Reactive Advisors

January 20, 2026

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Being reactive can be frustrating and even costly…

John and June (as I will refer to them though not their real names), came in for a conversation a few months ago.

They had been working with an advisor for nearly 20 years at one of the big reputable brokerage firms, but felt like they needed more.

They weren’t sure what it was but talked about the lack of tax minimization advice and how the same securities investment tended to come up over and over again.

Even that wasn’t really enough to make a change, because they believed the investments had performed pretty well over the years because at this point in their life, being retired, they had amassed a good fortune for themselves.

As we talked about what they wanted and dug into their frustrations a bit more some other concerns surfaced they were not aware of before our conversation.

While the portfolio was professionally managed, they were led to believe there was a portion of the investments in alternatives that were to do well on the upside but also safe in a market downturn. As we dug into the details of the investment provided in the fine print of the prospectus the exact opposite was true.

Certainly there was the possibility of a nice upside, some of which they had experienced. But it was also true that the upside was capped, meaning limited. This may at times be appropriate especially if the downside is also limited but in this case it was not. Ouch.

Adding to the concerns became the realization that they were more than double in costs than what they were aware because as the investor they were paying for the investment costs inside these security investments.

As the year-end approached they were for the first time trying to get ahead of potential tax problems, and had gotten our help calculating tax liabilities and tax saving opportunities available to them. But then one more email came in from their current advisor.

The email simply said they had some realized capital gains in the year. That was it. No solution. No pre-planning for it throughout the year. No recognition of whether or not waiting to realize those gains into next year might be better. And no clarity about whether the gain was short-term or long-term, which is a critical detail.

That was it. With that they threw up their hands, so to speak. They decided they wanted proactive advice going forward for their retirement. Advice that allowed them to invest with insight and prepare proactively to minimize tax surprises and actually enhance their tax situation.

What about you?

Are you ready to learn what more might be possible for you?

You should know.

Reach out to our team to learn more about possible opportunities you have – investing, income, and taxes.

Know what you can do that can give you a potentially better future!

Warmly,

Barry

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“I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. ‘Tis the business of little minds to shrink, but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death.”

– Thomas Paine

Wealth With No Regrets ® is an investment advisor in Georgia. Wealth With No Regrets ® is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Registration of an investment advisor does not imply any specific level of skill or training and does not constitute an endorsement of the firm by the Commission. Wealth With No Regrets® only transacts business in states in which it is properly registered or is excluded or exempted from registration. A copy of Wealth With No Regrets’® current written disclosure brochure filed with the SEC which discusses, among other things, Wealth With No Regrets’® business practices, services, and fees is available through the SEC’s website at: www.adviserinfo.sec.gov Risk Disclosure: Investing involves risk including the potential loss of principal. No investment strategy can guarantee a profit or protect against loss in periods of declining values. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This material is for information purposes only and is not intended as an offer or solicitation with respect to the purchase or sale of any security. The content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information; no warranty, expressed or implied, is made regarding accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability, or usefulness of any information. Consult your financial professional before making any investment decision. For illustrative use only. This information is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax advice. We suggest that you discuss your specific situation with a qualified tax professional.

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