Published Articles
Wealth Planning
Wealth Planning
Charitable Giving Rules Are Changing in 2026
Keith Fenstad, CFP®, September 2025
Tanglewood clients are an incredibly charitable group. I can honestly admit I have grown to be a more cheerful and generous giver after working with clients over the past two decades.
What Estate Planning Documents Do I Need?
Michael Pumphrey, MS, CFP®, AFC®, EA, August 2025
Estate planning is often pushed to the bottom of the to-do list. If you are in your thirties or even twenties, focusing on your career or starting a family is often your primary focus. The idea of building and passing along a legacy sounds like an abstract, far-off idea.
Keith Fenstad, CFP®, July 2025
The One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) was signed into law by the president on July 4th after making its way through congress. There are many new provisions regarding income taxes and some important updates to the estate tax laws that will impact many Tanglewood clients. Below is a summary of that we think are some of the most impactful.
Markets
Founder's Perpective
Founder’s Perspective
Recognizing Reality…and Responding to it NOW
John Merrill, September 25, 2025
Is there anyone left in the country who still believes that we can continue the social benefit promises currently in place without change? Today, over 60% of all federal tax collections go to the major social programs including Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. Based on current projections, that percentage will keep rising until eventually exceeding 100%.
New Geopolitical Realities Require Change
John Merrill, May 22, 2025
Exactly six years ago, the title of my Perspective was A New World Order (October 2018). The main message of that piece was that the post-WWII world order was breaking apart. The rules formerly agreed for international trade, investment, and security were being undermined by China.
Policies to Challenge China’s Global Ambitions
John Merrill, April 2, 2025
China was seen as a partner through most of the 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s. They specialized in making everyday goods cheaper, which benefited most of our consumers and kept inflation (and interest rates) down around the world.
Books
Books Published
-
![]()
Perpetual Wealth (2025)
Strategies for Financial Freedom
-
![]()
Investing in Uncertain Times 2nd Edition (2018)
-
![]()
Investing in UNCERTAIN Times (2012)
-
![]()
The Sure Road to Investment Success
Building Your Best Portfolio for Risk and Reward
-
![]()
The Sure Road to Investment Success
Preserving and Enhancing Wealth Over a Lifetime
-
![]()
Outperforming the Market
Everyone's Guide to High-Profit, Low-Risk Investing
-
![]()
Beyond Stocks
A Guide to the Best Performing Complete Portfolios
