Beck BodeJune Reflection: What Financial Planning Is Really About
Managing Partner & Chief Investment Officer
As markets fluctuate and economic headlines compete for your attention this summer, we wanted to cut through the noise and remind you what truly matters in financial planning. Beyond the complexity and commentary, effective planning comes down to two essential questions:
- How much do I need to save—and by when—to retire comfortably and stay comfortably retired?
- How will my family be financially protected if something unexpected happens to me?
Everything else? Important, but secondary to these fundamentals.
We've worked with many of you through bull markets, bear markets, and everything in between. If there's one thing we've learned, it's that life rarely follows a predictable script. Career shifts happen, income fluctuates, and opportunities emerge when least expected—and your financial plan needs to account for that reality.
This is why our approach has always been straightforward:
We start with your specific goals—not generic benchmarks. We quantify what's needed, factoring in tomorrow's costs, not just today's numbers. For example, a retirement goal of $150,000 per year today could easily require $250,000 or more annually in the future, depending on inflation. We build a solid cash foundation before focusing on growth through quality equities. Most importantly, we emphasize staying disciplined during market volatility and conducting regular reviews driven by your life changes, not headline news.
As we approach the halfway mark of 2025, revisiting these fundamentals isn't just reassuring—it's essential. Remember, long-term financial success isn't about timing the market or chasing trends. It's about having a clear plan and the discipline to stick with it.
As always, we're here to help you stay the course.
In this issue
1. Join Us at the NH Car "Show of Dreams" on July 26
2. NoBondsCast Episodes: "Raising Relentless Investors" and "Fitness to Finance"
3. Team Building in Portsmouth: Highlights from the Beck Bode Offsite
4. Recent Relentless Blogs
5. Mid-Year Reminder: Why Updating Your Beneficiaries Is More Important Than You Think
6. What’s Up, Beck Bode: Celebrating New Series 65 Holders
Come Enjoy a Summer Day With Us at the "Show of Dreams!"
We're pleased to invite you to join Beck Bode as we sponsor the British Cars of New Hampshire "Show of Dreams" this summer. This event supports the New Hampshire Food Bank while offering a day of automotive appreciation and community connection.
When: Saturday, July 26, 2025, 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Where: Alvirne Hills House Field, Hudson, NH
The event will feature an impressive display of classic British automobiles set against the backdrop of a New England summer day. Our Beck Bode team will be welcoming clients and guests at our tent, where we'll be providing refreshments and a comfortable place to take a break from the summer heat.
A Special Connection: We're particularly proud to support this event as our own Jim Sambold from our Portsmouth office has been a founding member of British Cars of New Hampshire for the past 34 years. This organization is dedicated to the preservation, restoration, and enjoyment of British automobiles, with a foundational mission of giving back to those less fortunate.
Through the Show of Dreams, British Cars of New Hampshire has donated approximately $150,000 to the New Hampshire Food Bank to date. The goal for this year's event is an impressive $25,000—equivalent to providing 50,000 meals to those in need.
Event Highlights:
- 2025 Miss New Hampshire, Xanthi Russell, will be at our tent for photos and meet-and-greets
- Enter our prize drawing for a chance to win several special, British-inspired gifts
- Pick up a commemorative T-shirt, courtesy of Beck Bode as the official T-shirt sponsor
- And much more!
If you own a British car and would like to display it at the event, we'd be pleased to cover any current client's entry fee as a token of our appreciation. Please contact us to coordinate.
This event offers a wonderful opportunity to connect with our team members from all three New England offices in a relaxed setting while supporting a worthwhile cause. We hope you'll mark your calendar and join us for what promises to be an enjoyable day.
Please feel free to bring family and friends – we look forward to seeing you there!
Recent NoBondscast Episodes
Raising Relentless Investors - Special Fathers Day Episode
In this heartfelt special, Ben and Jim share personal stories about how their childhood experiences shaped their approach to teaching their own children about money. From Ben's childhood lawn mowing business to Jim's 18-year-old son managing market volatility in his Roth IRA, this episode explores how early exposure to entrepreneurship and investing creates lasting financial confidence. You'll discover why children absorb financial values by watching parents' actions rather than through lectures alone. Watch the full episode above or read the Q&A |
How Your Workout Routine May Hold the secret to building wealth with Ashley Cotler
Ben and Jim sit down with our own Ashley Cotler, Client Success Manager, to explore the surprising connection between physical fitness and financial fitness. Ashley shares her remarkable journey of relocating across the country during the pandemic, transitioning from gym ownership to financial planning, and how starting over with a clear foundation led to growth in all areas of her life. The discussion reveals why the fundamentals of success in the gym—coaching, consistency, and community—mirror those in wealth building. Watch the full episode above or read the Q&A |
Team Building in Portsmouth: Strengthening Our Culture together
Our entire Beck Bode team recently came together in Portsmouth, NH for a day of connection, learning, and planning. These gatherings reflect a principle we often share with clients: meaningful growth happens through both connection and gathering as a community.
