Gene Dickison – Retirement

First, I am not retiring. I am having way too much fun to even consider staying away from the office, my clients, and my friends. Retirement should be a time when you do all the things you love to do. And I am. I spend every day with my MtM family. I love them all.

I spend almost everyday meeting with clients who have long ago become friends. I spend some days on TV or radio sharing ideas in services to our audiences. I spend every day over the moon in love with my granddaughter, Annabelle. My life is pretty near perfect. I have no plans on retiring.

However . . . as we all know, our plans may not be God’s plans. 

And since I am not privy to God’s plan for me I must prepare in case I am called to his side tomorrow. And I have.

With the help of my incredible MtM team we have preparations in place to protect both our clients and our business when that day comes. First, every one of my clients has a ‘contingent’ advisor named. This is an advisor I have personally selected to serve them when the time arrives that I cannot. MtM now has seven (7) advisors who are all trained in our systems and our values. They are all more than qualified to serve any of our clients. When the time comes.

We also have prepared for the continued health of our company. Our President, Mark Belcak, already leads and inspires our team every day. Our Director of Operations, Chad Rupprecht, identifies, develops, and polishes systems to better serve our clients every day. Our CFO, Diane Dickison, (if that is her real name) ensures all financial aspects of our company are clean and effective every single day.

If you’re paying close attention, you’ve already figured out that it takes three amazingly talented people to replace me. The truth is we are all proudly crafting a company that will replace all of us over decades to come in service to clients not yet born. We are all committed to serving you and generations of your family. The faces will change, but the service will not.

MtM Runners Medal in LAMN 5K

MtM Financial Group was proud to be presenting sponsor of the 14th annual Laughing at My Nightmare Run, Walk and Roll 5K on June 6. After six years as a virtual event, the race was in-person again for the first time since 2019, and it drew about 140 participants. MtM team members were among them, and we also brought home some hardware. It was the debut race for family wealth advisor associate Gavin Kirsch, and he finished in second place among men ages 20-29! Family wealth advisor Alyssa Young was the first female finisher and the second-place finisher overall. The 5K raises money to help LAMN’s mission of enhancing the quality of life for people with physical disabilities.

The MtM runners and walkers posed for a pre-race photo with LAMN founders Shane Burcaw, center, and his cousin, Sarah, behind him in green. 

Check Out the Round Table Radio Show Recording

Since Alyssa failed to figure out a way to run as fast as she can while hosting the Saturday morning “More than Money” radio show, our team gathered in the studio in advance to craft a very special episode of the show that broadcast during the 5K. Joining your hosts Gene and Alyssa were Mark Belcak, Chad Rupprecht, Greg Grillo, Gavin Kirsch, and Makaila Scarcelle. If you missed it, find the recording of our More than Money Round Table episode in your favorite podcast app or the radio show archive on our website. 

MtM Tax Team

We would like to extend a big thank you to our tax clients; for your business and for your patience with our growing business. For those of you that read and follow the guidelines of our Super Important email; the Paper Wrangler thanks you for helping us to get your returns done more efficiently!

Did you know that the tax department has a designated phone number? It is 570-300-4984. Please save this number to your contact list, so that when your tax preparer calls, it will not come up as a SPAM call.

The IRS likes to keep us on our toes with the ever-changing tax laws. Here are some things on the horizon for 2026 that we would like you to be aware of now:

Beginning with the 2026 tax year, taxpayers taking the standard deduction may also deduct up to $1,000 ($2,000 for married filing jointly) in qualified contributions made to eligible organizations. Qualified contributions must be made in cash (which includes checks, electronic payments and payroll deductions). Non-cash donations, such as clothing and household items do not qualify. You must maintain receipts which shows the organization name, the date and the amount of the contributions.  If you have your taxes prepared here at MTM, we ask that you supply us with those receipts.

Also for the 2026 tax year; consumer, residential and electric vehicle credits have been eliminated. This means tax credits are no longer available for energy efficient home improvements such as insulation, windows, doors, HVAC, etc.  The credits are also no longer available for residential clean energy credits such as solar panels and battery storage systems. Finally, the credit for electric vehicles has been eliminated as well.

The IRS is pushing for all monetary transactions made with them to be done so electronically. This includes refunds, balances due and estimated payments. For those of you that made the shift for the 2025 tax year, thank you! For those of you who are holding out, please be aware that for the 2026 tax year you will be required to provide your banking information for direct deposit and/or direct debit – unless you qualify for an exception, or are willing to experience significant delays. For more information, or to see if you qualify for an exception, you can go to irs.gov.

