FEBRUARY 2026 - Jethro's story
In an arid desert in a time long ago...there lived a man named Moses. He had the weight of the world (and the Jewish people) on his shoulders. Every decision and every judgment, every dispute and every grievance, landed at his feet. It was a lot to deal with! At the moment when Moses was most overwhelmed, his father-in-law Jethro made an astute observation. “Moses, Why do you alone sit as judge? ...What you are doing is not good. You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone.” Jethro encouraged Moses to divide the load. He suggested that Moses appoint helpers and “Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.” (excerpted from Exodus 18 NIV) This was transformational for Moses and the Israelite people. We intrinsically know that we can’t do everything but here it is in plain language — THE BEST SERVICE HAPPENS when we divide the load. (God, through Jethro, says so!) I am specifically sharing this because our office has taken this concept to heart. Orrie, our lead adviser, can’t do everything. I would even assert that he shouldn’t do everything. Just like Moses, he would wear himself out. His best, God-given skills in one area would be squandered while he spins his wheels in other areas. It’s not that he’s “too good” to complete service forms or to scan a document. But if he is doing that all day, he can’t have meaningful meetings and phone calls. He can’t spend concentrated time reviewing portfolios. He can’t research current investment products and metrics. You might find, when you call our office and ask for Orrie, we ask what your specific need is first. If someone else who specializes in a certain area can assist you, we will likely ask that staff member to help you. It doesn’t mean that Orrie doesn’t want to talk to you(!) It means that he wants to assign specific roles to other people SO THAT—when you have a point of need that is in his area of expertise—he is available to help and not occupied with other things. We have assembled an excellent staff and I couldn’t be more proud of the compassion and expertise with which they assist our clients. Orrie, Josh, and I are licensed, with Orrie serving as our lead adviser and Josh and I serving as registered assistants. Renea, Susannah, Kelsey, and Sandy are non-registered assistants. They are able to serve as a first point of contact—setting appointments, offering service (updating addresses, beneficiaries, bank accounts, etc.) and preparing paperwork for new accounts. Because they are not licensed, however, they will not answer direct investment questions. If they do offer to help, it will be in an area they are skilled and able to help. Otherwise, they will gladly schedule a time to talk with someone who is licensed. Jethro was a wise man and he offered Moses a solid framework to manage the people of Israel. He said that “If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.” It is our deepest desire that—by spreading responsibilities across our entire staff—our people will “go home satisfied.” You are our people! Whether you’ve been a client for 20 years, 2 months, or are just considering having a conversation with us, we want to serve you in a way that pleases the Lord. May God be glorified as we work in cooperation together to help you meet your goals! |
Can I contribute to an individual retirement account?
Many people have the opportunity to make a 2025 contribution to their Roth or Traditional IRA until the time they file their 2025 taxes (or April 15, whichever is sooner.)
Why should I contribute: A Traditional IRA contribution can help reduce your tax bill. A Roth IRA contribution will provide tax-deferred growth and tax-free withdrawals if rules are met. Either one can be good, depending on what you want to accomplish.
How do I know if I can: If you are married, both you and your spouse can contribute if you meet the following criteria:
- You (or spouse) have earned income greater than contribution.
- You and/or your spouse do not exceed the earnings level that allows contributions. Depending on whether you are part of an employer-sponsored retirement plan, the limits vary.
- What about for 2026? You can contribute now (or anytime until next April 15.) We can help you begin to build or increase your retirement contributions to get better tax treatment—now or in the future.
We can help: We help people understand their tax situation and then decide whether Traditional or Roth makes the most sense. Some people have other options to consider—such as SEP IRAs for small business owners.
If you are earning income, this is a conversation you should be having and we are happy to help. Call our office to request a free, no obligation appointment. We will ask for information so that our answer is tailor-fit to your situation—but providing some basic information is the only “cost” to meet with us.
How else can I save on taxes?
If you participate in a high-deductible healthcare plan, you qualify for an HSA (health savings account.) This is a great “hidden gem” in the tax planning world. An HSA has 3 ways to save on taxes: deposits are tax-deductible, growth is tax-deferred, and spending is tax-free. Most people understand and LOVE that deposits are tax-deductible and spending is tax-free. What some people miss, though, is that growth is tax-deferred. What if I don’t spend the money on my medical costs?? What if I pay medical expenses out-of-pocket and let the HSA grow? (Taxes deferred for a long time—even though I got a tax deduction on the money going in…mind blown!) Using an HSA like this is like having another (even better) Roth IRA for retirement. We can help you plan, save, and invest your HSA for long-term growth. Don’t miss this hidden gem!
ARE YOU REACHING A KEY AGE?
Age 50 - you’re getting a bonus! At age 50, you can begin making “catch up” contributions to your IRAs.
Age 59 1/2—Many folks who are 59 1/2 or older do an in-service distribution to an IRA without tax penalty. (The funds remain tax-deferred) The 401k stays open and the employee can continue to contribute and get the employer match, as long as they are working. This can give more investment options and can also give you the ability to have Biblically Responsible Investing options in your account, if that is important to you. It could be a win-win for you! Employer plans generally have limited offerings for you to invest in—such as target date funds, select mutual fund holdings, etc. We can help you understand whether you are using appropriate investments for your age and risk tolerance.
Age 62—This is the earliest age at which you can draw Social Security (unless you are a qualifying widow.) When should you start Social Security? What if you are still working? How does it affect your spouse or adult child with disabilities? Would you like to have a review of your situation and learn some of the rules that apply to you?
Age 70 1/2—This is the age where you can begin to make qualified charitable distributions (QCDs) to save on taxes while giving to church or charity. We’d be happy to explain your options! Another win-win!
Age 73—This is the age where you are required by the IRS to make withdrawals from your retirement accounts. These withdrawals (required minimum distributions or RMDs) are required so that the government can begin to tax the funds that have been tax-deferred for so long during your earnings years. There is a hefty penalty for not making the required withdrawal so it is important to understand and plan for these necessary withdrawals.
FORECAST FOR THE FUTURE
It is pretty common for us to have a conversation with our clients about what the future holds. “What do you think the markets will do in response to x,y,z?” or “Do you think I should draw back to cash in case China or Russia does this or that?”
Sometimes the forecast for the future isn’t about world events at all. It might focus on our own longevity. “Should I start Social Security at age 62 or wait until 70?” We often, not so jokingly, say “Mr. Client, do you know when you are going to die? If you can tell me when you are going to die, I can tell you EXACTLY when to start drawing Social Security to get the most bang for your buck.” Of course, no one but God knows the answer to that.
Instead of factoring in timing of world events or your own longevity, we generally recommend that our clients take a steady course of action that fits their stated goals.
• If you made a conscious decision to invest in the market for long-term growth, give that market account time for long-term growth. Don’t “pull back” out of fear.
• If you have short-term money (money you might need in 1-3 years for a down payment or other specific goal), we wouldn’t suggest that you invest in a long-term investment vehicle to begin with. That is an account where we’d use safer, more conservative options.
• If you are approaching retirement and having the influx of Social Security income would give you stability, take the income! Of course, we’ll help you do the math and make the most informed decision but the key is—KNOW what job you need the money to do and then let it do that job.
We can help you assign jobs to your money and have peace of mind, regardless of what is happening in the economy.
Please contact our office today to schedule a review (if you are our client) OR to have a first-time conversation if we’ve never met with you before.