This week is extra special for me because weâre celebrating my momâs birthday. Her love, strength, and encouragement have shaped so much of who I am todayâboth personally and in the work I do helping women navigate retirement. Iâm grateful every day for the example she has set, and I couldnât let this week go by without saying: Happy Birthday, Mom! đ Navigating Life After Loss â Part 2: Financial & Legal Aspects đŹ From Episode 68: âThe biggest thing is none of us are meant to go through this...
14 days ago â˘Â 2 min read
Todayâs episode, along with the two that follow in this 3-part series, was inspired in part by my grandmother. She was widowed at 62, and for the past 28 years, she has faced lifeâs changes with resilience and grace. Now 90 years old, she remains the heart of our family. Her strength, wisdom, and example have shaped both my life and the work I do, especially my commitment to helping women navigate life after loss. I hope you find value in this episode and consider sharing it with someone you...
21 days ago â˘Â 3 min read
đĽNext Week!đĽ Webinar Alert: What the New 2025 Tax Law Means for Your Retirement Plan đ
Tuesday, August 26, 2025 | 6:30 PM CT | Online â
Whatâs changing â and whatâs notâ
Using the new $6,000 deduction for 65+â
How to prepare before key provisions expire in 2028â
Steps to take now with your advisor or CPA Learn More and Register here â space is limited. Understanding The Widowâs Penalty and What You Can Do About It đŹ From Episode 66: âMany women find themselves navigating complex financial...
28 days ago â˘Â 3 min read
On our last morning together, I snapped this picture as we walked home from breakfast before my daughter and granddaughter headed back home. Iâm pretty sure this isnât how a stroller is supposed to work đ ⌠but the laughter made it worth it. Fortunately, theyâll be back next month for my wifeâs birthday â and I canât wait. From Family Time to Future Planning đŹ From Episode 65: âOur advantage over Uncle Sam is that we can look many years in advance. All Uncle Sam cares about is this year.â â...
about 1 month ago â˘Â 2 min read
I shared last week that my daughter, Kaitlyn, would be joining our retirement planning team at Blake Wealth Management. That means she and our granddaughter have been with us for the last week, so she can train and prepare for her new role. She will work remotely from home near Austin, Texas. Fortunately, that also means we have both our children at home. Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy being an "empty-nester", but my heart is truly full when both our children (and grandchild) are back in the...
about 1 month ago â˘Â 3 min read
Weâre excited to welcome my daughter, Kaitlyn Blake-Lolliot, as our new Director of Operations at Blake Wealth Management beginning tomorrow, August 1st. Kaitlyn brings a natural talent for organization, communication, and client service to the role. She will oversee day-to-day operations, including managing client scheduling, coordinating transaction requests, streamlining internal workflows, and ensuring a seamless experience for every client. With a deep commitment to upholding the...
about 2 months ago â˘Â 3 min read
You donât always realize youâre in the middle of something special until you have a chance to look back. My wife, Dawn, and I recently spent two full weeks taking care of our granddaughter. It was nonstopâkeeping her happy, entertained, and safe. We were exhausted. But now, just a week later, I already miss hearing her little voice in the morning and the sound of her feet running through the house. It reminded me of something I share often with clients: in retirement, itâs the experiencesânot...
about 2 months ago â˘Â 3 min read
I recently had the pleasure of joining Nancy Griffin on the Glowing Older podcast to discuss the unique financial challenges women face as they near or enter retirementâespecially those who are divorced, widowed, or single by choice. We covered everything from Social Security strategies and tax-smart withdrawal planning to the emotional and behavioral aspects of money. I also shared why my work is so personal and how Blake Wealth Management helps women create a retirement plan that gives them...
2 months ago â˘Â 2 min read
This week was the first of two weeks that we are keeping our grandbaby. I've decided that the cliche about grandparents spoiling their grandchildren and sending them back to their parents is misleading. Grandparents really only have a few days of energy to keep up and have to squeeze in as much spoiling as possible before we run out of that energy. But I'll take every second. đ "Answering the financial questions now lets you focus more on what you want life to look like." ERIC BLAKE Whatâs...
2 months ago â˘Â 2 min read