General housekeeping notes:

If you set up automatic payments for your balance due, or for estimated tax payments when we prepared your tax returns, please check your accounts to be sure the payments were withdrawn as scheduled and notify us immediately if they were not.

If you experience any life-changing events during the year, please contact your tax preparer to discuss prior to tax season. These events include, but are not limited to: stock sales, property sales, job changes (to ensure that your withholdings are sufficient), retirement and births. Discussing these events prior to them occurring may provide us with the opportunity to save you some tax headaches or allow you to plan and possibly save money.

We saved the best news for last! If you haven’t met her already, we would like to introduce to you the newest member of our tax team….drum roll please….Rachelle! She has actually been with the tax team since 2023, working quietly and diligently behind the scenes studying up on everything tax related and working closely with Diane and Sue on tax returns. This year Rachelle will be taking the lead with a sizable amount of returns, so you may be hearing from her even more in the 2026 tax year. Rachelle has been an amazing addition to our family at MtM and we are beyond grateful to have her as part of the team!

Thank you for taking the time to read this and for being our valued client. Please know that you can reach out to your tax preparer throughout the year with any questions you may have, especially concerning any financial changes you may be making.

Ally, Travis and Rachelle taking a family photo!

Gavin Kirsch – The Art of Giving Back

Their fearless leaders, Shane and Sarah, have dedicated their lives to spreading laughter and providing meaningful support to those with disabilities.

A few weekends ago, LAMN held its 14th Annual Run, Walk, and Roll 5K — an event that gave our MtM team the opportunity to support a wonderful cause and connect with some truly inspiring people. While I won’t claim to be much of a runner (and I am certainly no Alyssa Young), I gave it my best effort. I crossed the finish line at around 28 minutes and 40 seconds — a notably different pace from my leisurely walks with my Italian Cane Corso, Luna. Don’t worry, I’ll attach a photo of her.

Events like LAMN’s Annual Run, Walk, and Roll are a powerful reminder of how meaningful charitable giving can be – not just for the organizations we support, but for our own sense of purpose and community. For many of our clients, giving back is a core value, and there are smart ways to make those gifts go even further.

As a retirement account holder, you may already be familiar with Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) – the annual withdrawals the IRS requires from traditional IRAs and employer-sponsored retirement plans. These withdrawals are generally taxable as ordinary income and missing one can result in a penalty of up to 25% of the amount that should have been withdrawn. But what if you could satisfy your RMD, support a cause you care about, and reduce your taxable income all at once? That’s exactly what a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) allows you to do.

A QCD is a direct transfer of funds from your IRA to a qualified 501(c)(3) charity. If you are age 70½ or older, you can contribute up to $108,000 per year this way. Unlike a standard charitable deduction, a QCD reduces your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) dollar-for-dollar – meaning you benefit even if you don’t itemize deductions on your tax return. For many retirees, this makes the QCD one of the most tax-efficient charitable giving strategies available.

That reduction in AGI can have a ripple effect across your broader financial picture. For those enrolled in Medicare, lower AGI can help reduce your Part B and Part D premiums, which are determined by your income on a two-year lookback. For those collecting Social Security, bringing your income down can minimize how much of your benefits are subject to federal tax. Up to 85% of Social Security income can be taxable depending on your combined income level. In some cases, a well-timed QCD can make a meaningful difference in both areas simultaneously.

If you are charitably inclined, there are a few important rules to keep in mind. The distribution must go directly from your IRA to the charity. A personal withdrawal that you later donate does not qualify, and you won’t receive the same tax treatment. The receiving organization must be a qualified 501(c)(3); donor-advised funds and private foundations are not eligible. Additionally, while 401(k)s and other employer-sponsored plans are not directly eligible, rolling those funds into an IRA first opens the door. If a QCD peaks your interest, a great first step is to have a conversation with your Family Wealth Advisor to make sure everything is structured to do so.

Chad Rupprecht – Commitment

One of my favorite moments of the weekend was listening to the speeches from the Best Man, the Maid of Honor, and the Bride’s Father. My oldest nephew, Carter was the best man, and he spoke about growing up with Connor, about a brother’s pride in seeing his younger sibling grow up – the usual stuff.

And then he urged his brother to continue to put God first in the marriage. Not the usual stuff. Then the maid of honor, Layla’s aunt, spoke about their formative years, playing games, laughing, crying, meeting Connor – all the usual stuff. And then she urged her niece to continue to put God first in the marriage. Not the usual stuff. Finally, Layla’s dad spoke about his little girl. As the oldest of 11 or 12 kids, Layla’s dad talked about how Layla was the second-best thing that ever happened to him – after marrying Layla’s mom. He talked about the earlier years, losing family, laughing together. All the usual stuff. And then he urged his daughter to continue to put God first in the marriage. Not the usual stuff.

