Spring 2025
Sprint 2025

What’s happening at Three Oaks
David Goes the Distance!
Congrats to David for conquering the Mendocino Coast 50K! 31 miles of tough trails — and he crushed it, finishing 35th overall!
Coming Soon: Our First Virtual Town Hall of 2025!
We’re excited to announce that our first virtual town hall of the year, 2025 Proactive Tax Planning, will be held in late May or early June. Keep an eye out for more details in your inbox.
Let us know if you’re interested!

Industry Updates
- 2025 Proactive Tax Planning: Have Foreign Bank Accounts? You might need to file an FBAR. TCJA sunsetting? Let’s take a look at potential changes coming.
- Ranking the World’s 20 Largest Economies: Tariffs are dominating the news. See how the Global Economy currently stacks up.
- Tactical Strategy Spotlight: In today’s policy-driven market, staying nimble is key. We share how our tactical investment approach is built to protect downside, use cash strategically, and stay invested in strength, especially during volatile times.

Mark Your Calendars
Important dates you should know:
- IOur offices will be closed in observance of the following holidays:
- Memorial Day, May 26th
- Juneteenth, June 19th
- Independence Day, July 4

Need Something to “Geek Out On”?
- 2025 Key Financial Data from our friends at Calamos
- Philip’s assigned reading: Psychology of Financial Planning: The Practitioner’s Guide to Money and Behavior
Winter 2025
Winter 2025

What’s happening at Three Oaks
- 2024 Tax Prep – let us know if you need assistance gathering 2024 tax statements. Our team is ready to help!
- We love serving our clients and celebrating their successes! If you have an important milestone or event coming up, we’d love to hear about it. Email Raquel De Leon, and we may feature it in an upcoming newsletter!

Industry Updates
- Check out our Market & Economic Update.
- Social Security Fairness Act – No more Windfall Elimination Provision.
- Fun Fact: Zelle crosses the $1 Trillion mark, the most ever for a peer-to-peer platform. Read more about it HERE.

Mark Your Calendars
Important dates you should know:
- April 18th – Tax Filing Deadline
- When you are done with your tax filings, we’d love to get a copy of your return. Please reach out to Ryan Shea; he can help with a secured means of sharing your document.

Need Something to “Geek Out On”?
- Raquel is reading “Don’t Believe Everything You Think” by Joesph Nguyen
- Shawn is reading “The Road Back to You” by Ian Morgan Cron, Suzanne Stabile
- Adam just read a white paper on the tax landscape in Portugal.
Fall 2024
FALL 2024

What’s happening at Three Oaks
- This Labor Day, our California team volunteered at the Meher School gardens, pulling weeds, restoring pathways, and tidying up the beautiful space.
- The Texas team had a blast hosting our recent pickleball event with clients! Great connections, friendly competition, and plenty of laughs—thank you to everyone who joined us. We can’t wait for the next one!

Updates & Industry Info
- From 2021 to 2023, the U.S. accounted for nearly one-third of global foreign direct investment.
Check out this piece for more information!

Mark Your Calendars
Important dates you should know:
- In 2025, Social Security retirement benefits will have a 2.5% Cost-of-Living adjustment, and the wage base for Social Security taxes will increase to $176,100.
- The FAFSA for the 2024-2025 school year opens on December 1st. Don’t wait—file early!
- Catch-up contribution limits for individuals aged 60 to 63 participating in 401(k) and 403(b) plans will increase to $11,250, compared to $7,500 for those aged 50 to 59. Click HERE to learn more about 2025 retirement plan contribution limits.
- December 18th – Next Fed decision on Interest Rates. View their Dot Plot.

Need Something to “Geek Out On”?
- Liz is reading Bright Young Women By Jessica Knoll
- Raquel recommends “The Best One Yet” podcast–a 20-minute daily podcast featuring three business news stories. Give it a listen!
Summer 2024
Summer 2024

What’s happening at Three Oak
From family gatherings to exploring new destinations, we’re making the most of this vibrant time of year! We’d love to hear about your summer adventures too. Whether you’re lounging by the beach, hiking in the mountains, or simply enjoying a backyard barbecue, share your favorite moments with us.
Employee Benefits call— Be on the lookout for an employee benefits email where you can schedule a call with our team. Feel free to email Ryan or Raquel to schedule your call!

