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MFAC BLOG


What Should I Consider Before I Retire? A Comprehensive Pre-Retirement Guide
The questions you need to answer before you walk out the door Retirement feels like a single moment — the last day of work, the first Monday morning with nowhere to be. But the financial reality is that retirement is a series of interconnected decisions, and most of them need to be made before you leave your employer. Miss one, and it can cost you real money for years. This guide walks through the major issues to consider before you retire, organized into six categories: cash
Tad Jakes, CFP®, EA, ECA
2 days ago8 min read


Social Security: More Than Just a Monthly Check
Understanding the Mechanics—and Why the Claiming Decision Deserves Real Attention For most Americans, Social Security is the cornerstone of retirement income. It’s the one thing nearly everyone counts on—a monthly deposit that arrives once you stop working. And because it feels automatic, it’s easy to assume the decision around it is simple, too: pick an age, file the paperwork, and move on. But the reality is far more nuanced than that. When you choose to claim Social Securi
Tad Jakes, CFP®, EA, ECA
May 55 min read


Planning for Healthcare Costs in Retirement
If there’s one expense category that has a way of catching retirees off guard, it’s healthcare. Costs rise faster than general inflation, needs become harder to predict with age, and a single significant health event can put real pressure on even a well-constructed plan. Yet too often, healthcare is treated as an afterthought—something to figure out when the time comes. What replaces that anxiety is a concrete plan—one that maps out likely costs, models their impact on your s
Tad Jakes, CFP®, EA, ECA
Mar 2011 min read


Turning Your Nest Egg into a Reliable, Adjustable Paycheck
Retirement isn't just a finish line—it's a transition into a new phase of life where financial decisions take on a different tone. You've spent decades saving, investing, and preparing. Now the question becomes: How do I turn what I've built into a paycheck I can count on? In this post, I'll walk you through the approach I use to help create a retirement paycheck that's sustainable, flexible, and—most importantly—something you can actually feel good about spending. Why a Payc
Tad Jakes, CFP®, EA, ECA
Mar 46 min read


Wealth Management Series Wrap-Up: Crafting Your Personalized Path Forward
As we conclude “Your First Year of High-Net-Worth Financial Planning,” this final installment brings together the essential components...
Tad Jakes, CFP®, EA, ECA
Jun 30, 20254 min read


Equity Compensation Planning: Maximizing Value While Minimizing Risk
In today’s competitive job market, equity compensation has become an increasingly key component of total compensation packages,...
Tad Jakes, CFP®, EA, ECA
Apr 24, 20256 min read


Navigating the Tax Landscape
Tax planning is more than just filing your tax returns in April; it is about creating a comprehensive strategy to manage your tax...
Tad Jakes, CFP®, EA, ECA
Mar 31, 20254 min read


Tax-Smart Moves for Your Stock Awards Before the Year Ends
As the year draws to a close, it’s important for employees with equity compensation to review their holdings in restricted stock awards...
Tad Jakes, CFP®, EA, ECA
Dec 10, 20244 min read


Tax-Efficient Investing: How Asset Location Can Boost Your After-Tax Returns
You are probably aware of the three most crucial aspects of real estate investing: location, location, location. This concept is also...
Tad Jakes, CFP®, EA, ECA
Aug 28, 20245 min read


How to Maximize After-Tax Yield and Pitfalls to Avoid
Due to the Federal Reserve's rate hiking cycle, interest rates for many fixed-income securities are the highest we’ve seen since 2007. ...
Tad Jakes, CFP®, EA, ECA
Mar 6, 20246 min read

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