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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New and Improved Tax Treatment for Qualified Small Business Stock
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025 made the tax advantages of founding and investing in certain types of small businesses even more generous.
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Cash Balance Plans Help Some Business Owners Supersize Retirement Savings
These plans have generous contribution limits that increase with age, which may allow high-income business owners to catch up on retirement savings and significantly reduce their taxable incomes.
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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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Surprise! It’s Retirement Time
Considering some important issues now could provide more options in the event of early retirement.
Calculators
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Estate Taxes
Use this calculator to estimate the federal estate taxes that could be due on your estate after you die.
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Loan Payoff
How much will it cost to pay off a loan over its lifetime?
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LTCI Cost of Waiting
Estimate the potential cost of waiting to purchase a long-term care insurance policy.
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Taxable Equivalent Yield
Calculate the rate of return you would have to receive from a taxable investment to realize an equivalent tax-exempt yield.