ClearPath Wealth Strategies

ClearPath Wealth Strategies ClearPath Wealth Strategies provides quality financial strategies, and offers financial products. We are not licensed in all jurisdictions.

CEO Trevor Houston, President Mark Elder, along with Darnell Johnson are Financial Services Professionals offering securities products and services through NYLIFE Securities LLC (Member FINRA/SIPC), a Licensed Insurance Agency and New York Life Company. They are also licensed to sell insurance through New York Life Insurance Company and may be licensed with various other independent unaffiliated i

nsurance companies. Trevor Houston | CA Insurance License #4115650 Mark Elder | CA Insurance License | Darnell Johnson AR Insurance License #19479700

Neither ClearPath Wealth Strategies LLC, nor New York Life Insurance Company, nor its agents, provide tax, legal, or accounting advice. Please consult your own tax, legal, or accounting professionals before making any decisions. ClearPath Wealth Strategies LLC is not owned or operated by New York Life Insurance Company or its affiliates. Any testimonial on this site is based on an individual’s experience and may not be representative of the experience of other customers. These testimonials are no guarantee of future performance or success.

2600 Network Blvd. Ste. 130 Frisco, TX 75034
Office: (972) 377-5222
Cell: (214) 585-1934
Email: [email protected]
Website URL: https://www.clearpathwealthstrategies.com

One of the biggest retirement mistakes isn't making bad investment decisions. It's making life more complicated than it ...
08/25/2026

One of the biggest retirement mistakes isn't making bad investment decisions.

It's making life more complicated than it needs to be.

I recently shared this perspective in an article (featured in Yahoo Finance, AOL, and GOBankingRates) discussing how retirees are finding smarter ways to stretch their retirement savings.

One strategy that often gets overlooked?

Simplifying what you've already built.

After working for decades, it's common for people to have retirement accounts scattered across multiple employers.

Old 401(k)s.

Forgotten accounts.

Different investment platforms.

Different fees.

Different paperwork.

Consolidating those accounts, when it makes sense for your situation, can make retirement easier to manage and reduce the chances of losing track of part of your savings.

But that's only one piece of the puzzle.

Retirement isn't just about having enough money.

It's about creating a plan that supports the life you want to live.

That includes:

- Creating reliable retirement income

- Keeping part of your portfolio positioned for long-term growth

- Staying healthy to help reduce future healthcare costs

Often, the smartest retirement strategies aren't the most complicated.

They're the ones that bring clarity.

Because the less time you spend managing financial clutter…

The more time you can spend enjoying retirement.

What's one financial task you've been putting off that would simplify your life?

PS: Read the full article here: https://www.gobankingrates.com/retirement/planning/financial-experts-clever-ways-boomers-are-saving-money-in-retirement/

One of the biggest misconceptions about changing careers after 50 is that you have to start over. You don't. In fact, th...
08/18/2026

One of the biggest misconceptions about changing careers after 50 is that you have to start over.

You don't.

In fact, the people who make the most successful career transitions usually do the exact opposite.

I shared this perspective in an article featured in DailyMail.com, discussing high-paying second careers for professionals over 50.

One point I emphasized was this:

The most successful career changes aren't random job moves. They're leveraged moves.

Think about everything you've built over the last 20 or 30 years:

- Leadership

- Communication

- Industry expertise

- Problem-solving

- Relationships

Those aren't things you leave behind.

They're the reason someone hires you.

That's why many professionals successfully transition into consulting, project management, sales leadership, financial advising, and business advisory roles.

They're not starting from zero.

They're building on decades of experience.

Too often, people underestimate the value of what they've already learned because it feels ordinary to them.

But to someone else?

That experience solves expensive problems.

Your next career doesn't need to erase your first one.

It should capitalize on it.

If you're considering a career pivot, ask yourself this:

How can I leverage what I already know instead of trying to reinvent myself?

PS: Read the full article here:

https://www.dailymail.com/yourmoney/article-15789413/second-careers-americans-experience-earnings.html

A $40,000 car in retirement isn’t a spending decision. It’s a tax decision. I shared this perspective in features with ...
08/11/2026

A $40,000 car in retirement isn’t a spending decision.

It’s a tax decision.

I shared this perspective in features with MarketWatch and MSN and it’s a question more retirees are asking:

“Which account should I use?”

Because once the paycheck stops, the game changes.

It’s no longer about:

“Can I afford this?”

It’s about:

“What does this decision do to my future?”

I’ve seen situations like this often:

- $1M+ in IRAs
- Brokerage accounts
- Roth accounts growing tax-free

And then comes a simple purchase:

A $40K car.

Seems straightforward.

But it isn’t.

Because where you take that $40K from can impact:

- Your future tax bill
- Your portfolio longevity
- Your flexibility later in retirement

For example:

Pulling from a Roth IRA might feel easy (no taxes today)

But that money was growing tax-free.

