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Independent insights, education, and industry analysis for investors seeking transparent, fee-only advice.

Educational Articles

EducationalAug 21, 20266 min read

7 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Financial Advisor

Choosing a financial advisor is one of the more consequential decisions you'll make for your family's financial future, and it isn't always obvious how to tell a good fit from a bad one. Titles like "...

EducationalAug 14, 20265 min read

What Does a Fiduciary Financial Advisor Actually Do for You?

"Fiduciary" gets used a lot in financial services, but a surprising number of people who hire a financial advisor never ask what the word actually obligates that advisor to do. It's not a marketing te...

Alex Bridges

Retirement PlanningAug 13, 20261 min read

Inheritance Planning and Tax-Smart Financial Decisions

Inheritance can bring a mix of emotions—and just as many questions. Between paperwork, inherited accounts, family conversations, and tax considerations, it can be hard to know what to do first.

Erin OBrien

EducationalAug 7, 20266 min read

Fee-Only vs. Fee-Based Financial Advisors: What Is the Real Difference?

Every week, someone asks me about the difference between a "fee-only" advisor and a "fee-based" advisor, and I understand why. The two phrases look nearly identical on paper, and a lot of marketing ma...

Alex Bridges

EducationalJul 31, 202619 min read

Fee-Only Financial Advisors Explained: What You Pay, What You Get, and Why It Matters

Fee-Only Financial Advisors Explained: What You Pay, What You Get, and Why It MattersA fee-only financial advisor is compensated directly by clients and does not receive commissions or other sales-rel...

Alex Bridges

Estate PlanningJul 27, 202613 min read

How to Leave a Financial Legacy for Children and Grandchildren

Leaving a financial legacy is not simply about passing down the largest possible inheritance. A thoughtful legacy plan should reflect what you want your money to accomplish, preserve your own financia...

Alex Bridges

EducationalJul 1, 20264 min read

4 Summer Expenses People Forget to Budget For

Summer is a time for fun with friends & family, but it's also a time where it becomes easier to spend loosely. Here are 4 expenses most people forget to budget for this time of year

Patrick Yaghoobians

Retirement PlanningJun 29, 20269 min read

Target Date Funds: 5 Things to Know Before Setting and Forgetting

I explain why Christians should rethink default target-date funds, check fees, and consider faith-aligned investing for a values-driven retirement.

Nick Garofalo

EducationalJun 28, 20266 min read

The One-Page Financial Plan Built for Freelancers and Content Creators

Most financial advice was built for people with one employer and one paycheck — not for freelancers and content creators juggling variable income, multiple revenue streams, and quarterly taxes. The one-page financial plan fixes that by breaking your entire financial picture down into five sections: cash flow and net worth, taxes, investments, risk analysis, and a 12-month action plan. It takes 1 to 2 hours the first time through and about 45 minutes every year after that. Come back to it once a

Louis Guajardo

EducationalJun 25, 20265 min read

What to Do When a Parent Passes Away: A Guide for the First 90 Days

Losing a parent is difficult enough without having to navigate the financial and legal responsibilities that follow. I've worked with families after the loss of a parent, and one thing I've learned is that most people don't need more legal terminology during the first few weeks. They need someone to help them understand what should happen first, what can wait, and where costly mistakes are most often made. That's the purpose of this guide. This article isn't intended to replace advice from an estate attorney, CPA, or financial planner. Every estate is different. Instead, it provides a practical roadmap for navigating the first 90 days after losing a parent.

James Hargrave

OtherJun 24, 20264 min read

Wealth is more than valuable possessions & money

Wealth… what a beautiful word, don’t you agree? It rolls off the tongue and gives us a sense of satisfaction as it’s heavily associated with happiness (think, Scrooge McDuck taking a swim amongst his gold coins). For many of us, wealth is the target of our being, at least in a financial sense. Oxford defines wealth as “an abundance of valuable possessions or money.” Although I agree this is a good, straight forward definition - I ask you not to take it at face value and look within yourself for

Filip Telibasa

EducationalMay 28, 20267 min read

How Having a Financial Plan Can Help You Save for Your Long-Term Goals

Having a financial plan provides direction and discipline to stay on target to meet your long-term goals.

Steve Stanganelli

Investment StrategyMay 27, 20261 min read

Six Tax-Efficient Strategies to Manage Concentrated Stock Position

A concentrated stock portfolio can feel like both a blessing and a challenge. While managing such positions can be complex, they also present significant opportunities for strategic wealth management. This downloadable guide outlines risks, opportunities and strategic options to manage a concentrated portfolio.

Janet Wan

EducationalMay 21, 202615 min read

Guide to Roth conversions for surviving spouse and heirs

Whenever I have an initial conversation with a potential new client, I mention how taxes and investing are “joined at the hip.” You don’t want to let the “tax tail wag the dog” (meaning you don’t want...

Philip Weiss

EducationalMay 14, 20264 min read

When (and When Not) to Pay Off Your Loans Early

Debt isn’t always the villain it’s made out to be. In fact, when managed strategically, debt can be a powerful financial tool for high earners. The decision to pay off a loan early, or to keep it work...

