Jason is a wealth advisor and founding partner of Pathfinder Wealth Consulting. He has been in the financial services industry since 1999. Jason was born in Dayton, Ohio, but grew up in Eastern North Carolina. He graduated magna
The following column was contributed by Chad Slate. For many retirees, Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) can create an unintended tax burden, especially when those withdrawals exceed what they actually need to live on. At the same time, many hav
This article was contributed by Christopher Walsh. As annual enrollment approaches, it's essential to make informed decisions about your company's benefits. For many employees, this period can feel overwhelming, with numerous options and lim
This column was contributed by Chad Slate. In July 2025, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act was signed into law, creating what are now called “Trump Accounts” for every newborn U.S. citizen born this year. Each account will start with a $1,0
This piece was contributed by Alex Greer – Pathfinder Wealth Consulting. On July 4, 2025, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) was signed into law. The OBBBA introduces a number of changes to the U.S. tax code with significant impact to
Private equity has long been an exclusive club, roped off for pension plans, endowment funds, and other institutional giants. Traditionally, its high minimums, limited liquidity, and long holding periods made it ill-suited for most retail invest
This article was contributed by Christopher Walsh In today’s competitive corporate landscape, executive compensation packages are becoming increasingly complex. For mid-career executives earning significant income, optimizing your benefits&mda
This article was contributed by Chad Slate. Retirement planning centers on one crucial aspect: determining a safe withdrawal rate (SWR) from your retirement savings to ensure it lasts as long as needed. A common benchmark, known as the 4%
This article was contributed by Davis Byrd. In today’s increasingly data-driven world, protecting your digital identity has never been more important. Take a moment to consider all the websites that you entrust with some degree of your persona
This article was contributed by Christopher Walsh. As annual enrollment approaches, it's essential to make informed decisions about your company's benefits. For many employees, this period can feel overwhelming, with numerous options and lim
This article was contributed by Pantelis Miliotis. Understanding the disparity between risk tolerance and risk capacity is essential for investors navigating the financial markets. While both concepts pertain to risk, they address different as
As you approach the golden years of retirement, the significance of financial stability takes center stage in ensuring a comfortable and fulfilling life. A personalized financial plan tailored to your retirement needs and wants becomes not just a too
The SECURE Acts of 2019 and 2022 are the most impactful pieces of legislation to hit the retirement industry in some time. The acts introduced changes, both mandated and optional, that go into effect over multiple years. Additionally, corrections and
On September 8th, the IRS announced that it will be increasing its focus on the wealthy and away from working-class families. Depending on which of these classes you find yourself, this could be good news or bad news. For
This article was contributed by Pathfinder Financial Planning Associate, Davis Byrd. In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. employers found themselves fiercely competing to hire and retain talent in their organizations. More than 47 million
This article was contributed by Financial Planning Associate, Davis Byrd. On November 30th, 2022, a Silicon Valley-based company called OpenAI quietly released their latest artificial intelligence project called ChatGPT to the masses on the worldwid
At Pathfinder Wealth Consulting, we help many business owners and executives transition into retirement; but retirement looks different for everyone, and many people would rather not “retire,” instead shifting to less hours, different dut
This article was authored by Kayla Johnson, Financial Planning Associate. Planning for retirement involves a lot of considerations – replacing your working income, navigating a sustainable withdrawal rate, planning for healthcare costs and lon
This article was authored by Kayla Johnson, Financial Planning Associate. With the K-shaped recovery being a hallmark of the pandemic, and the effects of COVID having vastly different ramifications for the poor and the wealthy, many people, women in
This article was authored by Davis Byrd, Financial Planning Associate. Imagine two people washing their hands. Not a particularly difficult visual in today’s environment, is it? The first person applies soap, rinses their hands, and dries them
This article is contributed by John Zachary, Wealth Advisor. If you are still working today, then the answer is, at least in a large part, YOU! Pensions are becoming a historical pastime, so other than social security, income in retirement is largel
This article was contributed by Wealth Advisor, John Zachary. At the time of this writing, the Olympic Trials are in full swing, and in a couple of weeks, the 2020 Summer Olympics will be broadcasting from Tokyo. I love watching the Olympics (and th
