Tableaux Wealth Insights
Guidance, views, and commentary to help you make better financial decisions.
What I Told My 30-Year-Old Brother About Investing
Reviewing my investment portfolio the other day, I was bowled over by how much it has grown since I first invested it, when I was 18 (I’m now 23).
That same week my 30-year-old brother asked for help investing and when they should start. My answer was immediate—yesterday.
Mutual Funds Don’t Love You Back
If you’ve grown comfortable with a particular fund or fund family, it can be difficult to see that it may not actually be your best option. I get that. But this loyalty doesn’t really pay off.
Strategies to Reduce Debt
Almost everyone struggles with debt at some point. Reducing debt is critical to good financial planning, but it's hard to know where to start. My approach is a practical: prioritize and be consistent.
The Financial Lessons in Wedding Planning
How do you plan for the biggest day of your life without compromising your financial future?
It seemed pretty simple at first. What followed were several surprises and lessons that underscored the value of a strong financial plan.
Today Is Nothing Like 1929
I’ve just read Andrew Ross Sorkin’s best-selling book, 1929: Inside the Greatest Crash in Wall Street History—and How It Shattered a Nation. I’ve also seen headlines comparing 1929 to today. The potential for severe bear markets like 2008 still exists, but a severe crash like 1929 seems far less likely.
Second-Quarter 2026 Review
Economic growth is a critical component of stock market growth. And growth this year has been good but not spectacular. Yet the broad stock market continues to set new all-time highs—after three straight years of double-digit gains. The reason? Earnings growth.
An Update on Trump Accounts
The new retirement savings accounts for children under 18 will not require a gift tax filing, nor will employer contributions to the accounts create an ERISA-covered plan—good news for those planning on opening the accounts.
What's Driving the Stock Market (Hint: It's Not Gas Prices)
The next time you hear someone ask why the stock market keeps climbing despite all the bad news, the answer isn't that stock investors are ignoring reality. They're watching a different movie.
Seven Common Retirement Planning Misconceptions
Will Social Security go bankrupt in 10 years? Do I need at least $1 million to retire? In my years as a financial planner, I’ve found that concerns tend to cluster around a handful of notions that are partially wrong at best. Here are seven.
This Trust Could Offer Some Florida Couples a Windfall in Tax Savings
A relatively new planning tool—the Florida community property trust—may help some married couples dramatically reduce capital gains taxes. For the right couple in the right circumstances, it can offer huge tax savings to those with assets have significantly increased in value.
Equity Is Key to Wealth
A recent story about an old friend from Vermont who sold his business confirms my strongly-held belief that the key to building wealth is to own equity. It’s not necessarily the income you earn—it’s how you build equity with that income.
Still Don’t Understand Cryptocurrency? Start Here.
Millions of investors own crypto. Many millions of others don’t see the point. What’s the appeal? Should it appeal to me? Is it a bona fide currency? These questions, and what I’ll say about them, are two sides of the same coin.
Avoid This Headache for Your Executor
If you own stock in the form of physical certificates or through direct registration, you may be passing along a major headache to the executor of your estate, and to other professionals and family members. Here’s how to make things easier for them.
The Tableaux Grab Bag, June 2026
Acquired podcast, the private letters of Harry Truman, and David Epstein’s latest book, Inside the Box.
You’re Probably Already Invested in AI
I occasionally hear from clients who don’t want to invest in AI. I get the concern. But the U.S. stock market is deeply integrated with artificial intelligence. At this point, avoiding AI in a diversified portfolio is nearly impossible—and inadvisable.
Were Your IRA Contributions Deducted?
Think your accountant automatically knows whether you’ve made an IRA contribution? Think again. Unless you tell your accountant that you’ve made an IRA contribution, your deduction may simply never get taken on your tax return.
Two Simple 401(k) Lessons for Recent College Grads
Here's my message to new college grads: Contribute to a retirement plan, and invest aggressively. Your investment growth will feel painfully slow at first. But compounding accelerates dramatically as balances build…
Still Don’t Understand Cryptocurrency? Start Here.
In part two of this explainer on cryptocurrency, we explain how crypto works by comparing a simple transaction—buying a book at the local bookstore—using traditional money and using crypto.
Leaning into the Hard Conversations: Why Financial Planning Should Include Your Beneficiaries
Effective estate planning does not just cleanly dispose of assets. It can provide context and peace of mind and set appropriate expectations for all involved. The case for involving your children and other beneficiaries in financial planning boils down transparency and efficiency.