Betsy Hutchins

Tax PlanningMay 12, 20265 min read

Tax Preparation vs. Tax Planning

When April rolls around, millions of Americans engage in a familiar ritual: gathering W2s, 1099s, and expense receipts to hand off to a professional. This is tax preparation. It is an essential, neces...

John Davis

Tax PlanningMay 12, 20263 min read

Why Health Savings Accounts Are a Powerful Tool for Tax-Efficient Wealth Building

At Martos Wealth, we believe that every financial decision should reflect your values, support your long-term goals, and create space for future possibilities. One strategy that often goes overlooked ...

Shalina Martos

EducationalApr 15, 20264 min read

When Should I Start Investing? Why Starting Small Beats Waiting to Go Big

Thinking of investing? Start small now instead of waiting! Even a little can grow over time. Let’s make your financial journey easier together!

Nick Garofalo

EducationalMay 12, 20265 min read

Steps to Building and Sustaining Long-Term Wealth

For most people, steady, ongoing work is the foundation of their wealth. Career success and a good salary, or building and growing your own business, are the means to a lifestyle you enjoy now and the...

Shalina Martos

Investment StrategyApr 1, 202612 min read

From Railroad Bonds to Index Funds: Why Christians Need to Know Their Investments

Modern passive investing has disconnected us from understanding what companies we actually own, creating a moral blind spot where we may unknowingly profit from businesses that contradict our values.

Nick Garofalo

EducationalMay 14, 20265 min read

Financial Planning for High-Earning Women in Medicine & Dentistry

Women in medicine and dentistry often earn high incomes after years of training and career development, but many feel uncertain about how to translate that income into long-term financial security. Be...

Betsy Hutchins

Tax PlanningMay 8, 20266 min read

The Hidden Dangers of Overfunding a 529 (And the New Roth IRA Option)

Overfunding a 529 can lead to unexpected costs. Let's explore the new Roth IRA option and how to manage college savings wisely!

Nick Garofalo

EducationalMar 27, 20269 min read

How We Act with Money: The 9 Key Financial Behavioural Traits and Thought Provoking Insights

1.0 IntroductionWhen you think about financial planning, “behavioural traits” probably aren’t the first thing that come to mind. While it’s true that financial planning involves numbers and projection...

Andrew Darch

EducationalMar 6, 20269 min read

Logistical Challenges of Moving a 529 Plan to a Roth IRA

The Deep Dive:Starting in 2024, families gained a powerful new planning lever:You can roll unused 529 funds into a Roth IRA for the beneficiary.That sentence sounds simple.The execution is not.If you ...

James Hargrave

EducationalMay 8, 20266 min read

How Much Life Insurance Do I Need? A Guide for Families and Business Owners

Wondering how much life insurance you need? Let’s break it down together with practical tips tailored for families and business owners. Reach out for help!

Nick Garofalo

EducationalFeb 22, 20262 min read

Fiduciary Financial Advisor: How It Protects and Grows Your Wealth

Learn what it means to work with a fiduciary financial advisor and why this commitment makes a major difference for your wealth. Insights from Cool Wealth Management in Phoenix, Arizona.

Grady Cool

Estate PlanningApr 15, 20263 min read

Estate Planning Is About More Than Documents. It’s About Being Heard.

Major life changes have a way of pulling financial planning out of the “I’ll deal with this later” pile and placing it squarely in front of us. Suddenly, the things we meant to get to tomorrow, next m...

Igor Aronov

EducationalMay 14, 20264 min read

5 Money Mistakes Even Successful Women Make

Success has a way of creating assumptions, especially when it comes to money. When you earn well, advance your career, and appear financially responsible, it’s easy to believe you’ve already checked t...

Betsy Hutchins

Retirement PlanningMar 26, 20266 min read

What To Do With Your Old 401(k) Before Year-End: Smart Moves for Retirees and Job Changers

As the year winds down, it is a natural time to clean up your financial life. You might be reviewing investments, preparing for tax season, or simply trying to start the new year on solid footing. One of the biggest items people tend to forget is what to do with an old 401(k). If you recently changed jobs or retired, you may still have money sitting in a former employer’s plan. It is common, but it is rarely ideal. Knowing what to do with that account before the new year can make your finances simpler, more flexible, and potentially more tax efficient in the long run.

Aaron Randak

Estate PlanningApr 15, 20263 min read

Legacy Is More Than Words

Last year, when my father passed away, our family experienced something that many families eventually face. Even when you believe things are reasonably organized, understanding someone’s financial lif...

Igor Aronov

Estate PlanningApr 15, 20265 min read

Freeze It Before They Use It: Protecting Yourself from Identity Theft

A few years ago, my wife became a victim of identity theft. Someone accessed her credit report and created an alternative identity of a Google engineer living in Georgia—neither of which was true! The...

Igor Aronov

Retirement PlanningMay 12, 20267 min read

Medicare Enrollment: Key Considerations Before & After Age 65

Reaching 65: A Milestone Worth CelebratingTurning 65 is more than a birthday, it’s a gateway to new possibilities, including access to Medicare. Whether you’ve timed your retirement to coincide with M...

Shalina Martos

Tax PlanningMay 12, 20264 min read

Charitable Giving Strategies for Retirees

Charitable giving is a cornerstone of many financial plans, helping to achieve personal goals and providing potential tax benefits. With the passing of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBA) the landsc...

John Davis