Deborah Cook Financial Planner

11/15/2025

Three tips for giving smart from the heart.

11/14/2025

🚨 It could cost you $290,000/year to give your loved one 24/7 home care.

If you have a family member over the age of 75, this reality may already be on your mind.

63 million Americans are now caregivers, which is up 45 percent in 10 years.

The stats are brutal:
▪️ 1 in 4 caregivers go into debt or raid retirement accounts
▪️ The average caregiver works 27 hours/week (unpaid)
▪️ Medicare covers nursing homes for just 100 days max
▪️ Half of those under 50 are caring for aging parents and raising kids

What families who navigate this successfully do differently:
✅ Have the money conversation before the crisis hits
✅ Get power of attorney and healthcare directives sorted now
✅ Run actual care cost calculators (not wishful thinking)
✅ Understand what insurance actually covers (spoiler: not much)

"The new inheritance isn't money for your kids—it's having enough to cover long-term care."

Whether it's you or someone you know, don't wait for the emergency room call to start preparing.

What's your biggest concern about having to care for an aging parent?

See more on our website here: https://www.soundfinancialsolutionsnc.com/blog

11/11/2025

Today, we honor the men and women who have worn our nation’s uniform.

The courage, sacrifice, and selflessness of our veterans protect the freedoms we often take for granted.

Their service is a powerful reminder of what it means to put others before oneself.

Today, and every day, we are deeply grateful.

See more on our website here: https://www.soundfinancialsolutionsnc.com/blog

11/10/2025

💡 Did you know November may be the most important month for your taxes?

And this year, the opportunities may be bigger than usual.

The One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) Act creates some unique year-end opportunities.

Here are a few highlights worth noting:

📌 Higher standard deduction through 2025 means more taxpayers might not need to itemize
📌 New deductions for seniors, overtime pay, and even tipped income offer ways to manage taxable income
📌 Charitable giving strategies, especially donating appreciated assets, can be some year-end tax moves to consider

Thoughtful steps now could help you manage your 2025 tax bill.

If any of these ideas interest you—or if you have other ideas—we might be able to provide you with additional information on the new tax laws. But we would encourage you to check in with your tax, legal, or accounting professional before making any changes.

See more on our website here: https://www.soundfinancialsolutionsnc.com/blog

11/10/2025

With increasing wealth comes unique financial challenges.

11/08/2025

When the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) Act was passed on July 4, the legislation left several unanswered questions that the IRS is now addressing. The IRS undergoes this process every year, but this time around, the OBBB has added to the uncertainty. Here’s what the 2026 Federal income tax brackets will look like.

11/08/2025

Some simple, inexpensive energy-saving tips that may help you save money.

11/07/2025

11/07/2025

Have you ever heard of the bucket strategy? With this approach, you segment your retirement expenses into three buckets, attempting to match income sources to essential expenses.

11/05/2025

If you've been feeling like retirement is out of reach, it's not just you: Gen X has experienced many financial hurdles in their lifetime, impeding them from saving sufficiently for retirement. Explore the challenges facing this generation as they approach their peak retirement years:

11/05/2025

Three shocking realities most families miss when it comes to wealth transfer:

→ The top reason why wealth transfer strategies fail is a lack of communication and trust (60%)
→ Your retirement plan beneficiary designation overrides your will
→ Most heirs must withdraw inherited retirement accounts within 10 years. This could have wide-ranging implications

Here’s the surprising part: the biggest reason wealth fails to transfer isn’t bad investments… It’s a lack of communication.

What your adult children need to know:

▪️ Where your retirement income comes from
▪️ How bills are paid and where passwords are stored
▪️ Who your financial team is and how to reach them
▪️ Who has power of attorney, and who’s the executor
▪️ The why behind your financial decisions

Why Now?
Holiday gatherings create the rare moment when everyone’s together and the mood is about gratitude.

How to start:
We want to make sure you’re prepared if something happens to us. Can we talk through the basics?

Families who succeed at wealth transfer aren’t the ones with the most money. They’re the ones who talk about it.

See more on our website here: https://www.soundfinancialsolutionsnc.com/blog