by Ralph Bender, MBA, CFP® | Taxes
Building a family through adoption brings immeasurable joy alongside significant financial considerations. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025 (OBBBA) delivered meaningful improvements to the Adoption Tax Credit that can reduce your tax burden and strengthen your...
by Ralph Bender, MBA, CFP® | History
Veterans Day was not always called by that name. Originally, it was Armistice Day, established to commemorate the end of World War I—then known as the Great War, the war that was supposed to end all wars (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs). After more than four...
by Ralph Bender, MBA, CFP® | Retirement
On many a morning run, I see hot air balloons drifting across the valley. They’re a common sight before 9 AM, rarely later. Once the ground heats up, conditions become too turbulent for safe flight. The pilots know their window. You’re facing a similar...
by Ralph Bender, MBA, CFP® | Kids and College
The federal student loan system just got its biggest overhaul in decades. H.R.1, the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” creates a new landscape where borrowers get stronger protections against runaway interest and clearer repayment options. The centerpiece is...
by Ralph Bender, MBA, CFP® | Health, Healthcare
Movement is medicine, and you needn’t worry about getting the approval of some federal agency, or about the negative long-run impact of hidden ingredients. Financially, it’s a bargain! And here’s what makes it such a bargain: it’s not just...
