Investing

The “Stay or Go” Dilemma: Rethinking the Cost of Home

The “Stay or Go” Dilemma: Rethinking the Cost of Home

Blog“The "Stay or Go" Dilemma: Rethinking the Cost of Home"   You may have heard others say how the American home is the "staple" of our economy and a primary source of wealth. We are a nation of homeowners, and for many of you, the plan for retirement has always...

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Why the Stock market Isn’t a Casino

Why the Stock market Isn’t a Casino

Blog"Why the Stock Market Isn't a Casino" I’ve heard people say before that the stock market is simply organized gambling and while I understand the sentiment I would have to disagree especially when you take into account the time it takes for a bet to play out in a...

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Revisited – Starting Your Children’s Retirement

Revisited – Starting Your Children’s Retirement

BlogFebruary 13th, 2026  Revisited – Starting Your Children’s Retirement We have written posts in the past about setting your children up for retirement which you can find here.  In this article, we wanted to dive in deeper to this concept of a Custodial IRA...

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Consistency is Attractive

Consistency is Attractive

Blog“Consistency is Attractive" In the age of social media, it’s so easy to get caught up in what the latest trends are and then adjust to ensure your life is oriented towards those trends.  Older generations can claim that it is a “millennial” issue but keeping up...

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5 Keys to Investing in 2026

5 Keys to Investing in 2026

Blog“5 Keys to Investing in 2026"   I enjoyed reading this recently published piece from American Funds.  Yes, there are concerns as we enter into 2026, but is there ever a perfect time to invest?? What a difference a few years can make. At the start of 2023,...

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Merry Christmas and Happy New Tax Year

Merry Christmas and Happy New Tax Year

Blog“Merry Christmas and Happy New Tax Year" We want to wish you a very Merry Christmas and hope that you all find time to celebrate with family and loved ones this holiday season.  As we end one year, another starts and with a new year comes quite a number of new tax...

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The Pursuit of Independence as Your Financial Goal

The Pursuit of Independence as Your Financial Goal

Blog“The Pursuit of Independence as Your Financial Goal" As your financial advisor, I believe a truly great life boils down to a simple, two-part formula: Independence plus Purpose. Purpose is personal—it might be family, community, your faith, or your work. But...

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“A Note on Markets, Perspective, and Gratitude”

“A Note on Markets, Perspective, and Gratitude”

Blog“A Note on Markets, Perspective, and Gratitude" As we approach Thanksgiving, a time for family, reflection, and gratitude, it’s also a time when many of us naturally take stock of our financial lives. The financial news headlines have been hard to ignore lately,...

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Are we in an AI Bubble

Are we in an AI Bubble

Blog“Are we in an AI Bubble" The question of whether or not we are in an AI bubble is something that has been on many people’s minds over the past 6 months. Tech stocks seem to be carrying the market as evidenced by the fact that the top 7 companies in the S&P 500...

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Inflation: The Silent Killer of Retirement Plans

Inflation: The Silent Killer of Retirement Plans

Blog“Inflation: The Silent Killer of Retirement Plans" We talk a lot about inflation in the headlines – rising gas prices, higher grocery bills, the cost of... well, everything. But while we feel its immediate pinch in our daily lives, there's a far more insidious and...

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The 4% Rule is now the 5% Rule

The 4% Rule is now the 5% Rule

Blog“The 4% Rule is now the 5% Rule" A financial expert named Bill Bengen, who created the famous 4% Rule, has a new book called A Richer Retirement: Supercharging the 4% Rule to Spend More and Enjoy More. The 4% Rule was a game-changer for retirement planning because...

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Mirror Image Quarters and Iran

Mirror Image Quarters and Iran

Blog“Mirror Image Quarters and Iran” Maybe it goes without saying, but 2025 has not been short of news headlines and we are just coming up to the halfway point in the year!  Interestingly the entire 2020’s decade so far has been quite a volatile one.  Up to this point...

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You Can’t Put a Price On Mental Freedom

You Can’t Put a Price On Mental Freedom

Blog“You Can’t Put a Price On Mental Freedom" We typically don’t recommend individual stock holdings for customers.  While we will keep some holdings if the client is adamant about a specific company, we believe in a more passive and diversified equity strategy.  This...

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The Boring Advice Proves Itself Again

The Boring Advice Proves Itself Again

Blog“The Boring Advice Proves Itself Again" 2025 has certainly been a roller coaster ride for stocks.  Just over a month ago the S&P 500 was down over 15% for the year, and now, as I write this on May 13th, the S&P 500 has gained 18.3% since April 8th. It’s...

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Navigating Tariffs: Why History Favors the Patient Investor

Navigating Tariffs: Why History Favors the Patient Investor

Blog“Navigating Tariffs: Why History Favors the Patient Investor" Staying the Course Amidst Tariff Turbulence It’s hard to ignore the recent headlines. Talk of tariffs, potential trade disputes, and the resulting market swings can naturally cause unease for even the...

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Your Goals > Stock Market Movements

Your Goals > Stock Market Movements

Blog“Your Goals > Stock Market Movements" Investors are nervous right now. For those who’ve been reading our weekly articles for some time, you might recognize the above title. We have re-visited the idea that your personal goals should hold a greater weight in...

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Thoughts on this Weeks Volatility

Thoughts on this Weeks Volatility

Blog“Thoughts on this Weeks Volatility" I’m writing this on Tuesday, August 6th so take the context into account as you read this on Friday morning but we’ve already had a busy week in the market.  I find it helpful to always take a step back, breathe, and put market...

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A History of the Federal Funds Rate

A History of the Federal Funds Rate

Blog“A History of the Federal Funds Rate" There is a lot of talk about the Federal Funds rate recently and whether or not the Federal Reserve will lower interest rates in 2024.  I thought this recent article from Yahoo Finance did a good job explaining the history of...

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Is the AI Fever Too Hot?

Is the AI Fever Too Hot?

Blog“Is the AI Fever Too Hot?" I get a lot of questions about Artificial Intelligence and whether clients think we should be investing more heavily in some of these companies. While the growth has certainly been eye-catching, it’s important to not get caught up in the...

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Why America is Still a Safe Bet

Why America is Still a Safe Bet

Blog“Why America is Still a Safe Bet" Over the past few years I regularly get asked if I think that America is in a downward spiral and whether investing in our future is still a safe bet.  While I understand the question, and I don’t think you can argue that the...

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Why the Stock Market Isn’t a Casino

Why the Stock Market Isn’t a Casino

Blog“Why the Stock Market Isn’t a Casino" I’ve heard people say before that the stock market is simply organized gambling and while I understand the sentiment I would have to disagree especially when you take into account the time it takes for a bet to play out in a...

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Roger Federer vs. the Stock Market

Roger Federer vs. the Stock Market

Blog“Roger Federer vs. the Stock Market" If someone has a large amount of money to invest, it can sometimes be easier psychologically to put that money to work slowly over time.  In other words, rather than investing $500,000 in one day, it can feel better to invest...

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Phone: 404-854-4746

Email Tony

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We offer a free 30 minute introductory call for those interested in becoming clients with Van Gelder Financial.  During this call we will ask a lot of questions and answer any that you may have to ensure there is a match.

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