What's in store for you:

1. Photo From My Life
2. Financial Thought: Inheritance
3. Life Thought: Getting Uncomfortable
4. Good Sh*t: Hamish & Andy

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Photo From My Life:

Financial Thought:

Inheritance: I’ve had a few calls recently where the topic of inheritance came up. It’s one of those areas that feels personal, emotional, and yet oddly taboo to talk about in financial planning. I figured I’d share a few of my personal thoughts.

Let me start by saying this: every situation is different. There’s no one-size-fits-all strategy when it comes to inheritance. Family dynamics, timing, structure, and even emotional readiness all play a role. What I’ll share below isn’t advice. It’s a lens I use when talking to clients and friends.

1. Inheritance should never be your plan. I’ve seen too many people include a potential inheritance in their long-term financial plan. When that happens, you subconsciously start living life as a waiter hoping someone else’s money comes at the right time to help you hit your goals. That removes control and agency from your own hands.
2. There are exceptions. Some families have structured things clearly through trusts or planned gifting, and the timing and value of inheritance is relatively predictable. At that point, you can start building things into your financial plan.

The other interesting learning is that unplanned inheritance often catches people by surprise. A lot of families don't talk about money... or death. Unfortunately, inheritance usually involves a death. You're grieving, you’re managing family dynamics, and then a pile of legal and financial paperwork shows up. It's a lot.

So, what are some tips and thoughts for these type of situations?

1. Pause: Don’t rush to cash out, sell property, or move accounts. Grief and money don’t mix well. Gather information first. Then, get advice from someone who knows what they’re doing.
2. Get organized: You’ll need multiple death certificates. Find out who the executor is. Track down account statements, insurance policies, property deeds. Double-check how everything is titled and who the beneficiaries are.
3. Understand taxes: This is important and can be easy to mess up.
   1. Cash inheritances generally aren’t taxable (but any earnings from them are).
   2. Investments typically receive a step-up in basis. This means your cost basis becomes the value of that investment. You may owe zero in capital gains if sold right away.
   3. Real estate also gets a step-up, but rental income is taxable and you still owe property taxes.
   4. Retirement accounts are more complex. Traditional IRAs often need to be emptied in 10 years (and are taxable). Roth IRAs must also be emptied in 10 years, but withdrawals are tax-free.
4. Each state is different: Federal estate tax only applies if the estate is worth over $15M(effective 2026). But 12 states have their own estate or inheritance taxes.
5. Business ownership adds complexity: If you inherit part of a business, you may need a valuation, and there could be buy-sell agreements or liquidity issues involved. Involve the right advisors and hopefully this work was started pre-death.

Sometimes I feel like my advice gets a bit repetitive. But, it's true. Every situation is different, work with trusted advisors, and move slowly to ensure you do the right thing. This advice is especially true when dealing with deeply personal situations like the death of a loved one.

Life Thought:

Getting Uncomfortable: As adults, we like our routines. We’re creatures of habit. Once we find what works, we settle into it. A job, a routine, a way of interacting with the world. And why not? It’s familiar, it’s safe, and, life is hard enough without intentionally adding discomfort.

But getting out of your comfort zone can be quite rewarding. It's the only way to grow. And lately, I’ve been reminded of that in a very real way.

I’m nearing the end of writing my bucket list. I’m up to 140+ items split across a few categories (creativity, adventure, legacy, career, relationships, and health). Some are exciting. Some are random. But many of them? They’re deeply uncomfortable. Not because they’re dangerous or impossible, but because they require me to step outside what’s familiar. If I want to complete them, I'll need to fight the inertia of doing what's easy.

And that brings me to VDB Wealth.

As I continue building the firm, I’ve made the decision to do something I’ve long resisted: video content. I love writing. It gives me space to think, to clarify my thoughts, and to share my perspective. But I also know that I’m now in the business of trust and trust is built faster when people can see your face, hear your voice, and get a feel for who you are.

So I’ve started recording. And I won’t lie, it’s uncomfortable. But as my good friend pointed out, maybe that’s the point. We’ll see.

Good Sh*t:

Hamish & Andy:

I was lucky to meet a Kiwi (aka New Zealander) while working in New York. We have a great friendship and I appreciate that. But, there's one thing I appreciate more. He introduced me to Hamish & Andy. They’re an Australian comedy duo who’ve been making people laugh for nearly twenty years. They started on radio, but now do videos and a weekly podcast. They're best friends who are just smart enough to plan something absurd and just dumb enough to actually follow through. I first got addicted to their YouTube content, but now I'm a weekly listener of their podcast. It's literal gold.

Here's a link to a funny video and their podcast on Spotify.

Disclaimer: VDB Wealth is a registered investment adviser. Information presented is for educational purposes only and does not intend to make an offer or solicitation for the sale or purchase of any specific securities, investments, or investment strategies. Investments involve risk and unless otherwise stated, are not guaranteed. Past performance is not indicative of future performance.

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