Flying back home with Angie, I reflected on the weekend. I am so proud of my family for their commitment to an all-powerful God. And I am especially proud of my nephew, Connor, for choosing to share his life with a wonderful young woman who shares that same commitment – to God and to each other. I began thinking about my own commitments in my life. While I am certainly committed to God, that commitment waivers as the world works to separate me from Him. I am certainly committed to my wife, but I know I can always do better to show my love for her and how grateful I am for all the things she does for our family. And of course, I am committed to MtM and all our clients that rely on me to help them be good stewards of the financial blessings God has given them. How can I work to do better? Proverbs 16:3 says, “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.”

This concept of commitment also transcends the boundaries of our personal relationships. Angie and I are in the process of buying bicycles to commit to better health. We continue to provide love and structure for our newly adopted dog, Dante, who is now attending doggy day care and free-playing with other dogs. And I work with my clients to develop investment strategies and retirement plans to help them obtain financial freedom. In all these cases, progress is made when there is a commitment – to a plan, to an ideal, to an outcome. I urge you to think about the things that are important in your life. For me, I commit to God first – always. I commit to my family. I commit to my country. And I commit to you.

To close, here are a couple of pictures of our pup, Dante. I am so happy to see him living his best life!

Until next time…

Melissa’s Miscellaneous

On May 26^th, the day after Memorial Day, I was given a poignant reminder of what there is to remember while visiting Normandy. I want to make the disclaimer that while I love history, I feel like I only know an average amount about WW2 (I let my dad be the World War expert for our household). 

We first visited Pointe du Hoc, an area of high ground between Omaha and Utah beaches. Hours before D-Day began, 225 men were charged to take this advantageous point so that the Germans could not openly fire on the rest of the troops landing on June 6^th. By June 8^th, they had done it, but only 90 were still in any condition to continue the fight. The ground is still pocked with huge craters where artillery rewrote the landscape all those years ago. And while so many accounts paint WW2 as hell on earth, a place where gunfire was deafening and there was an inescapable coverage of mud and blood- here it was 80 years later. Silent. Peaceful, even. Wildflowers blowing in the breeze. Birds chirping and perched on the rusted barbed wire that was never moved.

Then, my friend called me over and pointed at a specific plaque:

“Sgt Walter Geldon, Company C, 2^nd Ranger Battalion

June 6, 1944, was Sergeant Geldon’s third wedding anniversary. He and his fellow Rangers sang songs to celebrate the occasion shortly before landing on Omaha Beach. The 23-year-old steel worker from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, was cut down by enemy fire within a few minutes of coming ashore. When his widow died in 2002 at age 78, she was buried by his side.”

“Isn’t that where you are from?” she asked.

“Yes, my grandfather even worked at Bethlehem Steel,” is what I managed to say as the goosebumps started to crawl up my arms. They wouldn’t leave me the rest of the day.

We later visited the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial. Its visitor center had a thoughtfully curated collection of artifacts, including a lot of personal items accompanied by the individual’s story. In stark comparison, the last hallway leading to the exit did not have any pictures or objects. Instead, it is filled only by a voice reading the list of people who died serving in the war. A continuous memorial of the individuals who “time will not dim the glory of their deeds,” as put by General of the Armies, John J. Pershing.

All of this made the rows upon rows of white marble headstones outside even more humbling. Each one standing tall with a French and American flag decorating it. The families that lost a loved one in WW2 were given a choice: to bring them home or to bury them where they fell.

This is a cemetery that France gifted to America to honor the 9,389 individuals who were decided to stay and be buried alongside their comrades. And for those soldiers “known but to God”, there is a Garden of the Missing. A beautiful rose garden surrounded by walls with the names of those missing in action etched into stone. At first glance there are bronze rosettes sporadically scattered across the wall, but soon the tour guide explained that they are actually signs of hope, of closure, of being found. They are placed by the names of those who were initially MIA, but have since been recovered, identified, and buried. Surprisingly, she stated that most of the rosettes were added in the last 20 years. If you want to hear an amazing story of how one of those bronze rosettes led to two brothers being reconnected, I encourage you to look up Julius and Ludwig Pieper, or just ask me the next time you are in the office.

While I had already been excited for our day dedicated to visiting D-Day sites, I was not expecting to find a piece of home on those foreign shores. To find myself with tears in my eyes over events that happened 80 years ago. But isn’t that the way? These monumental events get lost in statistics and it isn’t until you hear an individual’s story slip through all the noise that you are struck by the humanity of it all. It brings back the personal element in an otherwise tragic story that feels sterile due to time and distance. But amidst all those brave civilians of the French Resistance; and the American, British, and Canadian troops, who risked their lives in the call of duty- I find myself particularly thankful for Walter Geldon and his bride who sacrificed their life together in order to protect the life, liberty, and happiness of others.

