. Guarantees are based on the claims paying ability of the issuing company. If you need more information or would like personal advice you should consult an insurance professional. You may also visit your state’s insurance department for more information.

Prior to investing in a 529 Plan investors should consider whether the investor’s or designated beneficiary’s home state offers any state tax or other state benefits such as financial aid, scholarship funds, and protection from creditors that are only available for investments in such state’s qualified tuition program. Withdrawals used for qualified expenses are federally tax free. Tax treatment at the state level may vary. Please consult with your tax advisor before investing.

This article was prepared by WriterAccess.

LPL Tracking #1-05268284

An Engineer’s Guide to Financial Planning

As an engineer, you already likely know the importance of accurate input when it comes to the final equation, which may put you ahead of the game when it comes to managing your finances. Below are a few ways engineers could apply their skills to their financial planning process.

Automate and Optimize Your Finances

 

In today’s digital society, it’s easy to put bills on autopay and make payments online most of the time. And for regular, steady bills like cable and internet, your mortgage or rent, your cell phone, and any student loans or auto payments, setting up recurring payments may relieve you of the need to remember to pay dozens of different bills each month. As long as you have an adequate financial cushion to cover these bills when they come due, automating your finances may save you time, effort, and the potential for late fees and collection notices.

Stay Flexible

 

It may be easy for many people, engineers in particular, to treat their finances with a certain amount of rigidity—especially if you have a steady wage and relatively stable expenses. However, the ability to pivot or adjust your finances to account for changes in income, unexpected expenses, and other surprises may be invaluable. Try to keep an open mind and remain flexible when challenges or opportunities come your way.

Invest for Your Future

Engineers may make anywhere from $50,000 to $80,000 or more per year, well above the median individual income in the U.S.1 Use this salary to your advantage by setting aside some funds for your future, including your retirement.

If your job provides a 401(k), this may be a useful place to stash up to $20,500 per year (or $27,000 per year if you’re age 50 or older).2 Your 401(k) contributions won’t count toward your taxable income, saving you money in taxes while allowing you to save for future expenses. Some employees also contribute up to $6,000 per year to an individual retirement account (IRA) or Roth IRA as long as your earned income meets certain limits. Setting aside these funds now may not only provide you with a nice nest egg upon retirement, but it may also get you in the habit of saving and help you avoid lifestyle creep when your income increases.

Important Disclosures

This material was created for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as ERISA, tax, legal or investment advice. If you are seeking investment advice specific to your needs, such advice services must be obtained on your own separate from this educational material.

Contributions to a traditional IRA may be tax deductible in the contribution year, with current income tax due at withdrawal. Withdrawals prior to age 59 ½ may result in a 10% IRS penalty tax in addition to current income tax.

The Roth IRA offers tax deferral on any earnings in the account. Withdrawals from the account may be tax free, as long as they are considered qualified. Limitations and restrictions may apply. Withdrawals prior to age 59 ½ or prior to the account being opened for 5 years, whichever is later, may result in a 10% IRS penalty tax. Future tax laws can change at any time and may impact the benefits of Roth IRAs. Their tax treatment may change.

All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however LPL Financial makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy.

This article was prepared by WriterAccess.

LPL Tracking: 1-05217801

1 https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/What-Is-the-Average-Engineer-Salary-by-State 2 irs.gov/newsroom/irs-announces-changes-to-retirement-plans-for-2022

How to Stay Committed to Your Financial Goals

Setting healthy financial goals is critical. Even more important is staying committed to those financial goals.

 

Keeping yourself committed to your goals may be difficult, especially when times may be financially tough. But by staying on track and focused on your goals, you are more likely to get the long-term outcome you seek.

 

Below are a few simple tips that will help you to stay on track and committed to your financial goals.

 

Find Tools to Make Your Efforts Easier

There is a wide range of tools available that can help you stay on track to maintain your goals. These tools generally make financial tasks less hands-on, or even streamline any hands-on processes.

 

One tool to take advantage of is automation. Start by setting up automatic transfers to the various accounts needed for your goals. This way, your funds will be automatically distributed from your monthly income, leaving you less tempted to use the money for other wants. Set up automatic transfers to retirement accounts, savings accounts, and even vacation and holiday shopping funds.