Once it’s gone, it’s gone.

On the other hand:

A brokerage account may create capital gains.

An IRA withdrawal may increase taxable income.

So the real question becomes:

What’s the long-term trade-off?

Even financing, something many retirees avoid, can sometimes make sense.

Not because debt is “good,”

But because preserving your portfolio and managing taxes matters more.

The takeaway isn’t “always do X.”

It’s this:

At this stage, every financial decision is connected.

And the smartest move is understanding the impact before the action.

Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gpwvUGYe

The biggest retirement mistake? Treating Social Security like a guarantee. I was recently featured in GOBankingRates, i...
08/04/2026

The biggest retirement mistake?

Treating Social Security like a guarantee.

I was recently featured in GOBankingRates, inkl, Yahoo Finance, and AOL, discussing how each generation should approach Social Security in their retirement plan.

Here’s the reality:

Social Security is important.

But it should never be the foundation.

For Gen Z and Millennials, I wouldn’t build around it at all.

Focus on what you can control: saving, investing, building multiple income streams.

When you build assets, you build confidence.

When you rely solely on programs, you build uncertainty.

For Gen X, things get more serious.

You’re close enough to retirement that changes matter.

Benefits could be delayed. Adjusted. Taxed differently.

Plan conservatively.

Treat Social Security as a supplement, not your primary engine.

For Baby Boomers, it’s often a meaningful piece of income.

But strategy still matters.

When you claim.
How it coordinates with other income.
How it impacts your taxes.

I’ve seen people lose thousands simply by rushing that decision.

Every generation faces a different retirement reality.

But the principle stays the same:

Social Security should support your plan.

It should not be your plan.

For years, we treated college like the default answer. Not an option. The option. But more parents are starting to quest...
07/23/2026

For years, we treated college like the default answer.

Not an option. The option.

But more parents are starting to question whether that assumption still makes sense.

I recently shared this perspective in articles featured in Fortune, MSN, and inkl:

"Parents are waking up. College doesn't carry the same ROI it once did because the cost is outrageous, and the outcome is uncertain."

That doesn't mean college has no value.

It absolutely does.

For many careers, it's still the right path.

But what has changed is the idea that every student should follow the same roadmap.

Today, parents are looking at:

- Rising education costs

- Uncertain hiring markets

- Growing student debt

- Skills-based careers with strong demand

And they're asking a different question.

Not: "Should my child go to college?"

But: "What's the best path for my child?"

Trade schools.
Apprenticeships.
Certifications.
Technical training.
Skills-first careers.

These are no longer backup plans.

They're legitimate pathways to meaningful careers, financial stability, and long-term success.

The future belongs to people who develop valuable skills.

The method they use to get there is becoming increasingly flexible.

If you were advising a teenager today, would college still be your default recommendation?

PS: Read the full story here: https://fortune.com/article/trade-school-vs-college-parents-job-market/

One of the biggest retirement mistakes I see? People assume they'll figure out travel later. But later is often too late...
07/14/2026

One of the biggest retirement mistakes I see?

People assume they'll figure out travel later.

But later is often too late.

I recently shared in an article (featured in GOBankingRates and AOL) that if travel is one of your retirement goals, it shouldn't be treated as an afterthought.

It should be part of the plan.

Too often, people spend decades preparing for housing, healthcare, and retirement income…

But never calculate what their dream retirement lifestyle will actually cost.

That includes travel.

Whether you dream of:

An annual Caribbean cruise

Exploring Japan and Switzerland

Taking the grandkids on family vacations

The question isn't:

"Can I afford to travel in retirement?"

The better question is:

"What do I need to do today to make that possible?"

A few things I encourage people to consider:

- Create a dedicated travel fund before retirement

- Be realistic about the type of travel you want

- Estimate costs before you retire, not after

- Consider slow travel instead of rushing between destinations

- Think about who will be traveling with you

Travel can absolutely be part of retirement.

But like most financial goals, it doesn't happen by accident.

It happens through planning.

What's on your retirement travel bucket list?

PS: Read the full article here: https://www.aol.com/finance/afford-travel-every-retirement-experts-222106071.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAAx1WFke-s5fa0M5zBDKfG58m4SeM5dds2DU5mqPjuzgRJZdw3cKYjEN_fBBWkxuUu-0esfGuUaII8rAfHENcpdcO6CIeDCA24RcmzKPawLYbl1i2FAYEQmA-c2kYDnbX1urvwaTPC5uDiRgLtcY4Sywqp1bACHZA43IuS6m1XZT

When people think about retirement, they often focus on one question:"How much money do I need?"But sometimes the better...
07/07/2026

When people think about retirement, they often focus on one question:

"How much money do I need?"

But sometimes the better question is:

"Where can my money go further?"

I recently shared my thoughts in an article featured in GOBankingRates, and AOL discussing affordable cities where retirees may be able to live on roughly $1,500 per month.

