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Tuesday, September 22, 2026

Why It Matters and How to Put It Into Practice Medical self-advocacy means taking an active role in understanding and managing your healthcare. That can include communicating your goals, weighing treatment options, understanding...

Tuesday, September 8, 2026

A Simple Guide to Building a Values-Aligned Plan As retirement approaches, you may want your portfolio to do more than support spending. You may also want it to reflect the values that have shaped how you live, give, and plan for the...

Tuesday, August 18, 2026

For high-net-worth families, charitable giving is often about more than writing checks at year-end. It can be a way to express values, reduce concentrated asset risk, support long-term family stewardship, and create a legacy that...

Tuesday, August 4, 2026

Retirement can bring new questions about health, caregiving, family roles, and financial stewardship. A living will helps answer one of the hardest questions before a crisis happens: what kind of care would you want if illness or...

Tuesday, July 21, 2026

How to Pay Off Your Mortgage Early and Build Wealth Along the Way Paying off your mortgage faster can sound appealing—less debt, fewer years of payments, and big interest savings. But as with most financial decisions, the right move...

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Tuesday, July 7, 2026

Designing Your Retirement Budget How to Estimate Expenses That Fit the Life You Want Preparing for retirement shouldn’t feel like a math test, but your retirement lifestyle decisions do come with a price tag. As you design your...

Tuesday, June 16, 2026

As retirement gets closer, financial decisions often feel more personal—and more permanent. Your mortgage is one of the biggest. A refinance may help lower monthly payments, create more predictable cash flow, or provide access to home...

Tuesday, June 9, 2026

Hi everyone, my name is Kayden Besher with Burgdorf Wealth Managers. Today, I want to talk about a new savings tool that you may be hearing more about: Trump Accounts. These accounts were created to help children begin building...

Tuesday, June 2, 2026

For many retirees and pre-retirees, the family home represents much more than a place to live. It may hold decades of memories, family milestones, familiar routines, and a strong sense of identity. That is why deciding whether to...

Thursday, May 21, 2026

My parents, Ed and Bertha Lawrence, lived by hard work, sacrifice, and compassion. In turn, they passed on values and a legacy that positively impacted the lives of others. The following is a synopsis of their shared life together. My Dad

Thursday, May 21, 2026

Me: Despite me being diagnosed with MS in 2002, I use a small exercise bicycle under my table and enjoy gardening and staying active. I have always had a strong emphasis on: “paying yourself first,” consistent saving (using the...

Thursday, May 21, 2026

Ed: My father was born in 1902. His father was killed by a streetcar when he was 6, and because his mother couldn’t afford to keep him, he was sent to live with an aunt. At 10, he ran away, hopped a train to Chicago, and worked on the...

Thursday, May 21, 2026

Craig: My father served in the Army and spent 14 months on the front lines in Korea. That military background set a standard for hard work and personal responsibility in our home. After his service, he held multiple jobs and...

Thursday, May 21, 2026

From Dad: My father, Bob Hayes, was a welder and sheet metal worker who ran his own business from a shop behind the house. He was known for his hard work and kindness. My dad had a practical and compassionate approach to business,...

Thursday, May 21, 2026

Bill: I grew up in Northern Illinois as the youngest of three boys. My father worked hard as a truck driver and was often away, while my mother was the glue that held us all together. Both parents didn’t tolerate excuses. They were...

Thursday, May 21, 2026

Mitch, Client Service Specialist: My parents taught me that everyone deserves respect, regardless of their background. Growing up in a military family, I traveled a lot and learned to treat everyone equally, which allowed me to adapt...

Thursday, May 21, 2026

Kayden, Financial Advisor: My parents have continually shown extraordinary generosity and sacrifice toward me and my brother. They were quite young when they had us, and as a result, they had to work constantly to make ends meet....

Thursday, May 21, 2026

I grew up in a very loving family, where my parents put my brother and me first. They loved us equally and would ensure that we were treated identically. My parents didn't take me to church regularly. They were ‘turned off’ by the...

Thursday, May 21, 2026

Arif, Assistant to Mark Burgdorf: My father passed away in 1999, and it was only after his death that I came to fully understand the depth of his character. He was always known as a humble man, but through conversations with family...

Thursday, May 21, 2026

From Dad: My dad worked as a traveling salesman, leaving every Monday morning and returning home every Friday night. He took pride in his work and in presenting himself well, from starched shirts and a pressed suit to the shoes he...

Thursday, May 21, 2026

Kathy: My parents taught me that salvation came by grace, and that honoring God was a daily response to that grace. Growing up, we did not have discretionary money for extras, even simple things like hula hoops when other kids had them...

Thursday, May 21, 2026

Karen, Administrative Assistant: My mother was the one who taught me faith. She made sure we went to church and learned about trusting God and giving faithfully. From my father, I learned frugality and the importance of saving. He...

Thursday, May 21, 2026

Mark, President & Senior Wealth Advisor: My father grew up during the Depression in a home marked by financial struggle and health challenges. Through all of it, he never complained. He trusted God, worked hard, and carried a steady...

Thursday, May 21, 2026

Randy: My father worked long hours at Anheuser-Busch as a machinist, instilling in me a belief in thoroughness, directness, and dedication. I recall never taking family vacations because of my father’s demanding work schedule and the...