Barnett Financial & Tax Newsletter: April 8, 2026
Happy Easter from Barnett Financial & Tax!
A Sunrise in a Graveyard
My church in Michigan celebrated Easter with a sunrise service beside three crosses planted on the church grounds.
A friend once told me his childhood church did the same thing—but in a graveyard.
He described it almost uneasily. Walking in before dawn. Standing in the cold. Waiting patiently for the first streaks of golden light to chase away the shadows clinging to the tombstones.
Nope. Not for me. I’m content worshipping beside wooden crosses… not real graves.
At Easter morning’s sunrise service, we’d always sing the great hymns of the resurrection—like, “Because He Lives.” Tulips would just be beginning to push through the damp, stubborn soil… as if nature itself were whispering the story again. I remember watching the first rays of sunlight spill over the Michigan hills, casting long shadows from the crosses across the green field.
There is nothing quite like Easter. Worshipping with family. Overeating at “dinner-on-the-grounds” (and no, it’s not literally on the ground). Kids running wild with Easter eggs in the backyard or the local park.
And underneath it all… something deeper than tradition. Something that refuses to stay buried.
What Easter Really Means
At Barnett Financial & Tax, we help people pursue financial freedom every day.
But Easter forces a harder question: What actually counts in the end?
It’s not your:
* returns
* savings
* vacations
* your yacht
* or even the size of your wife’s diamond ring
True wealth is your people.
Your loved ones.
In a very real way, one of the most powerful reflections of Easter is the legacy you leave behind for them.
That Sunday morning two thousand years ago may feel like ancient history. But when you prepare an inheritance… when you pass something on with intention… when you create stability and blessing for those you love—you are, in a small but meaningful way, echoing that same message:
Life. Hope. Continuity.
It is love in its purest form—giving without expectation of return. Without hearing the “thank you.” Without seeing the full impact.
It’s like that first sunrise over a graveyard. It changes how you see everything.
Light creeping slowly across the stones… revealing what was hidden… bringing warmth where there was only cold, making flowers bloom.
It doesn’t erase death. But it declares something stronger than it.
A Final Thought
Easter is, at its core, a sunrise in a graveyard.
A reminder that endings are not final. That darkness does not win. That what looks like loss isn’t the end of the story.
From all of us at Barnett Financial & Tax—Happy Easter.
And if we can help you strengthen the legacy you leave for those you love, we would be honored to serve you.
April is Social Security Awareness Month
Nothing says “springtime energy” like a government program that reminds you you’re aging.
There was a time in life when April meant baseball, planting gardens, and optimism.
Now it means: “Should I file at 62… 67… or 70?”
And somewhere along the way, your conversations shift from “What are we doing this weekend?” to “How much do we need to live on?”
“I Guess I’m Officially Old Now…”
I sat with a client recently who said something that stuck with me.
He smiled and said, “I guess I’m officially old now… I’m talking about Social Security. I feel like I’m in the sunset of my life.”
Then his tone changed. He had done the math. “If I live to 90, I’ll finally get back what I paid into the system.”
He paused. “But the truth is—I need this income. I can’t afford to get this wrong.”
That’s the moment Social Security stops being abstract. It’s no longer political. It’s no longer theoretical. It becomes income. It’s how you pay bills. And for many Americans, it’s one of the most important income streams they’ll ever rely on.
Like all opportunities, filing for Social Security is fraught with avoidable mistakes.
The Part Most People Miss
Here’s the reality:
The decision of when—and how—you file for Social Security can permanently affect your income for the rest of your life.
This isn’t like picking the wrong stock. This isn’t like mistiming the market.
Many Social Security decisions are:
* Permanent
* Irreversible
* And potentially very costly if done incorrectly
We’ve seen people unknowingly leave tens of thousands—even hundreds of thousands of dollars—on the table over time.
Not because they made a reckless decision. But because they made a common one.
The 5 Biggest Social Security Mistakes
1. Filing Too Early Without a Strategy
Yes, you can file as early as age 62. But doing so can permanently reduce your benefit by as much as 25–30% compared to waiting.
Sometimes early filing makes sense.
But doing it without a coordinated plan? That’s where mistakes happen.
