Getting Ready for Tax Season?

Tax season is upon us. So, let’s make sure your accountant has everything he or she needs from an investment standpoint.

First on the list are 1099s. You might have: 1099-DIV, -INT, -B, for example. These report monies like interest, dividends, and capital gains and they’re critical to accurately preparing your return. If you did an IRA distribution or a 401(k) rollover, then make sure you get your 1099-R. This form reports to the IRS any distribution from a retirement account. Even when a rollover is completed properly and no tax is ultimately owed, the IRS may interpret the distribution as unreported income, which can lead to potential tax issues.

Also, don’t forget that some 1099s aren’t available until February or even March. This delay has to do with the type of investment in the account. Certain investments – like partnerships, real estate funds, or other alternative holdings – take longer to calculate their final income and tax figures. So, your custodian can’t issue a finalized 1099 until those numbers are determined.

Did you make an IRA contribution? If not, you still have time. Let your accountant know how much and into which account: Traditional or Roth. Some people like to have their tax returned prepared and then determine their IRA contribution.

If you use a 529 college savings plan, you’ll want to inform your accountant of any contributions or withdrawals. Contributions don’t receive any federal tax breaks, but they can at the state level.

The bottom line is that your accountant and your investment advisor work best as a team. If you’re not sure which documents apply to you, where to find them, or if you’d like us to coordinate directly with your accountant, reach out to us.

Markets Panic; Plans Don’t

Why your retirement plan should ignore the news…

Markets recently reminded us how quickly headlines can move prices—and how quickly those moves can reverse.

Just days ago, news about proposed Greenland-related tariffs erased the stock market’s year-to-date gains in a single session. The next day - as the rhetoric cooled - the market rebounded just as quickly. Nothing fundamental about long-term economic growth or corporate profitability changed—only the headlines did.

This is why filtering out short-term noise is so important in retirement planning. Daily market swings are often driven by emotion, speculation, and uncertainty—not by changes that affect a long-term financial plan. Reacting to every headline can lead to poorly timed decisions, increased stress, and outcomes that work against your goals.

Successful retirement planning isn’t about predicting the next news cycle. It’s about maintaining a disciplined strategy, staying diversified, and keeping your focus on what truly matters: your long-term objectives, time horizon, and risk tolerance.

Volatility will always be part of investing, but a sound plan helps you look past the noise and stay on course. If you need help filtering out the noise and staying the course, reach out to us here.

What's In The Mix For '26?

As we wrap up 2025 with our third straight year of double-digit growth in the stock market, what does that mean for 2026?

The answer is…“I don’t know.” I could end the post here, but where’s the fun in that. Instead, I will offer this up. We typically see three out of every four years of positive returns for the stock market. So, we just had three, does that mean year four will be a down year?

Not necessarily.

Markets don’t follow a calendar, and they don’t follow a pattern, either. What does matter is having a plan that works in up years, down years, and everything in between. Whether 2026 brings more gains, a breather, or a bit of turbulence, the real key is staying disciplined, diversified, and proactive.

As we head into “the mix for ’26,” I’ll be right here helping you make smart decisions with your money—no matter what the market decides to do. If you need help, please reach out to me.

A New Level of Comprehensive Financial Care

I’ve been quiet on the blog front lately, but for good reason — something exciting has been in the works.

I’m proud to announce that my firm has expanded! You can now take care of all your financial needs under one roof. In addition to investment management and financial planning, we now offer estate planning, tax planning, mortgages, and life insurance.

These new services are provided by our in-house professionals — an estate attorney, licensed CPA, and licensed mortgage and insurance specialist. You’ll have access to all of these resources, but you only pay for the ones you choose to use.

The best part? We’ll collaborate behind the scenes to make sure your entire financial picture works together — saving you time and helping you make smarter, more coordinated decisions. If you have any questions or would like to explore any of these new services, feel free to contact me.

Work Smarter, Not Harder - Leveraging Technology for Better Portfolio Outcomes

To watch this post as a video go here. At Pensinger Financial, I recently transitioned custodial services - a custodian is a financial institution that holds and safeguards client assets - to Altruist. I did this to take advantage of their industry-leading technology and streamlined platforms so that my clients have a better investment management experience overall. I’m excited to share how this move comes with many benefits to my clients. Notably in the area of portfolio management.

Maintaining a well-diversified portfolio is essential to helping my clients achieve their long-term financial goals and to mitigate risk. However, market fluctuations can quickly disrupt a portfolio’s allocation, leading to reduced returns and increased risk. And that’s where Altruist’s technology comes in. At Altruist I can leverage technology to scan my client’s portfolios every day to bring them a multitude of benefits. Those benefits are risk management & maintaining discipline, capturing gains for long-term return enhancement, minimizing taxes & enhancing portfolio efficiency, and offering more portfolio flexibility while reducing trading costs.

If you’re an investor looking for an advisor who can leverage technology to better guide you in your pursuit of a safe, secure, and comfortable retirement, please reach out to me.

Adding Value to Clients' Portfolios

As a financial planner and investment manager, I am deeply committed to enhancing many aspects of my clients’ financial health. One area where I add value is by identifying and capitalizing on market opportunities to bolster their portfolio’s performance. What’s in the secret sauce? It’s very simple: buy good stocks when they’re on sale. I want to show you a couple of examples of what I mean, but since it’s too long to type out, you should watch the video here.

You can check my Google Reviews to see why clients hire me, but one common thread is, “I want you to look after my portfolio, so I don’t have to.” If you need someone to look after your retirement portfolio, if you don’t have the time to do it yourself, or, frankly, it worries you, reach out to me here.