June 2026 - Hobart Wealth

The 5 Numbers Pre-Retirees Need Before Giving Notice

June 30, 2026 | in Financial Planning, Retirement Planning

There is a point in nearly every retirement planning conversation when someone reaches an inflection point.

For years, the questions are comfortably theoretical. Am I saving enough? Should I contribute more to my 401(k)? At what age could I reasonably retire? Retirement sits somewhere in the distance, safely tucked behind several more performance reviews, tax returns, and company holiday parties.

Then one day, the question bubbles up because something at work happens, our health changes, or we’re just flat out ready for a change.

“Could I actually give notice?”

View

The Difference Between Trust and Preparedness

June 23, 2026 | in Estate Planning, Financial Planning

When people think about financial risk, they often picture stock market declines, recessions, inflation, or changes in tax law. Those are certainly real risks, and they deserve attention. Yet after years of sitting across the table from families, I’ve become convinced that the events that create the most stress are usually far more personal. The moments that truly test a financial plan rarely begin with a headline on CNBC. More often, they begin with a phone call from a doctor, an unexpected diagnosis, the loss of a spouse, a cognitive decline that unfolds gradually over time, or a life transition that nobody anticipated when the plan was originally built.

In other words, the greatest challenges are often not financial events at all. They’re human events that happen to carry financial consequences.

View

Beyond the IPO

June 16, 2026 | in Financial Planning, Investment Planning

Last week, I attended a wealth symposium in Washington, D.C. and one of the more
interesting takeaways had little to do with stock prices, interest rates, or election
forecasts.

During discussions featuring former Federal Reserve Chair and Treasury Secretary
Janet Yellen, Democratic strategist James Carville, and Republican strategist Karl Rove,
a common theme kept emerging. Despite their different backgrounds and perspectives,
all three spoke about the resilience of the American people, the strength of our
economy, and the unique ability of this country to innovate and create opportunity.

As I listened, I could not help but think about one of the biggest investment stories
capturing headlines today: the growing space economy.

View

Supercharging Roth Conversions with Charitable Giving

June 10, 2026 | in Estate Planning, Financial Planning, Legacy Planning

What I’ve learned is that backpacking isn’t about adding comfortable, luxurious items to my pack. It’s about figuring out what you can remove without sacrificing the experience. Nobody reaches mile 15 wishing they had packed more stuff. The biggest gains usually come from eliminating the things that were weighing me down in the first place.
Financial planning tends to work the same way. When we’re building wealth, most of our focus is on accumulation. We spend decades adding. More savings, more investments, and more retirement accounts. And at some point, we’ve added so much that we’re not quite sure what’s in our “pack.”

View

Don’t Let IRMAA Drive Your Retirement Plan

June 3, 2026 | in Financial Planning, Investment Planning

Most retirees have never heard the term IRMAA until they enroll in Medicare or begin discussing retirement income planning. Once it enters the conversation, however, it often becomes a major focus. Questions about Roth conversions, capital gains, retirement account withdrawals, and other income decisions suddenly take on added importance because of their potential impact on Medicare premiums.