Black Walnut Wealth Management - Traverse City Financial Advisor

06/25/2026

Wealth planning often becomes more meaningful when it moves beyond one generation.

For families who’ve built significant wealth, the questions often shift from “Do we have enough?” to:

• How do we help our children or grandchildren wisely?
• How do we reduce unnecessary tax drag?
• How do we update an estate plan that may no longer reflect our life today?
• How do we support charitable causes that matter to us?
• How do we make sure our wealth supports both security and family memories?

In our latest case story, we share how a hypothetical couple, Tom and Mary, came to Black Walnut Wealth Management with strong financial resources, multiple properties, retirement savings, and a desire to bring more structure to their family’s future.

Their situation was solid, but their plan needed coordination.

That’s often where good wealth management makes a difference. It helps connect the portfolio, estate plan, tax strategy, charitable goals, family priorities, and long-term legacy into one clearer picture.

Read the full story here: https://blackwalnutwm.com/multigenerational-families/

The above hypothetical example story is for illustrative purposes only and should not be construed as a recommendation.

06/19/2026

Our June newsletter is out, and this month’s featured article focuses on "The Value of Coordinated Advice for Affluent Families".

For many families, wealth decisions don’t happen in separate boxes. Investments, taxes, estate planning, insurance, charitable giving, business interests, real estate, and family goals are often connected, even when they’re handled by different professionals.

That’s why coordination matters.

A portfolio decision may create tax consequences. An estate planning update may affect how assets are titled. A charitable gift may need to be reviewed alongside cash flow, taxes, and legacy goals. A family cottage or concentrated asset may raise questions that involve several parts of the plan at once.

This month’s newsletter also includes:
• What We’re Watching
• Planning Tip of the Month
• Tax-Smart Strategy
• Upcoming Community Events

For affluent families, thoughtful planning often starts with one important question:

Are the right people involved in the conversation early enough?

Read Black Walnut Wealth’s June newsletter featuring coordinated advice for affluent families, IPO investing discipline, mid-year planning tips, tax-aware strategy, and local community events.

06/11/2026

As international soccer’s biggest tournament gets underway, we’ll be cheering for Team USA as they take the field.

Whether you’re a dedicated fan or simply enjoy the energy of a major global event, there’s something powerful about watching great teams compete on the world stage.

The best teams don’t win by accident. They have a strategy, understand their strengths, adjust when conditions change, and rely on the right people in the right roles.

The same is true for wealth planning.

For affluent families, retirement income, tax strategy, estate planning, charitable giving, and multigenerational wealth decisions all need to work together.

A strong financial plan is your game plan, helping every piece move in the same direction.

At Black Walnut Wealth Management, we help families prepare for the next stage with thoughtful, fiduciary guidance.

Here’s to a great tournament… and go USA! ⚽

(Scheduled USA matches are June 12, June 19, and June 25.)

06/03/2026

Affluent families often have a strong network of professionals around them.

A CPA.
An estate planning attorney.
An insurance professional.
A banker.
A financial advisor.

But the real question is whether those professionals are working from the same set of facts, priorities, and long-term goals.

As wealth grows, financial decisions rarely stay in one lane. A portfolio move may create tax consequences. A gift to a child or grandchild may affect your estate plan. A second home or family cottage may raise questions about ownership, insurance, future use, and family expectations.

That’s why coordinated advice matters.

At Black Walnut Wealth Management, we help clients view financial decisions through the lens of their broader plan. We don’t replace your CPA, attorney, or insurance professional, but we do help you understand when those conversations should happen and how the moving pieces may fit together.

Before making a major financial decision, it’s worth pausing to ask:

Have the right people been brought into the conversation early enough?

Read our latest article:
The Value of Coordinated Advice for Affluent Families

Having a financial advisor who sees beyond the portfolio and can serve as a steady guide in the middle of the planning process, is especially valuable in the coordination of the overall financial picture.

05/28/2026

Summer blockbuster season is here, which means big stories, big risks, and a few larger-than-life financial lessons hiding between the action scenes.

These five classic movies offer surprisingly useful reminders about money, from greed and high-pressure sales tactics to ethics, confidence, and putting people first.

It’s a good reminder that financial lessons don’t always come from charts and spreadsheets. Sometimes, they show up on the big screen.

Did you know that movies can teach you about money management? Here are 5 classic movies that can teach you a thing or two about money.

05/23/2026

This Memorial Day, we pause to remember and honor the men and women who gave their lives in service to our country.

In observance of the holiday, our office will be closed Monday, May 25. We hope you and your family have a safe and meaningful weekend.

05/21/2026

May is full of meaningful milestones, and this month’s newsletter reflects that.

We’re sharing our featured article on graduation season and how parents and grandparents can help the next generation build stronger financial habits as they step into adulthood.

We’re also sharing a few timely planning reminders, tax planning considerations, retirement timing questions, and financial items to keep on your radar as summer approaches.

Read our May newsletter here:

How to think about supporting your graduate in categories such as short-term transitions, education costs, early investing habits, and future housing goals.

05/19/2026

As summer approaches, it’s easy to start picturing more time on the beach, more time on the water, and a little less time in the office.

For many people, that thought eventually turns into a bigger question:
“What would it actually take to retire?”

A successful retirement plan usually starts with the basics: understanding your assets and debts, clarifying your income needs, reviewing Social Security and other income sources, planning for taxes, and making sure your cash reserves are in place.

If retirement is starting to feel closer than it used to, this checklist is a helpful place to begin.

Read the article here:

It’s never too early (or late) to plan for retirement, but it can be overwhelming to know where to begin, so here’s a checklist to get you started.

05/13/2026

We’re growing and we’re looking to add another advisor to our team.

This is an exciting opportunity for a financial advisor who wants to do meaningful planning work, build deep client relationships, and grow within a collaborative, client-first firm here in Traverse City.

This isn’t a cold-sales role. It’s a true wealth management advisor opportunity for someone who wants to help clients make thoughtful decisions around retirement, investments, tax planning, estate planning, and the many moving pieces that come with managing wealth.

If you’re an advisor who wants to be part of a growing firm with a strong planning culture, a thoughtful client experience, and a team that’s building for the future, we’d love to hear from you.

Learn more or apply here:
https://blackwalnutwm.com/wealth-management-advisor/

05/10/2026

This Mother’s Day, we’re grateful for the women who lead, guide, encourage, and hold families together in ways that often go unseen.

Whether you’re celebrating your mother, remembering her, or honoring the women who’ve played that role in your life, we hope today gives you a moment to pause and appreciate the lasting impact of love, wisdom, and care passed from one generation to the next.

Happy Mother’s Day from all of us at Black Walnut Wealth Management.