Gilbert & Cook blog

Insights from Chris Cook on DSM Wealth Podcast

cshindler@gilbertcook.com (Cara Shindler) — Tue, 07 Jul 2026 13:02:07 GMT

What if your investments could do more than grow your wealth—what if they could reflect what matters most to you?

In a recent feature on the DSM Wealth Podcast, Chris Cook, CPA, CFA, Partner and Chief Investment Strategist at Gilbert & Cook, explores how values-based investing is evolving—and why more investors are seeking alignment between their portfolios and their personal beliefs.

This conversation highlights a growing shift among investors:

Moving beyond performance alone
Seeking deeper alignment between wealth and values
Integrating purpose into long-term financial strategy

Chris shares insights on how values-based investing can:

Complement a diversified portfolio
Enhance long-term decision-making
Create a sense of clarity and confidence in your financial life

Key Takeaways

1. Values-Based Investing Has Evolved
Today’s strategies go beyond simple exclusions—they’re more sophisticated, data-driven, and customizable.

2. Purpose and Performance Are Not Mutually Exclusive
Investors no longer need to choose between doing well and doing good.

3. Alignment Creates Confidence
When your investments reflect your values, decision-making becomes more intentional and grounded.

At Gilbert & Cook, we believe wealth is a tool to support the life you want to live—and the impact you want to make.

Our approach integrates:

Sophisticated investment strategies
Comprehensive planning
A deep understanding of how each client defines “Abundance” in their own life.

Because true wealth is not just about what you have—it’s about how it aligns with who you are.

Money Moves for Professionals: Building Wealth with Intention

cshindler@gilbertcook.com (Cara Shindler) — Tue, 07 Jul 2026 12:55:48 GMT

For many successful professionals, career growth often brings increased income, greater responsibility, and more complex financial decisions. Attorneys, executives, physicians, business owners, and other high-achieving individuals spend years developing expertise in their profession — but their own financial lives can become increasingly complicated along the way.

Higher income does not automatically create long-term financial security.

Without intentional planning, professionals may face common challenges including lifestyle inflation, concentrated savings strategies, tax complexity, investment decisions, business or career transitions, and estate planning needs.

Building lasting wealth requires more than earning more — it requires making strategic choices with the resources you have.

Building a Strong Financial Foundation

Financial confidence begins with understanding your complete financial picture.

A few foundational areas deserve regular attention:

Cash Flow & Intentional Savings

One of the most important habits for long-term wealth creation is consistently spending less than you earn and directing those savings toward your future.

As careers advance, expenses often rise alongside income. Regularly reviewing spending, automating savings, and understanding where your dollars are going can help ensure your financial decisions continue supporting your long-term goals.

Professionals should also consider building flexibility across different savings “buckets”:

Tax-deferred accounts such as traditional retirement plans
Tax-free opportunities such as Roth strategies and Health Savings Accounts (HSAs)
After-tax investment accounts that provide additional flexibility

Each serves a different purpose, and a coordinated approach can create more choices throughout your lifetime.

Thinking Beyond Retirement Contributions

For many high-income professionals, maximizing a workplace retirement plan is only the beginning.

Additional planning opportunities may include:

Backdoor Roth IRA Strategies

Income limitations prevent many high earners from contributing directly to Roth IRAs. However, a Backdoor Roth IRA strategy may provide another pathway to build tax-free retirement assets when structured appropriately.

Because existing IRA balances and tax rules can impact this strategy, coordination with your financial and tax professionals is important.

Health Savings Accounts (HSAs)

For those eligible, HSAs can be one of the most tax-efficient savings vehicles available. Contributions may provide tax benefits, invested funds have the opportunity to grow over time, and withdrawals for qualified healthcare expenses can be tax-free.

Education Planning

For families preparing for future education expenses, 529 plans continue to offer a tax-advantaged way to save. Recent changes allowing certain unused 529 assets to transition to Roth IRAs (when requirements are met) have added additional flexibility for long-term planning.

Protecting What You Have Built

Accumulating wealth is only one part of the equation. Protecting and transferring wealth intentionally is equally important.

Your estate plan should evolve as your life changes.

Important questions to consider:

Are your wills, trusts, and estate documents current?
Are your beneficiaries updated?
Are your chosen trustees, executors, and powers of attorney still the right individuals?
Has your financial situation grown more complex since your documents were created?

For some families, a basic estate plan may accomplish their goals. For others — especially those with business ownership, significant assets, multiple properties, charitable goals, or blended family considerations — more advanced planning strategies may be appropriate.

