https://www.andrewlbrewer.com/resources daily 0.75 2026-07-14 https://www.andrewlbrewer.com/resources/financial-planning-accounts-everyone-should-have monthly 0.5 2026-07-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69f96aaa96cbd80190f70e82/f6ef6a96-26ce-491a-9f0b-09f900364a39/72.jpg Resources - Financial Planning Accounts Everyone Should Have - A Checking Account Worth Having Everyone needs one, but not all checking accounts are the same. The goal is simple: income comes in, bills go out, and cash flow can be tracked from one place. What isn't necessary is paying a monthly fee for the privilege. Look for a bank with no account fees, or one where direct deposit waives them. A brick-and-mortar bank is often a better fit than an online-only service. If something goes wrong, being able to walk in and talk to a real person matters more than most people expect, until they actually need it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69f96aaa96cbd80190f70e82/b65e9d87-2f08-4707-8200-88e213a1ba89/73.jpg Resources - Financial Planning Accounts Everyone Should Have - A Savings Account That Actually Earns Something Many people keep their emergency fund in a regular savings account earning close to nothing. That money should be working, even a little. A money market account or a high-yield savings account can earn meaningfully more while remaining fully liquid. No terms, no penalties, no waiting. Keeping this account separate from checking also makes its purpose clear: it isn't for spending, it's there for when life happens. A good target is three to six months of essential expenses, though even $1,000 is a meaningful starting point. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69f96aaa96cbd80190f70e82/792e4803-1258-4389-9e85-66d965748545/74.jpg Resources - Financial Planning Accounts Everyone Should Have - A 401k, At Least Up to the Match If an employer offers a 401k match, contributing enough to capture it is essential. A common structure is a 4% match, meaning a 4% contribution is met with another 4% from the employer, an immediate 100% return before the money is ever invested. Pre-tax contributions also reduce taxable income in the year they're made. For those who are self-employed or don't have a 401k through work, a SEP-IRA, solo 401k, or traditional IRA can serve the same purpose. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69f96aaa96cbd80190f70e82/bd58c57e-c2a2-4923-b6b0-ed88c392c839/77.jpg Resources - Financial Planning Accounts Everyone Should Have - A Roth IRA A Roth IRA is funded with after-tax dollars. In exchange, it grows completely tax-free, and qualified withdrawals in retirement are tax-free as well. For anyone currently in a lower tax bracket than they expect to be later, that trade can work in their favor for decades. The 2026 contribution limit is $7,500 per year, though reaching the maximum isn't required to make the account worthwhile. For those above the income thresholds for direct contributions, a backdoor Roth strategy is worth discussing with a planner. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69f96aaa96cbd80190f70e82/78cc05ff-9d9e-4ae4-a71b-5b44feb45b9d/75.jpg Resources - Financial Planning Accounts Everyone Should Have - A General Brokerage Account Unlike a 401k or Roth IRA, a brokerage account carries no special tax treatment, but it also carries none of the restrictions. No age requirement, no income limits, no contribution caps. That flexibility is the point. A brokerage account provides access to funds before retirement accounts unlock, whether that's for a major purchase, a home project, or an unexpected opportunity. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69f96aaa96cbd80190f70e82/ff37c5ce-9bb4-425e-a1dd-c51cec0db521/76.jpg Resources - Financial Planning Accounts Everyone Should Have - An HSA, If Eligible For those on a high-deductible health plan, a Health Savings Account may be the most overlooked account on this list. It's the only account with triple tax advantages: contributions are pre-tax, growth is tax-deferred, and withdrawals for qualified medical expenses are tax-free. After age 65, funds can be used for any purpose, taxed similarly to a traditional IRA. Health care tends to be one of the largest expenses in retirement, and this account is built specifically to help offset it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69f96aaa96cbd80190f70e82/a4dffa70-86ff-4c5d-aed4-58edc0d4d011/Screenshot+2026-07-13+at+3.35.27%E2%80%AFPM.png Resources - Financial Planning Accounts Everyone Should Have - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.andrewlbrewer.com/home