Insights & Perspective
The New Tax Landscape: Why Tax Strategy Just Became Your Biggest Lever
Eric Ratliff | May 12th, 2026
"Most people are still thinking year-to-year… and that’s where the problem starts.”
A conversation I’ve been having more often lately.
Someone looks at their last return.
What they owed. What they got back.
Then moves on.
But the environment is changing.
And 2026 is a window that’s easy to miss if you’re only thinking one year at a time
Donor-Advised Funds in Troy, Michigan: A Smarter Way to Give Appreciated Assets
Eric Ratliff | May 6th, 2026
For many people, charitable giving starts with a simple intention.
You want to support causes that matter to you.
Over time, as portfolios grow, the question shifts slightly.
Not whether to give, but how to give in a way that makes sense financially.
This is where donor-advised funds begin to come into the conversation.
Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) in Troy, Michigan: A Smarter Way to Give from Your IRA
Eric Ratliff | April 29th, 2026
For many retirees, giving to charity is already part of life.
At the same time, Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) begin to show up and create a new question.
How do you take money out of your IRA without increasing your tax burden more than necessary?
This is where a strategy like a Qualified Charitable Distribution, or QCD, starts to matter.
Iran Conflict and Financial Planning in Troy, Michigan: How Geopolitics Impacts Your Decisions
Eric Ratliff | April 22th, 2026
The situation involving Iran has moved quickly.
Markets reacted. Oil prices shifted. Headlines followed.
For many people in Troy, Michigan, it creates a sense of uncertainty.
Not just about what is happening now, but what comes next.
Last-Minute Tax Tips in Troy, Michigan: What Still Matters Before Filing
Eric Ratliff | April 15th, 2026
Tax season often comes down to the final days.
Even with time to prepare, decisions get pushed to the end.
If you are filing soon in Troy, Michigan, the goal is not to do everything.
It is to focus on what still matters.
Federal Interest Rates in Troy, Michigan: What They Mean for Your Financial Decisions
Eric Ratliff | April 13th, 2026
Interest rates are back in focus.
You hear about the Federal Reserve holding steady, possibly cutting, or reacting to inflation. The headlines change often.
But most people in Troy, Michigan are asking a simpler question:
What does this actually mean for my decisions right now?
The Philadelphia U.S. Mint has minted its final penny, raising the age-old question: Is a penny saved still a penny earned?
Eric Ratliff | November 13th, 2025
While we often associate saving pennies with thriftiness, the reality is that producing and distributing a single penny now costs close to 4 cents (3.69 cents in fiscal year 2023), making it more of a cost than a gain.
Anniversaries have a way of grounding us.
Eric Ratliff | October 29th, 2025
This week marks both the 3rd anniversary of my sister’s passing and my wedding anniversary — celebrated 15 years ago in Jamaica, which just endured Hurricane Melissa. It’s a reminder that anniversaries can bring both joy and sorrow, celebration and reflection.
RIP, AOL dial-up: Take a walk down memory lane to 5 other now-defunct tech icons that defined millennials' youths
Eric Ratliff | September 15th, 2025
AOL is sunsetting its dial-up internet service after more than 30 years. After September 30, users will no longer be able to use the service. We took a nostalgic walk down memory lane to revisit other defunct pieces of tech.
The Tax Advantage Of Playing In The NFL’s AFC South Division
Eric Ratliff | September 5th, 2025
This Forbes article examines how the location of an NFL team affects state tax liability and the tax benefits of playing in the AFC South, and how the Jacksonville Jaguars are the most tax-advantaged NFL team.
Good Vs Bad Debt: When To Borrow, Pass, Or Pay Cash
Eric Ratliff | August 15th, 2025
Figuring out when to take out a loan, pay cash, use leverage, or pass when something isn't affordable. Unpacking the differences between good debt and bad debt.
$1.26 Million To Retire? How to Get There
Eric Ratliff | June 15th, 2025
How to retire wealthy in six steps. Includes a starting investment portfolio and how to plan for a specific retirement balance goal.
How Positive News on Tariffs could impact your portfolio
Eric Ratliff | April 7th, 2025
This just happened! If you missed it, it went quick....
The U.S. equity market reaction to just ONE POSITIVE headline was a reversal of around 6 to 8% to the upside (depending on the index you follow).
Market Volatility & Tariffs
Eric Ratliff | March 9th, 2025
What is normal, and often referred to as healthy, in achieving long-term investment returns is what investors are experiencing right now.
Hopefully, the past 45 years is enough history to provide you with some confidence in knowing that investing was and still is, a good long-term decision. (Source: JPMorgan Guide to Markets).