As we head into the final quarter of the year, we want to thank you for your continued trust. While the world around us may feel uncertain at times, our focus remains steady- helping you feel confident that your plan is on track.
This season brings a few important planning opportunities:
· Year-End Tax Planning– Fall is the perfect time to review strategies that may reduce your up coming tax bill. From maximizing retirement contributions to charitable giving or Roth conversions, small actions now can lead to meaningful long-term benefits.
· Open Enrollment– Many employers and Medicare participants face open enrollment in the fall. Reviewing your health, life, and disability coverage ensures your benefits continue to match your needs.
· Market Perspective– Markets continue to shift with headlines, but the long-term outlook for diversified investors remains strong. We’re keeping portfolios aligned with your goals, and history shows that staying disciplined through short-term noise has been one of the most reliable paths to growth.
· Looking Ahead– Beyond year-end, we’re always watching for opportunities to help you stay oncourse—whether it’s managing portfolio risk, planning for retirement income, or aligning estate plans with your wishes.
We encourage you to reach out if you’d like to schedule a review before year-end. Together, we can make sure your plan is optimized and finish 2025 on a positive note.
Open Enrollment is your opportunity to make sure your employer benefits align with what you need. Here are 7 things to consider when going through the open enrollment process.
Life Changes Matter
If you’ve had a big event this past year (marriage or divorce, a new child, a job change) it could change what kind and how much coverage you need. These changes also affect what kind of retirement/tax strategies make sense (e.g. Roth vs. Pre-Tax).
2. Medical & Dental Coverage: Match It to Usage
Lookback on what medical and dental costs you really had this past year. Do you need lower deductibles or broader coverage, or would a higher deductible plan plus an HSA make more sense? If your family has upcoming needs (kids, surgeries, etc.), factor them in.
3. Health Savings Account (HSA)Opportunities
If you’re in or thinking of choosing a high-deductible health plan, an HSA can be very powerful. Contributions are pre-tax, growth is tax-free, and withdrawals for eligible medical expenses are tax-free (triple-tax advantage). Unused funds roll over each year, making it one of the few benefits that can double as health-cost protection and a retirement savings tool.
4. Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)Details
FSAs(for health care or dependent care) also offer pre-tax use of funds. Rules around carryover, rollover, or losing unused money vary. Know what your employer allows so you’re not leaving dollars on the table.
5. Insurance (Life, Disability, etc.)Needs
6. Retirement Contributions &Beneficiary Review
Even if your contributions go unchanged year-round, Open Enrollment is a good time to revisit them:
7. New or Expanded Perks
Employers are increasingly offering benefits beyond the standard health, dental, and retirement: things like pet insurance, legal plans, identity theft protection, backup childcare, etc. Sometimes these perks are underused or overlooked — but they can add real value.
What You Should Do Next
Use your past claims, health usage, and anticipated health events to pick the right plan for your family.
Social Security and the Ohio Pension Systems continue to make changes to eligibility. It's important to know how these changes may impact your retirement date. Please review the following charts related to your pension system to see when you meet fully eligibility (unreduced).
This fall, we’re excited to share the story of two very special clients, Jim and Amy Duxbury. After long and successful careers as teachers—Jim in science and Amy in English—they both retired this year and turned the page to a brand-new chapter.
Their retirement dream took root in Orrville, Ohio, where they created Lavender Trails, a four-acre lavender farm built on reclaimed land. What started as a vision to transform a former brownfield has grown into a thriving, beautiful community destination. Lavender Trails not only offers visitors the chance to experience the calming beauty of lavender but also supports local causes and brings people together.
Jim and Amy’s journey is a wonderful example of how retirement can be both purposeful and joyful—combining passion, community, and legacy. We’re honored to be part of their story and to support them in making their retirement vision a reality.
We’re excited to announce our upcoming Client Appreciation Event at Ohio Brewing Company, where we’ll be gathering to watch the Ohio State vs. Wisconsin game! This event is one of our favorite ways to connect outside of the office, enjoy great food and drinks, and cheer on the Buckeyes together. It’s always a fun opportunity to share the excitement of game day while strengthening the community we’ve built with clients like you.
We also want to celebrate a big milestone—our YouTube channel has officially surpassed 100 subscribers! Thank you to everyone who has supported us by watching, liking, and subscribing. Our channel is growing into a resource hub where you can find quick, practical insights into pensions, retirement planning, and financial strategies designed just for Ohio public employees. If you haven’t checked it out yet, we’d love for you to join the community as we continue building valuable content.
Three Creeks Capital Management YouTube Channel
Join us for an informative session where we’ll cover strategies to help you minimize taxes and maximize income in retirement. From understanding how different income sources are taxed to exploring smart withdrawal strategies, this webinar is designed to give you clarity and confidence as you plan for the years ahead. Stay tuned for registration details!
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