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Insider Guide

January, 2025

Happy New Year from your team at Goodwin Investment Advisory!

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2025 goal worksheet

Setting goals for 2025 gives you a clear direction and purpose, helping you prioritize what truly matters. Whether it’s financial stability, retirement planning, or achieving personal milestones, having well-defined goals ensures you stay focused and motivated throughout the year. By outlining your objectives, you can measure progress, celebrate successes, and adjust as needed to keep moving forward. Let’s make 2025 a year of growth and accomplishment! Here is a simple free goal worksheet to get you started.

Download your goal worksheet for 2025!

Looking back at 2024 and looking forward in 2025

by Tim Goodwin

Looking back, we added thirty new fantastic client families to our client community. Half were introduced to us by you, our amazing clients already in the fold, and the other half found us online, thanks to the efforts of our incredible marketing team (shout out to Tara and Angela).

In 2024, Team GIA exceeded our internal goal of growing our assets under management by at least 26%, and for the first time in history, our assets under management crossed $350M in total. We helped guide eight families to retirement. (Yes, I know a few of you are on your second or third attempt 😉) We continue to have a 5-star Google rating, and (any day now) we hope to cross 200 reviews. A special thank you to so many of you who have taken the time to write one of those reviews.

Looking forward, we hope to add at least as many new client families in 2025. If we can continue to grow at 26% per year in assets under management, we will hit $1 Billion by the end of 2029.

We not only want to help our clients be good investors, stewards, and philanthropists, but we also want to help you Die with Zero–the title of the book we shipped you a copy of a few weeks ago. No, we don’t actually want you to Die with Zero, but we want to encourage you to not just think of life in terms of increasing income and net worth but also increasing life experiences and memory dividends. You work hard for your money; you work hard not to spend it all, and we are honored to help you invest those savings wisely. However, we also want you to enjoy that money. Spend it going on trips with your loved ones (fly first class!) and give money away with a warm hand, not a cold one (via estate documents).

As we look back, we are grateful for your continued trust; we don’t take it lightly. As we look forward, there is much to be excited and hopeful about!

Happy New Year!happy-new-year

2024 Year-in-Review Infographic

Check out this 2024 year-in-review infographic that highlights significant events while tracking the S&P 500 returns through the year.

Our gift to you!

Please download our Legacy Will Planning Guide. We are selling this incredible resource to the public, but we wanted to give it to you as a gift. Let it guide you as you discuss the legacy you want to leave beyond the financial component.
You can fill it out directly in the PDF online or print it.

Reminder: schedule time with your advisor

As you plan your 2025 goals, take the opportunity to align your finances with your vision for the year. Schedule time with your advisor to discuss how we can partner with you to achieve your objectives. Don’t forget, you have access to all our benefits and services.

Meet our new employee – Coby Sullivan

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Coby brings a unique combination of leadership, discipline, and a commitment to making a difference with his principled ideals. He consistently strives for true fulfillment, helping others, and being a force for good in the world.

Prior to working at Goodwin Investment Advisory, Coby grew up in Pennsylvania. He got his Bachelors degree from Shippensburg University in Exercise Science. Next, he joined the Military and eventually became a Ranger Instructor. Moving from the Army to work at Goodwin Investment Advisory, Coby wanted to make sure he did something that still had meaning.

As a Captain in the Army, he developed strong leadership and strategic thinking skills, which he can apply to guide clients through complex financial decisions. “I love the idea of working with people and helping them achieve their goals. To potentially be a voice of hope in their financial life and a steady hand in a place of uncertainty. A lot of people could benefit from a financial coach and mentor, and I want to help provide people with a way towards financial peace.” For Coby, his career needs to be meaningful work. He wants to feel like he is helping people and making a difference in the community and God’s kingdom. He believes when you do something, you should always strive to be the best at it–not out of ego or pride, but for the people you work for, your clients, as they deserve your absolute best.

Coby lives with his wife, Halle, in Canton, GA. After moving from Alaska, they chose to stay in Georgia to put down roots and start a family while focusing on their careers. He enjoys woodworking, carpentry, and all things fitness—he recently built his bar, coffee table, benches, and dining room table. When they are not working, you can find Coby and Halle trying out new local restaurants or grabbing a workout at the gym.

Thank you for your recommendations this year!

We really appreciate your belief in us and your recommendations to family and friends. This year, 48 percent of our new clients came from your referrals. Thanks so much!

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New Blog: How to Run out of Money in Retirement

Retirement is often viewed through the lens of financial security, but what if we flipped the script? Instead of hoarding your savings for an uncertain future, why not design a retirement where the goal is to truly enjoy every dollar you’ve earned? Imagine retiring by design, where you live fully, embracing each moment with the intent to die with zero. This approach isn’t about reckless spending but about planning to maximize joy and experiences. Here’s how you can spend your retirement embracing life beyond the dollars and cents.

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Check out our new episodes from The Money PIG Podcast now on YouTube. 

New Podcast Episode: Managing Wealth During Major Life Transitions

In this episode of the Money Pig Podcast, Herman Hugo, a client-turned-compliance-expert at Goodwin Investment Advisory, shares his journey from Silicon Valley to Georgia and his financial strategies during major life transitions. The discussion covers navigating job changes, equity compensation, health insurance planning, Roth conversions, and retirement strategies like the Rule of 55. The episode also touches on managing divorce and business sales, emphasizing the importance of expert guidance and collaborative planning to reduce stress and increase financial confidence.

Flourishing in Winter: Embracing Rest and Darkness

Winter, with its shorter days and longer nights, often feels like a pause in the rhythm of life. Trees stand bare, animals hibernate, and the earth itself seems to slow down. But this season of stillness isn’t empty—it’s essential. Just as nature requires time to rest and renew, so do we.

In our fast-paced lives, we often equate productivity with worth, pushing ourselves to grow constantly. But growth isn’t sustainable without rest. Winter teaches us that flourishing sometimes means stepping back, embracing quiet, and allowing ourselves the space to recharge.

In the natural world, winter is when roots grow deeper, seeds lie dormant, and energy is conserved for the vitality of spring. Without this time of restoration, the vibrant blooms of spring and the abundance of summer would not be possible. Similarly, when we honor our need for rest—physically, emotionally, and spiritually—we create the foundation for future growth.

This season invites us to reflect, to nurture ourselves in ways that busy seasons don’t allow. Darkness isn’t something to fear but a place where rest and renewal thrive. Just as the moon waxes and wanes, we, too, need cycles of activity and quiet.

Embrace the gifts of winter: slower mornings, cozy evenings, and moments of introspection. Trust that this period of rest is not a pause in your journey but an integral part of it. Rest is not the opposite of growth—it’s what makes growth possible.

As you move through this season, let it remind you that flourishing isn’t just about constant motion. It’s about honoring the rhythms of life and allowing yourself the grace to pause, replenish, and prepare for what’s to come.

Disclosure – All investment carries risk, and we cannot guarantee performance or results. Past performance does not guarantee future results. GIA does not earn any compensation from any of the non-GIA links provided in these resources. The market insights, podcast, blogs, guides, self improvement thoughts and activities are based on our perspectives and experience, and may not apply to your unique situation or be appropriate for your wellness. Please contact us for any questions relating to the content above, or to discuss how we can support you in your specific situation, and help you to reach your financial and personal goals.

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By Published On: January 23rd, 2025

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About the Author: Grant Carmichael