Industry Updates
- Soft landing possible? M2 Slowdown Finally Gaining Traction
- What does the Conference Board have to say about recession?
- The magnificent 7 have driven market performance so far this year. Here’s some data on how the different segments of the US markets are currently priced (P/E ratios) relative to their 20-year averages.

Mark Your Calendars
- 2024 Summer Olympics Games in Paris! The opening ceremony was held on July 26th, 2024 and will take place in Paris from July 26 through August 11th. Check out our Olympics trivia HERE! The first 2 people to email Raquel with the correct answers wins an awesome prize! May the odds be ever in your favor!
- FED Open Market Committee Meetings: September 17-18, November 6-7, and December 17-18
- FAFSA for 2024-2025: This year, availability will commence in December, whereas in previous years it began on October 1st.

Need Something to “Geek Out On”?
- Shawn is reading– Living Untethered: Beyond the Human Predicament by Michael A. Singer
- Liz is reading—“Lesson in Chemistry” by Bonnie Garmus
- Adam is reading – “Pain Free” by Pete Egoscue (recommended by our client Cindy Miles)
Estate Planning Tool-Kit
Where does it come from?
Contrary to popular belief, Lorem Ipsum is not simply random text. It has roots in a piece of classical Latin literature from 45 BC, making it over 2000 years old. Richard McClintock, a Latin professor at Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia, looked up one of the more obscure Latin words, consectetur, from a Lorem Ipsum passage, and going through the cites of the word in classical literature, discovered the undoubtable source. Lorem Ipsum comes from sections 1.10.32 and 1.10.33 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum" (The Extremes of Good and Evil) by Cicero, written in 45 BC. This book is a treatise on the theory of ethics, very popular during the Renaissance. The first line of Lorem Ipsum, "Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet..", comes from a line in section 1.10.32.
Where can I get some?

There are many variations of passages of Lorem Ipsum available, but the majority have suffered alteration in some form, by injected humour, or randomised words which don't look even slightly believable. If you are going to use a passage of Lorem Ipsum, you need to be sure there isn't anything embarrassing hidden in the middle of text. All the Lorem Ipsum generators on the Internet tend to repeat predefined chunks as necessary, making this the first true generator on the Internet. It uses a dictionary of over 200 Latin words, combined with a handful of model sentence structures, to generate Lorem Ipsum which looks reasonable. The generated Lorem Ipsum is therefore always free from repetition, injected humour, or non-characteristic words etc.All the Lorem Ipsum generators on the Internet tend to repeat predefined chunks as necessary, making this the first true generator on the Internet. It uses a dictionary of over 200 Latin words, combined with a handful of model sentence structures, to generate Lorem Ipsum which looks reasonable. The generated Lorem Ipsum is therefore always free from repetition, injected humour, or non-characteristic words etc.All the Lorem Ipsum generators on the Internet tend to repeat predefined chunks as necessary, making this the first true generator on the Internet.

There are many variations of passages of Lorem Ipsum available, but the majority have suffered alteration in some form, by injected humour, or randomised words which don't look even slightly believable. If you are going to use a passage of Lorem Ipsum, you need to be sure there isn't anything embarrassing hidden in the middle of text. All the Lorem Ipsum generators on the Internet tend to repeat predefined chunks as necessary, making this the first true generator on the Internet. It uses a dictionary of over 200 Latin words, combined with a handful of model sentence structures, to generate Lorem Ipsum which looks reasonable. The generated Lorem Ipsum is therefore always free from repetition, injected humour, or non-characteristic words etc.All the Lorem Ipsum generators on the Internet tend to repeat predefined chunks as necessary, making this the first true generator on the Internet. It uses a dictionary of over 200 Latin words, combined with a handful of model sentence structures, to generate Lorem Ipsum which looks reasonable.It uses a dictionary of over 200 Latin words, combined with a handful of model sentence structures, to generate Lorem Ipsum which looks reasonable.It uses a dictionary of over 200 Latin words, combined with a handful of model sentence structures, to generate Lorem Ipsum which looks reasonable.
Why do we use it?
It is a long established fact that a reader will be distracted by the readable content of a page when looking at its layout. The point of using Lorem Ipsum is that it has a more-or-less normal distribution of letters, as opposed to using 'Content here, content here', making it look like readable English. Many desktop publishing packages and web page editors now use Lorem Ipsum as their default model text, and a search for 'lorem ipsum' will uncover many web sites still in their infancy. Various versions have evolved over the years, sometimes by accident, sometimes on purpose (injected humour and the like).
Where can I get some?
There are many variations of passages of Lorem Ipsum available, but the majority have suffered alteration in some form, by injected humour, or randomised words which don't look even slightly believable. If you are going to use a passage of Lorem Ipsum, you need to be sure there isn't anything embarrassing hidden in the middle of text. All the Lorem Ipsum generators on the Internet tend to repeat predefined chunks as necessary, making this the first true generator on the Internet. It uses a dictionary of over 200 Latin words, combined with a handful of model sentence structures, to generate Lorem Ipsum which looks reasonable. The generated Lorem Ipsum is therefore always free from repetition, injected humour, or non-characteristic words etc.
Spring 2024
Sprint 2024

