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See The Forest Through the Trees

See The Forest Through the Trees

Written by: Celestial Wealth Mgmt
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 Providing the pros and cons of various financial planning and investment strategies to help you optimize your net worth creation. You can watch the full videos on YouTube @seetheforestthroughthetrees. Colin Exelby, CFP® owns Celestial Wealth Management, a virtual financial advisory firm, and has over 23 years of experience providing custom financial planning and investment management to his clients. He brings a wealth of knowledge AND real-world experience to the channel. Make sure to subscribe to see the newest episodes first.Copyright 2025 All rights reserved. Economics Personal Finance Self-Help Success
Episodes
  • Vanguard Says You’re Probably Investing Too Aggressively

    Vanguard Says You’re Probably Investing Too Aggressively
    Apr 23 2026
    If you’ve been following the traditional 60/40 portfolio… this may surprise you. Recently, Vanguard released guidance suggesting that many investors—especially those nearing retirement—may actually be taking on too much risk. In some cases, what used to be considered a balanced portfolio (60% stocks / 40% bonds) may now need to be closer to 30% stocks / 70% bonds depending on your situation. But does that mean you should change your allocation? In this video, Colin Exelby, CFP® explains: Why Vanguard is making this shift What it means for retirees and pre-retirees The biggest mistake investors make when reacting to headlines like this And how to think about risk the right way as you approach retirement Because the real issue isn’t just your portfolio allocation… It’s how your retirement income plan is structured. #retirementplanning #investing #vanguard #financialplanning #retirementincome 00:00-Vanguard Says You’re Probably Investing Too Aggressively 01:20-Why Vanguard’s Message Is Making People Nervous 02:15-The Classic 60/40 Portfolio (And Why It’s Been So Popular) 03:15-What Vanguard’s “Time-Varying Allocation” Model Actually Means 05:08-Vanguard’s New Allocation: The Shocking Shift to 30/70 06:15-Why Vanguard Thinks the Average Investor Is Way Too Aggressive 07:06-Vanguard’s 10-Year Forecast: The Real Reason Behind the Shift 08:08-International Stocks: Slightly Better, But Still Not Amazing 08:52-U.S. Value vs U.S. Growth: Vanguard’s Biggest Bet 10:18-Why Vanguard Thinks Bonds Might Be the “New Stocks” 11:05-Vanguard Faced Backlash, So Their CIO Walked It Back 11:54-The Average Investor Is Sitting Around 70% Stocks Right Now 12:40-The Big Question: Should You Actually Change Anything? 13:57-Why Dynamic Investing Sounds Easy... But Fails in Real Life 14:50-Why International Markets Might Be the Quiet Winner 15:30-What Vanguard’s Warning Really Means for Retirees ★☆★Stop leaving yourself vulnerable to data breaches. Go to my sponsor Aura to get a 14-day free trial and see if any of your data has been exposed.★☆★👇 https://aura.com/cwmwealth ⭐Support the Channel by Becoming a Community Member⭐ 👇https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC13s0hQVkEv-azgzhOe8QXA/join [About] Colin Exelby is a Certified Financial Planner Professional™ or CFP®. He owns the virtual financial advisory practice Celestial Wealth Management. I provide financial planning for business owners and their families that makes sense. Transformational change is made when you focus on the big picture. My goal is to help you think outside the box about your life, your money, and your health to be the best you can possibly be. We strive to help you: *Optimize Your Cash Flow *Minimize Your Taxes *Build Your Net Worth *Create a Lasting Legacy ➡️ ➡️Free Guide Here: https://celestialwm.com/ptpebook-go/⬅️⬅️ Top Financial Advisor Baltimore. Top Financial Planner Maryland. Affiliate Link Disclaimer: I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are our own. This post may contain affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission. Read full privacy policy at celestialwm.com. Celestial Wealth Management LLC receives compensation from YouTube for the presence of advertising before, after, and during this video content. Celestial Wealth Management LLC does not control the content or presence of any advertisements. The presence of any advertisement does not constitute an endorsement of the ad, company, entity, or product by Celestial Wealth Management LLC. DISCLOSURES Celestial Wealth Management, LLC is registered as an investment adviser in the State of Maryland and Texas. Neither the information nor any opinion constitutes an offer or an invitation to make an offer, to buy or sell any securities or other financial instruments. This video is not intended to provide personal investment advice and it does not take into account the specific investment objectives, financial situation and the particular needs of any specific person. Investors should seek financial advice regarding the appropriateness of investing in financial instruments and implementing investment and planning strategies discussed in this video and should understand that statements regarding future prospects may not be realized. Nothing provided here constitutes tax advice. Individuals should seek the advice of their own tax advisor for specific information regarding tax consequences of investments. Investments in securities entail risk and are not suitable for all investors. This is not a recommendation nor an offer to sell (or solicitation of an offer to buy) securities in the United States or in any other jurisdiction. All investment strategies have the potential for profit or loss.
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    19 mins
  • The RMD Tax Trap: Why Your Taxes May Go UP in Retirement

