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The Meakem Group Financial planning doesn't have to be a big deal. Our approach starts with a conversation.

Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. Important Disclosure Information: http://raymondjames.com/smicd.htm

The Meakem Group is not a registered broker/dealer and is independent of Raymond James Financial Services

10/15/2026

A remodel, new vehicle, or major home project may already be part of your retirement plans.

The question is when those expenses should happen.

Using the final working years to plan for known purchases may help you avoid placing too much pressure on your portfolio early in retirement.

That doesn’t mean you should rush into spending or delay everything you’re looking forward to. It means thinking ahead about which expenses are predictable and which may arrive later without warning.

Health changes, family needs, taxes, and market volatility can all affect your plans.
Leaving room for the unknown may help you preserve more choices later.

Click the link for more ways to create greater flexibility in your retirement spending plan.

https://themeakemgroup.com/4-ways-to-build-more-financial-flexibility-in-retirement/

to Graham’s garden from a few years ago. This year’s yield might not be what it once was, but that’s not the only harv...
10/14/2026

to Graham’s garden from a few years ago. This year’s yield might not be what it once was, but that’s not the only harvest worth looking for.

Tax-loss harvesting sounds complicated, but it's really just a smart way to make a dip in the market work in your favor. By selling investments that have lost value, you may be able to offset gains elsewhere and lower your tax bill for the year. Even in a year where the markets have mostly climbed, if you have shares sitting below what you paid, you may have tax-loss harvesting opportunities. Check with your tax preparer to see if any savings opportunities are ripe for the picking.

Can’t “beet” that!

Do you have a teen driver at home (or a college kid with a car)?Making sure you have adequate insurance for a new driver...
10/12/2026

Do you have a teen driver at home (or a college kid with a car)?

Making sure you have adequate insurance for a new driver is a given. However, it’s easy to forget that those same coverage needs apply to college students or young adults who have moved out but are still driving on your insurance.

If something happens, it doesn’t matter whether or not your child is the one behind the wheel. If that car is titled in your name or kept at your house, or if you're helping support their lifestyle, its coverage levels should line up with your own. That includes cars that live with your college-age kids in another city, as long as they're still tied to you.

Keep in mind that having the minimum coverage is rarely a bargain, even if the car was. If something happens, the other party isn't just looking at your child's assets–they can pursue yours too.

Being starts with the small stuff, like double-checking your kid's car insurance before you hand them the keys.

10/08/2026

Retirement can feel very different when a work paycheck is no longer covering the monthly bills.

That’s why fixed expenses deserve attention before you retire.

A mortgage, car payment, or other large obligation may be manageable while you’re working, but it can put more pressure on your cash flow later.

That doesn’t mean every debt has to be gone before retirement. It means understanding how much of your future income is already committed before you get to choose how the rest is spent.

Lower overhead may give you more room to handle unexpected expenses without immediately increasing portfolio withdrawals.

Click the link to watch my video about building more financial flexibility before and during retirement.

https://themeakemgroup.com/4-ways-to-build-more-financial-flexibility-in-retirement/

November and December are “blink, and you’ll miss it” months, so if you have any unused preventive care services, maximu...
09/30/2026

November and December are “blink, and you’ll miss it” months, so if you have any unused preventive care services, maximums, or FSA funds, think about using them before the holidays hit. And if you’ve already hit your deductible and have pending visits or procedures, get them scheduled now.

Here’s another reason to get in early: everyone else is working with the same deadlines, which means getting a dental or healthcare appointment toward the end of the year may be challenging. Don’t wait, especially if you have “use it or lose it” credits!

09/24/2026

School loans, housing costs, and family expenses can all feel more immediate than retirement.

They’re part of your life right now, while retirement may still feel far away. That makes it easy to keep pushing it to the bottom of the list.

But financial planning isn’t about ignoring today’s needs so you can focus only on the future. It’s about finding a realistic place for each of your priorities.

Your retirement contribution may not be as large as you’d eventually like it to be. You may also be paying down debt, building savings, or preparing for another major goal. What matters is having an intentional strategy rather than waiting for a time when life suddenly becomes less expensive or complicated.

Watch our full conversation about balancing retirement with the other financial goals competing for your attention:

https://themeakemgroup.com/how-to-balance-competing-financial-goals-without-putting-your-life-on-hold/

09/17/2026

When you’re buying a home, it’s easy to focus on the purchase price, down payment, and mortgage approval.

But the more important question may be what your life will look like after you move in.

Will the monthly payment leave room for utilities, repairs, maintenance, and the unexpected costs that come with homeownership? Will you still have emergency savings? Can you continue working toward retirement and the other goals that matter to you?

Financial coaching can help you look beyond what a lender says you can borrow and think more carefully about what you can comfortably afford.

Your home should fit into your life, not force every other priority out of it.

Click the link to watch our full conversation about balancing homeownership, debt, savings, retirement, and other competing priorities.

https://themeakemgroup.com/how-to-balance-competing-financial-goals-without-putting-your-life-on-hold/

Medicare Open Enrollment is right around the corner, which means this is a great time to check on your coverage, especia...
09/16/2026

Medicare Open Enrollment is right around the corner, which means this is a great time to check on your coverage, especially your Part D.

Prescription formularies (a plan’s list of approved medications) change every year. That means a medication that was previously covered by your current Part D plan could shift to a higher tier or drop off your plan's coverage list entirely.

Before you commit to a plan for next year, pull up the plan's formulary and compare it against your current prescriptions. If something has moved tiers or lost coverage, Open Enrollment is your window to make a change. Don’t forget to verify whether your preferred pharmacies are still in-network, and check for changes to premiums or copays.

Ready to compare your options? Visit medicare.gov/drug-coverage-part-d to explore Part D plans and make the most of your Open Enrollment Period.

The brain may not be a muscle (technically, it’s an organ), but it could still do with a workout routine, especially as ...
09/14/2026

The brain may not be a muscle (technically, it’s an organ), but it could still do with a workout routine, especially as we age.

This month is World Alzheimer’s Month, and it’s as good a time as any to talk about how to keep your noggin sharp, no matter how many gray hairs have sprouted.

Swipe to see some of our favorite (easy!) ways to exercise your mental muscles, or read more at https://themeakemgroup.com/keeping-your-brain-sharp/

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Bethesda, MD
20814

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