What’s happening at Three Oaks
Journey Journals
Check out these photos, capturing the energy and enthusiasm of our team’s adventures!

Industry Updates
- On to 2024 tax planning! Check out these changes for 2024, and please email us if you’d like to schedule time for a tax planning conversation: rshea@threeoaksag.com
- The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 expires on December 31, 2025. What does this mean for your estate plan and tax planning strategies?
- Corporate Transparency Act- If you own an LLC, S-Corp, C-Corp, and certain types of trusts, you may be required to file a BOIR this year.

Mark Your Calendars
Important dates you should know:
- Important dates you should know:
- May 30, 2024 at 5:30 p.m. CST – Three Oaks Virtual Town Hall — Estate Planning – A Panel Discussion (Planning for the TCJA Sunset – Review Your Estate Documents)
- Register in advance for this meeting HERE
- September 11, 2024 – deadline to offset 2023 K-1 gains with an Opportunity Zone investment.
- May 30, 2024 at 5:30 p.m. CST – Three Oaks Virtual Town Hall — Estate Planning – A Panel Discussion (Planning for the TCJA Sunset – Review Your Estate Documents)

Need Something to “Geek Out On”?
Worried about investing in a pricey stock market? We tend to be too, and found this data interesting. Enjoy!
Winter 2022
Winter 2022

What’s Happening At Three Oaks
We are excited to announce the addition of Jim Crocker to our Three Oaks team! Jim has been helping individuals, families, and small businesses make smart decisions about investing, insurance, retirement, and major life transitions since 2006.

New Year, New Planning Opportunities
- Turning 50? You are now eligible for catch-up contributions in 401(k) plans, IRAs, and more.
- Turning 70 and ½? You are now eligible for Qualified Charitable Distributions from your IRAs.
- Regardless of your age, 2022 comes with increased contribution limits for 401(k) and other qualified plans.

College Planning and Application Process
We tapped a pro, Yvonne Ovalle, for some insight into how families and their students should view the nuanced process of approaching college applications and college resume building. There are a number of helpful tips in her College Planning Process 101.

What will the markets do in 2022?
Uncertainty goes hand-in-hand with the markets, especially for short investment horizons.
What will be the best performing asset class:
US Stock
International Stock
Cash
Real Estate
Commodities
Crypto-Currency
Other
Guide to the Markets – Time, Diversification, and the Volatility of Returns

Mark Your Calendars
Important dates you should know:
- February 24th, 6:00 p.m. CST– Three Oaks Town Hall: Estate Planning Updates – Panel Discussion with 3 Attorneys. Register today!
- April 18th – Tax Filing Deadline (pushed back from the 15th in observance of Emancipation Day)

Need Something to “Geek Out On”?
Here is what your Three Oaks team is reading:
- Raquel is reading – The Crusades of Cesar Chavez by Miriam Pawel.
- Shawn is reading – Behavioral Investment Counseling by Nick Murray.
Fall 2022
Fall 2022

What’s happening at Three Oaks
The Three Oaks team is proud to announce the addition of Michael Berry II as our newest team member and our first Financial Paraplanner. Michael brings to our team a background in operations and finance and earned his B.A. with a concentration in Finance from Master’s University in Santa Clarita, CA.