The key is ensuring your estate plan reflects your current life, not a version of your life from years ago.

Tax Planning Requires a Forward-Looking Approach

As income and wealth grow, tax decisions become increasingly connected to your overall financial picture.

Strategies may include:

Maximizing retirement plan opportunities
Evaluating Roth conversion opportunities
Coordinating charitable giving strategies
Reviewing timing of income events
Managing investment tax implications

Tax laws will continue to evolve, making proactive planning and ongoing conversations essential.

Investing with Perspective

Successful professionals are often analytical decision-makers by nature. While that strength serves them well in their careers, investing requires something different: discipline, patience, and perspective.

Market volatility is normal.

Headlines, economic uncertainty, geopolitical events, and changing market cycles can create short-term concerns. However, long-term investment success is rarely about predicting every market movement — it is about building a strategy aligned with your goals and having the discipline to stay committed.

For some investors, additional diversification opportunities — including private markets — may also play a role within a thoughtfully constructed portfolio. These strategies require careful evaluation of risk, liquidity needs, and overall financial objectives.

Your Financial Housekeeping Checklist

Even the busiest professionals should regularly revisit the fundamentals:

✓ Review beneficiary designations
✓ Confirm appropriate life, disability, and liability coverage
✓ Update estate planning documents
✓ Evaluate retirement savings strategies
✓ Rebalance investment allocations
✓ Organize important financial information
✓ Protect digital accounts and passwords

Small actions today can prevent significant challenges tomorrow.

Creating Clarity for What Comes Next

Your financial life becomes more complex as your success grows.

At Gilbert & Cook, we believe wealth should provide choices — the ability to support your family, pursue opportunities, create impact, and Live a Life of Abundance®.

Through our Financial Security Method®, we help individuals and families evaluate where they are today, define what matters most, and create a thoughtful plan designed to move forward with clarity and confidence.

Are your financial strategies keeping pace with your success?

Our team is here to help you evaluate your opportunities and plan intentionally for the future.

Be the Expert in Your Own Financial Life: Preparing for Divorce

cshindler@gilbertcook.com (Cara Shindler) — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 20:29:25 GMT

Be the Expert in Your Own Financial Life: Preparing for Divorce

Divorce is one of life’s most emotional transitions — but it is also a significant financial event. In the midst of uncertainty, one of the most empowering steps you can take is becoming the expert in your own financial situation.

Many individuals enter marriage with shared responsibilities, often dividing roles. Over time, one spouse may handle investments, taxes, or business matters while the other focuses elsewhere. When divorce becomes a possibility, this dynamic can leave one person feeling unprepared. Knowledge restores confidence.

Start by gathering information. Obtain copies of tax returns (at least three years), account statements, retirement balances, insurance policies, estate documents, and debt summaries. If a business is involved, secure recent financial statements and understand ownership structure. Create a personal net worth statement listing assets and liabilities. This process alone can be eye-opening.

Next, understand cash flow. What does it truly cost to run your household? Track monthly expenses — both fixed and variable. Divorce often means transitioning from one household to two. Knowing your lifestyle costs will inform settlement discussions and future planning decisions.

It is also important to understand how assets differ. A $1 million brokerage account is not the same as a $1 million pre-tax retirement account. Taxes, liquidity, and long-term growth potential matter. The division of assets should be evaluated based on after-tax value and how each supports your future goals.

Equally critical is assembling the right team. An experienced divorce attorney protects your legal interests, but financial strategy requires coordination. A financial advisor, preferable a CDFA can model settlement scenarios, project long-term sustainability, and help you understand the implications of spousal support, retirement division, and property allocation.

Above all, preparation reduces fear. When you understand your financial landscape, you move from reacting emotionally to making informed, strategic decisions. Divorce may close one chapter, but it also begins another. Becoming the expert in your own financial life ensures that the next chapter is written with clarity, confidence, and control.

Learn about the importance of having a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst on your team.

Divorce Is Legal. Your Financial Future Is Strategic.

cshindler@gilbertcook.com (Cara Shindler) — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 16:05:08 GMT

Divorce Is Legal. Your Financial Future Is Strategic.

How a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® Helps Navigate Complex Divorce Decisions.

When a marriage ends, the legal process is only one part of the equation.

For affluent individuals and families, divorce is not simply about dividing property — it’s about restructuring a complex financial life that may include investment portfolios, retirement plans, business ownership, executive compensation, real estate holdings, trusts, and multi-generational wealth considerations.

