D Riggs Financial LLC

09/03/2026

🚨 Retirement Myth Buster 🚨

Myth: Social Security benefits are completely tax-free.

Reality: Depending on your total “combined income,” up to 50% or even 85% of your Social Security benefits may be subject to federal income tax.

Your combined income generally includes your adjusted gross income, tax-exempt interest, and half of your Social Security benefits. For individuals, benefits may become taxable when combined income exceeds $25,000; for married couples filing jointly, the threshold begins at $32,000.

The good news? Thoughtful retirement-income planning can help you anticipate—and potentially manage—unexpected taxes.

📩 Let’s talk about building a retirement strategy that considers not only what you earn, but what you keep.

09/01/2026

In 1939, a graduate student named George Dantzig arrived late to his statistics class at UC Berkeley. Two problems were already written on the blackboard when he walked in.

Assuming they were the night’s homework, he copied them down and went home to work through them. It took him several days longer than usual, and he apologized to his professor for the delay.

His professor, Jerzy Neyman — one of the most respected statisticians of his time — didn’t scold him. He was stunned into silence. The two problems Dantzig had casually solved as homework were actually famous unsolved theorems in statistics, ones that had stumped professional mathematicians for years.

One of Dantzig’s solutions was prepared for publication almost immediately. He later admitted that if he’d known those problems were supposed to be impossible, he probably never would have attempted them at all.

Sometimes the only thing standing between a person and the impossible is simply not being told it can’t be done.

08/10/2026

**MOTIVATION MONDAY: MAKE A DEPOSIT INTO YOUR FUTURE.**

Most people think progress has to look dramatic.

A huge raise.
A perfect investment.
A life-changing opportunity.

But wealth is usually built much quieter than that.

It’s the extra $100 invested.
The debt you decided not to carry.
The retirement contribution you increased by 1%.
The financial conversation you finally had.
The decision to stop waiting for the “perfect time.”

So here’s your challenge for this Monday:

**Make one deposit into the person you want to become.**

Not just into an account.

Into your discipline.
Into your confidence.
Into your freedom.
Into your future.

Because someday, your future self is going to live on the decisions you’re making right now.

D Riggs Financial
**Plan. Protect. Grow. Prosper.**

08/06/2026

🥤 THIRSTY THURSDAY FINANCIAL TIP

Give Their Future a Head Start

A custodial investment account can help parents, grandparents, and other family members build wealth for a child before they are old enough to manage an account themselves.

Even small, consistent contributions may grow over time and eventually help with:

🎓 College or career training
🚗 A dependable first vehicle
🏡 A future home purchase
💼 Starting a business
📈 Building long-term financial security

Unlike a traditional savings account, custodial funds can be invested in assets such as stocks, mutual funds, and ETFs—giving the money greater long-term growth potential.

Just remember: the money legally belongs to the child, and control of the account generally transfers to them when they reach the age required by their state.

The best gift may not be another toy—it may be a financial foundation.

Start early. Contribute consistently. Let time do the heavy lifting.

D Riggs Financial
Plan. Protect. Grow. Prosper.

08/01/2026

💳 FINANCIAL FRIDAY: YOUR CREDIT SCORE MATTERS

Your credit score is more than just a number—it can affect the interest rates you receive, your ability to qualify for a mortgage or auto loan, and even how much you pay for certain insurance policies.

A stronger credit score can potentially save you thousands of dollars over time.

✅ Pay every bill on time
✅ Keep credit card balances low
✅ Avoid opening too many accounts at once
✅ Review your credit reports for errors
✅ Keep older accounts open when appropriate

Remember: Building excellent credit is not about being perfect. It is about consistently practicing responsible financial habits.

Good credit creates more options. Great financial planning helps you use those options wisely.

D Riggs Financial
Plan. Protect. Grow. Prosper.

07/30/2026

💧 **THIRSTY THURSDAY: ARE YOU FINANCIALLY DEHYDRATED?** 💧

You can have a strong income, valuable investments, and plenty of assets—but still feel financially thirsty when you do not have enough accessible cash.

That is called being **asset-rich but cash-poor**.

A healthy financial plan needs liquidity for:

✅ Unexpected repairs
✅ Medical expenses
✅ Short-term opportunities
✅ Market downturns
✅ Everyday peace of mind

Your investments may be growing, but your emergency savings help keep you from selling those investments at the wrong time.

**Financial hydration tip:** Build a cash reserve that covers approximately three to six months of essential expenses—and keep it somewhere safe, accessible, and earning a competitive rate.

Don’t wait until there is an emergency to discover your financial well has run dry.

**Plan. Protect. Grow. Prosper.**

— D Riggs Financial

07/25/2026

💵 FINANCIAL FRIDAY: ROTH VS. TRADITIONAL 401(k) 💵

When contributing to your 401(k), one of the biggest decisions is not just how much to save—but when you want to pay the taxes.

🔵 Traditional 401(k)
Contributions are generally made before taxes, which may reduce your taxable income today. Your contributions and investment growth are taxed when you withdraw the money in retirement.

🟢 Roth 401(k)
Contributions are made with money that has already been taxed. You do not receive a tax deduction today, but qualified withdrawals in retirement can be completely tax-free.

A Traditional 401(k) may make sense when:
✅ You are currently in a higher tax bracket
✅ You want to reduce your taxable income today
✅ You expect to be in a lower tax bracket during retirement

A Roth 401(k) may make sense when:
✅ You expect your income or tax rates to increase
✅ You have many years for tax-free growth
✅ You want more tax-free income available during retirement

You may not have to choose only one. Using a combination of Roth and Traditional contributions can create tax diversification and give you more flexibility when building your retirement-income strategy.

The right choice depends on your income, age, current tax bracket, retirement timeline, and long-term financial plan.

Don’t just save for retirement—build a strategy for how that money will eventually be taxed.

D Riggs Financial LLC
Plan. Protect. Grow. Prosper.

07/21/2026

💰 MONEY MONDAY: Financial Peace Starts With a Plan

Financial stress often comes from feeling uncertain—not knowing where your money is going, whether you’re saving enough, or what your next step should be.

The good news? You do not have to solve everything today.

Start with one small step:

✅ Review your spending
✅ Build an emergency fund
✅ Pay down high-interest debt
✅ Invest consistently
✅ Create a retirement plan

Progress creates confidence, and confidence creates peace of mind.

You work hard for your money. Your financial plan should help you feel more secure—not more stressed.

At D Riggs Financial, we help simplify the process so you can focus on what matters most: living your life with confidence.

Plan. Protect. Grow. Prosper.

07/18/2026

07/18/2026

💰 FINANCIAL FRIDAY: BUILD WEALTH ON AUTOPILOT

Building wealth does not always require one big financial move.

More often, it comes from small, consistent decisions repeated over time.

Automating your finances can help you:

✅ Invest before you have a chance to spend
✅ Build emergency savings consistently
✅ Increase retirement contributions gradually
✅ Avoid relying on motivation or perfect timing
✅ Turn financial goals into monthly habits

Consider automating transfers into your:

• Emergency savings
• Roth IRA
• 401(k) or workplace retirement plan
• Brokerage account
• Long-term protection strategy

The amount matters—but consistency matters even more.

When your financial plan runs automatically, progress can continue even during busy months, unexpected expenses, and changing markets.

Do not wait until you have “extra money” to build wealth. Make building wealth part of the monthly budget.

At D Riggs Financial, we help clients create a personalized strategy designed to make saving, investing, and protecting their future easier.

Plan. Protect. Grow. Prosper.

📞 888.969.4992