Start Building a Plan for the Future You Want

Just as financial goals vary from person to person, exactly where and how to invest is not a one size fits all approach. That being said, there are a few best practices that apply to most, if not all, investors. First, it’s important to understand that investing is not a get-rich-quick scheme but a way to consistently grow wealth over time. Mutual funds are a great way to invest because they keep your holdings diversified, which limits risk while providing the opportunity for long-term growth. Past performance does not assure future performance. The second is to determine an amount or income percentage you can commit to investing regularly and remain consistent with your contributions.

How much life insurance you should have varies based on a variety of factors. A good rule of thumb is that your policy provides ten-fifteen times your annual income. However, we typically recommend that people between ages 30 and 50 have more coverage than people who are older or younger. This is because they’ve generally started to take on larger amounts of debt (such as a mortgage, car payment, and student loans), but haven’t had enough time to build much equity in their assets yet. The goal is for your life insurance to give your loved ones enough of a cushion to account for any debts and liabilities you may have, as well as the loss of your income.

The goal of socially responsible investing is to invest money in companies that have positive social impacts and may lead to broad-scale social change while providing positive financial returns. From mutual funds, ETFs, and separately managed accounts, there are a variety of investment vehicles for socially responsible investing.

It sounds like a win-win situation. However, socially responsible investing isn’t necessarily black and white. Different investors have different values and standards, so what one person considers socially responsible may not fit the bill for another. Not to mention, companies may “greenwash,” or misrepresent, their portfolios as a strategy to gather more assets.

For investors who feel strongly about only allocating investments to companies that align with their values and beliefs, investing in a portfolio of individual stocks through a separate managed account will allow for a more precise allocation than pooled investments, like mutual funds.

At the Tranel Financial Group, all of our portfolios are evaluated with an ESG overlay to account for societal-specific risks, like environment, social, and governance risk factors, as well as additional benefits. We encourage investors looking to create a customized socially responsible portfolio that aligns with your values and beliefs to reach out.

Simply put, a commission-based advisor gets paid a specific percentage of the assets they manage for a client. If the portfolio performs positively, the advisor will earn a higher fee. Consequently, if the portfolio performs negatively, the advisor will earn a lower fee.

Alternatively, a fee-based advisor gets paid a flat rate for buying and selling different securities, such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and more. This rate is not dependent on the performance of the holdings or how much time is spent with the client.

The Tranel Financial Group is a fee-based, independent firm, which grants us greater flexibility, as we are not tied to proprietary products and do not have any conflicts of interest when giving financial advice.

While this is a topic that is often worried over, it’s rarely discussed in many families, and it’s understandable why. Nobody wants to think about losing their spouse or the possibility of their own death, but it’s important to be prepared in case the unexpected does happen. Many families chose to invest in benefits, such as life insurance policies or short and long-term disability, either through their workplace benefit plans or on the private market. Either way, the key to making the most of these investments is to purchase them before you have any reason to suspect you may need them. The premiums on these plans will only increase with age and health concerns, so early investment will lead to lower price tags.

It’s also important to consider formal estate planning items, such as creating a will and a trust. These documents will ensure that your wishes are well known and will be carried out in the event of your death and can provide very specific instructions, even in complex situations, for the management and distribution of your assets. This is especially important if assets are being passed to a young adult who doesn’t yet have much experience managing money or to somebody whose judgment hasn’t instilled confidence in the past.

Your financial strategy plays a key role in shaping your future. Short term impacts, such as market volatility, administration changes (every 4 years) or policy updates (potentially in foreign markets) can influence your investments and your financial strategy. Your plan should parallel your risk profile to help you navigate when these impacts inevitably happen.

The way you save, invest, and manage risks today can influence your future retirement lifestyle and legacy.

At The Tranel Financial Group, we take a holistic approach—aligning investment strategies, tax considerations, and personal goals to support long-term financial independence.

Success is about staying on track—not just achieving returns. We regularly review and update financial plans to reflect market shifts, tax changes, and life events. Our Faithful Watch™ process helps clients stay informed and confident in their long-term strategy.

Retirees often encounter challenges such as:

• Outliving savings due to increased longevity
• Market fluctuations affecting investment portfolios
• Rising healthcare costs and medical expenses
• Tax implications related to retirement income
• Estate planning for smooth wealth transfer

We work with clients to build retirement strategies that help account for these challenges by focusing on adaptability, risk awareness, and long-term planning.

Inflation and regulatory shifts can impact the long-term performance of a retirement strategy. We help develop approaches designed to support purchasing power, which may include diversified investments, income-generating assets, and reviews to account for cost-of-living trends.

We also regularly monitor market trends, tax law developments, and regulatory updates to help keep your strategy aligned with current conditions. Our team stays informed through ongoing education and compliance oversight—so your plan can evolve with the financial landscape.