TandemGrowth Financial Advisors, LLC

05/29/2026

If you work for a large employer such as Delta Air Lines, UPS, The Coca-Cola Company, Home Depot, or a similar organization, nonqualified deferred compensation may be an important part of your compensation package.

In our latest blog, Jeff walks through through some planning considerations executives may want to explore well before retirement approaches, including:

✅ How distribution elections work under IRS Section 409A
✅ Why the timing and structure of distributions matters for your tax picture
✅ How deferred compensation interacts with Social Security, RMDs, and other retirement income sources
✅ What to understand about the risk profile of NQDC plans compared to qualified accounts

Understanding how these plans fit alongside retirement income, taxes, and other assets is often most effective when explored years before retirement.

Read the article here: https://www.tandemgrowth.com/blog/deferred-compensation-planning-considerations-for-executives-approaching-retirement/

05/26/2026

For individuals approaching retirement, investment risk is about more than just market volatility.

But what if the greater challenge is being forced to make financial decisions during periods of uncertainty because of income changes, fixed expenses, or limited liquidity?

In this month’s Perspectives episode of *The Money & Meaning Show*, Jeff Bernier explores why financial resilience is about more than portfolio allocation alone.

Topics include:

• Why staying invested matters during market downturns
• The role liquidity plays in long-term investing
• How fixed lifestyle expenses can increase financial pressure
• Why flexibility can matter just as much as investment strategy

🎧 Listen to the full episode here: https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-kaes7-1acdc60

👀 Watch the episode here: https://youtu.be/9OPckJjH8cM

05/06/2026

Retirement rarely follows a straight line.

This WSJ piece shares real stories of individuals navigating divorce later in life and the financial and personal adjustments that came with it.

The article highlights a few themes:
📍Retirement assets and income streams are often divided after divorce
📍Housing decisions and taxes can have a meaningful financial impact
📍Some individuals delay retirement or adjust spending as a result
📍Planning decisions may become more complex when navigating these changes

It’s may offer a helpful perspective on how life events can influence retirement planning in ways that aren’t always easy to anticipate.

https://www.wsj.com/personal-finance/divorce-retirement-america-6d03e3e2?mod=personal-finance_trendingnow_article_pos2

05/04/2026

Retirement isn’t just about a number. It’s about the life you want to live.

In our latest article, we explore a different way to think about retirement planning—one that starts with your lifestyle, your priorities, and what matters most to you.

From travel and family to flexibility and giving, your plan should reflect the choices that shape your life.

If you’re thinking about what the next chapter could look like, this may be a helpful place to start.

Retirement looks different for everyone, especially for those who have spent years building wealth, businesses, and meaningful careers. For many, the goal is not just stepping away from work. It is about stepping into a lifestyle that reflects personal values, long-held ambitions, and the freedom to...

04/28/2026

We’re continuing to grow at TandemGrowth Financial Advisors!

We’re looking to add a Wealth Advisor to our team in Alpharetta, GA. This is an important role for us, and we’re taking a thoughtful approach to finding the right fit—someone who enjoys building real relationships with clients and values a deep financial planning process that looks beyond the numbers.

We’re ideally looking for a CFP® professional with at least five years of experience working directly with clients in an advisory role, preferably in a fee-only or planning-focused environment.

If you or someone in your network might be a fit, we’d welcome the conversation.

Check us out here: https://www.tandemgrowth.com/who-we-are/

Learn more here: https://bit.ly/4n4VXBO

04/28/2026

New episode of Money & Meaning is out!

Financial planning isn’t just about numbers. It’s about making thoughtful decisions that support the life you want to live.

In this conversation, Jeff sits down with Jason Lina of Golden Bell Financial Planning to share perspectives on how experienced advisors approach uncertainty, build simple and durable plans, and help clients stay focused on what matters most.

It’s a look at what thoughtful financial planning can look like over time.

Listen here 🎧 https://bit.ly/4vXjyIs
Watch here 👀 https://bit.ly/3R6nczK

04/01/2026

40 Years

1986 was a memorable year: the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster, Chernobyl, the Reagan–Gorbachev summit in Reykjavik, Iran-Contra, and Mike Tyson becoming the youngest heavyweight champion ever.

On April 1, 1986, the S&P 500 closed at 235.52. (It closed at 6,528.52 on March 31, 2026.)

