Ryan Landmark, CFP, Chfc - Northwestern Mutual

Ryan Landmark, CFP, Chfc - Northwestern Mutual Protecting what's important. Investing into the future. Preserving what's been built.

It’s Faithful Friday! This post is for the men out there.Especially fathers with kids still at home.Have you seen those ...
08/07/2026

It’s Faithful Friday!
This post is for the men out there.
Especially fathers with kids still at home.

Have you seen those videos floating around online that start with a caption like:
"What's it feel like to be a dad?"

Then a little kid says:
"Good job, Daddy!"

Or a baby grabs his dad's thumb.

Or a toddler says:
"I love you."

And suddenly Linkin Park's “Somewhere I Belong” fades in at the chorus.

Then comes the montage.

Air Force jets doing a flyover.

Bears fighting.

Rocky landing a massive punch on Ivan Drago.

Michael Jordan throwing down a dunk.

Obi-Wan and Anakin battling surrounded by lava.

You know… that kind of epic sh**

As someone living that stage of life right now...
They're funny because they're true.

There is something incredibly powerful about knowing that a little human looks at you as their protector, provider, teacher, and hero.

No paycheck…
No achievement…
No possession…
…comes close to that feeling.

Which is why this verse hits differently as a father:
"From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." (Luke 12:48, NIV)

Being a parent is one of the greatest blessings many of us will ever receive.
It's also one of the greatest responsibilities.

And part of that responsibility is making sure the people who depend on us are cared for, even when life doesn't go according to plan.

That's where financial planning comes in.

Not because money is the goal.
Because stewardship is.

Protecting your family.
Preparing for the unexpected.
Making wise decisions today that create options tomorrow.

The feeling of being a father is incredible.
The responsibility that comes with it is real.

Both are gifts worth embracing.

Cheers!

-Ryan

"More money, more problems."Ever heard that?While that may not be true for all of life's problems, it often is true for ...
08/06/2026

"More money, more problems."
Ever heard that?

While that may not be true for all of life's problems, it often is true for money problems.

Not because having money is bad.

Because as wealth grows, the decisions get more nuanced.
There are more options, more tradeoffs, more moving pieces, and things are less black-and-white.

This is what makes financial planning so interesting.

For someone in the accumulation phase, the questions often are:
Should I exercise these stock options now or later?
Should I invest more in my business or my portfolio?
Should I prioritize tax savings today or tax flexibility later?

For someone approaching or in retirement:
Which accounts should I spend from first?
How much risk should I take?
Should I do Roth conversions this year?
When should I take Social Security?
How do I create income while minimizing taxes?

And for families focused on estate planning:
How much should I give during my lifetime?
How should assets be titled?
What's the most efficient way to transfer wealth?
How do I help my children without hurting them?

At higher levels of wealth, the challenge usually isn't a lack of opportunities.
It's figuring out which good option is best.

Almost every decision comes with pros and cons.

That's why I love this type of planning.

The answers are rarely black-and-white obvious.

But when all of the pieces come together correctly, the impact can be significant.

Cheers!

-Ryan

08/05/2026

Take a deep breath. I can help you adjust those numbers so you can be relaxed and calm more than 2% of the time. The right financial plan can help. Let’s chat.

"How much should we keep in safe reserves?"This is one of the most common questions I get as a financial advisor.And, as...
08/05/2026

"How much should we keep in safe reserves?"

This is one of the most common questions I get as a financial advisor.
And, as with most things in financial planning, the answer is it depends.

Here's a simple roadmap:

If you have a stable job, strong cash flow, and no major upcoming expenses...
3-6 months of essential expenses is often a reasonable starting point. It’s easier to think in multiples of monthly income, so for a stable job family – 3 months of income is great.

If your income is more variable...
Think business owner, salesperson, commission-based employee, or someone working in a cyclical industry...
6-12 months may make more sense.

If you're approaching retirement or recently retired...
You may want even more.
Having sufficient reserves can reduce the need to sell investments during a market downturn.

But here's where I think people get tripped up.
The goal isn't to maximize cash.
The goal is to maximize flexibility.

Too little cash can create stress and force bad decisions.
Too much cash can create a different problem: money sitting on the sidelines for years losing purchasing power to inflation.

That's why I like thinking about reserves in buckets 
Emergency fund.
For the unexpected.
Near-term spending.
Money for expenses you know are coming in the next few years.
Long-term investments / money that likely won't be needed for many years.

When you separate reserves this way, the answer becomes much clearer.

The person with a stable W-2 job and no major expenses coming up probably needs a different amount of cash than the business owner, recent retiree, or family planning to buy a house next year.

So instead of asking:
"How much cash should I have?"

A better question is:
"What risks am I trying to protect against, and how much flexibility do I want if they occur?"

That's usually where the right answer starts to reveal itself.

Cheers!

-Ryan

There's a big shift happening in how parents save for their children's future.For years, the conversation was almost ent...
08/04/2026

There's a big shift happening in how parents save for their children's future.

For years, the conversation was almost entirely about college savings.
Today, many parents want flexibility.

As a result, I see more people considering UTMA/UGMA accounts, taxable brokerage accounts, and now even "Trump Accounts" for younger children.

Each works very differently.

UTMA and UGMA accounts offer flexibility.
The money can generally be used for anything that is in the child’s best interest, not just education.
But there are some drawbacks that parents often overlook.
Once the money is contributed, it legally belongs to the child.
You're just the custodian.
At a certain age, typically 18 or 21 depending on the state, the child gets control.
Whether they're ready or not.
There can also be tax annoyances.
While some investment income may be taxed at the child's rate, larger amounts can trigger the "kiddie tax" rules and end up taxed at the parents' rate.
You'll also have annual tax reporting requirements if the account generates enough income.

