Deborah Cook Financial Planner

04/11/2026

🐕 🐶 🐈 Whether you have a dog who loses their mind every time you walk in the door or a cat who barely acknowledges your existence, you know how much pets mean to the people who have them.

They show up in our work more than you'd think.

Not just in estate preparation or budgeting for care, but in bigger conversations about what retirement looks like or what happens when circumstances change, and a pet's care becomes part of the equation.

For a lot of people, their pets are family, and preparation that ignores them misses the point.

Happy National Pet Day!! 🐕 🐶 🐈

04/11/2026

Your investment strategies and personal beliefs don’t have to be mutually exclusive. Learn more about impact investing here:

Learn how to build a socially conscious investment portfolio and invest in your beliefs.

04/10/2026

National Siblings Day is different for adults.

Growing up, it was about who was the favorite, who touched whose stuff, and who told mom.

Later, it can be about much bigger things, like helping a parent, dividing responsibilities, making decisions under stress, and eventually navigating estate details with fairness and clarity.

In our world, the smoothest family outcomes usually come from conversations that start early: who is doing what, where information lives, what “equal” really means, and what happens if someone has to step in quickly.

Grateful for siblings, the shared history, and the kind of support that shows up when it matters most.

04/09/2026

You might be paying more in taxes than you need to—and not even realize it.

From investment timing to account selection, small decisions can have a big impact on your total tax bill. Here are five areas to keep in mind this tax season.

04/09/2026

Any guess how much you’ll spend on healthcare costs in retirement?

A 2025 study by Fidelity puts the after-tax cost at about $330k for an average retired couple and $165k for a single person, excluding long-term care.

Did you know…

⚠️ The $330k and $165k estimates are after-tax and do not include long-term care.

⚠️ Healthcare costs have typically risen faster than the average rate of inflation, the Fidelity report showed.

⚠️ Costs can vary by medical conditions and where someone lives, so rules of thumb can miss.

A lot of people underestimate this line item, enough that if you haven’t included assumptions for it in your retirement strategy, you should.

It deserves an in-depth financial conversation.

04/06/2026

Many families live the reality, advocating, coordinating, adapting, and celebrating progress that outsiders may never see.

In our work, it is also a reminder that good support is personal. The right support often includes more than finances.

It includes systems, trusted people, and clarity around what happens if a parent cannot step in.

For families touched by autism, respect and support matter, and so does a structure that protects stability over the long term.

04/06/2026

Where there's a will there's a way. Don't leave your estate unattended—update your documents.

Sound estate management includes creating financial and healthcare documents. Here's an inside look.

04/05/2026

It’s 10 days until Tax Day. A busy person like you might find themselves filing your taxes in the final stretch for many reasons. Don’t sweat it! Get your paperwork together, talk to your trusted tax professionals, and remember that filing for an extension is possible before April 15th!

04/05/2026

Wishing a blessed Easter to everyone celebrating.

Hope the day brings peace, renewal, and a reminder of what matters most.

04/04/2026

💡 Get this—investors working with a financial professional are about half as likely to report high financial stress (Source: Vanguard 2025). That gap makes sense.

April is National Stress Awareness Month, and the American Psychological Association has repeatedly found that money is a source of stress for many Americans. 😟

Do any of these questions worry you?

❓ Do I have enough for the retirement I’ve imagined?
❓ Do we have enough to support parents or other family members in need?
❓ What if the markets get choppy?

Clarity does not eliminate uncertainty, but it can help manage the mental load.

CFP® Board research from 2025 also points in the same direction; 49 percent of CFP® clients reported less financial anxiety through an advised relationship.

A good strategy does not promise outcomes. It replaces worry with decisions and decisions with a process that holds up when life changes.

04/04/2026

Valuation is important for business succession, estate taxes and even qualifying for a loan.

Ascertaining the value of your business is important for a variety of reasons.

04/03/2026

Deciding when to claim Social Security is one of the biggest retirement choices you’ll face. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but there are some factors to consider:

📌 Are you still working?
📌 How long do you expect to live based on health and family history?
📌 How do early or delayed benefits fit into your retirement picture?

This guide walks through the basics to help you start thinking about your options.