Todd W. Cottingham SGWP

09/03/2026

Rolling your 401(k) into an IRA might feel routine, but it can be a decision that’s difficult to undo. Check these things first:

💰 Compare the fees: IRA investments can sometimes cost more than funds in a workplace plan, and even small differences can add up to tens of thousands of dollars over time.

🔒 Know what you’re giving up: Once money leaves an old 401(k), you may not be able to move it back, even though keeping it in the former employer’s plan is often an option.

🎯 Compare the trade-offs: IRAs may offer more investment choices and withdrawal flexibility, while 401(k)s can offer lower-cost funds, loans, and added protections.

See what to weigh before moving your retirement savings: https://cnb.cx/4x7wPOb

Rollovers from 401(k)-type plans to IRAs are growing more common. But there are pros and cons.

09/02/2026

Your 60s are more than a countdown to retirement—they’re a chance to make strategic moves. Align income and spending, adjust investments, and stay ahead of tax changes. Discover the moves that can help put your retirement plan on solid footing. https://bit.ly/4qWhs9S

Your 60s are the home stretch into retirement. Discover strategies to turn your plan into action, create income, and retire with confidence.

08/31/2026

We are excited to share an important milestone in our company’s journey. After nearly 50 years as Seide Financial Group, we are proud to introduce our new name: StratGen Wealth Partners.

Inspired by our founding philosophy of Strategies for Generations™, our new name reflects both the legacy we have built and the future we envision. While our name and brand are evolving, the values that have guided us for nearly five decades remain unchanged. We are committed to providing thoughtful advice, fostering lasting relationships, and helping individuals, families, and business owners navigate life's opportunities and challenges with confidence.

Thank you to our clients, partners, and community for your trust and support. We're excited for this next chapter and look forward to continuing to serve you as StratGen Wealth Partners.

08/28/2026

Building wealth that lasts beyond your lifetime takes more than luck. The right structures, investments, and family habits can help support a longer-term legacy.

🏛️ Create a clear plan: Trusts and other estate-planning tools can guide how assets are managed, transferred, and used.
🏠 Build varied income sources: Rental property, dividend-paying stocks, and bonds may provide income while spreading risk.
📚 Teach the next generation: Share your financial approach with heirs so they are better prepared to manage what they receive.

Explore more ways retirees can use passive income and planning to build generational wealth: https://bit.ly/4x6bjcY

08/27/2026

42% of Americans wouldn’t know what to do if a family member died today, and that jumps to 56% among those without an estate plan.

📄 Get organized before you talk: Have your plan in place, then make sure family knows where to find your will, financial information, and other important documents.

❤️ Explain choices that may surprise them: Unequal inheritances or unexpected decisions can create tension, so sharing the reasoning behind them may help reduce confusion later.

👥 Choose who’s in charge carefully: One executor with alternates, or a neutral third party, may be simpler than asking multiple people to make every decision together.

See six ways to make estate-planning conversations easier and more productive: https://bit.ly/3UbRjHP

It can be hard to talk about estate planning, especially when it comes to your parents, siblings or children. Here's how to get past the awkwardness.

08/26/2026

Building wealth is one thing. Keeping it is a whole different skill set.

📊 Know what you have: Take stock of your cash, retirement accounts, real estate, investments, and business interests so you have a clear picture of your finances.

🎯 Plan your spending, not just your saving: Think ahead to travel, healthcare, charitable giving, and other goals so your money continues to support your priorities over time.

📉 Manage debt and taxes: Paying down high-interest debt can reduce what you lose to interest, while thoughtful withdrawal and tax planning may help you keep more of what you’ve built.

See the full checklist for managing and protecting wealth over the long term:

A step-by-step framework to protect, grow and pass on your wealth across generations.

08/24/2026

“If you have to ask, you can’t afford it” may work for yachts. When it comes to your portfolio, not asking could be costly. Building wealth and managing it well are two different skills.

📉 Know your returns: A complicated investment strategy doesn’t automatically mean better results. Make sure you know how your investments are actually performing over time.

🎯 Don’t assume the same approach still fits: The risks that helped build your wealth may not make sense once your goal shifts to managing it for the future.

📊 Measure what matters: Look beyond your account balance to understand how your investments are performing, how much risk you’re taking, and how easily you can access your money.

See why measuring the right things may matter more than adding another strategy: https://bit.ly/4hRCd42

Building a fortune is one thing, managing it successfully through a family office is another. Investor and philanthropist Michael W. Sonnenfeldt has a solution.

08/21/2026

A mini-fridge isn’t the only college essential worth checking off the list. Before move-in day, have a talk to help your student build a strong financial foundation.

💵 Cover the basics: Help your college-bound student understand how everyday financial choices around spending, saving, and borrowing can affect their future.

🏦 Build an emergency fund: Setting aside cash for unexpected costs can help them avoid debt or tapping long-term savings when life throws a curveball.

💳 Explain credit: A credit card is borrowed money, not extra income. Show them how unpaid balances can add interest and affect their credit history.

Want more ways to stay involved in your student’s finances without hovering? Read more: https://bit.ly/4gvnhY6

Your child might have all their dorm supplies, but have they got everything they need to be financially independent when they start college?