At Gilbert & Cook, our Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA®) professionals work alongside divorce attorneys, CPAs, and mediators to provide clarity during one of life’s most emotionally and financially complex transitions.

Because while divorce is legal in nature, its consequences are deeply financial.

Why the CDFA® Designation Is Respected

The Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA®) credential, issued by the The Institute for Divorce Financial Analysts, is recognized within the divorce and mediation community as a specialized financial designation.

It signals that the professional has:

Advanced training in divorce financial analysis

Experience modeling settlement options

Understanding of tax implications specific to divorce

Experience in retirement and pension division

For attorneys, working alongside a CDFA® often results in more informed negotiations.

For clients, it provides confidence that financial decisions are not being made in isolation.

What a CDFA® Actually Does

A CDFA® is specially trained to analyze the long-term financial impact of divorce settlement decisions.

This includes:

Modeling multiple settlement scenarios

Analyzing tax consequences of asset division

Projecting post-divorce cash flow

Evaluating retirement plan division

Assessing executive compensation and deferred benefits

Reviewing business valuation considerations

Projecting long-term sustainability of spousal support

In other words, a CDFA® answers the question:

“What does this agreement mean for my financial life five, ten, or twenty years from now?”

Two settlement offers may appear equal on paper — but their long-term tax impact, liquidity profile, and growth potential can be dramatically different.

That difference can define your future.

Without modeling the long-term impact, decisions can be emotionally driven — or legally negotiated — without fully understanding financial sustainability.

A Team Approach During Transition

At Gilbert & Cook, our CDFA® professionals operate within our ensemble team model — collaborating with:

Divorce attorneys

CPAs

Business valuation experts

Estate planning attorneys

Insurance specialists

This integrated approach ensures that decisions made during divorce support long-term financial stability — not just short-term resolution.

Clarity During Uncertainty

Divorce is deeply personal.
It is often emotionally exhausting.
And it can feel overwhelming.

But it does not have to compromise your financial future.

With the right advisory team — including a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® — you gain:

Data-driven settlement clarity

Long-term cash flow confidence

Tax-aware structuring

Objective financial modeling

A strategy for rebuilding

Because even during life’s most difficult transitions, it is still possible to live a life of abundance®.

Demystifying Private Markets: Why They Belong in a Modern Portfolio

cshindler@gilbertcook.com (Cara Shindler) — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 17:47:36 GMT

Demystifying Private Markets: Why They Belong in a Modern Portfolio

For years, private markets were the exclusive playground of institutions and ultra-high-net-worth investors. Today, thanks to expanded access, better technology, and a growing emphasis on portfolio diversification, private markets are increasingly becoming a powerful tool for individual investors—and a strategic cornerstone of modern portfolio design.

Beyond “Alternatives”: A Better Way to Talk About Private Investments

At Gilbert & Cook, we’ve moved away from the catch-all term “alternatives.” As Brandon Grimm, our Chief Investment Officer, notes, “Alternatives could mean anything from cryptocurrency to collectibles.” Instead, we focus on private markets—an investable universe that includes private equity, private credit, real assets, and venture capital.

These investments are not new. Private markets have been a key component of institutional portfolios for decades. What’s new is the access. Through thoughtful partnerships and due diligence, our clients now have the opportunity to invest alongside major institutions—often with the same level of transparency and oversight.

Why Private Markets? The Case for Inclusion

Private market investments offer several compelling benefits when added to a well-balanced portfolio:

Enhanced Diversification: Because private market returns often move independently from public market cycles, they provide true diversification—helping reduce overall volatility.
Attractive Return Potential: With the right due diligence, private equity and private credit can deliver returns that are accretive to a portfolio’s long-term growth.
Access to the Real Economy: These are tangible companies—regional manufacturers, healthcare providers, software developers—doing meaningful work and fueling innovation and job growth in the U.S. economy.
Limited Daily Pricing Noise: While private market investments are less liquid, they’re also less subject to the emotional swings and headline-driven volatility of public markets.

Addressing Common Concerns: Illiquidity and Education

Illiquidity is often cited as a drawback—but Brandon reframes the issue: “If your financial plan says you only need to withdraw $50,000 from a $1 million portfolio this year, is it really a problem if $250,000 of it is invested in private markets and growing steadily in the background?”

It’s all about proper planning. When integrated thoughtfully, private investments do not restrict your lifestyle—they support your long-term goals.

