Samuel DeVries - Financial Advisor

Samuel DeVries - Financial Advisor I assist individuals, families, and small/medium sized business in creating and implementing financial plans Royal Alliance Associates, Inc.

I have been working in Financial Services since 2019 where I have helped individuals, families, and small/medium sized business in creating and implementing investment strategies and retirement goals that are custom tailored to their specific needs. My services include investment advisory services, individual retirement accounts, education/college planning strategies, small/medium business retirem

ent plans, life insurance strategies, and more. Please reach out if you have something on your mind and I would be happy to assist! I can be contacted at 616-965-9536 or [email protected]. Securities and investment advisory services offered through Royal Alliance Associates, Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC. is separately owned and other entities and/or marketing names, products or services referenced here are independent of Royal Alliance Associates, Inc. Registered Branch Number 616-538-2550.

This weekend my wife and I celebrate our first wedding anniversary.I thought I had my finances figured out as a single p...
05/22/2026

This weekend my wife and I celebrate our first wedding anniversary.

I thought I had my finances figured out as a single person.

Turns out, being intentional about money for one is very different from navigating it together with someone else.

Over the past year we’ve had conversations about:

💰 Combining finances and building a budget together
Two incomes. Two different habits. Two different perspectives on money.

🛡️ Updating our life insurance
Marriage changes what’s at stake and who depends on you.

🚗 Planning for major purchases intentionally
Those decisions become much easier when you communicate and plan instead of reacting in the moment.

🗣️ Having honest conversations
Income. Spending habits. Goals. Debt.
Not always comfortable — but avoiding those conversations usually creates bigger problems later.

This year reminded me that strong financial planning isn’t just about numbers.

It’s about communication, alignment, and making decisions as a team.

Happy anniversary to my best friend. Here’s to many more. ❤️

05/18/2026

“What’s your plan if your spouse passes away tomorrow?”

It’s one of the hardest questions I ask clients.

And the most common response is:
“Honestly… I don’t know.”

That’s usually when we start talking about life insurance.

Not because it’s exciting.
Because the financial consequences of getting it wrong can be massive.

One of the biggest mistakes I see?

People assume their employer coverage is enough.

In many cases, it’s only a small multiple of salary — sometimes not even enough to replace a few years of income.

Meanwhile, the surviving spouse may suddenly face:

* a mortgage
* childcare costs
* ongoing monthly bills
* lost income
* future education expenses

All while trying to navigate one of the hardest periods of their life.

Good life insurance planning isn’t about fear.

It’s about giving your family options and financial stability if the unexpected happens.

The right amount is different for everyone.

But “whatever work gives me” usually isn’t a strategy.

If you haven’t reviewed your coverage recently, especially after getting married, having kids, or increasing income, it’s probably worth a second look.

05/15/2026

One of the biggest mistakes self-employed business owners make?

Setting up a retirement plan once… and never revisiting it as the business grows.

I have a client in the building industry, and over the years we’ve used three different retirement plan structures as his income and team evolved.

Because the “best” plan at $100k of income usually isn’t the best plan at $500k+.

Here’s a simple breakdown:

💰 SEP IRA
Simple and easy to maintain.
Works well for solo operators or businesses with few employees.

But once your team grows, required employer contributions can become expensive quickly.

💼 SIMPLE IRA
A middle-ground option for small businesses wanting employee contributions with manageable administration.

More structure than a SEP — but still relatively straightforward.

🎯 Solo 401(k)
Designed for self-employed individuals with no full-time employees outside a spouse.

Higher contribution potential and more flexibility — especially valuable for higher earners.

The key point:

Your retirement plan should evolve as your business evolves.

The wrong setup can quietly cost you:

* tax savings
* contribution opportunities
* long-term flexibility

A lot of business owners are operating with plans that made sense 5 years ago… but no longer fit where they are today.

That’s worth reviewing.

05/13/2026

This week I sat down with one of my business owner clients.

7-figure income last year. And a tax bill to match.

What started as a routine review turned into a much bigger conversation.

Here’s what we uncovered:

📋 1099 interest and dividend income missing from prior tax filings

🏢 A retirement plan that no longer matched the size and profitability of the business

Two major issues. One meeting.

That’s the value of looking beyond just investments.

As income grows, financial blind spots grow too. And often, the biggest opportunities — or biggest mistakes — are hiding in places no one has reviewed in years.

A good financial plan shouldn’t operate in silos.

Tax strategy, retirement planning, business structure, cash flow — they all affect each other.

When was the last time someone looked at your full financial picture?

If you’re not sure, that might be your answer. Send me a message — I’m happy to take a look.

05/05/2026

Most clients come in with a number in mind. But after we start talking, the conversation always shifts.

What they actually want:

Freedom. Security. Options.

And the confidence that their money won't run out before they do.

After working with retirees and pre-retirees, here's what I've noticed about the ones who get there:

They treat retirement like a paycheck problem — not a portfolio problem.
They know exactly what they need every month and where it's coming from. Social Security. Distributions. Passive income. It's mapped out.

They stopped trying to time the market a long time ago.
They built a plan they could stick to — and they trust it. When headlines get loud, they get quiet.

They built optionality into their plan.
Roth accounts. Traditional accounts. Taxable accounts. They have levers to pull depending on what life throws at them.

The common thread?

It's never about the number.
It's about knowing your plan works — and having the confidence to live your retirement instead of worrying about it.

If that kind of clarity sounds like something your plan is missing, let's talk.

04/22/2026

Most people aren't bad at money…
They're just doing things in the wrong order.

Remember PEMDAS from math class? Do the steps out of order and you get the wrong answer.
Personal finance works the same way.