One point I made stood out to me:

"You can maintain your retirement budget while still living near the water."

Too often, retirement planning becomes an exercise in sacrifice.

People assume affordability means giving up community, recreation, healthcare access, or quality of life.

That's not always true.

Cities like Erie, Pennsylvania and Youngstown, Ohio demonstrate that affordability and lifestyle can coexist when expectations align with reality.

Of course, there are tradeoffs.

No location is perfect.

But retirement success isn't determined solely by the size of your portfolio.

It's influenced by how well your lifestyle, spending, healthcare needs, and location fit together.

The most successful retirees I've seen don't necessarily spend the least.

They simply make intentional decisions.

Because retirement isn't about finding the cheapest place to live.

It's about finding the right place to live.

If you could retire anywhere in the U.S., what would matter most:

🌊 Access to nature
🏥 Healthcare
👥 Community
💰 Affordability

Let me know below.

Read the full story here:
https://lnkd.in/grGEfkCN

The biggest retirement mistake?Treating Social Security like a guarantee.I was recently featured in GOBankingRates, , Ya...
06/23/2026

The biggest retirement mistake?

Treating Social Security like a guarantee.

I was recently featured in GOBankingRates, , Yahoo Finance!, AOL, discussing how each generation should approach Social Security in their retirement plan.

Here’s the reality:

Social Security is important.

But it should never be the foundation.

For Gen Z and Millennials, I wouldn’t build around it at all.
Focus on what you can control: saving, investing, building multiple income streams.

When you build assets, you build confidence.
When you rely solely on programs, you build uncertainty.

For Gen X, things get more serious.
You’re close enough to retirement that changes matter.

Benefits could be delayed.
Adjusted.
Taxed differently.

Plan conservatively.
Treat Social Security as a supplement, not your primary engine.

For Baby Boomers, it’s often a meaningful piece of income.
But strategy still matters.

When you claim.
How it coordinates with other income.
How it impacts your taxes.

I’ve seen people lose thousands simply by rushing that decision.

Every generation faces a different retirement reality.

But the principle stays the same:

Social Security should support your plan.

It should not be your plan.

At 65, the real question isn’t just about money anymore.It’s about relevance.Because AI isn’t coming.It’s already here.A...
06/02/2026

At 65, the real question isn’t just about money anymore.

It’s about relevance.

Because AI isn’t coming.

It’s already here.

And it’s rapidly replacing work that is predictable, repeatable, and process-driven.

I shared this recently in features with The Independent, MSN and , and it’s something I’m seeing play out in real time.

Roles in customer service, administration, even parts of finance and marketing are being reshaped.

Not because people aren’t capable.

But because the work itself is structured.

So the better question becomes:

What can’t AI easily replace?

From what we’re seeing, three areas stand out:

- Roles built on human connection (like nursing)
- Work that requires hands-on adaptability (like skilled trades)
- Situations that demand judgment under pressure (like crisis management)

These aren’t just jobs.

They’re environments where:

- Context matters
- Emotions matter
- Decisions aren’t always predictable

AI can support these roles.

But fully replace them?

That’s a very different conversation.

The takeaway isn’t fear.

It’s awareness.

The future isn’t about competing with AI.

It’s about leaning into the skills that make you human.

Because in a world of automation, human judgment, trust, and adaptability become more valuable, not less.

Read the full story here: https://www.independent.co.uk/us/money/ai-proof-jobs-careers-b2956766.html

At 65, the question isn’t “Do I have enough?”It’s “Where is my money going?”Most retirees don’t have a money problem.The...
05/19/2026

At 65, the question isn’t “Do I have enough?”

It’s “Where is my money going?”

Most retirees don’t have a money problem.

They have a clutter problem.

And it’s subtle.

It doesn’t come from one big mistake. It builds over time.

Subscriptions you forgot about.
A second car you rarely use.
A home that no longer fits your lifestyle.

Individually? Harmless.

Together? Heavy.

I recently shared this perspective in an article featured in GOBankingRates, MSN, Yahoo Finance, Inkl, and AOL.

It’s something I see all the time working with clients approaching or living in retirement.

By the time you reach 65, it’s not just about how much you’ve saved.

It’s about how aligned your spending is with your life today.

Because here’s the truth:

Retirement budgeting shouldn’t feel like a punishment.

It should feel like clarity.

But most people approach it the wrong way.

They ask:
“What should I cut?”

A better question is:
“What actually matters to me now?”

Because at this stage, your money should do three things:

- Protect your health
- Give you freedom
- Help you stay connected to the people you love

Everything else?

Is just noise.

You don’t need a tighter budget.

You need a cleaner, more intentional financial life.

Read the whole article here: https://www.gobankingrates.com/retirement/planning/financial-advisors-what-retirees-stop-buying-after-65/?utm_source

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