Education also plays a major role. “Many of our clients start at the 101 level when it comes to private markets,” Brandon shares. “Our job is to get them to 201—explaining not just what private capital is, but how it fits into their world.” That means providing context, using real-life analogies, and helping clients see the connections between their own business experience and the private companies we invest in.

How We Do It: A Rigorous, Client-First Approach

We’ve been implementing private market strategies for over a decade. What began with modest allocations to commercial real estate has evolved into a sophisticated, research-driven approach—typically with 15% to 20% of client portfolios allocated to private markets, depending on each client’s goals and liquidity needs.

We focus on:

High-quality managers and sponsors
Clear structures with appropriate liquidity terms
Tax-sensitive implementation across account types
Ongoing education and transparent reporting

And most importantly, we customize every allocation to align with the client’s plan—not the other way around.

The Modern Portfolio is Evolving

Public equities and bonds remain foundational. But today’s investment landscape demands more. With increasing volatility, compressed return expectations, and global uncertainty, investors need access to a broader set of tools.

Private markets aren’t a fringe idea—they’re a modern necessity.

At Gilbert & Cook, we’re proud to offer our clients the same level of opportunity, insight, and access that has historically been reserved for institutions. Because we believe abundance comes not just from working hard—but from working smart, with the full spectrum of possibility at your fingertips.

A New Year Reflection Checklist

cshindler@gilbertcook.com (Cara Shindler) — Wed, 07 Jan 2026 15:08:13 GMT

A Thoughtful Way to Begin the Year

At Gilbert & Cook, we believe true abundance comes from clarity, confidence, and alignment — not just accumulation. The start of a new year offers a natural opportunity to pause, reflect, and make sure your financial life is supporting the life you want to live.

If these questions sparked curiosity or raised new thoughts about where you’re headed, a simple conversation can be a powerful first step. Sometimes abundance isn’t about doing more — it’s about understanding more, feeling more confident, and moving forward with intention.

As always, we’re here to help you explore what abundance looks like for you in 2026 and beyond.

A New Year Reflection Checklist

As you look ahead to 2026, consider setting aside a few quiet minutes to reflect on the questions below. There are no right or wrong answers — just prompts designed to help you check alignment between your financial life and the life you want to live.

1. Has My Life Changed in Ways My Financial Plan Hasn’t Caught Up To?

Think about the past few years. Career growth, business changes, family milestones, real estate decisions, or caring for aging parents can all shift priorities — often gradually. Ask yourself whether your financial strategy still reflects your current reality.

2. Do I Understand How All the Pieces Fit Together?

Investments, taxes, estate planning, insurance, and cash flow often live in separate places. Consider whether you have a clear picture of how they work together — or if things feel more fragmented than they should.

3. Am I Being Intentional About Taxes — or Just Reacting to Them?

Taxes are one of the biggest drags on long-term wealth. Reflect on whether tax planning is something you think about proactively throughout the year, or only when deadlines arrive.

4. Does My Investment Strategy Still Match This Season of Life?

Risk tolerance, time horizon, and income needs tend to change over time. Ask whether your portfolio still feels aligned with where you are today — not just where you were when it was first set up.

5. If Something Unexpected Happened, Would My Family Feel Prepared?

This isn’t about worst-case thinking — it’s about clarity. Consider whether your beneficiaries, powers of attorney, and key decision-makers are up to date, and whether the people you care about would know where to turn if needed.

6. Am I Clear on What “Enough” Looks Like for Me?

Wealth is most powerful when it supports clarity, not anxiety. Reflect on whether your financial goals are defined by intention — or if they’ve simply evolved without much thought.

7. Does My Wealth Support What Matters Most to Me?

Whether that’s family, freedom, generosity, security, or opportunity, this is a chance to reflect on alignment. Money is a tool — and tools work best when used with purpose.

A Gentle Reminder

New Year planning doesn’t have to mean big changes. Sometimes it simply means asking better questions, gaining clarity, and making sure your strategy still supports the life you’re building.

If 2026 feels like a year where more is possible — or more complex — it may be the right time for a thoughtful conversation.

A Glance Into 2026: What’s Worth Paying Attention To as a New Year Begins

cshindler@gilbertcook.com (Cara Shindler) — Sun, 04 Jan 2026 21:40:57 GMT

A Glance Into 2026: What’s Worth Paying Attention To as a New Year Begins

A new year has a way of inviting reflection — and a little curiosity about what’s ahead. As calendars turn to 2026, many people find themselves asking the same quiet questions:

Am I still doing the right things?
Is there anything I should be paying more attention to?
What’s changing that might affect my financial life next?