Then there are taxable brokerage accounts owned by the parents.
This approach is becoming more popular because it maximizes control for the parents.
The assets stay in your name.
You decide when money is gifted.
You decide how much is gifted.
You decide what it's used for.
The tradeoff is simple: no special tax advantages.
You'll owe taxes on dividends, interest, and realized gains along the way.

There's also the newer "Trump Account" option.
These accounts are designed to help families save and invest for children, but the money generally comes with more restrictions than a UTMA or brokerage account.
Think of them as sitting somewhere between a retirement account and a custodial account.
Potential tax benefits may exist, but flexibility is more limited than a traditional brokerage account.

The bigger point:
Each account is optimizing for something different.
529s optimize for education and tax benefits.
UTMA/UGMA accounts optimize for flexibility of funds, but you give up future control.
Brokerage accounts optimize for parental control and maximum flexibility.
Trump Accounts may offer tax benefits, but with additional rules and restrictions.

That's why the first question isn't:
"Which account is best?"
It's:
"What do I actually want this money to accomplish?"

The answer to that question usually determines which account makes the most sense.

Cheers!

-Ryan

The Fed held rates steady, but markets remain focused on whether tighter financial conditions will be enough to bring in...
08/04/2026

The Fed held rates steady, but markets remain focused on whether tighter financial conditions will be enough to bring inflation back to target. Read Northwestern Mutual’s latest weekly market commentary. http://spr.ly/6183BE7GXt

Last week, I saw a post in a Facebook group for business owners.Someone shared their income and the amount of kids they ...
08/03/2026

Last week, I saw a post in a Facebook group for business owners.

Someone shared their income and the amount of kids they have, and asked for recommendations on life insurance.

The comments were... concerning.

"Get a Trucker’s IUL."
"You only need a 10-year term policy for the amount of your debt."
"Get 10X your income so your family will have infinite money."
"Do 50% term and 50% permanent."
"Only buy term. You probably need $5 million."
"Never buy term. Only buy permanent."

Within a few minutes, there were recommendations from every corner of the internet.

The problem?
None of it was real advice.
It was mostly people projecting their own opinions.

There simply wasn't enough information available for anyone to know what was in that person's best interest.

Life insurance planning depends on things like:
Your age.
Your health.
Your family situation.
Your assets.
Your debts.
Your income.
Your spouse's income.
Your goals.
Your estate planning objectives.
Whether you're a business owner.
Whether you're trying to replace income, cover a specific obligation, create liquidity, or leave a legacy.

Without that context, recommendations are mostly just guesses.

And this isn't unique to life insurance.
I see it all the time online.

Someone asks a complex financial planning question.
Ten people with ten different biases give ten different answers.

The result isn't clarity.
It's noise.

A good rule of thumb:

The more confident someone is giving advice with very little information...
The more skeptical you should be.

As with a lot of things you see on the internet, use some common sense to discern the BS.
Financial planning questions deserve more than a one-size-fits-all answer.

Cheers!

-Ryan

You’re not falling behind; financial progress looks different for everyone. We can help you move in the right direction....
08/03/2026

You’re not falling behind; financial progress looks different for everyone. We can help you move in the right direction. http://spr.ly/6181BDLuex

It’s Faithful Friday!When people hear the phrase "financial planning," they often think about numbers, account balances,...
07/31/2026

It’s Faithful Friday!

When people hear the phrase "financial planning," they often think about numbers, account balances, investment returns, and whether they’re on track for retirement.

But those things are just tools.
The real goal is a life well lived.

Jesus said:
“…I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10, NIV)

The purpose of money isn't to become the center of your life.
It's to support the life you're called to live.

A life that allows you to care for your family, serve others, be generous, pursue meaningful work, and create memories with the people you love.

Too often, people spend decades accumulating wealth without ever asking what it's actually for.

More is not always better.

Sometimes the better question is “What would make my life more meaningful?”

A good financial plan frees up headspace to answer that question.

Cheers!

-Ryan

Everybody wants the same picture when it comes to their finances:A properly funded emergency fund.The right insurance co...
07/30/2026

Everybody wants the same picture when it comes to their finances:

A properly funded emergency fund.
The right insurance coverage to protect against life's curveballs... without being over-insured.
No debt.
The ability to retire at 50 if they want to.
A lower tax bill.
Flexibility.
Options.
Peace of mind.

The interesting part is that when I look at most people's actions, their trajectory often tells a different story:

Maybe the emergency fund is a little light.
Maybe there are some significant financial risks that haven't been addressed yet.
Maybe retirement is still possible... but closer to 65 than 50.
Maybe there are tax-saving opportunities sitting on the table that nobody has explored.
Maybe there isn't as much flexibility as they'd like.

And the thing is...
This has very little to do with income.

I've seen people making $80,000 do a great job building toward the first picture.
I've seen people making $600,000+ drift toward the second.

Financial success is rarely about knowing what the ideal plan looks like.
Most people already know.

It's about whether your actions are actually moving you toward it.

So here's the question:
If someone looked only at your financial habits today...

Which picture would they say you're on pace for?

Cheers!

-Ryan

Address

2307 W. 57th Street Ste. 200
Sioux Falls, SD
57108

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Ryan Landmark, CFP, Chfc - Northwestern Mutual posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Ryan Landmark, CFP, Chfc - Northwestern Mutual:

Shortcuts

Share

Category