 

Other tools to explore and leverage are budgeting tools that allow you to maintain your budget and ensure the money is designated where it needs to be.

 

Set up an Emergency Fund

No matter how hard you plan, sometimes life will get in the way. Major financial needs such as car repairs, housing maintenance, and even medical emergencies can cause you to put your goals on the back burner. At the same time, you must use your finances to get yourself out of the emergency. What should you do?

By having and maintaining an emergency fund, you will have the money set aside to deal with these issues without having to take money away that is budgeted toward your financial goals.

Track Your Progress and Reward Yourself

Sometimes the greatest motivation is seeing your hard work manifest. Set a regular time to check your progress regularly, whether it is monthly or quarterly. See how close you are with each account or goal so that you will see how your hard work is moving you closer to those goals each period.

This check-in is also a good time for you to check in to see if your efforts are being appropriated properly. You can make necessary adjustments to ensure you stay on-track with achieving your goals.

Need help setting and staying committed to your financial goals? Contact your financial professional today to set up your consultation.

Important Disclosures

The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual.

All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however LPL Financial makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy.

Sources

https://skilledfinances.medium.com/how-to-stay-committed-to-your-financial-goals-aa78dc581056

https://www.fool.com/personal-finance/how-to-set-financial-goals-keep-them-2019.aspx

Content Provider: WriterAccess

LPL Tracking 01-05121935

Emergency Savings or Your Retirement Goals?

Deciding which one comes first so you know where to focus your efforts

When it comes to personal finance, there are a number of competing priorities that can make it difficult to determine where to focus your efforts. For many people, the choice between building emergency savings and working towards their retirement goals is one of the biggest dilemmas they face. So, which should you focus on first?

In order to answer this question, it’s important to understand what emergency savings and retirement goals are and why they are both important. Emergency savings refers to the amount of money you have set aside in a readily accessible account to cover unexpected expenses, such as a job loss, medical emergency, or major home repair. Retirement goals, on the other hand, are the plans you have in place to provide for yourself financially once you stop working.

Both emergency savings and retirement goals are important, but the order in which you focus on them will depend on your individual financial situation. If you have a stable income and few financial obligations, you may be able to focus more on your retirement goals, knowing that you have a safety net in place in the form of your emergency savings. However, if you have limited income and high debt, you may need to prioritize building up your emergency savings in order to protect yourself from financial shocks.

Emergency Savings First

Here are a few reasons why emergency savings should come first:

  1. Peace of mind: Having a solid emergency fund in place can help you sleep better at night, knowing that you have a safety net in case of an unexpected expense.

  2. Protects against debt: If you don’t have emergency savings, you may turn to credit cards or loans to cover unexpected expenses, which can quickly spiral into debt. Building up your emergency savings can help you avoid this trap.

  3. Provides flexibility: With an emergency fund in place, you have more flexibility to make decisions about your financial future, such as taking on a new job or starting a new business.

Retirement Goals First

However, there are also some good reasons why focusing on your retirement goals first can make sense:

Time value of money: The earlier you start saving for retirement, the more time your money has to grow, which can make a big difference in the amount you have saved when you retire.

Compound interest: The power of compound interest means that the earlier you start saving, the less you have to save each month in order to work towards your goals.

Employer matching: If you participate in a 401(k) or other retirement plan at work, your employer may match a portion of your contributions. By maximizing this match, you can significantly increase your retirement savings.

Emergency Savings vs. Retirement Goals

 

So, which should come first? Ultimately, the answer will depend on your individual financial situation and goals. In any case, it’s important to find a balance between the two. You don’t want to neglect your emergency savings and end up in debt when an unexpected expense arises, but you also don’t want to neglect your retirement savings and end up struggling to make ends meet in your later years. A good rule of thumb is to aim to have three to six months of living expenses in your emergency fund, and then start contributing to your retirement goals as soon as you can.

Important Disclosures

 

The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual.

Investing involves risks including possible loss of principal. No investment strategy or risk management technique can guarantee return or eliminate risk in all market environments.

This article was prepared by FMeX.