You don’t need to overhaul your entire plan every January. But it is a great time to zoom out and take note of a few trends and conversations that are shaping the financial world — especially for individuals and families whose lives (and finances) are becoming more complex.

Here’s a snapshot of what we think is worth having on your radar as we head into 2026.

Growth Brings a New Kind of Complexity

One of the most meaningful “trends” we see heading into 2026 isn’t about markets at all — it’s about growth. As lives expand, finances naturally become more layered. What once felt simple begins to reflect progress: advancing careers, successful businesses, equity compensation, real estate opportunities, inheritances, growing families, and caring for loved ones across generations.

These milestones don’t usually arrive all at once, but over time they begin to overlap — and that’s a good thing. It often marks a transition from simply managing money to thoughtfully managing decisions. If 2026 feels like a year where more is possible, and more feels worth protecting; you’re in good company.

Tax Planning Is Becoming an Ongoing Conversation

Taxes are no longer a “file it and forget it” exercise. Between evolving legislation, income changes, business ownership, and investment strategies, taxes are becoming a year-round consideration for many households.

What’s shifting is not just how much people pay in taxes — but how intentional they are about timing income, planning charitable giving, and coordinating decisions across multiple accounts and entities.

In other words: good tax planning increasingly starts long before April.

Technology Is Helpful — But Not the Whole Answer

Financial apps, dashboards, and digital tools continue to improve, and that’s a good thing. They make information more accessible and transparent than ever before.

At the same time, many people are realizing that information alone doesn’t equal confidence. Knowing what you own is different from knowing why you own it — or what to do when circumstances change.

The trend we see going into 2026 is a growing appreciation for technology that supports decisions, not replaces them.

People Are Paying More Attention to the Big Picture

Investment performance will always matter — but increasingly, people are stepping back and asking broader, more personal questions.

How does my investment strategy support the way I want to live?
Am I taking the right amount of risk for this stage of life?
Do my estate documents still reflect my wishes?
If something unexpected happened, would my family know what to do — and who to call?

As financial lives grow more complex, the desire for clarity grows with them. In 2026, more people want confidence that the pieces of their financial life are working together — and that they have a trusted team behind them, keeping these considerations in view, coordinating across decisions, and helping them navigate change with perspective and care. It’s no longer just about how each piece performs on its own, but about having thoughtful guidance that brings everything into alignment.

Conversations About Purpose, Legacy, and Abundance

For many individuals and families, the conversation is expanding beyond “How much is enough?” to a more meaningful question: What kind of legacy do I want to leave?

Increasingly, abundance is being defined not only by financial success, but by impact — how wealth supports family, creates opportunity, reflects values, and leaves a lasting legacy.

Whether it’s preparing the next generation, supporting causes that matter, or simply creating clarity and peace of mind for loved ones, legacy is becoming a central priority. To live a life of abundance means aligning wealth with purpose — using it intentionally, sharing it thoughtfully, and ensuring it carries meaning well beyond the numbers.

The Throughline: Thoughtfulness Over Reaction

If there’s one theme that ties all of this together, it’s this: people want to be proactive, not reactive.

2026 doesn’t require radical changes for most — but it does invite thoughtful review. A chance to check alignment. A moment to ask better questions. An opportunity to make sure your financial strategy still supports the life you’re building.

At Gilbert & Cook, we believe the most valuable planning conversations often start with curiosity — not urgency. If the new year has you thinking about what’s next, it may be the perfect time to take a fresh look at where you are and where you’re headed.

New Year Financial Housekeeping Checklist

cshindler@gilbertcook.com (Cara Shindler) — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 18:21:33 GMT

New Year Financial Housekeeping Checklist

A fresh start for your financial life — and a foundation for Living a Life of Abundance®.

As 2025 comes to a close, it’s a good time to reflect and take inventory of the important things in your life. The New Year provides a natural reset — a moment to pause, reflect, and ensure your financial life is aligned with your goals, your family, and your vision for the future. Just like tidying your home or re-organizing your calendar; reviewing your financial picture each year helps prevent costly mistakes, uncover new opportunities, and give you continued clarity and confidence over your financial situation.

Below is a comprehensive Financial Housekeeping Checklist, with which outlines practical and high-impact steps to start the new year off on the right foot.

1. Review Beneficiary Designations

Beneficiary designations are often overlooked, yet they have enormous legal power — they override your will. Life changes such as marriage, divorce, remarriage, births, deaths, or shifting family dynamics can leave outdated designations in place without anyone realizing it.