    The RMD Tax Trap: Why Your Taxes May Go UP in Retirement
    Apr 15 2026
    Most retirees spend decades doing everything right — saving, investing, and building a large retirement portfolio. But what many don’t realize is that success inside tax-deferred accounts can create a hidden problem later on. It’s called the RMD tax trap. Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) can force you to take income in your 70s and beyond — whether you need it or not. And when that income stacks on top of Social Security, it can trigger: • Higher federal income taxes • More of your Social Security becoming taxable • Increased Medicare premiums (IRMAA) • Loss of tax flexibility in retirement In some cases, retirees can actually end up paying MORE in taxes later in life than they did while working. In this video, I break down: – How RMDs actually work – Why large retirement accounts can create tax issues – How Social Security taxation interacts with withdrawals – Why timing matters more than most people think – Strategies to help reduce the long-term tax impact If you’re approaching retirement or already retired, understanding how these pieces fit together can make a significant difference in your after-tax income. 📌 Watch next: Where Should You Withdraw From First in Retirement? (This is the key to controlling taxes before RMDs begin) #RetirementPlanning #RMD #TaxesInRetirement #FinancialPlanning #SocialSecurity #retirementincome 00:00-Intro 01:10-The Day the IRS Takes Control 02:18-The Growth Problem No One Expects 03:43-Why Your Income Can Rise After Retirement 04:50-The Tax Chain Reaction 06:19-Why This Problem Is Growing 07:03-The Gap Years Opportunity 08:08-The Power of Tax Diversification 09:13-The Legacy Consideration 10:02-The Bottom Line ★☆★Stop leaving yourself vulnerable to data breaches. Go to my sponsor Aura to get a 14-day free trial and see if any of your data has been exposed.★☆★👇 https://aura.com/cwmwealth ⭐Support the Channel by Becoming a Community Member⭐ 👇https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC13s0hQVkEv-azgzhOe8QXA/join Outstanding Personal Finance Tools👇 Budgeting...👇 ★☆★ Rocket Money (originally called as TrueBill) ★☆★ https://rocketmoney.sjv.io/CelestialWM Wealth Management...👇 ★☆★Personal Capital ★☆★👇 https://personalcapital.sjv.io/CelestialWM Bookkeeping...👇 ★☆★Gusto Bookkeeping★☆★👇 https://gusto.pxf.io/CelestialWM [About] Colin Exelby is a Certified Financial Planner Professional™ or CFP®. He owns the virtual financial advisory practice Celestial Wealth Management. I provide financial planning for business owners and their families that makes sense. Transformational change is made when you focus on the big picture. My goal is to help you think outside the box about your life, your money, and your health to be the best you can possibly be. We strive to help you: *Optimize Your Cash Flow *Minimize Your Taxes *Build Your Net Worth *Create a Lasting Legacy ➡️ ➡️Free Guide Here: https://celestialwm.com/ptpebook-go/⬅️⬅️ Top Financial Advisor Baltimore. Top Financial Planner Maryland. Affiliate Link Disclaimer: I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are our own. This post may contain affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission. Read full privacy policy at celestialwm.com. Celestial Wealth Management LLC receives compensation from YouTube for the presence of advertising before, after, and during this video content. Celestial Wealth Management LLC does not control the content or presence of any advertisements. The presence of any advertisement does not constitute an endorsement of the ad, company, entity, or product by Celestial Wealth Management LLC. DISCLOSURES Celestial Wealth Management, LLC is registered as an investment adviser in the State of Maryland and Texas. Neither the information nor any opinion constitutes an offer or an invitation to make an offer, to buy or sell any securities or other financial instruments. This video is not intended to provide personal investment advice and it does not take into account the specific investment objectives, financial situation and the particular needs of any specific person. Investors should seek financial advice regarding the appropriateness of investing in financial instruments and implementing investment and planning strategies discussed in this video and should understand that statements regarding future prospects may not be realized. Nothing provided here constitutes tax advice. Individuals should seek the advice of their own tax advisor for specific information regarding tax consequences of investments. Investments in securities entail risk and are not suitable for all investors. This is not a recommendation nor an offer to sell (or solicitation of an offer to buy) securities in the United States or in any other ...
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    11 mins
  • The REAL Reason Boomers Are Retiring BROKE

