Independence is the Difference
Brian D. McLean, Independent Financial Advisor
Welcome to our Web site, where you’ll find a wealth of information in the form of newsletter articles, calculators, and research reports.
We hope your visit will help you understand the opportunities and potential rewards that are available when you take a proactive approach to your personal financial situation. We have created this Web site to help you gain a better understanding of the financial concepts behind insurance, investing, retirement, estate planning, and wealth preservation. Most important, we hope you see the value of working with skilled professionals to pursue your financial goals.
We’re here to help educate you about the basic concepts of financial management; to help you learn more about who we are; and to give you fast, easy access to market performance data. We hope you take advantage of this resource and visit us often. Be sure to add our site to your list of "favorites" in your Internet browser. We frequently update our information, and we wouldn’t want you to miss any developments in the area of personal finance.
Newsletters
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Avoiding Probate with a TOD Deed and TOD Account
In many states, a transfer-on-death (TOD) deed and/or account can help avoid probate without the cost and complexity of a trust.
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Key Retirement and Tax Numbers for 2026
This article provides 2026 contribution limits for retirement plans and various tax deduction, exclusion, exemption, and threshold amounts.
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Mega Backdoor Roth: A Tax-Friendly Retirement Strategy for Serious Savers
High earners may not be eligible to contribute to a Roth IRA, but some people can use a workplace plan to save more and create a source of tax-free retirement income.
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Medicare or Medicaid?
It’s easy to confuse Medicare and Medicaid, but there are important differences between the programs.
Calculators
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Life Expectancy
Knowing your likely life expectancy is an important factor in making long-term financial plans.
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Loan Payoff
How much will it cost to pay off a loan over its lifetime?
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Cost of Retirement
Use this calculator to estimate how much income and savings you may need in retirement.