· Many families discover that listed beneficiaries are deceased or no longer appropriate due to life changes.

· Beneficiary forms override wills. Confirm they match your current wishes.

Annual action: Review beneficiaries on retirement accounts, life insurance, annuities, pensions, HSAs, and employer plans.

2. Confirm Adequate Life & Disability Insurance Coverage

You can’t build an abundant financial life without protecting it first.

Life Insurance

Rules of thumb can be imperfect, but as noted in your presentation, if you have 10–20 years left in your career and a family relying on your income, evaluate whether you have at least 10–20× your annual salary in coverage.

Disability Insurance

Disability coverage often goes overlooked — yet it protects your most valuable asset: your income.

Ensure your policy is own-occupation, not any-occupation, so you’re protected if you cannot perform your specific profession.

Aim to replace 60–70% of income, especially for professionals, specialists, and high earners.

3. Update Estate Planning Documents & Key Decision-Makers

Your estate plan is a living set of instructions—and it should evolve as your life, relationships, and financial picture change. The end of each year is an ideal moment to pause and ensure your documents still reflect your wishes. Consider reviewing wills and trusts annually or after major life events to ensure alignment with current tax laws. Many families discover that individuals named years ago—such as aging parents, former spouses, or friends who have had major life changes—may no longer be the best fit to handle important responsibilities. These roles carry significant authority, especially your financial and healthcare POAs, who may need to act quickly on your behalf. Choosing someone who is capable, available, and aligned with your values is essential.

Annual Action:

Review your will, trusts, POAs, medical directives, guardianship decisions
Verify that all individuals named are still appropriate, willing, and able
Confirm your documents still reflect your wishes and today’s tax landscape

4. Maximize Retirement Contributions

Retirement savings are one of the most powerful long-term wealth-building tools available, and the beginning of a new year is the perfect time to review your contribution strategy. Your first priority should always be to capture the full employer match in your retirement plan—it’s one of the few sources of “free money” available in financial planning. From there, work toward maximizing contributions across pre-tax, Roth, or a blended strategy depending on your current and future tax expectations.

Key Opportunities:

Maximize 401(k), 403(b), or IRA contributions
Utilize Backdoor Roth IRAs if income exceeds limits
Leverage catch-up contributions for those age 50+

Annual action: Review the insurance coverage for your family situation. Also consider maximizing HSA contributions if eligible — HSAs offer triple tax advantages and can serve as a powerful retirement and healthcare tool.

5. Review and Rebalance Investment Allocation

Markets change, and your portfolio should be reevaluated at least annually. Speak with Advisor to ensure that your diversified portfolio aligns with your long-term liquidity and risk profile.

Annual action:

Review overall allocation
Compare to your time horizon and risk tolerance
Evaluate concentration risk
Review performance in relation to your financial plan
Explore alternative or private investments if appropriate

6. Strengthen Tax Efficiency & Charitable Giving Strategy

A New Year is an excellent time to:

Coordinate with your CPA and advisor on tax-efficient withdrawal and gifting strategies
Explore Roth conversions, especially in low-income years
Use donor-advised funds for long-term charitable planning
Review opportunities for tax-loss harvesting (if applicable)

Tax planning is increasingly strategic for high-income earners — small adjustments today can have generational impact.

7. Protect Your Assets: Umbrella, Malpractice & Liability Coverage

Business Owners, professionals, and affluent families face unique liability exposure. Protecting the assets that you’re building” is essential as wealth grows.

Annual action:

Review home/auto policies for sufficient liability limits
Update umbrella coverage (often $2M–$10M+ for high-net-worth households)
Confirm malpractice, E&O, or business liability coverage is appropriate

8. Review and Secure Digital Assets & Passwords

Cybersecurity is now a core pillar of your financial and personal protection. Weak passwords—such as using names, birthdays, or simple character combinations—remain one of the most common entry points for fraudsters. Additionally, digital estate planning is no longer optional. Ensuring that a trusted individual can securely access necessary accounts, documents, and instructions in the event of an emergency protects your family and helps avoid delays or complications in managing your financial affairs.

Annual action:

Update your password manager and create strong, unique credentials for every account
Strengthen key financial logins
Store digital instructions with your estate documents
Ensure your trusted contact person knows how to access critical information

9. Reassess Cash Flow, Budgeting & Liquidity Needs

As your lifestyle evolves, so do your spending and saving patterns. Year after year, households may find “hidden inefficiencies” when reviewing spending, which can be redirected to long-term goals.

