Samm E. Hayes - Creating Financial Freedom

Honored to be recognized for qualifying for our firm’s Leaders Conference this year.

Grateful for the clients who trust me and the team that pushes me to be better every day. This one’s a reflection of disciplined planning, consistent ex*****on, and relationships built the right way.

Put my boy in his finance bro vest this morning and I immediately pictured him taking over my business one day.

Reminder to business owner clients: talk to your advisors about your business succession planning now.

STEP 3: Check Your Beneficiary Designations

One of the most overlooked (and most important) steps in a family financial plan is making sure your beneficiary designations are current.

Life changes fast—marriage, kids, new accounts, job changes—and beneficiary forms don’t automatically update themselves.

As you close out the year, take a few minutes to review:
• Retirement accounts - 401(k), IRA, Roth IRA
• Life insurance policies
• Investment and brokerage accounts
• Bank accounts with payable-on-death (POD) designations

Why this matters:�Beneficiary designations typically override wills and trusts, and outdated designations can create delays, confusion, or unintended outcomes for your family.

This is a simple check that can make a meaningful difference for the people you care about most.

(Provided content is for overview and informational purposes only and is not intended and should not be relied upon as individualized tax, legal, fiduciary, or investment advice. Investing involves risk which includes potential loss of principal.)

STEP 2: Dial In Your Short-Term Savings & Long-Term Investments

Once your cash flow and budget are organized, the next priority is clearly separating short-term household savings from long-term investment money. Each plays a very different role in your family’s financial plan.

Short-Term Savings (0–3 Years) = Stability & Access
This is the money that protects your household from:
➡️ Job changes
➡️ Medical surprises
➡️ Home & car repairs
➡️ Childcare disruptions
➡️ Other unexpected life events

Where short-term savings typically belong:
✅ High-yield savings accounts
✅ Money market accounts
✅ Other conservative, liquid savings vehicles

Purpose: safety, access, and peace of mind—not market growth.

Long-Term Investments (5+ Years) = Growth Potential & Future Goals
This is money intentionally invested for future milestones and long-term wealth.
✳️ 529 College Savings Plans
✳️ HSAs (Health Savings Accounts)
✳️ Joint & Individual Brokerage Accounts
✳️ UTMA/UGMA Custodial Accounts
✳️ Retirement Accounts (401(k), Roth IRA, Traditional IRA, SEP, etc.)

Purpose: long-term growth potential and strategic wealth building.

Why We Don’t Invest Short-Term Money
Markets move in cycles. When money you may need soon is invested, you risk:
❌ Being forced to sell during a downturn
❌ Locking in losses
❌ Turning your safety net into a source of stress

Time may allow investing to work in your favor.

Short timelines need certainty—not volatility.
If you want help structuring your short-term savings bucket, clarifying which goals should stay safe vs. be invested, or aligning your long-term investment accounts to your family’s goals - I’m always happy to help.

(Provided content is for overview and informational purposes only and is not intended and should not be relied upon as individualized tax, legal, fiduciary, or investment advice. Investing involves risk which includes potential loss of principal.)