2. Waiting Too Long Without Understanding the Tradeoffs
On the flip side, many people hear, “Wait until 70 no matter what.”
While benefits increase over time, waiting isn’t always optimal.
Health, income needs, tax strategy, and spousal planning all matter.
There is no universal answer—only the right answer for your situation.
3. Ignoring Spousal and Survivor Strategies
For married couples, Social Security is not an individual decision. It’s a household strategy. Poor coordination can reduce total lifetime income and weaken survivor protection for a spouse.
Done correctly, this is one of the biggest opportunities to increase income. Not just for you, but for the loved ones you leave behind.
4. Failing to Consider Taxes on Social Security
Up to 85% of your Social Security income can be taxable.
And what determines that?
How your other income is structured.
Withdrawals from IRAs, investment income, and timing all play a role. Without coordination, you may pay more in taxes than necessary.
5. Missing Advanced Strategies Like QCDs
One of the most overlooked strategies:
If you’re age 70½ or older, you may be able to make Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) to your church or non-profit cause directly from your IRA.
This can:
* Help satisfy Required Minimum Distributions
* Reduce taxable income
* Potentially keep more of your Social Security from being taxed
For those who already give to charity, this can be a powerful way to do it more efficiently. For those who don’t give much to charity, it can really open their eyes to their potential to help causes that are important to them when they realize that they can give and not pay taxes on what they give. It’s not coming out of their income, but it is a non-taxable Qualified Charitable Distribution.
How much more would you give—and leave a positive impact on causes you admire—if you could save money while doing so?
This Is Too Important to Guess On
Social Security is not just a government benefit. For many families, it becomes the foundation of retirement income.
And small decisions can create large, permanent consequences. That’s why we don’t look at Social Security in isolation.
We coordinate it with:
• Tax strategy
• Investment income
• Retirement timelines
• Estate planning
All under one roof.
Let’s Get This Right—Together
If you’re approaching Social Security—or already receiving it—it’s worth making sure your strategy is optimized to make the most of it.
Schedule a free discovery call with a Barnett Financial & Tax advisor:
https://bftwealth.com/schedule-a-meeting/
Let’s make sure you’re not leaving money on the table, and that your income plan is built to last.
A Final Thought
It’s true—by the time we file for Social Security, we’ve entered the later chapters of life. Or, what my client called, “the sunset era of life.” The twilight.
But twilight isn’t something to fear.
The final 10, 20, even 30 years can be some of the most meaningful, peaceful, and fulfilling years we ever experience—if they’re planned well. Like a beautiful sunset at the end of a long day’s work.
There’s a calm. A clarity. A sense of completion.
And when your financial life is coordinated correctly, you’re not worrying about what’s coming next. You’re simply able to enjoy what you’ve built.
Let’s make sure your sunset is one worth watching.
Please “Like & Share” a Recent Facebook Post
Our Facebook post on the power of compounding interest, and the greatest threat to it.
It’s not poverty… it’s over-spending!
And a Recent Instagram Post…
Click the image to view our recent post on Instagram announcing a rather strange visitor to our Grand Blanc, Michigan office over the Easter weekend. It’s a cute, “feel-good” story that,coming in the middle of the busy tax season, is a much welcomed breath of fresh air.
(Please “like” and “share” it while you’re there.)
Team Member Spotlight: Meet Megan Kook
If you’ve called Barnett Financial & Tax or Financial Leadership University recently, there’s a good chance Megan Kook was the first voice you heard.
The First Voice Prospective Clients Hear
As Business Development Coordinator, Megan spends much of her day on the phone connecting with prospective clients and helping them take their first steps toward financial guidance and wealth freedom. An increasing part of her role involves cultivating financial education opportunities for the public through Financial Leadership University, the 501(c)(3) educational organization founded by CEO Rick Barnett.
In many ways, Megan serves as the front door of the company, creating a welcoming first experience for people exploring the services Barnett Financial & Tax provides…
To keep reading the Team Member Spotlight on Megan Kook, click here.
Rick Barnett’s Book “True North–Navigating Retirement, Financial Freedom, and a Lasting Legacy”—coming soon!
RETURN TO BARNETT FINANCIAL & TAX WEBSITE.
Send us a message or call 1-800-425-7044 to schedule a free Discovery Call by phone.
