Financial Planning Articles

In a world of breathtaking change that some have recently dubbed “poly-crisis”, it’s very tempting to focus all your attention on the urgent anxieties of the day – and they are plentiful. Doing that, however, entails running the risk of losing sight of critical long-term guideposts. In my experience, such guideposts can mark the difference between success and failure, so deliberately pausing to affirm their value is priceless. In my view, it’s key to leading a principled life of consequence…

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Here’s one from the archives! This was written a little over 20 years ago and originally appeared as the President’s Message for our Quarterly Report of 12/31/2005.

The only things we have changed below are one digit in the years referenced, and the elapsed time in my professional / leadership life. Otherwise, this remains exactly as it was first written.

I hope this conveys an affirming constancy of purpose and conviction to you. It certainly does to me…

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Happy New Year from Lucien, Stirling & Gray

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Notice 2025-67 from the IRS was just recently released to the public with the updated limits affecting 2026 Amounts Relating to Retirement Plans and IRAs, as Adjusted for Changes in Cost-of-Living…

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For me to say that we are all living through an incredibly turbulent period of breathtaking change, profound ambiguity, and unnerving societal disruption shouldn’t strike anyone reading this as a uniquely insightful comment. Nonetheless, I think it’s worth saying. And I think it’s worth repeating, so we don’t fall into the trap of trying to normalize the environment we’re in now, and therefore conclude that we ourselves should know, or that someone, somewhere, has enough experience (or access to privileged information) to know exactly how all this will eventually turn out…

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Starting January 1, 2026, high-income earners (those with more than $145,000 in wages from the previous year) who make 401(k) catch-up contributions must make them on a Roth (after-tax) basis, according to final IRS regulations…

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Close-knit, high-trust relationships make people feel happier, but they also make them more resilient and capable of banding together, coming alongside each other, sharing resources, combining talents, accomplishing great feats, and bouncing back quickly from fearsome setbacks. Our history is replete with inspiring examples of this phenomenon.

Social wealth is priceless. But like all forms of wealth, it must be stewarded – protected, grown, and deployed - wisely and carefully, with an eye towards the greater good…

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For any of you who are interested here is a simplified synopsis of the newly enacted One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1)—signed into law by President Trump on July 4, 2025—focusing on its key impacts for families and individuals…

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We are now living, as the fabled Chinese curse prescribes, “in interesting times.”

That is not a comforting opening line, I know. But under the circumstances, if I were to attempt to be comforting, it might sound hollow to you. For the record, it would certainly seem so to me. There is nothing comforting about any of what we’re experiencing in financial markets, geopolitics, international trade, or our current sense of overall stability. Everything is in flux, and it would be surprising if you weren’t at least a little unsettled…

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At Lucien, Stirling & Gray Advisory Group, we are profoundly aware that trust and confidence comprise the foundation of any great financial partnership. That's why we're excited to invite our valued clients and trusted friends to explore our Client Testimonial Page

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In today’s financial landscape, navigating the rules surrounding Retirement Plans can be daunting. Regulations are constantly evolving, so it’s essential to stay informed so you can make optimal decisions for your retirement planning…

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Happy New Year from Lucien, Stirling & Gray

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Happy Thanksgiving from Lucien, Stirling & Gray

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True wealth comes in many forms, and plenty of incredibly valuable investments have very little to do with money. If you’ve been reading these essays for any length of time, you have seen me express these deeply held beliefs before…

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In today’s financial landscape, navigating the rules surrounding Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) and inherited IRAs can be daunting. With regulations evolving, especially concerning Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs), it’s essential to stay informed to make the best decisions for your retirement planning. In this newsletter, we’ll break down the current rules...

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In the world of investment planning, certainty is a rare commodity. Markets fluctuate, economies evolve, and unforeseen events can upend even the most meticulously crafted plans. Embracing ambiguity, therefore, becomes not just a strategy but a necessity. Investors who learn to navigate uncertainty can adapt more effectively, seize opportunities, and ultimately achieve better outcomes.

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I believe that life - for all of us - is just a long adventure trip into the unknown wilderness. I also believe that the role of a trusted advisor is like that of a guide.

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I have a crystal ball in my office. It doesn’t help me foretell the future, but it does speak to me in some very powerful ways – some humorous, some more philosophical, and some that are both.

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If our investment assets and bank accounts are the tip of the iceberg, the mere 10% that sticks up above the surface and easily catches your attention, what lies beneath?

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Last month we touched on the notion that there are other meaningful dimensions to wealth besides the current market value of all that you own. But how do we define those dimensions? 

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