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VUENJ.COM 95 major resort lately understands how quickly the cost of a great day adds up. ough none of it seems outrageous on its own, li lessons, rentals, lunch, and parking generate a serious number. Wealth carries its own li tickets. ere are taxes, investment fees, advisory costs, insurance that was never shopped, and spending that dris upward unnoticed. Each looks small in isolation. Compounded over decades, they can quietly take more from a family than any market correction. Reducing those costs by structuring income and investments to be tax-aware, eliminating redundant fees, and reviewing coverage every year is not glamorous work. It is simply the difference between paying for the day and keeping more of it. And as the calendar turns toward year end, the window for many of those decisions closes faster than the lis at 4p.m. One More Run There is an old warning on the mountain about the last run of the day. e legs are tired, the light goes flat, and confidence peaks just as judgment fades. "One more run" has ended more than a few ski vacations. I see the same pattern late in a client's career. A business owner who has done everything right stretches for one more big year, one more concentrated position, one more deal, without the protection to match. e years just before and just aer retirement are when a single bad fall costs the most, because there is less time to recover. Knowing when to take the last run and head for the lodge is a skill, and a good plan builds it in advance. As the day ends, everyone needs to know where to meet. at is what estate planning really is; making sure the people you love know where to find you, what was le for them, and how to carry it forward without confusion or conflict. The Formula That Does Not Change Fashion changes every season. e formula behind a well-lived financial life does not. Maximum savings rate plus maximum protection equals your full financial potential. Reduce taxes. Reduce fees and costs. Layer the protection beneath the surface. Respect the trail map and know when to call it a day. Do that, and you earn the best seat in the house– boots off, glass raised, watching the last light hit the peaks, with nothing le to worry about but where to ski tomorrow. is material provided by Smallwood Wealth Investment Management is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to serve as personalized investment advice or as a recommendation or solicitation of any particular security, strategy or investment. Securities offered through Regulus Financial Group, LLC, Member FINRA/ SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through Smallwood Wealth Investment Management, LLC, an SEC registered investment adviser. Registration with the SEC does not imply any level of skill or training. Smallwood Wealth Investment Management, LLC and Regulus Financial Group, LLC are independent entities. Smallwood Wealth Management does not provide tax or legal advice and this is not intended as such. Individuals should always consult with a qualified tax or legal professional prior to making any decisions. Wealth, Simplified. Scan to Learn More. smallwoodassociates.com | Phone: 732-542-1565 199 Broad St, Red Bank, NJ 07701 Smallwood Wealth Management John L. Smallwood, CFP® Senior Wealth Advisor "Knowing wh e n to take the last run and head for the lodge is a skill."

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