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NAVIGATOR 1 | Where Will I Live?
A comprehensive guide to choosing the right living environment for the next chapter of life. MEET ELEANOR Eleanor had lived in her home for twenty-seven years. She knew the house the way you know a favorite song - where it swells, where it softens, where it pauses. It had held birthdays, late-night conversations, arguments that passed, and seasons of joy and loss. But on a Tuesday morning, standing alone in the kitchen, she paused. The house wasn’t wrong. It just felt… larger
Gentian Financial
3 min read
NAVIGATOR 3 | Who Will Take Care of Me?
A comprehensive guide to protecting independence, dignity, and support as life changes. MEET JANET Janet had always been the reliable one. She organized family gatherings, managed details, showed up when others needed help. Caring for people came naturally to her - it was part of her identity. Then her sister fell. A simple slip. A fractured hip. Suddenly, independence disappeared overnight. Janet watched her sister struggle not just with recovery, but with the emotional weig
Gentian Financial
3 min read
The Quiet Power of Decluttering
There’s something I’ve noticed over the years—both in my own life and in the lives of the families we serve. Clarity rarely arrives by accident. It ’s usually created. Often quietly. Often intentionally. And very often, by letting go. When we talk about decluttering, most people think of closets, basements, garages, or overflowing drawers. And yes—those matter. But decluttering is about far more than stuff in a physical space. It’s about mental space. It ’s about emot
Chris Doughty
2 min read
Small Financial Updates That Can Protect Your Long-Term Plan
Review and revamp your financial plan, if updates are needed. Taking time to focus on your financial well-being can help ensure long-term financial confidence. Update Your Beneficiaries If you don’t correctly document your beneficiary designations, who gets what may be determined by federal or state law, or by the default plan document used in your retirement accounts. When did you last update your designations? Have life changes (divorce, remarriage, births, deaths, state of
Gentian Financial
2 min read
Welcome to 2026 - From the Desk of Chris Doughty
As we begin a new year, we want to pause—not to predict what comes next, but to reflect on where we are, why we invest the way we do, and what ultimately matters most. At Gentian, we don’t measure success by headlines, forecasts, or short-term market moves. We measure it by something far more personal: your ability to live the life you care about, with confidence today and continuity for those you love tomorrow. That perspective guides everything we do. Our Way of Operating F
Chris Doughty
3 min read
Why 401(k)? How It Started and Why It Still Matters
Every year, on the Friday after Labor Day, we celebrate National 401(k) Day —a timely reminder to check in on your retirement savings....
Gentian Financial
2 min read
Celebrating the Life and Wisdom of David Gergen
We recently lost a truly remarkable figure in American public life: David Gergen, who passed away in July at the age of 83. David dedicated his life to public service, advising four U.S. presidents, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, and Bill Clinton, across political divides and through sweeping changes in our nation’s history. His legacy, both as a counselor in the halls of power and as an educator to future leaders, is profound and enduring. I had the privilege of
Chris Doughty
2 min read
Here are some lesser-known and creative ways to use a 529 account.
Earlier this month we outlined the basic concept and uses of a 529 savings account. We also discussed how the SECURE Act 2.0 made 529s work even harder and more aligned to changing family needs. For today, we felt it important, that we cover the lesser-known and more creative ways to maximize account benefits. (All totally legal, we promise!) You may be thinking, 529s pay for college, I’m not sure my child will want to go to college, therefore 529 accounts are not for me! Our
Gentian Financial
2 min read
The Secure Act 2.0 + 529 Accounts
You Can Roll Over 529 Funds to a Roth IRA Imagine repurposing those unused education funds into a retirement nest egg—yes, you heard that right! It’s like turning your leftover pizza into a gourmet meal. Intrigued? Let’s dive into this exciting new option and see how you can roll over 529 funds to a Roth IRA. Lifetime Rollover Limit You can transfer up to $35,000 from a 529 plan to a Roth IRA over the beneficiary's lifetime. These rollovers are exempt from taxes and the typic
Gentian Financial
2 min read
May is National 529 Month!If you have a 529 Savings Account set up already or are considering putting one into place, we’re sharing facts and key considerations all month long!
Did you know there is an entire month dedicated to understanding the inner workings of the powerful savings vehicle, the 529 Savings Account? Whether you are saving for educational expenses for yourself or those you love, 529s can offer tax advantages and, thanks to some recent updates, more flexibility now than ever before! This month, we’ll be going a bit deeper into the details of 529 accounts and how to best leverage their many benefits. We’ll discuss elements to be mi
Gentian Financial
3 min read
A Few Thoughts On.....
Times Like These We are living through yet another chapter of market volatility. While the specifics may feel different this time—headlines, interest rates, geopolitical tensions—the underlying nature of markets remains the same: what rises can fall, and what falls can rise again. Fear, when it takes hold, has a way of clouding not just our decision, but our memory. It makes us forget that every correction we’ve seen—whether it was the S&P in the 1950s or the Dow in the ear
Chris Doughty
1 min read
2024 Barron's Top 1,200 Financial Advisors
Chris Doughty named to the 2024 Barron's Top 1,200 Financial Advisors
Gentian Financial
2 min read
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