Turning Retirement Dreams into Reality

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Turning Retirement Dreams into Reality - Jeff Chase

Investing In Our People: Growing Together Through Ownership Groups - Steve Campbell

 Using Gifting Limits as a Financial Planning and Tax Tool - Blog

The Importance of Estate Planning - Ditch the Suits Podcast Resource

Good News - New Leadership Team Members

Jeff Chase, Sr. Vice President, Financial Planning & Sr. Wealth Manager

I recently started working with a new client who was trying to piece together the various aspects of her financial situation. During our initial discussions, it became clear that one of her main frustrations was feeling “stuck” in her job for several more years, convinced she hadn’t saved enough yet to retire.

As we explored her concerns and envisioned what retiring sooner could look like, I took a deeper dive into her expenses and lifestyle. Through careful planning, particularly in the areas of income sourcing and proactive tax planning, we realized she could retire much earlier than expected – without sacrificing her financial security.

What brought her even greater relief was understanding that her financial accounts and assets weren’t just numbers on paper and “tools for survival." With a shift in her mindset, they suddenly represented the freedom to live the life she had always imagined. It wasn’t about accumulating money for the sake of numbers; it was about aligning her wealth with her true goals and values to help her live the life she envisioned.

The joy she felt in realizing that what had once felt like a distant dream was now a tangible possibility was incredible.

This is one of the most rewarding parts of financial planning: helping clients see beyond the spreadsheets and projections, to understand the real purpose of their money. It’s not just about saving for a rainy day, but about using what they have to design the life they truly want.

What would it mean to reclaim years of your life? That’s an invaluable opportunity, one that doesn’t show up in a simple account balance but in the freedom to make meaningful choices.

While we aren’t miracle workers, and not every situation has the same outcome, the power of strategic planning and thoughtful projections is that it can reveal possibilities our clients may not have seen. It’s a win for them – and for us – knowing that we’ve helped them turn their dreams into a reality and overcome a challenge they once thought impossible.

Steve Campbell, Senior Marketing Director

At S.E.E.D., we invest in our people in ways that go beyond traditional benefits like retirement plans, health insurance, and employee ownership opportunities. Our mission is to foster spaces for personal growth, helping our colleagues develop in ways that enrich both their professional and personal lives. In short, we encourage each other to be the maximum version of ourselves.

In 2023, we introduced ownership groups, which are employee-led communities built around shared interests. These groups bring team members together to explore topics like health, wellness, parenting, and personal development, creating opportunities for meaningful discussions and collective growth.

Many ownership groups use books as guides, facilitating conversations around key themes and sharing insights. These groups unite employees across different teams, helping foster deep connections with colleagues beyond day-to-day work interactions.

I had the privilege of joining an ownership group led by CJ Gettelfinger and Matt Goliber, centered on The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer. The focus? Learning how to slow down and embrace life’s seasons, rather than constantly rushing from one obligation to the next.

Our culture often pushes us to work harder, longer, and non-stop, both professionally and personally. We hustle at work, then rush from one family activity to another, barely pausing to breathe. This constant motion can lead to burnout and push us to seek relief through aimless distractions, such as endless scrolling, which often leave us feeling emptier and less fulfilled than ever.

Our group aimed to prioritize time effectively, ensuring we were truly present at work and home. We discussed strategies to focus on what truly matters, whether in projects at S.E.E.D. or in personal relationships. When we are engaged with our families, we want to be fully there - not distracted by phone notifications, looming deadlines, or emails. We encouraged each other to thoughtfully reflect on, be grateful for, and appreciate what we have in life.

Gifting can be a powerful financial planning strategy, allowing individuals to transfer wealth, reduce taxable estates, and help loved ones financially. Understanding the annual gifting limits, the tax implications, and the required documentation is essential for making the most of this strategy.

2025 Gifting Limits Overview

For 2025, the annual gift tax exclusion is set at $19,000 per recipient. This means an individual can give up to $19,000 to another person without being required to file a gift tax return. Importantly:

• Unlimited Recipients: You can gift $19,000 to as many individuals as you wish. For example, you could gift $19,000 each to a friend, their spouse, and their children.

• Spousal Coordination: A married couple can combine their exclusions to gift up to $38,000 per recipient. This strategy is often used to maximize the transfer of wealth within a family.

However, it is critical to ensure gifts occur within the calendar year to meet IRS guidelines. Gifts made in January 2025 cannot retroactively apply to 2024.

What Constitutes a Gift?

According to IRS guidelines…

One of the most common ways to destroy everything you’ve worked hard for and to ruin the final impression that you leave on your heirs is to have an inadequate estate plan. But what exactly is an adequate estate plan and how do you know if you have one? Join us for a 4-episode mini-series where we dig into how to avoid common estate planning mistakes with our special guest, Sr. Wealth Manager at S.E.E.D. Planning Group, Jess Bake, CTFA.

Listen to all four episodes at:

We are proud to announce that Senior Wealth Managers Jessica Blake, Jamie Shelton, and Dan Kain have joined our leadership team.  

S.E.E.D.’s Leadership Team was formed to acknowledge team members who exemplify our company’s values and have personally and professionally dedicated themselves to inspiring, mentoring, and leading others in pursuit of making a difference in everything they do. 

All members of our Leadership Team are personally invested and committed to our success as shareholders in S.E.E.D. Planning Group. Each member plays a personalized role in S.E.E.D.’s collective success and either leads or contributes to teams focused on executing our firm’s strategic business plan.

Jessica, Jamie, and Dan have all made tremendous impacts on our team.

Jessica, a Certified Trust & Fiduciary Advisor (CTFA), was recently promoted to Manager of Tax Planning and serves on our Estate and Philanthropy Team.

Jamie is President of SEEDs of Hope, a nonprofit committed to serving our communities through volunteerism and education. She also leads our Capital Development Team and serves on our Suite(k) Participant team.

Dan was recently promoted to Manager of Financial Planning Education and currently leads our Advanced Planning Team. He also serves as a board member for SEEDs of Hope and leads our Syracuse efforts.

For more information on our Leadership Team, please visit our leadership page.