Austin Rinard CFP® AIF® @AdvisorAustin

I keep hearing people say the S&P 500 is a conservative investment — and I have to bust that myth. ❎ It’s not conservative. Index funds move with the market — which means when the market crashes, they crash too. In 2008, the S&P 500 dropped about 37% (or over 50% peak-to-trough in some measures). In March 2020 it fell 34% in five weeks. The dot-com crash? Same story. These aren't conservative investments - they're volatile growth investments that happen to be diversified. 👉 Conservative = treasury bills, CDs, money markets, high-yield savings 👉 Index funds = smart long-term investments Index funds can be great — but calling them conservative is how investors get blindsided the next time the market falls 30–50%. If you can't stomach watching your account drop 40% without panicking, stock index funds alone aren't conservative enough for your risk tolerance. At Wealth Ease, we give objective advice, even when it’s hard to hear. If you’re interested in working with a firm with your best interest in mind, Schedule a meeting by: Calling (269) 781-8371 or by filling out the Contact Us form on our website wealtheasewm.com. Educational only. Not advice. Investing risks loss. Consult advisor. SEC-registered RIA. No guarantees.

💰 Most advisors say to delay Social Security until 70 — but for clients with millions saved, that strategy might not make sense. Here’s the truth: when you’ve built significant wealth, claiming early could actually grow your portfolio more over time. Why? Because you can let your investments keep compounding while you live off your Social Security income instead. Meanwhile, those with smaller savings should strongly consider waiting until age 70 — it all comes down to your unique situation. Every retirement plan is different, but wealthy clients shouldn't automatically follow the "wait until 70" idea that many preach. 📲 For help creating your personalized Social Security strategy for your retirement, Schedule a meeting by: Calling (269) 781-8371 or by filling out the Contact Us form on our website wealtheasewm.com. Educational only. Not advice. Investing risks loss. Consult advisor. SEC-registered RIA. No guarantees.

Most retirees think the safe move is shifting everything to bonds and CDs — but that can actually create more risk. I’m Austin, a Certified Financial Planner and founder of Wealth Ease. Here’s how we de-risk portfolios without killing growth — one approach is the bucket strategy: 👉 Now Money (0–5 yrs) — CDs & high-yield savings for immediate needs ⏳ Soon Money (5–10 yrs) — moderate-risk investments like balanced funds 📈 Later Money (10+ yrs) — higher growth investments like stocks Why not go all-conservative? New retirees may be able to safely withdraw 3.7% annually from a portfolio with 20-50% in stocks (Morningstar). Going too conservative means you can't keep up with inflation over 20-30 years of retirement. The bucket strategy helps protect you from sequence of return risk when bad markets hit early in retirement. Quarterly rebalancing can keep your strategy on track without making emotional decisions. If you want to work with a wealth management firm who keeps things simple for you, Schedule a meeting by: Calling (269) 781-8371 or by filling out the Contact Us form on our website wealtheasewm.com. Educational only. Not advice. Investing risks loss. Consult advisor. SEC-registered RIA. No guarantees.

Everyone talks about trusts like they’re some kind of magic solution — but a lot of people don’t actually need one. Most families can avoid probate with simple strategies: 👉 Add beneficiaries to investment, retirement, life insurance & bank accounts 👉 Use Joint Tenancy for shared accounts allowing 100% of the account to transfer after a loved one passes (depending on your state laws) 👉 Use tools like a Lady Bird Deed (in states like Michigan) to transfer real estate without the paperwork of a trust Trusts are powerful tools for complex situations, but if you're just trying to avoid probate and keep things simple, things like beneficiary designations and transfer-on-death accounts might be all you need. If you want help figuring out whether you need a trust or just a simpler solution, Schedule a meeting by: Calling (269) 781-8371 or by filling out the Contact Us form on our website wealtheasewm.com. Educational only. Not advice. Investing risks loss. Consult advisor. SEC-registered RIA. No guarantees.

