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3 Creeks Capital | Financial Tips for Ohio Public Employees

Thanks for visiting the 3 Creeks Capital Blog. 

👨🏼‍🏫 20+ years of Ohio Pension Knowledge in one place.  Todd J. Gourno, CFP®, former STRS employee and OPERS member, shares how to make better decisions that directly affect your retirement income.

👮 Former Springfield police officer and OP&F member Ryan A. Mink shares ways OP&F members increase their retirement income by making simple decisions with their pension.  

🎯 We'll show you how to select the appropriate amount when taking the PLOP or DROP.

 ✖️ We'll combine this knowledge with broader financial issues that impact your day-to-day financial well-being.

🏠 - How to pay off the mortgage before retirement and plan for taxes.

➡️ To learn more about your money, watch the videos in our Knowledge Library Knowledge Library

Friday, December 1, 2023

Tuesday, November 7, 2023

As the Federal Reserve approaches the end of its hiking cycle, bond investors may find opportunities for potential benefits. The above chart illustrates a historical pattern of bond prices after the Fed concludes its rate-hiking cycle....

Thursday, October 26, 2023

In the past three years, conservative investors faced unexpected challenges as traditional safe havens exhibited surprising volatility. Contrary to their historical stability, bonds experienced a downturn, turning negative over this period.

Thursday, October 19, 2023

Navigating your STRS Ohio retirement estimate is crucial, especially with joint and survivor annuity choices. As a former STRS employee for seven years, I've witnessed the #1 costly mistake couples make in their retirement income.

Monday, October 2, 2023

If you know me, you know I thoroughly enjoy helping Ohio's first responders be more intentional and tactical when it comes to their finances and retirement. There's no one-size-fits-all when it comes to financial planning. There are...

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Friday, May 19, 2023

Summer is often the best and only time for us to escape and get away for family vacations. Unfortunately, while school break is in full swing, the high ticket demand allows the airlines to sometimes double or triple their ticket prices...

Wednesday, May 10, 2023

Today's inflation report suggests inflation is falling but still at 4.9% year-over-year. For workers, real average hourly earnings, adjusted for inflation, rose 0.1% for the month but were still down 0.5% from a year ago.

Wednesday, May 3, 2023

Investing can be overwhelming for many people, especially when it comes to making decisions about what to buy or sell and how much risk to take on. However, creating a market framework can help simplify the process and provide guidance...

Wednesday, May 3, 2023

This article examines the historical impact of government shutdowns on individual investment portfolios.The article notes that while a government shutdown can create uncertainty and temporary market disruptions, its impact isn't much.

Monday, April 24, 2023

April is Financial Literacy Month, which makes it the perfect time for first responders to take a closer look at their finances. As a first responder, you face unique challenges that can make financial planning more difficult...

Friday, April 14, 2023

As we approach the mid-point of 2023, many people are still asking the question: "Could the U.S. dollar collapse?" This topic has been thrown around in the media a lot recently. It's a significant question that deserves serious...

Thursday, April 6, 2023

For many investors, achieving the highest possible rate of return for their portfolio is the ultimate goal. It's understandable since the higher the return, the more they can accumulate for important life goals, such as saving for...

Tuesday, April 4, 2023

Ready to buy a house but not sure how much you can afford in today's high-interest rate environment?Don't let the banks dictate your budget!Here's a simple formula to help you determine a realistic spending range:Take your Gross...

Wednesday, March 15, 2023

First Responders play a critical role in our communities, often putting themselves in danger to help others. I recall going from call to call during my midnight shift. My weekend could never come soon enough! I wanted to be able to...

Friday, February 17, 2023

Thursday, February 16, 2023

PSA: The Ohio Retirement Systems are NOT allowed to give members advice. They can ONLY educate. I know this because I worked for STRS Ohio for seven years. ✅❌ Don't ask a benefits counselor which plan of payment you should...

Friday, February 3, 2023

Understanding Taxes = Building wealth.Recent Prospect (now client) Story:Married couple age 61/58 - Needed a full financial analysis.Small business owner and Ohio public employee.We addressed retirement income, insurance, investments,...

Monday, January 30, 2023

Our FREE OP&F Guide is now available! This guide is for Ohio Police and Fire members and answers many of the questions we’ve been asked over the years by our OP&F clients.This consolidated guide simplifies the OP&F website and...

Saturday, January 28, 2023

Get the latest income tax brackets, retirement contribution limits, capital gains tax brackets, Medicare premiums, and Required Minimum Distribution information.

Thursday, January 5, 2023

Many OP&F, OPERS, and STRS members retire before they are eligible for Medicare. A retiree is eligible for the healthcare stipend unless they have access to any other group coverage. If a pension member has a spouse or dependent...

Thursday, December 29, 2022

Why we think a new investing era is about to begin. Learn more here.

Friday, December 23, 2022

SECURE Act 2.0 changes to retirement.

Wednesday, December 21, 2022

How long you keep documents is dependent on what it is. Use this checklist to help you determine if there are some documents you've held onto for far too long or if you've done the right thing by keeping them.

Friday, December 9, 2022

For 2023, the total contributions you make each year to all of your Traditional IRAs and Roth IRAs can't be more than:$6,500 ($7,500 if you're age 50 or older), orIf less, your taxable compensation for the...

Friday, December 2, 2022

Are you retiring from OPERS? Completing the Retirement Application can be overwhelming. Here are the TOP 3 decisions you must get right when completing the retirement application.1) Retirement Date (RD)= first of the monthly FOLLOWING...

Wednesday, October 26, 2022

Members of STRS and OPERS often consider taking a PLOP at retirement. Before you make this irrevocable decision and permanently reduce your monthly income better understand what you need to consider.

Thursday, September 8, 2022

The Windfall Elimination Provision will affect how much you receive from Social Security because of your Ohio public pension. Your OPERS, STRS, or OP&F pension will NOT be reduced because of your Social Security.

Friday, September 2, 2022

As tuition rates continue to climb, you’ve most likely wondered whether or not you can afford to go to college. It is a known fact that paying for a four-year degree doesn’t come cheap. Despite conventional funding, we have other ideas.

Wednesday, August 24, 2022

President Biden, Vice President Harris, and the U.S. Department of Education have announced a three-part plan to help working and middle-class federal student loan borrowers transition back to regular payment as pandemic-related support exp

Friday, April 22, 2022

Wednesday, April 13, 2022

Watch this video to clarify Section B of the DROP Election Form.

Friday, September 24, 2021

I purchased a building three weeks ago in Grandview for my financial planning firm. With the help of Jerry Smith, landscape architect, we came up with a sophisticated but straightforward landscape design. While I missed a little of...

Friday, September 24, 2021

Three Creeks Capital Management announces the recent addition of Ryan A. Mink as Jr. Financial Advisor. Ryan brings his experience from Morgan Stanley to focus on financial planning for Ohio Police & Fire members. Ryan served as a...