Blalock Williams

Wishing all of you a joyful Labor Day weekend! We hope it’s filled with relaxation and happiness in the company of friends and family 🌟

Our office will be closed on Monday, September 2, in celebration of the holiday. We’ll be back to assist you on Tuesday, September 3!

As our nation pauses to celebrate Independence Day, we are sending each of you our warmest wishes for a memorable holiday.

Please note that our offices will be closed July 4th, and normal business hours will resume on Friday, July 5th. Enjoy the day, and stay safe.

This Father's Day, let's embrace the beautiful, unpredictable dance known as fatherhood, a journey filled with fun routines, endless improvisation, and moments that turn into cherished memories.

No matter how you choose to celebrate, may your Father's Day be nothing short of wonderful! 🎉

It’s important to align your savings strategy with the latest changes to retirement contribution limits. Here's an overview of what you need to know for 2024:

💰 For Traditional & Roth IRAs:
- Increased Contribution Limit: Now $7,000 (previously $6,500)
- 50+ Additional Catch-Up: Remains $1,000, totaling max of $8,000

🔍 Roth IRA Income Phase-Out Range:
- Single Filers/Heads of Household: Between $146,000 and $161,000
- Married Filing Jointly: Between $230,000 and $240,000

📈 For 401(k), 403(b), 457 Plans & Thrift Savings Plan:
- New Contribution Limit: $23,000 (up from $22,500 last year)
- 50+ Age Catch-Up: Still at $7,500, making the max contribution $30,500

If you're unsure about how these changes impact you, we’re here to help. Reach out anytime for guidance on your 2024 retirement savings strategy!

🇺🇸 In honor of Memorial Day, our office will be closed. We will be back to our regular hours starting Tuesday, May 28.

We invite you to join us in remembering that Memorial Day is more than just a long weekend. It's a time for us to come together and honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms.

Wishing everyone a safe and meaningful Memorial Day weekend.

As many know, market fluctuations can unexpectedly affect your retirement savings. One way to combat this risk is by transitioning to a more conservative investing approach as a person nears retirement.

However, as inflationary pressures have reinforced over the last few years, it’s essential to balance a less risky approach with the need for long-term growth to keep up purchasing power.

It can be a tricky balance to strike but one that our team is adept at navigating. With that in mind, do not hesitate to reach out to our team for guidance on managing market risks and securing your financial future as retirement approaches. We are here to help.

Today, we’d like to bring attention to an important, under-discussed area of retirement planning — the gender gap. Even with strides toward equality, there's still a notable difference that affects women's retirement.

Swipe for an overview of the gender gap in retirement planning and ways our team can help clients combat it. And for personalized retirement guidance, do not hesitate to give our office a call. We are here to help!

On behalf of our entire team, we want to wish all mother figures out there a very Happy Mother's Day!

No matter how you celebrate, we hope you have a relaxing and meaningful day surrounded by loved ones.

Remember, if you have any questions or need assistance, don't hesitate to DM us or give our office a call. We're here to help!

Our Homewood office renovation is complete. Come see us at 2906 Crescent Avenue!

At Blalock Williams, we help people invest and use tax strategies to build wealth. We created a step-by-step retirement process to help families build their comfortable work-free life.

We break complex financial information and decisions into simple language and easy illustrations, so you understand exactly what happens next.

Ready to get clarity?

https://calendly.com/homewoodblalockwilliams/newclient30min

As the season changes, it's the perfect opportunity to give your finances a thorough "spring clean." Here's how you can refresh and rejuvenate your financial health:

🎯 Update Your Financial Goals: Reflect on your financial ambitions, both short-term and long-term. Are they still in line with your current aspirations? Adjust and set actionable steps to reach these refreshed goals.

📅 Make an appointment with your Financial Advisor: Does your financial plan line up with your goals? If not, assess adjustments should you make to set yourself up for success.

📊 Review and Refresh Your Budget: Take a moment to scrutinize your current budget. Have you had changes in your income or expenses recently? If so, you should ideally tweak your budget to mirror these changes.

📈 Check Your Credit Report: Ensure everything on your credit report is accurate and current. Any discrepancies? Report them straight away, as they can impact your credit score and future credit opportunities.

Remember, organizing your finances is not a one-time task; it's an ongoing journey. If you have questions about these tips or your investments, feel free to reach out – our team is here to provide you with holistic guidance.

All of us at Blalock Williams are proud of our very own Lee Williams for being honored Thursday night Alexander City Chamber of Commerce Business Person of the Year. John Blalock attended the event to congratulate Lee. You deserve the recognition and are proud to have you on the team.

Life is dynamic, as are your financial objectives 💰

To close out our financial wellness series, our final tip: review and rebalance ⚖️

As your wealth expands, your financial goals and risk tolerance shift and change. Our goal with every client is to keep their strategy aligned with their objectives, values, and risk tolerance every step of the way.

Ultimately, knowing their financial portfolio is under regular review provides our clients with peace of mind and a sense of security 💝

That’s it for our financial wellness series! If you missed a tip, scroll back through our feed to check them out. Was this series helpful for you? Let us know in the comments! ⬇️

We are back with part two of our series on building sustainable financial wellness!

Today’s topic: protecting your assets 📉

Protecting your assets is essential to avoid potential tax or creditor challenges. A regular review of relevant laws with a financial expert can make a world of difference in securing proper protection.

Asset-protection planning can involve employing a variety of strategies, like establishing distinct legal entities such as corporations, partnerships, and trusts. These decisions depend greatly on the nature of your assets and other factors.

That’s where we come in! We sit down with clients and discuss the type of protection required for their unique financial circumstances 💪

Have questions about asset protection? Give us a call, and stay tuned for part three coming soon!

We are kicking off 2024 with tips on financial wellness! While many of us start off the year with resolutions to budget better and save more, how can we actually protect and build wealth?

One of the most important topics we talk to our clients about is diversifying their portfolio 💰

Diversifying your investment portfolio is a crucial strategy to manage risk and potentially improve returns over the long term. In other words: don’t put all your eggs in one basket 🪺

This involves spreading your investments across different asset classes and securities to reduce the impact of any one investment's poor performance.

Feel free to share this tip with your network to help them on their financial wellness journey. And stay tuned for part two coming soon!

Whether you're going out with loved ones or cozying up for an early night, we’re wishing you a wonderful end to 2023 and a spectacular start to 2024! 🥳

How do you plan to spend the last day of 2023? Party 🎉 or couch 🛋️? Let us know below with an emoji!

Wishing you a holiday season as merry and bright as Clark Griswold's lights! 🎄🌟

We're truly grateful for your trust and support this holiday season. Our office will be closed on December 25th and January 1st, but we'll be back right after to help with anything you may need.

From all of us, Happy Holidays! 🎁