LPL Tracking #1-05358627

How to Develop a Money Mindset That Aligns with Your Goals

Financial goals are essential. Setting them will help you to obtain the things you want out of life as well as live the lifestyle you desire, both during your working years and in your retirement. But obtaining these goals isn’t always easy unless you develop a money mindset that aligns and drives you to these goals. So how do you create this mindset to give you the ideal chance of obtaining your financial goals?

Determine Your Values

The easiest way to be confident with your financial goals is to align your spending habits with your values. This will allow you to better stick to your spending habits. So to start, you will need to determine the values that are important to you. Ask yourself, what do you value most, your family, your freedom, your security, or your health? In what order do you place these priorities?

Once you have established these values, you need to spend your money in a way that correlates with these values. For example, if your family is most important, you may want to focus on saving for your children’s future education, instead of spending the money on expensive clothing or take out.

Determine What You Need to Do to Work Toward Your Goals

Once you have established your goals and determined what you value most in your life, you will want to make a plan to pursue those goals. Want to be able to travel during your retirement? Come up with ways to increase your retirement savings. Invest more in your employer-sponsored account. Cut back on spending that is not necessary. Learn how to develop and manage a financial portfolio that may help you to address your goals.

Start Small

 

Changing your money mindset involves changing the way you think about money and spending it. But making large changes quickly will rarely work over the long term and may act as a deterrent, causing you to give up on your goals before you have a chance to obtain them. After you have determined the changes that you need to make, implement one change each month. That way, you will have time to get used to the small change and how they affect you, without feeling overwhelmed. The changes should be simple such as tracking your spending for the month or opening a retirement savings account.

Follow the tips above to change your money mindset and get your head in a better place which may make your future financial goals seem easier to obtain.

Important Disclosures

The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. To determine which investment(s) may be appropriate for you, consult your financial professional prior to investing.

All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however LPL Financial makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy.

This article was prepared by WriterAccess.

LPL tracking #1-05318508.

Sources

https://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/psychology-of-money/

https://www.ruleoneinvesting.com/blog/personal-development/4-valuable-tips-for-a-healthy-money-mindset

https://lauradadams.com/money-mindset-tips-tools-for-financial-success

Introducing Cash Flow: Our Latest Investment Strategy

The Gatewood Wealth Solutions Investment Committee is excited to announce our new investment strategy: Cash Flow.

For those of you who have been with GWS for a while, you know that one of our core financial planning strategies is creating and maintaining clients’ cash Hub Accounts, which remain liquid should they be needed in the case of a market downturn. That way, clients can keep the rest of their money in the market, without needing to pull it out in uncertain times. This has been the cash portion in your personal risk bucket, which allows us to invest for long-term returns and weather bear markets in your market risk bucket.

The key is figuring out exactly how much money to keep in the cash hub and how much to keep in the market, which depends on a number of economic and personal factors (click here).

As a client, your cash Hub Account acts as an important buffer in providing you a sustainable cash flow no matter the economic conditions. This intentional margin of safety has proved quite helpful during the trailing three years of two bear markets.

But what if that money could also be working for you and earning interest, while still serving as a buffer?

Enter our Cash Flow strategy. This approach brings together the best of both worlds — keeping your cash Hub Account intact, while also using it to generate additional interest for you. Before we implemented this strategy, the money in cash hubs typically generated only 0.35%, or 35 bps. The National Deposit rate for savings accounts is 0.37% with checking accounts much lower.

Source: www.stllouisfed.org

Am I a Good Fit for the Cash Flow Strategy?

This strategy works best in certain situations, such as:

  • You meet the account minimum: $50,000 (24-month cash Hub Account target of $50,000)

  • You like the “personalized pension” approach: Prefer getting monthly checks, similar to pension payments, for living expenses

  • You’re planning to take out money for big lump sum purchases: Saving for a house, taxes, or anything big lump sum payment in the future with a known time horizon.

The goal of the strategy is to protect you from ever having to sell from your market risk portfolio during a drawdown. By growing your cash Hub Account now, you’ll be better equipped to keep your personalized pension payments coming while also preparing to take out lump sums in the future.

How Does It Work?

We’ve been coordinating the plan and delivering the personalized pension for clients for years; we just haven’t yet maximized the yield in the cash bucket. Historically, we have raised cash to a 24-month target, meaning we don’t have to pull from your portfolio for two years. If you have 24 months of cash, you’re now leaving a lot of yield on the table considering the recent rise in interest rates. So, there is a spread to earn above pure cash (i.e., cash equivalents and bonds).