The biggest mistake I see: People jump straight to investing before building a foundation.
Here's the sequence I use with clients:

1️⃣ Protect against setbacks — Cover insurance deductibles and build initial cash reserves
2️⃣ Take the guaranteed win — Capture your full 401(k) match. Don't leave free money behind.
3️⃣ Eliminate expensive debt — High-interest balances can quietly undo everything else.
4️⃣ Build real liquidity — 3–6 months of expenses so you're never forced into bad decisions.
5️⃣ Then optimize and invest — Roth IRA, HSA, 401(k), and brokerage accounts. Now you're building efficiently.

Most people skip the first few steps and wonder why they feel stretched… even while investing.

That's not an investment problem. It's a sequencing problem.

Get the order right, and everything else gets easier.

If you're not sure where you are in this process, send me a message — I'll help you map it out.

04/02/2026

Most parents want to invest for their kids.

But they focus on the account before understanding the tradeoffs.

Here are four options — and when they actually make sense:

🗽US Trump Accounts (proposed 2026 launch)
A new option with a $1,000 federal seed contribution and $5,000 annual contribution limit. Funds grow tax-deferred in an S&P 500 index fund and can be used at 18 for education, a home purchase, or as a Traditional IRA.
Best for: getting something started early with structured use later
Big question: how flexible will the rules actually be once finalized?

🎓 529 Plans
Tax-advantaged growth designed for education expenses. No annual contribution limits — but be mindful of gift tax exclusions and state lifetime limits. Under SECURE Act 2.0, unused funds (up to $35,000) can now roll into a Roth IRA tax and penalty free.
Best for: parents confident the money will be used for education

💰 UGMA/UTMA Accounts
No contribution limits, but the child gains full control at age 18 or 21 depending on the state — with no restrictions on how they use it.
Best for: building assets in the child’s name with maximum flexibility

💼 Parent Brokerage Account
Total control and flexibility — but no tax advantages.
Best for: parents who want optionality and control above all else

Here’s the real decision:

Do you want tax advantages — or control and flexibility?

You usually don’t get both.

That tradeoff matters more than the account you choose.

If you’re setting money aside for your kids and aren’t sure which direction makes sense, send me a message — I’ll help you think it through.

The fastest way to spot bad financial advice?It starts with: "Here are the best stocks to buy right now."I get this ques...
03/30/2026

The fastest way to spot bad financial advice?

It starts with: "Here are the best stocks to buy right now."

I get this question all the time: "So what should I invest in?"

My answer is always the same: It depends — and that's exactly the point.

Because the real mistake isn't picking the wrong stock.
It's asking the wrong question.

Think of it like the game 20 Questions. Before I can point you in the right direction, I need to understand the full picture first:

• Do you have cash reserves, or are you one emergency away from debt?
• Are you protecting your income and family, or hoping nothing goes wrong?
• Are you optimizing your 401(k) match and tax strategy?
• Are you investing for long-term growth, or funding a goal in the next 2–3 years?

Most people skip this and jump straight to investments.

That's backwards.

Sometimes the right move is something simple — an S&P 500 fund or VTI.

But other times, the highest-return decision isn't in the market at all. It's eliminating risk, building liquidity, or fixing your foundation first.

Good financial planning isn't about better stock picks.
It's about better decision sequencing.

If you're not sure whether you're focusing on the right things in the right order — that's a much bigger risk than picking the "wrong" investment.

Message me if you want a second opinion. I'll give you a straight answer.

You might be paying more in taxes than you need to — and not even realize it.From investment timing to account selection...
03/25/2026

You might be paying more in taxes than you need to — and not even realize it.

From investment timing to account selection, small decisions can have a big impact on your total tax bill.

Here are five areas to keep in mind this tax season. 👉 Swipe to see each one.

Have questions about your own tax strategy? Send me a DM — I'm always happy to help you find opportunities you might be missing.

03/23/2026

Most people in 401(k)s are defaulted into target date funds… and never question it.

That’s not always a good thing.

Target date funds are designed to be “set it and forget it” — automatically shifting from stocks to bonds as you get closer to retirement.

Simple? Yes.
Optimal? Not always.

Here’s where they can quietly work against you:

⚠️ They assume everyone retires the same way
Your income needs, risk tolerance, and outside assets aren’t factored in

⚠️ They can get too conservative too early
Many start dialing down risk in your 40s and 50s — right when your earning power is highest

⚠️ They ignore your broader strategy
Tax planning, other investments, and income timing aren’t considered

For some investors, they’re a great fit.

But for many, they’re just the default option — not the right one.

Before you assume your 401(k) is “handled,” take a closer look at what you actually own.

If you want a second opinion on your allocation, send me a message. I’ll tell you straight whether it makes sense or not.

03/18/2026

Most retirees don’t have a tax problem.

They have a process problem.

Met with a couple today—74 and 76—after their longtime advisor retired. Within 10 minutes, I heard the line I hear all the time:

“I really don’t like taxes.”

Here’s the uncomfortable truth:
At that stage, taxes aren’t the enemy—unforced errors are.

They were donating to charity regularly… straight from their checking account.

Good intention. Wrong ex*****on.

Because at 70½+, there’s a better move:
Use IRA dollars to fund those same donations and offset Required Minimum Distributions—without increasing taxable income.

Same dollars. Same charities.
Completely different tax outcome.

This is where most financial plans quietly break down:
Not from bad investments—but from missed coordination.

Income isn’t aligned with taxes

Taxes aren’t aligned with giving

Giving isn’t aligned with distribution strategy

And the client pays for it—every single year.

We fixed that in one meeting.

Today, I gained a client.
But more importantly, they stopped leaking money to the IRS unnecessarily.

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Grandville, MI
49428

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