In late September, we had the privilege of hosting a room full of incredible women at our 4th annual educational event for women. Together, we explored this year’s theme: “Own Your Future: A Woman’s Guide for Navigating Tax Traps and Planning Gaps.” Our conversations highlighted not just the numbers behind tax planning, but the deeper purpose—preserving independence, protecting family security, and safeguarding the legacy you’ve worked so hard to build.
Key Takeaways from GROW 2025
The Three Tax Traps Every Woman Should Know
- Longevity: Women live on average 5–7 years longer than men—meaning more years of retirement income (and taxes) to plan for.
- The Widow’s Penalty: Moving from “married filing jointly” to “single” can mean higher tax rates and Medicare surcharges for surviving spouses.
- This Year vs. Lifetime Tax Bill: Today’s tax rates are historically low, but the future may look very different—planning ahead matters.
We loved hearing your reflections during table conversations—where many of you shared your financial journeys and the strategies you’re curious to try. Our breakout sessions with Wealth Advisors Kayla Oliver and Denise Talbert gave participants the chance to dive deeper, whether starting with the basics or exploring advanced strategies.
Practical Next Steps
Here are a few simple actions to consider:
- Review your current tax bracket and see where planning opportunities exist.
- Revisit where you’re building assets (taxable, tax-deferred, tax-free).
- Meet with us to explore strategies tailored to your life stage.
- Create or update your estate plan to leave the legacy you envision.
Most importantly—don’t wait until later. As women, we know that the earlier we engage with our financial future, the more freedom and impact we create for ourselves and our families.
BREAK OUT SESSIONS:
Introduction to Tax Planning
Denise Talbert, Wealth Advisor, gave a fantastic presentation on the fundamentals of tax planning. She began with an overview of what taxes are and the three common types we encounter in financial planning —income, capital gains, and estate taxes—before diving into the differences between progressive and cliff taxes and how each impacts long-term financial health.
The discussion sparked meaningful conversation around the “widow’s tax” and practical strategies to prepare now to minimize its future impact. Denise also shared insights on strategies to minimize or possibly avoid estate taxes, setting up intentional gifting strategies, and making sure your money goes to the people and causes you choose—rather than letting Uncle Sam become your beneficiary.
The session wrapped with a look at how different types of assets fit into taxable, tax-deferred, and tax-free buckets, helping attendees better align investments with their tax planning goals.
Intermediate Tax Planning
In her breakout session, Kayla Oliver, Wealth Advisor, explored four key strategies to help increase lifetime wealth by limiting taxes: Asset Location, Roth Conversions, Tax Bracket Management, and Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs).
She demonstrated how, when required to take money from an IRA, giving it directly to a qualified charity can reduce or even eliminate taxes on that withdrawal. Using our Investment Matrix and different planning scenarios,
Kayla showed how small shifts in strategy can make a big difference in reducing lifetime tax burdens.
Kayla reminded us that retirement should be a time of simplicity and peace—not financial stress. Wealth Advisors can help reduce financial stress by planning income for every stage of retirement, managing risk, minimizing taxes and healthcare costs, and maximizing Social Security—so you can enjoy the retirement you’ve envisioned.
Looking Ahead
We are already looking forward to GROW 2026, and we hope you’ll join us again as we continue to learn and grow together.
Thank you for making this year’s GROW event such a success. Your openness, stories, and commitment to building stronger financial futures truly made the evening special.
