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The Wealth That Knows Which Way Is Forward

by Eric Seyboldt, MBA

It’s common knowledge that money is expected to work hard, behave itself, and leave something better behind. Flash has never impressed anyone who’s watched a crop survive a bad season or a business endure a rough decade. What does impress is efficiency—capital that serves a purpose, adapts to conditions, and still shows up for the next generation. That is exactly where the charitable lead trust earns its place in serious household finance.

A charitable lead trust, when stripped of legal jargon, is a reordering of priorities that happens to be economically brilliant, IMHO. Instead of wealth idling in an estate until death triggers a tax reckoning, the assets are put to work immediately. Charities receive a dependable stream of funding first. Family inherits later. And the tax system—built around timing, valuation, and assumed growth—steps aside.

Here’s the economic insight most people miss: transfer taxes are not triggered by what assets become, but by what they are worth today, discounted by certain assumptions. A charitable lead trust exploits that gap. By committing part of an asset’s future value to charity, the taxable value of what ultimately passes to heirs shrinks—sometimes dramatically. If the assets grow faster than the government’s assumed rate, that excess growth lands squarely in the family column, largely untouched by gift or estate tax.

There are different ways to engineer this outcome. Some trusts send a fixed annual payment to charity, creating certainty and stability—particularly attractive to churches, and community foundations that budget years in advance. Others adjust payments based on asset value, allowing charitable support to rise alongside investment performance. Either way, the trust converts volatility into structure, which is what good planning always does.

Tax treatment depends on who “owns” the income along the way. In one version, the trust stands on its own and deducts what it gives to charity, often neutralizing its tax bill entirely. The donor gives up an immediate income tax deduction but gains leverage on estate taxes instead. In another version, the donor takes a sizable deduction upfront—often when it’s most valuable—and agrees to pay taxes on the trust’s income during the charitable period. This is not generosity for generosity’s sake; it is a conscious trade between today’s tax relief and tomorrow’s efficiency.

Consider a practical example. A family holds closely held business interests or long-term equities they expect to appreciate. Selling triggers capital gains. Holding inflates the estate. A charitable lead trust solves both problems. The assets fund local causes for a defined period—maybe a children’s hospital, maybe an agricultural scholarship program—while the remaining value, often far larger than originally projected, passes to heirs later with minimal tax drag. The family didn’t give more away. They simply gave first.

The overlooked advantage is cultural. A charitable lead trust trains the next generation. Instead of inheriting wealth as a surprise event, heirs grow up watching it function. They see annual reports, understand causes, and learn that money has direction. That kind of education doesn’t show up on a balance sheet, but it pays dividends that compound longer than capital ever could.

Because these trusts are irrevocable and technical, execution matters. Administration, investment discipline, and compliance are not side projects. Professional trusteeship is not a luxury here—it’s protection against drift, error, and unintended consequences.

A charitable lead trust is not a mass-market product. It is a precision instrument. But for families who expect their wealth to do real work—supporting communities now while arriving intact later—it represents one of the cleanest expressions of economic common sense available.

Good planning doesn’t chase loopholes. It understands incentives. And when generosity and math point in the same direction, that’s not just smart finance. That’s stewardship done right.

Reach out for a brief, complimentary 10-minute strategy conversation. Sound planning isn’t built on fear or guesswork—it’s built on structure. The goal is to put systems in place that hold steady when markets shift, laws change, or life moves faster than expected. A well-designed retirement and estate strategy protects income, preserves decision-making control, and ensures that hard-earned assets remain a source of strength rather than strain.

For a short, no-cost strategy call, contact Eric at 614-943-2265 or [email protected]. The most expensive mistakes in finance are rarely dramatic—they’re quiet decisions never made. Clarity today is what prevents tomorrow from being left to chance.

It’s Not What You Make, But What You Get to Keep

by Eric Seyboldt, MBA

Every major tax bill promises relief. Fewer explain the fine print. And fewer still tell you who actually wins once the dust settles.

The One Big Beautiful Bill has been marketed as a pro-worker, pro-family, pro-growth reset of the tax code. In many ways, that’s true. It locks in lower rates, expands deductions, and offers targeted relief to groups long overlooked by Washington. But the real story—the one quietly shaping outcomes—doesn’t live in the headlines. It lives in thresholds, caps, phase-outs, and timing.

What follows is a practical interpretation of how the law is being discussed, analyzed, and implemented based on publicly available guidance, practitioner commentary, and early analysis. It is not tax advice, nor a substitute for individualized CPA or legal counsel. As with any major legislation, details will continue to evolve through regulations, IRS interpretation, and court challenges.

With that context in mind, here’s what appears to matter most—and why.

The new “normal” tax code favors simplicity—but only to a point

Lower tax brackets and a larger standard deduction are now effectively permanent. For many households, that alone is meaningful. A married couple taking the standard deduction can shield over $31,000 of income before the first dollar is taxed.

What that means in practice:
Middle-income households that never itemized—teachers, nurses, skilled trades—often see cleaner returns and lower effective rates than under prior law. For them, the system finally behaves predictably.

SALT relief returns—but planning determines who benefits

The state and local tax deduction cap has been temporarily raised, offering welcome relief in higher-tax states. However, the benefit phases out as income rises.

Real-world implication:
Two households with identical property taxes may receive very different outcomes depending on income and timing. Paying taxes in the wrong year—or without coordination—can quietly erase the benefit.