P.S. I know that there are many many shows about the WW2, but here are a few of my personal favorites if you are interested: “Jojo Rabbit” (a quirky look at life as a Hitler youth), “The Liberator” (2020 tv-series that feels like a living graphic novel), “Hacksaw Ridge” (the struggles of a conscientious objector that served as a combat medic), “The Monuments Men” (focuses on the fight to save art during the war, fun fact: this movie is a main reason I got an undergraduate degree in Art History), “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society” (a writer looks into what life was like for a British island occupied by Germany in the war, and finds more than she was looking for), and my dad’s current obsession: “Boys in the Boat” (a rowing team from America navigate life in the Great Depression and strive to qualify for the 1936 Olympics held in Berlin).

-Au Revoir for now, Melissa

Alyssa Young – Your Quarterly Review Invitation Is on Autopilot

One disadvantage of this system is the lack of personalization or customization. When I sent email invitations manually, I often customized them.

For example, when contacting clients who live far away, I never included the Calendly link for an in-person meeting. If I knew someone was away or dealing with an especially challenging situation, I’d wait until a better time to reach out. I’d sprinkle in seasonal messages or mention something I was looking forward to hearing about when we met, such as a recent trip or a new grandchild in the family. The automated emails are all the same, so they’re missing that personal touch. It doesn’t mean we forgot what’s happening in your life. We’re simply taking advantage of an opportunity to save time and have more timely communication with you—so that we can have those personal conversations when we get together.

We hope you agree the systematic invitations are an upgrade. Your feedback and questions are always welcome.

Since pictures of Murphy make everything better, this month I’m sharing his prom photos. My daughter, Juliana, went to her school’s prom on a Friday, then to her boyfriend’s school’s prom the next day, and she took a picture with her main squeeze (Murphy, of course) in both of her gowns.

Jon Weimer – Midyear Check-In: The Case for Rebalancing

As we reach the midpoint of the year, I believe it’s a good time to look beyond the headlines and take stock of where your portfolios risk profile stands relative to where it started.

Markets rarely move in a straight line, and a strong run in one area of your portfolio — whether equities, a particular sector, or even a single holding — can quietly shift your allocation away from the original target. That drift isn’t always visible day to day, but over time it can meaningfully change the risk profile of your plan. Here at MtM we rebalance clients’ portfolios periodically throughout the year based on market volatility, as we don’t want the original allocation we started with to drift too far. Rebalancing is the discipline of bringing your portfolio back in line with your intended allocation — trimming positions that have grown outsized and adding to those that have lagged.

We are essentially locking in gains and de-risking the portfolio. It’s one of the few strategies that is both sound in principle and consistently difficult in practice, because it asks us to do the counterintuitive: reduce exposure to what has recently performed well. However, if you leave your investments alone, the market is controlling the risk in your portfolio. By rebalancing, we are retaining control of the risk. Rebalancing is less about predicting what comes next and more about staying true to your original goals and objectives. Our approach has always been goals first, plan for those goals second, investment allocation aligned with the plan third — and rebalancing is what keeps that structure intact.

If you haven’t reviewed your allocation recently, I believe now is as good a time as any to do so.

Have a great summer!

Mark Belcak – The Investment Markets and You

Companies Are Delivering Real Results

Almost every company in the S&P 500 has now reported their first quarter results. Here’s what stands out: 85% of them beat expectations. And when you look at overall profit growth, companies are seeing about 28% earnings expansion compared to last year. That’s significant.

For perspective, when companies beat expectations by this margin and grow profits at this pace, it signals a healthy, expanding economy. This isn’t companies barely staying afloat – this is businesses thriving, becoming more efficient, and using new technologies to drive meaningful growth.

Technology is Powering the Gains

The technology sector – companies like NVIDIA, Apple, and Microsoft – is growing profits at an extraordinary 63% pace. These aren’t fringe companies. Together, they represent about one-third of the stock market’s total value. When this much of the market is growing this strongly, it pulls everything higher.

What’s Ahead

Wall Street’s best strategists are becoming increasingly optimistic. Ed Yardeni, one of the most respected voices on the Street, is projecting the S&P 500 could reach 8,250 by year-end – another 10% from current levels. His thesis is straightforward: earnings are real and accelerating. Companies are revising their profit forecasts upward. That kind of momentum historically supports continued market strength.

