I. M. Financial

We are beyond pleased to announce the official release of our podcast - The Other Side of the Coin. Please listen and subscribe; it's available on any platform you use to listen to podcasts. We hope you enjoy listening to it as much as we enjoyed making it! Episode 1 is available now, with many more to follow. https://lnkd.in/gNh-GhhE

"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose." Dr. Seuss wasn’t a financial advisor, but he had a way of distilling life’s biggest lessons into simple truths. And when it comes to building a strong financial environment, the same wisdom applies. Most people think financial planning is just about investing or saving for retirement. But in reality, it’s more like Oh, The Places You’ll Go!—a journey with twists, turns, unexpected detours, and the occasional Slump where "un-slumping yourself is not easily done." A holistic approach means seeing the whole picture: ? Investments – Not just stocks and bonds, but how they fit into your life’s bigger goals. ? Cash flow & savings – Making sure your dollars are working smarter, not just harder. ? Taxes – Because keeping more of what you earn is just as important as making more. ? Legacy & protection – Thinking beyond today and ensuring your loved ones are taken care of. The mistake? Too many people think they have to choose—invest or protect, save or spend, minimize taxes or grow wealth. But just like Dr. Seuss teaches us, it’s about balance, movement, and having the right tools to navigate where you want to go. So, are you walking with your eyes wide open, or are you stuck in a Waiting Place—waiting for “someday” to get things in order? If you want to take control and "steer yourself any direction you choose," let’s build an environment that works for you. Because as Dr. Seuss would say, "You’re off to great places! Today is your day!"

More people are turning to AI chatbots for financial advice, but experts warn that this could lead people to make unwise financial decisions. That’s because AI platforms hallucinate, so the advice they give may lack expertise and regulatory knowledge... "AI platforms may not always disclose as much source or background information as you might want or need. For example, when asking ChatGPT for investment advice, it recommends investing in companies like Microsoft. While human financial advisors may do the same, everyday users may not realize that Microsoft has invested over $13 billion in OpenAI, the parent company of ChatGPT. The chatbot does not note the conflict of interest to users unless it is pointed out." https://lnkd.in/gziqfTYW

Investing, at its core, is about mastering the fundamentals—much like the meticulous craft of Japanese Shokunin artisans. These master craftsmen dedicate their lives to perfecting tools designed to last for generations, valuing precision, durability, and refinement. In a similar vein, broad market investing through low-cost index funds has endured as a time-tested strategy, offering simplicity, diversification, and steady, market-matching returns. For decades, this approach has helped investors build wealth with resilience, proving that sometimes, the most effective strategies are the ones that require the least interference. Yet, as financial landscapes evolve and individual circumstances grow more complex, traditional indexing can fall short in addressing nuanced needs like tax efficiency and personalized strategies. This is where direct indexing steps in, revolutionizing the way investors build and manage wealth by blending the simplicity of indexing with portfolio customization. However, it’s important to note that direct indexing is not to be confused with active management; direct indexing maintains the core principles of broad market exposure while allowing for tax optimization and tailored allocations—offering customization without sacrificing the disciplined approach that makes indexing so effective... https://lnkd.in/gbxAPfVG

We're hiring! You can register now for the next event. If you're interested in helping clients learn better ways to manage their full financial picture and shift focus to what really matters with us at I. M. Financial, please join CEO @Zak Smith as he hosts our next Career Informational Session on the 2nd Friday of each month. https://lnkd.in/gwUMQ7U7

Stubborn inflation and mixed economic signals continue to shape markets. This month's Market Insights breaks down what drove performance and what investors are continuing to watch in 2025. #Markets #StockMarket #FederalReserve #TradePolicy https://lnkd.in/gzJ_Unt3

In 1883, Timothy Eaton bet everything he had on a vision. He mortgaged his entire fortune to buy a city block, tore down the best retail stores in town, and built something entirely new. When a concerned local reverend toured the empty, cavernous space that replaced those shops, he shook his head and said, “I’m so sorry, Mr. Eaton, you’re ruined. What will you do with this great barn of a place?” Eaton’s response? “Fill it with goods and sell them.” That “barn” became the foundation of a retail empire, eventually commanding 60% of Canadian department store sales. Now, let’s talk about risk. Most people think about financial risk in terms of losses—but the biggest risk is often inaction. Sitting on cash while inflation erodes it. Avoiding investments out of fear. Delaying important financial moves because what if the timing isn’t perfect? Timothy Eaton didn’t wait for perfect conditions. He understood that in business—and in life—you can’t build something great by playing it safe. The same applies to wealth. The families we work with aren’t just “investing”—they’re strategically building an environment where their money works for them, across different time horizons. Investments. Tax planning. Protection. Liquidity. It all matters. Eaton built an empire in an empty “barn.” What could you build if you took the right risks?

The ancient Zen practice of setting intentions carries profound wisdom for our scattered modern minds. Unlike rigid goals, intentions act as a compass rather than a destination - they guide our moment-to-moment choices while allowing space for life's natural flow. Think of intention-setting as planting a seed in fertile soil. The seed knows inherently how to grow, but it requires consistent nurturing. Similarly, our intentions need regular recommitment to flourish amid life's distractions. We've all experienced that moment: You set out to build a meaningful business that helps others, but then suddenly find yourself obsessing over quarterly revenue targets. Or you begin a fitness journey for health and vitality, only to become fixated on aesthetic metrics that weren't originally important to you. These diversions often disguise themselves as logical extensions of our path. "If I just take on these high-paying clients I don't enjoy working with, I'll have more resources to help the people I really want to serve later." But "later" has a way of never arriving, and we find ourselves further from our true intention... https://lnkd.in/gzJMVKFF

Take advantage of this opportunity! For 45 minutes on the 3rd Friday of each month, our CEO, Zak Smith, will dissect strategic flaws we see in the mainstream markets, while reviewing tangible ideas you can start implementing tomorrow. Join us for the next virtual event and learn how to focus on the critical pieces to your financial puzzle that many in the industry tend to leave out. https://lnkd.in/gwUMQ7U7