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.

Shortcuts, Head Starts, and Changing Lanes

Today, we dive into three timeless investing principles that we call shortcuts, head starts, and changing lanes.
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Opting For Wisdom: Options Trading Basics

Understanding how options work is useful — understanding whether they belong in a long‑term plan is even more important.
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Are Your Market Expectations Realistic?

We explain what history suggests and why realistic return assumptions lead to stronger portfolios and better plans.
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Investment Du Jour

Our contrarian posture is a byproduct of our beliefs/philosophy being at odds with the investing culture of the day.
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Five Home Financing Hacks

In this week’s edition of TOM, we offer five practical mortgage hacks to give consumers an edge.
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Small-Cap Stocks are on a Tear!

Today, we dive into a hypothetical town called Sweetwater to explore the differences between small caps vs. large caps.
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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

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.