Articles
Plain-spoken thinking on planning, fees, and the financial decisions that actually matter.
Written by the IronBridge advisory team for the households we work with — and the ones who haven’t found the right team yet.
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Retirement
What a "Sustainable Withdrawal Rate" Actually Means
The 4% rule was a research finding, not a recommendation. Here's what it actually says — and what it doesn't.
Read articleRetirement
Social Security Timing for Couples
The decision isn't "when should I claim?" — it's "when should each of us claim, in what order, given how long we're each likely to live?"
Read articleTax Strategy
When (and Whether) to Convert to a Roth
A Roth conversion isn't always the right answer — but the windows when it is are usually short and easily missed.
Read articleFees
How Advisor Fees Actually Work (And What to Watch For)
AUM percentages, expense ratios, 12b-1 fees, wrap fees, surrender charges. Most clients never see the full picture. Here's the map.
Read articleFoundations
Fiduciary vs. Suitability: Why the Distinction Matters
Two financial professionals can give two different answers to the same question — and both can be doing their job correctly. The difference comes down to which standard they're held to.
Read articleArchive
From the library, still useful.
The Sequence-of-Returns Risk No One Models
Two retirees with the same average return can end up in very different places — depending on the order in which the returns showed up.
Asset Location: The Free Lunch Most Investors Skip
Same investments. Same allocation. Different outcome — purely from which account you hold each one in.
Three Tax Mistakes High-Earners Make Before Age 60
By the time you notice them, the windows have usually closed. Each is fixable in advance — and expensive in retrospect.
Long-Term Care: The Coverage Gap in Most Retirement Plans
70% of people over 65 will need long-term care. The average cost of a private nursing home room is now $115,000+ per year. Medicare doesn't cover most of it.
Why Most Estate Plans Fail at Beneficiary Designations
The trust says one thing. The 401(k) says another. The 401(k) wins. Here's why this happens — and how to make sure it doesn't happen to you.
How to Coordinate Your CPA, Attorney, and Advisor (and Why It Matters)
Three professionals giving three pieces of advice in three silos isn't a financial plan. It's a planning failure waiting to happen.
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