But Reality Demands Perspective

This is growth we’re witnessing, and growth is bullish. However, we operate in a complex environment. We’re in an election year. Geopolitical tensions exist. Interest rates remain elevated. Oil prices are subject to sudden moves. This kind of backdrop creates volatility.

You could have a day where earnings look great and markets soar. The next day, a headline moves everything downward. That’s just the reality of today’s markets – strong fundamentals paired with genuine uncertainty.

Let’s Have a Real Conversation

We’re in the middle of a powerful earnings cycle with momentum-building forecasts for the second half of 2026. The market has already gained 10% this year. Time moves quickly when opportunities like this present themselves.

The honest questions are: Are you positioned to capture the upside these earnings suggest? Do you have proper protection for the volatility we know will come? Is your strategy actively working for your family’s wealth, or has it become stale?

A Different Recipe for Success

I don’t pretend to have all the answers when it comes to markets, but I do claim to have an amazing chicken francaise recipe I can share.

Chicken Francaise

Prep Time: 15 mins | Total Time: 35 mins

Chicken:

• 8 (3½ ounce) boneless skinless chicken breasts

• 1 cup egg, beaten

• 2 cups flour

• 2 tablespoons lemon juice

• ¼ cup parsley, finely chopped

• ¼ teaspoon salt

• ¼ cup white wine

• 3 cloves garlic, pureed

• 2 dashes hot pepper sauce

• ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese

• 2 tablespoons margarine

Sauce:

• ½ cup margarine

• ½ cup white wine

• ½ cup lemon juice

Directions:

1. Coat chicken with flour and set aside.

2. Mix batter by beating the eggs briskly, then adding in the lemon juice, parsley, salt, wine, garlic, hot pepper sauce, and parmesan cheese.

3. Melt 2 tablespoons margarine in bottom of deep skillet.

4. Dip floured pieces of chicken generously in the batter and place in heated skillet.

5. Cook until golden brown on each side (approximately 5 minutes, be careful not to put heat on too high).

6. Remove chicken from pan and drain excess oil.

7. Make the wine sauce by melting margarine in the skillet and then stirring in the wine and lemon juice.

8. Return chicken to pan and cook for about 2 minutes more.

9. Serve over penne pasta.

10. Drizzle remaining wine sauce over chicken and pasta.

11. Garnish with parsley and sliced lemon if desired.

Words Are Powerful Tools For American Freedom

Living a long and engaging life gives us some perspective that young folks simply can’t access – yet. 

I have seen technology change our lives in infinite ways. I have seen political changes that astound and (often) sadden me. And I have seen changes in the way people think – about almost everything.

When I was quite young in the world of business the prevailing approach to the office and the work was typified by the word – serious. You were expected to be serious about not just your work but how you conducted yourself in the office. Work was work. Play was play. Never the twain shall they meet.

I never believed that. I have said many times that at MtM Financial Group our More than Money team takes its work very seriously. We don’t take ourselves very seriously at all. I prided myself on having such an enlightened and modern view.

Enlightened, perhaps. Modern, maybe not so much.

In one of the books I’ve read recently I found a quote from L. P. Jacks a British educator, minister, and philosopher born in 1860 that resonated with me:

‘A master in the art of living draws no sharp distinction between his work and his play, his labor and his leisure, his mind and his body, his education and his recreation. He hardly knows which is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence in whatever he is doing and leaves others to determine whether he is working or playing. To himself he always seems to be doing both.’

Apparently, my ‘enlightened’ view was not so modern. Or maybe, it has always been the view of people who enjoy life.

L.P. Jacks lived to be nearly ninety-five (95) years old. That’s enjoying life!

Allow us to provide you with serious service with a light heart.

Your MtM Family Wealth Advisors

It is important to understand that buffered products provide downside protection (how much your investment can drop) in exchange for a limit on your upside participation (you will not receive the full benefit of positive performance above the cap level).

Forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs and various assumptions concerning future events and circumstances that are subject to change. Actual results and events may ultimately be materially different.

Investing involves risk including the potential loss of principal. No investment strategy can guarantee a profit or protect against loss in periods of declining values. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Please note that individual situations can vary. Therefore, the information presented here should be relied upon when coordinated with individual professional advice. This information is not intended to be a substitute for personalized financial planning, tax planning, or legal advice.

Securities offered through The Strategic Financial Alliance Inc. (SFA), Member FINRA, SIPC. Advisory and tax services offered through MtM Financial Group, LLC which is otherwise unaffiliated with SFA. 4505 Hanoverville Road, Bethlehem, PA 18020. SFA does not provide tax or legal advice. Supervising office 888-447-2444.