Bond investors are starting to ask what to do if yields keep rising, as rates are now well above their 2020 lows. If yields continue to drift upward, it raises the possibility of a prolonged bear market in bonds as bond prices move down as yields move up. We saw the opposite from 1980 to 2020, when ten-year yields fell
Financial Advisor / Wealth Management
What If Market Volatility Could Actually Help Your Retirement Plan?
By Grant Monson
If you’re retired, market volatility does not feel like an opportunity. It feels like something to avoid.
You’ve spent decades building your wealth. Now that it is supporting your lifestyle, it’s no longer just about growth. It’s about stability, income, and feeling confident about the future.
As we discuss in Understanding Volatility in Retirement, you can effectively plan for
You’ve spent decades building your wealth. Now that it is supporting your lifestyle, it’s no longer just about growth. It’s about stability, income, and feeling confident about the future.
As we discuss in Understanding Volatility in Retirement, you can effectively plan for
…
Creating More Freedom Without Leaving Your Business
By Grant Monson
If you are like many business owners with a company you love, your business is strong and you still enjoy what you’ve built. You are not looking to sell. But as time goes on, you begin to ask a new question: how do I create more freedom without giving up my life’s work?
More time with family. More flexibility in
More time with family. More flexibility in
…
The Solo Business Owner’s Path to Financial Independence
By Grant Monson
If you are a solo business owner, you probably don’t have a large team or a board room full of partners. It’s just you driving everything forward, and many solopreneurs love that independence. It’s part of what makes the business work. But it also creates a challenge when you begin thinking about the future.
There is no obvious transition path.No
There is no obvious transition path.No
…
How to Avoid Income Tax Surprises in Retirement
By Grant Monson
For many retirees, taxes don’t feel like a problem until it’s too late. The year is over, you file your return, see what you owe, and try to adjust next year. But in retirement, that approach can lead to surprises that are both frustrating and avoidable.
Where your income falls each year matters more than most people realize. Small changes
Where your income falls each year matters more than most people realize. Small changes
…
Financial Lessons from Every Decade of Life (10–100)
By Grant Monson
I’m almost 70 years old. I’ve spent nearly 50 years working in the investment world and watching how money and life unfold across every decade.
Over that time, I’ve worked with people across the full spectrum: teenagers opening their first investment accounts, parents building careers and raising children, entrepreneurs growing companies worth millions, and families deciding how to give away
Over that time, I’ve worked with people across the full spectrum: teenagers opening their first investment accounts, parents building careers and raising children, entrepreneurs growing companies worth millions, and families deciding how to give away
…
The Iran Conflict, Market Volatility, and What History Tells Us
By Grant Monson
If you’ve been watching the markets lately, you’ve likely noticed more movement than usual.
In the first quarter of 2026, markets pulled back and volatility increased. Much of this has been driven by rising geopolitical tension, particularly involving Iran, which has pushed oil prices higher and added uncertainty around inflation and interest rates.
But here’s an important question to ask:
In the first quarter of 2026, markets pulled back and volatility increased. Much of this has been driven by rising geopolitical tension, particularly involving Iran, which has pushed oil prices higher and added uncertainty around inflation and interest rates.
But here’s an important question to ask:
…
Washington’s New Millionaire Tax: What High Earners and Business Owners Need to Know
By Grant Monson
For decades, Washington has been known for one defining feature: no personal income tax. That may be changing.
With the passage of the “Millionaire Tax” (SB 6346), the state is proposing a new tax aimed directly at high earners.
While the bill is expected to be signed into law, legal challenges are widely anticipated. Washington’s constitution has historically
With the passage of the “Millionaire Tax” (SB 6346), the state is proposing a new tax aimed directly at high earners.
While the bill is expected to be signed into law, legal challenges are widely anticipated. Washington’s constitution has historically
…
What Bitcoin Reveals About Why Investors Underperform—and Why It Matters for Retirement
By Sammy Azzouz
Bitcoin has experienced tremendous trailing returns, yet according to this Bloomberg article, roughly 45% of holders are currently below their purchase price.

You know I think Bitcoin is useless, with an investment case crippled by…
Your Money This Week: Iran Conflict, Rising Oil Prices, and Stagflation Risks
By Sammy Azzouz
Markets declined this week as the Iran conflict pushed oil prices higher, raising concerns about stagflation and sending both stocks and bonds lower. In this week’s Your Money This Week, I walk through the economic risks tied to oil prices, why stagflation fears may be overstated, and why investors shouldn’t overreact to a short-term selloff. I also discuss the headlines…