Neil Manning, CFP of Gateway Financial Partners

08/27/2026

The few years before and after retirement can carry a lot of weight.

If the market takes a downturn right as you begin relying on your savings for income, it can affect your plan differently than it would earlier in your career.

That’s why flexibility matters. Morningstar breaks down the “retirement red zone” and a few ways to help prepare for it.

Your portfolio is most vulnerable in the 5 years before and after you retire. But you can protect it, financial planner Dana Anspach says.

08/24/2026

Net Unrealized Appreciation is the growth in value of employer stock held in a 401(k) or similar plan.

If you take the stock out of the plan using NUA rules:

You pay income tax only on the original cost (basis),

And pay capital gains tax (often lower) on the growth when you sell the stock later.

Example:

Stock contributed at $10,000 → now worth $50,000

You’d pay income tax on $10,000 now, and capital gains on $40,000 later.

Applies only to:

• Employer stock
• Lump-sum distributions
• Specific IRS rules

NUA can offer tax flexibility, but it's not right for everyone. Timing, tax brackets, and long-term goals all matter.

08/20/2026

Having all the ingredients doesn’t automatically make a great meal.

Think about it. You can have great ingredients in the kitchen, but if you use the wrong proportions, overcook one part, or leave something important out, the meal can still fall flat.

Retirement planning needs that same type of balance and timing. You may have a pension, Social Security, a 401(k), savings, and investments. The bigger question is how those pieces work together.

The plan should work as a whole, not as a collection of separate accounts.

Just some food for thought.

860.430.8141
[email protected]

08/20/2026

Have an old 401(k) sitting with a previous employer?

The IRS is introducing new forms designed to make certain retirement account rollovers easier to understand and complete.

Forbes has more.

The optional forms aim to standardize direct rollovers, encourage electronic transfers, and take some of the paperwork out of moving retirement savings.

08/18/2026

Me skipping songs in my playlist as if I didn't add them...

You know that playlist you made a few years ago that somehow still has songs you always skip?

Your investments can be a little like that.

A portfolio that made sense five or ten years ago may not fit quite as well today.

Maybe retirement is getting closer.

Maybe your priorities have changed.

That doesn’t always mean you need to make big changes.

Sometimes, it just means checking in and making sure your investments still line up with where you’re headed.

If retirement is on your mind, I’d be happy to help you take a closer look at your plan.

860.430.8141
[email protected]

08/14/2026

That was one great night for baseball☝️ Thank you to everyone who came out to our annual Yard Goats client event!

08/13/2026

Some of the biggest financial missteps aren’t complicated. They’re everyday habits that can quietly add up over time.

Are you making these money mistakes?

Building long-term wealth isn't about finding the perfect investment. It's about avoiding common financial mistakes and focusing on consistent daily habits.

08/11/2026

Free seed money sounds like a deal. But what about everything that comes after it?

Trump Accounts come with a $1,000 government contribution for some eligible children, but that doesn’t automatically make them the best option for every family.

In my latest blog, I break down how they work, how they compare with other tax-advantaged accounts, and the question families should really be asking: deal or no deal?

Check it out on Neil's Nook: https://mygfpartner.com/2026/07/28/trump-accounts-deal-or-no-deal/

08/09/2026

Planning for income means thinking through when, how, and from where to draw funds.

Not every account works the same way.