    The REAL Reason Boomers Are Retiring BROKE
    Apr 9 2026
    Baby Boomers are reaching retirement age… and millions of them are struggling financially. Not because they didn’t work hard. Not because they didn’t try to save. In this video, Colin Exelby, CFP® breaks down the real reasons so many retirees ended up financially unprepared—from the shift away from pensions to 401(k)s, to decades of market timing challenges, missed compounding years, and major events like the dot-com crash, the 2008 financial crisis, and COVID. If you’re planning for retirement, this is important to understand—because the biggest risks aren’t always obvious while you’re in the middle of your working years. If you want to see how to structure your retirement income so you don’t end up in this situation, watch this next: 👉https://youtu.be/0zxCJhufBNs This video covers: Why so many Baby Boomers are retiring broke Retirement planning mistakes and structural changes The shift from pensions to 401(k)s How market timing impacts retirement outcomes The importance of compounding in long-term investing The risks of relying on Social Security alone Retirement income planning strategies How to avoid running out of money in retirement #retirementplanning #babyboomers #401k #socialsecurity #financialplanning 00:00- The real reason boomers are retiring broke 01:10-Retirement Wasn’t Always a Thing 02:13-Boomers Entered the Workforce With No Real Road Map 03:10-The Stock Market Was a Disaster When Boomers Needed It Most 04:23-The 401(k) Replaced Pensions and Shifted the Risk 05:43-The Three Big Reasons Boomers Fell Behind 06:40-Boomers Finally Trusted the Market… at the Worst Time 07:44-The One-Two Punch That Destroyed Retirement Plans 09:05-Too Little, Too Late 09:45-Too Old to Work, Too Broke to Retire 10:15-The Lesson Younger Generations Need to Learn ★☆★Stop leaving yourself vulnerable to data breaches. Go to my sponsor Aura to get a 14-day free trial and see if any of your data has been exposed.★☆★👇 https://aura.com/cwmwealth ⭐Support the Channel by Becoming a Community Member⭐ 👇https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC13s0hQVkEv-azgzhOe8QXA/join Outstanding Personal Finance Tools👇 Budgeting...👇 ★☆★ Rocket Money (originally called as TrueBill) ★☆★ https://rocketmoney.sjv.io/CelestialWM Wealth Management...👇 ★☆★Personal Capital ★☆★👇 https://personalcapital.sjv.io/CelestialWM Bookkeeping...👇 ★☆★Gusto Bookkeeping★☆★👇 https://gusto.pxf.io/CelestialWM [About] Colin Exelby is a Certified Financial Planner Professional™ or CFP®. He owns the virtual financial advisory practice Celestial Wealth Management. I provide financial planning for business owners and their families that makes sense. Transformational change is made when you focus on the big picture. My goal is to help you think outside the box about your life, your money, and your health to be the best you can possibly be. We strive to help you: *Optimize Your Cash Flow *Minimize Your Taxes *Build Your Net Worth *Create a Lasting Legacy ➡️ ➡️Free Guide Here: https://celestialwm.com/ptpebook-go/⬅️⬅️ Top Financial Advisor Baltimore. Top Financial Planner Maryland. Affiliate Link Disclaimer: I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are our own. This post may contain affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission. Read full privacy policy at celestialwm.com. Celestial Wealth Management LLC receives compensation from YouTube for the presence of advertising before, after, and during this video content. Celestial Wealth Management LLC does not control the content or presence of any advertisements. The presence of any advertisement does not constitute an endorsement of the ad, company, entity, or product by Celestial Wealth Management LLC. DISCLOSURES Celestial Wealth Management, LLC is registered as an investment adviser in the State of Maryland and Texas. Neither the information nor any opinion constitutes an offer or an invitation to make an offer, to buy or sell any securities or other financial instruments. This video is not intended to provide personal investment advice and it does not take into account the specific investment objectives, financial situation and the particular needs of any specific person. Investors should seek financial advice regarding the appropriateness of investing in financial instruments and implementing investment and planning strategies discussed in this video and should understand that statements regarding future prospects may not be realized. Nothing provided here constitutes tax advice. Individuals should seek the advice of their own tax advisor for specific information regarding tax consequences of investments. Investments in securities entail risk and are not suitable for all investors. This is not a recommendation nor an offer to...
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    12 mins
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