Maximize Your Social Security
I always get a chuckle out of these because 1) I used to contemplate that marketing technique when I was starting out in the financial services industry, and 2) I'm glad I don't have to contemplate it any more. Here at Stout Bowman, we obtain new clients by referrals from our current clients, and the only way to do that successfully is to keep our current clients very happy with our services.
Anyway, back to Social Security. Like all good marketing campaigns, there is a modicum of truth to be found in these presentations. Yes, there are specific techniques you can use to increase the size of the check you receive every month from the Social Security Administration ("See How You Can Add Up to $1,000 a Month to Your Social Security!"). However, keep in mind that you won't be the only person or couple in the room, so the information presented will of necessity be generally applicable to all, but specific to none.
Thanks to the Internet, most people know that waiting to start your benefits results in a higher payout amount. At Stout Bowman, we take a different tack. First, using an analysis tool that takes your specific Social Security parameters (birth date, earnings history, and retirement date options) as input, as well as any spousal consideration that may apply, we calculate the dollar value of each of your options. We then use those results as input to your financial plan, so that the actual impact on your retirement can be properly assessed.
OK, you may not get a lunch or dinner out of it, but looking at your Social Security options analytically will pay off handsomely as you transition to your retirement years. For more information about Social Security planning, you can also read this article on our website or contact one of our financial advisors.
Stout Bowman regularly posts important and interesting information on our blog. Current topics include credit/debit/loans, estate planning, insurance, investing, Medicare, retirement, Social Security and taxes, as well as general information that we think you might find of interest. 
We have been publishing an email newsletter for our clients and friends since 2016. Links to all of the newsletters can be found on our newsletter page, with the most recent listed first. We try to keep our emails short, so there are typically only three articles in each one, most of which link to other articles in the financial and mainstream press. 
We also have a page on our site for the latest news about our company, notice of any upcoming events, and a market commentary to discuss what our advisors and other financial industry experts conclude about the previous investment performance and what we might expect the markets and the economy will do in the coming months. 
Many news organizations offer what is called a Rich Site Summary (RSS) feed, a listing of the latest changes to their site's content. We have subscribed to several of these news feeds and present a list of their latest ten articles on a page on this website to save our clients the hassle of going to multiple websites just to see what is available. Currently, we subscribe to 
At Stout Bowman every investment client is first a financial planning client; it's important to go through that process before we make any professional investment recommendations. Therefore, we strive to make financial planning understandable and comfortable every step of the way. One way to do that is to provide our clients access to financial education resources. To that end, we have subscribed to educational websites to receive their news feeds and present a list of their latest ten articles on a page on this website. Currently, we subscribe to