Justin Hartman - Financial Planner

03/17/2026

March Madness tips off tonight!

Below is the NCAAM tournament bracket with the recent 4 year out of state costs to attend the Universities. Do any of them surprise you?

03/09/2026

If early retirement is a goal of yours – pay close attention.

What comes to mind when you hear the term – diversification?

Most people think of diversification only in terms of investments:
▪️ Stocks vs. bonds
▪️ U.S. vs. international
▪️Growth vs. value

One area that’s often overlooked is tax diversification.

Why it matters:
We don’t know what future tax rates will be.
We don’t know what will pop up in retirement

But we do know that taxes can significantly impact how much you actually get to spend.

That’s why I view assets through three different tax buckets:
🟦 Taxable
(Brokerage accounts, savings)
– Flexible access, no contribution limits
– Capital gains and dividends may be taxed
🟧 Tax-deferred
(401(k), Traditional IRA)
– Tax break today
– Taxes owed later when withdrawals are taken
🟩 Tax-free
(Roth IRA, Roth 401(k))
– Taxes paid upfront
– Qualified withdrawals are tax-free

Having money spread across these buckets creates flexibility.

Flexibility means more control over taxes, income, and withdrawal strategy.

💠 Investment diversification helps manage market risk.
💠 Tax diversification helps manage tax risk.

Both are essential to building a plan that supports your long-term goals.

03/04/2026

When was the last time you reviewed your portfolio? If you would like a complimentary review of yours, please reach out with the link below!

https://go.oncehub.com/JustinHartman

03/04/2026

Thank you to all who attended the Fraud Awareness Webinar!

03/03/2026

Wars and global conflicts have been a constant throughout history.

So has market uncertainty during those moments.

With the recent and on-going U.S-Israel strikes on Iran and the broader escalation, this is a timely chart showing the history of the Stock Market and different Wars along the way.

03/02/2026

🚨 The biggest financial mistake I see people in their 20s and 30s make?

It’s not spending too much.
It’s not picking the “wrong” investments.
It’s not even market timing.

🔴 It’s waiting.
🔺 Waiting to invest because income will be higher later.
🔺 Waiting to plan because life feels too busy right now.
🔺 Waiting because the numbers don’t feel “big enough yet.”

Time is the one advantage you only get in your 20s and 30s — and once it’s gone, you can’t get it back.

Small, consistent decisions made early often matter more than:
Perfect timing
Perfect portfolios
Perfect knowledge

This is the time to build habits, create momentum, and let compounding do the heavy lifting.

The biggest risk early on isn’t market volatility.
It’s letting time pass without a plan.

02/28/2026

📈 One trend I’m seeing a lot in annual review meetings…

Long bull markets have a way of quietly reshaping how we think about risk.

After years of steady gains, risk starts to feel comfortable.
Volatility feels distant.
Drawdowns feel theoretical.

But here’s the reality: true risk tolerance isn’t revealed when markets are going up — it’s revealed when they’re going down.
It’s easy to say “I’m comfortable with risk” after years of positive returns.

It’s much harder to feel that same way when markets are down 15–20% and headlines are loud.

That’s why portfolio construction matters so much.

A well-built portfolio isn’t about chasing what worked recently — it’s about:
• Aligning investments with your actual risk tolerance
• Making sure short-term volatility doesn’t derail long-term goals
• Creating a plan you can stick with in both good markets and bad ones

Bull markets test our discipline in subtle ways.
Bear markets test it loudly.

02/24/2026

🚨 Fraud is on the rise — and it’s affecting more people than ever.

Scam tactics are becoming more sophisticated, and even financially savvy individuals are being caught off guard.

That's why I'm hosting a free educational webinar covering:
- The most common types of fraud we are seeing today
- Red flags and warning signs to watch out for
- Practical steps you can take to protect yourself and your family

I hope you can join me!

Registration Link - https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_miqD9ov-TySAXx-nMjQdmg

02/23/2026

Investments matter—but they’re not the whole story.

If your advisor is only managing your portfolio, you may be missing out on comprehensive financial planning that ties your money to your real-life goals.

If you’re curious what that looks like, let’s talk.

What’s the difference between a financial plan and an investment portfolio? Lehigh Valley Investment Group Financial Planner Justin Hartman explains.

- A financial plan is your roadmap that we constantly update to outline your goals, income, expenses, insurance, estate needs, and long-term strategy.

- An investment portfolio is simply one tool inside of the financial plan, built and designed to help you achieve those goals. In my opinion, you can't have a properly built portfolio without knowing what you are trying to achieve and how that factors into your overall plan.

Are you looking to build an investment portfolio into your financial plan or start roadmapping an overall financial plan? Justin can help with both.

Connect with him on LinkedIn and schedule a free consultation with him here: https://lehighvalleyinvestmentgroup.com/about/

01/16/2026

"How much should I keep in an emergency fund, and where should I keep it?" Hear from Financial Planner Justin Hartman.👇

Most people benefit from having 3-6 months of essential expenses set aside, but those with variable income may want closer to 8-12 months. The money should be kept somewhere safe and easily accessible, typically in a HYSA (high-yield savings account) or a money market fund. As my clients always hear from me, every dollar has a job. Some jobs are meant to maximize returns, take on risk, and be used down the road.

The goal of an emergency fund isn’t to maximize return, but to ensure the funds are available for when life happens. A well-built emergency fund is a key component of keeping your financial plan intact.

Have a question for Justin? Connect with him for a consultation: https://lehighvalleyinvestmentgroup.com/about/

11/17/2025

Investing is only part of the story—what you keep after taxes really matters. That’s why I feel it is necessary to spend so much time helping clients understand capital gains and build more tax-efficient portfolios that align with their withdrawal and income goals.

Today's question posed to Financial Planner Justin Hartman: What are capital gains, and how do they affect my taxes? 💰

Capital gains are essentially the profits you make from your initial investment. They can be broken down into two categories.

1. Short-Term (ST) Capital Gain – These apply to assets held 1 year or less. ST capital gains get a less favorable tax treatment. These are taxed at ordinary income rates.
2. Long-Term (LT) Capital Gain – These apply to assets held more than 1 year. LT capital gains get preferential tax treatment. These are taxed at either 0%, 15%, or 20%, depending on your income.

Some mutual funds will also kick out capital gain distributions at the end of the year. You can not directly control this, and it is typically an unnecessary tax. By investing in tax-efficient products and doing periodic tax-loss harvesting, you can make sure you are investing in the most tax-efficient way.

If you would like a free portfolio review, please reach out to Justin at [email protected]!