And I began my career as a financial advisor.

Hard to believe — 40 years ago, I started this journey in financial planning. I was young, excited, and honestly had no idea where the path would ultimately lead. But I knew I had found something meaningful: helping people make informed decisions about their financial lives.

Over the first 17 years, I built a practice within a larger financial services firm. The last 23 years, I’ve had the privilege of serving as both advisor and entrepreneur at TandemGrowth Financial Advisors. It has been an incredible ride.

I’m deeply grateful to the TandemGrowth team, our clients, and colleagues who have made my life’s work possible.

In 2013, when I turned 50, something became clearer. I gained a sharper vision of how our firm should serve clients. We became more intentional about helping people uncover what matters most — and aligning their financial plans with those priorities.

That mission continues today: helping clients gain clarity and confidence so they can focus on what matters most in their lives.

I feel fortunate to have found a profession that allows me to live out what I believe is a God-inspired calling. I remain excited about the future and look forward to leading a team committed to serving clients with excellence for many years to come.

Thank you for being part of the journey,
Jeff

04/01/2026

When global events impact energy markets, we often feel it quickly, especially at the gas pump.

In this April Perspectives episode of The Money & Meaning Show, Jeff Bernier shares a thoughtful perspective on how war can influence oil prices, inflation, and the broader economy, and how investors can think about it without overreacting.

Uncertainty is part of investing. The focus is not on predicting outcomes, but on staying grounded and aligned with a long-term plan.

🎧 Listen to the full episode here: https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-gha25-1a8156d
👀 Watch full episode here: https://youtu.be/PiwJViLnZKg

03/18/2026

We came across this Wall Street Journal article and thought it was worth sharing.

Financial fraud targeting older Americans is on the rise — the FBI reported nearly $5 billion in losses among people 60+ in 2024, up more than 40% from the prior year. And most fraud goes unreported, so the real number is likely much higher.

The article highlights several ways to protect yourself or a loved one:
• Slow down and resist pressure to act quickly — urgency is one of scammers' most effective tools
• Verify phone numbers and emails independently, never using contact info from unsolicited messages
• Set limits on financial transfers with your bank or brokerage
• Designate a trusted contact on your financial accounts
• Report suspected fraud to police quickly — acting fast can make a difference

https://www.wsj.com/health/wellness/how-to-protect-yourself-from-financial-scams-targeting-older-adults-8bcffeda?mod=personal-finance_lead_pos5

03/10/2026

Artificial intelligence has quickly moved from a technology story to a personal one.

Clients are asking thoughtful questions.
What if AI really changes everything?
What does it mean for the way we invest?

In this March Perspectives episode of The Money & Meaning Show, Jeff Bernier explores how investors can think about the current AI moment without getting pulled into extremes.

The public conversation often swings between utopia and catastrophe. Markets, however, process expectations.

This episode explores:

• Why excitement around transformative technology often runs ahead of reality
• What recent market movements may be signaling about expectations and valuations
• The risk of concentration around a compelling narrative
• Why diversification and rebalancing still matter during periods of innovation
• How resilience can matter more than prediction when the future feels uncertain

The future rarely unfolds in straight lines. Technological progress tends to be uneven, adaptive, and human.

For investors, the goal is not to win the AI debate.
It is to build a strategy that can endure whatever the future turns out to be.

In this episode of Money & Meaning, Jeff Bernier reflects on a recent client conversation sparked by a Wall Street Journal article about an AI “tsunami.” Jeff examines the tension between AI as transformative breakthrough and potential disruption, and what that means for investors. Using rec...

02/28/2026

When one spouse passes away, the surviving partner is often left managing more than grief. They may also face unexpected financial complications.

A recent Wall Street Journal article highlighted common surprises widowed spouses encounter, from locked accounts to tax changes and hidden debts.

The article shared several suggestions for couples:

• Review finances together regularly
• Keep clear, updated records of accounts and debts
• Consider how assets are titled and whether they avoid probate
• Add Transfer on Death (TOD) or Payable on Death (POD) designations where appropriate
• Maintain individual liquidity so each spouse has access to funds
• Make sure both spouses have credit in their own name
• Understand how taxes may change after one spouse passes

https://www.wsj.com/personal-finance/five-financial-blind-spots-that-burden-grieving-spouses-57e52a85?mod=personal-finance_feat3_savings_pos4