One Bridge Wealth Management

MONTH ENDING MAY 31, 2026
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Markets wrapped up May on a strong note, extending the rally that began after the March sell-off. While ongoing geopolitical risks continue to exist, hopes for a negotiated end to the Middle East conflict and strong corporate earnings buoyed investor sentiment.

Quick Hits

1. Beyond the Headlines: Strong Earnings Growth Leads the Way in May

2. Fixed Income Update: A Volatile Month

3. Geopolitical and Economic Update: Mixed Economic Data and Headline Risks

4. Looking Ahead: While Risks Exist, Fundamentals Should Provide Support for Markets

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The image of retirement as slowly selling off a portfolio month by month is both common and avoidable. Here's how a well-structured retirement income plan actually works — and why it looks very different from what most people expect.

How Affluent Retirees Generate Income Without Constantly Selling Investments Selling investments every month isn't a retirement income strategy — it's a source of anxiety. Here's how dividends, bond ladders, bucket strategies, and withdrawal sequencing work together.

Tax reminder! Your second-quarter estimated income tax payment is due on June 16, 2026.

If you're self-employed or earn income that isn't subject to withholding, now is the time to make sure your payment is on track. Don't wait until the last minute—a missed or underpaid estimated tax payment can mean penalties come filing season.

Not sure how much to pay? A good rule of thumb is to pay at least 90% of what you'll owe this year, or 100% of last year's tax liability—whichever is smaller. If you want more specific information, check with your tax, legal, or accounting professional.

A good CPA is valuable. But tax preparation and financial planning aren't the same thing — and the gap between them is where most affluent families leave money on the table. Here's what integrated wealth management actually looks like.

Do You Need a Wealth Manager if You Already Have a CPA Your CPA handles your taxes. But tax preparation and financial planning aren't the same thing. Here's what a wealth manager does differently — and why coordination between the two matters.

A large traditional IRA is a powerful accumulation tool. It can also become one of the most tax-inefficient assets you own if there's no long-term strategy behind it. Here's what the families who get this right tend to do differently.

How Affluent Families Reduce Taxes on Large IRAs Roth conversions, QCDs, charitable trusts, and beneficiary planning — here's how high-net-worth families reduce the long-term tax burden on large traditional IRAs.

Do your kids have the right stuff for college?

Countdown to College Preparing for college means setting goals, staying focused, and tackling a few key milestones along the way.

A 30% bear market on a $5 million portfolio is $1.5 million on paper. That's not a tail risk — it's a normal event in a long investing lifetime. Here's what it actually looks like, and how the right structure makes all the difference.

How a $5 Million Portfolio May Behave During a Major Market Decline A \$5M portfolio will decline in a bear market. Here's what that actually looks like, how income holds up, and what separates the families who come through it well from those who don't.

When Did You Last Review Your Fees? Expense ratios have dropped a lot since 2005.

Are you getting ready to retire? Retirement strategy isn’t entirely financial. Consider these matters in this helpful piece.

Retirement Questions That Have Nothing to Do With Money Things to consider before retirement.

There's no universal answer to how much cash retirees should keep — but there is a right answer for your situation. Here's how to think through sequence risk, behavioral finance, and tax-aware liquidity planning to get it right.

How Much Cash Should a Retiree With $3M–$5M Actually Keep? Too little cash in retirement creates forced selling. Too much creates drag. Here's how to find the right number — and why the behavioral side matters as much as the math.