Blog
Welcome to the Red Barn Financial Blog
At Red Barn Financial, we believe that financial planning is about more than just numbers—it’s about building a secure, meaningful future. This blog is here to guide you on that journey.
Our goal is to share educational, practical, and thought-provoking content on a wide range of financial topics, from retirement strategies and investment insights to estate planning and tax considerations. We hope to help you look at your finances from new angles, empowering you to make informed decisions with greater confidence and clarity.
Whether you’re planning for tomorrow or navigating today’s challenges, we invite you to explore, learn, and grow with us.
Legacy vs. Inheritance: Why “Equal” Isn’t Always “Fair”
People often look at legacy planning as an exercise in math. They think “When I die, I’ll leave equal amounts to each of my heirs”. It’s really important to give legacy planning the attention it deserves. Not doing so can be costly in...
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Before You Invest, Protect: The Overlooked First Step in Financial Planning
In my practice as a financial advisor, I adopt the PS&G Model, an acronym for Protection, Savings, and Growth. Many people approach their financial lives with a “growth first” mindset, which can be a mistake. Depending on your budget...
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The Widow’s Tax: A Hidden Financial Challenge After Loss
Losing a spouse is one of the hardest things anyone can go through. There’s never a good time for it to happen — and even after decades together, it’s painful, life-changing, and deeply personal. During that time, the last thing on...
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Protecting the Ones You Love is the Loving Thing to Do
If something happened to you, what would happen to your family? While nobody wants to think about dying it's crucial to protect the ones you love and one of the most cost efficient ways to do that is with life insurance.
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Plan Ahead: Download Your 2026 Tax Guide Today
With the end of the year just around the corner, we’re excited to share our newly released 2026 Tax Guide- a comprehensive resource complete with the latest tax rates, contribution limits and more. We invite you to view and download...
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Estate Planning Week: Are You Prepared to Secure Your Legacy?
I hope this article finds you well. I wanted to reach out to you during Estate Planning Week, which runs from October 20 to October 26, to address a topic of utmost importance– your legacy and the well-being of your family. Estate...
Read MoreMore Money in Your Pocket: How the One Big Beautiful Bill Act Could Affect Your Ta
Just before Independence Day 2025, Congress passed a bill called “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (OBBBA) that extended the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) 2017 tax cuts that were set to expire this year and made some of the rules permanent....
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A Financial Calling: Aligning Your Values and Money
Even if you're not currently giving at the level you'd like, setting a goal to increase it from last year is a great first step. Focus on getting your finances in order and developing a plan that reflects your values.
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The Cycle of Investing
When markets fall, it’s easy to forget that downtrends are part of the investing cycle. So when prices slip, it's a good time to review some common terms that you may be hearing that describe today’s financial markets. The first is...
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Want to Change the World? Start by Giving Smarter
The Red Barn Financial blog shares tips and ideas related to financial planning, investments, insurance and other financial topics
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The Psychology of Money: A Habit That Can Shape Financial Success
Finance and the markets can be scary at times. Conventional wisdom, however, may not be our friend in times like these. Here are some ways to be wiser with your money.
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Mutual Funds, ETFs and More - Making Sense of Your Investment Choices
When it comes to diversification in your investements, it's often prudent to understand the workings of mutual funds, ETFs and Direct Indexing. This article will summarize the differences and similarities.
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Year End Planning is Vital to Financial Success! Here's Why
Get Ahead of Tax Season: Year-End Planning Tips Most people wake up in 2025 and think about taxes they need to file. The problem is it’s too late to do most things that lower your taxes. This is why now is the time to be proactive...
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Get Ahead of Tax Season: Year-End Planning Tips
A little planning near the end of the year will help you make sure that you have set up your tax and financial situation for success. Here are some important considerations for 2024
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The Hidden Dangers of Using Home Equity for College
Kamala Harris' advice to use home equity loans for college is a bad idea. It can lead to higher interest rates, less student loan forgiveness potential, and increased risk of foreclosure. Prioritizing retirement savings is crucial.
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Early Withdrawal Woes: The True Cost of Tapping Your Retirement Plan
Taking an early withdrawal from your retirement savings can really cost you. It may not just be less money for retirement but also penalties and tax costs that are more than you would expect.
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