Annual action:

Household spending
Savings rates
Upcoming major expenses (college, home projects, business investments)
Appropriate emergency fund levels

High-income households often find “hidden inefficiencies” when reviewing spending, which can be redirected to long-term goals.

10. Schedule Your Annual Review with Your Advisory Team

Financial success doesn’t happen by accident — it’s built intentionally. Meet with your advisory team (Financial Advisor, CPA, Estate Attorney, Insurance Specialist) early in the new year to:

Identify risks or blind spots
Prioritize upcoming planning opportunities
Adjust your strategy for economic or tax law changes
Ensure your plan reflects your goals for the next 12–36 months

At Gilbert & Cook, these annual conversations are the foundation for clarity, confidence, and a true Life of Abundance®.

Closing Thought: Build Your Year with Intention

An abundant life is built on being proactive, not reactive. This New Year is an opportunity to create alignment—between your goals, your resources, your family, and your future.

Four Strategies for a Smarter College Search

cshindler@gilbertcook.com (Cara Shindler) — Thu, 23 Oct 2025 21:33:52 GMT

Four Strategies for a Smarter College Search

Presented by Gilbert & Cook in partnership with Cozy Wittman, College Inside Track

With college costs continuing to rise and the admissions process more competitive than ever, Gilbert & Cook recently hosted an educational event featuring Cozy Wittman, National Education & Partnership Manager for College Inside Track. Cozy has spent nearly 20 years helping families navigate the college search and application process to find schools that are the best academic, social, and financial fit.

This interactive session offered clear, practical guidance for parents and students looking to make informed decisions—and potentially save thousands of dollars in the process.

1. Understand the True Cost of College

Over the past 30 years, tuition at flagship universities has skyrocketed. For example:

University of Minnesota up 570%
University of Iowa up 460%
University of Wisconsin up over 1,000%

Wittman cautioned that flagship public universities—especially out-of-state—can often cost as much or more than private institutions. Families should look beyond sticker prices and explore schools offering significant institutional merit aid, which can make private universities surprisingly affordable.

2. Focus on Fit to Avoid Costly Transfers

A staggering 38% of students transfer colleges at least once, often due to poor academic, social, or financial fit. Each transfer can add an average of $14,000–$24,000 to total college costs.

Choosing the right-fit school on the first try—considering learning style, campus culture, and available support—can make a major financial difference.

3. Decode Financial Aid and the FAFSA

Wittman clarified key updates to the financial aid process:

The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and CSS Profile are the two main forms used to determine need-based aid.
The new Student Aid Index (SAI) has replaced the “Expected Family Contribution.”
Having multiple children in college no longer increases eligibility for aid.
Parent assets are assessed at 5.64%, while student assets are assessed at 20%—a crucial distinction when planning savings.
Qualified retirement accounts, primary residences, and grandparent-owned 529 plans are excluded from FAFSA calculations

These nuances make proactive planning essential to maximize aid eligibility.

4. Scholarships and Admissions Strategy

Today, colleges themselves are the largest source of scholarship funding—not private organizations or online searches.

To become a competitive applicant for institutional merit aid, Wittman emphasized:

Maintaining strong GPA and test scores (standardized testing still matters for both admission and scholarships).
Building quality, meaningful extracurricular involvement—not just long activity lists.
Demonstrating genuine interest through campus engagement, essays, and thoughtful applications.
Understanding Early Decision (ED): it’s binding and best reserved for families confident they can afford full tuition without comparing aid offers.

A Match to Be Made, Not a Prize to Be Won

Wittman encouraged families to redefine what “success” means in the college process.

“College isn’t a prize to be won—it’s a match to be made,” she shared.

Students should prioritize the environment where they’ll thrive academically and personally, not simply chase the biggest brand name. With over 80% of students changing majors at least once, flexibility and support matter just as much as prestige.

Getting Started

College Inside Track offers complimentary family consultations to help assess college affordability, understand financial aid forecasts, and build a personalized search strategy. Families can learn more or schedule a consultation at CollegeInsideTrack.com.

For those interested in continuing the conversation about college planning and how it fits within your broader financial strategy, the advisors at Gilbert & Cook are here to help you align your families education goals with your overall financial plan—so you can live your Life of Abundance for generations to come.