This article was contributed by Marketing Director Katie Henderson. When I was 7 years old, I wanted to be a veterinarian. In high school, I set my sights on journalism and becoming the next Katie Couric. At 19, I declared a major in Psychology, the
This article was contributed by Wealth Advisor John Zachary. The silent killer. The redheaded stepchild of economists. Inflation has become a big topic in the financial media recently, as it typically does during periods of government stimulus and s
This article was contributed by Marketing Director Katie Henderson. At Pathfinder Wealth Consulting, we counsel our clients that money is not an end in itself but is instead a means to achieve goals and to do good work. We are continuously humbled b
This article was contributed by Wealth Advisor John Zachary. As mentioned in our last article, the lack of financial literacy is a real problem in our country. Personal finance is not a required course in most schools and there is very little emphas
This article was contributed by Marketing Director Katie Henderson. In past generations, financial literacy was relatively simple. If you did not have the money in your pocket, you didn’t buy it. Purchasing on credit, extensive loans, and othe
This article was contributed by Wealth Advisor John Zachary. Cryptocurrency, or crypto, is a form of digital asset based on a network that is distributed across a large number of computers. This decentralized structure allows them to exist out
This article was contributed by Wealth Advisor John Zachary. There has been a lot of talk about how the Novant purchase of New Hanover Regional Medical Center (NHRMC) will affect our community. However, what has not been as widely discussed is how t
Most people are excited to see 2020 in the rearview mirror; we have experienced trials and tribulations that we never would have imagined at this time last year. But before we flip the last page on our calendars, it is important to reflect on where w
This article was contributed by Financial Planning Associate Adam McManus. The effects of the economy shutting down from a global pandemic sent the markets into a whirlwind as we entered 2020. The market was at an all-time high February 19th,
This article was contributed by Financial Planning Associate Adam McManus. In November, we cast our votes for the 2020 presidential election. As we get closer to the election, we receive an increase in questions and concerns about how the election o
This article was contributed by Wealth Advisor John Zachary. This article is Part II of a series on stock compensation plans. Part I discussed restricted stock units and can be found here. In addition to these articles, Pathfinder Wealth Consulting
This article was contributed by Wealth Advisor John Zachary. If you look back 20-30 years, it was common for companies to offer employees access to company stock through company retirement plans, stock compensation plans, or employee stock purchase
I’m starting to have a repetitive dialogue in my client meetings and thought I would share some insight. The comments vary but the theme is the same: “I can’t believe the market has come back this rapidly and we’re positive f
This article was contributed by Wealth Advisor John Zachary. I get asked a lot of questions about generating passive income. The idea folks envision is that if they can generate enough passive income streams, they can quit their day job, and r
This article was contributed by Wealth Advisor John Zachary. In today’s world, where investing is at our fingertips through online and even mobile trading, you would think it should be as easy as ever to make fast money by investing, rig
Pathfinder Wealth Consulting was established on June 10, 2005, and we just celebrated our firm’s 15-year anniversary. It is so rewarding to think back on all that we have accomplished so far. Rob and I never had today’s version of
Whether their child is focused on Little Tikes cars, training wheels, or driver’s licenses, all parents have one thing in common: the desire to give their child the best possible future. According to College Foundation of North Carolina, colleg
This Insights article was submitted by Rob Penn, President and Wealth Advisor. As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, with over 27 years of working with retirees, I feel like I have seen it all. It is surprisingly common how often I s
This Insights article is contributed by Kayla Willliford Johnson, Financial Planning Associate at Pathfinder Wealth Consulting. This is the second post in a two-part series on the importance of a financial plan to your long-term financial success. Pa
This Insights article is contributed by Kayla Williford Johnson, Financial Planning Associate at Pathfinder Wealth Consulting. This is the first post in a two-part series on the importance of a financial plan to your long-term financial success. &nbs
This Insights article is contributed by Adam McManus, Financial Planning Associate at Pathfinder Wealth Consulting. It is the second in a two-part series on the impact increased life expectancy can have on your retirement. Part I, which defines Longe
This Insights article is contributed by Adam McManus, Financial Planning Associate at Pathfinder Wealth Consulting. It is the first post in a two-part series on the impact increased life expectancy can have on your retirement. Part II, published