This strategy divides funds into four risk buckets: Cash Sweep, Cash Equivalents, US Government, and Credit.

 
  1. Cash Sweep is the shortest-term bucket that holds 0-4 months of expenses, providing the lowest expected return but daily liquidity.

  2. Cash Equivalent is for cash that will be needed within the next 10 months and is invested in money market securities with an average maturity below 60 days, offering higher expected returns than pure cash.

  3. The US Government bucket invests in high-quality US government securities with a longer duration, offering higher yields from the term premium.

  4. The Credit bucket invests in securities with longer maturities and higher credit risk, offering higher expected returns from the term premium and credit premium, with an investment horizon of at least 16 months.

By allocating your cash into funds according to time horizon and need, you can earn interest on your cash hub money while still keeping it appropriately liquid. While there is our Advisory management fee, it’s the same as your family’s current fee, and the yields net of fees are still much higher than the standard 35 bp interest you might make in a savings account or cash sweep account.

If you’d like to speak with your Client Care Team about this strategy and if it may be right for you, don’t hesitate to reach out!

* Please note that throughout this blog, “cash” refers to cash and cash alternatives, not cash sweeps, unless otherwise noted.

Disclosures

All investing involves risk including loss of principal. No strategy assures success or protects against loss.

A Tough Times Survival Guide for Small Businesses

Small businesses may often find themselves struggling, and there are many situations in which business owners may find themselves weathering a storm and hoping to make it through. While the strength and fortitude of those who run small businesses can be an asset in helping them succeed when times are rough, there are a few strategies that can make survival a little easier.

Reduce Costs Strategically

When things start to go awry, one of the first things most business owners look for is ways to cut down on expenses to improve cash flow. Unlike widespread significant cuts that large corporations often employ, small businesses must be more strategic with their trimming. For example, if you cut your staff down too drastically, you may find your company spread so thin that you are not able to recover. Likewise, if the cuts are too minor, they may not be enough to make a difference. Take time to make a well-researched analysis of how proposed cuts can affect your business in the present and the future.1

Find Low-Cost Marketing Solutions

Even when times are tough, you need to continue to promote your company so that you are able to keep your current customers and try to obtain more, which can help increase your cash flow. The good news is that marketing your business is still possible even with a small budget. Put your company’s focus on types of marketing that may have a low initial cost and a higher return rate. Content marketing and social media marketing are great ways to draw in new business and get your name in front of potential customers without spending a lot upfront.2

Expand Your Network

When times are tough for your business, they are likely hard for other businesses as well. There is strength in numbers, and connecting with other companies or industries may be the answer to some of your problems. You could cross-promote your business with other peers that provide complementary services, recommend each other’s businesses, or see if there are other ways for you to help each other out.1

Don’t Dwell on Past Mistakes

When things start to go wrong, it is easy to get caught up in past mistakes. Dwelling on the past may make you continue to replay issues and situations that you believe brought you to the current point in your business. This may leave you wondering how the outcome would be if you had changed something. Unfortunately, the past is not able to be changed, and living with regret may prevent you from pushing forward and doing what you need to keep your business afloat.1

Important Disclosures

The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual.

All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however LPL Financial makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy.

This article was prepared by WriterAccess.

LPL Tracking #1-05361929

Footnotes

1”The Small Business Hard Times Survival Guide,” Live About https://www.liveabout.com/the-small-business-hard-times-survival-guide-2951407

2A 10-Point Small-Business Survival Plan for Dealing With the Coronavirus, Entrepreneur, https://www.entrepreneur.com/living/a-10-point-small-business-survival-plan-for-dealing-with/347913

Money Matters: Financial Literacy For The Whole Family

Financial literacy is crucial, not only for adults but for everyone in the family. When you have a good foundation of financial literacy, you will have a greater understanding of money and prepare yourself for a brighter financial future. Ready to improve the financial literacy of your family? Below are a few ways to get started.