I sometimes meet very smart retirees who keep 100% of their portfolio in stocks to chase higher returns — and I have to say, that can be a dangerous move near retirement. ⚠️ The 5 years before and after you retire are the most vulnerable. A stock market crash during this window can devastate your retirement plan because you can't rely on future income to recover. There are rare exceptions where holding a 100% stock portfolio might work. This would include retirees with guaranteed income (Social Security + pensions + business income) 💵 that fully covers expenses, or people with so much saved they could withstand a 50% drop and still live comfortably. This is a general consideration; individual risk tolerance and financial situation vary. But for most people entering retirement, 100% stocks create too much sequence of returns risk. ✅ If you want an advisor whose focus is your long-term success, Schedule a meeting by: Calling (269) 781-8371 or by filling out the Contact Us form on our website wealtheasewm.com. Educational only. Not advice. Investing risks loss. Consult advisor. SEC-registered RIA. No guarantees.

Legendary investor Peter Lynch once said the most important organ in investing isn’t your brain — it’s your stomach. This is why managing your emotions often matters more than predicting market moves. 📉📈 Even the smartest investors underperform when emotions take over — selling during downturns and buying at highs (Morningstar). To help this, I use what’s called the bucket strategy: short-term money stays in conservative investments so market drops don’t force panic decisions, while long-term money rides out volatility and recovers over time. The peace of mind from this strategy allows my clients to stay calm and confident through every market cycle. If you struggle with market swings and want a process that helps you stay the course, Schedule a meeting by: Calling (269) 781-8371 or by filling out the Contact Us form on our website wealtheasewm.com. Educational only. Not advice. Investing risks loss. Consult advisor. SEC-registered RIA. No guarantees.

A lot of people feel stuck in old Variable Annuities they regret buying — and the taxes are usually the reason why. 💡Here’s the issue: Variable Annuities use LIFO taxation (Last In, First Out). When you take money out, the gains come out first, and you have to pay tax on those gains. Here’s an example: you put in $100k to a variable annuity 20 years ago and it’s now worth $400k. That’s a $300k gain inside the contract. Every contract has different expense levels, but it's not uncommon to see Variable Annuities with annual expenses of 3% per year — that’s $12,000 per year. Most people think the only way out is to withdraw and trigger a big tax bill. 👉 But there’s another option: a 1035 exchange. A 1035 exchange lets you transfer one annuity to another without triggering taxes. Your cost basis carries over, and you can move to a lower-cost provider and reduce ongoing fees — without paying tax to make the move. You’re not stuck. You just need the right path out. If you have an old Variable Annuity and want a fiduciary to help, Schedule a meeting by: Calling (269) 781-8371 or by filling out the Contact Us form on our website wealtheasewm.com. Educational only. Not advice. Investing risks loss. Consult advisor. SEC-registered RIA. No guarantees.

Do you want your kids to become interested about investing? 👇 Here’s a simple way I’ve seen completely change kids’ financial futures: Let your young children invest in individual stocks they know and love. Open a custodial account, put $10–20 into 5-10 recognizable companies, check in together each week, and show them how their investments are doing. Watching their money grow (or sometimes drop!) teaches them real lessons about long-term investing — and the value of patience. Mutual funds are great tools for building wealth, but they won't capture a 12-year-old's imagination like owning a piece of Disney, or Coca-Cola, or Apple. It’s one of the best ways to turn curiosity into lifelong financial confidence. If you want to work with an advisor who helps families build financial confidence across generations, Schedule a meeting by: Calling (269) 781-8371 or by filling out the Contact Us form on our website wealtheasewm.com. Educational only. Not advice. Investing risks loss. Consult advisor. SEC-registered RIA. No guarantees.

If your advisor is building your retirement plan using a simple fixed rate of return, they may not fully capture market volatility. 📉 Real markets don’t move in straight lines — they swing, crash, rally, and repeat. That’s why we use Monte Carlo simulations, which test thousands of possible outcomes with random market returns. Monte Carlo simulations model volatility, provide probability-based results, factor in inflation and taxes, and help stress-test your plan so you’re not blindsided by a bad market stretch. All of these factors give you a clearer picture of your plan’s likelihood of success — not just how things look “if everything goes perfect.” Monte Carlo simulations offer actionable insights, letting you adjust contributions or retirement age based on risk tolerance, something a static model doesn't do well. 👉 For help building a realistic retirement plan that accounts for market uncertainty, Schedule a meeting by: Calling (269) 781-8371 or by filling out the Contact Us form on our website wealtheasewm.com. Educational only. Not advice. Investing risks loss. Consult advisor. SEC-registered RIA. No guarantees.