The Great Wealth Transfer: Passing on More Than Money

cshindler@gilbertcook.com (Cara Shindler) — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 21:19:02 GMT

Over the next two decades, more than $84 trillion is expected to change hands as baby boomers and Gen Xers transfer their wealth to younger generations. Economists have called it The Great Wealth Transfer — a movement unlike any other in history. But for many families, this isn’t just about numbers. It’s about the values, decisions, and relationships that determine whether that wealth becomes a lasting legacy — or a missed opportunity.

At Gilbert & Cook, we believe the most meaningful inheritance is one that empowers future generations to Live a Life of Abundance®.

The Opportunity — and the Challenge

For families who have built substantial wealth, the transfer process brings both excitement and complexity. It’s an opportunity to provide freedom and security for loved ones, but it also raises important questions:

Are our heirs prepared to manage what we’ve built?
Do they understand our values and intentions?
Will our legacy continue to create impact — or unintended conflict?

Studies show that nearly 70% of family wealth is lost by the second generation and 90% by the third. The reason isn’t bad investing — it’s a breakdown in communication, education, and shared purpose.

Defining What “Leaving a Legacy” Really Means

A true legacy extends beyond financial statements. It’s the story your family tells about what matters most — how you worked, gave, invested, and cared for others. Defining that legacy is a deeply personal process, and no two families are the same.

At Gilbert & Cook, we believe that a successful plan begins with understanding what Living a Life of Abundance truly means to you. For some, abundance may mean having time to travel and enjoy family; for others, it’s about achieving financial freedom, giving back to the community, or creating a lasting impact for future generations.

That’s why, at the start of every client relationship, we guide families through an Abundance Exercise — a thoughtful conversation that helps you identify and prioritize what matters most. These priorities often include Time, Retirement, and, importantly, Leaving a Legacy.

Defining what legacy means to you personally is at the heart of generational wealth planning. It’s not just about transferring assets; it’s about transferring purpose, wisdom, and values. Once we’ve helped you define what abundance looks like for your family, we create a plan that aligns your financial strategies with those priorities — and track your progress along the way — ensuring you stay on the right path to living the life of abundance you deserve.

Teaching the Next Generation

Money can be a powerful tool for creating opportunities — when guided by wisdom. Families who successfully transition wealth don’t wait until it’s time to transfer assets; they start by transferring knowledge and perspective.

That might mean involving children in charitable giving decisions, teaching them how investments work, or inviting them to observe financial planning conversations. When younger generations understand both the how and the why behind family wealth, they are far more likely to protect and grow it responsibly.

Bringing the Family Together

Open communication is at the heart of every successful transition. Family meetings — guided by a trusted advisor — create a space to discuss expectations, roles, and shared goals. These conversations can prevent misunderstandings, strengthen relationships, and ensure everyone feels connected to the legacy being built.

For business owners, this might also include succession planning — helping the next generation step confidently into leadership, with a framework that balances fairness, preparedness, and continuity.

At Gilbert & Cook, we often host Family Meetings to foster meaningful conversations that preserve and pass on values, wealth, and family vision across generations.

The Time to Plan Is Now

We are living in a moment of opportunity. Current estate and tax laws remain favorable, and although the pressure of a sunset deadline has passed, it’s still important to act thoughtfully and take advantage of today’s favorable planning environment. You should meet with an estate planning attorney and your Advisor at Gilbert & Cook to ensure your plan reflects both the current laws and your family’s long-term goals.

Families who plan proactively today can take advantage of strategies that will help them for generations — from gifting and trusts to charitable vehicles and family partnerships.

The key is to integrate strategy with purpose. Technical plans alone won’t preserve your legacy; intentional communication and education will.

Creating Abundance That Lasts

At Gilbert & Cook, we believe true abundance isn’t measured by how much wealth you accumulate, but by how that wealth supports the people and causes you care about — generation after generation.

Whether you’re preparing to transfer your business, share your estate, or simply start the conversation, our team is here to help you create a plan that empowers your family to live a life of abundance — today and for years to come.

Live a Life of Abundance®

Sources

Cerulli Associates, U.S. High-Net-Worth and Ultra-High-Net-Worth Markets 2022: Shifting Demographics of Wealth, 2022.
Williams Group, Preparing Heirs: Five Steps to a Successful Transition of Family Wealth and Values, Roy Williams & Vic Preisser, 2002.
U.S. Trust, Insights on Wealth and Worth Survey, Bank of America, 2018.
PwC, Family Business Survey 2023: Transforming for the Future, 2023.
Tax Policy Center, Individual Income Tax Provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), 2024.