Wendy and I were waiting to board a flight back to Atlanta when I received an alert on my i-phone that I was upgraded to First Class. Initially, we were both really pleased as we were each very tired and neither of us was expecting an upgrade this so close to boarding. However, when Wendy looked at her ticket, she didn’t see any upgrade.
A split upgrade? I had never seen that before and simply assumed that since we were travelling together, the upgrade would be for both of us or for neither of us.
I turned to Wendy and indicated that either she could take the upgrade or we would give it up to someone else and sit together in coach.
“No” Wendy sharply exclaimed. You have been working too hard at your business and deserve something like this. She insisted that I accept the upgrade and that she would sit in coach. After all, the flight wasn’t very long.
That is so typical of Wendy. She tends to think of others more than anyone else I know. Nonetheless, I was still uncomfortable about doing this and we went back and forth on the subject for a few additional minutes.
Key Blind Spots Addressed
Finally, Wendy didn’t want to hear it anymore and ordered me to accept the First Class seat. I boarded the flight and got settled in. That was really nice of her. It felt great to settle into my seat, get a quick snack, and place my drink order right off the bat.
As Wendy was boarding and passed me by, she said that I looked great and asked me to smile for a picture, which I did.
A few minutes later, I saw a group text from Wendy to several of our friends in my neighborhood. It was the picture she took of me telling everyone how good I looked in First Class.
A few seconds then passed after which Wendy texted to the group that she couldn’t believe I accepted the upgrade to First Class and made her stay in coach, refusing to give up my seat to her.
I was on fire - almost
4. Managing Surcharges on Investment Income: Even small income changes can trigger surcharges on long-term capital gains or qualified dividends. We work to keep clients below those thresholds whenever possible.
5. Georgia Retirement Income Planning: For Georgia residents, we help develop a plan to fully take advantage of the state’s retirement income tax exemption starting at age 65.
6. Bracket Management for Retired Couples: With retired spouses, we often maximize the Georgia exemption while keeping total income within the 12% federal tax bracket—creating tax-efficient income streams.
Final Thoughts
In financial planning, essentials such as emergency savings, a good investment plan, and solid tax planning come first. Windfalls like a First Class upgrade feel better when your foundation is strong. My upgrade was a bonus, not a new standard and it is best to treat it as such.
Inheritances, large tax refunds, or even lottery winnings are best treated as temporary opportunities and not permanent lifestyle changes. Being open to opportunities without building plans around them helps you appreciate upside surprises without the risk of getting overextended. I enjoyed the upgrade, particularly since I knew it was far from guaranteed.
Our motto is “we can help you with that.” We will collaborate with you on any financial decision you make, engaging other subject matter experts when necessary. We will not stop until we get things right. We encourage you to reach out to us for assistance in making important financial decisions and we always appreciate you recommending us to others.
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And Now …
Today, 10 years later, our practice has grown considerably. We have phenomenal clients, a great team, and our practice is still part of the Integrated Financial Group. During this time, we have helped individuals and families with their estate planning, investment planning, executive compensation planning, retiree tax planning, and insurance planning. These are just a few of the areas we focus on for our clients.
I eventually got my drivers’ license (at the ripe age of 27), married my lovely wife, Wendy, and purchased a home in Woodstock GA complete with a fire extinguisher on each floor and a built-in sprinkler system.
Working with my amazing team to best service you has been the ultimate privilege. Our team will continue to expand our range of offerings with the goal of responding to all your financial planning needs. We will also make sure to do so without ever letting up on our service and responsiveness to you.
Thank you so much for being part of this journey.
Most investments are meant to be long term. Always evaluate whether the time horizon required for an investment to succeed matches your timeline for liquidity.
Imagine in mine and Wendy’s case if the doors and the windows locked just as we were trying to leave or that someone came down the stairs just as we were wandering around the main level.
Our motto is “we can help you with that.” We will collaborate with you on any financial decision you make, engaging other subject matter experts when necessary. We will not stop until we get things right. We encourage you to reach out to us for assistance in making important financial decisions and we always appreciate you recommending us to others.
by Hetmayar
Authored by Gary Alpert
Tracking ID: 1060994
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