THOUGHTS ON MONEY [T.O.M.] is a place to find simple truths on money. Everything from budgeting to investing to decision making. A great place to come for answers to your own personal financial questions or to spark thought on how to improve your financial life. Enjoy an easy to read, application focused commentary.

Why Investors Underperform the Market

Why do investors lag the market? Explore recency bias, loss aversion, herd behavior, and strategies designed to keep emotions from derailing plans.
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Good Company. Bad Stock.

A great business can still disappoint investors when expectations are too high. The price you pay matters as much as company quality.
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The Risk of Taking Advice from Instagram

Why financial advice from influencers and AI deserves a closer look before it shapes your money decisions.
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Insurance Sales: Follow the Money

How is your insurance agent paid? Explore commissions, captive agents, brokers, and why compensation matters when evaluating financial advice.
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Is Gold a Good Investment?

Gold can preserve value and diversify a portfolio, but its lack of cash flow raises important questions for long-term investors.
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The NYC Pied-à-Terre Tax: Who Pays and Will It Happen?

What NYC’s pied-à-terre tax could mean for second-home owners—and the planning questions worth revisiting.
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About the Authors

Trevor Cummings

Private Wealth Advisor, Partner

Trevor is a Partner and Director of our Private Wealth Advisor Group.

As the author of TOM [Thoughts On Money], Trevor endeavors to write and speak about financial concepts and principles in a kind of “straight” talk demeanor and posture.

He received his Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Leadership from Biola University and his MBA from California State University, Fullerton.

Blaine Carver, CFP®, CKA®

Private Wealth Advisor

Desiring to be a financial advisor since high school, Blaine has continued this passion by stewarding client capital for over a decade. A patient educator, he enjoys aligning clients’ financial resources with their values, particularly through creative charitable gifting strategies.

Blaine holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from Seattle Pacific University, where he also led the soccer team as captain.

Brett Bonecutter, CFP®

Private Wealth Advisor

Brett’s career spans real estate, mortgage, and alternative investments, culminating in a wealth advisory practice at TBG. His faith-based, worldview-centric philosophy aligns closely with David Bahnsen’s thought leadership.

He earned a B.A. in Biblical Studies, an M.B.A., and CFP® education from Pepperdine and is licensed as a real estate and mortgage broker in California.