Industry Updates
- 2022 Tax Planning – the standard mileage rate increased, the credit on Solar PV systems installed increased (from 26% to 30%), and it’s the last year for 100% bonus depreciation on qualified property. Let’s plan! Please reach out if you want to geek out on year-end tax planning questions.
- Markets Metrics – Stock pricing is moving back into alignment with historic averages according to such valuation metrics as Price/Earnings, Brice/Book, and Price/Cash-Flow.

Mark Your Calendars
Important dates you should know:
- October 1st – FAFSA is out! Submitting it early could help you secure better results.
- Oct. 15 – Dec. 7th – Medicare Open enrollment. Review your current coverage, and if you have questions on whether a change may be warranted, we’re happy to help you evaluate things.
- October 31st – Deadline to apply for loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.
- December 1st, 5:30pm – Virtual Town Hall: 2022 Year-End Tax Planning Panel Discussion. Register Today!

Need Something to “Geek Out On”?
- Taxes! Taxes! Taxes!
View key threshholds for 2022 Income Tax rates tables, Standard Deduction amounts, Alternative Minimum Tax, Education Credits and Deductions, and more.View Key Figures
Summer 2022
Summer 2022

Three Oaks Summer Playlist
- “Easy” – Lionel Richie/The Commodores (Phillip)
- “Summer Time Rolls” – Jane’s Addiction (Shawn)
- “Right on Time” – Brandi Carlile (David)
- “Brighter Days” – Blessing Offor (Adam)
- “Baby Beluga” – Raffi (Jim)
- “Running Up That Hill”—Kate Bush (Raquel)

Industry Updates
Markets are down, interest rates are rising. What to do…
- Take advantage of higher interest rates with an online savings account. If your savings account is paying less than 1%, check out one of our favorites (Marcus by Goldman Sachs, Barclays, Ally, Capital One 360).
- How long will the bear market last? Are we in a recession, and if so, how long will it last? We don’t have all the answers, but here is some historic data for perspective.
If you’re concerned and need guidance or are feeling optimistic and want to buy into the stock market dip, we’re here to help.

Mark Your Calendars
Important dates you should know:
- August 18th, 3 p.m. – 4 p.m., Virtual Town Hall with Bryce Gill, Economist with First Trust Advisors – Market and Economic Update: Volatility Has Arrived. Register Today!
- August 31st – Expiration date for the student loan payment pause/0% interest on direct student loans.
- October 17th – Extension deadline for 2021 tax filings

Test Your Knowledge
The first 3 people to email rdeleon@threeoaksag.com with the correct answer to the following question will win a gift card to your choice of Chipotle, Panera Bread, or Pei Wei:
How many National Parks are there in the United States?
Spring 2022
Spring 2022

What’s Happening At Three Oaks
- We don’t always have all our team together in one place, but when we do, there’s fun, service…and maybe a little productivity.
- Our goal for 2022 is to hire two new team members: one dedicated client service associate for our California office and one paraplanner for our Dallas office.
- The results from our Q1 poll on the best performing asset class of 2022 are in!
- U.S. Stock = 50%
- Real Estate = 33.3%
- Crypto-Currency = 16.7%

Industry Updates
- The SECURE Act was passed in 2019 and increased the age for Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) from 70.5 to 72. The House recently passed version 2.0, which now awaits a vote in the senate. Potential impacts:
- Increase catch-up contributions for those age 62, 63, and 64
- Postpone RMDs to age 73 or later
- Add Roth features to SEP and SIMPLE plans
- Interest rates and inflation are on the rise. What does history tell us about asset class performance against these backdrops?
- Student loans stay at 0% until August.

Mark Your Calendars
Important dates you should know:
- “Summer Study Sessions” – We’ll be working on a few virtual town-hall meetings over the summer months such as 2022 Proactive Tax Planning Tips (CPA Panel Discussion). Stay tuned…
- August 31st – Updated expiration date for the student loan payment pause/0% interest on direct student loans.

Need Something to “Geek Out On”?
Here is what your Three Oaks team is reading:
- Adam is reading Why We Sleep, by Matthew Walker, PhD
- Crypto Theses 2022 – Messari.IO

Easter Eggs
You made it to the end of our spring newsletter, you deserve a treat! The first 5 people to text their name to (214) 717-0889 (Adam’s number) will receive a free margarita and witty banter exchange!