daily 1.0 2026-06-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69f96aaa96cbd80190f70e82/7eba3eba-121a-447c-ab5c-08210060c583/AndrewLBrewerGreatLakesBenefitsWealthManagement-10.webp https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69f96aaa96cbd80190f70e82/c36a37eb-e9db-482f-9add-8ec9f39efdf3/AndrewLBrewerGreatLakesBenefitsWealthManagement.webp https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69f96aaa96cbd80190f70e82/73911f1c-8987-421c-aa52-6134206e9e87/AndrewLBrewerGreatLakesBenefitsWealthManagement-2.webp https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69f96aaa96cbd80190f70e82/f15c52cc-3b55-4427-b50e-75b2d5f92274/AndrewLBrewerGreatLakesBenefitsWealthManagement-4.webp https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69f96aaa96cbd80190f70e82/e1d22a13-7265-4fba-8ac2-92db98d04866/AndrewLBrewerGreatLakesBenefitsWealthManagement-6.webp https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69f96aaa96cbd80190f70e82/9ea6cf98-7f98-4d69-8eae-e83001c4c3e7/AndrewLBrewerGreatLakesBenefitsWealthManagement-5.webp https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69f96aaa96cbd80190f70e82/69119d9d-91e7-4279-a3dd-13778621425b/AndrewLBrewerGreatLakesBenefitsWealthManagement-9.webp https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69f96aaa96cbd80190f70e82/eea287cf-07f4-4588-b88b-14ae226f818f/AndrewLBrewerGreatLakesBenefitsWealthManagement-7.webp https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69f96aaa96cbd80190f70e82/32b23ab8-ef22-47f0-a9fc-cb2ce8502366/AndrewLBrewerGreatLakesBenefitsWealthManagement-8.webp https://www.andrewlbrewer.com/contact daily 0.75 2026-06-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69f96aaa96cbd80190f70e82/73911f1c-8987-421c-aa52-6134206e9e87/AndrewLBrewerGreatLakesBenefitsWealthManagement-2.webp Contact https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69f96aaa96cbd80190f70e82/e1d22a13-7265-4fba-8ac2-92db98d04866/AndrewLBrewerGreatLakesBenefitsWealthManagement-6.webp Contact https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69f96aaa96cbd80190f70e82/69119d9d-91e7-4279-a3dd-13778621425b/AndrewLBrewerGreatLakesBenefitsWealthManagement-9.webp Contact https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69f96aaa96cbd80190f70e82/f15c52cc-3b55-4427-b50e-75b2d5f92274/AndrewLBrewerGreatLakesBenefitsWealthManagement-4.webp Contact https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69f96aaa96cbd80190f70e82/9ea6cf98-7f98-4d69-8eae-e83001c4c3e7/AndrewLBrewerGreatLakesBenefitsWealthManagement-5.webp Contact https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69f96aaa96cbd80190f70e82/eea287cf-07f4-4588-b88b-14ae226f818f/AndrewLBrewerGreatLakesBenefitsWealthManagement-7.webp Contact https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69f96aaa96cbd80190f70e82/e45a1f84-0e06-4c5b-b22f-f91a16d8e9f3/AndrewLBrewerGreatLakesBenefitsWealthManagement-9.webp https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69f96aaa96cbd80190f70e82/c36a37eb-e9db-482f-9add-8ec9f39efdf3/AndrewLBrewerGreatLakesBenefitsWealthManagement.webp https://www.andrewlbrewer.com/about daily 0.75 2026-06-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69f96aaa96cbd80190f70e82/c36a37eb-e9db-482f-9add-8ec9f39efdf3/AndrewLBrewerGreatLakesBenefitsWealthManagement.webp https://www.andrewlbrewer.com/services daily 0.75 2026-06-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69f96aaa96cbd80190f70e82/73911f1c-8987-421c-aa52-6134206e9e87/AndrewLBrewerGreatLakesBenefitsWealthManagement-2.webp https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69f96aaa96cbd80190f70e82/f15c52cc-3b55-4427-b50e-75b2d5f92274/AndrewLBrewerGreatLakesBenefitsWealthManagement-4.webp https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69f96aaa96cbd80190f70e82/e1d22a13-7265-4fba-8ac2-92db98d04866/AndrewLBrewerGreatLakesBenefitsWealthManagement-6.webp https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69f96aaa96cbd80190f70e82/9ea6cf98-7f98-4d69-8eae-e83001c4c3e7/AndrewLBrewerGreatLakesBenefitsWealthManagement-5.webp https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69f96aaa96cbd80190f70e82/69119d9d-91e7-4279-a3dd-13778621425b/AndrewLBrewerGreatLakesBenefitsWealthManagement-9.webp https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69f96aaa96cbd80190f70e82/eea287cf-07f4-4588-b88b-14ae226f818f/AndrewLBrewerGreatLakesBenefitsWealthManagement-7.webp https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69f96aaa96cbd80190f70e82/32b23ab8-ef22-47f0-a9fc-cb2ce8502366/AndrewLBrewerGreatLakesBenefitsWealthManagement-8.webp