For this mid-year offsite meeting, we brought together colleagues from across all our locations—flying in our Michigan team from Traverse City, welcoming our Client Success Manager Ashley from Las Vegas, and gathering colleagues from all over New England.
As we settled in, team members shared stories about their first jobs—from ice cream scooper to tomato hothouse picker and even one pool boy (any guess who?). These personal connections remind us that everyone's financial journey has unique beginnings, and that empathy is essential to good advice. This spirit of connection set the stage for our strategic discussions.
Together, we explored our vision for the remainder of 2025, focusing on ways to enhance your experience as a Beck Bode client. A significant portion of our time was devoted to thoughtful discussion about the fundamental purpose of having a financial advisor in today's world—particularly how we can help you build lasting legacies that extend beyond just financial success.
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The afternoon featured our capstone "Strategy University" session led by Ben Beck, CFP®. While the name might suggest a focus solely on investment strategy, these collaborative forums are where our team refines our approach to financial discussions and planning more broadly. Having almost 30 team members engaged in person created a powerful learning environment, ensuring the guidance you receive remains both consistent and thoughtfully considered.
We concluded the day enjoying the Portsmouth harbor views while reflecting on our shared commitment to serving you with both expertise and care. These collaborative days strengthen our ability to provide the guidance you deserve as you pursue your most meaningful long-term goals.
Recent Relentless Blog Posts
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What's the Worst Financial Decision Someone Can Make?Mid-Year Reminder: Why Updating Your Beneficiaries Is More Important Than You Think
Now that the heavy lifting of spring cleaning is behind us and summer is in full swing (with July 4th just around the corner), it's the perfect time to ensure your financial matters are in order. While you've likely organized your home and yard for the season, don't overlook one of the most critical areas of your financial life: your beneficiary designations.
When was the last time you reviewed the beneficiaries listed on your retirement accounts, life insurance policies, or bank accounts? If it's been a while—or if you can't remember—take some time during these longer summer days to review these important documents. Keeping your beneficiary designations up to date is one of the most important steps in maintaining a well-organized financial plan.
Why It Matters
Many people assume that a will or trust overrides outdated beneficiary designations—but that's not the case. Beneficiary designations actually take precedence over your will. That means if your ex-spouse is still listed on your 401(k), they'll receive the money—regardless of your current wishes.
Life Changes Prompt the Need for Updates
Just as you wouldn't hold onto winter clothes during the summer heat, you shouldn't hang onto outdated designations. Major life events are your cue to update your beneficiary listings:
- Marriage or divorce
- Birth or adoption of a child or grandchild
- Death of a previously named beneficiary
- Change in relationship with a beneficiary
Even if nothing major has changed, a mid-year review is an excellent time to verify these important details are current.
Your financial plan is more than saving and investing—it's about protecting your legacy and making sure your intentions are carried out clearly. Updating your beneficiaries is a simple task with a powerful impact. So as you enjoy your summer activities, take a few minutes to ensure your finances are as well-organized as your summer calendar.
If you have questions about how your beneficiaries are listed here at Beck Bode, don't hesitate to reach out. We're happy to help you get—and stay—organized.
What’s Up, Beck Bode: Celebrating New Series 65 Holders
We're proud to announce that Beth Price and Hayden Hawkey have recently become Series 65 holders! For Beth, this achievement represents a commitment to deepening her understanding of investment strategies so she can engage more meaningfully in client meetings and provide more informed perspectives. Meanwhile, Hayden's certification marks an important step in his professional journey as he continues his role as Client Associate with the goal of becoming an Advisor in the near future.
Both Beth and Hayden share a passion for lifelong learning and are excited to use their expanded knowledge to better serve you and your financial goals. Their dedication to professional growth reflects our firm's commitment to continuous improvement and excellence in client service.
The Series 65 is a key stepping stone for financial professionals who aspire to become full-fledged advisors. It also upholds our firm's high standards for expertise and regulatory compliance, ensuring we continue to provide advice that serves your best interests.
Please join us in congratulating them on this significant professional achievement!
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That wraps up our June issue of The Long View. Until the next time, take a look at more of the latest articles on our blog.
Thanks for reading, and for following us. If any part of this month’s topics suggests a question or concern you may have, or if you need anything else, please reach out — we look forward to speaking with you!
From all of us at Beck Bode.