This is the second post in a two-part series on the considerations of where to live through your retirement years. The first post can be found here. For part II of this series, I wanted to address a common misconception that we have as Americans. In
This is the first in a two-part series on the considerations of where to live through your retirement years. During our working careers we are often tied to one location. Although there is a growing trend for remote positions, many of us are forced
This Insights article was contributed by Katie Henderson, Marketing Director at Pathfinder Wealth Consulting. You have been counting down the days to retirement for the past year. You have wrapped up all your major projects, delegated your tasks, an
If you have ever been through the college application process, then you know that it can be daunting. Add in the financial aid application process and the entire system seems to have two left feet. There was an executive order issued from the White H
I was recently asked by an industry writer for "not so common" recommendations for retirement planning. I typed in "retirement planning recommendations" on Google and found the 10 commandments, seven rules and five steps of retire
As we celebrate our Independence Day this week, it reminds me just why we have this federal holiday. It is the celebration and acknowledgement of our society adopting the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. Imbedded in that document is the p
Everyone complains about price increases. On a personal level, we see it with grocery store shopping, filling our gas tanks, receiving our homeowners’ insurance bills and a lot of other expenses that cause complaints. From a business owner pers
Before we get into the core topic for this article, which is “working in retirement,” I want to point out some statistics that explain why most people don’t retire when they had originally planned: Why did 58 percent
Over the last month, I have had several people who are planning for retirement come to me with one burning question, “How much will my health care cost?” I have also heard on numerous occasions, and with a weary tone, “Who can
Ready or not, the summer is over! Around this time each year, children are buying backpacks, folders and notebooks, and high school juniors and seniors are beginning their college search and application process. While the students are excited about l
If you could earn and save enough money to meet all of your future financial obligations without taking any risk, would you? I think it’s important to understand risk taking. I read an interesting research study recently that lis
In my last article, I discussed some basics of company retirement plans. You can read that article here. In this Insights, I will discuss the retirement plan that I recommend most often for businesses that want to provide this much needed benefit. T
I am amused at how often business owners refer to all types of retirement plans as 401(k) plans. There are actually many types and varieties of retirement plans; and ironically, I seldom recommend a 401(k) plan to a business owner client who is start
Caring for aging parents can be one of life’s greatest rewards and greatest struggles. Emotionally, it’s difficult to deal with parents aging and showing signs of physical weakness – and even tougher to experience cognitive deterior
In my opinion, most business owners delay succession planning until they are much too close to their exits. For long-time business owners, it is difficult to imagine and emotionally adjust to the idea of life without their businesses. I am not advoca
Most of us are quite familiar with the ongoing discussion about our area’s need for a unified vision for economic development. Rob Kaiser, co-owner and publisher of Greater Wilmington Business Journal, recently wrote an opinion piece on t
This article is the second of a two-part series examining various ways for business owners to leverage their business profits. If you’d like to read part one, click here. To recap, in part one we looked at using profits to pay off debts,
(Part 1 of 2) Many of my clients (and a few non-clients) that are business owners have asked me what to do with business profits. The answer to this question certainly depends on a variety of factors, like: • The amount of the prof
Is this you? Worked hard to build enough financial security to retire Possess a valuable skill and not ready to put it on a shelf to get dusty Have an idea for a business but not interested in committing the time and effort necessary to sta
International Living just released their list of best places to retire in 2014. I personally think it’s a quality list that leverages a solid combination of relevant criteria for making its selections, including factors like: • Cost of liv
Having children is one of life’s greatest joys, but paying for them is one of life’s greatest expenses. While it’s usually said jokingly, this time of year my younger clients often say, “College savings? I’m still
Along with exercising and losing weight, improving one’s financial situation is among the most common New Year resolutions. Whether it’s saving more, spending less, or a combination of both, everyone wants to end 2014 better off financial