Help Them Understand How Money Works

One of the first steps in teaching your family financial literacy is helping everyone understand where the money comes from. When it comes to adults, income is most likely to come from a job. For children, their income is most likely an allowance, a part-time job, or the occasional influx of birthday or other gift money. Next, they will need to understand that the things they spend their money on are considered expenses. Get your children to understand the type of expenses associated with daily living, so it won’t come as a surprise when they encounter their expenses.2

Show Them How to Distinguish Between Needs and Wants

 

An important thing to instill in children early is the differences between needs and wants so that they learn how to spend their money appropriately. Tell them that needs are items that aren’t easy to live without, such as food, shelter, and clothing. Explain to them that wants are items that you would like to have but do not need. It is essential that they understand that spending money on wants should wait until after they are sure that all of their needs are met.1

Let Them Know the Importance of Savings

Children need to know that, in some instances, expenses will be larger than anticipated. Because of that, savings are critical. Saving money when possible is vital to have the funds for large or unexpected expenses. With kids, you may want to start teaching them to save by showing that if they put their money away diligently, they will be able to purchase a much more expensive item they really want.2

Teach Them to Budget

Teaching your children to budget is as important as teaching them how to save. With a budget in place, they will be able to satisfy their needs, learn to put money away for savings, and only spend their money on wants when they have it to spend. Budgeting is also a crucial tool to see where your money is going and find areas where you are able to cut back on expenses if needed. To create a simple budget, you need to account for all possible income and then calculate monthly expenses. If your income is less than your expenses, more income will be needed, or expenses will need to be cut. 1

Teaching financial literacy early on will help you prepare your family for the future and give them tools to help stave off financial problems while helping them pursue their financial goals.

Important Disclosures

 

The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual

All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however LPL Financial makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy.

This article was prepared by WriterAccess.

LPL Tracking #1-05359966

Footnotes

1 Money Matters: Financial Literacy for the Whole Family, ABC Money Matters, https://abcmoneymatters.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/MM-SeminarSeries-Financial-Literacy-2019.pdf

2 Teaching Children About Money, Family Ed Center, https://familyedcentre.org/money-matters-when-parenting/

Gatewood Wealth Solutions Advisor Named to Barron’s Top 1,200 Advisor List

We’re thrilled to announce that Barron’s has once again named John Gatewood to the Barron’s Top 1,200 Advisors List! The list is based on a variety of factors, including assets under management, revenue produced for the firm, regulatory record, quality of practice, and philanthropic work.

“I am tremendously proud of our entire GWS team for this recognition,” said Gatewood Wealth Solution’s Founder & CEO John Gatewood. “Our advisors go above and beyond every day to help clients become and remain financially self-reliant by providing the highest level of personal service and financial advice.”

Thank you to our hard-working team for helping us earn this recognition, as well as to our loyal clients. It is a privilege to serve you!

To review the full list or get more information, visit here.

Disclosures

Barron’s Top 1,200 Financial Advisors is based on assets under management, revenue produced for the firm, regulatory record, quality of practice and philanthropic work.

Testimonials

"Our relationship with Gatewood Wealth Solutions has evolved over the years right along with our family.  From building and protecting our wealth to retirement and estate planning, Gatewood has guided us and enabled our objectives. It’s assuring to know skilled professionals we trust are working with us to optimize what we have worked for all our lives. "

Read more
Dr. Boyd C.
Retired Corporate Executive 11.13.23

"My wife and I have had the benefit of working with John Gatewood for over thirty-five years. Initially, John worked with us planning our personal and business life insurance needs. As his service offerings expanded, we took advantage of his expertise to help us with our family's financial planning. We could not be more pleased than what we are with the plan the Gatewood Wealth Solutions team developed for us. The team members are well-trained, intelligent, friendly, enthusiastic, and very good listeners. We have two scheduled reviews of the plan every year with one of the principals and at least…"

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Steve W.
Retired Business Owner 10.16.23

"My wife and I have known and worked with John Gatewood and his team for nearly a decade.  The values-driven team of Gatewood Wealth Solutions is motivated, caring, highly competent and personally fueled by character and integrity.  I recommended Gatewood to friends and family - including my children - because their deep desire to help clients 'give purpose to their wealth' gives us all the opportunity to better serve our families and communities."