High earners didn’t lose deductions—they lost efficiency

One of the subtler changes being highlighted by tax commentators: itemized deductions at higher income levels now offset tax at a reduced value.

Why this matters:
Charitable giving and other deductions still count, but the “return” on those dollars is lower. Strategies that once worked automatically now require coordination to avoid diminishing results.

Charitable giving now requires more intention

Beginning in 2026, charitable contributions must exceed a modest income-based threshold before providing a tax benefit.

Practical takeaway:
Casual annual giving may no longer move the needle. Structured approaches—such as bunching donations or using donor-advised funds—are increasingly discussed as ways to preserve tax efficiency.

“No tax on tips” and “no tax on overtime” are targeted—not universal

These provisions are real, but they are structured as capped, income-tested deductions rather than blanket exemptions.

Who benefits most:
Service workers and hourly employees earning modest incomes see immediate relief. Higher earners with incidental overtime may see little benefit once phase-outs apply.

Tax relief today, pressure tomorrow

Several analysts have noted that reduced revenue tied to these changes accelerates longer-term funding challenges elsewhere, particularly in Social Security.

What that suggests:
Near-term tax relief is tangible. Long-term fiscal tradeoffs remain unresolved and will likely shape future policy debates.

The bottom line

This bill doesn’t reward effort alone. It rewards understanding.

For some households, it simplifies life and lowers taxes automatically. For others, outcomes depend heavily on timing, structure, and awareness of limits embedded in the law.

As always, legislation sets the framework—but interpretation, planning, and professional guidance determine results.

Because in the end, the tax code doesn’t ask how hard money was earned.
It only decides how much of it gets to stay in your pockets.

Contact us for a complimentary, 10-minute estate planning consultation. Major life transitions—whether changing states, entering retirement, or reshaping family dynamics—deserve the same level of thought and coordination as the strategies used to build wealth in the first place.

For those who want to ensure their planning remains aligned with current tax rules and evolving laws, a review can provide clarity and direction.

To schedule a complimentary estate and legacy review, call Eric Seyboldt at 614-943-2265 or email [email protected]. Because the frameworks that preserve what you’ve built matter just as much as the effort it took to build it.

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Fixed annuities can be an essential component of a well-rounded retirement strategy, offering security, predictability, and efficiency in financial planning.

These are current fixed annuity rates and their durations from Top A-rated carriers (subject to change at any time, not FDIC insured):

Rates Are Dropping! Don’t Wait To Lock These Fixed Annuity Rates In Today!

3-year: 5.45% (under $100k Deposited)

3-year: 5.60% (over $100k Deposited)

5-year: 6.05% (under $100k Deposited)

5-year: 6.30% (over $100k Deposited)

7-year: 6.25% (under $100k Deposited)

7-year: 6.50% (over $100k Deposited)

Please feel free to call Eric at 614-943-2265 if you’d like to ask any questions or request information on these fixed annuities or other retirement topics that are on your mind.

REAL ASSETS, Invest Like the Ultra-Wealthy

Invest Like the Ultra-Wealthy: Why Smart Money Is Flocking to Real Assets Like Gold

Today’s retirement strategies were built for a different economy. Living costs rise faster than expected, markets move in sharper cycles, and monetary policy continues to reshape the value of cash and bonds. Relying solely on traditional investments leaves many portfolios exposed to risks that are largely outside an investor’s control.

That is why many disciplined investors are adding gold—not to replace growth assets, but to strengthen the foundation of their retirement strategy.

Gold has preserved purchasing power through inflation, currency shifts, and financial disruptions for centuries. It does not depend on corporate profits, central bank policy, or government balance sheets to retain value. And as a physical asset, it exists outside the financial system that governs most modern wealth.

This is not about chasing returns. It is about protecting what has already been built.

A well-designed retirement plan balances growth with durability. In uncertain economic conditions, gold provides stability that paper assets alone cannot.

When the goal is long-term security, not short-term speculation, resilience matters.

During market chaos, real assets don’t flinch. They thrive. History proves it. While equities tumble, hard assets often surge—shielding portfolios and delivering asymmetric returns when they're needed most.

And even in calm times? They add powerful diversification. That’s why the ultra-wealthy use them as a cornerstone—not a sideshow—in their wealth strategy.

Ask yourself:

🧠 Are you truly diversified?
🧠 What happens to your retirement if inflation stays elevated?
🧠 If the dollar weakens, what asset in your portfolio gets stronger?

If you don’t have a good answer, it’s time for a new conversation.

Allocating funds into the asset class known as “Real Assets” may be a strategy that you should consider.

Ask us how to Rollover a portion of Your IRA or 401k To a GOLD IRA (see link below) and:

• Safeguard your assets from the collapsing dollar

• Incorporate the ‘REAL ASSET’ class into your portfolio like the ultra-wealthy

• Hedge against the current high-inflation conditions

• Protect your retirement assets against economic crises

Just get in touch. We make it easier than ever.

Feedback or Questions?

You’re invited to get in touch with us if you’d like to find out how the Novus Financial Group can help you on your journey to a happy, fulfilling life in Retirement. 

Office: 614-943-2265

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Investment advisory services are offered by duly registered individuals on behalf of CreativeOne Wealth, LLC a Registered Investment Adviser.

The content we provide here isn’t financial advice and cannot be taken as such. Please speak to your financial advisor before making any investment decision. Also, note that every investment comes with its risks and drawbacks. Lastly, we would like to remind you that past results cannot guarantee future returns.

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