It might surprise you that I recommend bond funds over individual bonds — especially since many people believe individual bonds are the lower-cost option. 💡 Here’s why: every time you buy or sell a bond, you pay a bid-ask spread — the hidden gap between what a buyer will pay and what a seller wants. You pay this spread when you buy a bond AND when you sell. Bond funds, on the other hand, get institutional pricing with much tighter spreads — meaning more of your money stays invested. In many cases, I think the expense ratio involved with buying low-cost bond funds is worth the price of admission, and can often be a cost-effective option. If you’d like a second opinion on your bond strategy or portfolio, Schedule a meeting by: Calling (269) 781-8371 or by filling out the Contact Us form on our website wealtheasewm.com. Educational only. Not advice. Investing risks loss. Consult advisor. SEC-registered RIA. No guarantees.

Pre-tax IRAs are great for your retirement—but they can be a terrible way to pass wealth to your heirs. Here are three tax-efficient alternatives that can keep more money in your family’s hands: 1️⃣ Long-term appreciated equities in taxable accounts These get a step-up in cost basis when you pass away, meaning your heirs may owe little to no capital gains tax — unlike pre-tax IRAs, which are taxed as ordinary income when withdrawn. (IRS) 2️⃣ Name a charity as your IRA beneficiary Charities don’t pay taxes on IRA withdrawals. If you plan to give some money to charity, giving from your IRA account can be far more efficient than leaving it to your kids first. 3️⃣ Life insurance death benefits Life insurance payouts are income tax-free to beneficiaries (IRS) and often a simple, conservative way to move money to the next generation without tax drag. The way you save and the way you transfer wealth are two different strategies — and the tax rules are not equal. If you want help building a tax-efficient estate plan, Schedule a meeting by: Calling (269) 781-8371 or by filling out the Contact Us form on our website wealtheasewm.com. Educational only. Not advice. Investing risks loss. Consult advisor. SEC-registered RIA. No guarantees.

💡 A 401(k) rule most people — even some advisors — don’t know about: the Rule of 55 that could save you thousands in penalties. The Rule of 55 allows you to take withdrawals directly from your 401k without the 10% early withdrawal penalty, if you meet specific requirements. Here's how it works: you must terminate employment after age 55 and have a 401k balance with that employer's retirement plan. Your withdrawals must come directly from that 401k plan, you can't roll it to an IRA. 🚫 But here’s the catch: if you roll those funds into an IRA, you lose that benefit completely. Rolling to an IRA means you'll face the 10% penalty on any withdrawals before age 59 ½, plus regular taxes. This rule only applies if you separate from service at 55 or later and only for your current 401(k) — not old plans. If you want to work with an advisor who makes complex rules simple, Schedule a meeting by: Calling (269) 781-8371 or by filling out the Contact Us form on our website wealtheasewm.com. Educational only. Not advice. Investing risks loss. Consult advisor. SEC-registered RIA. No guarantees.

💳 I run my family budget completely different than what most people teach — and it actually works. As a Certified Financial Planner, I skip the spreadsheets and complex budgeting apps. Instead, I: ✅ Track my fixed bills (mortgage, utilities, etc.) ✅ Put everything else on a credit card — groceries, dining, travel — so I can see one running total ✅ Have a “magic number” I don’t go over each month ✅ Pay the card off in full every time This only works if you pay your credit card off in full every month. If you struggle with that, this strategy isn't for you. And yes — the last week of the cycle? It’s “poor week.” We tighten up spending and invest the difference. If you're interested in how Wealth Ease approaches personal finance, Schedule a meeting by: Calling (269) 781-8371 or by filling out the Contact Us form on our website wealtheasewm.com. Educational only. Not advice. Investing risks loss. Consult advisor. SEC-registered RIA. No guarantees.