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Dave M.
Corporate Executive 09.19.23

"Navigating the complexities of my corporate life was already a challenge, but when my husband passed away, it felt like an insurmountable mountain of emotions and paperwork. The team at Gatewood Wealth Solutions stepped in with compassion, efficiency, and expertise, guiding me through the entire estate settlement process. Their unwavering support made a world of difference during such a challenging time. I am profoundly grateful for all they've done and continue to do for me. Their services are truly unparalleled, and I wholeheartedly trust and recommend them."

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Carol S.
Corporate Executive 09.20.23

"My wife and I became a client of Gatewood Wealth Solutions twelve years ago on the recommendation of a friend who was also a Gatewood client, and I am very glad that we did. Until that time, I had managed our 401(k) and investments, but with retirement on the horizon, we felt it important to get professional help for retirement planning and investment management. The Gatewood team developed an integrated financial and retirement plan that we refined together. It was based on information such as our current financial position, desired retirement date and lifestyle, anticipated job and retirement income, expenses,…"

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Phil P.
Retired Corporate Executive 09.20.23

"I have worked with Gatewood Wealth Solutions since its inception and could not speak more highly of my experience. Gatewood Wealth Solutions provides comprehensive wealth management services for my family in a very sophisticated way. Their planning services are comprehensive and consider all assets of our family, not just what they manage. This is important for our family since we have a real estate business which must be considered in our planning. They also help us with our estate and tax planning each year. Their service is exceptional and is proactive and not reactive. I have referred members of my…"

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Tim M.
Partner/Attorney 09.22.23

"I’ve been with Gatewood Wealth Solutions and its predecessor for 21 years as our financial advisors. I first met John Gatewood in 2002 when I purchased a life insurance policy from him when he was with Northwestern Mutual. Shortly after having additional discussions with John, we started using them as our only financial advisors. They continued over the years to more than perform above my expectations and also started to bring in additional talent within their organization in order expand and meet client’s expectations. Since they’ve organized as Gatewood Wealth Solution and separated from Northwestern Mutual, they’ve continued to add…"

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Joe H.
Retired Corporate Executive 09.25.23

"I have been with Gatewood Wealth Solution for seven years, and I would highly recommend them for wealth management services.  They are a very efficient, effective, knowledgeable team that provides highly personalized, client-centered services.  If I didn't know better, I would think that I am their only client!  They have an excellent working relationship with a highly respected law firm that provides assistance with trusts and estate planning.  They also have an excellent working relationship with a tax accounting firm.  All of this so that all aspects of my financial planning needs are seamlessly coordinated. Their quarterly meetings are well…"

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Susan H.
Corporate Executive 09.26.23

"Partnering with Gatewood Wealth Solutions has been one of the best decisions we have made in the last five years. I have met with numerous financial planners who’ve all come to me with similar ideas and recommendations that don’t seem to prove that they are thinking outside the box for me individually. But when Gatewood came to me with their plan it was strategically designed with so many aspects taken into consideration that I was surprised at how uniquely competent and professional they were. They brought me many ideas and recommendations that would not bring them profit. They brought me…"

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Scott & Johanna S.
Business Owners 09.28.23

"Gatewood Wealth Solutions gives me confidence that my retirement savings are being monitored and managed with MY best interest in mind. All of the staff is welcoming, friendly and respectful. They have comprehensive knowledge of long-term financial planning, estate planning and tax planning. I have been with Gatewood for many years and hope to be with them for many more years to come."

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Gary B.
Corporate Executive 09.27.23

"I have known John Gatewood, the founder of Gatewood Wealth Solutions, for many years. We became friends well before we talked about business, and it was a natural decision to turn to John for help with our affairs when I needed it because I had grown to know and trust him. It really is true that John and his team at Gatewood Wealth Solutions are completely focused on helping ordinary families like ours to become financially independent. The family part especially means something: One day my 20-something son called to ask if I thought our group would be willing to…"

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Steve K.
Retired Corporate Executive 09.27.23

Testimonials Disclosure

The statements provided are testimonials by clients of the financial professional. The clients listed have not been paid or received any other compensation for making these statements. As a result, the client does not receive any material incentives or benefits for providing the testimonial. These views may not be representative of the views of other clients and are not indicative of future performance or success.