Published Articles
Wealth Planning
Wealth Planning
Tina Yang, CFP®, February 2026
One of the fastest-growing risks today is fraud made more convincing by artificial intelligence, or AI.
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.
Markets
Founder's Perpective
Founder’s Perspective
Is the Message of Gold’s Meteoric Rise Concerning?
John Merrill, January 29, 2026
It is a great feeling to own an asset when its price surges. Gold may at least partially be an exception. Most everyone knows that gold serves as a disaster hedge…or a severe inflation hedge…so does gold’s explosive gains signal something we should be concerned about?
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.
Books
Books Published
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Perpetual Wealth (2025)
Strategies for Financial Freedom
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Investing in Uncertain Times 2nd Edition (2018)
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Investing in UNCERTAIN Times (2012)
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The Sure Road to Investment Success
Building Your Best Portfolio for Risk and Reward
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The Sure Road to Investment Success
Preserving and Enhancing Wealth Over a Lifetime
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Outperforming the Market
Everyone's Guide to High-Profit, Low-Risk Investing
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Beyond Stocks
A Guide to the Best Performing Complete Portfolios
