Author: Ian Gates

La salud financiera no es un lujoEn este episodio de Mente Hispana, Ian J. Gates comparte su trayectoria desde su infancia en Nueva York hasta convertirse en asesor financiero. Habla sobre su experiencia en el ejército y cómo esto influyó en su visión sobre las finanzas personales. Ian enfatiza la importancia de la educación financiera, la separación de cuentas personales y de negocio, y la necesidad de empezar a invertir lo antes posible. También detalla su proceso de asesoría en Bastion Fiduciary y ofrece consejos prácticos sobre cómo manejar el dinero de manera efectiva.Mira aquí o en YouTube​:https://youtu.be/IkHcDDdmqPA?si=S1icSip-_dUfjsSV Disclaimer: This video…

I drive a hybrid, own a labradoodle, and live in the suburbs. As a result, my car achieves excellent mileage, my dog doesn’t shed, and my yard is easy to mow. Like many others, I’ve found great value in taking a “best of both worlds” approach. So, when people inquire about what business I’m in, I smile and reply: “Centaurs.” For those unfamiliar, the centaur is a mythical creature, often found in fantasy novels like The Chronicles of Narnia.1 Born with the lower body of a horse and the upper body of a human, it merges the strength and endurance of the…

Many homeowners overpay property taxes because of inflated appraisals. I successfully protested mine using proof of my home’s recent purchase price. That simple step led to a $2,200 refund and an $80 drop in my monthly mortgage payment—just from the reduction in taxes following the reassessment I requested. This article shows you how to check for—and, if needed, respond to—an unrealistic property valuation. What Happened In June 2023, I bought a used tract house in Southeast Texas for $268,000. A few months later, I received a letter from a company offering to protest my property tax assessment—for a fee based on any…

Dear Mr. Greenblatt, I’m writing to thank you for The Little Book That Still Beats the Market — and to let you know that a bit of military history you mention in the book, rather than hurting your argument, actually helps prove your point. For context, I’m a former U.S. Army officer whose specialty was interpreting enemy capabilities and intentions. Today, I work as a financial advisor at Bastion Fiduciary, a fee-only, veteran-led value investing firm. We also both have been blessed to grow up near New York City and attend grad school in Philadelphia (not far from Valley Forge, a location…

I thought getting a new credit card number would stop old subscriptions from charging me. Then my next statement arrived—and a problem vendor had still managed to charge me. When I called my bank, I learned about account updater services—systems that automatically send new card details to certain merchants.[1] In other words, just changing your card number isn’t enough anymore. To fully stop unwanted charges, I needed a security close—a method that blocks automatic billing updates for good. Why a New Card Number Doesn’t Work Many banks use account updater services, which allow certain merchants—like gyms and streaming services—to request and…

 (Originally Published 19 Feb 2025, Updated 26 March 2025) “Blessed are the flexible, for they will not be bent out of shape.” — Robert LudlumAs a U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) spouse, Army veteran, and financial advisor, I’m keenly aware of how important many employee benefits are to military families. So, you can imagine my excitement upon getting word that Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (DCFSA) have finally been made available to USCG personnel.  The high cost of daycare for children under age 13 — and older dependents who can’t look out for themselves — puts a strain on many families like mine.1…

“Resourcefulness is the ultimate resource.” – Tony Robbins While its’ not the same thing as a Health Savings Account (HSA), a Health Care Flexible Spending Account (HCFSA) is a powerful tool for covering medical expenses while saving on taxes. In the spirit of Tony Robbins, this article will help you be resourceful with this resource so every last dollar gets put to its best use.What is an HCFSA?A HealthCare Flexible Spending Account (FSA) is an account that allows employees to set aside pre-tax dollars to pay for eligible medical, dental, and vision expenses. Funds must generally be used within the plan…

When planning how to pass down an individual retirement account (IRA), a common question may arise: should you ever name a revocable trust as the beneficiary? While trusts are valuable estate planning tools, they can also introduce unnecessary complications when linked to types of investment account that are designed to sustain people during their golden years. This is exactly the dilemma one of our clients recently faced. After doing some research on his behalf, we at Bastion Fiduciary concluded that naming a revocable trust as an IRA beneficiary is generally not advisable unless specific circumstances apply. Here’s why.1. A Tax Loophole…to…

“Buying a car is the art of convincing yourself you got a great deal while the salesman convinces his boss he didn’t give one.”—AnonymousA hopeless money pit—that’s what my wife and I ended up with the first time we went car shopping in 2013. After months of inconvenience sharing one car (I know, first-world problems), we approached a used-car salesman at a discount lot in Virginia. The unkempt mullet should’ve been a red flag. Two years later, after enduring no air conditioning on a cross-country summer road trip (PA to AZ), we approached our next auto purchase far more cautiously.…

It’s more than just an eighties synth-rock anthem—we all have deadlines. Your grade-school teacher expected assignments on time, your boss needs something before close of business, and your beloved cruise ship is totally fine departing without you. Likewise, if you’re an investor, then New Year’s Eve is a critical date if you wish to optimize your 401(k) contributions. And while next December may feel far off, January offers the perfect opportunity to kick-start your 401(k) strategy and stay ahead all year long. So, whether your contributions are lagging, on track, or aiming to maximize every tax-advantaged penny, now’s the time to…