In This Issue 

13 Years of Intention: A conversation with Ben Beck, CFP®, and Jim Bode
A Milestone Worth Celebrating: Angel's final treatment
Our Relationship With Money: How experiences shape perspective

13 years of intention: A conversation with Ben Beck, CFP® and Jim Bode

On February 20, 2013, at five o’clock in the morning, Ben Beck and Jim Bode sat together at a kitchen table reviewing a plan they had already committed to, a decision to leave Merrill Lynch and begin something independent.

“We were putting our final game plan together,” Jim recalls.

The decision, they both agree, remains the best business decision they have ever made. It wasn’t born out of frustration, but out of alignment. They believed certain principles were non-negotiable — independence in how they thought about investing, discipline in how they approached planning, and responsibility to serve clients from the same side of the table.

When they shared the decision with clients, they expected difficult conversations. Instead, they received support.

“We didn’t have to convince the clients to move with us,” Jim reflects. “It wasn’t a convincing game.”

That trust became foundational. It still is.

Over time, the firm evolved — in team, in services, and in clarity. What once lived primarily in conversation matured into something more defined.

“You can talk around the periphery of financial planning all day,” Ben says, “but we’ve evolved that into what’s today called our Goals Planning Statement — a living and breathing contract.”

The GPS formalized what they had long believed: planning is mutual. It is intentional. It is committed to together.

Experience added another layer. As their own lives progressed — raising children, navigating transitions, paying for college — their perspective deepened.

“I can think of a specific example,” Jim says. “We’ve done college planning for years. But when your own child leaves the house and you actually have to start writing those checks, there’s an emotional connection you don’t fully understand until you’re living it.”

That lived experience shaped how they advise.

“We’re in an emotional business,” Ben says. “The goals, the life transitions — that’s the work.”

Thirteen years later, the firm is larger and more mature. The team has grown. The services have expanded.

What remains unchanged is the foundation: independence, responsibility, long-term alignment, and the willingness to speak candidly when guidance is needed.

As they look ahead, the focus is not growth for its own sake, but impact.

“How many clients are we positively impacting?” Ben asks. “That’s what gets me excited about the next 13 years.”

Watch more of this conversation below, and be ready for the full premiere of the anniversary special of the NoBondsCast coming out Wednesday February 25.

a Milestone Worth Celebrating: Angel’s Final Treatment

A few weeks ago, we celebrated an important milestone for a key member of our team.

Our COO, Angel Williams Costanza, completed her final round of chemotherapy.

Over the past 16 months and 22 treatments, she met each step with resilience and determination. Before her final treatment, teammates and friends traveled from Rhode Island to Maine to be with her, turning a difficult chapter into a moment of connection and gratitude.

As Angel shared afterward:

“Culture is not a slogan. Leadership is not a title. Teams are built in moments like this, when people show up for each other without hesitation.”

It was a powerful reminder that what we build as a firm extends beyond strategy and planning. It lives in how we support one another — especially when it matters most.

We are incredibly proud of Angel and grateful for the community that surrounded her through it all.

Our Relationship With Money: How experiences shape perspectives

Money is rarely just about numbers. It is shaped by experience — sometimes by what we were taught, and sometimes by what we learned along the way.

Over time, those lessons influence how we make decisions, how we respond to uncertainty, and how we prepare for the future.

This month, two members of our team shared reflections on how their relationship with money evolved — and how those lessons continue to shape the way they think about planning and life.

Building a Foundation Early

Tammy Stoerkel Client Advisor, Traverse City, MI

I’ve always taught my children the importance of saving early, avoiding debt, and protecting their credit. While my parents were wonderful, they didn’t have a strong financial foundation themselves, so those lessons weren’t part of my upbringing.

Early in my career, a mentor helped fill that gap by encouraging me to invest in my 401(k) and build an emergency fund. That guidance shaped not only my financial habits, but ultimately my passion for financial planning.

That lesson became very real for my daughter in her early 20s. About a year ago, we joined a close family friend for dinner. She shared that she was going through a divorce in her mid-50s and would need a roommate because she could no longer afford her mortgage on her own. She was even considering going back to school to improve her job prospects.

After dinner, my daughter turned to me and said, “I get it now, Mom.”

In that moment, she understood why building a strong financial foundation early matters — and how today’s decisions can shape tomorrow’s options.

The “Mistake Fund”

Hayden Hawkey Client Associate, Dedham MA

I’ve learned that something will go wrong at least once a year.

It’s rarely catastrophic, but it’s almost always inconvenient. A surprise excise tax after purchasing a car in Massachusetts for the first time. Locking myself out and needing a locksmith. An unexpected repair at exactly the wrong moment.

Over time, I started planning for it. I set aside what I call a “mistake fund” – a small reserve built specifically for life’s inevitable curveballs.

Because I expect it, I don’t resent it. When the expense shows up, often around $500, I can absorb it without second-guessing or stress.

Planning doesn’t eliminate surprises. It simply changes how we experience them.

A Final Thought

Over time, what endures isn’t noise or momentum. It’s intention.

It’s the decisions made thoughtfully. The relationships built steadily. The structures designed to support real lives through both milestones and unexpected turns.

Thirteen years in, our commitment remains unchanged: to plan with clarity, act with responsibility, and build lasting relationships grounded in trust.

Thank you for the trust you place in us — and for being part of this journey.

The Beck Bode Team